Hello, Is Anybody Out There?
Posted on Sat Aug 16th, 2025 @ 8:40am by Lieutenant JG Peri Valeri & Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii & Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova & Lieutenant Xavier & Lieutenant Amanda Rose & Lieutenant Robin Maxwell & Staff Warrant Officer Madelyn Steele & Lieutenant JG T'Avia Espinosa
1,355 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Preservation Instinct
Location: Colony
ON:
The shuttle dropped lower towards the planet ground. The trip had been quiet for the most part but the XO had spoken of procedure and what we knew so far. Basically, a rehash of the briefing and Xavier kept quiet. His mind was elsewhere for sure but that didn't distract from the smooth flight down. He kept one eye on the sensors.
Lieutenant T’Avia Espinosa was quiet, methodical, and studying a PADD the entire trip from shuttlebay to destination. She needed to brush up on this New Eden Research facility which in many ways reminded her of old Earth's Svalbard Global Seed Vault in some ways. Doctor Bálor would be more of an asset on this away mission thought T'Avia, and she wasn’t wrong. He was a botanist, she was not; however, Percival Bálor was not aboard. She was.
Tox had said something about personal med kits, extra med kits. Xavier heard none of it. The sensors were blank, flora, fauna, but .... not much else. He had a foreboding feeling, like an insect skittering over the back of his neck. "Commander...please take a look at the sensor readings," he called out.
Stepping up, Yiv stooped between Xavier and Tox's seats, and looked at the sensors. 'That's not ... right,' he allowed eventually. 'No artificial energy signatures.' Clicking his tongue a moment, he thought, 'any artificial habitats?'
"No. Just animal life and Flora," Tox confirmed. "Completely .... empty on sensors. We'll know more when we arrive but I suggest running a tox screen with science and med sensors to make sure there is nothing harmful. We should be in range in ten minutes for the scan."
'Curious ...' Yiv replied, retrieving his PADD and fishing out some coordinates. 'According to the last update, the colony's administrative building was located at these coordinates. Please land us as near as we can to there.'
Xavier gave a nod. "Adjusting course" With the scans done and the shuttle landed everyone prepared to go out. Xavier took the extra med kit Tox handed him and checked his phaser. "The shuttle wired to take off in an instant should we need it. Voice trigger and authorization command code from anyone on the team." He told the XO in case something happened to him.
Tox snorted. "Morbid much?"
Xavier shot him a glare to which Tox's response was sticking his tongue out. "Mature, really mature."
Tox grinned.
Listening to the conversation around her, Peri did a scan of her own. "Commander, it doesn't look like there's any significant damage to the buildings. Could the colonists have fled to another part of the planet?"
Madelyn was quietly listening in as well, just keeping tabs upon the conversation.
"There are a lot of buildings, might be worth splitting into teams." Tox said. "Maybe the buildings hold some info."
Seeing the deserted settlement, the word "Croatoan" crossed Anahera's lips.
Maxwell was silent in the back of the shuttle; he had a standard uniform with a belt of small pouches and a messenger style bag with him.
Beside him sat Lennaya Ishall; Aya to her friends, the Andorian Female was taller at five seen and silver hair past the shoulders coiled on a bun. She wore slacks rather than her usual skirted uniform and had the typical Damage Control Field pack also stowed.
Aya leaned slightly closer to Maxwell for moral support. Her job would be to run diagnostics on the systems and access any damage. Her only real 'hint' at nerves was the subtle but constant movements of her antennae. Maxwell put a hand between them and like calming a canine, he gently pet between them.
"The shuttle is safe zone, the dirt under your feet is when you need to be alert." He winked. "WE are counting on you to get things partly up and running you know?"
"Why else would I be here?" She raised an eyebrow. "You might be another matter though?"
"I have some experience with unusual facility abandonment." Is all he replied. "Especially check after lost communications and such."
'Alright,' Yiv said as he peered through the thick mist that had enveloped the shuttle as it came up on the centre of what had been the colony. 'Two teams. One for the Colonial Admin building, one for the power plant.'
'Chernova, Maxwell, Rose, Ishall, take the power plant, see if we can't get some power restored there. Tox, Xavier, Espinosa, you're with me. We'll take the Admin building.' Yiv straightened and looked about the shuttle at the personnel. 'The colonists have disappeared or moved. We can't afford to not assume something out there has hostile intent. Phasers out. Stun levels for now. Are we all clear?'
"Aye, sir." Anahera said. "Come on, team."
"I'll stay with the shuttle in case there's a problem." Peri said, although she didn't expect a response.
Madelyn leaned in and whispered "You and me."
Peri nodded. "We'll be backup." In a loud voice she announced, "Check in every thirty minutes."
Cannot wait." Ishall said while grabbing her field gear and rising.
Maxwell casually took his messenger Bag as Ishall preceded him.
"I have your Six." Maxwell said with practiced ease, hand not near the Phaser on his thigh but fluid measured movement that came naturally to him.
Xavier gave a nod to the commander and Tox smiled. He pumped his fists. "GO TEAM XO!"
"We are all the Ontario crew," T'Avia interjected. "It should not matter whether you are assigned to Chernova or Ra-Gruvloveii" she added.
Xavier gave him a glare.
Tox Shrugged. "I've got team spirit. What can I say."
"You're a nurse, not a cheerleader" quipped T'Avia.
Amanda noticed who she was assigned with: Maxwell. She had to assume that the reason that she was there, was to keep an eye on him to make certain that his alter ego does not appear.
"Any survivor might need the services of a Counselor?' That is what Maxwell proposed as the reason to bring Rose to the surface. Quite the logical foresight actually. Not really fond of the Counselor Maxwell would keep a safe distance of course, he had other things to worry about.
Power is off because no one kept them on; that seemed the likely trend of thought to him, a Ghost Town is never good for those coming to check. He would stay close to his team... He slipped a small sphere into the pocket of Ishall without her noting.
"Don't wander too far off." He whispered to himself.
Anahera looked around the ghost town, looking for signs of conflict as her and her team made their way to the main reactor.
"Maxwell, stay close!" she called as the Chief Intel officer moved a little ahead of the party.
She could hear bird calls, animal rustling, and rushing water nearby, but to her honed instincts something felt off.
"Of course, Commander." Maxwell replied calmly. "Sorry about that." Taking point was an old habit, he needed to be more relaxed; he is not in that duty billet any more.
He figured with the main power not working; nature sounds were good meaning no danger lurking immediately and so until the power is restored and the Colony systems working the team is in the dark.
Ishall wanted to get loose, but she knew to stay tight in the team, she had a job and wondering off or ahead is not why she is on the ground. Once the coast is safe she could do her job, no need to rush,"
(To be continued in "Without A Trace")
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Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii
Executive Officer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Xavier
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant JG Peri Valeri
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
USS Ontario
SWO Madelyn Steele
Chief Engineer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Amanda Rose
Chief Counselor
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Endymion Tox (NPC)
Head Nurse
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova
Chief Security And Tactical Officer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant T’Avia Espinosa
Acting Chief Science Officer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Robin Maxwell
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Ontario
Lennaya Ishall
Damage Control
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