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assume that most of the station personnel—if not all—had survived. Still, there were unexplained problems. After the protostar ignition had run its course, the station should have been able to use sub-space. While there was a reference to high levels of Ybakra radiation in the science data, that couldn't interfere with sub-space unless there were previously uncharted sub-spacial mass anomalies in the area. It appeared the science data was incomplete, as well.
    "Captain, most of the personnel aboard the station were kept in deep freeze. Our physicists say there's a strong possibility that Ybakra radiation from the vicinity of the collapsed protostars has degraded the myelin sheathing on the nerves of all frozen "sleepers" … and the Enterprise is the only starship presently equipped to deal with such a medical emergency."
    Emergency! Not much of an emergency after ten years, Kirk thought. Still, if the sleepers hadn't been revived …
    "Your orders are to proceed to the Black Box at maximum warp, relieve survivors—if any—and do a complete procedural and scientific investigation. All prior assignments are postponed. The Romulans and Kshatriyans have given permission for Enterprise to cross neutral zones in their vicinity, up to star date 4386.5, after which time Enterprise will be regarded as hostile and fired upon."
    Cutting it close, Kirk thought. Even at Warp eleven, maximum without giving Scotty severe angina, it would take them two weeks to cross the galaxy into octant 7.
    "Representatives from the Vulcan Spyorna have made their concern quite clear. T'Prylla is an extremely valuable Vulcan, Jim, even if something of a renegade."
    The Admiral gave his formal sign-off as Kirk ordered all senior watch officers to the briefing room. He suggested Mason should be present. "Mr. Sulu to the bridge," he concluded, "and rig for prolonged warp maximum."

    Mason took a seat in the corner of the room, watching the officers file in and making notes about their physical appearance and apparent mental states. One of the two FNS mobile recorders assigned to her for the story floated beside her, sensors and lenses extended. The recorder was an older model, a flat rectangular prism about fifty centimeters long and twenty wide.
    When the senior watch officers had absorbed the information from the transmission, they sat attentively around the consoles and briefing table. Spock had lifted one eyebrow, seemingly for good, and intently examined a science display. McCoy made notes on his electronic scratchpad, while Scotty—much as Kirk had expected—shook his head and muttered.
    "Any comments, gentlemen?" Kirk asked.
    "Captain," Scott began.
    "I am aware of condition of engineering, Mr. Scott," Kirk said. Then, softening, "But … I would appreciate an update."
    "I was not expecting a prolonged warp maximum, Captain. E'en with our time in spacedock, we need at least a day at warp two for a Jeffries refit, or we could blow an entire bus in bottle seven. I've been nursing that one along until we could log travel time—it cannot be done stationary."
    "Thank you, Mr. Scott. Where will we be when the refit becomes necessary?"
    Scott looked distinctly uncomfortable. "We are seventeen days from the Black Box at maximum warp. If we go all out for the first part of our trip—"
    "Which we will," Kirk said.
    "Then we'll be right in the middle of the Kshatriyan neutral zone."
    "Do what you can now. I'll give you four hours at warp two. We won't have the luxury later."
    Scott knew better than to offer further argument. He nodded and stared darkly at his work forms.
    McCoy was next. "The crew has been ridden hard, Jim. Our last mission was no piece of cake. Even with a month in drydock, we haven't had opportunity for liberty."
    "So what can we do about it, Bones?"
    McCoy shrugged. "Keep a stiff upper lip, as usual."
    "Can we handle it?"
    "Of course we can. But—"
    "That's what I need to know. Mr. Spock, you're looking pensive."
    Spock glanced up,