Probing for the Away Team (part 2)

Posted on Sat Sep 10th, 2016 @ 12:04pm by Captain T'mpest Michaels & Lieutenant JG Rami Miral & Commander Rylie Cattmor & Lieutenant Commander Dylan Blake & Lieutenant Commander Morai Keen & Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Lancer
Edited on on Sat Sep 10th, 2016 @ 12:54pm

1,400 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: A Civil Act
Location: Planetside, on the surface

[CONTINUED]

[On the planet]

[OLD]

Miral's steps slowed as she approached the rest of the team still standing at the elevator. "What happened?" she asked. It was clear that something did as the elevator doors were closed and there was no sign of the probe. And then there was the overall attitude of everyone around the elevator. She arrived in time to hear the question. "From what I've found, it was a one-way trip. Something called 'Project Underhill'. The elevator was to take people down, but not bring them back."

[NEW]

She looked from one to the other of the rest of the team. "I take it by your expressions and the fact that you're standing in front of a closed elevator that the probe didn't work as planned?"

One of the team members shook his head. "We've got nothing. The probe went down 150 clicks and then passed through a barrier of some sort. Never came back."

When she'd been updated, Miral shook her head. "That sounds about right. At this point, I recommend that we go back to the Ranger. Maybe we can find a way to come in from the side?" The other officer just nodded, and the away team headed back to the shuttle.

When they arrived, the pilot reported, "I'm pleased you're back, lieutenant. The power to the shuttle was restored about eight minutes ago, and I'm not sure how long it will last."

"At least our timing for something was good," Miral commented wryly. "Good job fixing the problem."

"Uh, that's a negative." he responded as he started the pre-flight sequence. "As much as I would like to take credit for it, it wasn't from anything I did; I just stood from under one of the panels to take some notes and make other adjustments and the whole panel suddenly lit up. Secondary systems were next and it got flight ready a couple of minutes later."

"Well, whatever it was, it's the first good news we've had," Miral replied, flopping into a seat. And with that, a little frustrated at their apparent failure, they headed back to the ship.

***

[USS Ranger]

"Michaels to Ranger."

Commander Keen perked up at the voice relieved to hear it after a lengthy silence. "Receiving captain, what's your location?"

"Approximately 175 clicks under the surface of the planet." came the reply.

"Can you give me a team status, sir?" Blake continued eager to know the details considering how things had already panned out on this strange planet. "Is everyone accounted for?"

"Yes. We're all here. Can you reach us with the transporter?" T'mpest asked.

Blake checked his readings. "Not quite, we'd have to move the ship closer."

Keen sat back a little in the command chair and listened to the exchange between the landing party and the ship. Sighing a bit of relief at the Captain being alive and hopefully soon to return. "Helm move us as close as you can to their coordinates." Keen commanded. "Two hundred clicks down; might do us well just to be safe to aid in transport."

Helm nodded. "Aye, sir. I'll get us closer, but I wouldn't recommend getting much closer. We're still not sure about what caused the shuttles systems to power down."

"Any bit will help." Keen said before cutting into the channel to Michaels again. "Captain, Keen here, do we need to have medical by transporters, is anyone injured?"

"Negative," T'mpest said. "We are all well. However, we would like to return to the ship at your earliest convenience."

"Transporter Room, this is Keen." He spoke into the comm unit. "Lock on and beam up the away team, decontamination procedures to be followed." He turned to the operations officer. "Captain, we are beaming you up right now ma'am."

"Thank you," the Captain replied. As much as she enjoyed learning about the ancient culture, she was glad to be going home again.

Keen leaned back in the chair as all his flock had returned and thanked the Prophets none of them had fallen. He looked around he bridge as he knew he had to do a command thing. "Hold position until we recover the captain and landing party." He commanded in a normal voice. "You all did your jobs exceptionally under trying conditions and I thank you all for that." he nodded. "When the Captain is aboard I am sure she will be right here, so maintain stationary orbit until then." He then waited for the captain to report either from the transporter room or on the bridge itself.

When they were cleared, T'mpest walked onto the bridge. "Commander Keen, report."

"Captain, the ship is in the same condition as you left her, ma'am. All systems functional with one probe stuck in that elevator you took below the surface." he blushed slightly. "I regret we were not able to establish a connection sooner." He stiffened. "But if you wish the ship is at the ready should you want to recover after your mission; I am quite able to stand watch for the rest of the routine shift ma'am?"

"I am not in need of rest," the Captain replied. "You, however, have a new baby. I am sure your wife would appreciate your company, if not your assistance." Besides, Orin was not very pleased with some of her decisions in the undercity, so she would prefer to keep busy right now. "It might be prudent to retrieve the probe before we leave. Perhaps, with the information from both away teams, we might be able to find a solution."

Miral walked onto the bridge in time to hear the conversation. "I found some information on the elevator. It was a means to get rid of the opposing faction."

T'mpest nodded. "That is also what the computers in the undercity said."

"I'll give you what I found. Maybe you can make more sense out of it," Miral said.

"That would be appreciated," the Captain replied. "Sammy should be able to analyze the data. He's currently working on what I brought back from the planet. If you could give him what you found, that would be appreciated."

Miral nodded. "I'll take care of that right now." With a nod, she turned and headed for the Captain's Ready Room.

Despite having been trapped on the surface of an alien planet, T'mpest almost seemed refreshed. As each person took their stations having returned from the surface, Cattmor did also, while hearing and sensing the exchanges between every single officer on the bridge, along with those three decks below them. With the captain still going on about the alien AI's that she'd apparently been in contact with, the Intelligence officer, Miral also not seemingly not batting an eyelid about the situation, Rylie's uneasiness feeling in her stomach returned. Her logic, so far, was at least winning out; that the captain was not operating under the influence of, but there was still that gut instinct that she was not able to shake. Even probing, at least as discreetly as she could go though, confirmed there was nothing untoward going on. She sat down in her assigned position and activated the central console which folded out slowly. "Helm; move us back into a standard orbit. Mister Blake; prepare to retrieve the probe, even if we can only get the data recorder, and make sure Intel has access."

"The Bridge is again yours Captain." Keen took a slight bow. "If you have need just give me a call." Keen said as he had to admit he wanted to spend as much time with Kitten and the Cub. "I will report for next shift." He offered and then left the bridge.

Now that they were all back aboard, Cattmor was intensely ready to vacate this desolate area, to leave the AI's well alone; but she was not the one in command. She stood and approached Michaels, "Once everything has been transferred aboard, captain, our course?"

"The nearest Starbase," the Captain said. "For a well-deserved 48 hour shore leave." She hoped it would not be too difficult to retrieve the probe. She did not relish explaining to Starfleet why she left on in an elevator.

____
OFF

Lieutenant JG Rami Miral
Intelligence Officer

Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Lancer
Communications Specialist

Captain T'mpest Michaels
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Dylan Blake
Chief Operations Officer

Lieutenant Commander Morai Keen
Chief Counselor

Commander Rylie Cattmor
Executive Officer

 

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