Admiral Pike sat at his desk in his cabin reading the next PADD in the huge stack Piper had brought him. As the text slowly scrolled up the small screen, he couldn't help thinking how much he'd rather be back in the center seat of a starship of his own. Sure it was dangerous, but there was a *lot* less paperwork!
Meanwhile, Yeoman Piper stood quietly and patiently off to the side, hands clasped behind her back. She knew better than to disturb the Admiral when he was deep in thought, and judging by his furrowed brow and clenched fists, interrupting now meant death!
Pike set down the report he was reading on fleet movement with a frown and picked up the next PADD that detailed the *Ronin's* own search for the Kelvan Battle Planet. The frown deepened. Starting from the Battle Planet's last known location -- the formerly-inhabited now-dead world labeled on Federation star charts only as PX5-K47 -- the *Ronin* had been cutting conic sections all through this sector of the Galaxy looking for the destroyers. But after three days, there still was no sign.
He couldn't read any more. Tossing the PADD back onto the desk with a flip of his wrist, Pike sat back in disgust and remembered the ancient Chinese curse about living in interesting times. "A little *too* interesting for my taste," he muttered.
"Sir?" said Piper, ever attentive. "Did you mumble something?"
Piper's voice snapped him out of his funk. He blinked, then rubbed his eyes tiredly, then looked at Piper, standing off to the side. Unbidden, he suddenly wished he was twenty years younger. Just as quickly, he banished the distracting and inappropriate thought from his mind.
He smiled a tired smile at Jamie and said, "Yes, Yeoman, I was mumbling. I was just wishing we'd find the blasted Kelvans! I'm getting tired of waiting."
"I think I know how you feel, Admiral. And I think most of the rest of the crew feel the same," replied Piper. She took a step further into the center of the room. "We've been flying in circles for three days now without picking up a trace. And our new "expert" on all things Kelvan isn't exactly a boost to morale either."
"Yes, I'd noticed that," mused Pike. "I also heard that Counselor Bentara's paid him an early visit, so hopefully between the two of them they can mesh him successfully into the crew."
Piper looked like she was about to say something, but the ship's red alert klaxon cut her off. Captain Evan's voice came over the intercom, "All hands. Red alert! This is no drill! Red alert! Red alert!"
Pike and Piper looked at each other. This could only mean one thing. The *Ronin* had found the Kelvan Battle Planet!
Pike leapt from his chair and bounded for the door, Piper close at his heels. Twenty seconds later, their turbolift deposited them on the bridge. Pike took in the situation with his first step onto the deck. Evans was in the command chair, while the bridge stations were manned by the Alpha shift crewmembers. The viewscreen showed a dull beige planet mottled with umber and brown, and ringed by eight equally-spaced moons circling its equator -- a Kelvan Battle Planet.
Lieutenant Andres at Tactical was counting down the distance, "They've dropped out of transwarp. 12 million, 11 million, 10 million," but suddenly he stopped and squinted at his readings. After a second, he seemed to decide that his readings were true, and said, "Captain, there's a *second* Battle Planet ahead."
The announcement sent a chill through the bridge.
Captain Evans recovered first and asked, "Heading?"
Andres checked his console and reported, "Both are headed dead into the heart of the Federation."