There Has Been an Awakening. Have You Felt It?

Posted on Mon Jun 17th, 2024 @ 4:35pm by Lieutenant Commander Alexander Espersen & Captain Calypso Skyie & Lieutenant Mark Valleroy & Captain Natalya Markova & Lieutenant JG Raven Windancer

Mission: Ancient Civilizations
Location: Ruins in Unnamed Class M Planet
Timeline: ~20 minutes after the end of "Exploring the Ruins"

Previously on Star Trek: Chimera:

"Hey, Lieutenant!" James called over to Nat, waving at her and Minerva to get their attention towards the cavern that was opening up in the rock face, "We've got something happening over here! I'm going to start getting some scans in. Make sure to proceed with caution, though. We don't know what to expect here." Putting actions to words, James Larson began to move towards the opening that was still expanding, pulling out his tricorder.

**

Mark's tricorder began beeping almost wildly. He punched several buttons, went over the readings, then tapped his comm badge. "Commander, something is happening. My tricorder just picked up mechanical activity happening in several locations. I recommend that we proceed with caution at this point."

"Agreed," Alexander responded. "Come back to the buggy, we might be retreating to the shuttle." He tapped his commbadge. "Espersen to Markova. Captain, what is happening at your location?"

**

Before Markova, Delacroix, or Larson could respond, the opening of the cavern expanded, and the ground tilted, sending all three deep into the planet.

And now the continuation



Alexander Espersen went over all data collected with young Mr. Stanson while Lieutenant Valleroy drove them all back to the landing shuttle. They had activated a mechanism of some kind, which appeared to have brought an underground complex online. How intact it was, they could not say, but fresh air was being pumped down there and a few access shafts of variable size and quality had opened up.

One of these access shafts had apparently swallowed up the other half of their away team.

"When we get there," Alexander ordered his team, "fan out and search for where they might have gone. But be careful."

Kenny was quite disconcerted by the disappearance of his crewmates.

"So...what do you think we're gonna find?" Kenny asked, twirling his PADD...a trick he'd learned at the Academy.

"Let us hope that we find the rest of the away team safe and sound," Mark said. "I'm getting a little annoyed at losing crewmates."

Kenny's head cocked, but he knew better than to ask questions about it at that point.

"Me too, Sir," Kenny said softly.

After a look around, Kenny walked back over to where Lt. Marl stood.

"It looks like we've gotta find another way down. The hole they fell into has mostly filled back in...and even if it hadn't, the ground's unstable now," Kenny reported, dusting sand from his hands.

Mark scanned the area with his tricorder. "I wouldn't recommend using the shuttle's transporters," he said after a few moments. "Something seems to be providing enough interference that we wouldn't be able to send a transporter beam through."

"Huh...that explains a few things," Kenny said...right before his foot caught on a rock and he face planted in the hot sand.

"SSSPPP!!! Are you kidding me!?" Kenny sputtered, struggling to his kness and chucking the rock into another rock.

That rock then started a mini avalanche!

"Back! Back! Back!" Kenny hollered, scurrying backward himself!

[YIPES! Give me home any day!] Kenny thought huffing heavily.

"All right," Mark said as he scampered back, though fortunately the mini avalanche seemed content to stay mini, at least for the moment, "ground is very unstable. Watch your step, and do try to avoid throwing things."

"SSPP! No kidding! Er...Sir," Kenny mumbled, sheepishly.

"Keep looking for a way down," Alexander ordered. "Their tunnel may have closed itself in but there might be others."

**

Light played over the rocky surfaces. The beam tracked back and forth in a slow, steady sweeping arc. Her rifle had made it down in one piece. No threats around as she scanned the area visually. 'Rule six, Nat. Rule six.' Nat had to correct herself on the initial assessment. No 'visible' threats. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there. Rule six. With that done, her appraisal turned inward. Nothing broken - bodies or equipment - and nothing punctured, or majorly damaged. Some scrapes and bruises, but otherwise fit for duty. "Larson. Delacroix. You both with me?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm here." James clutched his hand to his chest, even as his voice registered the pain he felt. "That wasn't fun in any way, shape or form, think I may have sprained my wrist in that fall, though, but I'll live. I think we fell about a hundred meters in depth, a couple hundred in length down this... cave?" He looked around at the walls, they were too smooth. Even the decorations on them didn't seem to mar the smoothness, despite their 3D appearance.

Minerva stood and brushed herself off, "I'm all right, ma'am, I'll check out Larson." She pulled the satchel off her shoulder and rummaged around in it for a moment, "Just sit still, James, I'll have you patched up in no time." She scanned the injury and clicked her tongue before pulling out the regenerator and beginning to work on the wrist, "We'll be good to go in about five minutes, Lieutenant."

Something skittered in the dark just beyond their vision and Larson turned to look at what seemed to be only a few feet away. It was some sort of figure, full of angles and what looked like a head seemed to cock to the side. The Operations officer brushed the blonde off to the side roughly as he screamed, then two appendages reached out and grabbed him, another pair reaching for Minerva, but she was barely out of reach and she shrieked in pain as one of them raked across her leg and blood gushed out of it as Larson's scream faded as the skittering went around a corner, then it ended abruptly.

Kenny heard the screams, and almost threw up.

"What...was...that?" Kenny shakily asked, trying to see down into the hole.

He never did find out exactly what that was....