USS Eagle — The ship and crew are trapped on an uncharted planet whilst investigating the source of a distress signal sent on a military frequency used on Earth five centuries ago.
Following the detection of a military distress call matching technology used on Earth in the 1940s, the crew of the USS Eagle identified its origin point and set a course to investigate. As the ship approached the system at Warp 12, long-range sensors revealed a class G star, eight planets, and several moons. Further scans revealed the fourth planet to be M class and the source of the signal.
Once in orbit, LtCmdr. Williams scanned the surface. Whilst he was unable to pinpoint the source of the signal, he did detect large energy readings that he theorised might be masking the situation on the planet below. Keen to take a closer look, Cmdre. Nicholotti ordered Cmdr. Falt to land the USS Eagle on the planet. Despite having only recently practiced the procedure in the simulator as part of his comparatively recent commander’s exam Falt ordered blue alert and brought the Eagle in for a smooth, trouble-free landing near the shore of an ocean a few minutes later.
Seconds after landing all systems aboard the USS Eagle began to suddenly shut down. With the last of the power, the crew were able to determine they had been trapped behind an invisible energy barrier that was draining the ship’s power. Cmdre. Nicholotti ordered the crew to evacuate, and they quickly established a command post near the beach.
Whilst the majority of the crew obtained supplies and any working equipment they could find from the Eagle, the Commodore gathered the senior staff and split them into teams. Cmdr. Falt was to stay at the Command Post and act as a relay between the teams, who were forced to use battery-powered radios to communicate. Cmdr. DeVeau – along with Ens. Letek and ch’Clex – were ordered to track down the source of the SOS, whilst the Commodore took LtCmdr. Williams and Lt. Tanner in the opposite direction. LtCmdr. Kettick, Ens. Lim and Lt. Drex were ordered to investigate a nearby cave, in case there was anything significant beneath the surface.
Orders given, Nicholotti led her team along the beach toward the barrier. Arriving at it they began to look for ways to get past it, and quickly discovered that it did not extend below ground level. This gave the Commodore the idea to look for a way under the barrier, which the team found shortly afterward when they discovered a rock formation with a gap below the barrier that they were able to squeeze through.
Once past the barrier, the team continued down the beach, finding nothing of note until they spotted a large wooden ship that Williams identified as an ancient ship-of-the-line from Earth. As they watched it they noticed it launched a small wooden rowing boat. The team would have waited to greet them, but an incoming storm forced them to seek shelter away from the beach. As they searched for a suitable place to hunker down they encountered sailors from the boat, who had made landfall.
An unidentified eyewitness had this shocking reaction “They identified themselves as representatives of the HMS Resolution,” they told our reporter, before adding in an incredulous tone “Then they announced they were laying claim to this new land!”.
Elsewhere Cmdr. DeVeau, and Ens. Letek and ch’Clex had headed in the opposite direction and also found a small gap in the barrier. Having crossed it they continued their search, only to come under fire from strangers. Overrun by six soldiers, they were taken prisoner. Held prisoner, the team attempted to convince the soldiers of their peaceful intentions, a task made harder when they encountered three more strangers, identified as part of the Norwegian Olympic team from the 2014 Olympics.
Cmdr. DeVeau identified one of the soldiers, Flight Lieutenant Richardson, as the most reasonable of their captors. She stepped to one side with him to discuss the situation, whilst Ens. Letek tried to persuade another soldier, Diamond, to lower his weapon. Suddenly, a shot rang out, and Letek was hit in the shoulder. Ironically, the injury seemed to improve their situation. Flight Lieutenant Phillip Richardson, who led the soldiers, began to trust the team. With the help of Ens. ch’Clex, DeVeau treated Letek’s wound. Now allied with the soldiers, Richardson and DeVeau contacted Cmdr. Falt and updated the communication centre on their status.
Meanwhile LtCmdr. Kettick, Lt. Drex, and Ens. Lim were exploring the cave the Commodore had directed them towards. Inside they discovered a long tunnel with increasingly artificial walls. As they ventured deeper, they experienced headaches and nausea, and their electronic devices stopped working. In complete darkness, Dr. Lim activated a glowstick. After deciding against using explosives, they attempted to leave the cave, only to be blocked by a transparent barrier. Using her Betazoid abilities, Ens. Lim communicated telepathically with Lt. Harper, who rushed over to Cmdr. Falt to obtain support for a rescue.
We’ll bring you further updates on the crew investigation as they become available.
Written by Tomas Falt
