Luck and Disaster - Part 1

Posted on Sat Jul 12th, 2025 @ 7:26pm by Captain Daegan Baas & Lieutenant M'Tala "Hobbes" Clan Hrasi & Aseek Tarnala & Commander Jerome Hunt Jr. & Lieutenant Liam O'Riley & Lieutenant Zane D'Sai & Lieutenant Urushi Yaotome & Lieutenant Niami Troga & Lieutenant Ayumu Tanaka & Ensign J'Haz Sasha & Lieutenant JG Stevie Thomas [O'Riley]
Edited on on Fri Aug 1st, 2025 @ 10:14am

1,577 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Sole Survivor
Location: Pricari Home world
Timeline: MD 18 - 1305

[Bridge]

It took two days to get to their destination and the word had gone out that the Valkyrie would soon be arriving. Daegan sat in his chair and looked behind him as Aseek emerged from the small breakroom behind the bridge and came to stand near the Captain. To him the ships counselor sat to his left and his exec sat to his right.

Forward, at the helm Hobbes announced their arrival. "Sir, dropping from warp in 3...2...1."

Aseek stepped forward as his world grew larger on the viewscreen.

"Hobbes, standard orbit."

"Aye sir."

Urushi's fingers ran across the science console. The planet below looked eerily silent and lifeless. No doubt once upon a time it had been lush with life, but that was no longer the case. "I'm running scans, but there's a lot of interference. I'm not detecting lifesigns within scanning range... At least nothing that registers as a lifesign."

It was strange for Niami to be seated upon the bridge in one of the seats. In her other postings, she had not been upon the bridge, and most definitelly not on the USS Umber. That captain didn't want her anywhere near there. She turned her attention from her inner musings to that of what was happening on the bridge. Feeling the presence of Aseek, Niama looked over her right shoulder to glance at him. Her eyes drifted over towards Baas, reaching up to touch the rank bar he had given to her. Giving him a smile, Niami turned her gaze back to the front.

Hobbes was bringing the sip in as ordered when something was detected by his navigational sensors. "Captain, It appears there is a large platform still in a midrange orbit of the planet."

Daegan glanced up at Aseek before returning to the viewscreen. "On screen."

As the view shifted, what appeared to be an orbital construction platform appeared. "Amazing. Looks like something from the mid to late 21st century. Why hasn't it fallen from orbit in all these years?"

"That's a very good question," Hunt asked. "Unless someone has been around to help maintain it."

"It actually is falling from orbit." Urushi commented. "It's been set on a path that falls with the rotation of the planet. It was most likely a lot higher in orbit when it was first built. Plus, I'm reading what seem to be solar powered batteries and rudimental ion thrusters. Most likely it keeps itself in orbit as long as possible as long as power is available." The Trill Science Officer explained.

"Looks like we have more to examine than the planet itself." Daegan turned to the tactical station, "Tactical analysis of the orbital station."

"Scanning." Wallace's hands moved over the console but his scans basically confirmed what he was sure everyone was already assuming. "Minimal Power. No gravity. Scans show it's what it looks like, a construction station with a vesselllll...less than one third having been completed. No life signs, but I am detecting several sets of remains.

"There are also some areas of the station that have decompressed. The station is, surprisingly, still structurally intact give the time it's been sitting there"

Niami looked back towards Aseek, her brow furrowing in worry. Certainly there was a solution to prevent the destruction of his people.

Glancing over to the Counselor, who was looking past him, "Counselor, are you sensing anything from the station or the planet?"

Niami's gaze drifted towards Baas, then turned her head back to the viewscreen, Her mind, her senses out towards the station, after a few long moments. "I am not sensing anything from the station." she closed her eyes once more, reaching out towards the planet itself. There was something there, it was as if there were voices almost screaming out. Or was there? She shivered, "I sense something, pain, agony. Silent voices trying to--make themselves known." Gripping the armrest. She shuddered once more. "Something is definitely there and I do not feel that it is friendly."

Turning to Hunt the doubts in Aseek's story of what happened to his people were beginning to fade rapidly. "Commander, look like we will need two away teams."

Urushi turned around in her seat to face Bass. "I volunteer to lead the team on the planet." She said, a serious look now painted on her face. 'This could help me get a shot at that second office role, and show I'm a serious science officer...' she thought to herself as she awaited his answer.

