Yet Another Boring Away Mission

Posted on Tue Feb 2nd, 2021 @ 3:55am by Avalon [ADMIN NPC] & Lieutenant Commander S'hib & Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Ensign Ethal Luen & Captain David Tonelly [Reece] & Private Christian Laknema & Cadet Senior Grade Kedar Rackthorn & Lieutenant Tonya King ( Barclay de Tolly ) & Lieutenant JG T'Kek [Naxea] & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 1: No Exit
Location: Runabout and then Quell’ish
Timeline: -MD8 to -MD5ish
4623 words - 9.2 OF Standard Post Measure

=/\= -MD8 =/\=

The AI of the Elysium was in full view as she made sure the Runabout Acheron was being packed with everything the away team would need for their scouting trip. Food, Tents, bedding, weapons, scanners and portable generators. Climbing gear, cold weather jackets and emergency medical and engineering kits. The AI stood sentinel outside the main hatch as the away team arrived.

Baeryn made her way towards the open hatch adjusting the small pack that hung off her left shoulder. She nodded greetings to the AI as she boarded the Runabout. After a quick glance around she realized she was the first one aboard, which was a change of pace. The thought made the corner of her lips perk up into a sly half grin. She quickly stuffed her pack into a corner of the lounge and made her way to her seat at the ops console.

Fernando came next, he had a small backpack he carried in his right hand. He wore a NY Yankee baseball hat. Over his shoulder he requisitioned a phaser rifle. He had thought about bringing his beloved Garland but decided against it as he didn't want anything to happen to it. Entering the runabout he saw Bearyn already there, "Hello." He said pleasantly as he stored his backpack. "I see someone else was an eager beaver."

Turning her seat to connect the voice with a face Baeryn caught site of his cap first and her eyes lit up. “It’s a rarity for me to arrive first for anything so I’m taking it as a good sign.” She let out a small laugh before continuing, “New York huh?”

Fernando laughed, it was pleasant and full of good humor. "I would too." He replied his hand going to the cap. "Yes, love the Yankees, my all time favorite team. Especially the teams they had in the mid 20th century. Mantle, Maris, Berra, Ford. He rambled stopped and grinned at Baeryn. "Oh, by the way I'm Fernando." He added, thrusting right hand out for a handshape."

Taking Fernandos hand in hers she gave it a tight squeeze while shaking it. “Baeryn,” she pointed to his cap. “New York happens to be my old stomping grounds, though I have to admit I don’t know much about baseball.” She scoffed and released his hand. Baeryn could sense others arriving, feeling their excitement hinted with some anxiety.

As far as Miraj was concerned, Danubes were like flying armchairs, comfy, over stuffed and boxy. And adding stuff that couple be replicated was unnecessary weight. Ah well. She was just the chauffeur for this trip. She hopped on board to run preflight and ran a loving hand along its dash. Acheron may have been an armchair. But she was Miraj's armchair. The young pilot settled back in the chair, letting her senses absorb the ship. "So, how are we today, Acheron?" She touched a button and the ship started to come to life. It felt like an old cat stretching, slow, and lazy and langourous. "Who's a good girl?"

Entering the shuttlebay with a standard field medical kit slung across his shoulder, T'Kek made his way to the runabout. He stopped at a small crate marked "Medical" that was in the process of being loaded into the rear cargo area of the runabout. He double checked it's contents and after a moment, he was satisfied he would have everything needed should anyone get seriously injured which he hoped wouldn't happen. He then made his way into the crew cabin and took his seat. "Hopefully not me," he commented with a grin, hearing the woman he knew as Ensign Derani ask.

Miraj turned round when he spoke, delighted to see the young doctor again, and gave him a radiant smile. "That you're not a girl? Or that you're not good?" She realised what she just said didn't make any sense, "Or not either, which is fine, and well, I guess not being good is not fine, but some people like that sort of thing, I guess. I don't know. I'll stop talking now." She went a bit red, and quickly looked back to her pre-flight readings.

T'Kek smiled in response. "I could go with both but let's go with the being a girl part," he teased.

Ethal turned up to the runabout ready for her mission. She had her bag packed with everything she could think of needing for her time off ship. It may have seemed trivial being picked for away missions but she always liked it. The Ensign slunk into the ship to find a place to get comfortable for the ride ahead. When onboard she saw she was not alone, which was a relief as in her head if she was the only one then she might have got on the wrong ship.

