"Sir, we're picking up a distress signal about four light-years from here," Ensign Selanne at Operations reported.
"Do we have an ID on the vessel?" Jon Lataro, holding the conn in the absence of Commodore Wallace asked.
"It's an Aurora-class transport vessel, identifying itself as the SS Vanguard, Captain Stanislaus Szymanski in command. 108 colonists plus settlement supplies. He reports their warp core out of commission."
"Commander Chee, take a shuttle and investigate. Take along a team of Engineering people. Report back as soon as the situation is under control," Lataro ordered.
"Aye, sir," Johnny said as he left the bridge.
Johnny was gratified for once to be doing something on this particular mission. First contact with a peaceful and enlightened society generally left very little for Security to do. He envied Jenara, being as active as she was during this contact. At the same time, he was more than a little irritated at not being allowed to go on the away mission. He kept trying to tell himself that nothing would happen, but somehow he wasn't buying it. Besides, Johnny thought sourly, Starfleet regs prohibit two or more members of the same family on the same away mission. Stupid reg, but you're Security now. Can't be setting a bad example.
The transport came into view after only a few hours of flight. It appeared to have severe hull damage.
"Captain Szymanski, this is Lieutenant Commander Johnny Chee of the USS Hornet. I see your ship is very badly damaged. How is your life support holding up?"
[Thank God someone's here! We've lost our warp core and several compartments have been depressurized. Everyone's okay, but we're dead in space right now!]
"Mr. Ndele, does the Hornet have everything we'd need for a refit?" Johnny asked the senior Engineering officer in his party.
"Not without eliminating our ability to repair ourselves. I doubt the Niprons have the capability, either. They don't even have enough dilithium to keep supplying their own fleet."
"And it'll take them months to get anywhere out here on impulse alone," Johnny said. "Okay, let's get on board and see what we can do."
As Johnny orbited the transport it was clear that no ordinary accident had taken place. That carbon scoring around the damaged area looks like it was caused by some sort of weapon or mine. No meteor could have damaged any modern vessel this badly. He found the Vanguard's docking port and secured the shuttle.
The Starfleet boarding party was welcomed as heroes by the terrified colonists. Other than a few minor injuries incurred during the original accident, the entire complement was in good health.
"Something impacted us about two weeks ago, Commander. It caused our warp core to destabilize. We had to eject the core or risk losing the ship," Captain Szymanski explained.
"Where is your colony site located?" Johnny asked.
"The New Argentina system. There's an initial colony of about fifty waiting for us, and the natives are friendly."
"That's over thirty light-years from here! You'd be decades getting there on impulse power alone!"
"And we've been forced to dip into our farming stocks just to stay alive. Our food production facilities were destroyed by the blast."
"Any idea what might have hit you?"
"My guess is that it was some form of proximity mine," Szymanski said, becoming visibly agitated. "We tried to evade, but the mine just homed right in on our warp signature."
"That sounds about right. The Mullurans have been active in this sector. That mine sounds like something they may have come up with. I'm going to contact the Hornet and see what we can do about getting you back to Starbase 901 for a refit."
"A refit? That's going to be rather expensive, Commander."
"It beats dying hungry and cold in space. Besides, I'm sure the company that's sponsoring this colonization effort is insured," Johnny said. Unless this is a wildcat colony, in which case you're on your own.
"Commander, take a look at this," an Engineering ensign said, directing Johnny's attention to some tricorder readings.
"Yep. Definitely Mulluran energy signatures." Johnny tapped his combadge. "Chee to Lataro -- there's something here you may find of interest." He explained the tricorder readings and related Captain Szymanski's testimony about his situation.
[Very good. I'll inform Commodore Wallace. Bring the Engineering team back to the Hornet, then take the shuttle and tow the Vanguard back to SB901. While you're there, brief Captain Mallory on the presence of active Mulluran weapons in this area, and on the Nipron civilization. The base can handle follow-up.]
"Won't I be needed here, sir?"
[This is actually going fairly smoothly at the moment,] Lataro said. [Still, be back here no later than five days from now, just in case.]
"Acknowledged. Chee's Towing Service out," Johnny replied. Oh, well... it beats hanging around the Hornet with nothing to do for the next few days. I just hope Jenara's going to be okay.