Post # 29 " Worst Contact "

Posted on Mon Feb 22nd, 2021 @ 8:34pm by Crewman Kuroth Tor Ranjen & Commodore Cyndi Song & Lieutenant Commander Kristian Long

Mission: Planet Savai
Location: USS Amandora
Timeline: Concurrent

On

< Bridge >

The Amandora orbited Savai perfectly which was curious given a storm system that had buffeted the upper atmosphere.

" Commodore the weather has calmed down. With your permission I am ready to take the shuttle Beloit down?" Will asked Cyndi.

Kelliza had taken the station just behind the co-pilot's seat, bringing up tactical data and sensors, passive only at the moment. "All tactical systems in the green, Commander. Sensors online and functional." It felt good to wear her fatigues again. Maybe she would make it her permanent look as Chief of Security.

"Permission granted, be careful and remember this is first contact," Cyndi responded.

Will stood up and headed to the turbo lift.

" Lt Kahn you're with me." Will replied.

< Shuttle Bay >

Kristian made her way to the shuttle bay, boarded and stored her gear including the things her cousin had requested. Leaving the shuttle Kristian waited for the rest of the away team to arrive.

Ellie arrived at the shuttle, she was excited at accompanying the away team so soon after joining the ship. She just hoped Lieutenant Herculoid didn’t mind her going. She stowed her gear before waiting outside for the other team members.

Raymond and Kahn arrives next and proceeded onto the Beloit.

" Kahn this is by the book unless we have to improv it. Dr Long thank you for coming Lt Kees this is your big moment. Lt Herculoid wanted to come but agreed to let you take point. Make sure you get her some good data. There will be ample time to sight see but we need this first contact to be by the book. Where is Mr Tor?" Will commented and asked.

"Any chance to see a new world is a good day," Kristian said turning to Kees "Welcome to your first away team," Kristian knew how her cousin felt but kept that to herself. She had things to do for Tara and would take care of things for her.

“Thanks” Ellie smiled. “I’ll do Lieutenant Herculoid justice, I intend to get as much information, readings and samples as I can.” She looked towards Will. “I’m sorry Sir there’s been no sign of anyone else yet. Maybe Tor is delayed?”

Kahn got everyone's attention. "Remember, this is THEIR culture, not ours. Whatever you see and hear down there, stay out of it. It is not our place to interfere unless it directly threatens one of us. Capiche? (understood?)."

“Understood” Ellie nodded.

"Kristian had been on several away missions and knew the procedures. "Remember the Prime Directive too."

Kuroth Tor quickly rushed to board the shuttle following his meeting with the Commodore.

" Sorry to be late. Just getting final instructions Commander, ladies." Tor stated.

" I almost left without you. Everyone get seated because here we go." Will replied.

Ellie took her seat and buckled in, she was excited to be on the way. She tapped on the console setting up the shuttle sensors to get as much in the way of readings of the planet as she could.

" Shuttle Beloit ready to roll," Will declared.

[ Clear for departure Commander, God speed ] control replied.

"Commander I have the description of the planet from Lieutenant Herculoid, she shared it with me," Kristian said picking up the PADD Tara had given her with the description of the planet. "This planet has cracked plains of arid grasslands along an expansive coastline with mountainous cliff faces, with branching cave networks of swampy tunnels lying under the surface. Prides of big cats hunt across the steppes, while the tunnels and trenches below the grassy surface provide cover for humans and other prey species. has an arid climate, receiving only a few inches of naturally generated rainfall per year. Humans ration water carefully or produce it through magic, while much of Savai's wildlife relies on the movements of large monsters who bring weather systems with them. The canyons and tunnels of the cave systems extend for miles under the planet. Some tunnels terminate suddenly in massive drops, like the seemingly bottomless gorge. There os a stretch of road involves crossing many precarious stone bridges over many trenches. Like in any other triomes, crystals grow The same crystals that root deep enough to pierce the catacombs also soar high enough to change its weather. That's the report from the science chief and I do have Aqua Pills with me,"

" BOY this is going to be a real trip." Will laughed.

Flying through the atmosphere sure enough land masses floated in the air underneath them large chucks of crystal were apparent.

" Kees use the shuttles sensors and try to conclude the make up of those crystals." the XO ordered.

