The USS Bunjil soared through an expansive nebula just beyond the bonds of explored Federation space. The purple and yellow gases parted in the wake of the Nova class starship like water off the bow of a boat. The saucer section like a rounded arrowhead flying towards some unseen heart. The shuttle bay doors opened and a shuttle exited the larger craft to take off along its own course deeper into the nebula. Aboard it was Naomi Wildman now a Junior grade Lieutenant and accompanied by Ensign Th'Narl an Andorian woman and Lieutenant Wainwright a human man and her commanding officer.
Naomi manned the helm, steering the craft through dense clouds of gas.
"Head for that region there with the hints of orange. It looks like it has the most varied range of gasses for our samples."
Wainwright said with a slight irish lilt to his voice. The science division blue of his uniform denoting his expertise in the subject.
She piloted the ship towards the area he had indicated, parking it within the sulfurous cloud. Now they began their research. The process itself was rather manotimus, Naomi and Wainwright would prepare a series of containment tubes and Th'Narl would beam samples of the gas into them. After about an hour they had managed to bag about eight cylinders full and the two women decided to break for lunch while Wainwright began analyzing the composition of the samples.
They returned to the cockpit area of the shuttle, passing by the replicator to get some food. They sat down to eat and watch the stars drift by behind the cosmic cloud.
"What are you eating?"
Th'Narl asked.
"Pepperoni pizza, an old friend recommended it. Yourself?"
"Kaznor stew, my partner's favorite. I like to order it when I'm missing her, helps her feel less far away."
"She in Starfleet too?"
Naomi asked
"No she's back on Andoria. These long term assignments are always a bit of a punish."
Her eyes glinted in the starlight emanating from the view.
"She would have loved this you know. It's beautiful."
Naomi had to agree but as she looked out upon the dance of swirling cosmic gases she saw a dark shrouded shape flying across her field of view. She stood up startled
"Did you see that?"
"See what?"
The shape circled back around for another pass getting closer this time, now more visible it appeared to be the silhouette of some kind of unknown starship. It had long bat-like wings tipped with warp nacelles and easily dwarfed the shuttle. Whilst the majority of the craft was colored black it was detailed with patterns that mimicked the appearance of the nebula making it difficult to see.
"Luteitent!"
She yelled prompting Wainwright to return to the front section of the shuttle
"What is…"
He asked before spotting the sinister shape hanging in space. He pointed to a control panel indicating for Naomi to take the station.
"Try hailing them"
She pressed several controls but was only met with a negative electronic chirp.
"No response."
Lights on the surface of the unknown ship began to glow brighter. Naomi checked the readings
"They're charging weapons"
"Shields up!"
Wainwright ordered, seconds before the shuttle was buffeted by enemy fire.