Meet Me in the Middle of the Air

Posted on Thu May 28th, 2026 @ 2:54am by Lieutenant Commander Kuzos & Commodore Wilkan Targaryen & Commander Ash Randall & Commander Zhora zh'Roothi & Lieutenant Commander Sora Bernadotte & Lieutenant Urvasi Elandorn & Lieutenant Rio Kholin MD & Lieutenant Amber Laurell & Ensign Mirakylin Yumerieva & Starfleet NPC

6,207 words; about a 31 minute read

Mission: 9. Oubliette
Location: Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise
Timeline: 2439-10-09, 12:45

The Enterprise snapped into reality, the violent brilliance of the coaxial jump bleeding away into the oppressive, muggy brown shroud of the rogue world’s high atmosphere. On the Bridge, the transition hum of the primary systems settled into a low-frequency thrum that vibrated through the deck plates.

At the helm, Urvasi, her tail very still out behind her, did one last correlation of the Enterprises Orbit around the planet before going to station keeping. This time was better than the first time, but there still was the 'bloom' she was clearing from her mind's sight as she 'came down' from the self immersion into her psi senses in tracking the gravities in space around her while using her telekinetics to actually manipulate the coaxial drive microhop for the hundreds of microseconds of in and out that was required. Her ears were still laying back at 45 degrees as she had fully sensed into where the planet was, then the microhop 'bloomed' to obscure her sense, yet she had maintained the senses within that bloom to get the Enterprise to its location while doing a fine microsecond change to put them opposite a captured asteroid satellite of the rogue planet.

Rrawran sat at the Tactical station, his massive, wolf-like frame cast in the flickering glow of the displays. His thick white fur caught the dim light of the Bridge as he adjusted his posture, his lupine features set in a mask of professional focus. While Commander Zhora zh'Roothi maintained the center chair and the Bridge crew coordinated the orbital arrival, Rrawran worked in a focused silence.

He methodically tapped a sequence into his console, slaving the Frost River’s transponder to a secondary monitor to track its position near the geothermal cluster. His ears swiveled slightly, catching the ambient reports of methane-rich interference and ammonia ice crystals, but his hands remained steady as he tightened the ship's internal security protocols. Without a word, he adjusted the tactical grid, filtering out the "gross" thermal noise of the surface to ensure he had a clear lock on the away team's life signs.

Amber had made her way to the bridge, she wasn’t sure if her senses would pick up on anything useful or not but she planned to be as useful as she could. Stepping onto the bridge she made her way across to her seat offering Zhora a polite smile and nod of her head.

"Coaxial recovery clock wound for 30-minute countdown to availability. I have a green board. All systems nominal." The Chief Engineer announced, quietly.

"Counsellor," the XO nodded before rising to her feet having been drawn by the vision of the rouge planet that filled the view screen. "Thank you Commander," she acknowledged Ash's words.

Rio had also returned to the Bridge having overseen the preparations and anticipation of one or more allegedly "human" patient about to be rescued if possible. She couldn't contain her curiosity regarding how such a being could have survived alone in such a hostile environment and was keen to begin to do the appropriate tests, scans and discoveries that the opportunity was about to offer. She had set up for him or her, plus or minus any others who might be there as well, to be transported directly into the quarantine suite(s) all of which were fully prepped so that all eventualities were covered.

Urvasi came round more as her ears showed tracking those on the bridge now while her tail began to gently sweep behind her. Being more cognizant, she called out, "Bridge, Helm, Standard orbit achieved opposite Asteroid in near same orbit around rogue planet. Orbit Maintenance initiated."

Sora's hands flew across the Operations console as she ran routine checks on all systems. "Everything good on my end as well," she reported after a moment. "Well, except for replicator three in the mess hall, unless you like your coffee frozen and your ice cream hot, anyway."

"Someone's idea of a practical joke, no doubt." The Chief Engineer commented, dryly.

"I don't think this is the time," Zhora said lowly before addressing the bridge: "Sora, what can you tell me about the planet? Any indications of the life form?"

