Delving into Mystery

Posted on Thu Oct 2nd, 2025 @ 12:38pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Commander Samantha Howard & Lieutenant JG Kate Kono

1,068 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Wild Wild West
Location: Conference Room

Shran entered the conference room with Jon and Deanna and they all took their seats. The Andorian looked around at the other officers. "We have ourselves a genuine mystery. I'll let Deanna give you all the basic gist."

"As you know, we were doing a standard sweep of this unexplored system when a ship was detected in a decaying orbit around this planet. We moved in to take a closer look and found the ship crashed in a remote region here on the northern continent. We are not detecting any life signs, but a rescue mission is warranted." Deanna looked at Shran, saw him nod, and she continued. "The bigger mystery is on the southern continent. We have detected a human civilization it would seem, or at the very least a colony. Technology is mid 19th century Earth, and the colony is definitely entirely human. The only EM signature is coming from telegraph wires which seem to be the communication link between the several settlements. We have also learned they have a rail system using steam locomotives. The southern continent is rich in coal, gold, silver, and iron. You might like this commander" she said as she looked at Jon, "they appear to be a colony of cowboys. It looks like the ancient American West."

Kate raised her hand and shook it in the air wildly before speaking up. "How could a Mid-19th Century colony leave Earth before Neil Strongarm first set foot on the moon?" Kate asked. If her question had been put to paper, it would have sounded like a sarcastic retort, but her voice carried with it an air of genuine curiosity, as did the expression on her face - a wide-eyed excitement combined with a fascinated smile.

Jon looked over at Kate. "You mean Neil Armstrong Kate." Before addressing Deanna. "A Wild West settlement? That definitely needs to be looked into." He asked, "Sounds like an away team is in order." His eyes going to Shran.

"I think we need two different away teams to explore both of these mysteries. Jon, I want you to lead an away team to covertly explore the southern continent. Considering this is a mysterious human civilization set in an ancient period, we have to assume they won't take kindly to seeing aliens. Pick your away team, but I think you need some technical know-how with you." He looked over at Sam, "If you are up for it, I want you to lead the medical away team on the northern continent, search for survivors. You can take Imik with you for security purposes."

"I'd like to volunteer to go with the doctor" Aidan chimed in. "They'll definitely need an engineer to take a look at things. If you need somebody to go with Cmdr Grayson, I suggest Chief Geiger. He has plenty of experience."

"I think they would react in a very hostile and violent way if they saw aliens sir. As for leading the away team, certainly. It will be me, Deanna, Chief Geiger and....." He paused to deliberately draw it out then finally said, "Kate."

"Sounds like a good scouting party" Shran replied. He looked at Sam, "Thoughts doctor?"

"Sounds intriguing" Sam replied before using over the provided details further. "How long ago did the ship crash?" Her mind was working the logistics of mass trauma casualty situations and how despite the most unlikely circumstances, some people usually survived, but only for a limited timeframe."

"The ship crashed a little more than an hour ago" Deanna replied. "We haven't detected anything from it since it crashed. You'd definitely need someone from security with you for safety."

"We can have Imik and Aidan go with you Sam, along with anyone else you think may be of use" Shran added. "Imik, are you prepared to accompany Sam?"

Jon turned his head to see what Imik would say, a chance to get off the ship was always welcomed in his opinion.

"I think three would be sufficient for an initial recon. If we find survivors, we can request additional support" Sam advised, having mulled through the options in her mind. Her strategy was to keep it minimal and to be able to respond swiftly if necessary.

"As you wish doctor. I suppose Viviana will be on standby anyway, in case Jon needs medical assistance in his zone" Shran replied.

Kate pulled a PADD and tapped through it. "I'm sure we can gather period-apparel from the replicator logs, and we can outfit weaponry that looks the part, but fires based on our knowledge of current phaser technology. We can outfit those weapons to only work with our personnel," Kate said. "I just need a little time to prepare it," Kate requested. "Same goes with other items, med kits that look period specific but house all the equipment our doctors would use, and surveillance equipment disguised as modern day items of their time."

"The quartermaster will be able to outfit us accordingly. I'll see our gear and have outfits sent our quarters to change" Deanna noted.

"Captain, would you like us in period garb as well as a precaution? Or are there no settlements where we are going?" Sam asked curiously.

"No need for you to be in period clothing Sam. The two continents are separated by a sizeable ocean and there is no sign of intelligent life on that continent, unless you find survivors on the crashed vessel" Shran replied.

"Perhaps we should have personnel in period garb in case an emergency arises for Jon's team" Deanna suggested.

"That may be a wise precaution. I would think we would need medical and security personnel for that, maybe somebody from engineering" Shran replied in a musing aloud. "But who from these departments might we have on standby?"

"I can have Lt Kapowski on standby for engineering purposes. She is one of the new rotational personnel, but she has plenty of experience with potential first contact situations based on her file" Aidan noted. "I might request for security, perhaps Lt Phoenix. I saw him in action when we had to retake Engineering, and he fits what you would be looking for under the mission requirements."

"Have Kapowski on standby duty" Shran replied. "As for Phoenix, I tend to agree. Imik, are you good with that recommendation?"

Sam nodded at the recommendation and waited for any other pertinent information of there was any.

 

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