Travelin' Man

Posted on Thu Oct 1st, 2026 @ 2:05am by Enterprise Officer NPC & Lieutenant Urvasi Elandorn & Lieutenant (J.G.) Dylan Blake & Ensign Sayori Nakai & Ensign Mirakylin Yumerieva

3,162 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: 11. Recess
Location: Kecemen, Karemma
Timeline: 2439-10-21, 09:30

The Karemman central transit concourse echoed with the frantic hum of high-speed commuter rails, crowded trade terminals, and overlapping automated announcements. Operation Group Beta had arrived at their first major survey location on Karemma, tasked with evaluating the planet's high-density transit hubs, commercial sectors, and historical landmarks for Starfleet’s updated planetary travel guide.

While Team Lead Lieutenant Urvasi Elandorn and Operations Officer Lieutenant JG Dylan Blake were preparing to execute their municipal survey itinerary, Lieutenant Barbax was standing near the edge of the busy train platform, reviewing his tricorder and looking entirely overwhelmed by the noise, the crowds, and the machinery.

"Is it... supposed to make that high-pitched whining sound in the secondary propulsion housing?" Barbax asked, his wide Denobulan facial ridges twitching as a high-speed mag-rail express roared past the platform. "Because back aboard the ship, a whine frequency at that pitch usually indicates a magnetic containment bleed! Or an imminent plasma seal failure! I'm just saying, if these Karemman mag-rails aren't routinely calibrated under safety protocols - which, frankly, looking at the structural stress fractures on that overhead girder, I highly doubt they are - we could be sitting on a statistical disaster!

"I mean, look at the municipal infrastructure here! It's fascinating, really... the Karemman architecture relies on an early Dominion-era load-bearing alloy. Fascinating stuff! But the stress tolerances? Horrible. Absolute disaster waiting to happen. What about the cumulative weight of off-world trade cargo? Did anyone run a structural mass load calculation before packing forty stops into one afternoon? I didn't think so!"

Even over the drone of the automated announcements, the chatter of the crowds hubble of the bustling transit hub Barbax's voice carried. Dylan looked towards Ursavi for guidance: "Should we rein him in?" he asked. "Poindexter's in his element it would be a shame to stop him mid flow but if he talks any louder about stress fractures..."

Urvasi nodded as she replied with a "Good Point." Urvasi dropped her tricorder with its map attachment as she shifted to be near Barbax. "Mister Barbax, eyes this way please." Once he was looking at her, she said, "The people who designed this are civilians who need to make sure about structural integrity in a load bearing way over a span of a few years. Once the time is met, the rails are replaced. Everything here is running at where it needs to be, which is not a military vessel facing hardships along with energies that could blast the planet into oblivion. Next, gentle reminder.. we are among the Civilians right now." She lowered her voice to pitch it so that Barbax could only hear, "Your talk could cause panic and an emergency of people trampling over each other.. not a good look at all for StarFleet Officers doing a mapping survey of high-volume commercial sectors, regional transit hubs, and historical sites, correct?"

"Right. Civilians. Of course," Barbax stammered, his wide Denobulan facial ridges flushing slightly as the weight of Urvasi's words set in. "Panic. Stampedes. Mass casualties caused by localized structural hysteria... the absolute last thing we need on a diplomatic survey." He swallowed hard, his fingers nervously fidgeting with the casing of his scanner. "It’s just... the magnetic flux on those secondary dampeners is terribly misaligned. But you’re right, Lieutenant! Exceedingly right. Completely functional for civilian parameters. I'll... refrain from further vocal stress-load analysis."

Taking a slow, cautious breath to settle his nerves, Barbax forced his focus back to the safe, non-lethal aspects of their mandate. He tapped quickly at his PADD, adjusting his posture to stay comfortably sandwiched between Urvasi and Dylan. "If we are moving on to the historical landmarks next," Barbax added in a subdued, careful tone, "I have cataloged several fascinating notes on local Dominion-era cultural exchange protocols. Perfectly safe. Zero risk of plasma containment failure."

"That's reassuring," Dylan replied drily. "What do you have?"

"Well!" he whispered eagerly, tapping his PADD. "Under the Dominion, Karemma serves as a primary commercial hub. What’s fascinating is how they subtly weaponized their trade agreements... using bureaucratic delay tactics and micro-tariff disputes to quietly undermine Jem'Hadar supply lines without ever firing a single shot!" He glanced proudly between Dylan and Urvasi. "A purely economic resistance movement. Zero structural stress fractures required."

