Discoveries
Posted on Sat Sep 20th, 2025 @ 6:00pm by Captain Daegan Baas & Lieutenant M'Tala "Hobbes" Clan Hrasi & Petty Officer 2nd Class Sizia Sh'velihr [Baas] & Lieutenant Darius Korveth & Lieutenant Urushi Yaotome & Lieutenant Niami Troga & Lieutenant JG Christian Rogers
Edited on on Tue Sep 30th, 2025 @ 9:42pm
1,840 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
What was Lost is Found
Location: Bridge
Timeline: MD 5
Baas was sitting in the center seat, reviewing a report on a padd that Sizia had just given him. The past few days had been...not uneasy but more official than usual. Several of the senior staff had no doubt disagreed with the decision made but that was to be expected from time to time, but in this case, a few had seemed more adamant in their opinion. Even Sizia had seemed a little less jovial than usual. Well, his job was to command, not please everyone, so he refocused on the padd when his review was interrupted.
The doors of the turbolift opened, and out walked Urushi. She had returned to duty a couple of days ago and was glad to be out of 'hell', commonly known as sickbay. She moved quietly to the primary science station and tapped in to register her use of the console.
After glancing to his left as he saw his Chief Science Officer resuming her station, "On screen."
The image of the star field as they traveled shifted the image of the bridge of the Intrepid-class USS Thresher. The lighting on the bridge showed that the ship was at yellow alert, and her Captain looked none to pleased. Sitting forward in his seat, "Captain Traval, it's been a long time. I can see you're on yellow alert. What's the problem?"
"I'm leading the task force to look into your discovery, but when we got here, there was nothing here."
Daegan looked back to his Jerome with curious concern and his expression hadn't changed when he looked back to the view screen. "What do you mean? You got our data?"
"Oh yes, and we reviewed in on the way here...multiple times. The problem wasn't the data. There is a team checking out the station right now. The problem is the planet...look for yourself." They all saw the Captain's gesture and the image switched to the planet. An orange and black glowing molten ball.
Bass, rising from his seat, "What in the hell..."
Urushi's eyes opened. "What the..." she began to look over the long-range sensor readings. "Captain. The entire planet's crust seems to have just... well, it's gone. It's like someone or something opened enough fissures to allow the mantle to completely absorb the outer crust and destroy everything down there." She stared at her screens. "I've never seen anything like this before, at least not naturally. Could this be some form of 'self-destruct' that the Pricari's built as a final resort?"
"It wasn't anything we did," Rogers stated from the security station, his tone indicating he was still a bit miffed that it wasn't them. But, as he scanned the data he felt vindicated. What they were seeing was what he proposed they did in the first place to end the threat the planet posed. "I'm retrieving limited sensor data from the hazard beacons. I doubt it'll give us much more information, though."
[USS Thresher]
Hearing the bridge banter from the Valkyrie Traval's question was answered before he asked, but he addressed the question. "It's unlikely the this is anything done by Pricari. Even with our level of technology it would take a prolonged and sustained effort to liquefy a planet's surface."
[USS Valkyrie]
Baas tended to agree with the other Captain's assessment but certainly there had to be some indications of what had happened. "Nothing to indicate any other causes?"
[USS Thresher]
"We're beginning our scans now. If we could get your sensor data from the area for comparison..."
[USS Valkyrie]
Baas gestured to Urushi as he replied. "It's on the way."
Urushi instantly got the hint and started to transmit their scan data over to the Thresher.
As the data was sent Baas continued. There wasn't and need to turn back the Thresher's task force could figure things out without them hovering over them especially when they had their own mystery to solve. "If there is anything else that we can do let us know. Good luck Captain."
The channel closed and Baas took a few step forward, an arm crossed over his body as the other hand went to his chin. Turning to those on the bridge. "Opinions...what could have done this since we left the system?"
"A starship," Rogers said. "This appears to be the result of what I suggested. Though...not exactly. But, yes, we could have done that. The timetable is about right as well, depending on the sensor data."
"One starship to do that amount of damage?" Urushi disagreed. "Not in only a few days, that sort of devastation could theoretically be done by a powerful Starship, but they'd have to spend weeks, perhaps months drilling with phasers through multiple weak points in the crust." She pondered for a moment. "We're looking at a full meltdown of a planet's outer crust layer. This has only ever been observed in the 'unstable' stage of early planetary development..." she suddenly paused as the colour from her face drained away.
"General Order Twenty Four says we can," Rogers muttered. "Just depends on how you want to do it." He sighed. Why did they never listen to Security, who understands the weaponry and sheer firepower that they had at their disposal? But something about the psychic vibe changed and he looked up at the Science Officer.
