The Ring We Left Behind

Posted on Sunday January 4, 2026 @ 8:55pm by Lieutenant Mak Aerie & Lieutenant Commander Monoc Drurio

1,634 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 1: A New Frontier
Location: Bridge, U.S.S. Vanguard
Timeline: Current

Lieutenant Commander Monoc Drurio sat at his workstation on the Bridge of the Vanguard reviewing sensor reports from the nearby region. So far everything was, pretty much, routine for what should be expected on their mission: a whole lot of stars passing by at faster than light speeds. The sad part of it all was that a lot of the worlds couldn't even be scanned quickly enough because the ship was passing by too fast for the sensors to do an in-depth scan. It was true that the sensors on Starfleet ships were advanced, but they were still limited by line of sight and distance. While they could get some readings, not usually enough to warrant a second glance. With Vanguard's mission a secondary mission profile vessel would be coming out to do the follow ups.

He almost wished that he was on one of them, almost. In his whole career Monoc had never set foot on a secondary ship and that was something he was proud of. Many in Starfleet got their start on such vessels, some even commanded one, but his entire career had been spent on frontline explorers and he was proud of that fact. If he hadn't screwed up he'd probably be in command of the Zheng He right now instead of having been relegated back to Science Officer on what was, essentially, a warship.

The Mizarian sighed as he looked at the little details they had on the readouts. They were, mostly, boring half reports until he spotted something he didn't anticipate. Sensors had detected a Class-P planet nearby that appeared to have an ancient, synthetic ring structure orbiting it. "Intriguing," he muttered from his chair.

Mak sat in his chair at the CONN station. The bridge seemed quiet. Routine reports streamed in and out. Inputting the last digits of one of the coordinates, the final star chart was downloaded. Rubbing his neck, his finger crossed several of his Trill spots and scratched the sore spot. Groaning softly, he readjusted and stretched. Routine star fighting training in the holodeck really sprained his wrist when he pulled the stick upward hard instead of going under the loop. Clasping his hands together, he cracked his knuckles and looked around the bridge.

The commander behind him muttered in a usually quiet bridge admid the beeping of consoles and shifting of feet against the velvet carpet. He turned to the science chief and inquired, "Huh? What's that?"

Busily typing on the keyboard of his workstation, Monoc had barely heard the Helmsman's comments let alone registered them in his own mind. A synthetic ring structure wasn't something that you came across everyday and he really wanted to learn as much as he could before they were too far away. Inputting a sequence on the screen, his brain kept reminding him that he'd been called out.

Glancing away, "What was that?"

“Hmm,” Mak mused, glancing at the screen for a few quick seconds. Earlier, new reports and updated maps distracted him from focusing on what lay before him. Despite the calmness of the bridge, he itched in his seat. The cockpit of any small vessel, even shuttles, called out to him. Studying the unusual structure, he placed the CONN on auto and got out of his seat. Having briefly met him in the briefing but with no knowledge of who he is, he approached his science station, extending his hand, “Lieutenant Mak Aerie. We haven’t been introduced.”

Still sitting at his Science Station and keeping his eyes peered on the display monitor, it took a moment for the Mizarian Science Officer to realize that he'd been spoken to. "Huh?" He looked up then realized what was said to him, "Oh, right, Lieutenant Commander Monoc Drurio. Science Officer," he said it somewhat absently as his attention returned to the screen right after.

Mak looked at the screen again, pausing to admire the unusual synthetic beauty of the ring structure that surrounded the planet. He spoke, curious, “What are we looking at here?”

"Ancient history," Monoc said with an astonished curiosity in his tone. "Sensors picked this up while we passed by it like a bat out of Hell. An artificial ring, countless millennia old. Lost to the annals of time yet again." He sighed.

Mak crossed his arms, studying the ring. He mused, “It’d be interesting to explore the ring from the cockpit of a fighter. Maybe a small shuttle. We could drop a probe. Explore it when we come back along the way. If we come back. I know a little bit about Xenoarcheology. Just a side hobby of mines.”