"Clever," Dylan nodded. "But risky."

Mira, having finished her engineering tricorder setup along with local network tie-ins, comes over and asks, "Sir, this is the Far South Transportation Hub. I thought the plan was to use the transit to go around the city while stopping off at the commercial sectors and Historical Landmarks? So, is there a landmark nearby?"

Urvasi nodded as she replied, "That is still the plan, Ensign Yumerieva." She turned to Barbax, "So, Mister Barbax, is there a landmark or commercial sector nearby, or are we riding the transport system to the next hub?"

Sayori chuckled at the exchange between her fellow officers, but decided to stay out of it - until Barbax mentioned history, that is. "If I remember correctly, there's a museum about the history of this civilisation somewhere, but I think that's at the next stop?"

Given Barbax's misgivings about the local rail network Dylan waited for the Denobulan's reply half expecting him to announce abruptly the should proceed only by foot for the rest of their survey.

"Ah, yes! Ensign Sayori is quite correct," Barbax chimed in, leaning over his PADD with a sudden surge of nervous enthusiasm. "The Museum of Karemman Commerce and Hegemony is precisely one transit stop north. It features an intact Founders-era trade contract archive! Very safe. Completely static. Though... if we did opt to walk the two kilometers to the next hub, it would offer us an excellent opportunity to evaluate pedestrian traffic flow and street-level commercial vendors," Barbax added quickly, offering a hopeful, tight-lipped smile. "And, of course, it completely bypasses the secondary dampener flux on these rails. Purely as an alternative operational strategy, of course!"

A light yiffer escaped from Urvasi. Her tail did a shake behind her as she said, "Well, Lieutenant Barbax, we will have still have to do a ride between all of the main transit hubs for our equipment readings for the survey, despite your misgivings. However," her ears flicked, "As the Museam is only two kilometers and this is the start of our journey, we can definitely take that walk and hopefully settle anybody's nerves before that first transit ride." She looked to Dylan, "Lieutenant Blake, would you take the lead as the other team members are busy with their recorders? I'll be the caboose."

"Yes ma'am," Dylan replied reminding himself despite their personal relationship to remain professional. He wasn't familiar with her term of caboose but figured she'd be acting as rear guard for the group as they journeyed through the streets. "Is everyone ready to go?" he asked.

"Walking sounds... statistically much safer than enduring a high-speed magnetic flux anomaly," Barbax muttered, though his fingers anxiously readjusted the strap of his tricorder. "Though, if we are traversing the pedestrian thoroughfare, we should maintain a strict tactical formation. Street-level commerce zones often feature uncalibrated local energy conduits powering vendor stalls. If anyone spots a loose power coupling or a suspicious subterranean junction box, do not attempt to bypass the housing. I read a rather harrowing telemetry report on Karemman micro-grid surges that..." He trailed off, clearing his throat and forcing a tight, tense smile. "Well, it is best we simply keep our scanners focused on the path ahead. Ready when you are, Lieutenant Blake."

"We'll be fine," Dylan assured the over stimulated Barbax. "Try not to overthink, we're on leave after all."

Urvasi moved up to be between Barbax and Sayori. She said, "Lieutenant Barbax, I am sure Ensign Nakai will catch any surging or strange energy readings while Ensign Yumerieva and your readings will see if junctions or conduits seem suspicious. Oh, by the way, did you realize that fleet transporter incidents outnumber those harrowing telemetry reports for actual accidents or damages? And that includes the incidents divided by total to create real incident percentages with mitigated circumstances. Of course, Lieutenant Blake, being operations, understands how the various parts fit together so he can point out the safest transports or transportation paths. That said, I will catch your thoughts about the incident percentages later."

"In the 20th and 21st century, many humans were terrified of air travel," Sayori added. "Even though the number of serious incidents was statistically minute. The journey to the airport was exponentially more likely to kill a passenger than the flight itself." She shrugged. "The same applies here. Getting to the planet surface, statistically, was much more likely to involve an accident than any use of the transit system here. I understand your caution, Barbax, but I'm sure it's quite safe. Otherwise, the locals wouldn't be using it either."

"We'll be fine," Dylan repeated a touch louder than before as he began to lead the group of the platform and towards street level. "

Barbax clutched his tricorder like a lifesaver, his wide ridges twitching furiously as he fell into step between Urvasi and Sayori.

