Tales From The Shuttle (Part 1)
Posted on Wed Apr 30th, 2025 @ 8:16am by Captain Taiga Aisaka & Commander Jennifer Daxer & Commander Chisato Nishikigi & Major Chiyo Shimada & Lieutenant Jasad Yuvek & Lieutenant Dr. Eli Ellis M.D. & Lieutenant Nezuko
Edited on on Wed Apr 30th, 2025 @ 8:22am
2,036 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Andromeda
Location: Type 11 Shuttle
Timeline: Five Days after "Assembling The Team!"
As it transpired, Chisato's remark about this being as difficult (if not impossible) as locating an electron aboard a Galaxy-Class was not entirely unfounded, for once the initial novelty had worn off and the hours began to drag into days without any real progress having been made, the assignment became a rather tedious slog, with "activities" (if you could call them that) relegated to staring at monitors, eating, sleeping, showering, and sitting around with a whole lot of nothing to do.
Sure, the shuttle was fairly well provided for with a replicator, a couple of bunks, and the afore-mentioned sonic shower, but with so little room to move around and stretch your legs, there was only so much that the six of them could do without growing the teensiest bit stir-crazy. They did occasionally break up the monotony by stopping to take some plant samples (seeing as they were the only living things out here), but aside from the obvious fact that space in here was at a premium, the nature of their assignment meant that collecting plant specimens were the least of their concerns right now.
"Ugh, how long have we been at this?!" Chisato groaned impatiently as she lazed about in one of the bunks.
Nezuko held up five fingers, followed by the hand signal used by Starfleet Intelligence officers symbolizing the letter D. Then nine fingers, then H, then ten, ten, and five fingers, then M.
"If I'd known it was going to take this long, I would've brought some of my Manga along with me!" Chisato lamented. "I've barely had any free time to catch up on the latest releases since we got back from the Karlax Nebula... though, I suppose it's partly my fault for wanting to spend my shoreleave at the Kantai Colony and not expecting to be called back so soon..."
~They replaced Alora with... this!?~ Jen thought to herself, as she raised an eyebrow in Chisato's general direction. "You could always use the computer to find something entertaining." She said aloud. "I'm sure there's at least something in the shuttle's database "
Chisato's face lit up like a Christmas Tree. "Can't believe I didn't think of that sooner," she remarked as she got up and made her way over to the replicator. "Gives me an excuse to read up on the latest volume of Cherry*Pop- I hear that this one's going to be the volume where Touya finally pops the question to Iroha..."
As she flicked through the database trying to find what she was looking for,m Chisato suddenly glanced up as if a thought had suddenly crossed her mind.
"Say, uh... Commander?" She began, turning to face Jen. "There's a little something I've been meaning to ask..."
"What is it?" Jen asked somewhat absently.
"Seeing as you mentioned being Captain Aisaka's right-hand woman for a time... you wouldn't happen to have, at some point, crossed paths with a certain Alora Knight, would you have?"
"In fact I did." Jen said, not bothering to look up from her display. She'd been studying what she could of the sensor data, still looking for any signs of life. "Aloea served as the Chief Intelligence officer, when I was the Tokyo's executive officer. Why do you ask?"
"Well, say, for instance, she was placed in a hypothetical situation where in order to save a bunch of people, she had to order someone to their death," Chisato speculated. "Of course, there may be an alternative where no one has to die, but it's extremely risky and there's no guarantee of success. Now, I'm not sure how close you were to Mrs. Knight, but in your opinion... What would she do?"
"I've never seen her put into a situation where ordering someone to thier death was even an option, so I can't really tell you whether she would. However..." Jen finally looked up from her console, eyeing Chisato with a sort of odd curiosity. "During our first encounter with the Elachi, she took a specialized shuttle and used it to infiltrate their vessel, when the only other option was our destruction. In short, I'd say she is reckless, but effective."
"Reckless, but effective..." Chisato muttered to herself. "I may need to think about that..."
"Commander, you seem to have a keen interest in what Alora would do, so let me give you a bit of advice..." Jen had never met anyone who had such an interest in how another officer would conduct themselves in potentially disastrous situations. "In any given situation, it is best to simply be yourself. Focusing or worrying about what someone else could cause you to hesitate at a critical moment... In the Intelligence field, that can get you killed."
"Don't I know it," Chisato shook her head and sighed. "But see, the thing is... well, I guess it's kind of hard to explain, but certain... things have happened that have forced me to do some re-evaluating, and question if basing decisions on my own personal code of ethics is the right decision in the long run..."
She looked up. "I mean, not that I've ever had any difficulties managing a single department, but an entire ship? I'm just... I'm not sure if I'm cut out for that kind of responsibility, if you know what I mean?"
"Whether you're in command of a department, or the entire ship your main duty is the same." Jen said, this time raising both eyebrows in obvious surprise. "The ship is your home, your life line, and your only means of defense against the ravages of space and it's many dangers. The safety of the ship and the crew should be the top priority of every single person onboard."
