Chapter 1

Jean-Luc was behind his desk, pondering his decisions. It had been his judgment call to make the jump to this galaxy and it hadn't paid off the way he had intended. They had been searching for new life and new civilizations for three months now and had found only one semi-sentient race and a planet supporting a small diversity of micro-organisms but without a trace of atmosphere. All the inspiring words spoken at starfleet academy when they had left space dock were beginning to wear off and morale was low among his crew consisting mainly of ensigns and cadets, eager to explore. When his crew discovered the strange radio transmission, Jean-Luc had jumped at the chance to explore a new galaxy and had spared no expenses to get them there. Now he needed to face his senior staff and explain the new situation, he wasn't looking forward to it.

The staff was gathered in the staff room and they were looking expectantly at their captain, waiting for an explanation for the past events.

"It seems", the captain started, "we have made a wrong call coming here" "That jump has cost us more antimatter that we anticipated and as a result we now have barely enough to return to our own galaxy" "We'll be making the jump back as soon as the ship is ready"

Geordi was not about to give up the search so easily. "Sir, there used to be a planet here, probably the home world of a sentient species, and now it's gone somehow. Isn't that enough reason to investigate?"

"This discovery sure stirred up peoples imaginations" Deana added. "After all these months now people finally have something to work for"

The captain had thought of this. "I wish we could keep on looking and we would if we had more resources, however if we don't make the return jump soon, we won't be ablte to make it at all" He said, with an air of finality.

"Forgive the breach of protocol, sir, but I think we may have found something" came a voice over the intercom