Ship’s Log, July 29, 2154.

While attempting to explore a spatial rift, the Excalibur was struck by a wayward piece of stellar matter from the nearby star, knocking us into the rift itself.  We have sustained minor damage and many casualties, none fatal, but the crew will be operating at less than peak efficiency until our shipmates heal.  Meanwhile, we have detected an uninhabited world nearby and upon further scanning there appears to be a graveyard for numerous shipwrecks scattered on the surface.

Further scans by science officer Lt. Commander Wynter a distress call from the planet’s surface: the Antioch, an Intrepid-class ship, lost contact with Starfleet a year ago.  First officer th’Trene suggests sending down a shuttlepod to look for survivors.  The crew hopes this will shed new light on the ship’s disappearance.

Commander Saguisag chooses to lead the mission himself, along with Chief Engineer Botta, Dr. Linkovich and Security Chief sh’Kerria.

After an uneventful trip to the surface, Saguisag lands the shuttlepod close to the source of the distress call, but it’s clear from overhead visuals that there’s no chance for survivors, the wreckage of the ship is spread over such a large area.

Dr. Linkovich confirms that there are no life forms in the area.  th’Trene calls the salvage team to inform them that repairs are proceeding as expected, with weapon systems taking the longest to complete, estimated time 12 hours.  Wynter chimes in to inform the Commander that the rift appears stable, with no risk of travelling back to our original position.

Botta returns from a quick check through what little wreckage they could search, and reports that no logs are retrievable nor is anything salvageable from the remaining debris.

Ship’s log, supplemental: Dr. Linkovich found no life signs and Chief Botta found no logs or salvageable materials from the wreckage of the Antioch.  We are returning to the Excalibur and preparing to re-enter the rift back to known space.

The team boarded and rode the shuttlepod back to the Excalibur.  Wynter reported that there was an asteroid field nearby and Saguisag decided to explore it before reentering the rift.

Upon entering the field the Excalibur was violently grabbed by a tractor beam-like force.  Immobilized, they are contacted by the Imwifhu, who explain to the bridge crew that the Excalibur will participate in competitions for the Elders.

First competition is a race between Excalibur and 3 other unrecognizable starships.  With it’s advanced warp 5 engine, the Excalibur is able to win the race well ahead of their opponents.

Second competition is 1v1 combat with what appears to be a Nausicaan destroyer, which would usually be a fair fight, but the Excalibur’s weapon systems are still offline.

Helmsman Lt. Azalea is able to dodge most of the Nausicaan weapons fire, allowing the damage control teams to finish repairing the weapon systems.  But it’s too little too late as the Nausicaans are able to breach the Excalibur’s hull, which inexplicably ends the combat competition.

Not only did the competition end, but the Excalibur finds itself outside of the “asteroid field”, which has disappeared, and next to the rift.

Ship’s log, supplemental: After involuntarily participating in a series of ‘competitions’ for a god-like race called the Imwifhu, the Excalibur is holding station while our damage control crews finish repairs on the hull and weapon systems.  The Imwifhu are nowhere to be found within the system.

END PART 1

I’ll try to finish the second part of this 2-hour premiere episode later this week.

Don’t touch that dial!