Going in

 Lieutenant Snow came out of the ready room with a calm, measured step, not even looking at the streaking lights on the main viewer. Without waiting for her request, Cadet Hansen reported from the helm he had just sat back in half an hour ago.

''On course at warp 9.95 to rendez-vous coordinates with mayday signal, Captain; ETA five minutes.''

His own poised demeanor made him look and sound like an experienced officer. He kept his eyes on his controls and on the screen alternatively. Beside him, the holographic Android spoke in turn.

''All ship departments, systems and personel are implementing protocols for space rescue operation, Captain. Sickbay has cargobay 2 converted into an emergency hospital ward as per emergency regulations.''

''Warp core responding within expected parameters following prolonged use at extreme output, '' added the half-klingon engineer hologram. ''All power available.''

''I am picking up the signal again, Captain, '' said the half-betazoid counselor manning communications. ''It seems to be automated and carries no message; not even a transponder marker.''

Snow went to the command chair, her face expressionless, her voice even.

''Try to raise them. Number One, see to it. Science, Tactical; anything on sensors?''

Perusing diligently through an array of sensors, Sabrina was a bit taken aback as they approached their destination.

“Captain, perhaps the original signal was an echo, or was reflected or somehow displaced, but there is nothing to be found at  our initial coordinates.”

She continued scanning out in all directions. After a few more minutes, she latched onto something fluctuating off in the distance.

“I am barely receiving a faint signal off about a light year away.” She continued striving to pinpoint the locale. “It is emanating rimward rather than along the galactic plane we were headed initially.”

Gunner struggled with a tactical sensor lock. Whatever this object was was evading sensors. Perhaps on purpose, perhaps because of its design. There was no where to tell for sure.

"The object is evading all attempts at tactical sensor lock Captain." Gunner reported.

"Captain there are at least seven ambush scenarios we train for which are identical to this situation."

"Perhaps yellow alert, raising shields or tactical readiness level two would be advisable."

Hopefully all three Gunner thought to himself.

''Yellow alert.''

Gunner activated yellow alert and the amber glow and familiar sounds filled the bridge.

As the klaxon blared, active readiness of the ship was implemented. Defense field and inner emergency forcefields were raised, phasers were heated and a torpedo inserted in it's launching tube while the following personnel shift was called to duty and the rest of the crew at readiness. Sickbay, security and damage control parties were made ready for emergencies, all hatches secured, security bulkheads in place, shuttles and auxilliary crafts and escape pods checked for instant use. Even a message buoy was prepared, recording in real time what was happening from now on to be sent to Starfleet Command in case of any sudden catastrophe.

From then on, the entire ship could be made to go into full combat mode with all resources available in the time it took to say red alert.

Snow stayed calm and composed in her seat. 

''Ready to drop out of warp at rendez-vous coordinates, one minute... mark, '' announced hansen in a definitely calm, controled manner.

In fact, it seemed like he was struggling not to smirk.

''Full impulse, '' ordered the inuit woman at the appointed time.

On the screen, the streaking stars suddenly froze and the deceptive stillness of space greeted them.

 ''I need more data, people.'' 

''Nothing on any subspace channel, Captain, '' the synthetic counselor reported. ''Extending search parameters.''

From the science console, Sabrina methodically modified scanning parameters; expanding her search, striving to home in on the source of the original signal received. Whatever phenomena this was, it continued to elude her systematic attempts. This did not dissuade the youthful human. Contrarily, she doubled down her efforts.

As she continued sweeping the region, extending the search through all electromagnetic frequencies throughout the volume of space extended beyond the Alsea, something was at last detected. It was an extremely faint flash. Just as swiftly, it was gone.

Sabrina captured then analyzed the miniscule amount of information that appeared before addressing the commanding officer.

“Captain, I was able to net a very brief signal again. From what I could analyze, it appeared to be similar to a signal that would emanate from a warp core. Despite the extensive distortion and brevity of the signal, it seemed to be Federation in nature.”

"Perhaps this is something similar to what happened to the USS Bozeman, a vessel caught in some sort of temporal distortion." Terix speculated "are there any sensor readings which might indicate this is temporal in nature? Other possibilities could include anomalies used by the so-called mirror universe to access our timeline or possibly even some remnant of the Azimuth Horizon anomaly even though all data seems to indicate the anomaly was successfully closed." 

