Commander T’saath sat at the empty briefing table, her eyes searching the PADD. It was March 30th, day 30 of The Blackout. They were no closer to finding out the cause of the event. They were no closer to identifying where it came from or why it seemed to have such an inconsistent effect range across the Alpha Quadrant. With the limited communications and sensor range, they had found it challenging. A rough map was splayed across the holo-display at the front of the briefing room, items marked with varying degrees of verification.

Several of the colonies within the sector had been able to respond, while others had slowly faded until the channels went silent. T’saath felt the unusual tension building in her shoulders. Her emotional control had been strong the first few weeks. Then, the lack of conclusions or theories began to push.

The door to the briefing room slid open, revealing Theodora Walker-Halsey, the Director of Civilian Science Operations. She stepped just inside the room, her eyes meeting T’saath’s. “Commander.”

“Director.”

The two regarded each other in silence for several minutes. Walker-Halsey finally spoke, “Commander, I’m aware our relationship did not get off on the right foot. Or two. Or three.”

T’saath eyed her. The woman was half Vulcan, half Human…and more of the human side had asserted itself throughout her life. There was something about Walker-Halsey that made her…feel something. She’s been working to identify and quantify it. As her eyes stared at the woman, she felt understanding begin to dawn. “I find it hard to accept you, Director.”

Theodora’s eyes arched, and her lips curled into a satisfied smile. “I had wondered.” The civilian slid into the chair opposite the commander, “Your reputation has long preceded you, Commander T’saath. You haven’t done much to dispel it while you’ve been here.”

T’saath detected a question in her statement. “I do not accept failure, Director Walker-Halsey. When they reassigned me to Montana Station, I desired to set apart the department regarding measurable quantitive qualities.” She remained impassive, “The rimward is not a place where resting on…you humans call it laurels…will lead to discoveries. I am aware that some of the science staff has…feelings on the matter.”

Walker-Halsey cackled, catching T’saath off guard. “That’s putting it mildly.” She leaned forward, “I won’t deny you get results, Commander. The simple fact is that your teams have been lapping us on some of our work with The Blackout. We give as good as we take, so don’t take it as a full complement.”

The Vulcan Science Director raised her eyebrows. The logic and thought process of this woman fascinated her. There was enough Vulcan there that allowed for deeper thought and logic. “I will take it as a…half compliment then?”

Theodora chuckled, the warmth of her smile spreading across her face. “That works. The second reason I’m here…” She slid a PADD across the table. “Our subspace research team started pulling on a thread last night.”

T’saath’s eyes quickly read through the report. She glanced at the civilian director. “They hypothesize this is coming from the Mirror Universe? Or another universe entirely? Curious.”

Walker-Halsey let out a long breath. “There’s numerous problems with that theory. We’d be detecting a significant surge across the spectrum of a door to another universe that had been opened, even for something like this. The other problem is that given how widespread it’s been reported, we’d be looking at a pretty large amount of doors to another universe that were…in whatever status they would be in to allow this to happen. It’d be hard to ignore. Impossible even.”

The Starfleet officer had finished the report, her eyes staring at a midpoint in the table. “That’s just the first layer of faults in the theory. The amount of power required in the other universe would be…the number, as you would say, beggars belief.” Her eyes shifted to the holographic map. “And yet…it is concerning that between our two departments…we have reached no definitive, plausible, or theoretical conclusion. We have returned to the same theories, hypotheses, and contemplations with only slight variations.”

Theodora grimaced, “In the human vernacular – we ain’t found shit.” She continued, “I admit – plenty of issues with the Mirror Universe theory…but we both know that plenty of scientific madness has come of it before.”

T’saath lowered her eyebrows. “Fleet Captain Fontana did ask us to expand our theories.” She thought for a moment. The teams might find some relief in being given additional freedom in scenarios. It might help her relationship with them in the short term. “I will redirect the teams to focus on expanding on this hypothesis.”

Walker-Halsey stood from her chair, “You don’t have to accept me, Commander. My heritage…and my journey through it isn’t finished by a long shot. All I ask is that we find ways to work together – such as we did today.”

T’saath replied, “I cannot guarantee immediate results in that regard, Director Walker-Halsey. It will…take time.”

Theodora’s lips formed a small smile in response. “One day at a time, Commander. One day at a time.” The door closed behind her, leaving Commander T’saath alone once more.