Away team 3 - First Contact with the old

Posted on Fri Jul 23rd, 2021 @ 1:11am by Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly & Lieutenant JG Miraj Derani & Master Sergeant Kieran Fredericks & Lieutenant Scott Gregory [Taylor] & Captain George Charles [Reece] & Lieutenant Samaire MacBride-Reece [Lalor] & Lieutenant JG T'Kek [Naxea] & Cadet Sophomore Grade Triston Montgomery [Lalor]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: New Canaan
Timeline: MD6 - 09h30
4859 words - 9.7 OF Standard Post Measure

The away teams had been briefed. Look around, do not start any fights, make sure you are always armed and please stay together. Away team 3, were to gather in the shuttle bay 2 at 09h30 and take a shuttle down to the planet.

MARINE ARMORY 0900 HOURS:

Kieran shrugged into his combat gear and grabbed his hand phaser, then closed the locker. Hopefully this wouldn't be a disaster like their last drop. Not that it was anyone's fault, but still, things had gone sideways. He tried not to dwell on it. These things happened.

He remembered an old saying that his DI's had taught him: No plan survives first contact with the enemy. He took a quick look around at his Marines. They were in various stages of their drop prep.

He cleared his throat. "Listen up, people. " he barked. Those going on the mission turned their attention to him.

"I know our last drop was a real bitch. A lot of bad things happened and things went sideways fast. It happens. We're Marines. We improvise, adapt, and overcome. It's what we do. Forget that last one. Use it as a learning experience and move on. We have another job to do and I need you all to be on your toes. We're dealing with a new race of people down there and we can't afford to make any mistakes. So. While we're down there, I want your heads on a swivel. I want you all frosty and alert. But no itchy trigger fingers. If you pull that trigger you damned well better be able to justify it. Don't talk to anyone unless you're directly spoken to. Let the officer in charge do the talking. They're trained for it, you are not. Our job is to protect them at all costs. Am I understood? " he said.

"YES TOP! " they all yelled.

He grinned.

"Good. Finish gearing up and meet me in the shuttlebay in thirty minutes. Anyone who's late will spend the next week helping the Chief Engineer clean the bilge. " he threatened, knowing they would all be there well before the thirty minute deadline. He then grabbed his phaser rifle and headed for the shuttlebay.

Scott was in the cockpit, in the navigator/co-pilot's seat and was going over the set of coordinates they had to land. As he did he could hear the Marine Sergeant barking at his troops. *Sounds like he's got them under control* As he waited for the pilot to come in.

"They probably roll over if he offers them cheese," Miraj giggled. "I think they've herded everyone else on though, it's looking a bit snug back there. I'm going to seal up, you can do preflight."

George made his way to the shuttlebay. He wasn't sure why he was going down. He was a fighter pilot, after all. But, orders were orders. Maybe he was being sent down to check on the colony's version of starfighter?

At the entrance to the Phlegathon Miraj beckoned him forward, "hurry up, I think you're the last one here, and this one wants to get going." She patted the top of the door frame. "He gets grumpy sitting around."

George paused for a slight beat, when he saw Miraj, but then hurried aboard the shuttle. They hadn't spoken since that day in the shuttlebay. In fact, it felt as if she had gone put of her way to completely avoid him. He knew that things would never be normal between them, but, he had hoped that they could be friends, at least.

Scott had finished the shuttle's preflight and waited for Miraj to return to pilot the shuttle down to the planet's surface. As he waited for Miraj to return hid thoughts went to Sapphire. She was on another shuttle, part of another away team. He hoped no harm befell them.

Tossing a medical kit across his shoulders, T'Kek entered the shuttlebay, raising an eyebrow at Miraj as he approached the shuttle, spotting the familiar form or Ensign Miraj. "You're not going to crash the shuttle again, are you?" he teased with a slight grin.

She gave him a mock glare, "That was not a crash."