Snow furrowed her thin brow.

'' Give me facts, people.''

 

“Another flash was just detected,” Sabrina noted as she continued scanning. “This distortion was showing not only an absence of gravimetric readings but also a sharp decay of atomic force along with signs that electromagnetic and chroniton emissions may be spiking.”

''Confirmed, Captain,'' Hansen reported; it's registering on navigational sensors as well. But it is occuring rimward, a full light year away from our current position.''

Sabrina was trying to put all of these phenomena together in her head. There was something vaguely recognizable about these readings, but she could not put her finger on it yet. She closed her eyes for a moment and delved into a deeper thought process. 

She was nodding her head affirmatively as her eyes reopened.

“It does seem to be temporal in nature,” she noted, turning her attention towards her Romulan colleague, “Yet it is difficult to pinpoint exactly which type of phenomena this is. There are some parallels to the events related to the Azimuth Horizon anomaly but also somewhat reminiscent of the time ripples that spanned out from the Guardian of Forever.”

Sabrina continued reflecting on her area of studies while attending the Academy for a few more minutes amid the veil of silence on the main bridge.

“In fact, there were some similar affects with the interphasic space near the Tholian border,” she speculated. “Nevertheless, what they all seem to have in common to some degree, is that this phenomenon may be affecting a small portion of spacetime itself.  It could even be unraveling at the seams of some intersection point… as if something intense was trying to push its way through the fabric of space.” 

In the command chair, the Inuit woman looked suddenly baffled by what was going on, contrasting sharply with her almost casual attitude she had since coming out of the ready room. Her right hand hovered a second near her combadge then she sat back, straightening her back sharply.

''One problem at a time, '' Snow admonished, seemingly as much to herself as to them. '' Counselor, send a preliminary report of those... findings to Starbase Lotus. But first and foremost, we have a mayday to address. Anything on tactical scans in our vicinity, Mister Gunner?''

Working the tactical controls Gunner could not get a lock outside of the same basic sensor readings. Just as he was about to say he had lost what lock he had, the updated readings came in.

“I have something Captain.”

Gunner read them over quickly. It was clear, but it did not make any sense.

“I have a lock Captain. It is a small object approximately two hundred kilograms. It is flattened and cylindrical and composed of a duranium-tritanium alloy which appears to be encasing the warp core signatures we read earlier.”

“That would explain why it was so hard to find.” Gunner noted before continuing.

“There is feedback from a powerful sensor array with a scattered target lock and feedback from an isolinear computer core. I detect no notable weapons or shields, or even anything resembling an engine…”

Gunner trailed off as more data came across his screen.

“Captain it is a Starfleet class eleven long range multimission warp probe.”

"A warp probe?" Terix mused "what in the name of Surak is a warp probe doing out here? Is there any identifying data Gunner? Anything to tell us where it came from? Captain, I think we should learn all we can from a distance...this could still be a trap." 

''That will not be necessary, '' Snow then answered. ''Stand down from yellow alert.''

The only one smiling and apparently not confused at all was Hansen. Snow did not fail to notice that.

''Well done everyone. Yes this is a probe, launched yesterday for this very testing of your actual field performance.''

She stood and looked at each them in turn as she explained further.

''You performed more than adequately under unexpected circumstances, with competence, poise and professionalism. It will bring a good mark on your Academy record,''

She then looked at the slightly smirking helmsman.

''When did you realise this was a test, Cadet Hansen? ''

''From the start, Lieutenant... Captain. Had this been a genuine emergency, regulations state that the senior officer on board must assume command. With all due respect, that is not you... but Commander Sangliar. That you did not even notice him not only meant this was not a genuine emergency, but that you and him were aware of it... even part of your own command training I would guess?''

Snow nodded with a small smile on her coppery features.

''Well reasoned, Cadet. A credit to your power of observation and analysis, and of your knowledge of Starfleet protocol. Guess we will have to find another test for you then.''

Terix nodded with what was becoming a trademark smirk on his face "Well played Captain. So the probe was manufacturing the sensor readings...or they were pre-programmed into the Alsea's computer." 

With a perplexed expression etched across her face, Sabrina seemed relieved yet somewhat baffled by the innocuous but also anticlimactic outcome of the event. She looked at the Academy Director for an answer to the Romulan’s question, which was on the tip of her tongue as well. 

