Another small ship arrives in system, from the other wormhole. Its IFF proclaims it to be owned by an "Absentminded Professor", belonging to the incorporated entity "SOLODRAKBANSOLODRAKBANSOLODRAKBANSOLO". It deploys small a set of four small probes, which warp away into a pyramidal formation: from their movements over the next few minutes, it looks like they're triangulating the position of the arcology.

"We have company. Stay to the secure channel: wormhole space is lawless, and I don't think we want to attract attention."

"...If you say so."

This is all really interesting, but Isabella stays ready to warp the hell out of here and leave the whole thing on Starfleet's doorstep.

The fleet warps in towards the arcology, and engages the drones there. Railgun-accelerated antimatter-fullerene rounds, hull repair nanobots, and EVE shield tech are all put on display for T'mir's scanners. Missiles, lasers, and electronic countermeasures are also in evidence.

"So, where should I start?"

"If this space is lawless, what sort of laws are in force elsewhere?"

"The galaxy can be roughly broken down into three categories: highsec, lowsec, and nullsec. High security areas are patrolled by CONCORD, and are basically safe to exist in. There are occasional terrorist acts, but CONCORD has a response time of about five minutes and a very big stick: most people with decent shields survive long enough for the cavalry to arrive, even in dire situations. Outside that, there are empire-policed low security areas: if you're near a gate or a station, you're probably safe, but if you're out in an asteroid belt you might run into pirates. Outside that, in the nullsec areas - you're on your own. That's the territory of Capsuleer nations, and few of them appreciate having strangers in their territory. This is wormhole space: it doesn't even have a proper security designation."

"I'm not sure what the legalities are between a lost human colony and the Federation. This might get complicated."

"Hence why I suggested you not tell me instantly about how to make my own warp drive like yours. It would be problematic."

"Well, where's the civilized area?"

"Through the wormhole I came from, then maybe one or two jumps after that."

"I don't think I had better go hopping through strange unstable wormholes. Could you point it out on a map?"

"Wormhole space is unmapped. I have no idea where I am right now, save that it's 'through a wormhole.'"

"...Okay, but I know where I am. Do you know where civilized space in your society is?"

"Not relative to where I am right now, or to any landmark in our current sky. Otherwise wormhole space would be mapped by now."

"And you don't remember where Earth is, so not relative to Earth... maybe you could show me the star layout in the mapped area and I could find it by that?"

"Possible. We don't know how far the original wormhole bridged."

"But right now we're in the Milky Way. Which means that you guys can bounce around distances we can't bridge without finding natural wormholes."

"So you do actually have a maximum range. Did I tell you that there's a theory that the wormholes are actually being generated by an unknown Sleeper technology?"

"Do tell."