Captain's Log, Stardate 48015.2. The Enterprise has been assigned to an exploratory mission of Sector 23659. A largely explored and well-known, if empty region, after all the hassle in recent months, it should be something of a relaxing break.

"Sir, sensors are detecting an unidentified vessel," Worf's voice carried across the bridge, his deep baritone drowning out the usual beeps of starship computers. "It appears to be on an intercept course."

Captain Picard looked up at Worf from his seat on the bridge. "Do they appear to be hostile?" "Negative, sir."

Picard stood up from his chair and stepped forward. "Thank you, Mr. Worf. Mr. Data, put the ship on main viewer."

Lt. Cmdr. Data keyed in the appropriate command, and the viewscreen changed from a generic picture of space to an image of the unidentified vessel. Evidently adrift in space, it seemed to be a non-symmetrical design consisting of a circle with two triangles and a cockpit module connected to the closest side of the ship.

Picard ordered "Hail them." The conn beeped, and then Picard spoke, "This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation vessel USS Enterprise. Identify yourself." There was silence for several seconds. "Anything?" Data responded "No, sir."

Picard's curiosity was evident in both his facial expression and his voice. "Mr. Data, do you detect any lifeforms?"

As usual, Data's voice was lacking in emotion as he reported "Uncertain, sir. Sensors appear unable to detect the interior with any degree of accuracy. All that can be confirmed is that the internal atmosphere reads oxygen-nitrogen of a similar concentration and pressure to that of Earth."

Picard straightened his uniform as he spoke "Does the ship match to any design in your databanks, Commander?" "Negative, sir. The specifications are unique, and do not match records for any known vessels."

Cmdr. Riker walked over to Picard. They shared a glance, then Riker pointed toward several blackened portions of the ship. "What do sensors say about those marks, Mr. Worf? Could they be from weapons fire?"

Worf looked down at his display. "They appear to be scorch marks from a highly-powered plasma weapon of unknown configuration, sir."

Riker nodded to Worf, then looked to Picard. "Plasma...could have been a Breen ship, sir. We are close to their border, and they have been known to conduct pirate attacks."

Picard nodded and grunted in agreement, then turned to Counsellor Troi. "Can you sense anything, Counsellor?"

Troi shook her head. "No sir. If there is anyone there, they must be somehow blocked to me."

Picard bit the inside of his cheek. He turned back toward the main viewer, and watched the ship drift in space. "Options?"

Data turned his chair toward the captain. "Sir, I believe that if we reroute auxiliary power to the main sensor array, we may be able to achieve enough of a target lock in order to transport an away team over."

Picard mulled this over in his mind. "Very well. Number One, prepare an away team. And make sure to be careful; we don't want our first contact with a new species to be a disaster."

"Aye, Captain," Riker said, and gestured toward each person in turn as he spoke, "Worf, Data, you're with me. Tell Geordi to join us at Transporter Room 2."