Captain's Log
Stardate 2261.1.1

It's been ten days since we were forced to evacuate several of our crew. Nine days since our family
was split up. Ten days that have weighed heavily on us all.

Six days after the Waverider left we were finally able to restore life support due to a complicated process
of jumpstarting that Engineering and Operations developed. I've given each member commendations.
We left behind warning beacons to steer other ships away from the V'Ras Cloud and set off to find
the rest of our crew. The jump starting caused a power drain so we had to travel at low warp for
a couple of days. Along the way we ran into the USS Andaman. When we didn't rendezvous with
them they began to search for us. We met up with them two days ago and they assisted us with
power transfers to get back to full power.

We're now both traveling at maximum warp toward the planet where we sent the Waverider.
We don't know much about the system except that it has eleven planets that orbit an K type
(Orange) star and that the planet that our crew is on is an L class planetoid. It has no official name
but since it's the fourth planet in a K type system, we call it simply K-4.

James T. Kirk

Bridge
1:30 PM

Kirk completed his log entry and commed Engineering. "How're the engines down there, Joyce?"

"There're holding up fine, Captain. The power transfer from the Andaman did the trick."

Kirk nodded. "Good." He would have to think of a suitable way to repay the Captain of the Andaman.
Without their help they would have eventually been able to increase their warp speed, but it would
have taken several more days. Several more days before they could find their crewmembers.

He glanced at Tolliver. For the past nine days his Chief of Operations had been as thorough
and professional as ever, but Kirk knew his old friend well enough to be able to see the worry
in his eyes.

He lost one family years ago. If anything's happened to his second….

He forced himself to think positive. Tuskaro and Shylea aren't dead. If they were I would have felt it.
And Shylea promised she'd keep an eye on Kevin.

But he couldn't stop worrying. And he knew that he wouldn't be able to stop until he had all his
crewmembers back.

Nlian lifemates sensed each other all the time. As a Soul Sibling he could only feel and communicate
with them if in actual physical contact. Always before he had cherished his Soul Sibling bond.
But now, for the first time he actually resented it.

Because all it could do from afar was tell him if they'd died. He wanted more than that!
He wanted to know that they were alright! He wanted to reach out to them and let them know
that he was coming! To let all of his sundered crewmembers know that their family was coming!

He looked at Blackwood, who had been serving at Helm ever since Akari left. Blackwood was a skilled
pilot and highly intelligent, especially in a crisis.

But the Captain wanted his Helmsman back and the student missed his teacher.

"How much more time until we arrive, Lieutenant?"

"About 2 hours, sir."

That was two hours two long.

He turned to his Chief of Communications. "M'Ress, try hailing them. We should be close
enough for them to hear us."

The Caitian's hands moved over the controls of her station for a few moments.
"Captain I'm not picking up any transmissions in the area."

Kirk frowned. "Is their subspace beacon still working?"

Another few moments. "Yes, Captain, it appears to be functioning perfectly. I'm not sure
why there's no answer."

Kirk's frowned deepened. "The system restart and power transfer might have affected
our communications. Contact the Andaman. Ask them if they're picking up any transmissions."

More tense moments.

Then…

"Captain, the Andaman isn't picking up anything either."

Kirk's hands clenched tightly.

3:30 PM

"Approaching planetoid K-4," Blackhawk announced.

Kirk glanced over at McCoy, who stood beside him in silent support.. For the past two hours
the Captain had been as tense as a coiled spring. His best friend had come up from Medbay
to keep an eye on him and he had never been more grateful for it.

The Saratoga and the Andaman dropped out of warp near the small ringed planetoid.

"Captain, there appears to be a large meteor shower in the equator," Thelin announced.

"Captain," M'Ress called worriedly; "that's the same vicinity of the subspace beacon."

"Hail them again, M'Ress!" Kirk could hear his voice rising but couldn't bring himself to care.
"Thelin, scan for life signs."

Agonized moments passed.

Then.

His Chief of Communications' words sent icy chills through him. "Captain, there's still no answer.
Neither I nor the Andaman are picking up any response."

His First Officer's words cast a pall over the entire bridge. "Captain, I'm not picking up any life signs."