"Yes," Sora replied as she brought a surface map of the planet onto the viewscreen. "Mira stayed with the shuttle, the rest of our team seem to be in conversation with the unknown alien right now. There's a secondary, smaller creature partly overlapping it, like it's holding an animal in its arm."

The XO nodded mutely, her gaze fixed upon the lost planet and tried to envision the scene that would surround the Away Party. Without a sun the surface would be challenging for them to manage, yet, bizarrely the conditions were able to support life, two to be precise. Marooned by shipwreck most likely she concluded though just how would have to wait for the moment.

The Enterprise hung in its high, steady orbit, the hull groaning softly as it settled against the rogue planet’s gravitational pull. At the Tactical station, Rrawran’s white-furred shoulders shifted as he isolated a localized disturbance on the long-range sensors—a sharp, efficient wake cutting through the "muggy brown" interference of the vortex.

"Commander zh'Roothi," Rrawran’s mechanized universal translator voice issued, the sound a complex, mechanized layer of a smooth, authoritative baritone overlaying a foundational bed of his own organic yips, low growls, and sharp barks. "We're receiving a hail," the mechanical voice rumbled, punctuated by a soft, sharp huff beneath the words, "a Dominion Scout, identifying themselves as the transport for Commander Kuzos, is on approach." He methodically tapped the console with his padded fingers, the display reflecting in his focused, orange eyes. His ears swiveled back, "They're requesting permission to dock. I'm verifying their security handshakes now. With your permission, I'll alert the docking bay teams to prepare for their arrival."

"Very good Rrawran," the Andorian turned. "Keep me appraised. Sora," she turned back to the forward stations. "Hail the Forest River, we need an update on their progress and offer assistance if required."

Rrawran's padded fingers danced across the console, his ears twitching at the sharp hiss of the outgoing signal. Underneath the translator's baritone, a low, focused growl vibrated in his chest. "Channel open, Commander," the mechanized voice rumbled, punctuated by a sharp, rhythmic huff.

"Enterprise, Runabout Frost River, Ensign Yumerieva speaking. How may I help you?"

Sora took over the communication once the channel was open. "Commander Bernadotte here. Please advise your current status. Need any help down there?"

"Yes Commander Bernadotte, Runabout Diagnostics show no significant damage in landing on planet, Commander Datari is having me scan for ship debris from a possible crashed ship. Unless direct communication to runabout, suit to suit communication difficult to pick up, however, it seems they found a survivor with linked companion? I think? I am unsure if there is room to do a Hop to where the away team is. I will let them know you are nearby. Umm, best info from the away team would be direct contact. Here is the direct comms channel information incoming for you. Frost River standing by for further instructions."

Rrawran’s orange eyes narrowed as he routed the data. "The away team is moving, Commander," his mechanized baritone growled over a low, lupine huff. "Interference is severe. I am tightening the sensors now and routing the comlink frequency to the Transporter Room. Also, security detail is holding at the docking bay for the Dominion arrival," the Rorworr reported as the Dominion Scout approached on the viewscreen.

"Do the best you can Rrawran," Zhora acknowledged returning to the central seat. "I'd like to hear from the Landing Party directly if possible let them know we're on hand."

After a couple of minutes, the Frost River thrusters could be picked up lifting the craft to hovering, prescribing an arc to a nearer clearing to the Away team, then settling down into that clearing. Total time for the hop was 190 seconds.

Rrawran’s ears flattened against his skull as the Frost River completed its hop, the ship’s internal sensors groaning under the strain of the planet's atmospheric density. "The shuttle is down in the secondary clearing, Commander," his mechanized voice rumbled, the baritone smoothing over a foundational, low-frequency growl. He tapped a final sequence into the tactical console, his claws clicking rhythmically against the interface, "Signal telemetry is stabilizing. The away team is within thirty meters of the hatch."

"Verification complete," he shifted his orange eyes toward the secondary display, tracking the Dominion Scout as it crossed the threshold of the Enterprise's outer shields. "The Dominion Scout matches the provided security handshakes for Lieutenant Commander Kuzos. They are entering the docking aperture now." Beneath the translator's professional tone, a sharp, organic huff signaled his rising alertness, "I have prioritized the Transporter Room’s bio-locks for the away team’s return. If the atmosphere shifts, Petty Officer Meipea is standing by for a forced extraction." He paused, his ears swiveling to track the silence of the Bridge. "Security teams at Docking Bay 2 report the Scout has touched down. The Commander is reporting to the Bridge."

