"Captain's Log, Stardate 80022.3: We are en-route to Phase Zero Two Five. The Stellar Republic calls this section of space Tartarus. None of their ships have ever returned. Rumor has it that the Deathbringer homeworld is somewhere out here. I only hope we don't run into more of those Bats."
Steven left his ready room and took his seat on the Bridge. The viewscreen showed stardust zipping past Lexington. He had to smile.
"Something on your mind, Captain?" Rob asked.
"World War II aviators were drawn to the sky. Just the feeling of flying, with a glass canopy and only a slim fuselage and wings holding you up. It was an amazing rush for them, and being up there was all that mattered. Even though they were in the worst war history had ever recorded. That's how I'll always feel about space."
"I think you just called Lady Lex 'a slim fuselage and wings,'" Rob grinned out.
"Stellar Cartography to Bridge," announced the intercom.
"Go ahead."
"Captain, this is Lieutenant K'rynn. I found something you might want to take a look at."
Rob and T'lan both turned to look at Steven. "Rob, you have the Bridge. Lieutenant T'lan, come with me." Steven caught a look of jealousy on Lt. McKenna's face as the two entered the turbolift. He pressed a button to the appropriate level instead of using voice command.
"Captain, if I may be so bold. She does not understand the bounds of your relationship."
"Lt. McKenna is a good officer. Don't underestimate her because she shows emotion." T'lan apologized, but Steven was not sure she meant it. "You should try spending more time with humans, Lieutenant. We might surprise you." T'lan did not answer. When the lift doors opened, he led the way to Stellar Cartography.
Lt. K'rynn was also a vulcan. "What do you have?"
"My team has been analyzing the nebula PN-009." K'rynn tapped the controls and a holographic display of the nebula appeared. "It appeared to be nothing out of the ordinary, but then we started to notice these energy fluctuations." K'rynn hit another command, and an energy signature was displayed. "One of my team came up with the idea of comparing the signature with technology we've encountered in Phased Space. It lines up with something familiar."
T'lan stood a little straighter. "It's reminiscent of the Deathbringer Bats."
K'rynn nodded. "You noticed faster than we did." She loaded up a direct comparison of the two energies. They were similar, not identical. "The sensors can't get any more information without getting closer to the nebula."
"What do you think is causing the energy pattern? It would take a lot of Deathbringer Bats for us to see them from here." There was no answer besides the obvious. Lexington needed to get closer before they knew what was in the nebula. "Lt. T'lan, familiarize yourself with this nebula and the surrounding star systems.
Steven tapped his communicator. "Heller to Bridge." Rob gave the go-ahead. "Change course to PN-Zero-Zero-Nine. Sensors at maximum." T'lan went straight to work, conversing with K'rynn. Steven abandoned them for the Bridge.
"Captain?" He had only made it halfway to the turbolift. "Commander Norrington."
Steven searched his memory. "Ah, yes." He did not remember any full-ranked commander stationed aboard Lexington. "What can I do for you, Commander?"
Norrington flustered. "Captain, I was brought on board to be transferred to Starbase 76. Before Lexington was called to Phased Space." Steven adjusted his uniform, embarrassed. "Since we're not heading back to Federation territory in the foreseeable future, would it be possible to give me an assignment aboard your ship?"
"I can petition Starfleet on your behalf. In the meantime, I'll take a look at your service record and see what I can do."
"Thank you, sir." There was relief in the commander's voice. "I never expected to be stuck here for this long. No disrespect intended."
"Of course. If you'll excuse me, I have to get to the Bridge." He entered the turbolift and pressed the top button on the LCARS display. The doors opened a few minutes later. "What's our ETA?"
The helmsman, Ensign Theodore Beech, read the figures off his terminal. "Little over four hours at Warp 9."
"Go ahead. Stop about twenty minutes out." Ensign Beech tapped a single command to execute. "Rob, what do you know about Commander Norrington?"
"Norrington?" The First Officer ruffled his eyebrows. "There was a Captain Norrington of the Putin. Could they be related?"
Steven had a hunch. He tapped his communicator. "Captain Heller to Counselor Berti. Report to the Bridge." When she arrived, he asked her and Rob to come with him to the Ready Room. He loaded Norrington's service record onto his terminal, and turned the display so his staff members could see it.
"Victor Norrington," Rob read, "recently served as Captain of the USS Putin. He was demoted and reassigned as First Officer aboard the USS Faraday." Steven scrolled for more information. Nothing. "Maybe if you look up the Putin's service record?" Steven entered a few commands. "Destroyed?"
"The incident was classified. None of my access codes are high enough." He leaned back in his desk chair, thoughtful. "Commander Norrington is aboard Lexington until we can transfer him to Faraday. He asked to be assigned temporary duties."
"Can you trust a man who's been demoted?" asked Rob.
Counselor Berti replied, "If Starfleet thought he wasn't capable, he would have been asked to resign. I'm assuming you want me to make an evaluation?" Steven nodded. "How urgent is this?"
"Norrington is the most experience officer on this ship. His specialty is in negotiation, and that can be helpful. Especially here."
Rikka nodded. "I'll get right on it. Just one question. He's been aboard for five months. Why hasn't anyone noticed or said anything earlier?"
"You can find out the answer to the second part of that question."
"Do you need me for anything else?" Rob asked. Steven shook his head, and the First Officer left for the Bridge.
"I'll let you know what I find out, Captain." Rikka exited. Steven was not long behind. When he arrived on the Bridge, Lt. McKenna was in his chair.
"I have the Bridge," he announced.