Star Trek - Fingers Crossed
Copyright© 2026 by SilkStories
Chapter 6: Defying Orders
I strolled along deck three’s corridors, hands clasped behind my back. Passing the biology lab, I observed several of our scientists, including Lira, conversing with a colleague. She remained unaware of my presence as I continued down the passageway.
I paused outside the Physics lab, observing through the open doorway. Inside, Dr. Zoran Thal, our lead Andorian physicist, stood hunched over his console. Complex equations scrolled across the display—calculations far beyond my understanding. I watched as his long fingers moved with precise, almost agitated motions across the interface. His antennae suddenly snapped upright, quivering slightly as if catching some imperceptible frequency in the air.
His head snapped toward me. How did he detect my presence? “Captain?” he inquired with genuine curiosity as I smiled faintly. “I can’t slip past you, Doctor,” I remarked wryly. He returned the smirk, replying, “No. Is there something I can assist you with?”
I stepped inside and said, “I know we don’t have any assignments – usually we’d receive them from Starfleet.” He nodded. “I am aware. Though it has given me time to consider ideas that might benefit this ship.” My interest sharpened. “Please do share, Doctor. Don’t leave your captain in suspense.”
He tapped his console, pulling up a schematic of our ship with that strange resonating pulse we’d emitted—the one that broke us free from Endeavour’s tractor beam. “Are you studying how the ship generated that pulse?” I asked. His antennae gave an interested flicker, perhaps surprised I’d grasped the concept so readily.
“We might have assumed our ship gained sentience from the integrated Kaelari genetic material,” he explained, his words measured and precise. I leaned closer, absorbing every syllable as he continued. “But that’s not what happened. The ship acted autonomously—but only when it perceived a direct threat.”
He tapped a section of the ship on the display. The schematic immediately magnified, focusing on a specific area. “This is where the organic tendrils have penetrated,” he explained, tracing the path with one long finger.
“The organic material isn’t merely growing around our systems,” he explained. “It’s integrating with them. Our electromagnetic currents pass directly through these structures. They appear to metabolise a fraction of that energy.”
He tapped again. On the display, the organic material pulsed visibly. “This occurred when the tractor beam locked onto us,” he explained, shifting to a wider perspective. “These tendrils reacted defensively—then did something quite remarkable.” Another tap brought up diagnostic logs. “It conducted what I can only describe as a consensus count,” he continued. “The network compared the neural signatures aboard against those registered within it. Two were absent—you and Lieutenant Stone.”
“Its immediate response was...”
“ ... to beam us back aboard.”
He inclined his head in confirmation.
Stepping onto the turbolift, I felt my eyes widen with the staggering implications of what Dr. Thal had revealed. The ship wasn’t precisely alive—at least not in any conventional sense. But it responded. It recognised us. Somehow, that distinction wasn’t particularly comforting.
As I drew breath to speak the command, the lift hummed to life without my authorization. My brow tightened as it ascended unbidden, stopping abruptly as the doors parted onto the bridge.
I stepped out, casting a puzzled glance back at the turbolift. My eyebrow arched at its unusual behavior just as Garrett’s voice rang out, startling me. “Captain on the bridge!” he announced. Though I dismissed the lift’s independent action as coincidence—the bridge was indeed my intended destination—the timing felt uncanny.
I settled into the command chair and glanced toward the viewscreen with a sigh. For an entire day now, we’d held position here, watching asteroids drift through space—a monotonous view that offered little distraction. With dwindling patience, I knew we had to determine our next move soon, or sheer boredom would become our greatest threat.
Bleep-bip
My head snapped toward Ensign Mitchell at the tactical console, drawn by the sudden alert. “Ensign?” I prompted, beating him to the report. “Yes, Captain—we have vessels approaching,” he confirmed, his voice tight with focus. “It’s Kaelari.” My pulse quickened as he added, “I can only detect three ships, Captain.”
I turned to Garrett, my voice steady despite the tension. “Your assessment, Lieutenant?” His gaze remained fixed on the viewscreen for several seconds, deep in thought. “Three ships ... I don’t believe this is a hostile approach.” Relief eased some of the tightness in my shoulders as I gave a single nod. “I agree.”
“Shall I raise shields, Captain?” Mitchell asked. “No, Ensign,” I replied. “Lieutenant Brennan ... open a channel to the Kaelari.”
“Channel open, Captain.”