Tonya strolled in as she look at all who was there. She brought her tricorder which she kept in a shoulder bag. "Good day all. For those who do not know me, I am Lt. Tonya King from Engineering. Hope you are all ready."

Entering the large shuttlebay, David grinned slightly when his eyes landed on the Danube class runabout. While he wasn’t a pilot, he did know how to fly. It was one of the pluses of living for over four centuries. He briefly flashed back to the late 20th Century, when he served in the army of the United States. He enjoyed riding in the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, which the doors slid open and the pilots having fun with sharp banking maneuvers.

Shaking himself out of the daydream, the Marine adjusted the duffel on his right shoulder, and made his way inside the runabout, careful not to hit anyone or anything with the long, hard case that held his TR 116 sniper rifle. “Howdy, everyone!” He greeted those present with a lop-sided grin and a greeting he had picked up so long ago.

“Lieutenant King, Earth Cowboy, happy to have you with us. I’m Baeryn. ” She greeted the two from her seat with a friendly smile.

Hearing the officer speak, David snapped to attention. At least, as best he could while still carrying both the duffel and the weapons case. “My apologies, Ma’am, I didn’t realize an officer was present!”

“At ease soldier...or should we stick to cowboy?” She gave him an inquisitive look tilting her head slightly, then cackled. “No worries, no harm done, but please no more.....ma’am.”

Realizing that, for now at least, the mission was a no-salute area, David visibly relaxed. "Yes, Ma..sorry. what should I call you? You all can call me David, and I'll be your long run on the ground, providing overwatch, if needed." He looked each person present in the eye as he spoke. "In case you have heard the rumor, allow me to put it out right now. Yes, I am an El-Aurian. And no, I have not lived for a thousand years." He paused a couple beats. "Just 463."

"Well we are glad you are here David," Tonya says to set his mind at ease. "Hello Baeryn," Tonya returning the smile to the Chief of Operations Baeryn. "While we wait, I like to get to know people. I am Tonya from California. My hobbies include skydiving, bungee jumping, hang gliding and spelunking. The last one is exploring caves. Plus I like going out drinking with girlfriends although I have only made friends with the wives of the Engineers on board and one senior officer."

Ethal shifted quite nervously as ice breakers were not her thing, but she was not going to ruin introductions with other crew. After Tonya finnished talking Ethal joined in. "Hi, my name is Ethal Luen and I'm from Trill. I'm from the science department and I specialise in Exobiology and Geosciences."

"Nice to meet you Ethal," Tonya says with a nod, "That is a great combination of specialties. My specialty is Diagnostics."

Baeryn liked hearing about the others and knowing a little about those she was working along side, those she was depending on. She wasn’t too big on sharing but she could make the exception today. “Tonya, I’m always down for a drink, or some daring adventures.” She turned to the Ensign holding back the first question that came to her mind, weather she was joined or not. She thought better of it and kept the question to herself. “Ethal it’s a pleasure to meet you.” She gave the trill an encouraging smile before continuing.

Tonya smiled. "Splendid. On both drinking and adventures, one must always have a buddy with them."

“Well I’m Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi, the Elysuims Chief of Operations, I was born and raised on earth, New York to be exact. As far as hobbies go I enjoy singing, I’m always game for some karaoke.”

Tonya made a sweet smile to herself. "What I like about Karaoke are the duets. People get up there who might seem anti-social becoming the spotlight. When sang and done, they feel more outward."

A few moments later and the young Cadet, Kedar Rackthorn, entered the shuttle and looked around. He was surprised to be offered a spot on the away mission but after worrying about his lack of experience, he jumped at the chance.
He entered and looked for a seat, quietly sitting down, moving his tail out of the way and smiling to the crew who had assembled so far. "Oh, uh, hey everyone, I'm Cadet Rackthorn...first away mission, looking forward to it!" he said with a nervous smile.

"Maybe we should do Karaoke tonight by the campfire," Tonya says with a coy look. "If we have a campfire, we better replicate some marshmallow and s'mores."

"I wish I would have brought my guitar!" Baeryn had to remind herself they were about to head out on a mission and not on shore leave, sure there would be moments they could let loose but their guards would need to be on high alert in the foreign territory.

Soft clicking echoed throughout the hangerbay as S'hib approached, forgoing his uniform for something a little more... traditional to his people.

The air was cold he thought, its artificial chill washing over his bare chest and sending a small shiver down his spine as he inclined his head, shaking his lengthy mane free from his shoulder.

