Lt Cmdr. Alveth: I Wonder as I Wander
Avander Promontory
[[OOC: adding in Ensign Taj'el per ACO request, since this team just barely landed on the planet, I’ve written as if the ensign had been there all along, maybe just in the back of the shuttle making preparations or something!]]
(( Outpost – VX-LON-3 – The Tangle ))
A quick shuttle jaunt down to the planet and Alveth was already on his first alien planet in the Gamma Quadrant. Even if it was only an outpost, he was excited to learn about the people who had decided to make this otherwise unsuitable location a home.
oO Scientists! Oo
No doubt they had developed their own societal structures that emphasized learning and knowledge, even at the expense of comfort. They had already distributed rebreathers to combat the noxious air and (as a precaution) strapped on phasers.
Hopefully they wouldn’t be necessary, but as they were supposed to be rendezvousing with the outpost’s security team, it only made sense to respect the cultural traditions of the security officers and if Alveth had learned anything about those serving in security roles in his years in Starfleet, it was that they were always armed.
Now to get out of the shuttle and one with things.
Alveth: Alright, opening hatch doors.
Immediately his senses were assaulted by a noxious and acrid smell that even the rebreathers couldn’t filter out. His eyes watered slightly. It wasn’t a pleasant sensation.
Alveth: I think I’d better put on some safety glasses as well.
He returned to the supply compartment and donned some protective eyewear. It was a marginal improvement.
oO You asked to be assigned out here. Oo He reminded himself.
The googles, like the rebreathers, helped, but not enough to completely shut out the lingering burning sensations. Alveth’s excitement for their first new planet on this assignment was dimming.
It didn’t help that the planet itself was… well blah. It seemed to be coated in a perpetual brown-gray overcast. There were some rock formations—jagged and harsh—on the horizon and a stiff wind that kept pushing the noxious air at their senses.
Kreshkova: I zhink ve should gif the largest building a try first. If ve hurry, ve may not need cold veazher gear.
Agreed, the less time they spent out here, the better. Besides, Alveth was a social scientist—he was more interested in meeting the people living here than a survey of the planet itself.
Fortunately they had parked the shuttle relatively close to the large building and were at the doors momentarily.
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Twinge… The door should react to your command codes, Lieutenant
Alveth: (disappointed) I was hoping for a welcoming committee…
Given the scientists here had sent a distress signal, perhaps Alveth had been too optimistic about who would be able to greet them.
Taj'el: Response
Kreshkova: Computer, override lockout, Kreshkova Beta56Tango.
There was a chime and a standard Federation computer voice responded.
Computer: Acknowledged. Lockout override successful.
There was something to be said for Federation-wide standardization after all!
Alveth peered inside. It seemed dark and empty.
Alveth: Looks inviting…
He wisely stepped aside to let the other officers in first.
Taj'el: Response
The interior reception area was marginally warmer and the air had the familiar scent of Federation purifiers. Alveth took his rebreather off and took a few quick breaths, trying to replace any lingering remnants of the outside air.
Kreshkova: Hello! Is anyvone around? Ve are from Starfleet and are here in answer to your distress call. ::With no answer, she tapped her combadge.:: ::Tapping her combadge.:: =/\= Vexilon 3 outpost. Zhis is Lieutenant Sasch Kreshkova of zhe USS Zhor. Ve are here to answer your distress call. Can anyvone hear me?=/\=
The only sound back was the lieutenant’s echo.
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Twinge Chirp… We may be alone here. We should assume the research team went inward. Snap Pop Hiss Crack Pop… The facilities design has habitable modules at the core, for insulation.
Alveth: Inward and onward then?
Kreshkova/Taj'el: Response
The intelligence officer, Naledi, did an investigation of the main reception desk, experimentally tapping at a console that responded sluggishly to being activated again.
Naledi: Snap Pop Hiss Creak Snap Twinge Hiss… Records suggest the last log was updated a week ago. The probability of survivors is moderate.
Alveth: Inward and onward then?
Kreshkova/Taj'el: Response
The Xindi put their appendage into a mug of some sort of brown stimulant.
Naledi: Pop Snap.. Cold
Alveth took a moment to pause their investigations and think through the possibilities. Out loud, for the sake of his companions.
Alveth: We received a distress call from here not too long ago. We know there is an active quarantine zone that the other team was transporting down into. We expected to rendezvous with the security lead at this location, but it appears that no one has been here for some time. What do we think happened?
Kreshkova/Taj'el/Naledi: Response
Alveth: If the sickness spread, perhaps there is no one left outside the quarantine zone.
Kreshkova/Taj'el/Naledi: Response
Alveth: Ah, yes. One of the symptoms listed was paranoia. I suppose that could also explain the lack of people here to welcome us.
As he made the comment, he looked around the room furtively, as if he might catch a glimpse of a paranoid officer spying on them.
Wait, was Alveth now being paranoid?
Was he getting sick?
He shook his head to clear his thoughts—that was the path to madness, surely whatever affected the scientists hadn’t done so within moments of them arriving on the planet, else they wouldn’t have been able to establish a large outpost with many buildings.
Kreshkova/Taj'el/Naledi: Response
TAGS/TBC
Lt Cmdr. Alveth
Social Science Officer
USS Thor
O239910AP4