Baeryn entered the shuttle bay a bit hastily, her demeanor more stoic then usual. She was finding it challenging to shake the anxiety surrounding this away mission. There was a bit of fear pitted in her stomach at how she would be perceived if any of Greens followers discovered her betazoid origin. The hybrid did her best to push the worry aside.

The Lieutenant approached the shuttle behind T’kek. “I for one hope that’s not necessary this time around.” She said with a small curve of her lips as she slipped behind Miraj and T’kek and boarded the shuttle.

"I said that wasn't a crash." She protested. "It was controlled landing done with purpose. We just came in harder and faster than you're used to, that's all."

"Uhhhh huh." Baeryn said over her shoulder followed by a soft chuckle.

"I believe that is the definition of a crash. A controlled crash perhaps, but a crash nonetheless," T'Kek grinned as he walked by Miraj.

"At worst it was a ditch." Miraj sealed the door behind him. "Remember that when I do you license evaluation."

Baeryn looked around at the crew gathered, making eye contact with the majority of them before she spoke.

"Alright, lets make this short and sweet." Her voice boomed loud enough for them all to hear. "You are to stay armed at all times, no venturing off alone, no rough housing, and by the goddess should you feel you can not conduct yourselves like professionals I'll be sure you deal with you personally upon our return." She paused to let the last part sink in, she needed them to know she was serious. "I do not expect a warm welcome, but that does not mean there should be any hostility or tension. If you feel you are not up to meeting these standards speak now because once we take off there's no turning around. Questions?"

Samaire shook her head.

Triston had been quiet the entire time and also shook his head.

Kieran nodded. "If any of my people screw around like that, ma'am, they know I won't hesitate to loan them to the Chief Engineer when he has the dirtiest job available. " he said.

Baeryn gave Kieran a tight nod.

Miraj closed the hatch, and moved back to the pilots seat. "Permission to leave, ma'am?"

"Granted. Let's get this bird in the air Ensign." Baeryn addressed the pilot before taking up her own seat.

With a text book perfect exit from the Elysium, the runabout quickly changed heading, swooping into the atmosphere of the brilliant emerald planet, and its lush continents, heading to the outskirts of the main city.

It wasn't a modern city, not by Federation standards, but it certainly wasn't a four hundred year old metropolis either, but half way between the two. It looked like some of the older parts of Sydney, or Johannesburg, that had survived both world war three and the eugenics war. The larger buildings of the central city giving way here to smaller buildings, neatly kept. A suburb.

"I can park on that green patch there," Miraj pointed out the potential landing site, what looked like a green or sports pitch. They weren't far ahead of Elysium time, and it looked closer to noon than breakfast. In front of the green space was a road with what looked like cafes and restaurants, and people stepped out of them as the Phlegathon made its approach.

Baeryn took note of the shops as well as the green field in which they were to land. It looked like they were drawing a bit of attention, a small crowd already forming. "Looks good. Notify the crew we'll be landing."

T'Kek looked looked out the nearest viewport, watching the people begin to gather as they landed. He recalled in the briefing how the people were Xenophobic. Perhaps sending Miraj on the Away Team had not been the best idea as he recalled from reports how the guards had reacted to Colonel Azhul during the initial meeting. He then thought of Miraj as she was the most "alien" looking member of the Away Team. His features weren't as noticeable and if needed, could be hidden due to being half-vulcan.

"Touchdown in three, two, one." Miraj announced, executing the perfect landing with the barest attention. "Everyone remember where we parked." There was a hiss of air as the seals disengaged and shuttle hatch opened.

George had to take a moment to calm his mind. There was so much noise outside, it was almost overpowering. He stumbled slightly when the shuttle touched down.

"Expert flying as always Ensign." Baeryn made her way to the open hatch, blinking slightly at the brightness of the sun as she began walking down the ramp. "Shall we have a stroll team?" Baeryn wasn't fond of 'parading' the team past the audience gathered, her worry even greater for Miraj and how the people of this world would react to her, but she refused to smother her with her own paranoia.

