Sector 13
Frigate Taam Yim

"Commander, Computer has engaged the active energy shield. Authorise autonomous fire?" A young lieutenant reported from his station.

The view screen on the bridge displayed the myriad of objects suddenly coming off the Himiko's Revenge.

"Do we have incoming, lieutenant?" the acting captain asked calmly.

"Negative... Computer just classified it as debris. Floating slowly."

"Understood. Maintain monitoring mode and the shields. Helm, double our distance to the Venterran ships. Science, initiate quantum scan."

The Commander watched the bridge officers carry out his orders. A quantum scan was different means of determening the composition of one or several objects, and the intention was to reveal as much as possible of the alien ships. A status bar appeared on the view screen. It indicated the scan would be finished in 1350 Candact rotations*. He started smiling as he got an idea.

"Com! Ask the Bragging Steak if they require assistance. We can offer towing."



* A Candact rotation (CR) was the rotational period of the pulsar named Candact in the centre of the Treecuu Star Empire. 1 CR ≈ 1.6 s.
 
Sector 13
Himiko's Revenge

There was a slight hiss as the landing gear of Nuum deployed, and the shuttle came to rest on the hangar floor. Seemingly from nowhere a door frame appeared on the hull and a door opened. There stood Tiro. Her long black robe fluttered as the air pressure was equalised. Her eyes carefully scanned the hangar.