The Wall in the Stars – The Anomaly Blocking Our Path – Star Trek Fanfiction (Red Directive #08)

Day two of travel and it already felt like we had been in the Gamma Quadrant for a week.

Red Alert immediately after a distress signal tends to take its toll. More mental than anything. The fear of the unknown can overtake you. Trying to hold it all in and make it appear like you have everything under control is just as draining.

I had taken the ship out of Yellow Alert some time ago. Long-range scanner results kept showing nothing. I thought it was finally time to give the crew a little break.

I could barely keep my eyes open as I stared at the main viewscreen.

Outside the viewscreen the stars stretched into thin white streaks as the USS Cairo continued its course toward EOS Prospera. The colony was still over a day away at our current velocity, and for the moment the sector remained uneventful.

I could feel Commander T’Varen watching me with that unmistakable Vulcan stare.

“Captain,” she said calmly, “all systems appear to be running nominal. Vulcans require much less sleep than humans to function. Perhaps you should get some rest to ensure you remain at peak performance.”

I groaned because I knew she was right. But I also didn’t want to leave the bridge in case something else happened.

I looked around and realized the bridge was already down to a skeleton crew. Most of the senior staff had apparently already gone to rest and duty rotations had changed.

How had I not even noticed?

My mind had been in a million places these past twenty-four hours.

“Very well, Commander. You have the comm.”

She nodded, grabbed her padd, and walked over to the Ops console to speak with the ensign stationed there.

I yawned and stood, slowly making my way toward the turbolift.

I tapped the panel beside the turbolift and the doors slid open. I stepped inside, trying to stand as straight as possible so as not to show weakness.

As soon as the doors closed, I sighed.

“Deck two.”

The five seconds it took the turbolift to descend felt like a lifetime.

The doors finally slid open and I stepped into the corridor. My quarters and the first officer’s quarters were directly across from one another.

I briefly wondered if Vulcans enjoyed slumber parties.

I laughed quietly at the thought.

It felt good to laugh after the events we had already experienced in the Gamma Quadrant in such a short time.

When I reached my door, I entered my code into the panel and the doors hissed open.

When I stepped inside, I was a little let down.

I looked around and realized it was just two small rooms connected together. My quarters aboard the USS Rutledge had been four rooms.

I shook my head.

Who needed luxurious quarters anyway? We wouldn’t be on this ship long once we reached EOS Prospera.

An Excelsior-class ship wasn’t designed for long deep-space missions. My task was simply to transport a large group of colonists safely to their new Federation home.

I had every intention of returning the Cairo to Federation space afterward.

Every intention…

I scanned the room to get a feel for the layout and see how my belongings had been arranged. I walked into the small living area, knowing my OCD would kick in at any moment and I’d never get the sleep I so desperately needed.

First I stopped at the wall monitor to review ship reports.

Everything appeared normal.

I ran my hand along the small desk and terminal where I was sure I’d end up spending far more time than I’d like.

Then something dawned on me.

My quarters were smaller than the Rutledge… and something was missing.

No dining area.

I remembered reading that the Cairo had a small officer’s mess reserved for senior staff instead.

All of this probably made me sound selfish.

The truth was, I simply enjoyed cooking and eating alone.

It had never bothered anyone aboard the Rutledge.

I let out a small sigh wondering what our senior staff breakfasts and dinners would eventually be like. We hadn’t all been together since the mission briefing.

It wasn’t something I was particularly looking forward to.

I continued scanning my quarters and noticed several shelves built into the walls with my belongings neatly arranged across them.

I only moved a few things.

Thankfully most of it looked fine.

My Starfleet awards and commendations had been placed together on the top shelf with a replica of the USS Cairo positioned neatly in the middle.

It must have come with the command package.

I smiled slightly.

Next to it sat my replica of the USS Rutledge.

That was one thing I didn’t move.

Then I noticed something else.

The Bajoran artifact Jadzia had given me on my first night on Deep Space Nine. She had insisted I take it since I had no latinum and didn’t want me to leave the station without something to remember them by.

I picked it up and held it gently.

I wished I had said goodbye to her.

She had been my favorite part of the station.

And for some reason I had a strange feeling in my stomach telling me I would never see her again.

