Planetary Approach

Posted on Wed Jan 21st, 2026 @ 9:27am by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Commander Samantha Howard & Lieutenant Imik S'Niohun & Lieutenant Inara Senn & Ensign Janelle Barett

1,246 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Not All Orders Are Easy
Location: USS Washington

The Washington had dropped out of warp and entered the system. The ship was moving at half impulse as it made its way past the outer planets of the system and approached the radioactive asteroid belt. Shran and Jon were both on the bridge listening to the reports come in.

"Significant radiation in this asteroid belt, but the shields will protect us so long as we don't stay around it too long. Definitely the most radioactive asteroid belt I have ever seen, especially with an M-class world in the system" Deanna noted from Ops.

Shran glanced back towards the science station. "Inara, any thoughts on all this radiation? Have you been able to scan past the asteroid belt to see if you can get any information about the planet?"

"Well, the heavy radiation means there'd be more radioactive components in the Class M Planet's core, which means, a faster core rotation. This planet's magnetic field will be beefy and will provide shielding for all kinds of radiation. But the Planet's radiation belts will be more lethal, and at night, huge amounts of Auroras near the poles. We're going to need a high orbit." Inara mentioned. And we'll need a high orbital inclination, otherwise we'll be cooked by the planet's Van Allen Radiation belts. It's a refuge from the radiation, but it's also in some parts; a planet sized microwave oven." Inara mentioned. "Helm, maintain a high thirty-degree inclination. Apoptosis and periapsis near five hundred thousand meters."

Shran looked to Jon, "I want you to lead the away team down to the anthropology hide. You can take the Chief, see who Sam wants to send from medical, get somebody from security, perhaps Imik, and we have that new ensign, Barett."

Jon nodded, "Yes sir, I'll take Imik, the Chief, Barett, this will be good experience for her, Whomever Sam decides and can I also take Deanna?"

"Absolutely. She wouldn't forgive me if I didn't let her go down" Shran said with a wry grin.

Janelle had been standing just off the main bridge pit, quietly reviewing the incoming sensor telemetry when she heard her name. She looked up immediately, posture straightening a fraction more than regulation already demanded.

“Aye, sir,” she said, stepping forward into clearer view. Her tone was crisp, professional—eager without being overeager.

Barett stood with her hands clasped neatly behind her back, posture relaxed but attentive as she listened to the unfolding briefing. Her expression was calm, almost casual, yet her hazel eyes tracked every detail—radiation levels, orbital inclination, the risks posed by the planet’s magnetic field. Strategic Operations had trained her to think three steps ahead, and already she was mapping contingencies in her head. Outwardly, she appeared at ease. Inwardly, she was fully engaged.

Jon looked at Janelle, "Alright ensign, you're on the away team, get relieved, go by the Quartermasters to get outfitted with a tricorder and a cricket phaser." He tapped his comm badge, "Sam? Assembling an away team. Who can you spare from your department to be on it?"

"The meteors in the belt here are reading with heavy concentrations of uranium, plutonium, thorium, strontium, and cesium. Also detecting large amounts of magnetic elements, notably high contents of iron, nickel, iridium, palladium, osmium, and rhodium. Inara is right, based on the high contents of these elements, we can expect the radiation issues on the planet to likely be major issues with EM radiation. I know the Prime Directive applies, but even more so now, I believe we should avoid contact with the indigenous people here as they may have certain abilities developed. The Enterprise encountered such an issue when they answered a distress call of a freighter in the Ornaran system" Deanna noted.

Shran nodded. "Inara, get all your teams working on studying this system. We don't the opportunity to study systems with this much radiation often, it should make for an interesting scientific look. I'm sure Sam will be interested in any samples taken that are radioactive for medical study as well."

Barett straightened a fraction as her name was formally included, the casual ease slipping into crisp readiness.

“Aye, sir,” she said to Jon, already turning toward the turbolift. “I’ll be outfitted and ready in ten.” As Janelle moved off, her mind was already parsing Deanna’s warning.

"We should be in range to get a better communication line opened. Hail Dr. Darkwa" Shran ordered.

"Hailing frequencies open" Deanna noted.

"Dr. Darkwa, this is the USS Washington. We received your emergency call and are responding. Please respond" Shran spoke, his voice in that official tone.

"They aren't responding. The message is getting through though" Deanna replied.

"Can we get a clearer scan of the planet, or the region where the anthropology blind is located?" Shran questioned.

"The planet does have a large EM field naturally. The atmosphere has a great deal of charged particles, presumably from the plasma storm. It hasn't damaged the planet, but it is causing some powerful thunderstorms, some of which are producing gale force winds, cyclones, and heavy concentrations of lightning strikes. A good deal of dust has been pushed into the atmosphere as well from the meteor strikes. The radiation is high but appears to be low enough for us to transport into, assuming Sam administers hyronaline. But I don't believe we can be down there too long" Deanna replied.

"Hyronaline, yes doctor. And pack some with the away team as a precaution. We don't want any radioactive elements getting into the thyroid, or any other parts of the humanoid body. Dying from radiation poisoning is not a pleasant thing and just ask the firemen who went to put out the fire at Chernobyl Number four in the twentieth." Inara mentioned. "Call the fire brigade, indeed. Dyatlov."

Imik had been standing at the rear of the bridge, she moved slowly as her future was still uncertain in her eye's. But her curiosity about this planet and all the radiation made her react to Shran and Jon's choice of including her in the away team, her uniform was her old Ojnas one as she didn't want to leap to conclusions about her status. "Excuse me Commander, am I to carry weapons or do I beam down without them?"

"As a member of this away team you will indeed arm yourself Imik. Don't want you or anyone to be hurt." Jon answered.

Shran nodded. "Standard away team procedures" he said is a soft stern tone.

"We'll be in transporter range in 20 minutes" Deanna noted from Ops.

"Gather up your team Jon and get down to see Sam for your hyronaline treatments. We'll keep you updated with all relevant information before you beam down" Shran noted.

Meanwhile Sam was in sickbay, preparing the radiation protocols for before, during and after the mission for everyone. A series of hyposprays lay on a tray before her, enough for a standard away team plus a few extras. The team would be in shortly.

Returning to her cabin Imik opened a safe placed within the wall, inside sat her Ojnas blaster a weapon which she felt comfortable with. Repair was simple and when Federation phasers sometimes didn't work this weapon did, being a pilot Imik knew how valuable a reliable hand weapon could be so despite protests she would continue to use it. Placing it in the holster on her hip and securing it, she made her way to the transporter and her away team.

 

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