(( Underground Ruins, Alpha Brenkelvi II ))
As the team laid down their tricorders, resting it against the metallic trident that stood below the sphere, a small chime echoed off the walls. It had seemed like the tweaking that Josh had done on both devices was successful in re-establishing a comms linkup.
Herrick: oO Thank the gods Oo
The Chief of Ops took the lead in contacting the away team.
Arlill: I suppose as the resident HCO… ::trailing off, tapping his badge:: =/\= Arlill to Katsim =/\=
Katsim: =/\= Katsim here =/\=
Arlill: =/\= We’re sending our signal through an electric conduit of sorts we found in a structure at our landing site. Unfortunately we’re stuck=/\= (beat) =/\= Stand by for Etan. =/\=
Katsim: =/\= Understood. =/\=
Etan: Response.
Max gave the two officers a nod and lowered his voice a little.
Maxwell: Nice job, good clean signal the now.
Josh returned
the nod with an appreciative smile; he’d make a point of trying to get to know
the man off duty if when they made it back.
Brodie: =/\= That…sounds like it might be consistent with what we’ve seen… =/\=
Katsim: =/\= We've entered the compound, and a forcefield suddenly erected, so now we can't leave. However, we aren't in any danger that I can see. And... sir... =/\=
Arlill: It sounds like they’re in the same boat as we are. ::quietly to Herrick & Max::
Josh nodded; he didn’t like the thought of the other team being trapped — whether it was an automated trap or something more sinister, it was clear that the past inhabitants were hadn’t rolled out the welcome mat.
Maxwell: Aye, so now we've a pair ae teams stuck under the ground. And we've nae idea whats going on with this place....
Herrick: ::looking around at the walls:: (whispering) We don’t know what triggers anything here; there must be a pattern we’re not seeing.
Katsim: =/\= We've discovered a small bantaca spire... and it has ancient Bajoran written on it... =/\=
Herrick: oO If it walks like a Bajoran and quacks like a Bajoran… maybe there is something to the Bajoran theory. Oo
Etan: Response
Brodie: =/\= That…sounds like it might be consistent with what we’ve seen… =/\=
Katsim: =/\= We don't have a lot of information. That would require further investigation. =/\=
Etan: =/\= Response =/\=
Etan/Arlill: Response
Josh debated his next action; he didn’t feel comfortable touching anything or stepping anywhere at this point. Fear’s healthy, he thought to himself, it keeps you alive. He took the safer approach, and instead simply stared at the sphere.
Etan/Maxwell/Arlill: Response
As the other three men continued their conversation, Josh thought he saw a shadow and turned his head.
Herrick: ::blinking in disbelief:: How… How…
There stood Mr. Voss, his childhood friend’s father who had died on the Reliance in 2380 while protecting Josh and his sister Em. He stood there, wearing a pristine Starfleet uniform with his Lieutenant Commander pips, staring back at Josh,. The engineer tried to speak, but while his mouth opened, the rest of the action didn’t follow through.
His counselling with Salo had been making incremental progress but dealing with memories was different then a face-to-face confrontation with the past. The image didn’t speak; he just looked around at the surroundings and seemed to find what he was looking for, pointing towards a part of the wall.
Then, as he blinked again, the ‘ghost’ was gone.
Herrick: Did you see that?
Etan/Maxwell/Arlill: Response
Today was not the day he’d bear his full soul to the team.
Herrick: Everything seems to revolve around chronitons here… It… He was a man I used to know. He didn’t speak though; instead, he just motioned over there. ::pointing behind the commander, about 4 feet up from the ground::. Perhaps another switch?
Etan/Maxwell/Arlill: Response
Herrick: Trustworthy; he literally saved my life. But we’re all alone here so I’m not sure if it’s just something taking an image from my mind. (beat) Do we see if it works?
TBC
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Lieutenant JG Josh Herrick
Acting Chief Engineer
USS ‘Oumuamua
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)