''Including it in the programming would have easily be found out by Cadet Shadowhunt or Cadet Gunnar,'' the Inuit woman said. ''Only an actual physical manifestation would do the trick with well-trained cadets like you all. You cadet Terix was quick to point out many possibilities from as little facts as we gave you and you just came up with that one as we speak. And look how observant Hansen was... After all, that's why you among all current cadets have been allowed this little sortie of ours.''

She paused to look again at each one of them.

''The best test is when it is not known to be a test. That's why the Kobayashi Maru scenario is now so obsolete but the psycho test still very much in use. As Captain Kheren once said, it is easy to be poised and heroic when you know you're in a simulator. But when you truly think that there is only a few inches of duranium and forcefield between you and cold, airless space, you...''

''Captain,'' interrupted the holo-counselor, '' I am receiving a signal...''

Snow sighed.

''Computer; end emergency exercise.''

''This is not an exercise, Captain, '' the artificial half-betazoid woman assured her. ''I am received an actual signal from a starship disaster beacon, one point five-three light year rimward from our current position.''

Suddenly, Snow's face became a rigid mask of bronze.

''Can you pinpoint it any closer?''

''Negative, Captain; all I got once is part of a ship's transponder Starfleet registration, NCC-6...1..., then it was lost.''

For a moment, Snow blinked at the starfield on the screen, as if she could see all the way to where the signal came from. She didn't move when she finally spoke.

''Cadet... Shadowhunt, Cadet Gunner... anything on your sensors?''

Gunner went to speak, but was cut off.

Running her fingers through the console controls as if playing a complex classic concerto, Sabrina continued to put the ship’s sensors through its paces as she sought to regain any signals again. Then she briefly seized another momentary reading. She studied the incomplete fragment for a bit before replying.

“Permission to freely speculate, Captain?”

''I can do that all by myself, Cadet, '' Snow shot back curtly. ''I need facts.''

 Sabrina was taken aback by the curt admonishment by the acting captain. She had several conjectures to present based on the readings received but she could not classify her inferences as certifiable facts since these were based on only fragments of information.  If the captain was not open to her thoughts regarding their situation, she would for the time being keep these suppositions to herself and continue to gather whatever information she could garner.

 "Captain," Terix began slowly as he tried to formulate his thoughts "Perhaps the ship's computer could help us out here. We could try narrowing down Starfleet registrations that begin with a six and end with a one and then refine it by ship's which have operated in this area of space recently. Of course if this is a temporal phenomenon we will need more information, but it would be at least somewhere to start. We could also attempt a general hail and see if we get a response. If we limit it to known Starfleet frequencies that will cut out civilian or allied traffic."

''Good suggestion, Cadet. Cadet Gunner, provide the relevant data of Starfleet's ship registry and recorded ship courses to comm. Cadet Shadowhunt, continue monitoring the specific area and analyse every bit of data, however trivial but concentrate on what over there could prevent even a starship disaster beacon from coming through. Cadet Hansen, plot a course to the last position of this signal and ready for emergency warp. Counselor, send a hail as Cadet Terix instructed.''

 Snow spoke very rapidly and tersely before tapping her combadge almost hard enough to strike it off.

 ''Commander Sangliar; we have an emergency. Please come to the bridge.''

 A grumble came back from the speakers.

 ''Are you still at play, Lieutenant? I'm already writing my evaluation of your command performance. You can stop the gaming session...''

 ''Negative, Sir, '' she interrupted quickly. '' This is no drill.''

 There was this time a long silence before the growling voice was heard again.

''On my way.''

This time, Hansen was not smiling anymore. Like Snow, he was starting to sweat.

''Captain, '' voiced again the holographic counselor, ''I managed to get a signal from the vicinity of the phenomena located by Science. But it was so brief and garbled it was undecipherable; However, it was definitely emitted from a Starfleet ship's disaster beacon.'' 

Snow tensed even more visibly. 

''Shadowhunt, Gunner; anything on your sensors?''

The sensors at Gunner's console showed a brief reading, but now showed nothing.

"Captain sensors briefly picked up what appeared to be a warp signature. Another ship about a light year away. Now nothing".

Working through the sensor data quickly Gunner continued.

"Based on the strength of the signal tactical sensors showed the ship would be approximately five hundred meters long and three to four million metric tons."

