In 2258, Doctor Tasaki piloted the shuttle with a survey team to Epsilon III. A beacon was triggered by the recent surface quakes disabled the shuttle. A Starfury was sent to tow the shuttle back to the station. The shuttle was repaired once again, and Commander Jeffrey Sinclair and Lieutenant Commander Susan Ivanova took the shuttle through a newly discovered fissure on the surface. They discovered the Great Machine and the machine's operator, Varn. They brought him back to the station for medical care.