I set the artifact back on the shelf and looked out the small viewport.

No changes to report.

I noticed my bed was only partially separated from the rest of the room by a small decorative partition.

Again I reminded myself I wouldn’t be on this ship long.

Right?

Right.

I shook the thought away and walked past the replicator alcove into the small sleeping area.

There was a wardrobe, dresser, and storage drawers.

Something I wasn’t used to on the Rutledge.

But this feature I could get used to.

Replicating new clothes every day had always felt wasteful.

The wardrobe was full of uniforms, but I finally found some off-duty clothing in the dresser.

Starfleet-issued shorts and a tank top.

I ran hot. It would do.

I skipped the sonic shower entirely and climbed straight into bed.

The lights were already dimmed for night cycle.

The captain’s quarters were quiet except for the steady vibration of the warp engines beneath the deck.

Sleep came almost instantly.

Unfortunately, it lasted about thirty seconds.

My combadge chirped from the nightstand.

I lazily reached over with my eyes still closed.

“Kelly here.”

“Bridge to Captain Kelly,” Commander T’Varen’s voice said. “You’re going to want to see this.”

One eye shot open.

“Computer. Lights. One hundred percent.”

Moments later the turbolift doors opened onto the bridge and I hurried out, still wearing my lounge clothes with a pair of Starfleet boots only half-zipped around my ankles.

A few seconds later the boatswain whistle sounded.

“Captain on the bridge.”

Commander T’Varen looked me up and down in mild surprise.

Apparently they weren’t used to a captain responding this quickly.

“Captain,” T’Varen said, standing beside a frantic ensign at the helm, “long-range sensors are detecting… something.”

I stepped beside her.

Indeed, something extremely large was directly along our plotted course to EOS Prospera.

“Define something.”

At the science station a young lieutenant tilted his head toward his console, fingers moving rapidly across the interface.

For a Denobulan, his tightened expression was concerning.

“Captain,” he said calmly, “long-range sensors are registering a massive energy anomaly ahead of our current course.”

“How large?”

He hesitated.

“Preliminary scans indicate the anomaly spans nearly three million kilometers.”

The bridge fell silent.

Even Commander T’Varen’s breathing patterns shifted slightly.

“That’s not an anomaly,” she muttered.

“That’s a wall.”

“On screen.”

The viewscreen shifted.

Ahead of the Cairo the stars twisted around a vast distortion in space — a swirling ocean of violet and white energy stretching across the sector like a cosmic storm front.

Radiation arced through the distortion like lightning inside a nebula.

And it sat directly in our path.

“Distance?”

“Eight hours at current speed,” the helm ensign replied.

T’Varen continued scanning.

“There is no clear path around the anomaly within reasonable travel time. Altering course would delay our arrival at EOS Prospera by approximately four days.”

That was unacceptable.

Although we destroyed the lone vessel that attacked us yesterday, it was clear they weren’t alone.

Every hour mattered.

“Computer. Call all senior staff to the briefing room immediately.”

Commander T’Varen and I headed for the turbolift.

“Lieutenant, you have the bridge.”

Seconds later the turbolift deposited us on Deck Two.

We walked past our quarters and into the briefing room.

T’Varen brought the anomaly up on the wall display while we waited.

Moments later the senior staff began arriving.

Aura entered first, the rest stumbling in behind her adjusting their hastily thrown-on uniforms.

Several officers looked surprised when they noticed I was still wearing off-duty clothing.

Except Commander Pelia.

She simply winked and took a seat.

I leaned toward Aura.

“Hi Aura. I know you’re technically senior staff, but since you work in the mess hall you don’t have to attend every briefing.”

“You said all senior staff and did not exclude me in your message, Captain.”

She wasn’t wrong.

“Fair enough.”

“It does not bother me. My role as Adaptive Utility Recreational Android is to ensure peak crew performance. Based on recent events the senior staff are seventy-five percent more likely to require stimulants.”

I rubbed the bridge of my nose.

“Thank you, Aura.”

Suddenly the briefing table monitor activated.

The EMH appeared.

“The android is correct, Captain. Your senior staff is running on fumes. Their neurochemical levels are highly irregular.”

I frowned.

