What Was That?
Posted on Mon Jan 6th, 2025 @ 10:51pm by Commander Zhaan D'Sai & Captain Rylan Gray & Lieutenant Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Daegan Baas & Lieutenant Juliette Barnes & Lieutenant Patrick Ryan M.D. & Lieutenant Ayryn Trynn M.D. & Lieutenant Stormy Knight & Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knox
2,273 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
A Silence of Friends
Location: Guran System, Guran III
Timeline: MD003 - 1015
In response to Dr. Rush's steps onto the main boulevard, the city seemed to come alive. Sensor readings were taken both of the people on the planet's surface and the ship in orbit. Some drones, shaped like balls, began rolling through the city; whenever they stopped, they anchored themselves in place and grew appendages that were able to perform tasks. The message was sent, repeating itself.
Dr. Rush, who wanted to go check it out, returned to the away team and crossed to where the ship's First Officer had changed from relaxed to alert in a heartbeat. "Commander," he said ...
"What was that," Zhaan asked him though her gaze was on the nearest screen in what was supposed to be the main hub for the team's activities. She directed his attention to the message and some odd letters or numbers that kept changing. She paused for a moment and said, "that's a countdown."
"How did we miss this," Rush said as he hurried to one of the stations, to start see about starting his own scans. "This is just ... marvelous. Not dead ... sleeping ... Where are the people?"
Zhaan turned her attention to the away team almost immediately. "Lieutenant Knight, see if you can translate that," Zhaan said. "Lieutenant Malbrooke, start scanning the city. Let me know what you find. Lieutenant Baas and Commander Knox, secure the campsite and set a watch on the city. If something is heading this way, I want to know about it."
"Understood, Commander" replied Knox. Something about little more his pace and up his avenue. He was thankful of that as he tensed up a bit.
Daegan immediately went into defense mode. They had triggered something but what and how? It could have been, their proximity, the EM emissions from their scan, their communicators, or even the scans from the ship. No scan would have set something off when the city was first found. "Understood. Recommend all teams fall back to our original positions, our approach may have been the trigger."
Stormy understood the potential danger, but as a scientist she was also fascinated by the reaction to Dr. Rush approaching the city. She nodded to Zhaan and began to work on the message. Fortunately, she'd done a bit of research on the planet and its people, which had her thinking about languages and translation.
Knox had accepted his task that Commander D'Sai had given him, and he was keeping a vigilant eye out. He did not envy Stormy for she had arguably and of the more stressful jobs at the moment. Her comprehension of an alien language under pressure was being put on display.
Tyler stood and stared intently at his tricorder. "Commander it seems that there is a slight build up in power. Nothing that would be dangerous. However, it is indication of a system powering up. It could be in response to our presence here. Possibly a welcoming program, but the possibility of a defense program is just as viable. If it means anything my readings do not indicate any weapons."
A short time later, Stormy found Commander D'Sai. "Ma'am, I have the translation. It's from someone named Striel stating that we're invaders and have twenty-four hours to leave their world. The countdown started when the message was sent."
"Is there any way to analyze the message," Zhaan said, her expression thoughtful, "to ascertain whether its a being of some sort or fabricated? Machine-generated?"
"Because it came as a response to Dr. Rush's walking toward the city, it's most likely an automatic defense program or an artificial intelligence. However, we can't rule out the possibility that there are inhabitants in stasis somewhere," Stormy replied. "We could try replying to the message and offering friendship. It could be taken as a hostile act, but as we don't know what it will respond to, our only other options are to go into the city and try to shut it off or leave." And then another idea came to her. "Dr. Rush clearly wasn't expecting this, but does he know of any other cities that have this kind of defense system?"
"That's a good idea, Lieutenant," Zhaan said. "Let's put together a standard hail, in a variety of languages, and see if we can get a response." She turned toward Dr. Rush, who was all but hovering, and said. "Well? DO you know anything about defense systems?"
Dr. Rush cleared his throat even as he shook his head. "Nothing has come up on any of the scans, I"m afraid. Still, this is the first time anyone has stepped inside the city limits." His gaze dropped to his booted feet for a moment. "My fault, I'm afraid. I wanted to preserve that honor for our team. Stupid in retrospect."
"It's okay, Doctor Rush. No one knew the city had a guardian." Stormy couldn't blame him for wanting to be first. He'd prepared for this for a long time.
Then she turned to the commander. "I'll get right on it." While Stormy was able to translate the message, she had to be very careful about the reply as she knew it would be far too easy to offend if she used the wrong syntax. She started with a simple message of peace and a wish to learn more of the people here. Once she was satisfied with the wording, she translated it into a dozen different languages and showed it to Commander D'Sai.
"Send it and let's see what happens," Zhaan said.
Kakskümmend kolm tundi ja kolmkümmend minutit
She arched an eyebrow as she waited for the Lieutenant to translate the response though she suspected it wasn't in the affirmative. Brief and in the same language did not, to he way of thinking, suggest a change in attitude. But hey, she'd been wrong before.
It took less time to translate this message. "Twenty three hours, thirty minutes," Stormy reported. "That feels more like an automatic countdown. If possible, I'd like to see if we can find something in the city. As long as we give ourselves plenty of time to evacuate, it might be safe enough."
[Meanwhile on the Thunderbird]
As on the planet, a harsh, authoritative voice filled the bridge:
Tähelepanu
Mina olen Striel
Te olete sellesse maailma sissetungijad
Teil on kakskümmend neli tundi, et siit maailmast lahkuda
Algus nüüd
"Get me the away team," Rylan ordered, leaning forward in his seat. "And start working on a translation of that message." He was connected, moments later, with his First Officer. "Commander D'Sai ..."
