It was the middle of third shift. The ship was quiet, most of the crew and civilian staff were asleep, lulled into comfortable slumber by the slight hum and vibration of the massive science vessel at warp. On the bridge the OOD, Lieutenant Sancx, sat in the command chair and reviewed the duty reports that had come in from the various departments. The few personnel on the bridge had been quiet for some time, simply watching and monitoring the ship and surrounding space.

So it was when an unexpected sound cut through the silence: a hail. The comms officer turned and said “Lieutenant, we have a hail from an unknown source. I… I can’t pinpoint the location sir; but it seems to be coming from somewhere in the middle of nowhere. And scanners show nothing in the area.”

The Sancx furrowed his brow and said “Play it, Ensign.” The comms officer nodded and tapped the icon to play the hail to the bridge…

Alarms sounded in the quarters of the CO, XO, and all Department Heads. The computer’s voice said =/\=Attention Senior Officers. All bridge crew have been incapacitated. Life signs fluctuating. Emergency protocols activated. =/\=

Cochrane, CO