Author's note:

Hello everyone. Sorry for taking so long to update but the internet where I was wasn't working, then I was ill and then I couldn't upload the chapter but now I can *whoops with joy, jumps about and claps hands with glee*. So here is chapter two and it's a bit more of the build up before we get to the real meat of the story. Thank you for your support of this story and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

I own nothing.

The Device

The journey to Zeta IV was uneventful and the Enterprise was soon in orbit above the planet.

It was smaller than Earth but was still capable of holding a suitable oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere and plenty of water; there was plenty of local flora and fauna but no advanced life forms so if it wasn't for its distance from other planets in the Federation it would have been excellent for colonisation. As such it was a largely ignored planet with nothing much of interest that couldn't be found on more accessible worlds.

Jim looked to Spock, "Have we found where the signal is coming from on the planet?"

The commander answered, "We have Captain and we have also detected evidence of a crashed starship in the area of the signal's origin."

"So it's a distress beacon then?"

"Unfortunately I cannot be sure Captain, the signal is not like any distress message I've heard of but it is possible that the beacon is damaged causing the signal to be distorted."

Jim looked thoughtful, "It's also a bit far out from the usual cargo routes so if it is a downed craft what were they doing out here."

"I have had similar thoughts Captain but there is very little we can confirm from the ship."

"So we going to have to have a little jaunt planetside." Jim addressed Pavel, "Mr Chekov you will accompany me and the away team down to the planet and see if you and Mr Scott can work out what happened, be in the transporter room in ten minutes. Spock, you have the conn."

Jim was out the door before anyone could protest his decision.

The away team was soon ready and waiting in the transporter room, it consisted of Jim, Scotty and Pavel with Hendorff and the green-skinned Mr Kai as security. Jim gave a few last instructions, "We're going to be beamed a short distance from the signal's origin and our mission is to find out exactly what the signal is and who is sending it. We don't really know what we're going to find so I want everyone to remain alert at all times."

He gave a short nod to the team and a reassuring smile to Pavel before stepping up onto the transporter with the others.

"Energise."

They materialised in what looked like temperate woodland with oak-like trees scraping 70 feet, there were flowers reminiscent of Earth's daffodils and bluebells scattered around the mossy ground and large tiger-patterned butterflies fluttered between them. They were caught in the beauty of their surroundings for a minute before Jim got them back on task, "The signal is coming from about 200 meters directly ahead of us, remember to keep alert."

There were affirmatives from the away team and they set out; it wasn't long before they came to a crash site. A huge scar had been ripped in the forest and bits of twisted and weathered metal were scattered across it, parts were recognisable as sections of corridor or engine parts whereas others were melted and bent beyond recognition. It was Pavel who first commented on the wreckage, "Keptain, if the signal ees a distress beacon eet cannot be from zis ship."

Jim looked at the young Ensign, "Why not?"

"Because ze remains around us are overgrown and ze forest has begun to cover much of ze debris. I estimate zat ze wreckage has been here for a few years sor."

Scotty was quick to agree with the boy, "The laddie's right Captain, going by the weathering on the debris Ah would say that the wreckage as been here at least a decade, if not longer."

Jim looked closer and saw the signs that they were right before replying, "So why are we picking up a signal in a wrecked ship that has been crashed for years now?"

The question was left unanswered as they found the origin of the signal.

It was a greyish-black box about the size of a small crate with a communications array attached to the top of it; it bore no distinguishing markings and no obvious access panel. Scotty and Pavel quickly began to study the device to work out what it was for as Jim joined Hendorff and Kai in keeping a watch on the perimeter. There was little talking except for the quiet mutterings and discussions of the two working on the device until Scotty called to Jim, "Captain, could you come and give us a wee hand for a minute sir, there something ah want tae try."

Jim quickly went to give his CEO a hand and then there was a few more mutterings until it suddenly went quiet. Instantly noticing the sudden silence from the other three, Hendorff and Kai turned to look at the device only to be met with nothing.

Jim, Scotty, Pavel and the device had vanished without a trace.

PS-There we go and I know it's a bit slower to get going than some of my other stories but we'll get to the action soon