Just Another Day on Starbase Lotus

In the vastness of space, there were stars beyond numbering all accross the infinite blackness surrounding one three-kilometers wide disc-shaped construct that was Starbase Lotus, the headquarters of Lotus Fleet, the most elite division of Starfleet. Guarding the rimward frontier between the United Federation of Planets, it was the fort holding at bay the schemes of the shattered Romulan Star Empire, the bloodthirstiness of the belligerent Klingon Empire and all the possible wonders and dangers from the Beta and Delta Quadrants.

On it's smooth-curving hull surrounded by an impressive docking ring, lights shone to rival the surrounding stars in number and brightness. And nearing it, a brighter light appeared, slowing from faster than light speeds to a relatively mere thousands of kilometers per second, taking an oblong shape with metallic hues also dotted with small bright lights. It looked much like a sleek fish swimming in the dark tides of the cosmos with it's softly curved arrow-shaped prow, it's long sleet body stretching right behind it and the pair of cigar-shaped nacelles making like tail fins from short pylons directly behind at the stern.

In the belly of the massive starbase, two immense doors opened like a huge mouth ready to swallow the approaching starship. And, in the silence of space, a voice travelled on subspace currents from the station to the incoming vessel.

"Uss Phoenix, this is Starbase Lotus Flight Command; you are clear to dock, inward pylon 1. Tractor beams ready to take you in. Please assume Condition Blue... and enjoy the ride. Welcome home, Phoenix."

In the immense command center of Starbase Lotus, Fleet Captain Allen Samji walked on the high circular walkway to the transparency where the new science explorer of the Hromi sector could be seen in all it's majestic splendor. Looking out at the several hundred meters long starship entering the station under his care, he could not help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. After the dramatic events of Operation Horizon where they almost lost the entire universe to a ravaging cosmic anomaly, things had returned to normal at last.

Well, not exactly. As usual, Captain Kheren had found yet a new way to make things... interesting, when the shakedown cruise of his new command, the Lotus class transwarp capital ship USS Horizon, fell into a subspace eddie that threw it to the edge of the galaxy... right in the hands of a long lost Jem'Hadar prison camp that had been taken over by a mad artificial intelligence of an equally lost warship.  

Looking at the brand new USS Phoenix coming home from her own shakedown cruise, Samji wondered what her commanding officer, the Vulcan Syntron, would himself have to report.

After all, not so long ago, he had been First Officer to the same Andorian captain... who's ship should soon be returning from a critical diplomatic mission to the outer edge of the Beta Quadrant to meet with the Undines of Fluidic Space...

The Hindu-born starbase commander shook his head, looking at the docking USS Phoenix. Something told him that Syntron and his crew too would not be making just a dull cruise report.

He turned to his own executive officer.

"Commander Schmidt; inform Captain Syntron that he and his crew are given shore leave until further notice... and that I await his report."

"Aye, Sir," acknowledged the tall, broadly-built woman before turning to the Ferengi manning Ops central to open a channel to the docking vessel.

Samji then went to his office. There were patrol reports from the USS McKenzie on the Klingon border and from the USS Spectre on the Federation side of the Romulan Neutral Zone that needed his attention.