Staring down at the sensor readings over T’Liana’s shoulder, Banfield found it frustrating to work out the source of the current pattern of graviton surges and increased levels of epsilon radiation. After changing out of her Klingon uniform an hour ago, she returned to the bridge to discover that the intermittent surges continued at irregular moments and that the slow radiation increase was somehow linked. Though T’Liana had worked out that it was coming deep inside one of the other larger Ilumirians asteroids, what was causing it was now the mystery they were finding a challenge to work out. It didn’t help that the Ilumirians were not responding to them. 

“Corella, look at this,” Westerham called from across the bridge at the engineering station.

Turning her focus away to make her way over to him, Banfield approached her husband and placed her hands on his shoulders. “What have you found?”

Pointing to the screen above him, Westerham showed her his discovery. “The graviton surges and increases in epsilon radiation have scared off Nibbler and his kind.”

“Scared off?” Banfield questioned as she examined the data herself. In a second, she could see how right her husband was. “If that’s the case, then that might mean this is not the norm.”

“So why are the Ilumirians not answering us?” Jen asked. The Trill first officer was working at the mission ops stations and had now turned around to join the conversation. “My gut is telling me they’re not sure themselves.”

“I think you may be right, Lukiz,” Banfield agreed. Crossing her arms, the captain started to consider their next move. “We need to know more.”

“The asteroid itself isn’t large enough for the Triton to enter and explore safely,” T’Liana shared. “I recommend we send an away team in on the Calliste again. We should be careful, though, as we observed before, this asteroid has a high neurogenic field. The Ilumirians will be aware of our presence; however, we cannot guarantee they know what is creating the graviton surges.”

Jen nodded in agreement with the lieutenant. “T’Liana has a point, they may be clueless.”

“So let’s get some answers,” Banfield was determined to know more here. If these surges and radiation caused a threat to The Veil, then they had a purpose in protecting it. “Number One, have CJ and Tharmas finish with our Klingon guests and get the Calliste ready for launch. I want Doctor Nicus to join us as well.” She started to walk across the bridge. “T’Liana and Jisaraa, you’re with me.”

Stumbling away from the Mission Ops station, Jen chased after Banfield. “Umm, captain, a private word, please?”

Banfield paused as she realised what was coming. She looked at her first officer. “Lukiz, I know what you’re going to say, and I promise to let you lead the away missions in the future, but I can’t stand away from this one.” She told him in a low hush tone.

Jen sighed. “Very well.”

Banfield signalled to Jisaraa and T’Liana to follow her into the turbolift. Once she got into the cart, with either officer behind her, she turned around and looked at Jen and smiled. “Number One, the bridge is yours.”

The Calliste drifted silently through the narrow passage within the asteroid, its lights cutting through the darkness like a search beacon in the night. The walls of the asteroid, jagged and uneven, seemed to close in on the runabout, creating a sense of claustrophobia. Banfield leaned forward in her seat, her eyes scanning the rough, rocky surface as the runabout passed through a dense, swirling mist of energy.

“We’re approaching the area with those readings, Captain,” said CJ from the helm, his voice calm but laced with the curiosity that hung in the air.

“Steady,” Banfield replied, her voice a mixture of command and intrigue. She could feel the tension growing, but it wasn’t fear. It was anticipation—the kind of scientific wonder that had driven her before becoming captain. The walls around them shimmered with faint lights as if the asteroid itself was alive, breathing in unison with the pulses of energy that flowed like rivers through it.

“The epsilon radiation readings are getting higher,” Jisaraa noted. “Shields are holding, though.” 

“The neurogenic field is stronger here,” Nicus noted from his console. His Saurian features furrowed with thought. “It’s far more organised than the chaotic fluctuations we detected earlier. As we have speculated before, this suggests intelligent design for this entire region.”

Banfield nodded, her Klingon side appreciating the thought of something structured, controlled—order from chaos. “Could it be sentient?” she asked, even though the answer already sat on the edge of her mind.

“It’s possible,” Nicus responded, his brow ridges rising. “But I can’t be certain. We need to get closer.”

T’Liana, seated to Banfield’s left, had been silently working at her console. The Vulcan’s stoic expression hadn’t changed since they entered the asteroid, but her sharp gaze was fixed on something unusual. “Captain, I am detecting markings on the surface of the cavern ahead.”

Banfield’s pulse quickened at the mention of the markings. “Markings? What sort of markings?” she asked. “Can you identify them?”

