The Obelisk (Part 1)

Posted on Thu Aug 7th, 2025 @ 9:34pm by Captain Taiga Aisaka & Lieutenant JG Kurumi Hatanaka & Commander Jennifer Daxer & Commander Chisato Nishikigi & Lieutenant Commander Casey Washburn & Lieutenant Nezuko & Lieutenant Teneca Quinn & Lieutenant Takina Inoue
Edited on on Thu Aug 7th, 2025 @ 9:35pm

1,515 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Preserving The Past
Location: Amerind - Preserver Obelisk
Timeline: January 25, 2397- immediately after "Amerind"

The Preservers Obelisk sat in a clearing of trees. It stood silently and proudly stretching up towards the sky. The pale mint green of its surface was decorated with strange symbols and several baskets of fruit and vegetables sat by a small set of steps on the front of the pedestal. Birds song filled the air as a light breeze swept through the trees causing their leaves to dance and flutter. Over the tops of the trees distant smoke could be spotted from the nearby settlement, whirling and whipping high into the evening sky.

The quiet of the serene environment was shattered as transporter beams shimmered into existence, materializing the Tokyo's security team. As they fully materialized, Taxes wasted no time issuing orders.

"Edon. Take your rifle up to that ledge. You're the lookout, and my ace in the hole." The Vulcan woman said simply. "The rest of you, fan out and secure the perimeter. If you see any Iconians or Elachi, you shoot first, and ask questions later."

With that, her team scattered to their assigned spots, while she secured the transporter site. When Jen was satisfied the site was secure she tapped her COMM badge. "Daxer to Tokyo. The area is secure."

=A=Copy that, Daxer,=A= Came Chisato's response. =A=Stand by...=A=

A few moments later the cleaning echoed with the sound of transporters as the team from the Tokyo beamed in. Then immediately after several others beamed down from the Kanna.

"Wow..." Chisato gasped as she took in her surroundings. "I know we're not here to smell the roses, but this is simply... breathtaking; it's almost like we've stepped into an old picture book..."

Nezuko scented their air. A land seemingly untouched by industry of any kind. Pure air, infused with pollen from the plentiful greenery. {Like home}, she signed, unsure if Chisato knew that word yet.

A gentle breeze whipped through the clearing where the away teams had landed, stirring up pollen from some wildflowers and creating a colorful display of natural beauty. Not anywhere near the sterile, minimalist environment of a starship; Casey Washburn was equally comfortable in both realms. Without preamble, he retrieved the tricorder from his hip and began a series of detailed scans of the immediate area. Wash knew the objective, he just wasn’t certain how said objective would be achieved. The team would no doubt rely upon his technical knowledge.

Captain Williams immediately took in a long deep breath. "Ah proper fresh air." She exclaimed. "It's nice to get down to planet's once in a while," she beamed. She clapped her hands together. "Ok people, let's get inside that Obelisk shall we?"

"Right," Chisato nodded on her team's behalf. "But before we get caught up in any of that, would one of you happen to be Lieutenant Shigeru Hamada?"

All eyes turned to a lanky, scarlet-haired male standing at the back of Shauna's group.

"Well, um... that would be me?" the male awkwardly replied. "What can I get for you, Commander?"

Chisato reached into her backpack and retrieved the bento box. "Your mother instructed me to bring this for you," she explained. "Said you'd be working up quite the appetite on this assignment, so she just wanted to make sure you were well-fed; also, she made a point of saying hi for her."

A few of the Kanna's officers began to snicker amongst themselves.

Amongst the people snickering was their Captain. She was doing her best to try and hide it though.

"Do tell his mother we all say hi back, Commander," Anton called out from within the group of Kanna personnel.

"Alright, alright, settle down," Shigeru sighed as he stepped forward and nonchalantly took the bento from Chisato. "I'll be sure to send my thanks back to Doctor Hamada when I get the opportunity," he nodded before returning to his group with all the dignity of a soggy mouser.

Shauna managed to swallow her laughter. "Ok people, that's enough. Let's get to work here. We need to get into the Obelisk."