His waist was wrapped tightly in several layers of thin brown cloth, folded and knotted neatly on his right hip, woven between the layers where two leather belts, aged and well used with a multitude of loops and links for the small hand made bags that hung around his hips.

Below his waistline was a thick woven skirt that tapered down between his long legs, dark brown and adorned with feathers it left his hips and the sides of his legs exposed.

"Miraj..." He grinned, turning his back to the Danube beside the port entrance hatch, then without saying another word he lifted a hoof and kicked the side of the hull, the thick duranium hull reverberating the sound around the interior and letting everyone, especially Miraj, know he was there.

At the clang against Acheron, Miraj got up. Who just dinged her ship? Slipping past the others, she heard a familiar voice call her name. "Commander, did you kick my-" she began in mock outrage, and then stopped, and choked on what she had been about to say when she saw his outfit. There seemed to be more material around his waist than in the skirt that was really very narrow, and kept dragging her eyes. Well, she wished she could say down, but S'hib was so tall her eyes barely had to flicker, "er, nice, er, cummerbund, sir?" And then she very quickly turned around before she could get any redder.

"Two minute warning everyone!" she called to cover her embarrassment. "Use the head, grab the snacks, driver chooses the music."

"Thank you." S'hib remarked with a broad smile, once again naive to her embarrassment as he climbed inside, contorting his long neck and phase lance down so as not to hit the door frame.

Christian had been a late addition to the away team. He had rush packed but thanked any lord that was good and decent for having a go bag ready for such matters. Moving into the shuttle he found a area by the Corporal and sat his rifle by the seat, "Sorry Corporal the Lieutenant just told me thirty minutes ago," he took a seat and waited.

"No worries, Christian," David replied. "And while we are alone, you can call me David." Sitting on his bunk, he gave a friendly grin. "So, tell me about yourself."

"Not much to tell," he said, "Grew up on earth ans just enlisted a few months ago.

Tonya walked over to a replicator to replicate some marshmallows and s'mores. She then replicated two pouches so she can store each snack in each one. Smiling to herself, she went to go sit down. Sitting next to Baeryn, she says, "It is best to do something while you are thinking about it."

"Smart thinking for sure." Baeryn let out a small chuckle before turning her attention to the screen in front of her skimming the details of their mission for perhaps the 10th time.

"Baeryn," Tonya asks, "On this mission, besides the mission parameters, is there anything my Engineering skills I can do to make your job easier?"


“I am always in need of ones engineering skills, but as of this moment Tonya I can think of none, but thank you for the offer.” Baeryn gave Tonya a smile. This mission would more then likely be extremely uneventful and dreadfully boring but there was a part of her glad to be off the ship with a smaller team.



"Red dunes, how is this thing so small on the inside..." S'hib snorted as he clicked his way past the five rooms designated as crew quarters, three on his right and two on his left with bunkbeds in each for all ten of them aboard, not that he would fit on any of them.

He continued on, eyeing up those already getting comfortable before reaching the rear of the Acheron, slinging his duffel bag onto the coach at the back left of the Runabout. "Guess I'll sleep here." He snorted quietly to himself as he turned and quickly sat down, his skirt and loincloth hanging lazily between his long legs, almost touching the floor as he got comfortable, resting his lance beside him.

The Ely's AI appeared on the bridge screen. "Ensign, Captain Lalor and Commander Taylor have given you the green light to proceed with disembarking. Your flight plan informs us that it will be 3.5 days at top warp of 6.9 to arrive at your destination. Please launch communication buoys at the recommended positions."

“Looks like it’s time to get this show on the road.” Baeryn sat in the seat next to Miraj looking over the computer screens, checking this and that but mostly covertly looking for the radio controls.

Simply listening to everyone around him S'hib remained quiet, knowing the crew onboard could function without their every action needing his oversight.

"Aye, ma'am." Miraj closed the doors and put her fingers to the repulsorlift controls, and Acheron rose up gently from the cargo bay deck. a gentle little shanty played on the speakers as they trundled towards the open bay doors. Just as they reached the doors, the sweet little melody was overruled by a crash of power chords, and in a howl of pirate metal, the runabout shot into the stars.

---

= Days later=


On the grounds of mental and environmental health, Miraj's rights to choose the music was overuled and then revoked entirely less than ten minutes later. They had to survive three days in the relatively cramped confines, and it was quickly decided that that was best achieved with relative silence. So quiet conversation on topics as wide as the galaxy itself became the background hum of the trip.

