Last Breath of Hope

Posted on Sun Jun 15th, 2025 @ 5:57pm by Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knox & Lieutenant Ayryn Trynn M.D. & Lieutenant Stormy Knight & Captain Rylan Gray

2,034 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: A Silence of Friends
Location: Captain's Ready Room

Let's see how this goes Knox thought to himself as he and Chief Science Officer, Lieutenant Stormy Knight stepped through the threshold of the Captain's Ready Room. Harrison Knox was unnerved having to sit in the Captain's chair on the bridge. Taking a seat at the man's desk was even more weight felt on his tired shoulders, but he was the Acting Captain under present circumstances. Things had from bad to worse to downright awful. They had their backs pressed hard against the bulkheads with death breathing down their necks and taking every last breath of hope from their lungs.

Malbrooke had done his best, and Daegan Baas had done what Baas knew best. Unfortunately, that route had not gone as Baas had expected. Knox knew that he needed to put space between the Thunderbird and the planet, away from the Artificial Intelligence, Striel, but time was a precious commodity that was running thin. An hour was all Knox could spare. He had made decision and gave a simple order, 60 minutes of leaving the Thunderbird crew to fight this thing the best they could on their own. They would not be able to defeat the illness that was claiming lives on their own, but it would give Knox time to concentrate on a plan and let Striel see that the had broken orbit albeit looming around the system.

Knox's order to contact Striel was given after the 60 minute cooldown period, and the Artificial Intelligence was apparently receptive. At least to taking the 'call' which Knox made it very clear that he nor anyone from Thunderbird was to go down the the planet's surface without his expressed permission to do so. From Sickbay, Knox had Counselor Trynn included. Transparency was necessary and her expertise as Ship's Counselor was something he felt was needed. Lieutenant Knight had been researching like a storm, and unlike Baas, she was naturally calm and collective - scientific. He wanted her there because that was something he was not. He was like Baas in a lot of ways, ways that he knew he had to avoid if this was going to go anywhere positive.

Lieutenant Commander Knox sat in Rylan's chair and after a long pause, spoke. "Guran III Artificial Life form, Striel. This is Acting Captain Harrison Knox of the Federation starship Thunderbird speaking. On this frequency is my Ship's Counselor and with me is my Chief Science Officer. We have broken orbit from your planet and respectfully wish communicate with you. I apologize for the brash actions of my Chief Tactical Officer. We....we are inferior biological beings - irrational, impulsive, and scared."

"Acting Captain Harrison Knox," Striel said. "You were not part of the crew that originally came to this world. I am Striel. My purpose is the protection of this world. The individual who came alone to the city drew a weapon. That is forbidden."

Harrison Knox looked over at Knight who had taken a nearby seat. As if to silently tell her that she was the next batter up after his preface. She was a scientist. She was the heart and soul of what the Federation stood for. "You are correct, Striel. I was not part of the crew that originally came to your world. Mistakes were made and some of that crew and others here on my starship are sick. That is why I am aboard the Thunderbird."

"The individual that came alone to your planet did so under orders of an unqualified unit giving command orders before my arrival. They did not mean you harm, but they operated against our normal protocol, and I am sorry they drew a weapon. You showed mercy and restraint by not eliminating them. Striel, the Federation that I serve and represent...we're explorers, scientists, and sometimes the worlds we travel to and species we encounter present a threat to us so we are often armed. Your purpose is to protect Guran III. Our intent was to study it, but we were wrong to do so...so blindly. My Chief Science Officer can attest that we are a curious species, but we want to protect Guran III...and You.

"The one that came said that other ships would come. This world will not be taken by your Federation," Striel said. "This must be understood. I am able to protect this world. You agree to this? On behalf of your Federation?"

Stormy moved forward to be seen by Striel. "I am Stormy Knight. I was one of those who came to your planet to learn about the Gurani. We do not want to take over your world, we want to learn from the people who lived there. However, there is something on your planet that made our people sick. We believe it is why the Gurani died. What we want is your help. We need information on this virus from your medical center. And if we can get a DNA sample of the Gurani, we can create an antidote. That will allow more scientists to come here and study, as we said before. If we cannot find a way to keep our people from dying, then other ships will come, but not to fight. Not to conquer, simply to leave devices in orbit that will warn any ships entering this system that there is a plague on the planet and that they should leave. But, speaking as a scientist, I would like your help to get this information, to heal the people who are sick here so that more will not die." She paused, hoping her words were sufficient for him to understand.

"I believe that because we have already identified what made the Gurani sick, we have a chance to stop this virus from causing more harm. I can share the information we have to you know we speak the truth."

Knox cleared his throat. "Striel, I am doing everything I can to protect Guran III to prevent more ships from coming there. I will do everything I can to convince the Federation to leave you and Guran III alone, but in order for me to do that, I need your help."

