Uhura was running an analysis of vacuum flare sensor readings at the Asimov’s science station when Lieutenant Tarha addressed Captain Blake. “Captain, a new advisory from Starfleet. Latest vacuum flare outburst: the Vega system.”

Erin Blake’s face showed concern as she turned toward the communications officer, whose long, straight blond hair was tied back in a severe ponytail. “That’s a busy system. Any damage?”

Tarha’s voice was heavy. “Two ships sustained damage, ma’am. A civilian freighter out of Rigel, the Norman Mallory, and a Starfleet scout, U.S.S. Xuanzang. Multiple injuries on both. Three fatalities on the Xuanzang.”

Blake gritted her teeth, fist striking the arm of her command chair. “Damn it! The first fatalities. And we still have no idea why.”

She rose from her chair and stepped up to the railing by Uhura’s station. “Commander, was Vega on the list of candidate worlds visited by the Enterprise?”

Uhura had already called up the records on an auxiliary screen, which she consulted now. “Yes, Captain. We had a brief layover at the Vega Colony on stardate 1502, before commencing a star-mapping tour.”

“Aye, I remember,” Montgomery Scott said from the engineering station. “Not long before we had that run-in with Balok and that oversized Christmas-tree ornament he called a ship.” Uhura gave him a slight nod, acknowledging the reminder.

“Which would seem to support Reliant’s theory,” Blake said.

“So far,” Uhura cautioned. “One confirmed prediction isn’t enough to be sure.”

Blake stroked her chin. “But what is it about the Enterprise that could be connected to this phenomenon?”

“I’ve been investigating that,” Uhura said, gesturing to the analysis running on her screens. “I’ve compiled all the sensor readings taken from the first five incidents, scanning for any pattern matches to the Enterprise’s engine signature, its shields, phasers, anything.”

Scott moved over to stand by her station. “We didn’t use ship’s phasers in any of those systems, though. They’re friendly ports.”

“I know, but I don’t want to rule anything out.”

“Aye.”

Blake turned to Tarha. “Lieutenant, relay the readings from Vega to the science station, please.”

“Aye, Captain.” She worked the transfer controls on her station.

Moments later, the data downloaded onto Uhura’s board, and she set to work integrating it with the previous data sets. After letting the analysis run for a few moments, the commander shook her head. “Still no evident pattern matches.”

“So what did the Enterprise do at those ports that it didn’t do elsewhere?” Blake wondered. Her eyes locked on Uhura’s. “Can you remember anything that stands out about those particular visits?”