Lieutenant Naledi - One is Xindi

[Naledi]

(( Outpost – VX-LON-3 – The Tangle ))

 

Time passed, and aside from a few knocked over utensils, the shuttle ride had been smooth and steady. In the back of the shuttle, Naledi couldn’t have seen what exactly they went through, although having seen the simulations, perhaps that was for the best.

Kreshkova: I am glad zhat is over. ::Swiveling in her seat:: Are you bozh in vone piece?

Naledi: Snap Pop… Yes

Alveth: Yessir, all my pieces are together in one!

Kreshkova: Good! It vould look bad on my personnel file if I lost someone on a shuttle ride.

Naledi stopped for a moment. Could that have happened? Had that happened?

Looking at her facial expression, they appeared to be employing the humorous approach. To build rapport, companionship. Should they add to that conversation? What did humanoids even find funny?

Naledi: Snap Pop Hiss Crack… The cow fell over the moon. Snap Pop Chirp… Were they our responsibility?

Neither of them would have noticed, but that tickled them.

Alveth: Yes, well said

Kreshkova: Vell, at least zhey vere not my responsibility

Naledi pondered. Was there really a cow? No, that would be stupid.

Naledi: Crick Pop Hiss… What is the atmosphere?

Of course, Naledi suspected that they already knew the composition of the air. But checking their intel against the shuttles sensors would confirm the legitimacy of what they’d downloaded from the Labs Computer Core.

Alveth: Uh… in a word.. bad. Humans and Ullians will definitely need rebreathers. And for the Xindi…

oO You literally know my human-compatible name. Try to make an effort, I don’t call you “the Ullian” Oo

Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Hiss Crack… Brief. It’ll get to speed with the expedition leader.

Kreshkova: Good point.  So let’s see vhat ve can do about zhat, da?  ::Tapping her combadge.:: =/\= Vexilon 3 outpost.  Zhis is Lieutenant Sasch Kreshkova of zhe USS Zhor.  Ve are here to answer your distress call.  Can you hear me?=/\=

 

Only crackles and garbled background noise came, obstructing whatever audible response may have been in the underlying signal. Naledi swiftly tapped into Kreshkovas signal. Copying a recording of the noise. Maybe someone could clear that up later, if they needed an extra clue as to the team's whereabouts.

 

Kreshkova:  It vas vorth a shot.  Ve should continue to try every so often.  Zhe base may haf a special shielding since Class K planets regularly haf tornadoes.  

Naledi:  Crick Snap Pop… May not have been nothing. Chrip Hiss Creak… There were irregularities in the signal. Snap Pop… Could be people.

 

A firm click echoed around the shuttle, as the controls locked up. Presumably tying to the away teams bio-signatures. The Ullian was dispensing rebreathers, which almost fit on their face.

 

Alveth: Can you hear me okay?

Kreshkova:  Da.  I can hear you fine. 

Naledi waved in the affirmative.

Alveth: Alright, opening hatch doors.

 

oO Incomplete seal around my face… What’s the worst that could happen? I don’t even have lungs Oo

Naledi slapped themselves in the head as they so often did. Terran rebreathers didn’t just not fit onto their frame. They were fundamentally incompatible with their biology. They didn’t have lungs. They had spiracles.

oO How humanoid I have become in my thinking. Must think of myself on occasion Oo

But it was also true. In their education, especially at Starfleet academy, the only mention of the Xindi species biology was the parallel development of the different races. Which, to be honest, any child could remember. There was even the nursery rhyme.

“One looks like you and me.

One is all scaley.

One swims in the sea.

One flies in the sky.

One is a beastie.

One is creepy Crawley.

One is Xindi.”

 

It wasn’t a great rhyme, but hey, it existed.

Naledi grabbed a nearby medkit, stashed in one of the shuttles lockers, and extracted a turnoquet. They’d never needed one until now, not having surface skin and all… but it would make a great seal for their uniform, effectively turning it into a human facemask.

 

The insult of the external atmosphere battered Naledi’s tracheal network, but even worse…

 

Naledi: Pop… Cold. 

Alveth: I think I’d better put on some safety glasses as well.

 

Lieutenant Kreshkova was the first to step from the shuttle. Followed by Naledi and Commander Alveth, of course. The world outside was bleak. It was like their homeworld, but in all of the wrong ways. Jagged peaks were pointy for the purpose of being harsh, not admired. The cold winds sent as unpleasant a chill through Naledi as the pleasant warm breeze softened them.

One of the worst parts was the ever-present mist. It seemed to be thin enough to see through, yet thick enough to block out the majority of sunlight, throwing the city that laid before them into a persistent dusk.

 

Kreshkova: I zhink ve should gif the largest building a try first.  If ve hurry, ve may not need cold veazher gear.

Naledi certainly wouldn’t argue with that. With no way of warming their blood aside from the environment, the weather could prove fatal with even a relatively short exposure.

The team approached the building of interest. Banging on the door, it didn’t seem to want to budge.

Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Twinge… The door should react to your command codes, Lieutenant

Alveth:  Response

Kreshkova: Computer, override lockout,  Kreshkova Beta56Tango.

A small beep, accompanied by a message seemed to indicate the success of the code.

Computer:  Acknowledged.  Lockout override successful.

Alveth:  Response

Naledi made no second guess to enter as the door slid open. Whatever was in there would be less fatal than the bitterness of the cold. However, once inside, they immediately turned to their colleagues. Kreshkova had drawn her phaser. A wise decision.

The door once again slid, closing behind them. The warm embrace was most welcome as the air around them cycled.

They tried as hard as they could to not squirm in delight.

 

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 sound of the lieutenant’s voice echoed around the buildings reception. PADDs were stacked haphazardly near overturned tables. It was possible that they held important information as to what happened here.

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.  

 

oO It’s a good thing I write briefing material Oo

 

Kreshkova/Alveth: Response

 

Naledi cautiously approached the main reception desk, tapping away at one of the semi-active terminals.

Naledi: Snap Pop Hiss Creak Snap Twinge Hiss… Records suggest the last log was updated a week ago. The probability of survivors is moderate.

Kreshkova/Alveth: Response

Naledi gazed at the half-empty mug of black liquid near them. Sticking their finger in it, they hissed in frustration.

Naledi: Pop Snap.. Cold

Kreshkova/Alveth: Response

 

 

TAG / TBC

 

Lieutenant Naledi

Intelligence Officer

USS Thor (NCC-85852)

R240107AS3