James hassell
(( Runabout Iaonaiae – Final Descent ))
S’Jenes’ fingers hovered over his console as the last fragments of usable data scrolled past, refusing...almost stubbornly...to resolve into clarity. He had seen sensor interference before, but this felt… selective.
S’Jenes: I will continue to monitor and advise if the data resolves into something actionable.
Tapor paused a moment, watching the data fail to resolve. At their range, even through the unstable atmospherics the data should be clearer.
S’Jenes shared the thought, though his expression remained neutral. The Betazoid part of his mind brushed against the notion of intention—not hostility, simply resistance.
Eze: Don't rule out deliberate interference. Maybe the reason this planet is unexplored is because someone on it doesn't want to be.
S’Jenes inclined his head slightly, neither agreeing nor dismissing.
Mec: Response
Foster: Hold tight, we’re making our final descent.
The runabout rocked violently as it pushed through the last wall of turbulence. S’Jenes braced lightly, eyes fixed on the sensors as the interference abruptly fell away.
Suddenly, they were through.
The planet spread out beneath them in startling clarity—vast landmasses wrapped in thinning cloud, flashes of distant lightning tracing the horizon.
Tapor looked up at the main viewscreen, scanning the landscape, the landmasses, framed in crackling clouds.
S’Jenes felt it then: not a thought, not a voice—just the unmistakable sensation of presence, diffuse and unbothered by their arrival.
Lystra: =/= Little Crow to Iaonaiae. We made it through the storm. You still with us? =/=
Foster: =/= We’re here and kicking. =/=
Lystra: =/= Looks like we’re a few degrees north of the equatorial range. Since we got down here first we’ve got dibs on the Northern Hemisphere. How about you all take the South? =/=
Tapor smirked to himself at ‘First dibs’. Maybe Starfleet was just like he imagined as a kid.
Foster: =/= Oh, that’s how it goes? Watch us find a beach and you’ll be jealous. South it is. =/=
The Little Crow peeled away as the Iaonaiae angled toward the southern hemisphere. S’Jenes tracked the separation vector automatically, confirming clean divergence.
Foster: Alright, let’s see if we can clarify those scans and get a better idea of the class of planet here, and the atmospheric composition.
S’Jenes nodded once, routing surface data through his filters.
Eze: It's much greener than I expected. I thought we'd be landing on a barren rock from all those storm systems.
S’Jenes: The vegetation density suggests a stable energy source beneath the surface. Likely geothermal, though solar contribution cannot be ruled out at this latitude.
Foster: Response
Mec: Response
Foster: First let’s focus on what might kill us so we’re aware of what to avoid or prevent. Then let’s get a good picture of what sort of planet we’re dealing with.
S’Jenes adjusted his scan priorities accordingly, isolating atmospheric toxins and radiation bands.
Tapor tapped through the data fed from S’Jenes’ station, voicing some of the obvious headlines whilst the science officer continued to analyse.
Eze: Plenty of plant life. A number of temperate zones. It must be geothermal activity driving that, surely?
S’Jenes: That would be the most consistent explanation. Tectonic instability could also account for the storm systems we encountered.
Foster: Response
Mec: Response
Eze: Interesting. Are we still experiencing the energy fluctuations? Can we identify a source?
S’Jenes paused, studying the renewed data now that atmospheric distortion was reduced.
S’Jenes: The fluctuations persist, though at lower amplitude. I cannot yet identify a discrete source—only a pattern.
A beat.
S’Jenes: It does not resemble known technology.
Mec/Foster: Response
Tapor nodded along. It didn’t sound immediately dangerous—only intriguing.
Eze: Perhaps we can get a better lock when we land. Speaking of which, we need a landing site.
S’Jenes watched as Tapor fed suggested coordinates to the group.
Eze: There's a relatively open area here, in what looks like a temperate zone, the plant cover is sparse enough not to hinder landing.
Mec/Foster: Response
S’Jenes: The terrain appears structurally sound. Atmospheric readings at that location are… comparatively cooperative.
As the others discussed, S’Jenes continued to refine the atmospheric profile, noting persistent electromagnetic interference.
Eze: Alot of electromagnetic interference still - makes sense with all the storm fronts we're seeing out there.
Mec/Foster: Response
S’Jenes: Agreed. The interference is consistent with atmospheric activity—but not entirely explained by it.
He leaned back slightly, eyes still on the data, as the Iaonaiae descended toward the unknown surface below.
The turbulence eased as the Iaonaiae dropped below the last of the storm cover. S’Jenes kept his focus on the sensors, fingers moving with quiet precision as the data finally began to resolve.
S’Jenes: Atmospheric composition is within breathable tolerances. Trace particulates are elevated, but not immediately hazardous.
Foster/Mec/Eze: Response
The proposed landing zone came into clear view—a sparse clearing at the forest’s edge, mist curling low over the ground.
S’Jenes: Surface readings suggest mild geothermal activity. That may explain the localized temperate conditions.
Foster/Mec/Eze: Response
As landing thrusters engaged, a brief spike of electromagnetic interference crossed his display.
S’Jenes: We are still seeing minor energy fluctuations. They are weaker at this altitude, but persistent.
Foster/Mec/Eze: Response
The runabout settled onto the ground with a solid thud, engines powering down into a low hum. S’Jenes released his restraints and stood once the signal sounded.
S’Jenes: We are on the surface. Sensor clarity has improved, though not fully. I will continue monitoring while we determine our next steps.
Foster/Mec/Eze: Response