''Modern heavy cruiser size, '' Hansen muttered. ''Whatever it is, it's not a probe this time.''

Again Snow curtly spoke without taking her eyes of the main viewer, as if she feared to see something.

''I don't want to know what it could be or what it isn't, Cadet! I want to know what it is!''

And again she glanced at the science station.

Terix didn't wait for either of his compatriots to answer "Computer," the Romulan demanded firmly "Identify Starfleet vessels with a registry number beginning with six ending with one that have recently operated in this area of space, refine search to include only cruiser class size vessels, and further refine to any vessels reported as missing in action." 

''There are no Starfleet vessels, matching the specified class and registry numbers, recorded as in service or missing in action within this quadrant, for the current solar year,'' the familiar disembodied feminine voice of the ship's computer answered.

Sabrina collected her thoughts for a moment longer before speaking.

“Analyzing the fluctuating readings and temporal distortions received since entering this region, we could be detecting a remnant from a vessel from another time, such as the U.S.S Artemis - NCC-64121, lost during that massive Operation Horizon mission we previously discussed.

Before the acting captain responded, Sabrina continued.

“That cosmic-scale destructive anomaly was literally tearing its way into our universe. According to Starfleet records, as the Ambassador-class heavy cruiser battled a Romulan dreadnought that was threatening their mission, the ship first forfeited its stardrive. Afterwards, it then sacrificed the remaining saucer section as a skeleton crew fought intensely to finally seal up the last lethal vestiges of that phenomena. Either or both sections of that ship may have released a disaster beacon prior to battle as precaution.”

Sabrina tapped onto console switches to recall a previous sensor fragment received.

“The earlier readings we were garnering were reminiscent of such a tear in space, unless these were all generated by the long-range warp probe sent to test us or some other anomaly. If not, could a piece of a beacon have managed to somehow cross through a barrier once again? If so, could we be in danger of another perilous split occurring somewhere in this region?”

The chief science officer looked up from her console toward the Inuit woman awaiting to see if she would be reprimanded for postulating such an unlikely possibility.

Snow shook her head.

''Your science and historical reports are accurate... but this couldn't be the Artemis. I know this ship well; my brother served on board as her helmsman. The numbers do match up... but Cadet Gunner detected an object over five hundred meters long and four million tons; that would be the entire intact vessel, not just it's saucer section... which was even without it's bridge module at the end. And we know from even the public reports on Operation Horizon that the whole ship, minus that bridge, was utterly disintegrated and at no point did she ever activate it's disaster beacon... nor any other ship involved in that event, for that matter.''

She went to Sabrina's station and looked at the date on her monitor.

''Your data, as little as we have, do correlate much with what we have on the Azimuth Horizon... but that phenomena is not classified as a temporal anomaly. It even proved to be refractory to temporal disruptions.''

''Well I'm not and this turbolift is way too slow!''

The doors had wooshed open to admit the stout black Tellarite chief engineer who went to stand before the command chair.

''Report!''

Snow went to him but kept off the command dais so as to stay a bit more level with him.

''Commander, we have detected an unidentified Starfleet disaster beacon signal one light year rimward from a cruiser-sized object apparently within some kind of undefined space distorsion; but now, nothing on sensors. We sent  an emergency signal to Starbase Lotus but so far no response, Sir.''

Sangliar frowned, which was something to behold on a craggy dark Tellarite face, then glanced at Hansen's navigation monitor and growled.

''Well we sit directly in line with that whatchamacallit and base, so the subspace signal must have been scrambled. Try again and ask for a relief ship. We're in no condition to mount such a rescue.''

After a moment, the holographic counselor shook her head.

''Sorry Commander, but all comm signals to the starbase are being disrupted still.''

''Send a general request for assistance then!''

''We already explored that option during the exercise, Sir; there is no other ship in range.''

Sangliar raised his hands to the ceiling and muffled a Tellarite explective the universal translator didn't pick up; or had wisely not been included in the linguistic database.

''Why do these things happen always when there is no one else around... what a lovely day. Fine, everyone stay at your post and role; no time to play around. You Rabbit will stay as Exec until you die or I find someone better. Snow, you be ship ops and assist both Killer over there at tactical and Cutiepie at the scanners. You, boatman, plot a course to that signal, emergency warp.''

''Commander, the engines already are strained after our previous...''

