It has been an intense few days aboard the USS-Andalusia, we are heading to Star Base 123 after spending almost a month analyzing the effects of a supernova in a remote system. It was an explosion that affected that entire region of space. The strangest and most exciting thing we have found is the Pulsar that we detected in the region.

After carrying out countless analyzes and measurements; as well as ensuring that no civilization that lives in the region has been affected by this cosmic phenomenon; we are looking forward to reaching the Star Base.

The navigation is apparently smooth; however, I’m starting to worry. During the last few days, several engineering crew members have passed through the infirmary, some with very bad burns. They are diverse injuries and in much higher quantities than usual. It is something very strange that has prompted me to pay them a visit and try to talk to Commander García about this.

When I get to engineering I see them working frantically, obviously something is happening. From what I understand, some kind of problem is happening with the Warp Engine. There is no doubt that the engineering section is fantastic, because despite the problem, its negative effects have not been noticed in the rest of the ship.

After observing for a few minutes from next to the door and trying not to disturb, I finally did not dare to interrupt the commander; Obviously this high work rate is the cause of accidents. I will alert the nursing team to be vigilant and quickly replenish the Engineering First Aid supplies, so that they do not lack anything.

When I’m about to leave engineering, I catch a glimpse of an orange mass protruding from a bulkhead. I look closely and with difficulty see that it moves along the walls to finally make a jump and launch itself into the Warp engine. At that moment, a power spike occurs and several overloads occur that affect several of the crew members.

This is not normal, I think as I watch the crew work to regain control of the Warp drive. At that moment the orange mass leaves the Warp engine and enters one of the coolant tanks, which also goes out of control.

– What’s that? – I exclaim startled while pointing to that strange mass.

Commander García, and some other crew members turn to look at me first, and then look where I point. They get to see the mass come out of the coolant tank and cross a bulkhead.

– What’s that? – The commander is surprised to see him.

– I don’t know – I reply -. I have seen it move through the bulkheads and then enter the Warp drive, which has caused failures. And then jump to the coolant tank.

– I understand, this explains everything. – The Commander-Engineering comments to the Captain in frustration.

– Go ahead – the captain responds.

– It seems that we have found the cause of the failures of the last few days Captain, we have a stowaway on board.

– Understood, I’m going there.

I remain fascinated for a moment, but I quickly begin to tend to the injured people caused by the surge; several bruises and wounds of varying severity.

While I tend to the wounded and send those who need it to the infirmary, Captain Segura arrives and speaks with Commander García. And then they approach me.

– What has the chief medical officer seen? – The captain asks me.

– I have seen a semi-transparent orange mass with no apparent shape move along the bulkheads and jump into the Warp engine and coolant. – I answer.

– Any idea what it is? – The commander is interested.

– No idea, maybe the science department can help us.

– Captain, Commander Lubomirska, come to engineering.

I go back to caring for the wounded. Meanwhile, Commander Lubomirska arrives and starts talking to the captain and Commander García. After a while the three of them approach me, just as I finish assisting the last injured person.

– Excuse me doctor, did the shape seem like some form of life or an intelligent being to you? – Commander Lubomirska asks me.

– Now that you mention it – I respond thoughtfully – it seemed to me that he was not moving erratically, but rather hiding from the crew. I think that shows some degree of intelligence.

– I understand, then maybe we are faced with some type of energetic life form. I have read several reports saying that energetic forms have been found around some pulsars that have ended up being classified as possible forms of life. – Explains the commander.

– Okay – the captain accepts. – What can we do?

– If we cannot get in touch with that way of life. I suggest either turning off the warp core or launching it into space. All problems occur when the core is overloaded. Maybe that’s how we make that way of life go away. – Commander García comments.

– It may work, if it is an energetic life form, the life form may have taken our Warp Drive as another energetic life form and is trying to interact with it. – Commander Lubomirska ratifies.

– Okay, we’ll do that. We will launch the Warp core, after so many failures, I prefer to get rid of it and install a new one. – The captain decides.

The next few minutes are frantic, the crew is informed that we are going to stop and work with emergency energy in minimal quantities for a few hours, to reduce the energy footprint as much as possible and try to prevent the being from becoming attracted to the ship.

The ship has been placed oriented so that when it is ejected from the Warp core, it will be attracted by a nearby star and thus move the being away from the navigation routes and try to prevent it from causing problems for other ships.

Finally, the warp core is launched into space. We all follow it attentively, and after a few seconds that seem to last forever, we discover with relief how an orange mass leaves the ship and heads towards the Warp core. We see both floating away in space, while the orange mass seems to play with the core.

-The core is being destabilized. Commander García reports worriedly – I think he’s going to explode before the star attracts him. We should get away from here quickly, lest it explode. We already have the reserve core installed.

– Then let’s get away from here at maximum speed – orders the captain.

The ship gains momentum and we move away at maximum speed. Finally we detect how the Warp core explodes.

As we walk away from there, I can’t stop thinking about that orange being. Despite the problems and injures it has caused us; I cannot help but wish that this strange being had survived.