9a. Oubliette - Short Treks

Deep within the heart of the Chamra Vortex, a faint life sign flickers on a lonely Class-M world. When the away team touches down, the crew of the Enterprise finds Xurbam - a man living in primitive isolation, his only company a mysterious creature that never leaves his side.

Xurbam's story is one of tragedy: a survivor of a pirate raid, stranded and desperate to return to his homeworld. Moved by his plight, the crew welcomes him aboard, but as the Enterprise leaves the nebula behind, the grateful refugee they met on the surface begins to slip away.

Strange behavior turns into inexplicable hostility, and the ship’s corridors soon echo with the footsteps of a man who seems to change with every shadow. As a routine transport mission dissolves into a high-stakes manhunt through the decks of the Federation flagship, the crew must uncover the secret Xurbam is hiding before the body count rises.

Their hunt leads to the silent ruins of a fallen civilization, where the truth of Xurbam’s identity - and the heavy burden he carries for his entire race - will force the crew to make a choice that defies every regulation in the book.