Hostile Reception (part 1)

Posted on Mon Jan 25th, 2021 @ 4:15pm by Lieutenant Mira Jayna & Commander Hans Munich & Lieutenant Lei Shan & Lieutenant Dwight McCabe & Lieutenant Bela Swain & Ensign Satt

1,087 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Eye of the Storm
Location: Planetside

ON

The shuttle landed Four kilometers from the nearest town in a small valley between two hills. The air was calm, but the sky looked mottled because of the storm.

Shan shook out a little tension in her arms and legs that had built up from bracing herself during the ride down. "Well that was fun. Can't wait to go again," she said with a bit of a wild grin. She flipped open her tricorder and started scanning to find what information they could get from this side of the storm.

Bela looked over at Shan and giggled. So, Shan was a thrill seeker. Bela made a mental note of that in case she ever needed any help. "So, where do we go? There are people that need our assistance," she said in a concerned voice.

Jayna walked out and looked up at the sky, fascinated. "I've never seen that before." She, too, pulled out a tricorder to record what she was seeing.

Satt stalked out of the shuttle, holding his compression phaser rifle loosely in his hands. His standard issue pack was slung across his shoulders, a reassuring weight. His skin flushed a darker blue with apprehension as he looked up at the ionised atmosphere.

Shifting his grip, he unhooked and unfolded his tricorder and began scanning their immediate surroundings, preferring to concentrate on the concrete rather than the scientific. 'Surroundings are clear,' he declared in a gravelly voice, 'no sign of humanoid life-forms.'

"Oh, no!" Bela cried out sadly. "Are we certain that the tricorder is correct?" What can a counselor do when there is nobody to counsel?

"Relax, Counselor," Shan said with a heavy sigh. "I'm pretty sure he meant 'in the immediate vicinity'- as in, 'close enough to be a potential threat to our physical safety.' There's still quite a bit of interference going on, so we're not getting the range we normally would with a tricorder scan; no way to tell exactly how the settlement over there has been faring." She nodded towards the town that was within sight. "Looks like we're in for a stroll if we want to learn anything more."

"At least it's not raining," Jayna said. "We should get to the nearest habitation in short order. Maybe we'll find someone there. you can talk to?" She turned to Munich. "Your orders?"

Munich moved to the rear of the Shuttle, glancing out at the area just past the opening hatch.

"I hope you all brought your hiking Boots as we have four Klicks to the colony." Munich said as he took up the repair Pack he had brought for this mission. "From here we walk..." He consulted the tricorder. "That way." He pointed as he schlepped off the ramp into the general direction.

Nodding, Satt rolled his shoulders and set himself at the edge of the group, waving the tricorder about them as he went. The burly Bolian satisfied himself that they weren't in immediate danger. Hard to tell with this interference. He turned to the others, 'I don't suppose we have contact with the Calypso from down here?'

The doctor removed himself from the shuttle, leaving his duffel bag behind except for his medical tricorder and a small first aid kit backpack. He glanced down to check his boots, after hearing Munich, knowing that it was the correct one for hiking.

The Counselor smiled at Shan, appreciative that she understood her concern. Pleased that there was a town ahead and that there still might be people there, Bela readied herself. "A walk is always good for the mind and body," she announced.

Barking a good-natured laugh, the Bolian looked at the Bela, "Are you always this cheerful, Counsellor?"

"God I hope not," Shan muttered under her breath.

Bela looked at the Bolian and smiled. "Oh, like anyone else, I have my off days but generally, yes, I'm a happy person. What reason is there not to be?"

'Generally, life,' replied Satt with a wicked smile as he waved his arm about vaguely, 'it's like, how do those humans say, a tonne of bricks on your shoulders?'

Walking up to Satt, Bela reached her arms around him and hugged him saying, "Oh, tell me all about it. I will be happy to make everything better."

Flushing a deep blue across his ridges, Satt had forgotten he was talking to a Risian and not an Earther. He had not been prepared for a reaction. 'Relax, Counsellor, relax. It ... was a joke.'

"I'm relaxed," Bela replied, removing her arms from the Bolian. "But life is not like that unless you make it difficult. But that's why I'm here to help, right?" She beamed a warm and genuine smile up at Satt.

"I Tink iz best if we get to the colonists; you can be better help making Dem feel better." Munich said as he motioned everyone to be ready. "Let us move out, we have a long walk ahead."

"That's true!" Bela replied perkily. "So, let's get going. Lead on. We have a duty to those poor people."

Jayna was trying hard not to grin at the counselor's behavior. This trip would be anything but dull. "I'll take up the rear," she said, moving behind the others.

"I'll join you," Shan said, using the opportunity to move far away from the shrink. Just in case to woman decided to do more... hugging.

Satt resisted rolling his eyes as he resumed his position out on the left flank as they advanced. He liked silence. It suited his grumpy nature.

Jayna grinned at Shan. "I think the two of us can handle any problems back here."

John looked around with binoculars, not wanting to leave everything up to scanners. Satisfied with the results, he motioned to Askard to cover the right as he took the left side of the group. He kept his weapon low. There was no need to scare anyone on the planet given that the storm made it scary enough.

"Four clicks. That's a good warm up", he quipped.

The team headed out, taking the best route to the nearest colony. The storm seemed to keep most people inside, as there was no sign of anyone out and about.

(To be continued...)

Lieuenant JG Mira Jayna
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

Lieutenant Bela Swain
Chief Counselor

Ensign Satt
Security/Tactical Officer

Lieutenant Dwight McCabe, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant Lei Shan
Chief Operations Officer

Commander Hans Munich
Executive Officer

 

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