I pushed myself up from the chair, fingers tightening around the armrests as I rose. Standing just behind Ensign Rejal at the helm, I shot a quick look toward Garrett. He met my glance with a brief, reassuring smile and nod before my attention snapped back to the viewscreen.
“Kaelari vessels, this is Captain Delores Vance of the Federation research vessel USS Seeker,” I announced, my voice steady but carrying the weight of our precarious situation. “Please acknowledge our transmission.”
The silence on the bridge stretched taut, thick enough to suffocate us as we waited. I glanced toward Garrett; he met my gaze and lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug, his expression unreadable.
“Captain Delores Vance?”
My head whipped toward the viewer, stunned by our first genuine contact with the Kaelari. My mouth fell open as their translated words filled the bridge.
“Yes ... I am Delores Vance.”
“Who are Kaelari?”
My brow furrowed in bewilderment as I looked to Garrett. He stepped forward to stand beside me, leaning in close. “Captain,” he murmured, his voice low but clear, “the designation ‘Kaelari’ was never spoken by them ... it was merely a label assigned to describe their species.” His words settled over the bridge like revelation.
Garrett was right—Starfleet had never managed to crack their linguistic code.
“I apologize...” My voice carried clearly across the silent bridge, careful to maintain a respectful tone. “We do not know your species, but we wish to learn. What name do you call yourselves?”
“We are Xylothian ... We are pleased to meet you.”
A soft gasp escaped my lips, my vision swimming with unexpected tears.
“So are we.”
“Captain! These are the species that tortured us!” Mira’s voice cracked like a whip across the bridge as she glared at the viewscreen. My eyes widened at her sudden outburst. “Mira!” I snapped, shock tightening my throat. Before I could continue, Garrett’s voice cut through the tension. “You are out of line, Ensign!” he barked at Mira.
My pulse stuttered against my ribs as I turned back to the viewscreen, dread coiling in my gut. Mira’s reckless words hung in the air between us and the Xylothians—a spark threatening to ignite a diplomatic disaster.
“We regret what we did to you ... but we had no choice.”
Silence descended upon the bridge once again, my thoughts scattering in every direction. Did they just apologize?
“We are endangered ... most of our people have been hunted and killed. We seek refuge.”
I drew a steadying breath, considering what promises I could offer. Our own circumstances mirrored theirs - now fugitives from Starfleet, hunted as they were.
“I understand,” I said through our comm channel, my voice steady despite the turmoil beneath. “How can we help?”
“Captain?” Ensign Mitchell’s voice broke through the heavy silence. “We’ve detected a Federation vessel entering the asteroid field.”
My pulse quickened as I turned toward him. “Can they detect us within the rocks?”
He shook his head, eyes fixed on his console. “No, but I don’t think that’s what’s masking our signature.”
The Xylothian spoke, their musical tones resonating through the bridge. “Our modifications to your vessel assist you.” I turned toward the viewer as Mitchell confirmed from his station, “They’re correct, Captain. Their organic components within our ship are dampening our energy fields. We’re undetectable unless within close sensor range.”
“Why are you helping us?” I asked the Xylothian.
A long silence stretched between us before the Xylothian finally spoke again, its tone carrying urgency. “We need your help ... Captain!”
A gentle smile spread across my face as I asked, “What is your name?”
“My designation would be impossible for you to pronounce by your primitive standards.”
My expression tightened, lips compressing into a firm line. Though most likely the Xylothian meant no offense, the insult still pricked at me.
“It translates as Vorlag in your tongue.”
“It’s nice to meet you Vorlag ... how can we help?”
In the observation lounge, I gathered my senior staff and bridge crew. They sat assembled around the table while I paced restlessly before them, measuring the confined space with deliberate strides - two steps left, three right - hands clasped firmly behind my back.
“Alright, here’s our circumstance, the Kaelari...” Garrett interjected, “Xylothians, Captain” he said as I shot him a look, he turned his gaze downwards avoiding mine.
Acknowledging my error, I continued, “The Xylothians need our help. This ship has evolved since I first stepped aboard, but we’re still outmatched by most federation Starships.”
“We’ve got a Federation vessel closing in to hunt us down, and who knows how many others are out there,” I said, pacing faster as tension knotted my shoulders. “If it’s Captain Shaw commanding that ship? I’m sure he’ll will relish every second of detaining me.”
“We have a half-mechanical, half-living vessel we don’t know how to fully control,” I admitted, my voice tightening with strain. “And I’m not even certain if I’m in danger of being tossed out an airlock should this ship suddenly decide to do so.”
