Mountain Top

Posted on Fri Feb 12th, 2021 @ 9:55am by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Lieutenant JG Sher'ra Verona & Lieutenant JG Adrian Sage

2,404 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - Echoes Of An Empire
Location: Planet Surface - Religious Enclave
Timeline: Mission Day 9 @ 0928 Hours

On

Copernicus had managed to cut through some of the interference that was permeating the atmosphere and had managed to beam Keiben's team part of the way up the mountain, the range had been limited though so they found they still had a slight climb to reach the entrance to what he still assumed was a religious meeting place or enclave of some kind. Already the massive carved stone entrance could be seen and the detail even at this distance was astonishing.
"Darcy make sure you get full readings of any technology we find in there, that goes for you as well Sage".

The young science officer nodded, panting for breath as he readjusted his science kit across his shoulder. "Yes sir," Adrian breathed, reaching to wipe the sweat from his brow.

Giving a nod to Keiben, Amalia replied, "Already on it Sir." having been recording the hike towards their goal, she didn't want to miss any details of the surrounding areas. After all you never know what sort of data could be gleaned. And working with Science Officers they would probably pick up details that she may not have noticed.

"Well Sher'ra, I know this is likely not in your skill set but I need your eyes on this as well!"
This was one of his senior staff he had not had much interaction with, she was still very much a mystery to him and he was thankful of the time with her, he hoped to make more of an effort with her now.

Sher’ra gave a slight shrug, “yes sir, but I’m not sure what insight I can bring. Unless it’s related to food or some kind of weapon I’m a little out of my element” she said, not entirely sure why he would ask her to help with the sciencey things, but she wasn’t going to disobey an order.

"Honest truth Ensign, If I Hadn't have brought you with me then the two mother hens I call First Officer and Doctor wouldn't have let me out to play!"

He smiled and flashed her a wink. "I know this isn't likely to be up your street but I do appreciate your presence... and who knows, we may find some T'Kon weapons plans for you to drool over!"

"Aren't you the captain sir?" Adrian asked, "isn't it your call to make whether you come or don't come on a mission? If it were somewhere dangerous I could understand but this is hardly dangerous is it? I mean....such a building is hardly booby trapped is it?" He pulled out his tricorder and started to scan. "Can I take structural samples for carbon dating?" He then asked.

"And that's another reason I picked this place for my team... If I had decided to go to the aquatic and shoreline locations then I would never have been able to justify that within the regs... There's more to being the Captain than you would think".

Moments later they reached the entryway. The huge doors opened as they approached meaning that some form of power and automation was still functional. "Are you seeing this?" he asked of no one and everyone. "The entire structure is still functional and the tricorder is showing that this place isn't carved from the mountain as we had though... the entire place is form for of unknown alloy".

Amalia was over there running scans, "I would love to get a look at what is keeping this place running, and I do want to see what sort of metal this is. What kind of alloy and can the alloy be replicated. I almost want to taste the alloy to see if it has a flavor." she looked at Keiben, "I know, that sounds strange but metals do have a distinct flavor to it and even." she stepped close and tried to get a scent of it. "Hmnnn no scent except for what's been here for a long while. Maybe later will heat it up and check the scent that way."

“I wonder if this empire ever had contact with the Iconians?” Sher’ra asked absentmindedly. Although history wasn’t really her thing either, she’d at least heard of some of these ancient civilisations. “Well, at any rate let’s try not to piss off any guardians this place might have. I don’t think the engineering chief would appreciate it”

"I can help with chemical analysis," Adrian offered once again, "I just need samples from the structure. I don't have the equipment here for proper carbon dating but I do have in my lab."

Amalia looked back at Adrian. "Will most definitely get some samples for you to check the composites. I really want to know." flashing a grin. " How about when we get inside, and then we can see if there is a more feasible spot to get the samples." Amalia stepped inside further, her footsteps echoing down the hall, perhaps she should have let Verona step in first but she was excited to go in. Lights seemed to be triggered down the hallway, as if the very presence of people was the on switch. "Looks like there's not been anyone here in a while but, I don't see much in the way of cobwebs or something of that sort." looking down at the floor to see if there were imprints or even dust on the floor. So far no imprints in the dust which seemed to collect when things were in disuse for quite sometime.

Keiben was directly behind her, Ensign Verona at his side. His senses taking it all in thirstily trying to process everything at once. This certainly wasn't a religious centre though, that much was now clear. Religion and Technology rarely met in an civilisation so it was a good bet the T'Kon followed in that same vein. The walls were elaborately carved, the flooring was a stunning display mosaic that reached all the way back to the far chamber.
"I think this was the seat of the planets government or ruler and not a religious location!"

“Definitely doesn’t look like a military station. Government makes more sense” Sher’ra commented, looking at the detailing on the floor

"Seat of Government, interesting" moving a bit more quickly, to see if there were any doors or hallways that intersected with this one. As she went further along, Amalia's eyes brightened as she spotted a door almost hidden in the wall. Well maybe hidden wasn't the right word for it but it did come into view on the right side. "I found a door to the right and of course the corridor continues on. Maybe the receiving room area? Won't know until it is opened." Amalia reaching out the touch the closed door.

Sher'ra quickly jumped forward, "Don't touch that!" she called as she moved over to where Amalia was, "Call me over cautious but I just want to check for danger" she said, taking out her tricorder, ready to scan the door, "can you please stand back?"

Amalia nodded and stepped back, to allow Verona to check out the door, "I don't blame you for wanting to check, who knows what lies beyond that door."

