Chapter 3
"Just like home, isn't it?" Chalmos said to Threv.
Threv looked around them at the endless snow, the icy winds piercing his skin, and nodded. The landscape did remind him of Andoria somewhat, not that he ever felt homesick.
Captain Thorpe had selected Threv to be part of the team of MACOs accompanying the polar expedition group. Threv had been indifferent to the assignment until he found out two things about it.
One: There was at least one Draco of humungous size prowling around the arctic wasteland. He had barely survived his previous, terrifying encounters with much smaller Draco, and did not relish the idea of meeting a larger version.
Two: His archaeologist bondmate Chalmos was on the expedition team, to study what lay beneath the mysterious metal seal. While he did love his family, Threv liked to spend part of his day away from them. Working with his ch'te might prove more than he could handle.
"Great that we're gonna be working together," Chalmos said, smiling, voicing the exact inverse of Threv's feelings on the matter.
"I have to watch the perimeter," Threv said, trying to sound disappointed. "I'm sure you'll be busy with whatever we find down there too." He nodded towards the seal, where a team of engineers assembled the small crane's mechanism for lifting it.
It had taken them over a day to have the crane transported and assembled, but they were nearing completion now, despite Supervisor Grum poking his snout in at every opportunity.
One thing Threv did seem to have in common with Chalmos was that they were the least disturbed by the cold, as everyone else was wrapped up well, while they each wore only one extra layer.
He saw Lieutenant Sylor kneeling by the seal as the engineers attached the crane to the large icon. Captain Thorpe approached him.
"Problem, Lieutenant?" Thorpe asked him over the roaring winds.
Sylor stood, but kept looking at his scanner. "I think the hatch is magnetically sealed from the inside, sir."
Thorpe frowned. "After two hundred millennia?"
"It could have been electronically locked at first," said the subtly shivering Vulcan, "then natural magnetism took over. That would account for some of the sensor interference."
Chalmos, who had also overheard their discussion, stepped over to them. "If it was sealed from the inside, does that mean there could be… remains? Of whoever sealed it?"
Sylor raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps. There may not be much left after so long though. And there could also be another egress point."
"Is there's anything of value down there," Grum butted in, "it belongs to my people."
Chalmos looked at the stout Tellarite, indignant. "This is the xenoarchaeological find of the century, Supervisor. Whatever's down there is worth more than money."
Grum snorted. "I'm sure my government will graciously allow Starfleet to keep any dusty old relics you may come across. It's only precious minerals we're interested in."
Chalmos shook his head.
"Is the magnetic lock going to stop the crane from lifting this thing?" Thorpe said to Sylor, gesturing to the metallic circle and ignoring the Andorian-Tellarite debate.
Sylor looked the crane up and down. "Ultimately, no, but it would strain the mechanism. We may be able to nullify the magnetic lock with the portable EMP generator you brought, however."
Thorpe mulled this over a moment, then nodded. "Get to it, Lieutenant."
While Sylor and one of the science officers adjusted the cylindrical, meter-high generator, Threv swept his eyes across the frozen vista. The swirling blizzard rendered everything in the distance a white-grey haze in every direction, but he wanted to be vigilant for whatever was out there.
Eventually, the adjustments were completed, and the EMP was fired in the direction of the seal. Although the pulse was silent and invisible, Threv and Chalmos both winced from the slight tingle they felt; their antennae being sensitive to electromagnetism.
Sylor scanned the seal again. "It is now unlocked."
"Take it up!" Thorpe shouted to the engineer at the crane controls.
The crane whirred loudly as the circular metal covering was slowly lifted on four chains attached to the hoist. As soon as it left the ground, the wind rushed in towards it.
"Vacuum sealed!" Chalmos shouted in excitement. "That means everything inside will be well-preserved."
Threv couldn't help smiling for Chalmos. He always enjoyed his work. Threv envied that.
The seal was lifted off and placed beside the dark hole it had left. Even through the cold air, a musty smell rose from the pit within. Everyone gathered around to peer down into the abyss, but there was only blackness staring back.
"Okay," said Thorpe. "Here's what's happening: I'll take a team of MACOs down to secure the area and assess any threats…"
"Threats?" said Chalmos. Threv cringed in embarrassment as his bondmate questioned Threv's superior officer. "Respectfully, Captain, whatever's down there has been sealed up for over two hundred thousand years, I can't imagine there'd be a danger."
"Booby traps, ancient curses, mummies," said Thorpe. "It's like you've never seen an Indiana Jones movie, Mr. Chalmos."
"Indiana who?" said Chalmos.
Thorpe waved his hand dismissively. "In all seriousness, the structure could be unstable after all that time. Let us be your canaries."
The captain turned away to speak with the engineers, who were attaching an enclosed platform to the crane for people to be lowered in.
Chalmos looked at Threv, his face screwed up in confusion. "Canaries?"
Threv just shrugged.
Thorpe turned back to the others. "Once my team has determined that it's safe down there, we can start bringing the rest of you in. For now though, all scientists and engineers will remain topside.
"Warren, Threv, Carter and Harley, you all stay up here with them, keep your eyes peeled. The rest of the MACOs, with me. We'll maintain an open commlink, but if there's trouble, don't hesitate to leave us and head for the shuttlepods. We all clear?"
Everyone nodded and murmured their agreement, some more reluctantly than others. Threv wasn't sure if it was any safer down the hole in the ground, but he would have preferred it to remaining up top with Chalmos and the possibility of a gigantic Draco.
It didn't take too long for Thorpe's team to be lowered to the bottom - the darkness must have been due to the low light at the pole rather than depth.
"Some - of chamber," Thorpe said over Sylor's communicator while everyone gathered around. Interference hissed over the signal, which occasionally cut out altogether.
"Definitely signs of civilisation. There - artificial constructs, but they're old and worn."
"Try not to touch anything!" Chalmos shouted, making Threv cringe again.
If Thorpe had heard, he gave no indication. "Lots of doors to other areas. Going to - what we can - out."
There was then silence, other than the eerie hiss of the weak signal. While everyone was still focused on the communicator, Threv saw something move out the edge of his vision. Jerking his head around to gaze into the blizzard, he saw nothing but whiteness now, whirling through the air.
Probably just his eyes playing tricks on him, he reasoned. Every Andorian knew how the dancing snow could toy with one's sight.
Still, he couldn't help wondering if anything else up here had sensed that EMP.
Suddenly Threv felt quite chilly.
