Chapter 24
Tattoo.
(Scott POV)
We were in orbit of a moon with had polyferranide what B'Elanna wanted for before our nacelles burn out. We were just waiting for them to come back.
"Captain," Harry said.
"Go ahead," I said.
"The Away team is ready to beam back," Harry said.
"Then Energize," I said.
"Transport complete," Harry said. "Everyone is back safe and sound,"
"Good, Tom Resume course for home," I said.
"Aye captain," Tom said.
Taking Voyager away from the moon and put us back on course for Home.
XXX
"I think you need to see this," Chakotay said. Coming next to me.
"Where," I said.
"My office," Chakotay said.
"Kat, You got the Bridge," I said.
"I found something interesting down on the moon, But it also was like I was back in the Woods with my Father. I hated every minute of it," Chakotay as we got there and went in. "My Father had dragged me all the way from our colony near the Cardassian Border on this quest of his, Away from my friends, My home, And here we were in the middle of a brutal Central American Jungle looking for the descendants of the Ancient Rubber people"
"Must have been very important to him," I said.
"Believe me it was, And he was very disappointed that I didn't share his enthusiasm," Chakotay said. "He'd been tracking down the origins of our Tribe for years," Then he put on the Image that he took. "The one on the right is the one I found today, On the moon,"
"The left the stone you have on you," I said.
"Yes," Chakotay said.
"Now something you saw on that trip years ago, shows up again on that moon surface almost 70,000 Lightyears away," I said. "I take it you don't have any theories that might explain this,"
"I can give you an official Rubber Tree people history if you like, Sky Spirits," Chakotay said.
"Sky Spirits?" I said.
"It's an ancient Myth," Chakotay said.
"What like Werewolves that sort of thing," I said.
"Yeap, Sky Spirits from above created the First Rubber People in their own image and led the way to a sacred land where the Rubber people would live for eternity," Chakotay said.
"You don't put a great deal of faith in this explanation," I said.
"How much faith do you put in Adam and Eve?" Chakotay said.
"None," I said.
"Hasn't science proved that all human developed from a single evolutionary process?" Chakotay said.
"That's one thing I could believe," I said. "Even taught that, On the other hand, none of my teachers ever spent much time in the Delta Quadrant, or even left Earth, B'Elanna tells me we picked up a warp signature heading away from the moon, Think we should follow it?"
"I don't know that it's fair for me to put my own personal curiosity ahead of the ship's priorities," Chakotay said.
"We still haven't found the polyferranide we need to deal the warp coils, If these people have Warp technology, They might be able to help us," I said. "Besides, we are in the business of exploring, aren't we?"
"My Father would put on his expedition hat and shout let's go," Chakotay said.
"I guess that's good enough for me,"
"Then set the course, I'm needed down in the armoury," I said.
"Aye captain," Chakotay said.
When I got there. They were weapons on the table, P90. MP5. M16. M4A1. M9. . 357. Magnum. And Tuvok.
"What's all this," I said.
"You do say for me to Train the crew up on these weapons, Captain," Tuvok said.
"Tuvok, I know how to use these. P90. MP5. M16. M4A1. M9. . 357. Magnum." I said. "My Uncle trained me up on these ages ago,"
"Bridge to the Captain," Chakotay said.
"Go ahead," I said.
"We're approaching a planet, The Warp signature lead us to it," Chakotay said.
"On our way," I said.
Then we headed up to the Bridge.
"Lifesigns," I said.
"Showing no life signs," Harry said.
"Tom, are you certain the warp signature ended here?" I said.
"Positive, Captain," Tom said. "Harry, Check your sensors, That look like some kind of power source to you,"
"That is an unusually high EM reading for a natural occurrence," Harry said.
"Could be some kind of Cloaking technology," Chakotay said.
"Harry, Transmit a continuous message on all frequencies identifying who we are, where we're from and make it clear our intentions are peaceful," I said.
"Torres to Bridge," B'Elanna said.
"Go ahead," I said.
"We're in luck, Captain," B'Elanna said. "My readings are showing high concentrations of polyferranide about 10 kilometers below the surface,"
"Acknowledged, We'll send an away team to continue the survey. report to Transporter room 3," I said.