"Trying my best to get a transporter lock on the away team," Sora reported from Ops. "Atmospheric interference makes it difficult, though. It would be safer if they got back on the shuttle."

Urvasi had been following along, then added, "Bridge, Helm, Understood. Maneuvering the Enterprise for close atmospheric pickup of the runabout. I have verified IFF lock by the Frost River as well as a request for inbound landing control via Enterprise with Frost River in Range. Once the shuttle is within the Enterprise's shields would be ideal for sensor readings and Medical Decisions for Transporter versus Med team at runabout sync up. I will announce when lock-on has occurred."

"Acknowledged, Helm," the mechanized baritone of his translator rumbled, punctuated by a deep, guttural click in his throat. Rrawran’s massive shoulders shifted, his white fur rippling as he leaned into his console. The glow of the tactical console reflected in his eyes, tracking the Frost River as it sat in the clearing below. He could feel the low-frequency vibration of the Enterprise shifting its mass, a subtle change in the deck plates that only someone with his keen senses would notice. "I'm slaving the tactical sensors to your flight path. Shield harmonics are being adjusted to create a localized 'pocket' for the Frost River's ascent to minimize the atmospheric drag once they break the high-density shroud."

His ears swiveled toward the Bridge Turbolift as the doors hissed open, signalling the arrival of their Dominion crewman, but his hands didn't leave the controls. He was a sentinel at a wall of data.

"Commander zh'Roothi," Rrawran growled softly, "The Dominion transport has completed its cycle. Commander Kuzos is on the Bridge. Simultaneously, I am seeing a spike in geothermal venting near the away team's coordinates. The 'muggy brown' is becoming a literal wall of debris. Urvasi is right, every second we bring the Enterprise closer to that atmosphere improves our resolution, but it puts additional strain on the lateral sensors." He tapped a sequence with his padded fingers, isolating the away team's life signs. "The biological signatures are... erratic. The survivor's metabolic rate is climbing. I am maintaining a dedicated channel for Petty Officer Meipea in the Transporter Room. We are ready to pull them the moment the shuttle clears the interference floor."

"Move us as close as you can safely helm," the XO instructed, her gaze shifting between the sensor data fed to her seat. "We're not as nimble as the shuttle but can take the strain a little longer."

Kuzos stepped onto the bridge and his eyes swept it. He gave a brief nod to Rrawran before his gaze settled on zh'Roothi. Still as cold and aloof as ever. He bit back a sarcastic comment and walked to her, his steps measured and precise. Finally, he reached her and stopped a few feet in front of her. For a moment he said nothing just let the silence built until it was about to burst and only then did he speak. "Permission to return to my station and resume my duties?"

Zhora lifted her gaze and met the Vorta's evenly. Retrieving the shuttle and its crew seemed to pause momentarily as the two officers locked eyes in an uneasy truce following the awkwardness of the Tula incident.

Commander Randall eyed the countdown clock for a 'safe' Coaxial micro-jump and debated with herself, for a second or two, before coming to an agreement on the best way to mitigate the potential risks. "Coaxial availability, by the book, will be in 11 minutes. We can jump early and still be within safety margins, but the drive will be unavailable for several hours." The Chief Engineer advised.

Ash's interruption broke the spell. "Welcome back Commander," Zhora acknowledged rather briskly. "Permission granted, Rrawran will bring you up to speed."

Sora glanced over at Rrawran and slightly shook her head. Well, if the tactical officer was insisting on taking over her job, there was currently very little for her to do other than monitor Enterprise's systems. Still, she would have to have a serious conversation with the wolf-like man about what his job description was. With a smile, she turned to Kuzos. "Welcome back, Kuzos. You've joined us at an interesting time, for sure."

Kuzos turned at the sound of Soras voice, his head inclined in a short bow. His violet eyes focused on her. "Thank you Sora. Indeed. what have I returned to?" The last accompanied by his trademark smile.