"We've already passed by it," Monoc answered in a defeated tone. Pulling away from the control console he wished that, just perhaps, he hadn't fallen into his base desires all those years ago. If he'd been in command of the Zheng He, like he should be, he could've ordered the ship to investigate. Instead, well, he was trapped at Warp heading toward danger.

Glancing up at the pilot, "Xenoarcheology, eh?"

Keeping his arms crossed, he shrugged casually, “Ah, just a side passion of mines. Growing up on Vashti, my father got me into it. Plenty of ruins and structures in my neighborhood, and I learned quickly.” He paused, lost in his own thoughts and reminiscing about his early years. He added, “I still enjoy them. Studying artifacts and exploring ruins left behind an ancient civilization.” Mak paused, as some of them was a bit of a sore subject.

As he studied the ring on the screen, he turned to him and inquired, “What have you studied as a science officer. I know it’s a broad question but I’m curious if you had any preference in science?”

"A couple different things," he answered honestly, albeit vaguely. The Science Officer assumed that the Helmsman probably didn't know his history. That may be for the best. "My studies in the Academy were generalized though as I chose not to focus on any particular branch of study." He replayed part of the conversation in his head, "Vashti? I thought that was more Romulan than Trill?"

Mak nodded, his curiosity piqued. He decided not to question him further on that and answered his change of subject with a hint of snarkiness, "Yeah. You'd think I'd be Romulan or Human if I was born on Vashti?" He had a slight twinkle of amusement, but quickly added, "Sorry. No, my parents moved and I was born on Vashti. The story is a bit of a sore subject for me. I'd rather talk about something more relevant. Like, those starcharts for, wherever we are going? Dran’kora Expanse ? Do we know much about them? I put in a request for more and haven't heard anything since."

Strange indeed. For the Flight Controller to have requested access to the starcharts for a region of space and not to have been granted access was incredibly unorthodox, especially on a Starfleet vessel. Come to think of it he hadn't been given access either. With his own history Monoc hadn't thought much about it, but he was still surprised to learn the Helmsman didn't have access either.

"I'm afraid I don't know much either," he turned back toward the Science Station and pecked at the keyboard controls. "You haven't been granted access? Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are the pilot of this ship, aren't you? They should have given you access to the charts."

Mak exhaled, nodding as he realized his words might have come off a bit odd. Keeping his frustration with Starfleet's bureaucracy to himself, he replied, "Correction, sir. I am the chief of the helm and have access to the main computer to fly this ship. The thing is, I do not have enough information on where we are going because the Dran'Kora Expanse seems uncharted. The star charts for that expanse appear incomplete. However, I can plot and coordinate unfamiliar paths using familiar coordinates. We are essentially flying blind into an unknown, unexplored expanse. Maybe we could use Stellar Cartography to plot and keep a record?"

"Ah," the Science Officer answered with the clarification. The Mizarian genes deep within him, which he hated most of the time, still had a lot of sway over him, "I apologize for my misunderstanding." He started typing on the keyboard attached to the workstation and pulled up the duty roster, "Looks like the Stellar Cartography team are itching for something to do anyway. Want to give them a buzz and see if they have the time?" He already knew the answer, but would like them to know the pilot.

Mak nodded, "I could raise them, with your permission, sir?"

"Ah I don't stand much on ceremony. You don't need my permission to reach out to them to do your job," the Science Officer smiled as he said it. It probably was a weird thing to hear from a Department Head, but it was how he felt.

Mak nodded, tapping his com badge, "Lieutenant Aerie to anyone in Cartography, would you maybe have time to chart an unknown region of space we are headed to?"

"We'd be happy to help you out," the voice of the Head Cartographer answered. "Come on down when you're ready."

Monoc tapped his own communicator, "I'll be coming along myself as well, Chief."

There was a brief pause, "Understood, Sir. Cartography out."

The Science Officer rose from his chair, "Care to lead the way?"

Mak nodded, quickly turning as he walked towards the lift. He subtly barely noticed another pilot taking over his bridge duties as he stepped into the lift.

Commander Drurio rose from his chair and relinquished it to an Ensign, falling in step behind Lieutenant Aerie to go to Stellar Cartography.

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