"On my way," B'Elanna said.
"Commander if we meet any resistance, abort the mission," I said. "I have no intention of disturbing an alien race that would rather be left alone,"
"Understood," Chakotay said.
"On the other hand, if we can make contact our goal is to get permission to begin excavation as soon as possible," I said.
"Tuvok, you're with me," Chakotay said. "Neelix please report to Transporter room 3 for an away mission,"
"I'll meet you there, Commander," Neelix said.
But instead of transporting they had to take a shuttle down.
XXX
After Neelix was beamed up I found out that he was attacked by a bird.
But I was still on the Bridge. As Chakotay wanted to know if we could do anything.
"Harry believes if we bombard the crust with antithoron Radiation, We can decontaminate it before excavation begins," I said.
"Then all we need to do is locate these people and get their permission," Chakotay said.
"Any progress?" I said.
"Everything we've found here suggests the people who live in this village left recently and in a hurry," Chakotay said.
"Do you believe our arrival frightened them?" I said.
"We can't discount that," Chakotay said.
"You'd think with Warp technology they would have encountered other alien life before now," Harry said.
"You'd think with warp technology, they wouldn't be living like this," Chakotay said. "Captain, have you had any unusual readings, that might explain the images of a strangle face I've been seeing?"
"Images?" I said.
"Very odd," Chakotay said. "Like a flash of a memory, But it's someone I've never met,"
"Nothing unusual has shown up on the ship's sensors," I said.
"Tuvok hasn't detected any telepathic activity, Either," Chakotay said.
"If you want to call it a day commander," I said.
"No, I think we'll press on for a while," Chakotay said. "Chakotay out,"
"Harry, keep a transporter lock on them. It shouldn't be too difficult to beam them out," I said.
"Aye captain," Harry said.
XXX
We didn't hear from the team. But.
"Captain," Harry said.
"What is it?" I said.
"A storm. Approaching the Away teams position," Harry said.
"Away team to Voyager," Tuvok said.
"Go ahead, Tuvok," I said.
"Emergency beam out," Tuvok said.
"Harry get them out of there," I said.
"Energizing," Harry said. "Got them,"
Then They got to the Bridge, But Not Chakotay.
"Where Chakotay," I said.
"He was right behind us, I don't understand what could have happened," B'Elanna said.
"Was he wearing the combadge the last time you saw him?" I said.
"Just before the storm he was using it to speak with you," Tuvok said.
"Tom, what are the current surface conditions near the shuttle?" I said.
"Surface conditions are back to normal, Captain, winds 2 knots but I can't find any sign of their shuttle?" Tom said. "it's not where they landed it,"
"Is it Airborne," I said.
"No, Not on sensors," Tom said.
"I'll lead the away team, Tuvok, B'Elanna you're with me, Tom you have," I said.
"Captain McCall," Doc voice come over hoarsely. "This is the Doctor, Please turn to your Emergency Medical holographic Channel,"
"What is it Doc," I said.
"Something terrible has happened, My program," Doc said then started coughing..
"Doctor, I think you're carrying this experiment of yours a little too far," I said.
"1 hour too far, to be precise, I very specifically programmed a 29 hour Levodian Flu, And it has now been 30 hours," Doc said.
"Doc, Sorry, But we have more pressing matters," I said.
"You can't leave me like this, I need help," Doc said. "Now get me somebody who can tweak the computer and make me feel better, immediately,"
"Very well, Harry, is on his way," I said. "Try to relax Doc,"
"I'll see to that, Captain," Kes said.
"I'm going to need you with me, Kes, Get a medkit and bring it with you to Transporter Room 3, Commander Chakotay is still on the surface and may be injured, McCall out," I said.
Then I went for the Transporter room 3 and waited for Kes. Once Kes got there.
"Harry is with him," Kes said.
"Then let's go," I said.
"Damn it," B'Elanna said.
"What is it? B'Elanna," I said.
"Same thing again we can't transport down," B'Elanna said.
"Can we make in a shuttle," I said.
"No," B'Elanna said. "Maybe a Jumper can,"
"Run a simulation and find out," I said.