T’Liana pressed a few buttons, and a holographic image of the markings appeared on the screen before them. The symbols were curved and flowing, unlike anything Banfield had seen before.

“They are from unknown origin,” T’Liana replied. “However, they bear similarities to ancient Delta Quadrant artefacts catalogued in Starfleet’s database, particularly those once found on Ocampa belonging to the Nacene.”

Banfield’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Nacene. She knew the name well from her studies of Voyager’s journey through the Delta Quadrant. The Nacene were a mysterious, near-legendary species known to have stranded Voyager here through the entity known as Caretaker. If these markings were connected to them, this was no ordinary asteroid. The Nacene were known for their advanced technology and enigmatic ways, making any connection to them a matter of great importance.

“Focus all sensors on those markings,” Banfield ordered, her voice sharp with command. “I want every detail.”

Tharmas adjusted his controls and scanned the asteroid walls. “Captain, if these symbols are linked to the Nacene, then that means-”

He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence, as Banfield already knew what he was thinking and interrupted him in mid-flow. “That means the graviton surges and epsilon radiation is coming from a tetryon reactor. Similar to what was used to power the Caretaker’s array that brought Voyager to the Delta Quadrant.”

Everyone in the cockpit of the Delta-class runabout went silent. None of them wanted to deal with the consequences of dealing with the Nacene. Being briefed on the Nacene was a high priority for everyone who visited the Delta Quadrant. They were high on the list, and Starfleet Intelligence felt they were a threat. Along with the Borg, Species 8472, the Nacene were powerful enough to kill, hurt and damage anyone they saw as a threat. 

Tharmas’ console beeped, and he raised an eyebrow. “The structure of the walls here is… artificial,” he said. “Highly advanced construction, Captain. This entire area was engineered, not formed naturally.”

“Engineered?” Banfield repeated, leaning forward. She could sense something monumental, far greater than they had imagined, unfolding before them. “That would make sense based on what we know of the Nacene and their abilities.”

“Yes, Captain,” Tharmas confirmed. “The energy fields sustaining this environment are interwoven into the rock itself, almost like veins in a living organism. Whoever designed this didn’t just build a structure—they created a living ecosystem.”

The revelation sent a chill down Banfield’s spine, though she masked it with her Klingon resolve—a living ecosystem designed by ancient hands. If the Nacene were genuinely involved, this was an unparalleled discovery. Starfleet had only encountered them twice during Voyager’s tenure. Was this now another encounter? They needed to know more. 

“Keep scanning,” Banfield ordered. “We need to understand the full scope of what we’re dealing with.”

As the crew continued their analysis, a bright white light filled the cockpit, and the Ilumirian leader they had met suddenly appeared. 

“Danger, Captain Banfield and the crew of the Triton.” It said with concern in its voice. However, there was a double-edge tone. On one side, the Ilumirian sounded concerned; on the other, they sounded in agony.

Rising from her chair, Banfield looked at their visitor. “What’s happening? Are you okay?”

Nicus had stepped over from his station, with a tricorder in his hands scanning the Ilumirian. “Your lifesigns are fading.”

“It’s the poison that’s here, in the Veil’s sanctuary. It protects us. It keeps us alive, but it is not working.” The Ilumirian started to become weaker. 

“The poison? Do you mean the radiation?” Banfield quizzed. “We can help.” She quickly added.

“Please,” the Ilumirian pleaded before it faded away in a bright light. 

For a second, no one said anything. Most of them were still registering the shock of the Ilumirian’s arrival and departure.

Most of them.

“The Ilumirians cannot survive in this asteroid; the radiation is stopping them from entering,” T’Liana summarised. “If we do discover a tetryon reactor powering, whatever it is powering, then it would be right to assume the Nacene constructed this to keep them out.”

“But why keep them out?” Nicus asked. 

“To protect them?” Banfield suggested. “We know that the Caretaker that Voyager encountered protected the Ocampans after the Nacene devastated their world; maybe something similar happened here in the Veil. Let’s start looking for something that may have happened to explain why the Nacene could be here.”

Everyone moved back to the stations to look for something, a clue, a piece of evidence.

After almost four hours of work and still flying through the asteroid’s deep caverns, they had yet to find the reactor. Banfield was starting to wonder if they were following a dead end.  

Doctor Nicus’ console then flashed with new data. He glanced at it, and his slitted eyes widened. “Captain, I’m detecting residual traces of a catastrophic event.” 

