Post Bumber 23 Away Mission Part Two-Trials

Posted on Sat Aug 9th, 2025 @ 12:08am by Lieutenant Tara Herculoid PhD & Commander Benjamin Parker & Lieutenant Commander Emma Parker & Lieutenant William Wright III & Lieutenant Alister McKeon & Lieutenant JG Troy Grainger

Mission: Are You Worthy?-2
Location: Cave On Planet Surface
Timeline: Current

Snip:

As the computer started to speak, doors slid down over the entrances to the cavern. A wave of energy and a face looked at them. “In order to leave our world you must face a test, follow a path and make a series of decisions and if you find the way to the waterfall, you will be free to leave.”

Alister spun on his heels as the doors came down, he let out a curse before looking up, “Maybe next time don’t play with computer we don’t understand,” he glanced over at the XO, “Want me to see if I can’t cut our way out the way we came in.”

End Snip:

"What the hell!" Tara said as she looked at the doors that had slid down covering the entrance they'd come into the cave. After scanning the doors. "The doors look to be solid rock, a make up I've not seen before."

William couldn't believe what just happened; suddenly he felt a wave of guilt sweeping over him as he looked to Alister "CRAP!!'" he stated "I hope I didn't cause that reaction from my scans" realizing the mission just went from bad to worse.

"Let's remain calm, we need to assess our situation." Benjamin started out trying to project a calm voice for his away team.

Emma calmly looked over the blocked exits and turned to the executive officer. “There is no way out of here that I can find. We may have to play their game, Commander.”

Tara walked off a few steps and scanned an area that was glowing with some form a soft light. "Commanders I am picking up a path back here and some sort of very soft light that seems to be glowing ."

William walked over to where Tara was now standing seeing the same thing she was seeing. Turning towards the rest of the group "Looks to me like they, who ever they are, have already plotted a course for us to follow" then he paused not wanting to make another mistake "I don't think we have a choice but to follow it if we ever want to get out of here" he concluded just wanting to get outside again.

Taking everything in Grainger had a feeling that something was going to happen. That’s why he suggested using transporter beacons. He activated his tricorder and scanned the doors that just slid down. They appeared to be like the Hematite walls in the cave. Instead of scanning the computer he scanned for the mystery mineral, and it looked like it was down the same path that Tara indicated.

Grainger spoke up. “Commander the doors that slid down seem to be made up of the same Hematite that the walls are made of. I can’t seem to scan beyond it. Also, the other mineral ore that I have been looking for seems to be down the path that Tara indicated. What I find interesting is that this computer has symbols on It that we can’t read but the computer had no problem speaking Federation Standard to us. I have been in a lot of caves and on archaeological digs before. I advise caution because there could be other traps like the one, we just experienced.”

"Its possible that whoever developed this has some type of translator like we do." Emma spoke up. It was unlikely another ship had come through here there was no documentation of anyone from Starfleet or the Federation having been here before. She turned to the first officer. "If we try and blast our way out I am concerned that it would bounce off whatever these walls are made of. I can't raise the ship either."

"I agree with her, those walls are thick and the composition of the rock is something I've never seen," Tara commented "The computer did say we have to reach the waterfall and that is deeper into the cave. I say we head deeper and try to find the waterfall. I've seen Hematite and this looks similar but I'm not sure we'd find it out here on an unknown planet in an uncharted system."

Grainger turned it off and put away his tricorder. He spoke up to make sure that everyone could hear him and kept his voice as neutral as possible. “Lieutenant Herculoid you seem to know best so I will follow your lead. Just to let you and everyone else know that one of my Science specialties is Geology. Also, since I’ve been in a lot of caves over the years I consider myself to be an expert in that field as well. My tricorder must be broken so it stays in my backpack.” Then Grainger looked at Commander Benjamin Parker, “Commander feel free to check my Science officer credentials when we get back to the ship. For now, I’m just going to observe and I’m curious as to what happens next.”

"Credentials don't need to be checked at this point, we need to find a solution to get out of here. Tara you believe you have a solution?" Benjamin asked says he looked over to the science officer. He could tell there's some animosity between the two science officers, for the moment he was going to let it play out and see if it worked itself out or if you really needed to get involved once I got back onto the Amandora.

"There is a passage that is leading deeper into the cave, we know the way we came in is blocked and the computer did tell us we needed to reach the waterfall. I suggest we head into the passage and see where it comes out at. The walls are being lit by some natural form a lighting. The walls seem to glow," Tara responded.

"According to my scans." Emma spoke up. "That passage is our ticket out of here." She looked to Benjamin. "It is the test that the computer program speaks of but I see no other way at this point but to see how this plays out."

Alister glanced over at Tara, “Still hate playing by the rules from some old computer,” he said with a shrug, “But I guess I’ll take point.” He brought the phaser rifle up to low ready as he started down the corridor.