Rrawran’s ears twitched at the sound of the exchange, but his gaze remained fixed on the tactical overlay. The return of Kuzos was a variable he had already factored into the Bridge’s internal security rhythm, though the Vorta's presence always brought a specific kind of stillness to the air. Beneath the console, Rrawran's claws retracted slightly into his pads, a subconscious grounding gesture as he prepared to shift his focus.

"Commander Kuzos," the mechanized baritone of the translator rumbled, punctuated by a sharp, rhythmic huff of acknowledgment. With a fluid, heavy motion, the Rorworr stood, clearing the way for the Vorta, "The station is yours, Commander. The Frost River is currently navigating a high-density nitrogen-methane soup that's throwing back enough sensor noise to mask a cloaked warbird. We have a rescue in progress, a single survivor and a biological companion, but their physiology is unstable and highly reactive to thermal shifts so it's... complicated."

Kuzos looked back at zh'Roothi before turning his attention to what Rrawran was saying. "I see. thank you Rrawran for explaining the situation to me. I will monitor the tactical display and The Frost River." he replied evenly as he was already in motion to the primary tactical station.

The Rorworr didn't move toward the Turbolift, however. Instead, he stepped toward the secondary auxiliary console adjacent to the Science station, his massive frame casting a long shadow over the deck, "Commander, with the survivor’s erratic metabolic spiking and the geothermal venting increasing, I request permission to remain at the secondary support station. I have established a high-priority handshake between this console and the Frost River’s lab sensors. I can continue to filter the debris noise from the recovery telemetry, leaving the primary Tactical grid clear for Commander Kuzos to monitor external ship security."

Kuzos took in the information and after a moment nodded in agreement. His finger dancing across the panel a sit reflected the current ongoing and evolving situation to him.

At comms, Mira's voice could be heard. =/\= Enterprise, Frost River, we are coming in hot with a medical emergency. Frost River needs docking clearance and a Medical Team standing by.=/\=

When Rrawran moved to the auxiliary station, Sora took over on the Operations side of things. "Frost River is just about close enough to get a clean transporter lock," she reported. "In my professional opinion, however, we should avoid using the transporters. The environmental interference is tricky. And as someone who went through a transporter accident myself, that is something best left to be avoided. I advise to play it safe, they're about five minutes away from docking anyway."

"Watch them like a hawk," Zhora repeated. "If something changes we'll pull them clear and directly to sickbay. In the meanwhile have teams ready to greet them in the shuttle bay, lock it down and withdraw once the shuttle is secure."

Once more, at the comms, was heard Mira's voice. "Enterprise, Dr. Losenko is requesting site to site Transporters when Transporters get a clear lock on."

"Security team is still there from when the Dominion dropped Kuzos off, so I will instruct them to remain on stand-by," Sora confirmed. "Sickbay is also waiting for them, Frost River has sent over environmental parameters. As soon as the shuttle has docked, we'll transport the patients directly to an isolation unit."

Refusing to cause open friction during a rescue, Rrawran opened a localized, secure audio channel directly to the primary Tactical station, bypassing the Bridge speakers. "Commander," his mechanized baritone rumbled quietly over the private link, accented by a sharp huff of air, "Do you have additional tactical directives do you wish me to relay to the Shuttlebay team?"

Kuzos shook his head, "Not at this time but that will probably change so stand ready." His voice low, taking on a a confidential tone.

"Transporter Room to Bridge," Petty Officer Meipea’s crisp voice announced over the comms. "The Frost River has cleared the primary nitrogen shroud, giving us a stable telemetry window. I have successfully executed a site-to-site transport. Doctor Losenko, Commander Datari, and the two survivors have been materialized directly inside Sickbay's Emergency Room."

Amber moved out of her seat, with the away team and survivors aboard her place was in Sickbay seeing what she could do to help. “Commander I’ll be in sickbay seeing if I can help.”

Urvasi shifted the Enterprise for a direct line of sight between the Frost River and the Docking Bay. "Bridge, Helm, Enterprise in position for runabout Pickup, direct line."

