Captain’s log, Stardate 05.03.2402.

Commander Aramis’ Lionel recording…

We are currently in the vicinity of the Murasaki 312 quasar, conducting a search and recovery operation for several rogue Borg ships, currently offline and in status, that Hugh hid here. Since we are within the Murasaki 312 quasar, we are also taking this opportunity to conduct research on its unique energy properties. However, our situation has taken a drastic turn. Sensors have detected an Underspace aperture opening just off the starboard bow, and our short range scans indicate something is emerging from it at an alarming speed. I have ordered the ship to Red Alert and raised our deflector shields to full power.

End Log.

Lieutenant Bradley, the chief tactical officer, called out, “Commander, sensors indicate the object is dense in nature, with a mass approximately six times that of our ship. We’re reading no energy signatures or communication emanating from it.”

Chief Engineer Catersha chimed in from Main Engineering.

“Commander, our propulsion systems are offline due to the quasar’s interference with our warp coils. We’re experiencing a plasma injector malfunction, and our impulse engines are not functional. Escape is not an option.”

Commander Lionel’s eyes locked onto the viewscreen as the object hurtled toward them. The red alert klaxons were blaring and the Bridge was bathed in the red lighting from being at Condition Red.

“Load torpedoes and prepare to fire,” ordered Commander Lionel.

The ship’s chief engineer, Lieutenant Commander Catersha, reported, “Commander, I’m trying to reroute power from the gravitational compensators to the deflector shields, but it’s going to take some time.”

As the object drew closer, the ship’s sensors detected a massive, compact structure with no discernible features. The Underspace aperture dissipated, leaving the object on a collision course with the Carlsbad.

Suddenly, the computer sounded the collision proximity alarm.

“Collision course, impact in 36 seconds,” Ensign Nguyen reported.

“Fire photon torpedoes!” Commander Lionel shouted.

Two red-orange globes sped from their dorsal side launch tubes, on each side of the Bridge superstructure. They flew at subwarp speed towards the object. They impacted with the object, detonating with the equal power of one kilogram each of a matter/antimatter runaway reaction. The object kept coming. The bridge crew held their breaths as the object slammed into the ship’s shields. The Carlsbad shuddered, and the shields flared with electromagnetic energy. The ship’s hull groaned loudly under the stress, but the shields held, absorbing the impact.

Commander Lionel breathed a sigh of relief.

“Damage report?”

Lieutenant Bradley replied.

“Shields are holding at 87% capacity, Commander. However, the object’s density has caused significant gravitational stress on our hull. We’re experiencing minor distortions in our structural integrity field.”

Commander Lionel nodded.

“Keep working on repairing our propulsion systems, and try to gather more data on this object. We need to know what we’re up against.”

The bridge crew scrambled to respond to the orders. Commander Lionel couldn’t shake the feeling that their encounter with the mysterious object was only the beginning.