The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise were four years into their five year mission to explore strange new worlds and to bolder go where no one has gone before. While performing a routine scan of the Minaran system the all too ominous signs of the central star going nova were present. There were two Class 'M' planets in the solar system, neither of which had established any contact with the Federation, but the Prime Directive still prevented any form of evacuation or rescue attempts.
On the smaller, uninhabited planet dubbed "Minara II" a small research station had been established over the past six months and the two Federation scientists required immediate pick up. The second larger planet dubbed "Gamma Vertis IV", which did carry a population of humanoid inhabitants, could not be spared or warned.
With a a steadily narrowing window of time until nova the Enterprise crew attempts to beam up the two Federation scientists, only to be met by static and silence.
"Any changes in communication, Lt. Uhura?" Captain James T. Kirk asked the expertly trained communications officer who was consistently monitoring Federation channels.
"No changes, Sir." Uhura confirmed with a stoic grimace. "I've attempted to make contact on multiple channels across multiple frequencies, but it appears all contact with the space station has been severed due to the high solar flare activity."
"Noted." Turning his chair slightly Kirk next questioned his science officer on the situation. "Mr. Spock, report."
"Captain, the Minaran sun will go nova in 74.1 solar hours." The Vulcan first officer looked away from his console to speak with his Captain and friend. "The increased solar flare activity has drastically limited our communication and transporter capabilities."
"Suggestions?"
"I suggest beaming down a small search party within the hour to re-establish contact with the science base and retrieve our two missing science officers."
Kirk silently milled the idea around in his head for a moment before pressing the com and contacting his chief engineer down in engineering. "Mr. Scott, what are our current radiation levels?"
'Captain,' Montgomery "Scotty" Scott answered in his natural Scottish drawl over the intercom. 'radiation levels are currently within safe parameters, but the levels are increasing nonetheless.'
"How long before levels are critical?"
'Approximately nine hours, but I cannot guarantee it.'
"Thank you Mr. Scott, please keep the bridge updated."
'Aye, Sir. That I will!'
The com clicked off and Kirk addressed his first officer once more. "Mr. Spock; yourself, Lt. Uhura and Dr. McCoy will beam down to the planet's surface in attempt to make direct contact with our missing scientists."
"Yes, Captain." Spock left his post and proceeded to walk toward the turbo lift with Uhura following close behind.
"Uhura, keep constant vigil on our communication signals once you've reach the planet's surface." Kirk tagged on as she and Spock entered the lift.
"Aye, Sir." She acknowledged his orders and stepped into the lift and stood beside Spock, beside her love.
The doors of the lift closed as they began descending down to the proper deck for the transporter room. "Dr. McCoy," Kirk pressed the com button on the side of his chair once more. "meet Spock and Uhura in transporter room two and bring your med kit."
'Not another damned away mission.' Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy answered with a less than enthusiastic reply. 'C'mon Jim, I'm a doctor not an explorer, I prefer staying in sickbay. Where it's relatively safe.'
"I know you do, but I prefer you as my eyes and ears when I'm not on the away mission. You know I need you Bones!"
'Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm on my way.'
The doors to the lift opened and the duo exited side by side into the corridor, only to walk a few more paces before entering their designated transporter room.
Walking into the transporter room Spock and Uhura greeted their transporter technician before standing on the pad. Kirk contacted the technician over the com and asked for an update on Bones. 'Any word from Dr. McCoy?'
"Right here." Bones walked through the door with a somewhat annoyed huff, medical kit in hand. He begrudgingly joined Spock and Uhura on the transporter pad and sighed. "Let's get this over with."
'That's the spirit Bones.' Kirk didn't even try to hide his amusement as he overheard the response over the com.
The technician confirmed the coordinates and addressed his Commander. "Ready whenever you are, Sir."
"Energize." With the single confirmation the three occupants on the transporter pad were beamed from the Enterprise and to the surface of the planet below.
Within a matter of seconds the small away team set foot on the dry, red terrain of Minara II. It was a barren, desolate place that had long been since abandoned by its native inhabitants. Craggy earth, massive jagged boulders, shifting brown sand, dry wind and silence was all that remained of the planet's once thriving landscape.
A large, silver metallic dome stood out boldly against the brown and red environment unnaturally. The dome, the scientific research facility, was still operational but it seemed eerily abandoned.
"Uhura to Enterprise." She flipped open her communicator and attempted to establish contact with the ship. "Come in Enterprise."
'Enterprise responding.' Lt. Hikaru Sulu's voice answered. 'Reading you loud and clear.'
"Enterprise begin scan on the exterior and interior of the facility and transmit the results to Mr. Spock's tricorder."
'Aye, Lieutenant. Beginning scan now.'
"Uhura out." Closing the communicator she pocketed the device and motioned for Spock and McCoy to follow. "Gentlemen, let's go."
The trio silently approached the facility, Spock's tricorder drawn and tensions high. Despite the planet being uninhabited the environment seemed ominously quiet and still.
"I don't like this, Spock." McCoy finally broke the silence as he looked over his shoulder suspiciously. "It feels like we're being watched."
"Being watched?" Uhura didn't understand McCoy's concern. "Watched by what?"
"Not by what," McCoy continued with emphasis. "by whom."
"Doctor," Spock intervened with his own opinion. "there are no organic life forms existing on this planet, aside from ourselves and the two scientists. Your concern is illogical."