But people were gathering, approaching the parked runabout with curiosity. "Are you the people from earth? Did you get the centenary transmission?" A woman asked, a pretty blonde toddler nestled against her hip.

T'Kek looked back at Miraj and then to the others. Starfleet HQ was on Earth but in reality, the crew was from several different planets. "Yes ma'am. Majority of us are from Earth," he replied with a slight nod, keeping it simple.

That seemed to break the damn and questions flooded in from all over.

"Is it safe?"

"Whose in charge there now?"

"Can we visit?"

"How much got rebuilt?"

"Are you going to make us go back?"

"Do you still have dogs?"

The last question came from a small boy of about eight. A man with a very strong family resemblance put a hand on the boys shoulder to stop him getting too close. "I've read about them in books. I want to see a real dog."

George slowly exited the runabout, bringing up the rear of the away team, he felt every thought and feeling from the people that were starting to surround the shuttle and away team.

Baeryn held up her hands, "We are not here to force relocation on anyone." Her obsidian eyes fell to the young boy and she smiled, "Why yes we still have dogs, I believe there are even a few of them aboard our ship. They're mans best friend you know."

"Can we go to earth and get one?" the boy asked his father, who gave his son's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I don't know," his father looked to wards Baeryn. "Is it safe? What happened with all the contaminated people?"

As the people were speaking to Lieutenant Whavi, Grorge started to feel something different. While he was still hearing the crowd, his mind was picking up a different voice. This one was quieter. There was also fear in it as well. Looking around the area, he caught a glimpse of an individual, dressed head to toe in black. The one thing that really stood out, was the alabaster white face and red eyes. Then, the individual was gone.

Baeryn nodded and simply said, "Yes, Earth is safe." Knowingly ignoring the second half of the mans questions. "We are all quite interested taking a look around, perhaps someone familiar with the cities layout who could show us around?" The lieutenant glanced over the gathered crowd for a willing volunteer.

There were plenty of volunteers, and almost instantly a debate broke out over where to go. "What do you want to see? Someone asked.

Whavi looked back to the crew accompanying her, "Team? Thoughts?"

Kieran looked at her.

"Ma'am, with your permission I'll take my people and form a perimeter. " he said.

"Permission granted Sergeant. Don't go too far." She warned. If things went sideways she wanted to be able to pull the team out immediately.

Kieran grinned.


"Call me Top, LT. " he said, turning to his Marines. "You heard the Lieutenant, people! Fall in by squads, form a perimeter! Let's go, we ain't getting paid by the hour! " he barked.



The Marine fighter pilot nodded in agreement. "It would be an excellent idea, Lieutenant." George then stepped closer to Baeryn and whispered in her ear, "I need to tell you something that needs not be heard by others. May I transmit my thoughts to you?"

Baeryn made brief eye contact with George, dipping her head ever so slightly but never dropping the smile. She glanced back to the people of New Canaan as she waited to hear what it was the marine needed to tell her.

While moving away, making it look like he was checking a system on the trailer, he began transmitting his thoughts to Lieutenant Whavi. Ma'am, I don't know if you're picking up anything, David did say that you were only half Betazoid. I'm full blooded, and it feels like bombs are going off in my head. We need to be cautious. There is something going on here that we are not seeing. These people may seem friendly, but, a lot of them are putting up false fronts. Also, I keep hearing fear, but, not towards us. It's directed towards the colony, from, and this is interesting, below our feet. There are hundreds of minds below us, calling themselves......Outkasts. they live in fear of the colonists. He paused before continuing.

That's all I can pick up at the moment. Should I continue reaching out with my mind?

Baeryn wasn't fond of communicating mentally, she hated hearing another voice in her head aside from hers but she understood the importance of doing so in this situation. Keeping her eyes on the gathered crowd and her own crew she responded to Lieutenant Charles.

I want you to find out what you can about these Outkasts without directly communicating with them. I don't want to alarm the people gathered here or put our crew at risk. The moment you sense hostility we leave. I... will reach out as much as I am able.

