### *The Salibad Package*

The Hyperbolic Base hummed with quiet energy, the metallic walls bathed in a faint blue glow. Tobias stepped into the command room, his tail flicking nervously as he clutched a brown, unassuming package under his arm. His arrival caught the sharp gaze of Virtuoso, whose crimson eyes narrowed as they fixed on the box.

“Tobias,” she said, her tone clipped, “what is that, and why did you bring it here?”

“Starfleet gave me this,” Tobias said, setting the package on the table between them. “They told me it’s urgent and has to be delivered to Salibad. But something feels... off. I couldn’t deliver it without knowing more.”

Virtuoso’s expression hardened. “Starfleet doesn’t typically hand out courier assignments to someone like you. Who gave this to you?”

Tobias hesitated, recalling the exchange. “It was Commander Meryl Quinton.”

Virtuoso’s eyes flashed with recognition. “Meryl Quinton? She’s known for being calculating and ambitious. If this came from her, we can’t take it at face value.” She approached the table, her movements calculated. “You were wise to bring it here. Let’s see what we’re dealing with.”

---

### *A Meeting with Commander Quinton*

The encounter with Meryl Quinton played vividly in Tobias’s mind. 

Earlier that day, Tobias had been summoned to Starfleet’s outpost near Evergrand. He arrived to find Quinton waiting, her uniform immaculate, her demeanor sharp as a blade. The commander had a reputation for being brilliant but ruthless, and her piercing green eyes didn’t waver as she extended the package toward him.

“Tobias,” Quinton said, her voice cool and commanding, “this is a priority delivery. It must reach Salibad’s council without delay.”

“What’s in it?” Tobias asked, his tone guarded.

Quinton’s lips curled into a thin smile, more calculated than reassuring. “Classified. Your orders are to deliver it and nothing more.”

Tobias’s fur bristled. “And if I refuse?”

Quinton’s smile faded, her tone hardening. “Then you’ll be in violation of Starfleet protocol. Consider the consequences carefully, Tobias. You’re already walking a thin line.”

Reluctantly, Tobias accepted the package. As he left the outpost, her parting words lingered ominously: “Don’t disappoint me.”

---

### *The Grim Revelation*

Virtuoso’s claws worked with precision as she carefully opened the package, her sharp gaze never leaving the task. Tobias leaned forward, his ears twitching anxiously as the sleek, metallic device inside came into view.

Virt’s expression darkened. “It’s a bomb,” she said, her voice cold and steady. “A GPS Bomb, to be exact.”

Tobias’s stomach dropped. “A bomb? What’s the target?”

Virtuoso scanned the device with her handheld analyzer. Her red eyes narrowed as the screen displayed the coordinates. “The Statue of Virt in Salibad.”

Tobias’s fur stood on end. “Why would anyone want to destroy that? It’s a symbol of hope and unity!”

“Destroying it would send a powerful message,” Virt explained grimly. “Salibad is already on edge. Taking out a cultural icon like the Statue of Virt would plunge the region into chaos.”

---

### *Neutralizing the Threat*

Virtuoso placed the bomb on a metal stand and began her work, her claws moving swiftly across its intricate mechanisms. Tobias steadied the device as instructed, his claws scraping against its cold surface.

“We have to disarm it here,” Virt said, her tone steady but urgent. “Moving it toward Salibad would activate the countdown.”

As sparks flew and wires were cut, Tobias’s heart pounded. “Do you think Quinton knows what this is?”

Virt paused briefly, her expression unreadable. “If she doesn’t, someone in Starfleet is manipulating her. If she does... we have a much bigger problem on our hands.”

After what felt like an eternity, Virtuoso made the final snip. The device powered down with a faint click, and the room fell silent.

“It’s defused,” she announced.

Tobias exhaled deeply. “What now?”

---

### *A Dangerous Plan*

Virtuoso studied the now-inert bomb, her expression thoughtful. “You still need to deliver it.”

Tobias blinked in disbelief. “What? After everything we just uncovered?”

Virt nodded. “If you don’t deliver it, Quinton—or whoever orchestrated this—will know you’re onto them. By delivering it, we buy time to uncover the truth and expose their plans.”

Tobias frowned, his tail flicking nervously. “And if they realize it’s been disarmed?”

“They won’t until it reaches its destination,” Virt said firmly. “Once there, the council will have no choice but to investigate, and that could expose the culprits.”

Reluctantly, Tobias agreed. “Alright. I’ll deliver it—but what about Quinton?”

Virtuoso’s gaze hardened. “Leave Quinton to me.”

---

### *Onward to Salibad*

As Tobias left the Hyperbolic Base, the package felt heavier than ever. His thoughts raced as he boarded the transport to Salibad, knowing the next steps would test not only his resolve but his loyalty to Starfleet itself.

“This isn’t just a delivery,” Tobias muttered to himself. “It’s a mission to uncover the rot within the system I trusted.”

From the shadows, Virtuoso watched him leave, her red eyes gleaming. “Stay sharp, Tobias,” she whispered. “You’re walking into a den of vipers.”