The hiss of the secondary turbolift doors signaled Commodore Wilkan Targaryen’s arrival on the Bridge. Stepping onto the upper deck, his uniform crisp and his dark eyes tracking the main viewscreen’s muggy brown expanse, he immediately absorbed the room's shifting dynamics.

"Maintain your stations," Wilkan said calmly, gesturing for Zhora to remain in the center chair as he walked toward the command well. He paused briefly to nod to Amber as she stepped toward the lift. "Go, Counselor. Help Doctor Kholin stabilize them."

Amber nodded. “Aye Sir” with that she headed off bridge.

The Andorian had half risen when the Commodore appeared ready to be relieved and update him with proceedings but eased back down at Will's gesture.

Turning his attention back to the forward consoles, Wilkan listened to the engine thrum settling after the micro-jump. "Good work on the approach, Lieutenant," he acknowledged Urvasi's flight path before catching Sora's eye at Operations. "Commander, clear the automated docking for the Frost River. I want that runabout inside the bay and under magnetic lockdown without delay."

Urvasi's Ears flicked and her tail shook once in acknowledgement of Wilkan's praise. She noticed the runabout shift to automated control, but before she could report, Sora was already verifying and reporting.

Sora's hands flew across the console even before the order was given. "Frost River is on automated approach, ninety seconds to docking. I bet the team can't wait to get out of there," she added with a smirk.

He then looked toward the Engineering console, catching the sharp focus of his Chief Engineer. "Commander Randall, that coaxial jump was tight, but we're sitting in a soup of geothermal debris. Keep a close eye on the secondary intake filters and let me know the exact moment the drive's cooling cycle stabilizes. If those raiders decide to return, I want options."

"Aye sir. Monitoring of Secondary Intake Filters is in place. Countdown to complete cool down is at nine minutes. Immediate Coaxial jump is available at this time though not without some risk and potential downtime of several hours." the Chief Engineer reported, quietly.

He stepped adjacent to the central chair, crossing his arms as he looked between Zhora and the primary tactical station where Kuzos had just settled. "Report, Commander zh'Roothi. Have we been able to locate the survivor's vessel, and did the sensors pick up any trace of the raiders he mentioned before we executed the jump?" He looked up at the Tactical workstation as he asked the second part.

"The Frost River was able to locate debris on their descent, most likely from our stricken person," Zhora reported. "However, their scans were inconclusive."

"I can scan the surface for the debris from here," Sora suggested. "Our sensor array is much more powerful than that of a runabout, and besides, it's not like we're going anywhere before the coax drive is recharged."

Kuzos lifted his head from where he was studying the tactical data scrolling across the screen. His violet eyes settled on Targaryen. "There is a slight ion trail, but it is dissipating as we speak. I am attempting to plot a course before it is gone completely."

Wilkan listened to the back-and-forth, his posture upright and authoritative as his dark eyes weighed the incoming stream of data. The immediate crisis of the rescue was over, but the tactical reality of the rogue planet's airspace remained entirely unresolved. He looked first to the primary tactical station, locking eyes with the newly returned Vorta. "Lock onto that trail immediately, Commander Kuzos," Wilkan commanded, his voice carrying a firm, resonant weight. "If those raiders are operating in this sector, I want to know exactly where they're heading. Extrapolate whatever telemetry you can before the atmospheric interference eats the rest of the trail. Good eye."

Kuzos gave a short nod of acknowledgement at the Commodore's compliment. "I am already working on plotting the course of the vessel so we can track it back to hopefully it's base of origin."

He then turned his attention fully to his Executive Officer, uncrossing his arms and stepping closer to the center chair. "Commander zh'Roothi, now that the away team and our guests are safely aboard, I want you to head down to Sickbay. Follow up on this passenger personally. I want a direct assessment of his condition, and more importantly, any intelligence he can provide regarding who attacked his vessel the moment Doctor Kholin clears him to speak."

"Understood." The XO nodded curtly and stood before departing to the lift.