Three days at warp 7, punctuated only by the deploying of the first comms buoy, was a nursery run requiring the barest flicker of attention. They slithered smoothly out of warp with only the change in stars from streaks to spots to show it had happened, and with a few minutes of heading in system, they were in orbit over an M class world.

A patch of clear atmosphere showed a world of sharp contrast between blue green seas and land masses in shades of red and brown. Miraj looked over to Lieutenant Whavi. "Do you want to scan from up here, ma'am, or get a bit closer?"

The Lieutenant sat up straighter the moment she was able to get a good look down at the surface. She contemplated scanning from a distance but there seemed to be no immediate danger.

“I think we can afford to get closer Ensign. But stay alert, you never know what’s out there.” With that Baeryn donned a stoic expression glaring hard at the view screen.

"No problem," Miraj sent them sinking down through the atmosphere until they were past all the weather, and cruising gently at just five kilometers up. From this height they could see the major geological features. There were mountains and plains, densley forested in many parts.

With that, the cockpit door hissed open, allowing S'hib to squeeze his way through to the relatively small bridge, hunched over the entire way as to not hit his head. "Thank the red sea, my back is killing me." He snorted as his eyes gazed at the planet below, moving closer before leaning his weight on Miraj's headrest, his bulk making the chair creak slightly.

Miraj looked up at him, not bothering to look whilst she dropped the down to merely two thousand kilometers in a perfectlyly executed descent. "We'll hit the ground soon sir. You can have a nice stretch and run. I think we all need one. Not long now. I promise."

Tonya was always an early riser. She too was gazing at the planet but her thoughts were not of the planet but of Victor and her "daughter" Lara. She had not felt real commitment love yet for Victor. What she was feeling was respect and admiration love. Victor is what she would want in a better half but she was not there yet. He was being patient and she was trying not rush it. She smiled as someone walked in. She gives a nod if the person would want to chit chat or not.

David entered next, though he stayed aft, keeping out of the way of the shuttle crew. His eyes connected with Tonya’s and he gave her a friendly smile. “Morning. I take it that we have arrived?”

"We have," Tonya says with a cordial smile. "This is one of the main reasons I have signed up which is to explore new worlds. The view is very nice. So did you rest well David?"

The Marine nodded. He had lost track of just how many worlds he had visited in his long life. However, he appreciated the excitement he saw in others at the same experience. "I did, thank you. Do we know anything about the planet yet?"

“We will know after the scans come in,” Tonya says patiently. “David, you are an El Aurian right? Forgive my curiosity, we’re you one of the El Aurians who explored Earth before First Contact? Always wondered what life was back there on Earth centuries ago?”

David's eyes darkened slightly before clearing up as he replied. "Yes, Ma'am, I am. I went to Earth back in the late 1980s. I was a member of one of the old nation states' military, and fought in the Eugenics Wars."

“Must have been brutal,” Tonya said as thought about it. Something inside her said that she should not pry any more. “If you ever want to talk about it, consider me a friend.”

David gave Tonya a silent nod, along with a respectful and appreciative grin.

Lieutenant Whavi scanned the surface of the planet farther out then the image on the view screen. In just ten kilometers they would reach a cluster of mountains with a clear patch at its base surrounded by forest, a perfect place to set up camp.

"Just past these trees, in about nine klicks is a steppe large enough for us to land Ensign. Set us down there."

Hearing they were about to land, David returned to the bunk area and started to put his armor on. As he did so, he instructed Laknema to do the same. Their job was to protect the away team. As the ranking Marine present, it ultimately fell to him to see that they were ready, just in case the planet did not prove to be friendly.

Christian nodded and started to put on his armor as well.

Miraj dipped lower and it could be plainly seen that the "trees" weren't trees at all, but huge towering fungi, some growing tall and narrow with long caps that covered all their stem. Others grew on thin stems to spread their cap like broad canopies, the tops of the forest looking firm enough to run on in places.

And then the forest thinned out, giving way to a steppe that stretched out as far as they could see. Miraj began her landing, and now they could see small reptilian looking creatures dashing across the open landscape, and others springing up from ground nests and dashing down again.

Miraj brought Acheron to a rest about 100m from a small stream that cut through the ground coverm and killed the engines. "We're here."