George transmitted an image of him nodding his head. Be then took one of the junior Marines with him and they set out, seemingly on a little walk, looking around the colony.

Triston had begun looking around. “Lieutenant?” He asked, “Do you think they would mind if I try and speak with other teenagers?”

Samaire turned. “I can keep an eye on him sir.”

Whavi gave Samaire a long look before nodding yes, "Stay together."

Samaire grinned and turned to Triston. "Lead on Cadet!"

He flashed a grin back and held out his arm. "Ensign"

Laughing she linked her arm and they headed off.

A couple of teenagers at the back, paying more attention to Lieutenant Whavi than Samaire and Triston were sniggering. "Shame about her face," one youth was saying to his friend.

"Yeah", agreed the other. "I wonder what happened that she got so damn ugly."

"Whatever," shrugged the first. "If it were me, I wouldn't draw attention to myself by dying my hair pink either."

"I would like to see your medical facility if you have one nearby," T'Kek offered.

Whavi looked to the gathered crowd, "Is there someone who can take us?" Baeryn felt a wave of disgust coming from the back of the crowd but was uncertain whom it was coming from.

A woman in a daisy patterned sundress raised a hand. "I work at the clinic, its only about five hundred meters from here." She pointed down the street.

"Great," T'Kek replied, smiling. "Please lead the way. Anyone wish to accompany me?" he asked looking back at the Away Team.

"I'll tag along," Looking back Baeryn address Miraj. "Ensign Derani, care to join us?" The hybrid refused to let the ensign from her sight, she knew it was unfair to the remainder of the team but something in her gut said to keep her close.

Miraj gave Phlegathon a concerned look. She wasn't sure she wanted to leave behind the obviously superior craft, in case the locals decided to disect him. But a couple of the marines had already taken up sentry positions. "Yes Ma'am," she acknowldeged, and began to follow as the woman i the flower dress led them up the street.

In this settlement, all the buildings were low, maybe three stories at most, in elegant creams and whites, with classical touches such as columns and cupolas. The plaza opposite where they had set down had a small fountain, and they passed hair dressers, and a book shop and a clothing store. It was mundane and pleasent. Opposite the clinic was another plaza, with seats under stone arches, with hanging baskets and low beds, and through one stone arch, was another park, with thickly planted flower beds in riots of pinks and orange and yellow.

"This is our clinic," The woman indicated the building with its portico and columns leading into a central atrium, where there was seating and a reception desk. "We are mostly general practice. We handle small issues, anything serious we send on to the Hospital in Viridey City, so we're pretty limited to broken legs, tonsilitis, general health. Oh, and the fertility clinic of course." She said that with a bright smile, but Baeryn clearly felt the brittle sadness underneath.

"It appears to be pleasantly designed," T'Kek complimented. Though internally, he felt the clinic was severely limited and as such not a very effective medical clinic. And why would they have a separate clinic for fertility and not include it in the hospital? "Why is there a separate clinic for the sole purpose of fertility and not part of the hospital?"

Baeryn tore her eyes from the clinic to watch the woman's face as she answered T'Kek's question. She felt the small sense of sorrow from the woman in regards to the fertility clinic. Perhaps the woman had lost a child...Baeryn banished the thought from her mind. It would do her no good to make assumptions.

"Every preganancy has to be checked, regular scans, and tests," The woman explained, but there was an off tone in her voice. A repetion by rote of a catechism she had no faith in but didn't dare admit. "Too much to send up to Viridey. Besides. If they find something wrong, then its best to get things over with quickly. Before people get attached."

The woman's explanation shocked T'Kek as he fought to control his surprise and maintain a neutral, typical Vulcan face. To him, all life had meaning--it was the very core of every Starfleet doctor, nurse, and technician. Did these people not believe is saving a fetus as long as it posed no danger to the mother? These people were indeed barbarians. "I am truly sorry," he said simply with an edge of anger in his voice.