"I know that Spock," McCoy almost snapped. "but I still have the unsettling feeling that someone, someone unfriendly, is watching us. Logical or not my gut is telling me we're walking into a trap!"
Uhura just shook her head as they reached the large, single entrance to the facility. The power was still on but it was running on its absolute minimal capacity. The door opened, slowly with a shuddering motion and a gust of dusty air blew through the doorway into the outside with a rush.
Pulling her communicator from her pocket Uhura reestablished contact with the Enterprise. "Uhura to Enterprise, anything to report?"
Static and broken sentences were his only reply as Sulu attempted to answer. 'Atte... up... a for... ...nal. Unkno... ... ...side.'
"Enterprise, come in?" Uhura attempted to boost the signal but was unable to improve the communication link. "Sulu? Captain? Enterprise, come in!"
Nothing. Only static and garbled sounds of interference.
"Spock," Uhura turned and looked at the science officer somewhat worried. "can we boost the signal inside?"
"It is possible to use the facilities computers to boost our communicators signal through the increasing solar flare activity."
"Right. Let's get moving then." Uhura poked her head through the door and saw that the lights were dim and it was just as quiet inside as out.
McCoy adamantly objected. "Whoa, whoa! You want to go inside there? There was no communication response from the facility when we first arrived, what makes you think we'll be able to send one now?"
"We have to try Doctor." Uhura replied matter-of-factually. "Come on, the sooner we make contact the sooner we can leave."
"Best suggestion all day." McCoy reluctantly admitted.
The away team cautiously entered the foreboding facility that reeked of desertion. The walls and floor were all covered with a fine layer of dust that escaped into the air in puffs of clouds beneath the trio's footsteps. Yellow and red caution lights flickered rhythmically through the lengthy corridors, casting faded shadows that only intensified the feeling of dread.
"Something's wrong." McCoy reiterated. "Something's very wrong."
"Yeah, I'm beginning to think you're right." Uhura was beginning to feel uneasy as well.
"'Bout damn time..."
Stepping into the heart of the facility the main control room was void of all personnel and showed signs of months of neglect. Control panels were flashing on and off, chemicals were left out of place and a bunson burner was still ignited.
Uhura paused and looked around suspiciously. "What happened here?"
"Unknown." Was Spock's succinct, direct reply.
"And where are the scientists?" McCoy tagged on nervously.
"Again, unknown." Spock's tone remained calm and professional. "I shall attempt to obtain the security footage."
McCoy and Uhura tentatively walked around the room, carefully glancing over any and all research that had been left unchecked by the two missing scientists. Massive and valuable computer files were left on the monitors for prying eyes to view, all of the computers were left running and unmanned potentially exposing the collected data for any enemy of the Federation to steal.
"Lieutenant, look at this." McCoy spied a single coffee mug left idle on a desk. "This hasn't been touched in weeks, if not months. What the hell's going on?"
Before Uhura could respond Spock succeeded in retrieving the security footage. The last known images of the two missing scientists was being played out on the screen of the largest monitor in the room. The trio gathered around the monitor, Uhura and Spock standing side by side while McCoy watched over Spock's shoulder.
"I can't hear anything." Uhura addressed the uneasy silence of the footage.
"All audio has been compromised." Spock confirmed. "Only the video is available."
The video itself showed the two M.I.A. scientists going about their routinely business; taking soil samples and analyzing data read outs. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until the two men on screen suddenly began grimacing in pain and covering their ears as if a horrendous, deafening sound was filling the room.
"What's happening to them?" McCoy asked without taking his eyes from the screen.
"Without any audio we may never know." Spock stoically responded.
"Thanks Spock, you're a tremendous help."
The footage continued on, the two scientists holding their ears, stumbling for the exit in a final desperate attempt to flee before finally collapsing in pain onto the floor. Just seconds after collapsing and falling unconscious the two men suddenly vanished from the screen without a trace. No transporter beam, no one else entering the room and no one exiting through the door.
"The hell?!" McCoy couldn't believe his eyes. "Where did they-"
Spock suddenly put his hands to his ears and shut his eyes tight as a horrible pain rang through his head.
"Spock?!" McCoy put his hands on Spock's shoulders and tried to steady the pained Vulcan as he began losing balance. "What is it?"
"I... I don't know!" Spock stammered pathetically, his ears ringing louder and louder. "A high pitched frequency..."
"Dr. McCoy, do something!" Uhura practically blurted as she put her hand on Spock's arm.
"I don't know what to do!" McCoy confessed as he continued to support Spock's form as the taller Vulcan began blacking out. "I can't-"
Simultaneously Uhura and McCoy also put their hands over their ears as the intense sound was now beginning to affect them as well. Like Spock and the two scientists before them they too fell victim to the unknown sound that created unbearable pain. A high pitched sound that only increased in volume and intensity, which caused pain, dizziness and confusion.
Spock fell to the floor in an unconscious heap at Uhura's feet.
"Spock!?" McCoy kneeled down next to the felled Vulcan but he too soon passed out from the pain, falling helplessly at his colleague's side.
Uhura was the last to fall, her resolve to stay coherent and conscious was no match for the debilitating sound that came from seemingly everywhere.
The room went black and the sound mercifully faded away as the trio fell victim and unconscious on the cold, dusty floor of the research facility. A strange energy and presence quickly filled the room...
...to be continued...