The Lost Civilization - Part I

Posted on Tue Jun 30th, 2026 @ 2:27am by Commodore Samantha York & 1st Lieutenant Kara Melo & Lieutenant Commander Michael Ki & Lieutenant Aenar Torek & 1st Lieutenant Maria Zamorano & 1st Lieutenant Mazal Falk

1,403 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Lost Horizons
Location: Planetside

The shuttle landed just outside the remnants of the ancient civilization. It was nestled between a mountain range and a river and was surrounded by a temperate forest of large-leaved trees and purple vines.

Kara powered down the shuttle and grabbed her pack, ready to follow the others out the back.

Sam had a smaller pack containing her science tricorder, containers to collect samples, and a few other items she might need. Her phaser and a knife hung from her belt. "We'll gather outside and begin our preliminary search. For now, keep together until we know more of what's down here."

Michael kept silent through the entire descent to the planet. He followed orders like a good Starfleet Officer. However, he was perplexed as to why he was on this mission. Perhaps that reason would reveal itself in due time. For the time being he nodded his understanding of Sam's orders and shouldered his med kit. He stepped outside the shuttle and looked around. The air seemed well enough although it tasted off to Michael.

'Looks like we'll get to stretch our legs out here,' Aenar said happily as he grabbed both straps of his rucksack and taking a deep breath of the atmosphere. 'Interesting tang to the air,' he continued, pulling his tricorder out with and flipping its settings over to scan the atmosphere. He always wondered what the memory capacity of these things was, and whether he would fill it up before the end of his assignment.

"It is," Sam replied, taking a deep breath. "It's a bit...spicy? What does your tricorder show?" She took out one of her sample kits and went off to some dirt under a tall, leafy tree and took a sample of dirt and detritus. Then she scanned the ground and the trees.

Mazal and Maria fanned out, looking around and keeping watch over the away team. The air was fresh, but different, it didn't have the same feel as it were, as Earth.

Seeing the Commodore wander over to a tree Mazal moved to where she could keep an eye Sam, making certain not to be totally in her space, but observant.

Maria moved around, making her way around the group, and around the landing area. She observed some Earthlike butterflies, and an animal resembling a squirrel, popped out from the underbrush and chittered at her before dashing back into the underbrush.

What looked like maybe a slice of Paradise one could worry that there could be a serpent or two. Maria shook her head at her thoughts but, one never knows.

'It's about one-point-six percent argon, more than a trace of hydrogen too.' Aenar moved his tricorder about, 'the spiciness is some sort of pollen-type of matter we're breathing. Not registering as toxic at current levels, but we should keep an eye on it - and look out for whatever's causing it.'

"Agreed. Pollen alone can cause some...odd reactions," Sam replied. "There's no way to tell right now if any of us will react to it. Or if it only causes problems with exposure. So, if you start to feel off in any way, talk to the doctor."

Sam turned to Michael. "That's one of the reasons I'd like you here. I also want your opinion on the viability of this planet for scientific research--if these remnants of an ancient civilization are worth sending a science team."

Michael reached into the medkit and prepared a number of doses of alizine in a hypospray. "This is a medication that counteracts allergens and histemic response. I would rather no one have an allergic reaction on an unknown planet. Therefore, everyone gets it." He pressed the spray to his own neck first, then to each of the away team members.

Mazal was close enough to hear, the comment about the hypospray for allergies.

"I'll take one as well," the marine's voice, melodic in its tone.

She looked towards where Maria was at keeping a watchful eye, she gave low whistle, catching the other marine's attention.

Maria noting what was happening, gave a nod.

Once Mazal received her hypospray, she moved to a watchful position while Maria came to get her own dose.

"Thank you, Doctor," Maria remarked, having pulled her hair from her neck to receive the hypospray. She gave a little bit of a smile towards him.

Mazal was quick to follow after the Commodore, just in case.

"Thank you, Doctor Ki," Sam replied. "That's a wise precaution. Okay. Let's start over here." She headed in a direction that would take them around the ruins for a preliminary look. Then they'd have a better idea of where to focus their attention.

Throwing a thumbs up at Michael, Aenar nodded in appreciation before heading off in the direction indicated by the Commodore. Lifting the tricorder as he went, he felt a spike of excitement as the tricorder seemed to pick up the remnants of an ancient road that arced across the land towards the ruins.

Sam also noticed the road. "Shall we have a closer look?" she asked Aenar. Without waiting for an answer, she changed direction to get a closer look at the road.

She scanned as she walked to get a better idea of the construction and materials. Then, when she reached the road, Sam knelt down and gently brushed the surface soil off the road to get a better look. She then took a small sample and put it in a sample bag and stowed it. Now she was ready to continue around the ruins.

Kara took up the rear, scanning the area not for artifacts, but for anything that could be a threat.

Following in the Commodore's wake, Aenar waved the tricorder over the road, marveling at how little weathering had occurred down the years - under the layer of surface soil and dirt, it was remarkably well-preserved. As they walked towards the ruins, he felt a growing anticipation. A lot of the buildings seemed fairly intact - there could be some domestic artifacts left inside. 'Looks like there'll be a lot to catalogue,' he said to York as they went.

Maria caught a look in Mazal's eyes, realizing that there wasn't anyone scouting ahead. She wasn't doing her job, her job as a scout. She moved forward, passing by the commodore and the chief of science.

Mentally shaking her head at herself. Maria took point and looked around including at the ground. One never knew what could spring up.

When on Away Missions Michael subscribed to an adage that one of his professors at the Academy taught him. The only bad Doctor was a dead one. So, he remained in the middle of the group as they journeyed. This was historically the best of places. He kept looking around as the terrain was interesting. At the moment it seemed that there was little for him to do.

Kara continued to guard the rear. She was grateful they hadn't come across any hostiles. Yet. But she could not let down her guard. She knew better than most that the commodore had a high track record for finding trouble.

As they circled what looked like an ancient city, they paused from time to time to take a closer look at a crumbling wall, or an outlying building that now consisted of a partial wall or a pile of debris.

Sam wanted to scan it all. Partly to look for commonalities and materials and partly to create a visual representation later.

They'd gone half way around when Sam stopped again and turned to the chief science officer. "What is your opinion so far?"

'It's very quiet - not much in the way of native flora,' Aenar opined, 'which is slightly unusual. You'd expect some to be taking advantage of the shade and shelter provided by the ruins.' He craned his neck, looked around. 'From the scans, general condition of the buildings and monuments it's been abandoned for a long time. No middens though - looks like they invented plumbing before heading down the drain themselves.'

(To be continued...)

1st Lieutenant Kara Melo
Platoon Leader
USS Calypso

Commodore Samantha York
Commander
USS Calypso

Lieutenant Commander Michael Yi
Chief Medical Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant Aenar Torek
Chief Science Officer
USS Calypso

1st Lieutenant Mazal Falk
Marine XO
USS Calypso

1st Lieutenant Maria Zamorano
 Platoon Leader
USS Calypso

 

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