“EMH… how did you know what we were discussing?”

“I am senior staff. If summoned I am required to participate.”

“Next time please make yourself known.”

He scoffed.

Everyone had arrived.

I stood at the head of the table.

“Thank you all for joining me at this inconvenient hour. As you can see behind me, we have a problem.”

The image of the anomaly filled the wall.

Lieutenant Darak spoke first.

“How big is it?”

“Approximately three million kilometers.”

Several officers gasped.

“There is no safe path around it without delaying our arrival by four days.”

Commander Pelia chuckled.

“Four days is nothing. We should bypass it.”

“I normally would agree, Commander. But after yesterday’s attack we cannot risk arriving late.”

Chief Ren stood.

“I am former Sub-Commander Zh’lek Ren of the Andorian Imperial Guard. The vessel we encountered yesterday was only a scout. If we encounter one of their larger ships… we will not survive.”

The EMH nodded.

“I can confirm Mr. Ren’s injuries suggest a much more powerful adversary.”

I looked around the table.

“Kurn. Options.”

“If that storm behaves like most subspace anomalies… entering it would be inadvisable.”

“That’s a polite way of saying suicidal,” Jaxa muttered.

Suddenly the lights flickered.

Once.

Then again.

A familiar voice spoke behind me.

“Oh come now. Suicidal seems a bit dramatic.”

I slowly closed my eyes.

Of course.

When I turned around a man in an outdated Starfleet captain’s uniform leaned casually against the tactical console.

Hands folded behind his back.

Amused expression.

Smug.

“Hello, Captain.”

Kurn immediately raised his phaser.

“Identify yourself.”

“Oh please,” the man sighed. “Must we do this every time?”

T’Varen checked her padd.

“Captain, sensors did not detect his arrival.”

“Of course they didn’t,” he replied. “Where would be the fun in that?”

I stepped back.

“What do you want… Q?”

Every captain in the fleet knew Q from Captain Picard’s logs aboard the Enterprise-D.

And every captain prayed they would never meet him.

Pelia scoffed softly.

“Oh… you’re still around?”

Q froze.

“Oh no. No, no, no. Tell me that’s not who I think it is.”

Pelia waved dismissively.

“Good afternoon to you too.”

Q groaned.

“Captain, I was willing to tolerate the Klingon, the Vulcan, even the Andorian… but her?”

Pelia pointed a finger at him.

“Last time we met you turned my lecture hall into a pocket dimension.”

“In my defense,” Q replied casually, “your lecture was incredibly boring.”

Q lifted one eyebrow at Pelia in exaggerated sympathy before turning back toward the anomaly.

“Well… I thought you might appreciate a little assistance.”

“With that.”

Q flicked his hand lazily toward the anomaly.

Kurn stepped forward.

“You expect us to believe this is coincidence?”

“You wound me, Klingon.”

I folded my arms.

“What’s the catch?”

Q smiled.

“Oh nothing serious.”

“Just a simple choice.”

“You can attempt to navigate that charming little spatial catastrophe on your own…”

Q paced slowly around the briefing table, gesturing toward the anomaly like a professor explaining a lesson.

“…which I must admit would be highly entertaining to watch.”

He stopped directly in front of me and stared deep into my eyes. 

“Or,” he said smoothly, “you can accept a little help from a friend.”

“We don’t make deals with you,” Kurn said.

Q widened his eyes in exaggerated hurt.

“Such hostility.”

I studied Q.

“You’re offering help out of kindness?”

He grinned.

“Oh Captain… you wound me now.”

Q gave a slow, sarcastic clap of approval.

That was all the answer I needed.

I turned back to my officers.

“Here’s where we stand. Eight hours ahead of us sits an anomaly blocking our path to the colony.”

“Our mission is to get those colonists to EOS Prospera.”

“And we’re going through it.”

The room went silent.

Jaxa spoke first.

“You’re not actually considering his offer… are you?”

“No.”

I glanced back at Q.

“We’ll handle this ourselves.”

Q’s grin widened.

“Excellent.”

He leaned casually against the wall display.

“Don’t mind me.”

Q made a small gesture toward the anomaly like a man presenting a stage play.

“I’ll just watch.”