Grainger first looked at the Commander and nodded. After listening to everyone else he spoke up. “Tara, sorry for speaking out of turn earlier. Once we get back to the ship, we can properly introduce ourselves to each other so no worries. As for my tricorder, I will check it to see what’s wrong with it later. Going down the passageway I would listen for dripping water and look for any creeks or pools of water along the way. Also, the other ore that I have been looking for could be the source of the energy signal and might power up this place. I would advise scanning for radiation ahead in case this other ore is emitting anything.” As they started to move down the passageway Grainger took his place in line behind Tara.

Tara looked at Grainger "We'll meet once we're back on the ship," she then turned to the XO and Emma. "My scans show the passage way open up the further into it we go. The scientist in me is eager to head into it but it's not my call to make the XO is in charge of the away mission. But if we're to find the waterfall that seems to be the only way."

Listening to the conversations William decided to say something "Not that my opinion carries much weight but I agree with Lieutenant Herculoid, we should proceed as her scans indicate maybe we'll finally get out of this hole in the ground" he stated more than eager to be elsewhere.

They followed Alistar and Emma down the passage which opened up into a large meadow, there were trees, fauna, flowers as far as the eye could see. Some dragonflies and butterflies could be seen darting in and out of the flowers.

Grainger taking everything in seeing this meadow he said, “Wow what a beautiful site. It reminds me of the Genesis Cave that was created back in Captain Kirks time. I do remember that alien computer saying that we will be tested during our journey to the Waterfall. Everything here looks, sounds, and even smells real. I wonder who created it?”

Emma looked around, keeping her eyes open for trouble. “We need to look for clues for where to head.” She looked off in the distance. “I am thinking towards that mountainous area.” She looked to Ben. “I would advise that we all stay alert, Commander.”

"Agreed Emma, I believe the mountain Area will be our best option as well. It offers a lot of shelter, if there's going to be any clues they'll probably be in there. If it was in the open valley area we would have already discovered it." Benjamin said as he looked over to Emma.

William followed everyone else hoping they would find the end so they could return to the ship and get off this rock.

Tara nodded as she looked at Ben, "I wonder what is in store for us. This cave or what ever it is, is incredible. I've seen a lot of things but nothing like this."

Grainger took out a set of binoculars from his backpack and looked towards the Mountains ahead of them. “Commander, I see what looks like a creek ahead with a trail following it in the direction of the Mountains. Also, I would advise not to eat any fruit or interact with any animals or insects because they could be poisonous. Not saying that they are but something to keep in mind.”

Looking at the others Grainger wondered what they were thinking. He had a feeling that something else would happen soon. As for the power supply most, beings would shield it due to the radiation. Just a guess but there had to be more alien equipment nearby.

Grainger spoke up again, "Its looking more and more like someone use to live here. There could be proof of that even if its hundreds of years old."

"I do carry a minor degree in communication and languages and some of what I've seen language wise are something I've never seen. Which makes sense as we're the first Federation Star Ship to enter this system," Tara said turning to Ben "Commander I for one am eager to find this waterfall and see what lies between us and the waterfall."

“My question is why underground,” Alister said his eyes scanning their surroundings, “Where they trying to hide from someone or keep something hidden, we didn’t detect any reason on the planet that someone needed to live underground.”

Tara looked at Alistar and nodded. "It's not unheard of. I was on a mission some time ago were we found an underground world complete with it's own sun.The beings on the surface didn't know about it and the beings in the underground world didn't know the surface existed. It was interesting to say the least." Off in the distance the grasses and bushes started moving and low growls could be heard and they were getting louder. Pulling out her tri-coder Tara scanned the area and did a double take "We need to find some place to hide and I mean now! There are four large creatures heading our way and according to my readings they are a cross between an Earth Wild Boar and a Klingon Targ only much much bigger!"

Alister turned toward the sounds of the growls the phaser rifle coming up to his shoulder, as Tara spoke he flicked a switch switching from stun to kill. A boar wasn’t something to mess around with, “Need to move quickly then, I’ve hunted boar before back home and they are aggressive as anything.”

Hearing Alister, William unholstered his phaser setting to kill; didn't have to tell him twice. Hopefully those beasts would get distracted and proceed in another direction; one could only hope.

Tara drew her phaser and set it to kill, hoping she'd not have to kill the creatures. "I've only seen pictures of a Boar but I have seen a Targ. I don't care to see these creatures.

Grainger also heard the large animals charging through the forest towards them. They seemed to come out of nowhere. Grainger and Smithers had dealt with Boar on Earth before but usually they were the hunters and not the hunted. After getting his phaser ready Grainger spoke up, “Tara and Commander's Parker these animals seemed to come out of nowhere. Perhaps they are a test for us to solve. Just the same I have my phaser at the ready.”


Tara scanned the area again and the creatures were gone, the growls had stopped. There was no trace of them anywhere. The away team headed deeper into the cave and soon heard the sounds of the waterfall, "We've found it!" Tara called out. A monument appeared stating they'd proven to be worthy and the ship would be able to beam everyone off the planet,

The Amandora was contacted and the away team beamed up each with his and her own thoughts on the planet and what they'd found,

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