One of Our Counselors Is Missing
Posted on Wed Mar 25th, 2026 @ 2:12am by Commander Grace Vetur & Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova & Lieutenant Commander Aaron Marcus & Lieutenant Robin Maxwell & Staff Warrant Officer Madelyn Steele & Ensign Rishi Chabbra & Lieutenant JG T'Avia Espinosa
1,506 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Preservation Instinct
Timeline: After "Day Two...and Things Are Worse
Ensign Rishi Chabbra had been monitoring stations on the bridge, specifically science, but at this hour under these precise circumstances, he was more like a bee going flower to flower collecting pollen of information. He was monitoring the away team, coordinating with the young science personnel left aboard the Ontario running every analysis test they could. It was the latest information from the away team that caused him pause. He would have dropped his mug of tea had he not sat it down just moments prior. Was this the plan or did something go amiss?
The science officer quickly opened a comm channel to Captain Vetur. Grace would not just need to know, she would want to know now regardless if she were awake or not. "Captain, you're needed on the bridge. The away team's reporting that one of the counselors is missing. Ma'am its Lieutenant Rose. She's... something took her."
Everything had been going well with the away team, so Grace was reading a book in her quarters. She didn't want to spend all her time on the bridge, and, since nothing had gone wrong the first day, she figured some quiet time was in order. As soon as she heard Rishi's message, she tapped her combadge. "On my way."
Of course it was Amanda. The counselor didn't do it on purpose, but she somehow managed to be in the middle of things--especially when they went wrong. Grace saved her place in the book, straightened her hair and her uniform, and headed to the bridge.
She waited until she was halfway across the bridge before asking Chabbra for a report.
"Lieutenant Commander Ra-Gruvloveii is heading back to the shuttle. Counselor Rose was taken, whereabouts are currently unknown. The rest are all accounted for, Captain. We are currently running an analysis on some samples that were collected. So far, peculiar but inconclusive. It's a lot of plant matter... I know, not very helpful considering where we are."
Rishi walked over to Grace and handed her a PADD. "From our Geology section," he prefaced. "I hate to admit it, but we'd be in a much better position if Doctor Bálor were here, but soil samples from the planet are showing extraordinarily high amounts of iron, magnesium, and vanadium. None of that is all that helpful either, but what was alarming is this" he said touching the PADD.
"VOCs, putrescine, and cadaverine. Captain, I think the people we had on this planet became fertilizer."
"Fertilizer?" That was...odd and concerning. Grace sat in her chair. She, too, wished Percy were here right now. "Have you been keeping an eye on the away team? Specifically, can you pinpoint exactly where the counselor disappeared?
"Approximately, yes. We can pin point where she disappeared from, but we're not detecting her at the moment" replied Rishi. "Though its not as if something... She didn't die. She just stopped being detected."
Grace took in what he said and nodded. "So, the best place to start looking is where we know she was last--or as close to it as we can get. Find her last known location, or as close to it as you can, and send the coordinates to Commander Ra'Gruvloveii. I'll send the sample we have and your analysis to the doctor, in case he has any suggestions."
She knew Aaron would be displeased about being disturbed, but perhaps he would find this puzzle interesting enough to give her some additional information. Before she could change her mind, she sent the information to the doctor with a note about where it came from.
Then Grace looked back to Rishi. "Have you considered how the colonists could have become fertilizer? Check the sample again. Look for anything to indicate plant or animal matter as well." She had to consider all possibilities. How someone--or something had turned the colonists into mulch. There were three primary areas to consider: they were buried, ground into and mixed into compost, or consumed and processed into what became fertilizer.
"I would welcome the Doctor's helpful insight... or just insight" replied Rishi "Captain, there was also some sort of residue collected for analysis. It is an enzyme. With your permission, I would like to see if I can take a closer look at it, see if I can replicate it."
Grace nodded. "Please do. Right now, we need all the information we can get."
"Agreed," replied Rishi. He would head down to one of the laboratories and get started. Consulting some of Percy's work may not be a bad start thought Ensign Chabbra.
The computer chimed and in an instant the data was on his screen as well as a sample. All coming from the lady in charge. Aaron leaned forward and rested his hands on his cane as he read. "Well now, this is something." He said to no one with a smirk on his face. He is a man with a rubix complex, and someone just handed him a rubix cube.
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[Power Plant Building]
Maxwell was waiting like a good boy; slight change from his norm, and he did not like the quiet. There should be a little action, on a planet where Colonist have vanished and here Maxwell stands wondering what he should be doing?
"I have tried the Tricorder and no sign of people other than us." Maxwell said to Chernova. "MInd securing the personnel in this building, I gotta move around , you know see what else a Tricorder close can tell me that a high shuttle pass and ship sensors might miss?"
Maxwell gave a wink and extracted himself off the wall he was using to hold himself up.
"And can you tell Ishall I will be right back, she understands my boredom factor and all." He added as he took the Tricorder from is satchel and was read to make a straight cut for the tree line.
Lieutenant T’Avia Espinosa had listened to every word Maxwell said, took it all in and analyzed it. "Don't go alone. It would be foolish to do so" she commented.
Anahera felt conflicted, she couldn't let Maxwell go alone, but she couldn't leave the rest of team unprotected.
"You said there are no signs of people," T’Avia quoted. "That does not mean we're alone, and evidently if the Counselor was taken, we are not. Someone or something is among us. May I be so brazen to speculate our tricorders are scanning for humanoid life? That may be where we are in error."
Madelyn caught the chatter, having had sent one sample she had collected to Peri.
"Counselor Rose is missing?" of course Steele was stating the obvious there. it had been found out. Now though, they were put into a protective area.
T'Avia looked at Steele. "Yes, it would seem as though Counselor Rose is missing, potentially taken by something. Have you found anything of interest?"
"Just something I had found by the unplugged power coupler. I have it here." Madelyn responded. "I can show you where I had taken the samples from. Would you like to see where I had gotten the samples?"
"That may be a good idea," replied T'Avia. "There could be more clues as to what's happening here."
"I'm coming with you." Anahera said.
"Can we get a medical scan from the ship to focus the local tricorder to her specifically?" Maxwell suggested.
"Robin..." Ishall called from the building doorway, her face showing her concern for him.
"Just a little walk around to help out." He winked to her. "By the time you get all the stuff in that building going I will be back." She wanted to shake her head but srare at him, into his expression, confidence and way he was in his element it seemed.
"Promise..." He smiled. "Not going alone so I will be safe."
Ishall reluctantly nod and went back in the doorway. "Am I really that much of a concern?" He shrugged.
Madelyn listened to the chatter as to who might be coming along. Her task though, was to take T'Avia to where she found the samples. As far as she was concerned, the science officer who requested her to show the place, was in charge. Then there was the XO whio was somewhere outside. Who will be leading this investigation?
Anahera seemed to want to accompany them. "Safety in numbers" commented T'Avia. "Lieutenant Commander Chernova, if you shall accompany us? Ms. Steele, take us there." Lieutenant T’Avia Espinosa had her tricorder in hand.
"Of course." Anahera said.
A post by
Ensign Rishi Chabbra
Science Officer
USS Ontario
Commander Grace Vetur
Commander
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Commander Aaron Marcus
Chief Medical Officer, USS Ontario
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Robin Maxwell
Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Ontario
USS Ontario
Lene'aya Ishall
Damage Control, USS Ontario
USS Ontario
Lieutenant T’Avia Espinosa
Acting Chief Science Officer, USS Ontario
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova
Chief Security Officer, USS Ontario
USS Ontario
Staff Warrant Officer Madelyn Steele
Chief Engineer
USS Ontario
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