On the scans there didn't seem to be any security devices that was on the door, in fact it didn't seem like it was locked either.

"Nothing wrong with being cautious," Adrian murmured, hanging back a little. He was a scientist, not a fighter. He could use a phaser if he needed to but he wasn't very good at it, preferring to let those trained to protect others to actually perform that duty. "but we're here to make discoveries, surely we can move on and get in there?"

After a moment, Sher’ra nodded to herself, “alright, it’s clear. You nerds can do your thing”

Keiben for his part was moving further into the expansive chamber, the side wall completely removed, no rail just a sheer drop down the mountain. The pillars had been carved directly from the surrounding stone holding the opening together. However, beyond the view there was little else in the room of note. Instead he waved his hand towards the discovered door, indicating that all should move forward that way.

The next area was dark, so they had to snap on their palm beacons. The room at the end of a shot corridor was circular, doors branching off equally distant to one another and in the middle of the room was a table, a device but something about it felt wrong, not just in the usual way, this was starting to feel almost like a telepathic connection.

He pushed out with his Betazoid senses ever so slightly but that was all that was needed, the devise at the centre of the table ignited some kind of holo display and it looked like a topographical display of the surrounding area.

Amalia had scanned the room then moved further towards the device in the center, she gazed at the display that was brought up, then exclaimed, "Look, there are more structures isn't that where the other teams went to? There's a structure near the coast I think that is where Commander Horn went to. Then there is something that is underwater, that's where another of the teams had gone Dr. Melanie and her team went there. Then there is the site that Commander Holt has gone too. Do you think that there is a way to get more of a view of their progress, maybe some sort of viewing device?" Amalia examining the console even further. "I mean wouldn't there be a way to enlarge it, and zero in on their coordinates?" waving her hand towards. "And is there something that can check on the progress of those doing planetary scans?" Amalia waving her hand towards the map, as if it would do something.

"I can understand this!" Keiben was more than confused about this. The language was not one he was familiar with yet the writing across the display he could read but he could also feel a presence as well, mechanical yet telepathic. "The technology has a telepathic component, maybe the interface."

He moved around the table and indicated the location on the map that corresponded with his own teams location.
"This area is a strategic command position. It looks like we have access to a detailed scan of the surrounding three hundred kilometres. The ruins here", pointing at the location that Commander Holts team had been designated too.

"This is a city, or was. It wasn't the capitol city on the planet but it was the hub of the economic structure of the planets weapons development... and here" once again pointing at the map.

"This coastal structure looks to be some kind of biogenic research laboratory... Kre'shada Reten... I'm not sure what that means" indicating two words that obviously had no translation into his own language.

"This looks like a direct connection with the biolab", his finger tracing a line that descended down into the ocean and to a large structure. "Biological sample containment lab and medical facility... could this indicator be our shuttle?"

With that the display shifted, zooming in for a more detailed look and instantly the four man away team came into view on the display, writing in the ancient T'Kon language also appearing like readouts next to each member.
"This is Mel... Medical intervention required it says. The others show as unexpected sample!"

Again the display changed, this time in colour. All the outlines became red and an automated message began to play this time in Keibens native tongue, Betazoid. The universal translators allowing the rest of his team to understand.

"Unexpected sample discovered. Security measures deployed. Planetary communication dampened until further notice".

Sher’ra instantly jumped into action, “damn it, what have you nerds done now?” She said, pulling out her phaser and scanning the room, “if you’ve gotten us killed, I won’t forgive you. Grethor is not a nice place”

Adrian held up his hands. "I haven't touched anything," he retorted defensively, "I haven't even taken samples yet. And what's a Grethor?" He cast the captian a look of concern. "Why is that thing talking to you in your native language?" he asked, grabbing his kit and moving closer. "Should I take samples of that too sir? Just a sliver of material is sufficient for chemical analysis and composition."

"I have no idea but I can feel it inside my mind... Its not attacking but rather responding to my telepathic touch... I can feel the sensors working across the surface... those that still work...".
Keiben was engrossed in the sensations he was feeling, being able to scan the entire planet and interpret the data using nothing but his own mind. Then, as the scan continued on across the coast he felt it, exceptional pain, rage so deep it threatened to invade every neuron of his consciousness, and something he could only categorize as pure evil rampaging towards the aquatic structures.

"Someone on Commander Horns team is severely injured and something has been released... Its moving at pace towards Commander D'BrooNi's team!"
He was losing himself to the machine, could feel everything on the planet with an interface of the same nature linking together, connectivity abundant and starting to draw on his psionic talents as the central processor.

"Captain?" Adrian walked up and shook the Betazoid's arm to get his attention. He looked around at the other team members. "I'm no medic but... I think something's wrong here... I mean I know about chemistry and all that, but this is different. He seems... a little zoned out?" The science officer shrugged as he turned his tricorder on the man. "His biochemistry is off the chart..."

"Alert" the Captain's voice sounded distant, hollow, his eyes glazed over but he continued to talk and as he did he seemed to expand, it took a moment for the others to realise that he was patched in directly to the internal communication system. "Intruders detected in multiple locations. Senatorial Parliament military coordination centre. Weapon research facility city of Trey'Tan'Dur. Biological Weapon Research cold storage facility Gret'Oar'Zhan Coast. Genetic Biolab Julanth Trench, Oar'Zhan Sea... Counter measures deployed. Main computer system and power generation activated, main processor operating at seventeen percent, further psionic input and interface required!"

END

 

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