Ad Astra :: Star Trek Fanfiction Archive ^{Beam me up, Scotty.}

USS Reykjavík

“Thank you all for being here,” Trujillo said as she took her seat at the head of the conference table. The assembled senior officers followed suit.

It had been four days since the ill-fated away mission, and Reykjavík had departed the Abemeda system, towing Esau at a leisurely warp four back to Deep Space Two.

All the usual players were present, with the exception of Jarrod, who was still recuperating in Sickbay. Standing in for him was Lieutenant (junior grade) Levana Mendlowitz, assistant security chief and weapons officer.

Trujillo still sported a small neural monitor on her right temple, the device observing her engrammatic responses for any aberrations as her injuries continued to heal.

“I’m preparing my after-action report for Commodore Jiemba, and I felt it would be beneficial for us to meet and discuss what we know, or what we think we know about the attack on Esau and what we found on the planet Comaoura.”

She looked to DeSilva first. “Go ahead, Lieutenant.”

“Yes, sir. In compiling the various data we’ve gathered so far, it seems safe to say at this point that the attack on Esau was the work of the installation we located on the planet. We’ve seen no indications of involvement by any known or unknown interstellar power. The destruction of the equipment in the cavern system also knocked out whatever was generating the sensor-scrambling field that was masking the presence of the humanoid population on the surface.”

“And what is that assessment based on?” Trujillo asked. Both she and DeSilva knew she wasn’t trying to be difficult, but Starfleet Command would be making important decisions based upon their findings. If their theories proved inaccurate, further lives could be endangered and precious time would be lost.

DeSilva in turn looked to Garrett. The young science officer had a padd on the table in front of her, the culmination of all the data collected so far in their investigation.

“Firstly, Captain,” Garrett began, “the technology we discovered in the caverns had markings and inscriptions that appear to be from a root-language that many of the current dialects spoken on Comaoura are based on. Using a variety of techniques, we’ve managed to date both the equipment and the excavation of the caverns themselves to half-a-million years. Orbital scans conducted after our away-mission reveal the remnants of large, relatively advanced cities buried beneath the surface. They date back to roughly the same time period.”

Trujillo looked intrigued. “Did their civilization collapse? Some kind of planetary catastrophe?”

“We don’t believe so, sir. It’s our working hypothesis that their culture made the decision to forego their technology and regress to their current state of development.”

“Backed up by what?” Trujillo inquired, again playing devil’s advocate.

“The temple we inspected near the village had inscriptions in much of the stone-work throughout the structure. Once translated, many of these bore references to the ‘evil’ of machinery and the dangers of scientific advancement. They certainly seem to have strong cultural taboos regarding this, which is supported by the conditions we found in their village.”

“What about the creatures we encountered in the caverns?” Glal asked. “They didn’t look anything like the native species you found living on the surface.”

Dr. Bennett fielded the response to that question. “Tissue samples we recovered after our engagement with them indicate that the creatures are the result of significant genetic engineering. Their base DNA is clearly that of the surface species, but it’s been heavily altered to produce what are essentially biological drones.”

Mendlowitz from security added, “We believe those creatures are what boarded Esau and killed the crew in close-quarters combat, utilizing the weapons left aboard the ship.”

The captain appeared thoughtful. “Those things are strong, and I’ve got the scrambled neurons to prove it,” she said, tapping her temple. “However, not even one of those things could penetrate a tritanium pressure door. And why using such primitive weapons?”

“No, sir, they’re not that strong,” confirmed Garrett. “It appears the transport ‘blooms’ they used to attack our shields were also used to board Esau. The difference being Esau's shields were down, while ours were raised. Additionally, as we saw, the portal apertures are able to generate significant kinetic energy. Commander Kura-Ka, Lieutenant Mendlowitz and I think that when the drone creatures reached a pressure door, they would facilitate an aperture opening to tear through the barrier.”

DeSilva added, “And we think that their portal system may not be able to transport anything fashioned from metals, sir. The drones are biological, and all the weapons they utilized were fashioned from wood and rock with negligible metallic content.”

“But why?” Bennett pressed. “Why would their civilization leave something like that behind to prey on anyone unfortunate enough to enter their star system?”

“It’s possible they had knowledge of other spacefaring civilizations before they decided to give up their technology,” DeSilva theorized. “Perhaps they left the transporter system and bio-drones behind as a defense mechanism, to prevent their being conquered by more advanced civilizations in the region?”

Bennett shook his head in disgust. “At least put out a bloody warning sign,” he grumbled.

Trujillo looked around. “Anything else that we’ve failed to touch on?” There were no affirmative responses and she said, “That’s a good start, people, thank you. The commodore has dispatched the science vessel Calypso to conduct a more detailed investigation into the Abemeda system. Your work will give them a solid foundation to start from. Please have your individual and collective reports completed by fourteen-hundred hours tomorrow.”