“It is conceivable, Captain,” Ensign Varek stated. I glanced at her with concern—the remark hadn’t been intended seriously, yet now unease prickled at me. Vulcans possessed an uncanny tendency toward accuracy in their logic.
I finally sank into my chair, fingers working at my throbbing temples. Following Vorlag’s advice, we’d settled the ship onto a substantial asteroid, clinging to its surface like the Xylothians did themselves. With engines cold and emissions silenced, we looked less like a Federation vessel—so masked that detection would be impossible even if they flew right beside us.
“Captain to the bridge, the USS Endeavour is nearby,” I heard the tactical ensign announce over the comms.
“On our way.”
As we returned to the bridge, Ensign Rejal and Mitchell relieved the previous crew at their stations while I settled into my chair. “Have they detected us, Ensign?” Mitchell shook his head. “No, Captain, they’re scanning the region—attempting to locate us.”
The realization struck me—we couldn’t remain concealed indefinitely, and Starfleet needed to understand the truth of our interactions with the Xylothians. “Lieutenant Brennan, open a channel to Vorlag,” I directed, formulating my next move.
“Hail the Endeavour,” I commanded, just as Brennan announced, “Hailing the Endeavour.”
My fingers tightened on the armrests as the viewscreen flickered to life, revealing Captain Shaw seated imperiously in his command chair aboard the Endeavour. I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze.
“Captain Shaw!”
“Delores!” Shaw barked, his tone making the name sound like an insult. “We can do this the civilized way or the messy way. Come out from wherever you’re cowering, get yourself over here, and let’s have a little chat.”
“You know damn well I’d be in the brig before my boots hit your deck plating,” I shot back.
Shaw snapped back, “You’re damn right you will. You’re in enough trouble as it is ... you’re just being a nuisance.”
My expression hardened with contained fury. “I informed you we’d successfully translated the Kaelari transmissions,” I reminded him, my voice tight with accusation, “and you mocked me to my face.”
Shaw sighed as he replied, “Come aboard and we’ll discuss.” I shook my head, my voice hardening with accusation. “I heard you on that transmission, Captain. You were swarmed by the Kaelaris—we heard their pleas while you attacked them and killed one of their people.”
“How do you know this?” he asked, his skepticism palpable even through the viewscreen. I threw my hands up in exasperation, my voice sharpening with each word. “For crying out loud, Avery—I just told you. We can understand them.”
Shaw pivoted toward an officer just out of frame. “Replay the transmission from our encounter with the Kaelari,” he ordered, his voice carrying an edge of impatience. A moment later, his unseen communications officer acknowledged crisply, “Aye, Captain.”
Captain Shaw: “You have acted aggressively. I repeat, stop your attack now.”
“Sir! Shields are down to eighty five percent.”
Xylothians: “We mean you no harm.”
Captain Shaw: “If you do not cease your attempt. we will be forced to fire!”
“No use sir, they’re continuing to emit their energy pulse. Our shields are now at eighty percent.”
Captain Shaw: “Disable their weapons!”
I sat rigid as the recording played, the unmistakable crackle of phaser fire confirming what I already knew.
Shaw nodded once, and the transmission cut off abruptly. “Humor me, Captain!” he jeered, his tone dripping with condescension. “What did they say?”
“They meant you no harm,” I stated flatly, for that had been the core of every fragmented transmission the Xylothians attempted to convey.
Shaw scoffed, shaking his head with dismissive arrogance. “A junior cadet could have come up with that,” he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “You’re not talking your way out of this, Delores. Surrender now or face far worse consequences.”
I rose from the command chair with resolve tightening every muscle, my gaze locking onto Shaw’s contemptuous expression through the viewscreen. “Lieutenant Brennan,” I commanded, my voice cutting through the charged silence. From his station, Eliott responded without hesitation, his fingers moving across the console with practiced efficiency. “Aye, Captain.”
“Captain, a vessel is approaching,” came the clipped announcement from Shaw’s communications officer. A self-satisfied smirk twisted Shaw’s features as he declared, “You made the right choice, Delores.”
“It’s a Kaelari vessel, sir,” his officer announced with sudden urgency. Shaw’s head whipped toward the comm station, confusion flashing across his face as he demanded, “What?”
“There’s more approaching, sir,” the officer corrected, his voice rising with urgency. “A lot more. They’re surrounding our ship!”
“Raise shields!”
“Red Alert!”
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.