Planetary Trek Pt. 2

Posted on Wed Apr 22nd, 2026 @ 1:37pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Lieutenant JG Kate Kono & Lieutenant JG James Phoenix & Ensign Janelle Barett

1,565 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The Shuttle Incident
Location: Planet

Shran was in the lead as they entered the jungle. He had his rifle in a readied position, looking like he was a hunter on safari. The jungle was thick with foliage but thinned just a bit after pushing forward several meters. Light pushed through the thick canopy like streams of pasta, the air thick and sticky with the high humidity.

Phoenix maintained the rear position in the group. He was being extra vigilant, but to a reasonable extent. He remained quiet with his phaser out and ready. If it weren't for the dangers of the island, he would have enjoyed the ambience, but right now he needed to listen and look for anything out of the ordinary in order to protect his colleagues.

Kate navigated the dense jungle foliage just left of Shran, her makeshift belt—uniform sleeves knotted around her waist—keeping her regulation pants from slipping. The phaser at her hip caught dappled sunlight filtering through the emerald canopy above, while her comm badge clung precariously to her sweat-dampened sports bra. Each step required calculation; she balanced atop fallen logs crusted with luminescent fungi rather than skirting them where venomous creatures might lurk. When Viviana made that Pirates of the Caribbean quip about missing rum, Kate offered a conciliatory nod—their first peaceful exchange since the hypospray debacle. Though her tricorder hummed steadily, scanning for useful biological compounds among the riot of alien flora, Kate knew their shuttle already contained everything they needed. Still, the scientist in her thrilled at this chance to explore the island's secrets; mapping its contours, cataloging its wonders, understanding its dangers.

Viviana was glued to her tricorder cataloguing botanicals, looking for any plant or animal life that might be of value from a medical perspective. They had been trekking through the jungle for nearly an hour, and she had taken several samples, but nothing edible, more things that could be studied by the botanists and other scientific departments. Her tricorder began to beep, and she took a closer look at the readings. "Captain, in the trees to the northwest where the jungle thins out, detecting a grove of trees that have fruits of some sort. I would say they are akin to papaya. I'd like to take a closer look."

Shran nodded. "Very well doctor." He altered his path to go towards the trees after signaling the others. He moved slowly, keeping his head on a swivel in this alien jungle.

Kate drew her phaser, squinting at the alien papayas. Their pitted skin seemed to wrinkle disapprovingly at her from the branches. "Don't give me that look," she muttered, knowing perfectly well they were just fruit and she was just bored enough to imagine personalities for produce. With a sigh that acknowledged her own ridiculousness, she holstered her weapon and continued her patrol.

Kate fiddled with her tricorder, scrolling through data about local flora with the enthusiasm of someone checking a grocery store receipt. No point cataloging potential food sources when rescue was inevitable. Surely the USS Washington's XO would eventually notice their prized Andorian officer had gone missing—if only because someone needed to sign requisition forms. Then they'd all be whisked away from this cosmic pebble masquerading as an island, and she could delete these readings faster than Shran could say "where's my antenna polish."

Viviana studied the alien fruit. "Fascinating." She split it open, showcasing the juicy whitish-pink fruit. She took in a deep whiff of the fruit, the smell intoxicatingly sweet.

"I assume you are deeming the fruit safe for us doctor" Shran noted.

"Quite safe. And I think it will be quite the treat. The smell alone is sweeter than a Bajoran jumja stick."

"Well then, perhaps we should collect a few of this fruit. Ensign, give the doctor a hand collecting a few of these melons."

"Can I grab your melons too, Doctor?" Kate said sarcastically.

Phoenix, who was still at the rear, looked at Kate with a deadpan.

Viviana was prepared for Kate's innuendo. "Suppose you'd have to since you haven't grown your own" she retorted playfully, tossing two of the melons in Kate's direction.

Kate caught them with theatrical grunt, nearly toppling backward. "At least I don't have to strap mine down during away missions," she fired back, attempting to juggle the alien fruit and failing spectacularly. "You probably became a doctor just so you could self-administer a dermal regenerator to the black eyes you get every time you attempt the hundred-meter dash. Or when you roll over too quickly in your sleep. Or when you try to read a PaDD that's sitting on a table." Kate held the melons in front of her face while pretending to read a PaDD through the gaps of the fruit. After that, she tucked the melons under her arms like footballs and struck a sprinter's pose. "I'm aerodynamic. While you're busy calculating trajectory compensation for your chest-based pendulums, I've already crossed the finish line and replicated myself a victory smoothie."

