Shadows of the Forgotten

Posted on Sat Oct 10th, 2026 @ 9:25pm by Captain Maddox Greene & Commander Saul Whitford & Lieutenant Varkl Brukh & Lieutenant T'Vei & Lieutenant Jane Belanger Dr & Ensign Ash Ridley
Edited on on Sun Oct 11th, 2026 @ 3:12am

1,877 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Lines in the Vacuum
Location: USS Frontier: Conference Room

It had been a few hours since the away team returned from the surface. This mission had made a complete turn around from what initially had brought them to this region. Skargaran remains had been brought aboard for an autopsy, along with the discovery of Duranium and Trellium ore. Looking down at the world below, through the window, there were still so many questions that he had. One being what happened to the atmosphere. According the science team on board. Something likely detonated in the atmosphere, causing the current conditions.

The first person to enter the conference room Doctor Belanger. Carrying a PADD, she looked a bit concerned. Based on what the away team described, the conditions of the colony and the remains of the Skargaran below. The Captain was certain, that she was disturbed on what she found during her own research.

Whitford entered, hot on Belanger's heels. Having stood in command of the ship while the Away Team had been on the surface had proven to be a test of his patience. He was sure he would have to get his Operations personnel to replace the decking where he'd worn away at it with his pacing. 'Captain. Doctor,' he said in a friendly, but businesslike tone. 'I take it you found something on the surface?'

"My autopsy confirmed some things and left more questions," Jane answered.

T'Vei was next to enter, having been held up by Belanger's team due to the presence of Trellium on the surface. While her system showed signs of the neurotoxin's presence, it was deemed minimum due to the ore being contained underground and the protections of her EV suit. The armory officer quietly took her seat, prepared to present her team's findings.

Brukh entered the briefing room absentmindedly studying the schematics on the padd he carried, glanced up noting those who had already arrived, and took his usual place at the table.

Ridley slipped through the door mid-opening, a handful of padds in their arms. They smiled apologetically as they took their seat, hoping they hadn't held up the briefing.

"Let's go ahead and get started," the Captain spoke up. "As you all are aware, the away team found what were the beginnings of a colony and a very likely start to a mining operation. When I say in the beginning stage is that this world technically was never claimed by the Skargaran. Which means, its up for grab along with the resources discovered. But also with that said, the remains of the Skargaran were located as well in a very disturbing fashion. Doctor could you fill the senior staff of your preliminary autopsy?"

"Based on the four bodies that were brought back," Belanger spoke up. "They definitely have all the indicators of being killed via execution. Two of the bodies have signs of bruising which, due to experience, are signs of some torture."

Steepling his hands together, Maddox sighed. "Any idea on who could have possibly been responsible due to the wounds from the weapon?"

The doctor looked perplexed and thought carefully. "A high-powered blaster of some sort created those holes in the back of the craniums of the Skargaran. But none of those wounds matched anything Starfleet has encountered. Whoever did this, the Federation, I believe has yet to encounter them."

'Nothing from the Vulcan's pre-Federation exploration?' Whitford pressed, knowing from experience that the Vulcans were less than forthcoming regarding some of their exploits. 'Might be worth a shot to send a communique there way just in case.'

"The weapon signature is not from any species I am familiar with," T'Vei said, raising an eyebrow at Whitford's suggestion. "My people did not explore this region of space due to the danger the anomalies created."

"Evidence also suggests the Skagarans were unable to fight back," Ridley interrupted. "Correct me if I'm wrong doctor, but we didn't find a body belonging to this mystery species or any biological residue. And if this was really about the value of the ore, how come we don't see evidence of mystery mining it themselves?"

The young scientist looked out the conference room's tiny porthole. "And what do our Nausicaan friends know about it? Why won't they fly closer? I don't suppose we could try asking them?"

The Captain smiled at the scientist. "Allegedly, ships have gone missing in this region. Which might serious, if it scares the Nausicaans."

"Based on the atmosphere, no one would be able to survive here long enough to mine this place," Belanger answered. "Based on the scans brought back, what happened to this atmosphere is not natural. Something happened here."

"Which brings me to my next point," Maddox said, turning his attention to the Chief Engineer. "Is there a way to design a mining facility? It would have to be almost entirely indoor-based, would be my assumption.

Brukh pondered the question for a few moments, "Aye, that is an interesting question to be sure." He absentmindedly brought a hand up to his chin to stroke his beard while thinking, "a remote automated mining operation would be the most effective, but it would essentially strip-mine the planet to get to the ore. Rather destructive option if the final outcome is to have the world be habitable in the future should the Federation want to start the terraforming process."

