Special thanks to Infinite Parenthesis for being an unofficial beta reader for this story :D
Interstellar void, 3 light years from Algirae 3-C System
The U.S.S. Disquisitive hung in space, as if suspended from invisible threads. Its stubby nacelles glowed softly with power, and lights emanated from the countless windows dotting the surface of the hull, piercing the surrounding darkness. It seemed so serene; as if it had been that way for thousands of years. But this could be no further from the truth; the interior of the ship was a flurry of activity, as scientists and engineers attempted to understand the anomaly that floated 3 parsecs from the bow of the ship. It seemed so impossible; a violation of sensibility. Yet it was there; a portal that led to another universe.
Captain Fodin drummed her fingers on the armrest of the commanding officer's chair, contemplating the excited and hushed voices of the people of science around her indifferently. She just didn't share the same excitement that these people had for spatial anomalies. Thousands of these popped up all over the Federation every week. She herself had surveyed at least 500 of these within the span of her career. And if initial scans were to be believed, this anomaly led to an alternate universe. If the Dominion War was anything to go by, anomalies that led to strange, unknown places were best left untouched. Actually, shouldn't we be figuring out how to close this thing? Fodin thought. Instead, they're trying to find out if it's safe for starships to pass through.
All of a sudden, there was a loud cheer, and people began to applaud and pat one another on the back. Fodin herself was patted roughly a few times by scientists who looked as if they had just been bought a new toy. She stood up from her position of comfort, and pushed her way past a few statue-like Vulcan engineers to get a clearer look at the viewscreen.
On the large, flat screen, a roughly cylindrical object was travelling back to the Disquisitive at speed. Ah, that was the probe we sent in earlier. So this anomaly does indeed operate like a wormhole. Scientists and engineers alike crowded enthusiastically around consoles to view the telemetry from the probe.
After a period of hushed discussion, one of them-a representative-said respectfully, "From the data gathered by the probe, we have assessed that it is safe for living beings to travel through the anomaly. Therefore, if it is fine with you, we would like to request a manned expedition to the other end of the anomaly."
"I'm still not too convinced that this is a good idea, but I guess we can send in a runabout? I apologise, but that's the most that I'm willing to send in at the moment, Professor," Fodin answered.
"Thank you, that would be more than enough," the Professor said cheerfully.