Wilkan stepped into the vacated command well, his gaze shifting back toward the viewscreen where the muggy brown shroud of the rogue world continued to churn. "Sora, skip the atmospheric sweep for now and slave your sensors to the surface debris grid the Frost River located," Wilkan directed, gesturing toward the Operations console. "If that's a shipwreck, I want to know the vessel's origin, configuration, and how long it's been rotting down there. Assist Kuzos with filtering the noise to sharpen that ion trajectory simultaneously. Let's see where this rabbit hole leads."

"On it," the Operations officer acknowledged as she began the scan. "Debris is scattered a bit, looks like it hit the ground pretty hard," she reported. "Checking to see if there is something identifiable down there."

"Lieutenant Urvasi, break standard orbit," Wilkan commanded, his eyes fixed on the viewscreen's thick atmosphere. "Bring us down into a low planetary orbit. We need to clear the upper interference floor to maximize our sensor resolution on that surface debris and lock down the remaining ion trail. Maintain automated docking protocols for the Frost River, but drop our ceiling. Take us in close, helm."

At the helm, Urvasi responded, "Aye Aye, Sir. In line low planetary orbit with trajectory directly over Debris field is commencing. Timeline is 1.5 minutes to being just above Thermosphere within Exosphere, 1.75 minutes to above Debris field. Relationship for Coaxial Drive is 15 seconds to clear Exosphere for no impact on planet for Coaxial Drive execution. Mark."

Wilkan turned his gaze toward the Engineering console, his expression focused. "Commander Randall, given our descent into low orbit, what's our updated timeline? Exactly how long until the Coaxial Drive is fully recharged and ready for another jump if things go sideways down here?"

"The Coaxial Drive is jump capable now, sir, with an open window of risk of 4% that is closing with every second that passes. We will be safe to jump in 5 minutes when the window of risk closes to under 1%. It will be completely closed in 7 minutes." Ash reported, in that clear and quiet, tone she was known for.

"Bridge, Helm, Exosphere entered. 1.25 minutes to just above debris field, Mark," Urvasi called out. She was studying the instruments while her ears showed one focused onto the bridge behind her while the other was focused onto the helm station. Her tail movements were slow and minimal showing her intense concentration upon the instruments.

"Acknowledged, Helm," Wilkan said as he kept his eyes fixed on the sensor data streams. The main viewscreen flared slightly, the "muggy brown" shroud of the rogue planet rising like a solid wall as the Enterprise moved. Their Captain leaned against the command well rail, reassured by Commander Randall's quiet confirmation of the five-minute safety window letting him know that he still had options.

Wilkan shifted his gaze toward the Tactical Station and the Vorta sitting at it. "Commander, now that our sensor resolution is sharpening, correlate your ion trail telemetry with our lower altitude. If those raiders dropped any low-frequency signatures in the upper atmosphere, I want them isolated before we lose the scent."

Kuzos stood over his tactical board and was running a series of scans and searches to detect any trace of the raiders and what direction they may have departed in. After several long and anxious moments he looked to the commodore. I have detected a trail from the raiders ship engines. I have also tied in the ships sensors to the trail and the direction the ship left when leaving this world."

He then turned his attention back to the Operations console, his authoritative posture perfectly balanced against the subtle, heavy pull of the planet's gravity well. "Sora, the moment Urvasi brings us directly over that debris field, hit it with a high-intensity lateral sensor sweep. I don't just want a visual, I want a full structural alloy analysis. Let's find out exactly what kind of hull plates survived that impact. Coordinate with Commander Randall for an engineering perspective."

"Ready and holding," Sora acknowledged the order.

"Understood, sir." Ash confirmed.

Stepping closer to the center line of the command well, Wilkan folded his arms, his eyes narrowing as the viewscreen filled with the swirling cloud layer. "Steady as she goes, Lieutenant," he murmured toward the helm. "Let's see what this world is hiding."

Urvasi called out, "Aye Aye Sir. 18 seconds to Debris Field, Mark." Urvasi sent a command to show the clock countdown in tenths of a second in the lower right of the forward view screen. Time was now showing 16.5 seconds and counting down.