Before there was a reply to the request Sizia stepped into the mix. She needed to verify if these things were real; for more reasons than one. "Sir, I'd would like to join the team to the surface as well. With my exo-biology studies this a perfect opportunity."

Daegan looked to his yeoman he knew this away mission could be al for nothing or it could go sideways, but she had to learn to face the same risks as anyone else. Looking to Hunt he subtly nodded his approval. As to Yaotome's request, awayteam assignments were the XO's purview and he didn't want to step on his toes.

Commander Hunt looked between Urushi and the captain. "Alright, Lieutenant you'll lead the team on the surface. I will lead the orbital team. Take Aseek, Sizia, O'Reilly, Wallace and you can decide on whether to take Ayumu or Johannsen with you. Keep an open comm down there."

"Ayumu..." Urushi said. "Surely it can't be..." she looked at the floor for a moment. "I'll take him then. Ayumu that is," she said with a smirk. "And thankyou sir." She added.

"No problem," Jerome acknowledged. "I'll lead the team on the orbital station. Sovak, D'Sai, Garath, Johannsen and Thornton with me."

Urushi stood up and tapped her comm badge. "Yaotome to Tanaka, O'Riley and Sh'velihr. Report to Shuttlebay One for an away mission. Bring standard away mission gear." She said.

"Lieutenant Wells. We'll be needing a security detail too. If you could send down some of your people, we may need them." Urushi asked looking over towards the Tactical and Security station.

Daegan interjected. "Belay that." Looking to Urushi, "Lieutenant you are going into a potential biohazard area with what is reported to be hostile lifeforms. You and your team will need EVA gear and I don't want your team and the security contingent compromised or hampered by the use of a shuttle. Have the security team security team beam down in advance to secure the area, then you and your team can beam down. The surface mission is an error on the side of caution operation.

"Dr. Tanaka will also have subdermal transponders for everyone going to the surface. If these things exist it will be nothing our science has encountered and we will beam everyone right out of their EVA suits to keep from contaminating this ship."

Aseek was growing more and more irritated at the disbelief in if account, but the Captain mentioning the Defiled being unlike anything even they had seen provided a calming fact he needed to be reminded of. He was brought out of his thoughts when the Captain called on him.

"Mr. Tarnala, where is the best chance of finding your data?"

"The equatorial launch facility was the only stronghold remaining when we launched. If anything remains that's where it will be."

Urushi shuddered a little. The idea of something literally being inserted under her skim was not one she liked. However she shook it off. She looked over at Bass. "Understood sir. I'll make sure we're all protected down there." She nodded with assurance.

"Good luck everyone," Jerome acknowledged to the group.


[Transporter Rooms 3 & 4]

The security team ten people strong were ready to beam down to the surface. All in EVA suits and fully armed with rifles and extra power cells. Gonzalez and his team signaled their readiness, "Team 1 ready."

Lambert and Hudsen were there waiting for their turn to set off on their. "Team 2 Ready for transport." Lambert a rather rugged looking man, a five o clock shadow already showing scratched at the incoming beard. Hudson his face smooth, almost could be claimed to be a baby face, he was ready.

Daegan monitored the status of the security teams from the bridge and his voice sounded in both transporter rooms. == Good Luck. Energize. ==


[Transporter Room 2]

Thorton looked towards Garath the other security officer, gave a nod. Then looked at those who they would be keeping safe. "Sir." looking towards Lieutenant D'Sai "Ready when you are." Thorton as far as he was concerned. D'Sai was the team lead.

Johannsen arrive at the transporter room and was directed to an EV suit. Picking up the helmet, "I always hated these things."

The doors to the transporter room opened as Commander Hunt passed through, catching the comment. "But those things are the very things that will keep us alive." Quickly suiting up, he looked around the room. "Alright everyone. We have no idea if this station encountered the same issues that everyone did planet side. But someone has been keeping this thing in orbit. So, stay sharp and expect anything."

Lieutenant Sovak entered behind the Commander in his EV suit and helmet under his arm along with a small tool bag in hand; as any good engineer would do.

The transported operator looked to the team now in position. It's zero-g over there so everyone should magnetize prior to transport.


...TBC

 

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