“Aye Sir” Ellie nodded and set a sweep of the sensors on the crystalline structures. “Readings coming in now Sir, not much difference to the crystals we get on Earth Sir except for their size. I’m getting readings similar to that of diamonds. I’d keep the shuttle we’ll clear of any of them, if we catch the skin of the outer hull on these crystals they could tear us a nice hole.”

" For sure. Landing coordinates ahead....what the ..." Will said suddenly turning starboard as a blast of flames crossed the main viewer. Will then accelerated and dove under the largest orbiting land mass as a giant bird like creature chased the smaller shuttle.

" It must be lunch time, HOLD ON," Will yelled as he maneuvered near a jagged crystal shard. The too of the shuttle scraped its tip causing a hull breach alarm to sound.

" We're losing atmosphere. I have to set us down and that thing is still behind us.' Will added.

Kristian had been monitoring one of the panels "Commander I've found a landing spot, I'm sending you the coordinates now. It's not far from the main settlement. You can set us down in a few minutes,"

Will eyed the coordinates and pointed the craft down passing through two layers of clouds.

" We should be able to breath now. Is everybody ok?"

“Yes Sir” Ellie nodded as she took a nice deep breath of air. “We’ll have to watch that one going back up or it’ll be after us again.”

" We have sustained damage too. When the Amandora gets back we will need an engineering teams help to retrieve the shuttle. Brace for impact I found us a suitable spot,' Will replied as he sat the craft down on solid soil.

"Everyone okay?" Kristian asked as she scanned the outside air "It's breathable out there."

" Lt Kahn set up our perimeter. I will check out the shuttles damage. Lt Kees stay with in the perimeter and begin your scans." Will ordered.

“Yes Sir” Ellie nodded and pulled out her tricorder, tapping the parameters into the screen she set about scanning the local area around the shuttle. They’d gotten a good chunk of readings from the shuttle on the way down but now she could get some close up readings.

Kristian stepped off the shuttle and ran her own set of scans. Hearing a sound she turned to look and found several large cat like being walking toward them. They were walking on all fours but as they got closer to the away team moved to stand and continue to walk on their hind legs. Kristian secretly scanned them as well not wanting to appear obvious, "Commander we have company."

" Condition yellow. Lt Kahn set phasers to stun and holsters. Let's approach with caution. Universal translators show active so here we go."

Kahn kept her senses sharp even as she remained relaxed. Tensing up would only cause mistakes. She pulled her phase pistol from it's tac holster, set it to full stun, then re-holstered. "Show you are alert, and stand tall when you speak. Show them respect, but do not show fear."

Ellie was quick to join the others, she was extremely cautious about these feline looking people. She put her PADD away not wanting to raise any issues or concerns, the equipment she’d brought along aboard the shuttle was set to automatically scan the area at periodic intervals so readings would be taken anyway.

Will led the group despite Kahn's gain pausing a few steps from the shuttles rear exit. The alien roars and groans could be heard sending a shiver through Will as he remembered his child hood visit to Tigers Haven.

" They will smell our fear. Hold your bladders." Will joked.

"I am Murrrrt," a large black and white cat said stepping forward "My mate Lurrrsa," he indicated a large Calico cat.

"We welcome you to our world," Lurrrsa said as she walked over to the shuttle "I see you've encountered the crystals, our people can help fix your space ship."

"Who are all of you?" Murrrt asked.

" My name is Will Raymond. We represent the United Federation of Planets and its allied people's. We have come to greet your leaders with a gesture of peace ."

Ellie spoke up next. “I’m Lieutenant Ellie Kees, I’m an Archaeologist and Anthropologist.” She smiled warmly as she took note of the spears they were carrying.

Will moved closer.

" We are not from this planet. We are from a star ship orbiting your planet," he said pointing upward. Though no doubt the Amandora had actually left the system by now.

"What is Archaeologist, Anthropologist? What does that mean?" Murrrt asked. He then looked at Kristian "You, what do you do? And the rest of you? We knew a space ship was coming but no one has told us what you do. Don't you have a pack order?"

Ellie offered a smile. “An Archaeologist and Anthropologist is someone who studies cultures, people and ancient ruins in order to understand more about them. As for a pack order ..” She looked at Will. “This is our Commander.”

" I am the ships first officer, our Captain or leader is Commodore Cyndi Song. She is away on a retrieval mission but will return soon and join us. This is my away team.," Will said pointing to the others.

"I'm Doctor Kristian Long, my job is to make sure everyone on our ship is in good health."

"We have need of a doctor," Lurrrsa said pointing her spear at Kristian "You come with me."

