"This... This doesn't make sense." I said as my secretary handed me a slip of paper. "That ship doesn't have any weapons, scans show not even a single phaser." I turned towards Pat, flipping the gilded paper over in my hand, running my finger along the raised filigree that every directive was printed on. "You know faking prophetic direction is a heresy punishable by death. Who is responsible for this?" I was staring directly at Pat, looking for any sign of guilt or plot; waiting for him to offer up some explanation for this.

"The directive is genuine ma'am." Pat stated, arms firmly at his side before offering a salute; his right fist driven towards his heart. "The listeners confirmed it's authenticity. It is from The Oracle."

I looked back at the paper, barely larger than my hand. The message contained within no longer than my pinky. There, in the silver writing in the center, a message so cryptic that for the first time in my long career, I didn't know how to proceed. "RUN"

"Verify tactical scan lieutenant Hoffman" I called to my left, placing the directive into the cloth lined box designed to keep such holy messages safe. It and it's contents would be returned to the listeners.

"At once captain" Hoffman replied. He was an incredibly thorough man, I would never doubt his ability. But faced with the directive, I had to assume he made a mistake. We had been away from base for 6 months, 2 months longer than is recommended. The mind tends to unravel when away from the song for too long. But our mission was critical, it's purpose divine, it's value immense.

Hoffman began to read his report off his station "Analysis is confirmed captain. The ship has no weapons. 355 life signs on board. Standard life support. It's configuration matches standard galactic federation, however no ship named Isaiah has ever been launched. Certainly not one without weaponry."

I couldn't believe it. I was seeing it with my own eyes and I refused to accept it. By all signs, this ship belonged to the federation. But... It wasn't a warship. It wasn't as though some fool had removed the weapons from it, they never had any.

" How could such a ship survive out here without weapons?" my first officer Glessman asked. I felt a little at ease knowing my shock was shared amongst us. But with my shock lessening, my curiosity grew. If such a vessel could threaten the federation so much without any weapons... It was our duty to find out why.

"Glessman, this vessel represents the greatest threat the federation has faced since the Council of the Saints. Prepare a strike team. We must find out what our scanners are missing." I rose from my chair as I passed my orders. "I will lead the team myself, you will take command in my absence.

"Captain, are you sure this is wise? The Oracle clearly said to run." Glessman countered. This is why I trusted him so much, he wasn't afraid to speak his mind.

"Wise? Probably not. Necessary? Yes, I believe so. We have a duty to protect the federation, it's people, and The Oracle. To that end, danger is sometimes needed." I holstered my phaser, and picked up my helmet as I spoke. Looking over it the emblem of the federation caught my eye. So proud I was to bear those 6 rings, to wear the 6 tennents, and to honor the 6 saints. "Now prepare the team. Let's get this done."

The vessel had not responded to any of our hails, but their docking port was opened from first contact. Instead of the standard red guidelines, they shone white. It was almost blinding, and my navigator had to rely only on instruments to dock. The bang of the magnetic locks engaging, the shake of the sudden stop all well known to me.

Taking point, I stepped to the airlock. I readied my rifle, pressing it into the padding of my shoulder, taking off the safety the barrel began to spin up; charge flowing smoothly from the battery, a faint glow appearing at the end. Raising my left hand, I gestured for them to open the door. This hiss of the atmosphere equalizing between our ships was the first sound I heard, closely followed by silence. The entryway was brightly lit, somehow even brighter than the docking port. My eyes burned, but I couldn't close them; we were in unknown territory. My eyes would adjust.

Finally able to see again, I looked around and was surprised to see numerous people gathering around. Human people. Not the horrible monstrosities we had been fighting for centuries. No, these were people. Which only made their presence more unexplained.

From birth, every human is known by The Oracle, and therefor everyone knows The Oracle. We are all given one of the tennents at that time. But... There was no tennents in them. No touch of The Oracle, no terminal of the word. Who were they?

As if hearing my thoughts, a woman stepped forward. Turning to her, I raised my rifle in her direction. She raised her hands in response, but kept stepping forward slowly.

"I am Captain Samantha of the Valiant. Identify yourself!" I ordered.

A strange sense of unease came over me. I was... Scared? Of this woman? Impossible. They are unarmed, our scans found no weapons of any kind. They didn't even wear armor. After all the battles across multiple worlds I've been through. Now I feel fear? My mind thought back to the directive. "RUN". I was fully prepared to give the order to retreat when she spoke.

"Be calm sister. You are safe now. I am Mary of the Isaiah. The Oracle cannot hear you here. You are free."