Viviana chuckled at the banter. "You keep telling yourself that."

Shran looked at the two female officers, "Enough with the back and forth. Doctor, shame on you, teasing the disadvantaged like that. Let's wrap up this fruit picking job and move on." He turned away from everyone so as to not let them see him smile to himself.

Kate's eyes widened at Shran's comment about her modest chest. Sweat glistening on her exposed midriff where her Starfleet uniform hung tied around her waist, she dramatically clutched the two orange-pink papaya-like objects against her sports bra. "Direct hit," she gasped, pretending to stagger backward on the island's soft sand. To anyone that glanced over, they could have misinterpreted the fruit-to-body contact as she held them like she was holding two heavy breasts, which only made Kate commit harder to the bit. After milking the laugh, she sauntered over to deposit the tropical fruit in the collection sack.

They continued to trek through the jungle until coming to a clearing near the center of the island, which opened to a small grassy plain that gave way to obsidian filled plains and then came the steeping slope of what appeared to be a volcano. "Janelle, Kate, start scanning that fiery beast. I want to get as much information as possible. Last thing I want is for us to get caught flatfooted if this beast decides to erupt."

Phoenix took a tactical position that was visible to the away team but slightly concealed to any potential hostiles. He started scanning for anything living that might be of any sort of danger.

Shran made his way over to Phoenix, "Everything alright lieutenant?"

Kate retrieved her Starfleet-issue tricorder from her uniform pocket. Aiming it at the distant volcano, she initiated a geological scan. The device's display illuminated with seismic data—magma chamber pressure readings at 2.7 kilopascals, harmonic tremor frequencies showing minimal fluctuation, and sulfur dioxide emissions well below eruption threshold. The predictive algorithm calculated a 0.04% probability of volcanic activity within the next seventy-two hours.

“We’re good for the next seventy-two hours according to TriGPT!” Kate exclaimed happily.

James looked up at Shran. "So far sir. I'm just taking precautions given our proximity to the volcano in addition to the clearing since we'll be more visable to anything that may still be lurking."

Kate nodded to Phoenix with admiration. "If that volcano decides to get fresh with us, Phoenix will blast it into next Tuesday with his phaser." Her lips twitched at the corners as she fought to maintain her military bearing. "We'll have volcanic ash snow cones for dessert tonight, people." She delivered this with such practiced authority that she drew uncertain glances. Kate knew that everyone was trying to gauge whether their intelligence officer had finally cracked under pressure; at least, until she started giggling.

"Doc you might want to check Kate's vitals" James quipped, half joking. He turned back to the captain, "I should clarify sir, I'm keeping an eye on any wildlife that may be fleeing from the volcano, in addition to anything that me see us as food" Phoenix explained.

Viviana turned and scanned Kate. "She seems fine. Not registering anything heavy on her chest" she said with a chuckle.

"Very good Mr, Phoenix. We'll head back to the runabout shortly."

Kate walked widely away from the bulging melon sack with exaggerated movements, her hands fluttering in mock horror. The tropical breeze ruffled her sweat-dampened hair as she backed toward a flowering shrub, its crimson petals unfurled like tiny starbursts.

"You should carry that bag behind you, doctor," Kate said, drawing an imaginary physics diagram in the air with her index finger. "It'll equalize your center of gravity to have melons on both sides of you—front-loaded and aft-loaded. Basic aerodynamic design principles." She winked, tapping her temple with a knowing grin that screamed 'genius at work.'

Viviana chuckled at Kate's remark. This little back and forth was getting to be a bit of fun, even if it was outside professional behavior. Looking at Kate, Viviana lightly tapped her shapely backside, "Not to worry Kate, I've been blessed with the perfect curvy physique. Latinas has curves" she said with a smile.

Shran groaned and placed his head in his hands for a brief moment. These female officers will be the death of me he thought. "Alright folks, let's head back."

 

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