Where, Oh Where, Did the Merchant Ship Go? - Part I

Posted on Tue Jun 30th, 2026 @ 2:54am by Ensign Anli Targalia & Commander Joren Tal & Lieutenant Aenar Torek & Lieutenant Bela Swain & Lieutenant JG Vincent Shaw

1,290 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Lost Horizons
Location: Calypso

"The shuttle landed safely on the planet," Anli reported.

Bela sat on the bridge, listening to everything. Right now, there was little for her to do. After all, you cannot counsel a planet. Though, she would if she could. She just hoped that everyone returned back safely and quickly.

"Thank you, ensign. Keep comms up with the away team whenever possible." Joren answered from the command chair. "Helm, set a search pattern course through the system. Science, scan for any sign of warp-capable vessels - tritanium, deuterium, warp signatures. If this ship is anywhere, we're going to find it."

'Aye Commander,' came the clipped, precise tones of Sulack. With the Science Department's senior officers away on the surface, he had been the logical choice to man the Bridge station. He had specialised in sensor telemetry during long voyages deep into the Beta Quadrant, and had developed a reputation for seeing what was barely there in the signal. 'Setting search parameters now.'

He lapsed into silence as the Main Computer worked the formulae he had input into the system. 'There seems to be a faint signal that begins in the vicinity of the fourth planet, then moves towards the outer planets ...'

"Helm, set a course." Joren said. "Let's see if we can follow this signal. Lieutenant Sulack, I am counting on you."

The voice from the communications area drew Vincent's attention. He's not truly made his presence known around the ship, You could say that the results of the former CMO diagnosis threw him for a loop. He ended up just staying in his quarters, once his shift was over, and ruminated over what was revealed. It was a terrible habit he had fallen into.

Communications officer, what was her name? He will have to find out. Maybe the best way would be the manifest? Her voice was pleasing to his ear, and definitely a good fit for being a communications officer.

The ship came to a halt near one of the moons orbiting a gas giant. "Science, report." Joren said, focused on the view screen.

Sulack raised an eyebrow as he scanned a critical eye over the sensor returns. With typical Vulcan economy of movement, he shifted his hands across the console. 'Sensors read the wreckage of two ships. Two thousand kilometres away on the surface of one of the gas giant's moons. We'll have to cut above the planetary rings in order to reach it - it's on the inner edge. Possible signs of life as well, though the planetary rings are interfering. Attempting compensation.'

Bela told Sullack, "If there are possible signs of life, we have to get down there. They may not be able to respond. Can we use the transporters or because everything is dubious, we have to explore in person?" She looked towards the Captain's seat. "I volunteer to go to the wreckage. I may not be a scientist but I can help with trauma."

"I agree we need to try and help these people, Councilor. However, it needs to be safe for us to do so." Joren answered. "Lieutenant, can you get a read on the life support systems and the structural damage? I'd like you to map out a transporter location or, failing that, a place where a shuttle could land or dock."

Vincent spoke up, "I'll look for a place to either transport safely or even a place to land a shuttle." taking a look towards Sulack and the Commander. "Two set of eyes to formulate a solution. Wouldn't that be prudent?"

Joren nodded. "Get it done."

Vincent went looking getting close scans about the surface, then he saw it. An area where a shuttle could land.

"I think I found something, he looked towards the scientist to see if they would confirm his findings.

Looking at the incoming returns from the sensor, Sulack inclined his head fractionally, dispassionately confirming the hypothesis, 'Lieutenant Shaw is correct - a landing spot approximately the size of one and a half Type-Nine shuttlecraft. A competent pilot should find it little trouble.'

Bela answered, "Then we have to go there." She then thought a bit longer and said, "Why would there even be a landing spot here? Is it constructed or is something that the ship could just use?"

'It is a relatively flat section of surface, and clear of any surrounding debris to an acceptable distance,' Sulack relayed to the Counsellor, 'there appears to be little artificial about it, though I would have to run a more precise scan to determine that, if you wish?'

"May as well be certain given the oddities around this sector," Bela answered.

He took a beat before responding, once again inclining his head fractionally. 'That is indeed a logical proposal,' Sulack glanced at Joren and confirmed, 'running high-resolution scans of the surface immediately around the identified landing area.'

"Go for it," Joren confirmed, "Last thing we want is to be surprised. Lieutenant Shaw, prepare an away team. Take a versatile team, we should be prepared for anything."

Vincent was a bit surprised at Joren's command but he wasn't going to be saying no. His eyes glanced around then paused upon the chief helmsman.

"Sir, may I request Lieutenant Venchi to be a part of the away team?" His eyes drifting towards the helmsman. "And, I will need an engineer." he said musing over his options, "Ensign Tuff would be a good one. I will continue to make a list."

Joren nodded. "Make sure you add someone with structural engineering, if the structure isn't safe I don't want our men taking unnecessary risks."

'The landing area does not appear to be artificial,' Sulack said into the space in the conversation. 'However, the surface shows significant trace elements of tetrellium-D, a substance toxic to most humanoids. I advise caution, and would not advise prolonged exposure to the element.'

"So, EV suits, then?" Bela inquired. "That should do the trick, no?"

Pausing Sulack considered the variables for a moment. 'Yes,' he said eventually, 'EV suits with full hazard protocols should provide the necessary protection. Then a full decontamination protocol upon the team's return.'

Bela sighed. She knew that she was not going but she worried for those who were going to go. All she could do was sit on the ship and wait and hope.

While all communications were recorded by the computer and filed, Anli double-checked that she'd be able to keep both teams within range. It wasn't the distance as much as she was concerned about interference. Something had caused the ships to disappear and she didn't want communications to be part of the problem.

Continuing to work his station diligently, Sulack ran additional scans to better prepare the Away Team. The Vulcan was, of course, ready to accept a trip to the planetoid below, but he wondered if it was logical with the Chief also off-ship.

>>TAG

OOC: This post is to find one or more of the missing ships in the system.
OOC: Ieuan, you can write an NPC for science.
OOC: Ieu: Cand and will do! Also, for future reference 'counselling a planet' seems a rad mission idea.
OOC: It does! But that may come later. LOL
For now, feel free to find one or two ships. They can be crashed on a planet or moon. Or you can find a debris field. No survivors. Probably no people at all. Or maybe one of each.

{To be continued...)

Ensign Anli Targalia
Communications
USS Calypso

Lieutenant Bela Swain
Chief Counselor
USS Calypso
 
Commander Joren Tal
Executive Officer
USS Calypso
 
Lieutenant JG Sulack
Science Officer
USS Calypso
 
Lieutenant JG Vincent Shaw
Chief Operations Officer
USS Calypso

 

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