Chapter 2
Tasha felt the familiar rush of the transporter beam as the room dissolved in a flurry of silvery sparks. Her vision swam as Transporter Room 3 was replaced by thick jungle underbrush. The air felt damp and humid, as if it had just stopped raining. Tasha quickly checked herself to make sure she had made it to the planet's surface in one piece. Thankfully, the transport was successful. She turned to see Data and Riker standing a few meters away. Data had promptly taken out his tricorder and begun scanning.
"The tricorder's maximum scan radius is limited to twenty meters," Data said. "There are no other life signs in the area."
"Good," Riker said. "How far are we from the coast?"
"Unsure, sir," Data answered. "EM fluctuations are making it difficult for the tricorder's sensors to read past twenty meters." The android closed his tricorder and exchanged a glance with Riker. "There is no knowing how far from the coast we have landed."
Riker sighed and tapped his comm badge. "Riker to Enterprise," he said.
There was no response.
"Riker to Enterprise, do you read me?"
Still no response.
Tasha tried her own comm badge, but with the same result.
"It looks like the EM fluctuations have created a natural dampening field around the planet's surface," Data said.
"Will we be able to beam out?" Tasha asked.
"Uncertain, Lieutenant," Data answered. "We were beamed down to a point on the planet's surface that had minimal EM fluctuation. If we are unable to contact the Enterprise from here, there is a chance they might not be able to communicate with us either. The ship's sensors were having difficulties picking up life signs earlier."
"So there's a chance we might be stuck down here?" Tasha asked.
"Not unless Lt. Worf is able to track us," Riker said.
"Which could be difficult..." Data continued
"Depending on how bad the EM fluctuations are," Riker finished.
"In other words," Tasha said, "we're stuck down here until somebody sends a search team. Great. Just great."
Data looked confused. "I do not see what is so enjoyable about being stranded here, Lieutenant."
"She was being sarcastic," Riker said.
"Sarcasm...how intriguing," Data said thoughtfully.
"Can we focus on finding that ship, gentlemen?" Tasha said irritably.
"Right. Mr. Data, what's our bearing?" Riker asked.
Data opened his tricorder again. "The ship was said to have landed close to the western coast of this land mass. If we head due west, we should be able to reach the coast in a timely manner." He turned the tricorder and pressed a few buttons. "We should be heading...this way." The android began to make his way through the underbrush, motioning Riker and Tasha to follow.
"At least this planet has a magnetic pole," Tasha said grimly. "Wait. Commander, did he say how far from the coast we are?"
"O'Brien to bridge," Chief O'Brien said. "Transport has been successful."
"Good work, Chief," Captain Picard said. "Mr. Worf, make sure you are able to track them."
"Aye sir," Worf answered. "They are located approximately 25 kilometers from the ship's last-seen position and currently moving due west."
"All three of them?"
"Two life signs and a positronic signature."
"Excellent. Lieutenant Shay, see if you can contact them."
"Aye sir," Lt. Shay said. He pressed a few buttons on the Tactical console and furrowed his brow in confusion. "Sir, I can't seem to contact them. There must be a dampening field or something down there that's making it difficult to communicate with them." He tried again and shook his head.
Picard began to look worried. "Mr. Worf, continue to track them. Don't let them out of your sight. I will be in my ready room."
"Aye sir, but it will be difficult."
"I'll continue trying to contact them," Shay said. "I'll see if I can adjust the frequencies to compensate for the fluctuations."
Picard nodded. "Make it so. I want to be able to communicate with the away team as soon as possible."
"Aye sir."
Picard stepped into his ready room, leaving Worf and Lt. Shay to keep their eyes and ears open for the away team.
