Author's Note: Belated Season's Greetings! Unless you're reading this around Christmastime at some point in the future, in which case, not-so-belated. Just a heads up, there will be no "next time" teaser epilogue at the conclusion of this episode, but, rest assured, there are plenty more stories to come.


Acknowledgements

Thanks to my fellow FFN writers Kehlan, AmandaG96, and Biku-sensei-sez-meow for their support.


Prologue

Supervisor Lar bim Grum, like most Tellarites, was not a patient person. Even less so when he was forced to endure sub-zero temperatures for several weeks in a row. He wondered if he'd ever get the snow out of his beard.

When his mining survey team had uncovered the 200-millennia-old, 2-metre-wide metal icon at Berengaria VII's northern polar region, Starfleet had, of course, stuck their noses in. The Earth government had claimed the planet itself, but, due to a lack of sufficient mining infrastructure, had allowed the Tellarites first rights over any precious minerals there (in exchange for a significant cut). This agreement, however, did not cover finds such as this.

The round symbol was the oldest known artificial construct in the galaxy, and was a revolutionary historical artefact. Grum couldn't help thinking that there could be money in this somehow, given that his team had discovered it. And so, he had elected to oversee the Starfleet study of the object, even when the rest of his people had opted to return to the warmth of the starbase.

The only reason they'd had to survey the rest of the planet in the first place was because the rodinium-rich mountains close to Starbase 1 were off-limits by order of the Draco - Berengaria's dragon-like natives - until their hibernation cycle months from now. It was an inconvenience, but diplomatically beneficial.

He stood close by, wrapped up in his arctic gear, while the scientists scrutinised the artefact's circular patterns and metallic makeup. Vulcan linguist Lieutenant Sylor, as the senior officer, was in charge of the effort, and was under even more layers that Grum. Meanwhile, by contrast, civilian archaeologist Chalmos wore little more than a thick coat - Andorians being more accustomed to freezing temperatures.

Chalmos grinned at Sylor, tapping his scanner. "This is amazing!" he shouted over the whirling blizzard. "There's metals in this alloy we can't identify! They must have come from elsewhere. That means whoever left this had space travel! They may not even have been native to Berengaria!"

"A logical conclusion regardless of its composition," said Sylor, while trying to stop his teeth from chattering. "As there are no signs of prior civilisation anywhere else on the planet."

"Not that we've found so far, anyway," said Chalmos, his enthusiasm undeterred.

Grum stepped forward, rubbing his arms for warmth. "Just remember: If any of those metals prove useful, the Tellar Space Administration has first claim on them."

"You will have to discuss that with Commodore North, Supervisor," Sylor said without facing him. "We are here only to study the artefact."

Grum didn't respond, but remained in place between Sylor and Chalmos.

"Do you recognise these markings?" Chalmos asked Sylor, pointing to the concentric circle pattern on the object.

Sylor stared at the symbol a moment. Grum thought that he looked as though he was trying to remember something, but Vulcans were always so inscrutable.

"Negative," Sylor said eventually.

"Sir," said one of the science officers, Lieutenant Phillips, to Sylor. "We're detecting what appears to be an underground tunnel leading down from the artefact."

"A tunnel?" Grum repeated. "Where does it lead?"

Phillips glanced from Grum back to Sylor, who nodded for him to answer.

"We're not sure," he replied. "There's strong magnetic interference, probably from the planet's polar field. It's making scanning difficult."

Sylor contemplated this. "It is likely that this artefact is some sort of seal or hatch leading to a subterranean area. This bears further investigation."

Chalmos had been kneeling by the metal circle's base, and now stood. "It looks fairly imbedded into the ground. We'll need equipment to raise it. And carefully."

"I believe the base is equipped with at least one construction crane," said Sylor, taking out his communicator. "I shall arrange to have it prepared."

Chalmos was beaming at this, but Grum poked his finger towards Sylor.

"Remind Commodore North that anything found down there-"

"Should be credited to the Tellar Space Administration," Sylor finished for him, his glare colder than the environment. "You have made that abundantly clear, Supervisor. If you are going to continue to insist on your presence for this survey, I would ask you to be less intrusive."

With that, he turned away from Grum and started speaking into his communicator.

Grum snorted. It was refreshing to be spoken to so abruptly by a non-Tellarite, but he didn't appreciate being side-lined. He strolled through the snow to cool off; perhaps a bit too much though.

Grumbling to himself about the cold, the planet, Starfleet, Vulcans, and everyone who had ever wronged him, he was taken by surprise when the ground suddenly dipped beneath his feet, causing him to stumble and fall on his face.

Witnessing this, Chalmos and Phillips ran over to him. "Are you alright?" called the young Andorian.

"Yes, yes, fine," Grum said, picking himself up. His pride was wounded more than anything else. He brushed the snow off himself futilely, and faced the others. They were staring at him in awe.

Or rather, they were staring around him in awe.

From their expressions, Grum slowly turned to look at where he'd fallen, and realised he was standing in a gigantic, three-toed footprint.

It was identical to the footprints left by the Draco, except for the fact that it was about 10 times larger.

Grum suddenly grew colder as he thought about what might have left such a print.