"Captain's Log, Stardate 87662.7.
The Nexus is finally free from the Nekrit Expanse. After nearly five months, it feels strange to gaze upon the familiar black void of space, rather than the endless expanse of pink gas.
Stellar cartography has a substantial data file to upload to the alliance computers for mapping the expanse.
The Nexus is now heading through the Jenolan Dyson Sphere and the space-folding portal, aiming to return to the Beta Quadrant. We will dock at the Jouret Station, located just outside the Solanae Dyson Sphere gateway, for a prolonged file upload, as well as much-needed maintenance, repairs, and shore leave.
I believe I speak for the entire crew when I say that if I ever see the color pink again out of my window, I very well may lose my mind."
"Approaching the Jenolan Dyson Sphere, Captain," Lusaalli reported from her post at the helm.
"Thank you, Helm," Anzyl responded, dressed in his captain's uniform but adorned with a white apron and holding a tray of green cupcakes. "To commemorate the Nexus finally escaping that pink nightmare, I've prepared kiwi-lime cupcakes with mango coulis capsules!" he announced to the bridge crew, presenting another one of his patisserie creations to his team. Anzyl handed out the meticulously crafted cupcakes, each adorned with kiwi and lime green frosting and little orange syringes protruding from them.
"Hey! What's wrong with Pink?" Lusaalli turned in her chair, her pink skin and magenta lips frowning as she stood up accepting her treat.
"Nothing at all, Ensign," Anzyl replied, handing out his creations, "I just never want to see that color out of my window for five months straight ever again."
"And what, pray tell," Nolan asked, his saurian scaly hands picking up his green dessert, "does kiwi-lime have to do with that pink Nekrit Expanse?"
"Oh, it's actually quite simple, Mr. Rivas," Anzyl chuckled, "Lime green is the opposite of pink on the color wheel, that's all!" he smirked.
"Oh! That is! Tart!" Heluna squinted as her lips puckered, tasting the tart lime frosting.
"That's what the mango coulis is for," Anzyl explained, handing the rest of his creations to the bridge crew, "Simply squeeze the syringe on top to balance it out."
"Coming within range of the Jenolan Dyson Sphere gateway, Captain," Lusaalli reported from the helm, "shall we make for the space folding gateway back to the Beta Quadrant, sir?"
"Please do, Lusaalli," Anzyl said, sitting down in his chair and setting his empty tray to the side, "I don't know about you guys, but I would like some shore leave when we arrive at Jouret Station."
"Yes, sir," Lusaalli confirmed as she piloted the ship.
—
Outside in the vast expanse of space, the USS Nexus, although formidable in size, paled in comparison to the monumental scale of a Dyson Sphere—the largest construct known to the galactic civilization. The Nexus appeared as a mere speck in the shadow of these colossal structures.
Crafted by an ancient civilization known as the Iconians, these spheres were titanic marvels, encasing the entire habitable zone of a star within their metallic shells. The circumference of the star's orbit became a singular, enclosed world within the Dyson Sphere's interior.
The put it plainly, the distance between the planet Earth and the Sol sun, was the radius of these spheres.
Fueled by the inexhaustible solar energy at the core of the star, these spheres also housed Iconian Gateways, facilitating instantaneous travel between the various active Dyson Spheres scattered throughout the Milky Way Galaxy. Through these gateways, traversing vast distances across the galaxy became as simple as stepping through a doorway, as space itself folded to shorten travel times drastically.
With the reactivation of three such Dyson Spheres located in the Beta, Delta, and Gamma quadrants, inter-quadrant travel, commerce, and communication experienced a dramatic surge. These Dyson Spheres emerged as bustling hubs of trade and activity, connecting distant regions of the galaxy like never before.
—
The Nexus approached the gargantuan triangular entryway leading into the boundless metal expanse of the Jenolan Dyson Sphere. As the entryway opened on all three sides, granting safe passage into the interior of the colossal sphere, the ship was bathed in the sunlight emanating from the star at its center.
Around them, in every direction, the expansive sphere boasted a habitable M Class planet, a testament to an ancient civilization and now a bustling hub for refugees, migrants, and colonists. It offered seemingly endless stretches of Class-M land ripe for habitation.
Cruising through the atmosphere of the mammoth inner planet, the Nexus beheld a pristine metallic white circular gateway suspended in the air, with numerous ships entering and exiting its bounds. With full impulse, the Nexus approached the gateway, swiftly traversing its threshold. In the blink of an eye, the ship and its crew found themselves on the far end of the galaxy, back in the Beta Quadrant.
—
"We have successfully crossed into the Solanea Dyson Sphere, Captain," Lusaalli commented.
"Any sign of Voth or Undine presence?" Anzyl asked, his brows furrowed with concern. "The last thing we need is a skirmish en route to the station."
"Negative, sir, Heluna reported from her communicationsconsole," It appears clear around the Khitomer station and gateways."
"Perfect. Let's exit this sphere and set course for the Jouret Station," Anzyl nodded decisively.
—
The Nexus navigated through another immense sphere, its core adorned with a class M planet bathed in the light of another shining star. Passing through yet another Iconian gateway, the ship emerged in the Azure Sector, not far from New Romulus.
A colossal federation style space station loomed nearby, flanked by a massive Iconian gateway structure in the depths of space—a central hub for Khitomer Alliance trade and commerce.
The space station, played a role reminiscent of Deep Space 9 in the Alpha Quadrant, serving as a primary transit point for travelers to and from the Iconian gateways, welcoming individuals from all factions and races within the Khitomer Alliance. As the Nexus approached, a swarm of ships buzzed around the station.
"I know this place is usually bustling, but this is exceptionally busy," Anzyl remarked, observing the plethora of small vessels crowding the station.
Heluna swiveled in her chair, relaying information through her earpiece. "We've been cleared for docking, sir. The station advises that due to the unusually high traffic, tractor beams will guide us in."
"About the traffic—any word on why it's so congested?" Anzyl inquired, turning to his communications officer.
"The captain requests information regarding the unusual activity at the station," Heluna relayed, receiving an enigmatic response. "It's the Showcase, sir."
"The Showcase?" Anzyl echoed, his confusion evident.
"The Intergalactic Tribble Grand Showcase, sir," Heluna clarified, mirroring his bewilderment.
"I'm sorry, what in the what now!?" Anzyl exclaimed, nearly losing his balance in his chair.