[Cockpit]
Lieutenant Yuvek continued to monitor the sensor read-out from the navigation panel before him. It was not as if anything had really changed since the last update the runabout had received from the Tokyo, but it at least gave him something to occupy his mind.
When he was in the Academy he had once heard his professor refer to a certain mission as a Fool's Errand. At the time, Jasad did not have any appreciation for the term, but now after spending so many days floating above a massive yet abandoned structure in search of a particle, he fully understood the term's meaning.
The monotony of the current mission did little to distract him from the reality that the vessel was still trapped millions of light years away in a completely different galaxy with no indication on how they could duplicate the mechanism that brought them here.
He wasn't sure what was worst:
A Fool's Errand or Being Stranded.
Suddenly the compact science console began beeping. "WARNING. Sensors have detected the Omega Molecule." The computer announced. Then the console monitor switched to display a huge structure down below. It resembled a archway, big enough to fly a Starbase through the middle, and stretched hundreds if not thousands of miles high and wide.
"The Omega Molecule has been detected in this structure." The computer warned. Huge holes and what looked like landing pads were positioned up on the sides of the arched structure, leading to what seemed to be shuttlebays, big enough for even the Tokyo to fly into.
"Looks like we've found what we're looking for." Chiyo called out.
Lieutenant Yuvek immediately activate the craft-wide comm system, "We've just picked up indications of an Omega Molecule within the structure. The computer has found locations within the structure that appear to be landing bays." He communicated with the rest of the crew.
[Crew Compartment]
"Did he just say what I think he just said?!" Chisato asked with the enthusiasm of a five year old waiting to be turned loose on an Easter Egg hunt.
Nezuko nodded.
"WOO!" Chisato pumped her fists excitedly. "We're in business, baby!"
The Ops chief brought up the relevant external sensor feed on her PADD, studying the arch-shaped megastructure, pitted as it was with apparent docking ports. Hopefully there was a computer system with which she could interface.
As the data came in, Daxer immediately began a tactical scan of the landing area that they were fast approaching. "Sensors aren't picking up any life forms, or weapon platforms." She said simply. She remembered Taiga's warning about potential traps, and decided to reiterate that warning. "I strongly recommend that we proceed with caution from this point on."
[Cockpit]
The Helmsman took the runabout out of its programmed path and set course for one of the main landing areas within the massive structure.
"ETA 12 minutes to the nearest landing bay" He reported.
"Be on high alert, ladies." Chiyo instructed. "We don't know what we might encounter."
Jen was quiet, as she stepped into the cockpit area, checking and rechecking her weapons. If anything happened, she wanted to be as prepared as possible.
"So!" Chisato exclaimed as she climbed into the cockpit and assumed the last available seat. "Omega particle; what've we got so far?"
Lieutenant Yuvek continued to guide the shuttle towards the massive structure. The sensor readings indicated that the structure was made from a material that could not be found within the Starfleet database. It made sense that the creators of this structure would have used a material strong enough to withstand its nearly unimaginable weight.
"Sensors have narrowed the possible location of the Omega Molecule to what is being designated as grid Delta, section 12-Alpha" He reported as the runabout's computer continued to analyze the power readings coming from the structure.
"Whatever that thing is, it is producing a high amount of radiation and. . .whatever can be considered a power source." Lt. Yuvek added. "Something is definitely activated and functioning within that structure, but I'm not detecting life signs." He continued to report.
"Maybe it's some kind of power plant?" Chisato speculated. "I mean, granted, using an Omega Particle as a power source is sort of akin to playing with fire, but you consider that we're in an entirely different galaxy now... who's to say that they didn't know any better?"
"Given that this structure seems to be the source of the Omega particle, I wouldn't be surprised if this was some sort of Andromeda Chernobyl." Chiyo replied.
"I did say this was the most powerful molecule in the known universe." Daxer said casually. "Not entirely surprising that a race this advanced figured out how to harness it's power. Despite that's it's still dangerous, and we should probably use EV suits to mitigate the radiation exposure."
"Good idea," Chisato agreed. "I'll go check the EV suit locker, make sure they're ready for use."
And with that, she had gotten back up and excused herself from the cockpit. Nezuko slid into her seat, watching sensor feeds, especially power readings from the megastructure.
"ET to touchdown, Lieutenant?" Chiyo asked. She was likely going to have to get up and check the readiness of the hand phasers, and as such needed to know how much time she had to do so.
"6 minutes," Lieutenant Yuvek replied.
He attention was entirely consumed by the readings coming from the power source within the structure. There was no indication how long the production facility had been in operation nor what was responsible for maintaining it. It just appeared to be working to produce. . .something. . .that the sensors could not register as anything within its database.
The runabout shuttered as it came closer to the structure. "Hold on, I'm attempting to compensate for the structures gravity well." The Helmsman reported. "Not surprising that something this massive would produce its own gravity field." He said as he altered the shuttles approaching trajectory.
"Well, keep it steady:" Chiyo ordered, getting up from her seat. "I need to check our weapons and make sure they're hot."
To be continued...
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