>>Tag Whaevi

“Miraj, keep the doors sealed for now... Im concerned about everyone breathing in spores, especially since the Acheron just kicked up a lot of ground debris...” S'hib mused, glancing outside and seeing a plethora of mushrooms growing in thick patches, wondering if that was this planets version of grass.

“Start running some scans, the air might be breathable but its what else wed be breathing in that worries me.” He snorted before standing up, almost hitting his head as Miraj’s seat readjusted itself with a sharp creak.

“In any case, I’m going to make sure we have enough filter masks for everyone.” He sighed, his puzzled face clear as day as he made his way out of the cockpit.

T'Kek got up from his seat and moved to a nearby science station as he watched the readings come in. In all honesty, he was excited about getting to explore this new planet. He could already hear his father chastising him for allowing such excitement to affect his thoughts. "Air appears breathable, Sir. I'm detecting several small microbes from the nearby fungi in the air but they appear harmless. Likely spores released from the nearby forest when we landed."

David finished donning his armor by clipping the face mask into place. He then tapped a few controls and the suit's power turned on, his opaque mask turning transparent as power surged through its circuits. Hearing S'hib approach, he looked to Christian to ensure that the younger Marine was ready to go

Fernando listened to the others talk while he stayed silent. He wasn't being anti social, far from it. He just wanted to be with Heather, knowing she was pregnant with their child and he worried she'd go into labor while he was gone and he would miss the blessed event. Sighing to himself, he got up, grabbed his pack and rifle and waited to see where he was needed.

It wasn't long before Christian had it all on. He ran a check to ensure that everything was operational and then picked up his rifle and did the same on it, he didn't want to be out there with a malfunctioning armor or rifle. He nodded to David once when he was completed.

David double-checked Christian's armor. All the seals were closed and his air tank had a full load. He gave the younger Marine the thumbs up and then tapped the side of his head, signaling for a comms check.

"Chuck one, two," Christian activated his coms followed by, "Get some Marine get some!" With a wide grin when he knew it was working right.

"T'Kek, bring some equipment and keep monitoring the atmosphere... everyone else, put on a mask or you're not leaving the ship..." S'hib snorted as he moved to the supply room beside the starboard hatch, his voice filling the small interior of the ship with a low rumble.

Attaching his own mask was a strange spectacle, his antiquated and primitive attire juxtaposed against the modern synthetic plastic that wrapped around the end of his muzzle, clouding up with every hot breathe he made. "Once we do leave, everyone stays together... you wander off and I'll bring you back to the Acheron myself... is everyone clear?" He asked firmly, attaching the small powerpack onto the many belts around his waist, it's long spindly wires encased in a clear tube dangling down from the mask.

T'Kek grabbed his field kit and donned his mask. "Ready to go," he stated, eager to get out and explore.

David led Christian out first. "Excuse us, Sir," David spoke to S'hib. "Please allow us to do a quick perimeter check before the rest of you leave the ship."

“Go ahead Private...” S’hib nodded, before moving to the rear of the craft, moving towards his phase lance propped up against the wall

Christian raised his rifle to shoulder height and proceeded to the rear of the Runabout, he moved it in line with his eye sight moving from in front of him to the right of the Ship scanned the forest line and then back to front of him, "You bite I bite back harder," he said quietly to the planet.

Ethal got herself ready to explore. She put on her old hiking boots in preparation and grabbed her kit while listening to S'hib. After the Ensign was all kitted up she put on her mask ready to go out onto the planet. It was rather scary to her she needed the mask as she wasn't used to going onto planets where one was needed.

Young Rackthorn took time to gather himself and his belongings, ready to follow the rest of the away team onto the surface. Seeing Ethal, he sidled up to them and smiled. "Our first one...I'm nervous, you?" he asked her.

Ethal smiled when she saw the cadet. "Yeah, I'm nervous too" she said with a sigh of relief. The relief was that she was not the only one who was nervous about this mission.

Miraj was shutting down the various systems, but left the SIF up. IF there was something unpleasent out there, no point in giving it a free invitation. "Can I open up?" she asked Commander S'hib

After a quick glance at everyone, masks included, he moved towards one of the side hatches. “Open her up Ensign.” He nodded, his mask fogging up from a heavy exhale as he calmed his nerves.

After the hatch cycled open, David and Christian headed out first. David directed the young marine to set up a patrol line, fifty meters from the runabout, on the ship's starboard side. David headed to the opposite location, on the port side. Once in position, David activated all of the passive sensors on his suit, scanning the forest, looking for any sign of danger to the landing party.

OFF