Trapped!

Captain's Log. The Columbine was engaged in a survey of the Aresian Cluster when we encountered a strange anomaly on the edge of System AC-14. Now we're trapped, caught in an unknown region of space, and we're running out of power.

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The starship U.S.S. Columbine drifted through the depths of space, the only indication it still had power a handful of flickering exterior lights. Everyone on the bridge of the Constitution-class cruiser turned as the turbolift doors were forced apart, a Vulcan female slipping through the gap.
"Report Commander T'Kar."
The Vulcan took a moment to organize her thoughts before responding.
"Power is being drained from every source we have. Eventually that will also include the crew."
Captain Valerian Luceno slumped back into the command chair and softly counted to five before glancing at his chief science officer.
"Tell me there's a plan."
"Chief Carolyn believes that if we can rig together a large enough source and expel it…"
"Whatever's out there will focus on it rather than us. That though assumes it's capable of only focusing on one thing at a time."

It would take some time for Carolyn to assemble the power source she wanted, time that Luceno decided could be used for exploration. The cruiser's handful of shuttles were loaded and sent out, each heading in different directions. Aboard the Newton Lieutenant Commander Rachel Douglas carefully monitored the craft's power levels. She didn't know if the shuttles would be targeted, gods know how long they'd last, and was anxious as the Newton cleared the shuttle-bay.

For an hour the shuttles drifted, their sensors reaching out in search of anything. It was the Dickens that detected the asteroid, the little craft transmitting its findings before speeding off. Lieutenant Bariel Jaxa was at the controls, the Bajoran's eyes glued to the viewscreen.
"The asteroid is definitely responsible for the power drain. I'm reading massive amounts of energy coming in from multiple external locations, presumably other starships."
"Stay calm Lieutenant." The Vulcan lieutenant commander in charge glanced at Bariel. "Re-align the sensors for a detailed scan. Find somewhere useful for us to investigate."

---

Bariel ended up locating a cave blasted into the rock, an atmospheric forcefield spread across its mouth. Flying the shuttle down into the cave the Bajoran landed the craft, retrieving a phaser from the locker as the rest of the team stood.
"Remain here Lieutenant and listen for our signal."
Bareil nodded in acknowledgement of her order, settling back into her chair. Lieutenant Commander Saris stepped from the shuttle, moving to one side to let her team pass, and tapped the button to close the shuttle doors before pulling out her tricorder. The energy signature was now registering as much stronger, almost overwhelming the device's instruments, but it still provided a direction.

Ensign Richards from the operations department was standing next to Lieutenant Yelrin as the engineer attempted to open the bulkhead doors at the end of the crude hangar, both turning at Saris' approach.
"This tech looks ancient sir. I'm not sure it can still move."
Saris placed a hand on the metal, her pale fingers standing out against the dark material, before gently pulling for a second.
"The mechanisms are sound Lieutenant. It is simply a matter of interfacing."
"Aye sir." Yelrin's tone was one of resignation and she glanced at Richards. "We'll try using our tricorders to create a feedback loop. That might trigger it."
It took ten minutes for the doors to start grinding apart and Saris waved for the team's security officer to go through first. Ensign Lynn hefted her phaser rifle and, after darting from the hangar, dropped to a knee, glancing over her shoulder.
"All clear sir."

The four officers walked down the artificial tunnel bored into the asteroid, stopping briefly at each set of massive doors set at regular intervals along its length. Behind the doors were colossal energy capacitors, only two still holding any power, and Saris got out her tricorder when they came to a final set of doors.
"The energy signature is on the other side. Lieutenant Yelrin, please open the doors"
Having learnt from the hangar doors it took a handful of moments to get the doors moving and again Lynn was first through, the security officer stumbling as she noticed the glowing orb in the middle of the room.

"I'm reading a containment field around the orb. Guess we know where our power's going."
"Could we disable the energy drain though?"
Saris spoke over Yelrin as both answered Richards' question, the Vulcan gesturing at the monitors on one wall.
"It would be possible but the containment field would almost certainly collapse in a rapid manner."
"Meaning?"
"Whatever that orb is would be released. Considering that it is the energy signature I don't think we want that."
Slightly stung by the rejection of her suggestion Richards crossed to where Lynn was standing, glancing at the other woman and opening her mouth to start speaking.
"Ensign Richards, you and Ensign Lynn will go back to the Dickens and return to the Columbine."
"Sir?"
Both women looked over at Saris in confusion.
"Lieutenant Yelrin and I have devised a way to end the energy drain and maintain the containment field. You will return to the ship."

---

Luceno was with T'Kar and Carolyn in the main conference room, the captain discussing options with the two senior officers, when the intercom whistled.
"Sirs, we're getting a transmission from the Dickens."
Luceno glanced at Carolyn for a second before he reached over to toggle the intercom.
"What's the message Lieutenant?"
"We're being told to make for the anomaly as soon as we stop losing power."
"Understood Lieutenant." Closing the channel Luceno again glanced at Carolyn. "What do you think Julie?"
"It would depend on what Lieutenant Commander Saris found. I'll get down to Engineering though, just in case."
The chief engineer hurried from the conference room, Luceno rising out of his seat as the doors hissed shut.
"We'd better return to the bridge T'Kar."

All the shuttles bar the Dickens had returned by the time T'Kar pushed the turbolift doors apart. Luceno dropped into the center chair as his chief science officer headed to her own station, the captain glancing over at the communications officer.
"The Dickens is on the final approach. Chief Carolyn reports that she stands ready."
Luceno nodded absently, drumming the fingers of his left hand against an armrest. The bridge was quiet for a moment as an overhead light flickered and then the chamber seemed to burst into life, consoles activating as power surged through them.
"Status of the Dickens?"
"Hangar Control reports that they're just touching down."
"Helm, you should have laid in a course for the anomaly? Engage at max impulse."

The Columbine shot into motion, racing for the anomaly when the asteroid violently cracked open, an immense sphere of energy rapidly expanding from where it had been.
"T'Kar? Give me some information."
The Vulcan scientist shook her head after a moment, looking up from her station.
"It appears to be a shockwave caused by the detonation of something incredibly powerful. Subspace itself is being consumed by the shockwave."
"Can we outrun it?"
The officer at the helm tapped at her controls before briefly glancing back at Luceno.
"It'll be close but we should make it."

The shockwave was making the Columbine shake as it flew into the anomaly, so close behind the starship it was. The second the Columbine emerged on the other side it veered away, narrowly avoiding the burst of energy that had followed it.
"Good flying Lieutenant. T'Kar, do we have a fix on our position?"
The Vulcan moved to confer with the navigator for a second before stepping away.
"Sensors have confirmed it. We are back on the edge of AC-14."
Luceno grinned as he relaxed and spun to look at each officer on the bridge.
"Good job people."

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Captain's Log, supplemental. Although the Columbine has now escaped the anomaly it was not within sacrifice. I'm recommending Lieutenant Commander Saris and Lieutenant Yelrin be given posthumous honours.