“Now entering standard orbit of Risa,” Songmin Wong announced to the bridge crew of the da Vinci. He tapped a further command into his console and smiled with satisfaction. They had arrived at Risa without incident, which made a nice change for the conn officer. After the navigational nightmare of the so-called “Sargasso sector,” a simple flight to Risa was a welcome change.

Wong, like most in Starfleet, looked forward to the challenges of exploring strange new life-forms and new civilizations, but he never expected ferrying a bunch of techs across the galaxy to be so dangerous. He glanced down at his left hand and said another silent prayer of thanks that he managed to retain it after an explosion of his console hurled debris at him at Galvan VI.

“Very good, Wong.”

Wong turned to look up at Captain Gold as he rose from his chair. The captain hadn’t been so lucky. His hand was lost as nearly the entire ceiling had come crashing down upon him. But the captain was luckier than tactical officer David McAllan. Gold lost his left hand due to the pinning debris. McAllan lost his life as he leapt forward and pushed the captain to safety, taking the brunt of the wreckage himself.

Wong wondered for some time after if he should have requested reassignment, the way the alpha-shift ops officer, Ina Mar, did. He still sometimes wrestled with the thought, especially after a reoccurring vivid nightmare in which he was the one trapped beneath the wreckage of the bridge as the crew lay dead around him. In the dream, the only sounds he heard were his own heavy breathing and the groaning of the hull as the badly damaged ship gave in to the pressures of Galvan VI’s turbulent atmosphere.

Wong repressed a shudder and turned his thoughts to more pleasant pursuits. Despite the fact that Gold warned everyone that the trip to Risa was purely business, Wong hoped to convince the captain to allow him some time to take his pleasure yacht out for a spin.

Wong recently obtained the craft after investing inherited strips of latinum in the Ferengi market. He was fairly successful and that gave Wong further reason to think about where his life was going. He could still see much of the universe as an investor. And he wouldn’t have to be placed in such hazardous situations.

The viewscreen showed the green-blue hue of Risa below them. Wong caught sight of his yacht in the lower corner of the screen.

“Permission to magnify the lower quadrant, Captain?” he asked.

Gold squinted at the viewer and smiled in recognition. “Granted.”

The young lieutenant tapped in the command and the screen adjusted to the required setting. A long, sleek, light gray pleasure yacht hung just over the Olobon continent. Mooring lights faded in and out.

Gold whistled appreciatively. “She’s a beauty.”

“You should see her when she’s all lit up and in flight,” Wong replied, suddenly imagining himself in the observation lounge of his ship, entertaining potential investors. It seemed a pleasant way to live.

Tev grunted as he leaned over the railing to get a better look. “It is a practical design. What have you named it?”

Wong’s face flushed slightly. “I haven’t been able to come up with one yet, sir.”

“You’ve taken her out and she doesn’t have a name?” Gold asked with a grin. “What kind of a ship-master are you?”

“I haven’t really thought about it, I guess,” Wong admitted.

“Well, we’re going to be in orbit for a while, Wong,” Gold said. “I suggest you use that time to think about it. Maybe we can take a moment to put the lettering on her. A fine craft like that needs to have an identity.”

“Yes, sir,” Wong replied, turning back toward his console. “Thank you, sir.”

The intercom beeped overhead.

“Bridge, this is Gomez. We’re assembled and ready to beam down.”

“Good luck, Gomez. Try to avoid the tourist traps,” Gold answered.

“Yes, sir.” She chuckled.

“Captain,” Shabalala called out. “I think you should take a look at this.”

Gold and Tev stepped up to the tactical station where Shabalala was staring intently at his monitor.

“What is it?” Tev asked.

“I’ve completed a thorough scan of the entire Risan system. Risa has a lot of traffic. Each vessel’s engine gives off a particular energy signature.”

“And your point is?” Tev asked with a tone of annoyance.

“I’m reading no recent energy signatures, sir,” Shabalala replied. “Take a look at this.” He tapped a command into his console and a small freighter came into view on the monitor. “That’s an Antedean freighter.”

“I’m familiar with the design,” Gold said.

“Yes, sir,” Shabalala continued. “It features a modified version of the millicochrane warp engines in our shuttlecraft. It gives off a distinct energy signature that remains for some seventy-two hours. But as you can see with this sensor overlay…”

Shabalala touched a corner of his console and a grid appeared on the screen. “This freighter arrived two days ago. We’re not getting anything from it. In fact, all recently arrived craft have no proper energy signature. It’s as though they were all cloaked.”

“Which is pretty unlikely,” Gold said.

“Exactly,” Shabalala said. “So what happened?”

Tev furrowed his thick eyebrows. “Whatever it is that is causing the power failures on Risa has extended its influence beyond the surface.”

