Vacation a la Shan - Part 3

Posted on Tue Dec 21st, 2021 @ 8:47pm by

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Timeline: 4 months before she joined the crew
633 words - 1.3 OF Standard Post Measure

They were short on time. They only had a few hours until the sun was at its zenith and it would be too hot for them to survive. Glade and three others had slowly made their way back down to the camp and slipped into one of the sleeping tents. Varis and Shan had led the others towards the shuttle pad, where there were several shuttles. They were going to have to work fast. If they could take over one of the shuttles, and use it to destroy the others, they would then be able to use it as a distraction, giving Glade and her team time to pull the others out of the situation.

To be fair, Shan was not sure it was going to work. The first shuttle they came across was locked up tighter than a ferengi’s bank account. But the second, Shan followed Varis in while the others kept watch.

Shan took a seat off to the side and began working on the comm system. She had basic training in it. And she was able to drop the jamming signal. She then sent out a distress signal on all bands and com lines.

The others joined them in the shuttle and Varis took the helm. There were shouts from outside as the shuttle lifted off and Mika, at the weapons control had very good aim and took out three of the other ships before they got another ship in the air.

Meanwhile the distraction had worked perfectly. Their remaining diggers and techs had been led to safety of the sleep tents and Glade and her group had managed to over power the remaining Orions. Their shuttle was damaged and forced to make an emergency landing. But by the time the Orions could come to their shuttle, the sun was at it's peak and they learned the hard way about it. 2 died of heat stroke before they learned the lesson. By the time the sun had begun to set and the planet was more habitable, reinforcements had arrived for the archaeologists.

Starfleet left a ship in orbit this time. And Shan and three others were treated for minor injuries in the crash.

Glade, again, was absent every time a starfleet officer was around and when Shan asked her why, Glade said “I don’t see the point in interacting with them. Varis does it well enough.” And she then retreated into her tent.

**End of the Dig**

The Orions never bothered them again for the remainder of their time there. When the 3 months were up, Shan packed her things carefully. She was stowing her records and making plans for her own paper to be submitted, when the tent flap was pulled back and Glade stood there, a rectangular box in her hands.

“Hey Glade” Shan smiled “I thought you would be packing?”

“I have been. I have my own shuttle and I will be leaving tomorrow after Varis completes her breakdown. They say the dig will reopen next year, so I have put my name down for it”

Shan grinned. “As long as they hire security for it, I’ll get the time off.”

Glade smiled back, content with that answer.

Shan paused and said “Glade?”

“Yes Shan?”

Shan dug out a book. “Can you.. Sign this please?” She held out her personal copy of “The Winds Of The Mountains” - written by Glade.

“You’ve been waiting to ask I know” Glade said with a smile and signed the book.

“Yeah but before now, I figured there was no other time.” Shan put the book back and placed the box in her backpack.

Glade smiled faintly. “Have a good trip back.”

Shan watched her go, then grabbed her back and headed for her transport back to the Elysium.