" Lt Kahn go with the Doctor," Will motioned. " What is the nature of the medical emergency,?'Will found himself saying verbatim.

Ellie resisted the temptation to giggle hearing Will sound just like the EMH. She simply grinned and kept quiet.

Several of the cat beings stepped forward surrounding Long and aimed spears.

"She comes with me alone, I will tell her what is needed," Lurrrsa said "Do not interfere, we will not harm her as long as you don't interfere. We have need of her." turning to Kristian "You come with me."

Reluctantly Will looked back at Ellie and Kahn and then to Tor who was exiting the shuttle.

" Do it Commander but one of them has to stay with us. I have some questions," Tor stated.

"We will show you where you can stay, but there is no need for your Archaeologist, Anthropologist as the area where ruins are is forbidden to outsiders," Murrrt said as he watched his mate walk off with several of the pride with Kristian in the middle.

Will turn to Kahn.

" This is a pickle. Lieutenant I am not clairvoyant but my sixth sense is telling me this ain't good. What do you suggest?"

"We're being separated, Sir." Kahn was ready to act, her right thumb hooked into her equipment belt fairly close to her sidearm. "A pride of lions does the same. Separate and then take down." She watched what was going on, ready to act.

“If I may” Ellie looked at Murrrt. “As an anthropologist I study cultures, I don’t need to visit your ruins for that simply to talk to you. If that is permitted?”

"It is permitted, but I thought you would have brought a science officer along not an Anthropologist, Archeologist along" Murrrt commented scratching his ear

Liza, going completely casual yet respectful, sauntered up and stood before Murrt. "You have status among your people and I respect that. However, it is my duty as Security Chief, to protect those under my charge. Our party is under my charge when it comes to safety and defense. I ask, as a fellow warrior, that you bring our personnel back within view, and that we move this to an open market area, or structure. I ask out of duty to my superiors." She clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at the felinoid with a waiting face.

Murrrt nodded and switched his tail several times "I'm leader of my pride, Your doctor will not be harmed her services are needed and that is where my mate is taking her. If I were to have my mate bring your doctor back into view how can she treat those that are sick?"

Will watched with great impressiveness at Kahn's professional style. But hearing Murrrrts logic and the fact he was responsible for the Doctor, he decided enough was enough.

"Look we came here in good faith. Just be on the up and up and let us know who is hurt. We have medical equipment in the shuttle the Doctor may need. It is in your best interest to be honest," Will recommend. " Mr Tor back up to the shuttle and lock into Dr Longs communicator signal and beam her back to the shuttle." Will replied and whispered to Tor

Tor nodded.

Before anyone could respond Long materialized near the shuttle and just as she did loud roars could be heard, they seemed to come from everywher0e. About twenty of the cat beings dropped from trees and surrounded the away team and pointed spears at them.

Only Will and Kahn had phasers meaning Kees and the Doctor were easy prey.

" We will defend ourselves." Will warned firing over one
of the females heads. They then formed a circle with Will on one side and Kahn on the other. The shuttle then fired up and arose off the ground and landed between them as Kuroth Tor piloted it.

" Get in I will cover you with the shuttles phasers," Tor yelled.

" Go " Will motioned.

Ellie reluctantly nodded and jumped onboard.

Tags all

Once everyone was back onboard Ellie shook he head. “Well that was one hell of a shambles of a first contact situation” She looked at Will. “That was our fault! If we’d have trusted them and showed willing to believe they wouldn’t harm the Doctor then maybe that wouldn’t have happened.”

"Commander they were not going to hurt me, I barely got to were Lurrrsa was taking me when you beamed me back. Those crystals have injured some of them and another couple of species that live here. They need help and by beaming me back you've shown there is no trust," Kristian commented.

" Maybe so but I was not willing to take a chance with my crews life. The Amandora has already left orbit and we are damaged. We will need to find a place to park for the night and see to repairs. Mr Tor do you concer with the ladies? " Will replied

" Diplomacy does take trust but given the way in which this played out you will have trouble gaining their trust again. Commander you and the Doctor need to beam down to that sight again and apologize." Tor replied.

Will resisted but then looked to Dr Long.

" Are you up for this Doctor?"

"I was find before you beamed me back," Kristian said "I do have a phaser in my field kit that I carry and I can defend myself."

" Activate transporter Mr Tor." Will yelled.

Beaming the two figures back down to their own future fates.

Tbc