Gold put a hand on the tactical officer’s shoulder. “Good work, Shabalala. Contact the away team with this information as soon as they arrive on planet.”

“Aye, sir.”

Gomez’s first sight as Risa materialized around her was of a large man, dressed in what looked like a toga, moving toward her. There may have been another individual behind him; it was hard to tell with the size of the man.

“Commander Gomez, is it?” The man offered a meaty hand to her. She took it cautiously, noting the moisture in his palm. She tried not to show her revulsion, but failed. He quickly pulled his hand away. “I’m sorry, Commander. With the weather system out of control, we’re being assaulted by a heat wave that doesn’t agree with a man of my stature. I’m Tonais, director of the Monagas resort.”

Gomez ran a finger through her collar, noting the heat was oppressive. “Quite all right, Director. That’s why we’re here.”

“And I’m glad you are,” Tonais said as he backed up into a much smaller man. He whirled on him in frustration. “Bander! Must you always be so close to me?”

The bald-headed man looked pained at the rebuke. “How else am I to serve you, Director?”

“I don’t know.” He turned to Gomez and smiled with a smarminess that made her flesh dimple. “He’s very good at what he does, but he can be a little troublesome sometimes.”

Gomez’s combadge chirped, saving her from having to reply. “Da Vinci to Gomez.”

“Excuse me a moment, Director,” Gomez nodded, turning slightly away. “Go ahead.”

As Shabalala relayed the information from his scans to her, Gomez took a moment to glance over her surroundings. The concourse they had materialized in featured a number of high supporting pillars similar to the architectural styles of ancient Rome on Earth. The white, marble columns supported a domed ceiling featuring a collage of tropical plants. Several small water fountains dotted the large area, not activated at the moment. She also noted the lack of tourists.

After acknowledging Shabalala’s report, she turned back to the director. “There aren’t many of your guests here.”

“No. With the weather control network not working properly, we’ve experienced high temperatures and wild rainstorms. It washed out our lagoon, one of the most popular attractions of this resort.”

“That’s terrible,” Pattie said.

“Director, this is P8 Blue, who will handle the structural analysis of your affected systems.” Gomez gestured to Pattie and then to the Bynar. “And this is Soloman, who will determine if it’s a programming fault.”

“That’s the problem, Commander Gomez. I think you will find that it is neither a structural nor a programming problem. The systems being affected are widespread and, for the most part, independent of each other.”

“I’d like to see a log of your most recent power failures and have my people look over the systems just to be sure.”

“Of course.” Tonais nodded quickly, gesturing toward the concourse entrance. “If you’ll come this way.” They proceeded toward the archway. “I’m afraid I cannot offer you any comfortable accommodations as none of the air coolers in any of the rooms work. But then, neither do the lights or the waste disposal systems or—”

Before the director could go on with his litany of problems, he was stopped short by a large, muscular figure.

“Excuse me, sir!” Tonais started, but his voice dipped into a squeak as he looked upward at the individual.

The seven-foot reptilian alien stood imposingly over the director. He was decked out in heavy leather that covered his entire body. An energy weapon hung from a holster to his side, while a jeweled blade featured prominently in a scabbard on his chest. His jewel green eyes flashed angrily at the sight of the director.

“Out of the way!” the imposing Gorn hissed. The reptilian alien tilted his head and glanced at Gomez and her party. “Federation!” He gestured to the other two Gorn accompanying him and they circled around the group, keeping an eye on Gomez the entire time. She turned and watched them walk across and exit the concourse without ever looking back.

“Do you know them, Director?” she asked, turning to face Tonais.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Bander?”

Before Tonais could ask the question, the little man had the information on his data pad. “A Gorn ship entered orbit some thirty-three hours ago, sir. They have been beaming back and forth to their ship since then. They are not staying planetside, nor are they utilizing any of the facilities.” He paused and then lifted his head and wiped the sweat from his nose. “Not that they could anyway. Most of the facilities are nonfunctional at the moment.”

“Yes, thank you, Bander,” the director snapped.

“Beaming back and forth, eh?” Gomez tapped her combadge. “Gomez to da Vinci.”

“Go ahead,” Captain Gold’s voice echoed in the chamber.

“Captain, please beam down a security detachment. We may have trouble with some Gorn who appear to not be here for a holiday.”

“We detected their ship a short while ago. I’ll have that detachment down shortly. Keep us apprised of your situation. Da Vinci out.”

“Is that necessary, Commander?” Tonais asked worriedly.

“I’m hoping not, Director,” she replied. “Just look at it as a precaution.”

“Well,” Tonais said, the worry in his voice apparent, “just make sure they don’t get in the way of the guests.”

Gomez smiled. “Don’t worry, Director. You won’t even know they’re here.”