As soon as the timer hit zero, Sora hit the sensor sweep. After a few more seconds, the results began to show on her console. "Okay, got something." As she spoke, she projected a map of the debris field on the main viewscreen. "Large piece of the hull seems to have remained somewhat intact. Detecting a variety of materials on the inside, both organic and non-organic, matches what seems to be either a crew compartment or a bridge, something like that. I'm also detecting what could be a data core of some sort. Sending the data over to Ash for further analysis now."

Urvasi, in hearing that Sora had found something, adjusted the speed of the Enterprise to match Geostationary Orbit right above the Debris field. This would give maximum scans while maintaining an orbit that could still climb out of the exosphere and into a place for Coaxial drive in 15 seconds. She did not announce this to the bridge as she knew all those studying the readouts would understand that is what the Enterprise was performing for orbit. The best helmsman were those who performed the need without the necessary orders based on current overall orders and necessities for the mission.

The Chief Engineer studied the details of the sensor data for points of familiarity, design, structural characteristics, materials, several seconds devoted to the, presumed, data core and scratched behind her left ear in silent contemplation. "There is not enough left of the structural components to hazard an educated guess of a design or purpose. I am unable to tell what the core-like, object might be, but it bears closer scrutiny." Ash advised, quietly. "Whatever it is has ruptured." She added and looked to the Commodore. "Based upon the debris field and what there is left of the hull, I can't even tell you if this vessel crashed or destroyed after landing." She admitted.

Wilkan listened to the analysis in heavy silence, his arms still crossed as he watched the information scroll across the display. The rogue world, the damaged vessel, and the mysterious alien were all converging into a true mystery. The Gamma Quadrant truly never ceased to be a source of amazement and wonder.

The Commodore turned toward his Chief Engineer, the words of her analysis playing over and over in his mind. This artifact changed little, but it was something that they couldn't ignore. "We need to keep digging, we need to figure out whether this is related to our mysterious passenger or if this is something else entirely."

He turned back toward the viewscreen, the debris field filling the sensor display as data scrolled by quickly. Sending another away team back down into that volatile atmosphere was out of the question, but leaving a potentially active data core behind wasn't an option either. They had to act fast, even if it meant taking a calculated risk with unknown technology.

"Sora, lock onto that intact hull section with a tractor beam and bring it directly into Cargo Bay 1," Wilkan commanded. The Commodore then looked over at his Chief Engineer, his expression grim. "Ash, head down there with Sora the moment it clears the atmosphere. Let's get some answers."

"One problem," Sora replied, shaking her head. "It seems to be deeply embedded in some of the local flora, and based on the reports by the ground team, we don't want those in an open cargo bay." She ran some calculations on her console, and finally nodded. "If we can get a little bit lower, say, about three kilometres altitude, it should be easy to compensate for atmospheric interference and pick it up with the transporter. Which should filter out any harmful elements of the stuff that's grown across it."

Wilkan considered the option, his dark eyes narrowing as he calculated the margins. He was deeply hesitant to drop the Enterprise out of a clean geostationary track and into the thick of that chaotic atmospheric roil, but the ship was rated for planetary operations — Hell, she could land if the situation demanded it. If a low-altitude swoop filtered the contaminants and secured the data core, the tactical payoff outweighed the risk.

"Take us down, Lieutenant," Wilkan commanded, shifting his gaze to the helm. "Bring us to three kilometers and stabilize to maximize our transporter resolution, clear that core, and get our answers. Let's all hope though that this thing holds something vital and isn't just the creature's recipe for biscuits."

Urvasi responded, "Three kilometers and station keep, Aye Aye Sir." She sent the maneuver to engineering as this would cause extra draw from the Impulse engines. She whispered to Sora, "Going in." Going down that low near the planet would also cause extra draws on the Inertial fields, gravity fields, and navigational shields. "Eleven seconds, Mark." The ship began descending directly over the debris field.

"We could deploy a pattern enhancer and, perhaps, avoid a close encounter, sir?" The Chief Engineer suggested, quietly. It was always good to have alternatives, and Ash was far from convinced that what they wanted to retrieve was what they thought it was. She thought it bore further investigation, but she was almost positive it had answers they did not want to hear.