The sudden sound of a twig snapping echoed around the clearing. Williams held up a hand. "What was that?" She drew the phaser off of her belt. "Heralds?"

The bush across from the team began to rustle, the sound of another twig snapping could be heard and then the sound of someone's footsteps scurrying away could be heard. "We've been seen! Stop them from getting away!"

"Stop where you are!" Without waiting, Daxer was on the run. As she headed in the runner's general direction, she jumped and cleared a bush. She didn't miss a beat as she continued to give chase. "Why do they always run...?"

"Not even five minutes..." Chisato sighed before taking off after Daxer. "Wait up, Commander!"

The figure dashed through the undergrowth and bushes, deeper into the forest. They had a much further lead, running and dashing with skill and keeping up their speed. Their petite shape moving expertly through the forest with ease maintaining their distance as they fled.

As they fled from her Jen kept up her pace, despite being unfamiliar with the terrain. She ducked under limbs, and jumped over various bushes, pushing herself harder and harder to try to catch up.

The chase continued towards the rising smoke of the village. The figure starting to slow a little. Then the figure stumbled. A young feminine scream erupted from them as they tripped, falling forward down into a small bank. They rolled over and over, crashing through the undergrowth and bushes. A loud crack could be heard as the figure rolled down the bank, turning and turning.

Finally they came to a stop, their head smacking against a large boulder. It was then that the runners identity was revealed. A young girl, no older than ten years of age laid face up, eyes closed and out cold.

Her skin was the color of polished copper, sun-warmed and unblemished, with the even glow of someone who spent her life beneath open skies. A white, handwoven top hung loosely around her shoulders, the hem cropped just above her navel and embroidered with narrow red-brown geometric patterns.

Her skirt, made of soft brown fiber was fastened at the waist by a bright sash of orange and turquoise fabric. A string of green beads circled her hips, from which a cluster of feathers hung delicately. Around her forehead, a red-and-white band held back her long, raven-black hair, with a single upright feather rising at an angle above her right temple.

The girl, laid there motionless blood now starting to trickle through her dark hair. One of her legs badly bent in the wrong direction and clearly showing signs of broken bones.

Jen came to a skidding stop right at the edge of the embankment. "Shit!" she swore as she carefully made her way down to where the girl was laying on the ground. "Please be alive..."

She pulled her tricorder, and gave the girl a quick scan. Despite being a security tricorder, it gave her enough information. Cracked skull, leg broken in multiple places.

"Sweet Jeebus on a stick... would it kill you to wait up???" Chisato panted as she finally caught up with Jenifer. "My heart's not cut out for all of this..."

her voice trailed off as she caught sight of the unconscious girl laying at the bottom of the embankment.

"My God..." she gasped, her hand moving to cover her mouth. "You've killed one of the locals!"

"She's still alive." Jen said somewhat absently, as she continued her scan. "She's in really bad shape though."

Shauna panted as she came to a stop at the top of the bank. Her eyes opened wide upon seeing the young girl now being scanned by Daxer. "Ah... crap..." she said as she made her way down the bank. "This isn't looking good..."

"I hate to be 'that person', but the Prime Directive..." Shauna began to say.

"To hell with the prime directive." Jen said, looking up to see who else had arrived behind her. Without waiting for anyone to reply, she tapped her COMM badge. "Away team to Tokyo! Medical emergency! Two to beam directly to sickbay!"

"Locking onto you now." Shaw from the Tokyo's transporter room replied. "Beaming you directly to sickbay."

A moment later Daxer and the girl were enveloped in the blue shimmer of a transporter beam. Her last thought as the two dematerialized was that she'd likely catch hell for this.

"Well," Chisato began once the magnitude of what had just happened finally caught up with her. "We just abducted a minor."

Shauna sighed. "Hopefully the Tokyo's medical staff will gave her back down here before anyone notices she is missing." She said. "And it's better than accidentally killing her.. " she turned to the others. "Ok people, back to work.

To be continued...

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