Lieutenant Commander Knox shifted attention to Sickbay. "Counselor, how grim is it down there?" asked Knox, not because these lives mattered to Striel, but because the severity. The sickness, the death... if it continued, more would come to Guran III for answers.

“The contagion is extremely virulent for those susceptible, which thanks to Lieutenant Knight and her team, we know is largely determined by genetics. Even within that group, onset varies between species but the progression follows the same path. Without a cure, we expect the fatality rate to remain at or close to one hundred percent.

Currently all we can do is try to delay the spread and make people as comfortable as possible. And hope that someone shows a natural immunity or manages to fight this. Amongst a relatively small crew, however, we may not be that fortunate.”

She paused, her gaze on the unconscious forms of crew members all seeming to fight a battle they were doomed to win.

“Striel, I understand protecting your world and those in your care is important to you. It is important to us too. As a doctor, I took an oath to do no harm and so I ask this of you - please forgive our indiscretion and consider working with us to not only find a cure but to also perhaps discover what happened after you were taken offline. Can you help us, Striel?”

"Waiting to receive your data," Striel said. "Analyzing," Striel said. Analysis of the data went quickly, nearly from one blink of an eye to another, and was incorporated into the data that Striel had accumulated as well. "I cannot allow your weapons to threaten this world. That remains non-negotiable. However, data analysis has led to a working hypothesis that is currently under investigation. I can share this with you. For the good of your people and perhaps, mine."

Stormy didn't realize how tense she had been until she heard that and felt her shoulder muscles start to relax.

Good, we are getting somewhere thought Knox. "Striel," he said addressing the AI. "Would you allow us to send a few people down to the planet's surface without weapons...if it was safe for us? There may be additional information there to assist us."

"State your purpose," Striel said at once."What do you hope to find?"

"We're explorers, Striel. Aside from trying to find a way to cure the sickness that is facing my people, we would like to learn more about you, about what happened to those that lived on the planet. If you are opposed to this, we understand, but I assure you we will not be armed with weapons."

"You want a cure," Striel said. "The Andiel AI was designed to handle all biological matters. Access to the medical-science laboratory is granted. Prepare for transport."

"Striel, belay that transport" Knox quipped. "We are different...each member of my crew are different. We have different expertise. Please allow me time to assemble a specialized team for this."

"I will wait," Striel said. Meanwhile, the drones continued their work, repairing communication buoys and restoring communication links throughout the Gurani empire. If anyone was left alive he would know that soon enough and if no one was, then he had one last duty to perform. And in the command center, where once we reported to the Gurani people, the screens lit up with data. Communications were now 57 percent restored. 57 percent and rising.

"Thank you, Striel. Stand by. I will contact you in several minutes. Thunderbird out" replied Knox.

Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knox. Kept the channel open to Trynn in Sickbay. "Lieutenant Trynn...you have command in my absence. Keep the peace. Make sure nobody does anything foolish."

Of all the things Ayryn expected, to be placed in acting command was nowhere near the top of the list. Was he being serious? Just a short while ago he was criticizing Dr Ryan’s decision to hand her the keys to Sickbay - so to speak - and now he was suggesting temporary command.

"Knight, you're with me," he added.

Relieved that she hadn't been asked to stay on the ship, Stormy nodded. She believed she would be of most help on the planet, and she wanted to go back down and find what they needed. She glanced at Tyler and smiled.

“I’m sorry,” Trynn interjected, “but can we stop for a moment. Commander, given our earlier conversation and my lack of command experience, I have to ask - why me? Surely there is someone suitable senior - and who ideally is not already dealing with a sickbay full of patients -you can trust to take command?”

Knox understood her concern especially with the previous conversation still fresh in mind. "I had my reservations about you running Sickbay. I still do, but having you in command is our best bet."

"Point is your background in counseling makes you ideal in a crisis situation. There's nothing for the bridge crew to do except process information and monitor. You won't provoke Striel. My trust is with you on this."

“Oh well in that case,” Trynn muttered, rolling her eyes. He was exasperating, to put it mildly. “I assume this means I can stay here and not break the quarantine you put in place on the bridge? We are already short handed in here.”

"Stay right where you are. You're are doing your best work right now in Sickbay. Whatever Striel is sending us may be of use to your efforts down there. Knight and I will see what we can get from the surface."

“Very well,” Trynn conceded. “But please hurry. We don’t have a lot of options left to try down here.”

"Trust me, we're trying" replied Knox ending the channel.

Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knox
Acting Commanding Officer
USS Thunderbird

Lieutenant Stormy Knight
Chief Science Officer
USS Thunderbird

Lieutenant Ayryn Trynn
Ship's Counselor
USS Thunderbird

and Striel of Guran III
(written by Capt. Rylan Gray)

 

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