"We got the same thing down here, Sir," Zhaan said. "Lieutenant Knight is working on a translation and we're gathering data. I don't know if we tripped some sort of automated message or if this is something worse, but, for safety's sake, I'd like to return the archeologists to the ship for now."
"Good idea," Rylan said. "Prepare to beam up the archeologists."
"Lieutenant Trynn," Zhaan said, "if you could find our scientists and get them all gathered together. We're going to send them back to the ship for now. Dr. Ryan if you could run your own scans. Did the survey teams miss organic life down here?" She returned her attention to the captain. "We'll notify you once they're ready to beam up, Sir."
Ayryn nodded as she set off, asking Dr Rush in passing to remain where he was. Fortunately the civilian scientists were easily identified, albeit scattered around the fledgling camp.
Pat nodded and took out his scanner. He began to scan the area for any sign of organic life. The slightest thing. Just to see what was going on.
"Keep me inf..." The connection faltered and moment's later, the Operations officer on duty reported interference with communications.
[And Back on Guran III]
"We seem to have lost the connection to the ship," Zhaan said. "Malbrooke, try to get it back, will you?"
It did not take long for Tyler to realize what happened to the connection to the ship. "Commander, I am working on reestablishing communications. However, it does seem like whatever has caused that countdown is jamming the signal. I think I can get the connection back by rotating the frequencies. Just give me a few moments."
"Lieutenant Baas, give me an update on the situation," Zhaan said.
"Commander. The perimeter teams are falling back to this location but they are on foot so it will take a little while for them all to get here. It would seem we triggered a defensive measure. There are parts of the city that are shielded and there is what appears to be some kind drone patrolling the city. We need more information. While we can't reach the ship we can still reach the other teams around the city. I can take a team and approach slowly while others monitor for any reactions from the drones or change in energy levels."
From his position, Lieutenant Commander Knox could not help but to have his mind transport him back through time temporarily. Sure, physically he was on Guran III but for moment his mind was racing on the Cardassian Mining Outpost on Quasinon III again. Once more, and away mission had resulted in something being triggered. There had been a countdown activated, and Stormy was using that gift of a brain of hers. This time though command of the away team was not his to bear.
Patrick completed his scans of the area looking for any sort of lifeforms or anything that could have been missed. "Commander, I do not see anything at all that could account for lifeforms here."
"Well," Zhaan said, "that would support your conclusion. It seems odd that whatever this is wants us off world but is also preventing us from contacting the ship." She turned toward the ship's Chief Engineer, "Lieutenant Barnes, is there anything you can do to break through? Get us in touch with the ship? I'd like to get the scientists to safety."
Jules had been dutifully scanning anything and everything she could to get an idea of how to manipulate the technology, but as yet hadn’t found anything very interesting. She looked up from her tricorder to answer. “Ideally, if I can find the source of the signal that’s jamming it and work out how it’s done, I could put a stop to it,” she replied. “Until then, I suggest we stick to rotating the frequencies and hope something g sticks. Ill keep working on it, though.”
"Agreed," Zhaan said as she turned toward Lieutenant Baas. "I want this to be investigative rather than confrontational if at all possible. Whatever is going on, it's not without power of its own. I'm not interested in provoking a hostile response unless its necessary. Understood?"
Daegan nodded, "Understood, then perhaps a single person instead of a team. An individual would be less threatening than a group." He removed his phaser and handed it over. "Any idea how much time left on that countdown?"
"What can I do to help?" Stormy asked the commander.
"Twenty three hours, twenty-five minutes. I don't want anyone going off alone," Zhaan said. "Dr. Rush wasn't armed and just his presence inside the city caused the response. Who knows what will happen or how it will be perceived as we penetrate farther." She stopped for a moment, hands on her hips, as she considered. "We need information. You, Commander Knox, Lieutenant Knight, and Lieutenant Barnes, I think. Armed but keep your weapons holstered unless it's absolutely necessary. See if you can get us some intel on what's going on but ... any sign of increased hostility, withdraw immediately."
Stormy nodded.
Tyler wanted to join that group for two reasons of equal importance to him. The first was that he wanted to make sure that Stormy remained safe and the other was that he thought he may be able to tap into whatever computer system ran this countdown. He turned to Commander D'Sai. "Commander, permission to join that team. I believe I would be able to gain access to the computer system that is running this countdown."
"If we can even get close enough to access an interface."
"Alright," Zhaan said. "Commander Knox can focus on regaining contact with the ship and you go with Baas, Knight, and Barnes."
"Roger that." Daegan looked to the others and while they were all the same rank he took charge to ensure everyone's safety. "Okay let's take this easy. Watch for any changes in energy output, especially anything directed towards us as we approach. We'll slow or stop our approach at a change in general output and stop and be ready to retreat at anything sent our way. Hopefully we can get to an interface so Tyler can do his thing. Everyone good with that?"
Stormy was glad Tyler would be part of the team--and not just because of his computer skills. "I can also help translate, if necessary." She wanted to listen for any living beings inside the city. They were too far away at the moment, but it would be good to rule out the possibility.
Captain Rylan Gray
Commanding Officer
USS Thunderbird
and
Commander Zhaan D'Sai
First Officer
USS Thunderbird
and
Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knox
Second Officer
USS Thunderbird
and
Lieutenant Daegan Baas
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Thunderbird
and
Lieutenant Tyler Malbrooke
Chief Operations Officer
USS Thunderbird
and
Lieutenant Stormy Knight
Chief Science Officer
USS Thunderbird
and
Lieutenant Ayren Trynn
Counselor
USS Thunderbird
and
Lieutenant Juliet Barnes
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Thunderbird
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