"Air travel statistical anomalies in pre-warp Earth? Oh, an intriguing historical parallel, Ensign, but mechanically flawed!" Barbax blurted, his voice rising in an anxious, rapid-fire pitch as they reached the street level. "Earth atmospheric craft relied on rudimentary aerodynamic lift and primitive combustion, whereas these Karemman conduits rely on local phase-shifted micro-grids! A single subterranean energy surge could cascade into the commercial stalls and overload every tricorder in a fifty-meter radius! Why, if I had five minutes with a hyperspanner and a phase-calibrator, I could stabilize their primary junction box and cut their power-bleed by twelve percent!"

He paused, catching the firm, warning look from Lieutenant Elandorn. Barbax cleared his throat nervously, wincing as he tucked his scanner closer to his chest.

"Right. Right! No tinkering with local infrastructure without municipal authorization," he muttered, forcing his eyes forward while his fingers twitched over his PADD. "Strictly observational scanning. I am... completely calm. Ready to evaluate pedestrian commerce and historical archives without fixing a single local grid. Lead on, Lieutenant!"

Sayori rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Barbax. Stop panicking. If these people were having safety concerns about their public transport system, they would be fixing them." She activated her own tricorder and began scanning for any interesting energy readings. "And just to reassure you, my scans show the power grid working at 60% of its maximum load. There also appear to be failsafes built into the system, as I am seeing conduits running in parallel that are barely holding nominal energy flow."

"Parallel failsafe conduits?" he asked, his rapid-fire pitch instantly dropping into an eager, highly fascinated hum as he leaned over to peer at the telemetry, "holding nominal energy flow at sixty percent load? Well... well, why didn't the preliminary municipal survey mention secondary redundant pathways?"

He tapped his PADD rapidly, a flush of sheepish excitement replacing his previous panic as he fell into step right behind Dylan. "That completely alters the structural stress probability! A sixty percent operational baseline with automated secondary bypasses means their local phase-shifted micro-grid isn't just functional... it's surprisingly well-engineered for a civilian trade hub! Fascinating! I suppose... I suppose I might have slightly over-analyzed their primary dampener flux."

Clearing his throat, Barbax adjusted the tricorder strap on his wrist, offering the group a bright, wide-ridged Denobulan grin. "A remarkably sound design, really! I stand corrected, Ensign. Lead the way to the museum, Lieutenant Blake... my stress-load concerns are officially down to nominal limits!"

Urvasi gently Yiffered as she replied to Barbax, "And, now you know the why for the Survey. Civilian design can actually exceed Starfleet Engineering principles as they think differently from how 'Military minded' think. Why do you think our team is comprised of Ops, Engineering, and Sciences? All disciplines are needed for understanding our survey directives. I am the Commanding Officer as Navigation and Flight Ops are dependent upon all disciplines and with that overall knowledge, I can help direct what is needed for the scans." Even though she was behind the others, she snorted out and said, "So, everyone, the businesses around us, why are they structured for being what they are, how do they support directing the incoming consumers, and what is the desire for the specific business around us? The how and what for determines the Why. I await your knowledge and speculations."

"And a very astute directive it is, Lieutenant!" Barbax responded, nodding enthusiastically as he tapped a quick sequence into his PADD. "Evaluating how commercial architecture manipulates pedestrian flow to maximize trade exposure is a primary metric of planetary hospitality survey protocols! For instance, if you observe the curvature of the vendor stalls ahead—"

He froze mid-sentence, his wide Denobulan facial ridges twitching as his tricorder emitted a sharp, rhythmic double-beep. The ambient hum of the street market faded into the background as he stared down at the sensor display, his eyes widening.

"Wait... that's strange," he muttered, tapping the casing sharply before sweeping the sensor arc toward the sky. "Lieutenant Elandorn, I’m getting a complete signal drop on our primary sub-space carrier wave. I attempted to sync our preliminary municipal survey logs with the Enterprise's main computer bank, but... the handshake protocol completely timed out."

He quickly adjusted the frequency modulation, his fingers fluttering over the interface with rapid, anxious precision. "I'm running a diagnostic on our combadge relay arrays, but it's not local interference. The orbital sub-space link to the ship is entirely unresponsive. Communications with the Enterprise have failed completely!"

Urvasi's brow furrowed as her tail whipped about twice. The tail slowed as she made an immediate Decision. She looked around quickly, found a spot to gather, then said, "Quickly everyone, let's head to this small park and one of the benches. Once there, we can more easily collaborate and start a plan for diagnostics and other methods of reaching the ship. Let's go."