He placed both elbows on the table and steepled his fingers, "if it's to be a manned facility then domes like the ones on Earth's moon, or Mars, or other worlds around the Federation are the best option. Using heat-resistant materials would be costly in the short term, ablative armor used on many fleet ships could be fabricated into octagonal panels that can be fitted together to enclose the area. Getting the Duratanium ore would be worth it in the long run as it's used to make Duranium alloy which is far stronger than Titanium in ship hulls."

"Communication isn't a major problem, a strong enough transmitter should be able to cut through the interference and a subspace amplifier similar to the Echo series in fixed orbit can maintain the link. Transportation would be the real difficulty, at it is now a transporter isn't going to cut through that soup of an atmosphere, and using cargo shuttles would open the site up to piracy."

"Piracy is going to be an issue regardless," Maddox responded. "One of the negatives of transporting anything in a region without much of a Federation presence. We just would need to increase patrols out here. The manned facility with the domes seems like the best and the quickest option. How long do you think it would take for you to come up with a basic blueprint?"

"I'm sure Starfleet Engineering has some plans on file, we should send them the planetary data and see what they can come up with, they'll more than likely send a survey team out to make detailed scans of the surface to determine the best location to set up. As the nearest base we'll provide any assistance needed from materials to security patrol of the area." Brukh suggested.

Captain Maddox didn't know the first thing about mining or what it would take to make it happen. "I'll let you get those details to Starfleet Engineering. Coordinate with them regarding the needed materials. My intent is to claim this world for the Federation. I'm well aware that a tragedy has occurred here years ago. But I did some research prior to this meeting, and the Skargarans have never claimed this world. They have no idea it even exists."

"Whitford, pick a team to go down to the surface to recover the remains," the Captain instructed. "They deserve to be brought back home to be buried properly. I'm certain someone has been wondering what happened to their friends and loved ones."

'Aye, Sir,' Whitford replied with a nod, already assembling in his head a team that could go down to the surface. 'Are we all OK if I take some Armory personnel? Wouldn't want to run into trouble with just some bodybags down there ...'

"Of course, take whoever you deem necessary."

"I will accompany the Commander," T'Vei declared, her eyes boring into Dr. Belanger as if prepared for a challenge. "I know the Skagaran camp already and can bring additional officers to ensure the landing party's safety."

"T'Vei, I wouldn't recommend you returning back down the surface," Belanger said. "With the minor contact you had on the first trip down there, I want to keep an eye on you for a few days."

"Contact with Trellium was minimal and would remain minimal upon a return mission to retrieve the Skagaran dead," T'Vei argued dispassionately. "My species is better suited to the planet's heavier gravity and would be an aid in the manual labor of retrieving the bodies under those conditions. In addition, my combat and security experience would be invaluable if the landing party 'ran into trouble' as Commander Whitford explained it."

She turned to Whitford. "If you and the doctor see fault with my logic, then I advise bringing armory officers Underwood, Um, and/or Yates in my place since all three were a part of the previous landing party."

Whitford looked to Belanger for a moment, then back to T'Vei. 'If you're comfortable with returning to the surface we can take you and Um - your physical capacities will be useful to us.' He nodded at Greene to confirm his additions to the team.

Thinking for a brief moment, Green nodded in approval. "Works for me."

The Doctor sighed. "I wouldn't call this a logical decision. But don't stay there longer than necessary. And if you start feel like you're exhibiting any symptoms, alert the Commander ASAP."

Turning his attention to the Chief of Security, he rubbed his forehead. "T'Vei do you feel that you have collected enough information down there to pass on to Starfleet Security?"

"The circumstances have left me with more questions than answers as humans say," the Vulcan said. "Exhuming the Skagaran bodies will provide my report with additional facts. Any information we can discover about the Skagarans' attacker will be vital for future encounters."

"The Skagaran can try to find justice for their people once the information gets passed along," Maddox brought up. "There are no signs of warp signature, which means nobody has passed through the system. This system is up for grabs, and we're taking it. "Does anyone have any concerns they wish to bring up?"

"Will we be escorting the Gatlin out of this region?" T'Vei asked. She hadn't forgotten the Nausicaan's interest in the freighter or their nearby presence.

"That is definitely the plan," Maddox answered. "Let's make this as quick as possible. "I want to leave orbit in 10 hours and get the freighter back on its route. Then get us back to the station."

=================
Captain Maddox Greene
Commanding Officer
Sentinel Station/USS Frontier

Commander Saul Whitford
Executive/Chief Operations Officer
Sentinel Station/USS Frontier

Lt. Varkl Brukh
Chief Engineer
Sentinel Station/USS Frontier

Lt. T'Vei
Chief Armory Officer
Sentinel Station/USS Frontier

Lt. Jane Belanger
Chief Medical Officer
Sentinel Station/USS Frontier

Ensign Ash Ridley
Science Officer
Sentinel Station/USS Frontier

 

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