"On it but it could take an hour to do," B'Elanna said.
"Go," I said.
XXX
Once B'Elanna got back.
"No good, Captain, The hull isn't strong enough to do so," B'Elanna said.
"Can you not change the cloak to a Shield," I said.
"It will take too long," B'Elanna said. "If Chakotay is hurt down there, we don't have that time,"
"The logical conclusions is that someone is controlling the elements of nature to ward us off," Tuvok said. "The Transporter anomaly is evidence of this conclusion, We are allowed to leave the planet, but not to approach,"
"If that's true, I'd be happy to respect that but unfortunately, Chakotay is down there, I don't plan on leaving him. McCall to Paris," I said.
"Yes, Captain," Tom said.
"Tom, We're to land Voyager on the surface, take us into the Atmosphere," I said.
"Acknowledged," Tom said.
Then once we got there.
"What is going on?" I said. "The shuttle didn't report turbulence this severe during their landing,"
"I'm doing the best I can, Captain, I'm showing gale force winds out there," Tom said.
"It is conceivable, that the aliens, have been able to intensify their response now that they are familiar with our capabilities," Tuvok said.
Then we got hit hard.
"Red Alert," I said as the Klaxon went Red.
"Inertial dampers are off line," Tom said. "We seem to be caught in some kind of vortex, I can't maintain altitude,"
"Captain, It's a cyclone," Harry said.
"Altitude 20,000 meters and falling, I can't get us out of this thing, Captain," Tom said.
"Bridge to Torres, B'Elanna we need more power from the engines," I said.
"I've got them running 20% over rated Maximum, Captain," B'Elanna said.
"It's not enough," I said. "Use one of the ZPM's put it to the Engines,"
"Could we go to low warp under these conditions?" Harry said.
"The ship, might make it without inertial dampers, but we'd all just be stains on the back wall," Tom said.
"I can try to augment the engines with power from the ZPM and the auxiliary fusion reactors, But it's going to take at least 20 minutes," B'Elanna said.
"How much time do we have, Tom," I said.
"Altitude at 18,000 meters and falling, at this rate, we're looking at about 10 minutes," Tom said.
"B'Elanna you got 9, Make it happen," I said.
"Aye captain," B'Elanna said.
XXX
We were still in the Cyclone and falling.
"Altitude 6,000 meters," Tom said.
"Warming, Approach vector is too steep," Computer said. "Discontinue Landing sequence,"
"Would somebody turn that off, Please," Tom said.
"B'Elanna, report," I said. "We need that extra power,"
"10 minutes," B'Elanna said. "I just need 10 minutes,"
"Altitude 2000 meters," Tom said.
"Stand by Bridge," B'Elanna said. "We're initiating the transfer now,"
"I'm showing an 8% boost in the engines," Harry said.
"That's all?" I said.
"The Fusion reactors are nearly drained, Fighting the storm is taking every reserve we have," B'Elanna said.
"Altitude 1000 meters," Tom said.
"Impact in 20 seconds," Harry said.
"B'Elanna," I said.
"Impact in 15 seconds," Harry said.
"I'm sorry captain that's all we've got," B'Elanna said.
"Impact in 10 seconds," Harry said.
Then the turbulence stopped.
"Report," I said.
"We're free," Tom said. "Gaining altitude, 2000 meters, 2500. Dampers back on line,"
"The storms have completely dissipated," Harry said. "There's not a cloud in the sky,"
"Chakotay. Stand down Red alert," I said.
"It appears the inhabitants of this planet have decided to make contact, Captain, The Cloaking device has been turned off, and we are showing an alien population. I've located the shuttle, It may be possible to locate Commander Chakotay," Tuvok said. "Without landing,"
"Establish a search pattern, Tom," I said.
"Yes, Captain," Tom said.
"Begin scanning for human life signs," I said. "As soon as you find Chakotay we'll send down an away team,"
"Got him," Tuvok said.
"Go," I said.
Then Tuvok left.
"Tuvok to Voyager 4 to beam up," Tuvok said.
"Beam them up Harry," I said.
"Transport complete," Harry said.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all
PEACE!