"Its okay." She gave him a weak smile, and started to walk up the steps to the clinic entrance. "I'm not the only one. And its probably worse on Earth, right? All those people with poisoning and mutations." She nodded towards where Miraj was staring at the garden plaza.

T'Kek had begun to follow behind her but stopped in his tracks when she mentioned it being worse on Earth, poisoning, and mutations. He followed her look to Miraj and then back to the woman. Did she and others had absolutely no idea about Earth, and the Federation? He wanted to explain but paused, looking at Lieutenant Whavi. Being a ensign, he didn't feel qualified to explain the topics to the woman--that was reserved fore the Away Team Leader and current Second Officer should she so choose to do so.

Baeryn knew better then to allow her emotions to show while leading the team, but she failed. Knowing these people terminated a life before it even began because it didn't meet their standards had her blood running cold.

"That is incorrect." Whavi's voice was stern. She caught the glance toward Miraj and the action only fueled her impatient for these peoples arrogance. "Earths inhabitants are neither poisoned nor mutated. There seems to be much your people are unaware of, such as the federations ability to coinhabit planets with different species, like we do on Earth."

The woman looked surprised. "We've been isolated here for two centuries." She looked away for a moment. "If there are no mutations, does that mean you have cures? or fixes?"

"Our medical knowledge has advanced tremendously in the two centuries your people have been here. I'm sure Ensign T'Kek, a medical officer of the federation, could answer all if not most of your questions." Baeryn made a slight nod in the direct of T'Kek.

The woman in the flower dress looked around, and then stepped away from the door to the clinic. "Can you fix cystic fibrosis? I've had to terminate two pregnancies now. My husband and I just want one baby, but if a third also has the mutation, we'll both be sterilised. Can you fix me? Or a baby?"

"Cystic Fibrosis?" he questioned. The disease was nonexistent among Federation Worlds as were a vast majority of diseases. He had only studied the disease in brief while at the Academy as a part of his medical history class. "Yes, it is a rather easy fix with a subdermal regenerator. It would only take approximately five minutes to heal."

"If your willing, you can accompany us back to the Elysium where our medical staff can take a full diagnose and treat your condition." Baeryn offered.

No sooner did she end her sentence she received the mental image from 1LT Charles of a group chasing a young boy. Baeryn immediately tapped her comm badge, ="Whavi to Top. Take a team and find Lieutenant Charles, he's in need of assistance. The rest of the away team is to report back to the Phlegathon promptly."=

Kieran tapped his commbadge.

"Fredericks here. On our way. " he said, turning to the squad he'd attached himself to for the mission.

"Hammer, take first and second fire teams and converge on the Lieutenant's position. Don't engage unless they're under threat. Third Fire Team is with me. " he said. Third Fire Team had a seasoned NCO, an Andorian Corporal named Th'Shaan. However the remainder of the fire team was fresh out of boot, so he took them with him so they'd have a steady hand looking out for them.

"Copy, Top. " said Sergeant Jack "Hammer" Phelps, motioning for his Marines to follow him.

Turning back to the woman in the daisy patterned dress the hybrid gave her an apologetic look. "I understand if this gives you little time to make a decision and to notify your husband but we need to get back sooner then expected."

T'Kek looked at the woman. "Do not be afraid to accept," as he took a step towards the woman. He already hated this barbaric world in it's primitive ideals. A part of him wanted to stay behind and heal the suffering woman.

She nodded. "Take me with you, please. I don't even care if I can't come back."

"Okay, lets head back." Baeryn nodded to the rest of the team to follow as she started back the way they came. She only briefly considered the repercussions she would face for bringing back a civilian, she quickly decided she would gladly meet any if it meant helping this woman.


===a block away===

George and Private O'Malley walked down the sidewalk, away from the shuttle. As George smiled and waved at the people they passed. As they both looked human, unless someone got close enough to really see George's obsidian pupils, no one really bothered them.