"Captain! Get hold of the Thresher! If the planet has lost its crust it could become highly unstable. Everything under what was once the outer layer was under pressure, still is... Once it fully melts, all that pressure may be released." Urushi said quickly. She turned back to her console and began tapping away. "Basically, there's a possibility the planet could explode..."
"Channel ready," Rogers answered, his finger hovering over the control once the captain finalized the order to contact the task force.
Raising his hands to calm the two, "The Thresher and her task force are science vessels. They were already at yellow alert. I'm sure they are aware of the risks and taking every precaution. That said, transmit your concerns to them all the same.
His arms fell behind him, "Now back to the question at hand. In less than three days' time the Pricari home world, a functioning, seemingly stable M-class planet, has transformed into...well, returned to a class A surface environment. A single starship couldn't have done that in the time allotted, so when else could have? Remembering that our markers and the station are still intact, so that most likely rules out an impact event."
Niami had arrived upon the bridge, staring at the world that was not like what it was earlier; her gaze turned towards Baas. In some aspect, she had a slightly satisfied feeling that it was gone. As it took away Zane. But what about that station, was it still there?
"The planet is going to explode? What about the station?" Niami spoke up.
Rogers turned his dark gaze on the counselor, noting what seemed to be a mixture of emotions within her. He started to remind her that she was a senior officer and on the bridge, but stopped himself. "So far, the data shows the station is safe. It can be easily moved out of range by the ships at the planet if," here he turned to the Science officer, someone else that could use reminding of the need to be calm and collected on the Bridge of a starship, "it's determined the planet is in danger of 'exploding'." He hoped this would act as a means of letting her settle that situation.
Niami could feel Rogers' gaze turn towards her, and she turned her own gaze towards him. "Thank you, Lieutenant Rogers." She just gave a slight smile towards him. Turning back to viewing the planet on the viewscreen.
Science was not Darius's strong suit, and never had been. So he let the others discuss the science. He'd focus on strategy. His number three rule was 'There is no such thing as a coincidence.
He began to cross-reference data. He pulled up sensor logs, tactical databases, and any intelligence reports about weapons or phenomena capable of planetary-scale destruction in such a short time frame and began going through them to see what he could discover.
"Sir, I recommend we coordinate with the Thresher on establishing a perimeter around the system while they investigate. If this were an attack, whoever did it might still be in the area. And if the planet does destabilize further, we'll need evacuation protocols for that station."
"This is either an almost incredible coincidence, which Rule Number Three says can't happen, so fast since the last time we were here, this was deliberate. I suggest we go to yellow alert and raise shields."
Niami wondered if the Pricari station would be affected, though; possibly it could be moved from that area with the help of other ships. It was but a small orbital station.
"Sir, couldn't the Pricari Orbital be moved from where it is at?" Niami raising her voice to be heard by Baas.
The Valkyrie was already 3 days away from the system, and they had their own job to do. Baas turned his head, looking down to Hobbes before looking to everyone else in turn. "Focus, people. The Pricari system is the Thresher and their task force's responsibility. They have their orders and we have ours...."
"Sir," the half Orion interrupted as he glanced down a second time to confirm the readout. "I understand our location and the limitations that it imposes.
"However, we are starting to get data returning from the probes you ordered. They have detected a starship of an unusual configuration. I doubt they are friendly. Once again, I recommend we at least raise our shields. As a precaution if nothing else, and come back when we have time to investigate further."
"Distance?"
Darius did some quick calculations. "Too far to alter course, too close to feel comfortable. At our current speed, it's about a day away at 243 Mark 15. We could probably avoid raising our shields for now, but we should keep alert and continue to ensure our long-range sensors are online."
"Let's see what we are looking at. On Screen." Turning to face the viewscreen.
"Aye, sir," the Strategic Operations Chief responded as his hands slid across his console. Almost instantly, a ship appeared on the viewscreen.
"What the hell?" he muttered half under his breath, "that looks like an old Constitution class."
Taking a step closer. "Hobbes..."
The order wasn't even needed, and the Caitian's hands were already moving. "Aye, sir. Altering course."
Turning back to the face the bridge crew. "I want that probe data picked apart and a briefing in one hour." Looking back to the view screen, speaking low, "How did you get here?"
Captain Daegan Baas
CO
Lt. Darius Korveth
Strategic Ops Chief
Lieutenant Niami Troga
Chief Counselor
LTjg Christian Rogers
Chief of Security
Lt Urushi Yaotome
Chief Science Officer
Captain Traval - NPC by Baas
USS Thresher
RSS Feed