''Computer, deactivate holographic engineer.''

The half-klingon woman at the engineering station vanished mid-sentence. Sangliar harumpfed again.

''I know what this lady can and can't do; I bolted the damn thing in myself! Helm, engage when ready and I want it to be now!''

''Aye Sir, Commander Sir... I mean Acting Captain Sir...''

''Seal it and punch it!''

The ship seemed to jerk as much as the nervous Hansen did and the familiar starstreaks once again filled the screen, albeit what looked to most on the bridge at a faster, more frantic pace. Then Sangliar turned around and sighed at the high, imposing chair behind him. With a glance to the others that promised murder for the first laugh to be heard, he grabbed the seat and literally climbed onto it to sit with his short thick legs dangling down from it.

''Now that your nanny gave me the gist of it, each one of you kids fill me in... especially if something new pops up.''

"Sir," Terix responded immediately to the burly Tellarite's request for information "an inquiry of the ship's computer shows no vessel matching the dimensions recorded on sensors either operating in this are or reported as missing in this area in the last year. Which means whatever is sending that signal is either older than that, or is somehow duplicating exactly a Starfleet distress signal...or it's a vessel not listed on the current Starfleet registry."

''Glad you thought about checking on that too, '' Sanglair grumbled. ''Computer; any ship of any type at any time ever reported missing from within a parsec radius of  that area of space we are targeting?''

''Negative,'' the computer immediately answered.

''Any missing vessel reported anywhere near this area in the last solar month?''

''Negative.''

''Any vessel assigned or on a trajectory passing through that area of of space?''

''Negative.''

''Probabilities of a Starfleet vessel within this area for the past solar month.''

''Four point seven percent.''

Gunner was confused as the number brought more questions than answers.

The Tellarite pinched the bridge of his short thick nose.

''So, no one is supposed to be there... but someone is there and shouting for help. And because of Starfleet General Orders, we can't ignore it because we alone heard it and can respond. What a lovely day.''

Sabrina continued searching for any lost signals as they journeyed swiftly towards an unidentified objective. Then she looked over towards the gruff Tellarite perched precariously on the center seat.

“Sir, whatever vessel is lingering out there could have employed cloaking technology. If it is phasing in and out of their shroud, it may explain the intermittent readings that we have received.”

 ''Would that affect surrounding space itself like you reported earlier?'' Snow chimed in with obvious doubt in her voice and stare.

 “No,” Sabrina replied respectfully. “As mentioned, those appeared more akin with the interphasic space experienced near the Tholian border. But the intermittent distress signal received could also be cause by a cloaking system interrupting the transmission, if this were an automated beacon.” 

 Sabrina engaged the sensors and began to remotely link them with the large parabolic dish on the lower exterior of the gamma vector.

 “Preparing a series of long-range tachyon scans through the main deflector system, Sir. Our surveillance arc will be limited but we can compensate by slightly altering our flight plan to cut across sections of the region ahead.”

 She turned her attention back to Snow.

 “This may be looking for a proverbial needle in a haystack, but at the moment, our normal sensor sweeps are not locating any source of transmission.”  

Sangliar shifted in his seat.

''Well we won't be there until the next shift so go ahead, let's see what we can find before we stumble upon it.''

Sabrina engaged the long-range tachyon beam and began searching through the cold darkness of space as if it were a searchlight peering through a moonless night on Earth. Before they left spacedock, she worked with a small engineering team to add a modified subrefractor that could pivot on a spherical axis to allow it to vary the arc of the emission. She observed the emptiness of space from this narrow perspective as their starship forged towards its current destination. Confirming the negative results on the readings thus far, she continued to slightly swivel the intense concentrated beam in a methodical pattern throughout the vast region ahead of the ship. She was leaving no proverbial stone unturned.  

Terix watched as Sabrina toiled over her sensors, he felt oddly useless at the moment given his background in science and his training role as executive officer. As he thought about the possibility of a cloaked ship, he realized that Starfleet had very few of those on record anyway. He queried the computer out loud again

"Computer, how many Starfleet vessels either active or inactive are fitted with cloaking devices, and have any of those vessels been reported missing or lost in battle?"