Hearing that, Banfield got up from her station and placed the mug of raktajino she had replicated an hour ago down. “What is it doctor?” She was pleased to hear that they may have something to follow. 

“It appears there was once a disruption to the neurogenic fields—a massive destabilisation.” Nicus pointed to his reading. 

“Caused by what?” Banfield asked, already suspecting the answer.

Nicus looked up. “Something or someone caused the original field to collapse, which would have decimated the ecosystem here.”

Banfield frowned, her mind racing. “Sabotage?”

“Perhaps or accidental,” Nicus answered. “The data suggests that the neurogenic field was later stabilised, but it was a crude restoration, not as precise as the original design.”

Banfield exchanged a glance with T’Liana. “And if these markings are from the Nacene, it’s possible they’re responsible—either for the collapse, the repair or both. We know they did this to the Ocampa. Why not here in The Veil?”

T’Liana nodded. “I understand your logic, Captain, if it was true. If they caused the collapse, it is plausible that the Nacene intervened to restore the ecosystem. Perhaps they constructed this asteroid to house the reactor and to use it to prevent others from interferring.”

“And to keep the Veil’s ecosystem alive?” Banfield asked aloud. 

The pieces were beginning to fall into place, though there were still too many unknowns. Banfield could feel her pulse quicken. They were standing on the threshold of understanding a cosmic mystery, a puzzle that had its roots in one of the Delta Quadrant’s most enigmatic species. She wanted to know. She needed to know more. Discovering how the Veil’s origin would be a great accomplishment, while on the other hand, discovering if the Nacene had a hand in the Veil’s development or even survival was something they needed to know more about. 

“Captain,” CJ interrupted, “I’ve detected an area further ahead with stronger energy readings. If this entire asteroid was engineered, that section might hold the reactor we’ve been looking for.”

Banfield nodded decisively. “CJ, take us closer. Let’s see what secrets this place is hiding.”

The Calliste moved forward, gliding through the cavernous asteroid. The shimmering light of the neurogenic fields grew brighter as they advanced, painting the walls in ethereal blues and greens. The deeper they went, the more it felt like they were venturing into the heart of a sleeping giant.

As they neared the designated area, Banfield’s console beeped, drawing her attention to new sensor data. It was more refined and sharper now, indicating a structure within the asteroid. Her heart pounded in her chest as she anticipated what might be ahead. Looking down at her sensors, she started to see if she could work out what could be ahead of them, but Banfield was unsure. She switched from being a science officer and back to captain. 

“All stop,” Banfield ordered as they reached the edge of a massive chamber. “Scan the area. Let’s see what’s out there and get as much information as we can.”

As the Calliste entered the huge compartment deep within the asteroid, the away team was awestruck by the sight before them. A colossal, lattice-like structure was suspended in the cavernous space. Its shimmering surface was adorned with swirling energy streams that pulsed rhythmically, much like the energy signatures they had detected earlier. The towering and intricate structure bore a striking resemblance to Voyager’s descriptions of the Caretaker’s array. Its dark hull configuration and imposing statue were unimaginable. 

The array floated effortlessly in the zero-gravity environment, its angular arms extending outward, cradling the heart of the chamber. Dozens of smaller nodal points orbited around it, their movements synchronised like a dance. Energy fields rippled along its surface, flowing into conduits built directly into the walls of the asteroid, connecting the array to the surrounding ecosystem. Banfield’s instincts flared as she studied the immense device. The array was not dormant; it thrummed with life. She could sense it and feel the powerful energies coursing through it. It was not just a piece of technology—it was alive in some way, watching over the Veil.

“Just like the Caretaker’s array,” she whispered. 

Tharmas ran his scans, eyes widening as the data streamed in. “Captain, this chamber is a control hub. It’s the heart of the Veil. Everything is coming from this array.”

“Control hub?” Banfield repeated, her mind reeling. If this was the central system that maintained the entire Veil, it meant they were standing before something created by the Nacene themselves. They were powerful enough to pull ships across the galaxy, destroy entire worlds and move freely through subspace. This didn’t surprise Banfield if it was the Nacene.

Before she could issue her next order, the runabout was suddenly enveloped in a burst of light, and a strange energy signature filled the cabin. The entire crew froze, and Banfield’s heart raced as she sensed something was about to happen. She tried to react, but before she could move, something swept across them all, and they all disappeared along with the strange energy that had filled the cabin.

The Calliste sat there with no one longer in it.