However, George started to open his mind and hear more negative thoughts, about both the aliens in the away teams, and the group known as Outkasts. There were several thouggts about hoping Green would ask the human ship to help them in eradicating the filth that the defective Outkasts represent.

Suddenly, a group of rough looking men stepped out from behind a corner, blocking George and O'Malley from going any further. George had felt them as they approached and had already quietly warned the young private.

"So," the man in the center of the wall spoke first, clearly indicating that he was the leader of the group. "You think you can just flitter down from you fancy spaceship and move about our home as if you own the place, do ya?"

"Gentlemen," George said calmly, alreasy sensing that the group was spooling for a fight. "We mean no harm or disrespect. We merely replied to the message your leaders sent home. We are here, visiting your lovely colony, with President Green's permission."

The leader of the thugs was about to say something, when he was stopped by the bully on his right. "Heinrich! Look over there!! It's a damn Outkast!!"

Heinrich looked over in the indicated direction and, sure enough, an Outkast, a young boy by the looks of it, wasteying to escape the area. Howling like demons, the group broke off from blocking George and O'Malley, and set out in pursuit of the deformity.

Seeing the boy was in danger, George reacted. "Let's go, Private! That boy needs our help!" As the pair took off after the bullies, George sent a mental image of the scene to Lieutenant Whavi. There was no way he was going to let those three large men attack that small, terrified, boy.

Kieran and his fire team arrived right at that moment. He looked at Th'Shaan, who was tensing up, ready for battle. The Andorian NCO hated bullies.

"With your permission? " he asked Kieran, who nodded.

"Don't do any permanent damage. Detain them until we can find out what's going on. " he ordered. Th'Shaan nodded and he and the other three ran after the men who seemed intent on picking on a young boy, while Kieran jogged to catch up with George and young Private O'Malley.

"Sir. Lieutenant Whavi sent me to fetch you. " he said as he caught up with the two.

George had been shielding the young boy with his body, protecting him from the group of foul-smelling men. Seeing Kieran and the rest of his Marines arrive gave him a sense of relief. He could have used his abilities to stop the men, but was afraid that he would have killed them, causing a bad situation to explode. "Thank you, Top. Good to know, I can always count on my Marine brothers and sisters to step in at the right time. Get those...men...out of my sight."

He then turned and knelt infront of the boy, taking a better look at him. He started to reach for the hood that covered the left half of his face. "Are you hurt?"

"No!" The little boy cried out, pulling his hood back down, but not before George saw the deformation. The poor boy had no left eye socket or left ear!

George took a chance and project calming thoughts over the whole immediate area. "Shh shh shh. It's okay. I will not harm you. What's your name?"

The little boy had been terrified and was about to bolt away, when suddenly, he wasn't scared anymore. There was something about the man with the black eyes that made him feel safe. "H-hendor." He said on a small voice.

"Hello, Hendor," George said with a soft smile. "My name is George. It's so nice to meet you. What are your parents names? I'm sure they miss you."

Shaking his little head, Hendor replied. "I don't have parents. I do have brothers and sisters....but, I'm not supposed to say where they are." He was suddenly looking scared again.

George smiled softly again. "That's okay, you dont have to tell me. But, would you like to go somewhere safe with me, my friends here will come with us."

Hendor looked over George's shoulder at the men and women wearing green uniforms standing by. He thought about it and then nodded.

George nodded as well. "Okay." He stood, picking Hendor up and placing him on his right hip. Turning back to Kieran, he said, "Top, if you would be so kind as to give us an enclosed escort back to the shuttle."

"Not a problem sir. " said Kieran, who turned to Th'Shaan. "Corporal, I want a full security perimeter around the LT and the boy. Nobody gets to the kid. Got me? "

Th'Shaan, happy after letting off some of his aggression, nodded.

"They won't get by us, Top. " he promised.

Less than ten minutes later, the group reached the shuttle. "Whavi," he said to Baeryn, not using her rank as a way of stressing the point. "We have to leave, now! This little boy is coming with us."

As if to rmphasize the point, Hendor tightened his hold on George.