Wilkan looked back at Ash and nodded in approval, appreciating the Engineer's caution. "Good thinking. Ash, prepare a Class 6 probe with a pattern-enhancer payload. Kuzos, lock onto the coordinates and launch the second it's prepped to stabilize our transporter resolution."

Urvasi announced, "Three Kilometers and steady." She used her vibration sense to help in feeling out the buffets of the atmosphere to keep the ship stabilized, so feel, vibration, expertise, and watching instruments were her entire focus at this time.

He looked toward Tactical with the last part of his order, then returned his attention to the viewscreen. Outside, the muggy brown atmosphere was beginning to friction-flare against the shields. He wasn't thrilled with how low the Enterprise was sinking into the rogue world's gravity well to make this catch work, but he had a grim feeling that whatever was trapped in that ruptured core was far too important to leave behind.

"Once the debris is aboard, return to orbit and follow Commander Kuzos' trail."

"Orders understood, Sir," came the call out from Helm.

"Type 6 probe with pattern enhancer, prepped and ready for launch, sir. It should improve the clarity of filtering for the transport by 80% and reduce time to positive lock in half." Ash announced, quietly, and waited for Kuzos to confirm launch.

Sora nodded. "Good thinking. Current transporter lock is pretty good, but could definitely be improved. Waiting for the probe."

"Probe is launched and in a stable orbit above the debris field." Kuzos announced.

"We've got a perfect transporter lock. Well, as perfect as we will get. Energizing now," Sora announced. "And we've got the debris. Time to get out of here."

"Helm," Wilkan wasted no time, his voice cutting through the Bridge, "set a course to follow the ion trail that Mister Kuzos identified. Maximum safe speed until we can go to Warp."

Urvasi already had the courses from atmosphere, to low orbit, and then towards the trail locked in based on her earlier orders. She replied, "On our way, Sir." The ship was already rising along the preprogrammed course, yet with Urvasi monitoring and ready to take over if shifts in the atmosphere happened.

Knowing that their cargo was secure, the Commodore turned back toward the command well, continuing to issue his orders. "Commanders, proceed to the Cargo Bay and begin trying to figure out exactly what that debris is and what that core holds."

"Aye, Sir." Ash responded, quietly, as she slid from her seat and motioned her relief to take over her station and padded across the bridge to join Commander Bernadotte in the turbo-lift.

"Let's see what we'll find out," Sora commented as she stood up and waved one of the junior officers over to take the Ops station. "This will certainly be interesting," she remarked to Ash as she entered the turbolift. "Cargo bay one, direct."

He paused, letting the order settle with Ash and Sora before he turned his full attention toward the primary tactical station. He caught the Vorta's eye, his authoritative expression softening just a fraction. "First, since I didn't say it earlier, welcome back, Commander. Second, I need to report our situation to the Admiral. Can you get me a stable comline to 47 in the Ready Room?"

Kuzos inclined his head respectfully at the comment. "Thank you sir. As for a stable and secure comline, I will get to work setting that up right now." As he stepped away from the tactical station and motioned his relief over. "With your permission to begin Commodore."

Wilkan nodded in approval, as he walked toward the starboard exit, "I'll be in the Ready Room if you need me, Commander."

"Yes Commodore, I'll keep that in mind. I should have you the comline you requested within the next thirty minutes." Kuzos replied as he got to work getting the Commodore the stable and secure comline he requested.

Urvasi called out, "Bridge, Helm, Atmosphere cleared. Safe warp corridor in 32 seconds, mark. Enterprise will intersect the ion trail in 18 seconds, mark."

Kuzos spoke from the primary tactical station. "I have transferred the coordinates of the ion trail and the direction in which they lead to the helm." he then resumed establishing the secure comeline for the Commodore.

Urvasi's tail flicked twice in 'thank you' towards Kuzos. She turned the Enterprise to be parallel with the ion trail at 200 meters and called out, "Bridge, Helm, on course beside Ion trail. Safe warp corridor in 5 seconds. I will take the Enterprise to Warp 6 unless otherwise ordered."

Kuzo's nodded his head in response to Urvasi's thank you. his violet eyes seemed to soften at the gesture at least for a moment before he turned his attention back to obtaing a secure comline for the commodore.

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