''Four Starfleet vessels are on record having used a cloaking device: Stardate 5027.9 USS Enterprise NCC1701, Captain James T Kirk commanding; system stolen from Romulan warship, dismantled after one use. Stardate 35686.7 USS Pegasus NCC-53847, Captain Erik Pressman commanding; destroyed during first field test. Stardate 47691.9 USS Enterprise NCC-1701D, Captain Jean-Luc Picard commanding; dismantled after one use of the Pegasus system transfered on board from the wreckage. Stardate 52453.8 USS Defiant NX-74215, Captain Benjamin Sisko commanding; system on loan from Romulan Empire, destroyed at the second battle of Chin'toka.''

 "So," Terix reasoned, again out loud so as to illicit opinions on his thoughts either from Sangliar or the other bridge crew  "if the vessel we are searching for is cloaked it must be classified beyond the ability of the computer to tell us of its existence, or it is not cloaked at all which brings us back to some other sort of disturbance affecting the vessel either temporal or space-time related."

As the Romulan concluded his hypothesis, Sabrina gazed up from her console with veiled bewilderment. 

“Captain, I am detecting very faint echoes of what appears to be chronitons and nucleons intermittently and at seemingly random intervals ahead in the distance. Yet as I continue to scan the entire vicinity, there are no electrons, gravitons or any mass readings registering anywhere before or after these transitory indicators.”

The Tellarite looked at her, blinked once then snorted.

''Most interesting. Now tell me this again, this time in Federation Standard.''

The holographic counselor cut in before the young woman could respond.

'' Sir, at the exact same moment science detected these emissions, there was a faint signal on the subspace comm channel. It looked part of a transmission, but I could not decipher it; and it seemed to have been cut off abruptly.''

''Same source?'' Sangliar asked, frowning.

''Same point of origin, affirmative, Sir. But it was different. It was not from a ship's disaster beacon.''

Sangliar grumbled something utterly unintelligible and turned to the tactical station.

''What says you, Warrior?''

Gunner worked through the jumbled readings on the tactical sensors.

“Would chronitons be emitted by a cloaked vessel in this area?”

Working through records and logs at the same time Gunner continued.

“What I mean is that this could be something else entirely. There are records of cloaked ships being discovered through particle chroniton emissions, but those were always Romulan cloaking devices.”

Gesturing to the other stations Gunner continued.

“Unless we are looking at a Romulan cloaked ship, or an unregistered Federation ship fitted with Romulan cloaking technology, we could also be looking at a temporal anomaly. This would explain the readings and why we are detecting no mass.”

“Either way, from a tactical standpoint, I recommend increasing readiness level and preparing for the possibility of a cloaked enemy or an enemy using an artificial chroniton field.”

As Gunner gave his report the tactical sensors registered a brief contact.

“Wait a moment sir. I have something. Tactical is detecting a… that’s odd”

Gunner paused momentarily before continuing.

“I am detecting a ship sir, the same mass as before. However, this cannot be the same ship I detected earlier. The sensors show that this ship is approximately twice the size. It is over one thousand meters long and the configuration is completely different.”

The readings puzzled Gunner as he assessed them and continued.

“This ship has to be a different material. To be that size and weigh what it should it is much more compact and less dense.”

''Or of a completely different design like... a mostly hollowed-out  structure, '' Hansen mused out loud. ''You know, like those old outposts built along the Neutral Zone a century ago, built within  hollowed astroids. They would register much less massive than their size would normally suggest.''

Sanglair rolled his head from side to side as if suddenly dizzy.

''Now I remember why I declined teaching brats like you at the Academy. Okay so something is out there that might be a ship or several ships unknown, possibly in danger, within an area where the spacetime continuum is anything but normal and stable. Fun for the whole family.''

He stood up, which for him  meant jumping down the seat, straightened his uniform while making sure there wasn't even a hint of a smile in his direction then went for the turbolift.

''As of now, we are on yellow alert. We are several hours away from this new rendez-vous point. You warrior, conduct tactical exercises appropriate for a resuce operation in a cosmic anomaly or under enemy fire... and both. Bright eyes at sensors, keep them open and get every bit of data you can and update every other department. Smart mouth at helm, stay on course and plot escape routes from the target zone under all possible speed including thrusters. Snow, you and the spy will resume bridge command duty until I get back.''

He stood in the turbolift and grumbled one last time before the doors slided shut.

''I'll be in engineering making sure this bird has enough feathers to fly in and fly out.''