She stood. “Thank you again, this meeting is adjourned.”

The senior staff filed out, with the exception of Glal and Ensign Garrett. Trujillo gave Garrett an inquisitive look and gestured for the younger woman to take the seat next to her, directly opposite the XO. “May I presume you’d like to discuss something with me, Ensign?”

“Yes, sir, if you’ve the time?”

Glal and Garrett were seated after Trujillo resumed hers. Garrett pushed her padd across the table to the captain. “These are provisional specs for a significant upgrade and expansion of Reykjavík’s science facilities, sir.”

Trujillo took the padd and scrutinized the contents, her eyebrows lifting as she digested the ambitious plan. She passed the padd to Glal and directed an inscrutable look at Garrett. “These modifications would require significant drydock time, the better part of a week. Additionally, you’d be reallocating space currently dedicated to the security division and environmental engineering.”

Garrett nodded. “I’m aware, sir. However, the Shangri-La-class starships have a woefully inadequate science and research capacity. That disadvantage made our current mission significantly more difficult. I’m confident I could have given you better and faster answers to your questions about the Abemeda system if I’d had access to resources like this.”

The captain looked to the XO, who sat frowning at the padd while idly stroking one of his tusks. “These changes are going to aggravate Kura-Ka and Jarrod, as well as require the moving of several quartering billets.” He turned to favor Garrett with a skeptical expression. “This is no small ask, Ensign.”

“I understand that, Commander,” Garrett replied, unfazed. She looked to Trujillo. “Captain, with respect, what was the point of poaching a promising science officer if I don’t have the resources I need to maximize my utility to you and the crew?”

Trujillo inclined her head, conceding the argument. “A fair point, Ensign. I will take your recommendations under advisement.”

After Garrett had been dismissed, Trujillo and Glal shared a knowing look.

Glal burst out laughing, “She’s good! Any kid that can stare down the pair of us shouldn’t be underestimated.”

“Not in the least,” Trujillo agreed. “She handled herself well in that shit-show of an away mission… both of them, actually, if you’re counting beaming over to the slaughterhouse aboard Esau. And damn it if she’s not right. What’s the point of stealing her away from Erlichman if she hasn’t the equipment and facilities to properly do her job?”

He threw up his hands. “I can’t argue that, sir.”

Trujillo drew in a deep breath. “I’ll contact Starbase 177 about getting us a priority drydock berth. We’ll head there after dropping Esau off at DS2. Don’t you have a few favors owed from your old friend in the Corps of Engineers there?”

“Cambermyer, yes. She owes me for covering her ass with Command after the Tomed Incident.”

“Any heartburn over calling in some of those markers to bump us to the front of the line?” she asked.

“None whatsoever, sir,” Glal said with a smile. “Though, why 177, sir? Starbase Earhart is closer, and their drydock facilities are just as good.”

“Because Starbase Earhart isn’t in orbit of Pacifica, and 177 is. After a mission as grueling as this one, the crew deserves some prolonged down time.” Trujillo tapped at her own padd, calling up the ship’s maintenance records. “We’re due for a refit of the main deflector anyway, so we might as well get both projects done simultaneously. That’ll put us out of commission for two weeks.”

Glal grinned approvingly. “Any plans of your own, sir?”

“In fact I do, Commander,” Trujillo answered with a wistful smile. “Demora Sulu owns a beachfront cottage on Isla del Paraíso on Pacifica. She’s offered to let me use it whenever I get the chance. I’m going to invite Gael to spend a week with me there. No Starfleet, no responsibilities, nothing but sand, sea, and shellfish.”

“Sounds wonderful,” Glal noted. “And if it’s not too forward of me to say, sir, it’s very nice to see you happy in that regard. I knew something had changed with you in the past few months, but I didn’t know the specifics.”

“I’d been in a rut,” she admitted with uncommon candor. “Both professionally and personally. That’s what prompted me to lead that team down to the planet. Hell, it’s why I went out on a limb to bring Garrett to Reykjavík.”

She looked to the ship’s seal and motto. “Things are changing, Glal. The Federation has fewer uses for dedicated warships these days. We have to adapt to the changing times, or risk becoming an anachronism.”

The old Tellarite inclined his head in response. “Sound advice, sir."

“Thank you for pulling my hide out of the fire down there,” Trujillo said suddenly. “I almost got people killed because I was trying to play explorer. It took another soldier to come rescue us.”

“Next time, sir, let me try my hand at explorer. You’re too valuable to this crew. I may be old and crusty, but I can adapt, too.”

“It’s a deal, Mister Glal.”

* * * END * * *