Sayori checked her own equipment, which confirmed Barbax' observation. Then, she noticed something else. "Guys. It's not just the ship." She tapped her combadge to demonstrate. "I can't reach either of the other groups. I can't even establish a local connection to any of you right here. Something is blocking all of our communication signals."

"A localized damping field..." Barbax breathed, his wide Denobulan facial ridges twitching as he hurried toward the park benches, his fingers fluttering over his tricorder controls. "Ensign Nakai is correct! It's not an orbital alignment issue or a solar flare. A total blackout across all Starfleet primary, secondary, and localized comm-lines requires a high-frequency jamming array! Look at these attenuation readings," he whispered, his voice rising in an urgent pitch. "Someone has actively blanketed the entire municipal grid in a broad-spectrum dampening field. It's completely suppressing our combadges and cutting off the Enterprise! This isn't poor civilian engineering, Lieutenant... this is an intentional communications blackout!"

Urvasi replied in a low tone, "Keep yourself calm, Lieutenant Barbax, getting out of sorts now will only confirm the tactics are working." She looked across all of the group, "Now, we were actively taking sensor readings when the blackout occurred. If anybody is to notice us, 'We' are sitting here, at a park bench, enjoying the reprieve from walking, and discussing our journey so far. While, actually, we are going through our data to see about catching the dampening field forming and find a direction and maybe even distance from whence it originated. We can plan our next steps upon what we find. Shall we get started?"

"How broad is this dampening field?" Dylan asked. "Is just Starfleet channels affected or every other network? Karemma is a vibrate trading hub without comm traffic things could heat up quickly if it's widespread."

"I... I am observing local civilian behavior, as instructed," Barbax whispered under his breath, keeping his voice low. "Look at the merchant at the kiosk across the walkway. He just sent a data transfer on his local pad without any delay. And those commuters near the rail entrance are speaking on their personal comm-links completely uninterrupted." He nudged his PADD slightly on his lap, making it look as though he were merely scrolling through tourist brochures. "It isn't a municipal network failure, Lieutenant Blake," Barbax continued in a hushed, rapid whisper. "The local Karemman comm-grid and civilian datalinks are operating at full capacity. Whatever is suppressing our signals is target-specific..."

"Wait," Barbax abruptly broke off mid-sentence, "isn't that Counselor Laurell up on that upper sector?"

Dylan craned his neck to see where Barbax was looking and failed to spot the counselor from this distance. "Try to wave her down to us. Maybe we can work something out together," he suggested having trusted it was she Barbax had seen with his apparent superior eyesight.

Urvasi looked up as well, her eyes working on discerning the Counselor. Still, if Barbax said it was the counselor, it was the counselor. Urvasi stood up as she told her team, "Keep brainstorming and coordinating readings, I will try to get her attention." Urvasi stepped away from the group a little ways, then began waving her arms to attract Counselor Laurell's attention.

"Alright," Dylan turned back the topic of their communication blackout. "So we know this is targeted to Starfleet channels specifically. But why? Who else is down here, or knows that the Enterprise is in orbit?"

"The second part is easy to answer," Sayori replied with a shrug as she plopped herself down on the bench. "Basically anyone within visual range or with enough sensor range to see the ship. It's not like we're trying to hide our presence. The question that's baffling me is the why. And the how."

"Well, whoever is doing it clearly has sophisticated dampening technology," Barbax whispered rapidly, his wide facial ridges twitching as he kept his eyes glued to his PADD to appear completely natural. "To blanket our Starfleet comm-lines with a precise frequency block while leaving local civilian bandwidths operating at full capacity... that requires real calibration! It's not a brute-force wide-spectrum jammer—it's surgical!"

He glanced nervously toward Lieutenant Elandorn as she flagged down Counselor Laurell, then leaned closer to Dylan and Sayori. "If it's target-specific, someone either knew Starfleet standard protocols or detected our ship's primary carrier wave when we entered orbit," Barbax added, his fingers fluttering over his scanner. "Though... if Counselor Laurell is experiencing the exact same blackout, at least we can combine our sensor logs! More data points might let us triangulate the dampening field's origin point!"

Dylan chewed his lip with thought. The prospect of this being a target event made him uneasy - he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise with anxiety and sudden sensation they were being watched.

Feeling he was being paranoid he shook away the intrusive thoughts: "We'll see what she has to share, hopefully we can overcome this blackout quickly."

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