Chapter 2 - Distress Signal
"Captain, I am receiving a video transmission from a small prison ship half a light year from our current co-ordinates." said Tuvok, as his console beeped
"On screen." said Captain Janeway, rising from her chair and standing at the centre of the platform, Chakotay standing just behind her to her right.
The image on screen was distorted by static, the form of an alien was just about visible despite it, the bridge of his ship seemed to be on fire behind him "I am Captain H'reavay of Fraepion Prison Ship 9. We're being pulled in by an..." he dived out of the way of flying sparks "... unknown force emanating from the planet know as Necropolis half a light year from you current position."
Captain Janeway, understanding that now was not the time for introductions, ordered Tom Paris to set a course for this planet. "We'll be there in a moment, try and hold your position until then"
"No," said Captain H'reavay "It is too late, most of my crew are dead, and those that aren't already will be soon, we're loosing altitude..." A console seemed to explode in front of him "But our prisoner on board, he's dangerous, and no doubt he'll survive the crash... When you get here, you need to find the prisoner and when you do, kill him, I'm sending your ship his file... along with the co-ordinates" there was a moment where they lost the picture completely for a moment "They should be..." the rest of his sentence was distorted by white noise
"Could you repeat that last sentence Captain H'reavay?"
"They... Dangerous... please..." static blurred out the image completely and white noise filled their ears.
Captain Janeway waited for a moment to see if the signal would re-establish itself, but instead the external scanners displayed an image of the space outside.
"The ship had crashed captain, on the co-ordinates of the planet he named as Necropolis."
The captain turned to Tuvok "Mr Tuvok, assemble a security team of four then meet me in transporter room 1"
"Aye Captain," he said, turning from the lift
"Chakotay, with me, Mr Paris you have the bridge" she instructed
Captain Janeway, Chakotay, Tuvok and a security team of four paced their way through the thick trees, keeping phaser-rifles at the ready, and trying not to be dazzled or distracted by the strange thick blue grass or canopy of deep orange leaves that were almost the size of dinner plates above their heads. Because of the unknown force the other captain had mentioned, they hadn't been able to transport straight to the crash site. It was dark and a strange Indigo-Green light shone through the gaps in the leaves and branches.
The sound of heavy breathing echoed through the trees ahead of them, the security team spread along a line at Tuvok's signal.
Lileeta watched the strangers in odd clothing creep through the forest, holding odd metal instruments in their hands. From her position in the tree she was hidden by the large leaves, but she could still see them, climbing expertly and soundlessly from branch to branch, tree to tree. She only followed them out of pure curiosity, they were heading towards where the object had fallen as well, although they weren't taking the safest route to it, maybe she'd intervene soon. As they got closer to the source of the heavy breathing Lileeta took her chance and moved faster ahead of them and took a position on a low branch directly above their path, taking off her satchel and tying it to the branch, then sat so she was facing away from them, securing her grip on the branch so she wouldn't fall. The leaves hid her completely, so even if they stood directly beneath her position and looked up they wouldn't be able to see her.
Taking a deep breath, she swung round so she was hanging upside down from the branch, and face-to-face with the strangers. Lileeta froze for the briefest moment, she wasn't expecting that.
Tuvok signalled for the security team to ready their weapons as they got closer to the source of the heavy breathing. A horrid small of rotting flesh drifted from ahead of them. Without warning or more noise than the swift rustling of leaves, someone swung down from the canopy of trees, hanging upside down from a branch their arms folded across their chest, their face mere inches from Captain Janeway's.
It was a girl, late teens by the look of it, with long dark hair, some of it braided with threads and wooden beads, she wore what looked like one of the old Maquis uniforms but in dark shades of blue. There were also several woven leather bands and strings of beads round both her wrists. Her eyes were a deep blue, almost indigo and her skin was pale and seemed to glow. There was a dark Indigo crescent-moon curved round her left eye with small dots around the outer side, there were curls and spirals in the same deep Indigo colour on the right side of her neck, disappearing beneath her hair and shirt.
The security team were quick to aim their phaser-rifles at her, the girl didn't seem to notice, if she did she wasn't too bothered by it.
"Hello" said Captain Janeway calmly, this girl didn't pose an kind of threat yet
"Hello" the girl replied, almost mimicked
No one spoke, no one drew their eyes away from the Captain and the girl hanging upside down from the tree, who never broke eye contact.
"You're human," the girl observed
"Yes, I'm human" said Janeway "I am Captain Kathryn Janeway, of the Federation Starship Voyager, this is Commander Chakotay, and Lieutenant Commander Tuvok." she indicated to her left, then her right, not once taking her eyes away from the girl "What's your name?"
The girl eyed her suspiciously for a moment, but then spoke "Lileeta, Lileeta Troja"
"It's very nice to meet you Lileeta, but..."
"Why do you come this way?" asked Lileeta, in the same casual, curious tone
"A small ship crashed not far from here and..."
Lileeta cut her off again "Ship? I saw no sea-crafts, the sea is three-hundred-and-twenty earth hours walk from here."
Captain Janeway realized that this must be a pre-warp planet "It's a sort of... sky-ship, that travels the stars."
"Like yours?" asked Lileeta, the team just stared at her, shocked "Is saw it" she said, answering their un-asked questions "North-west of Jertnay, at an altitude of approximately 6000 kilometres from our outer atmospheric layer."
"How could you possibly..."
"I observe the stars throughout night and day, not a single thing can appear in that sky that I won't notice." she said
"Right," Janeway managed to say, "As for the ... sky-ship that landed here, there was a highly dangerous prisoner on board that ship and we need to capture him before he causes any trouble."
Lileeta simply stared at her for a moment "Why do you come this way?" she asked again
"I just told you." said Captain Janeway, slightly annoyed that this girl hadn't been listening to her answer
"Why do you come this way?" Lileeta asked patiently
Before Captain Janeway could say anything, Chakotay cut her off, having a different understanding of what she was asking them.
"This is the most direct route, why do you ask?"
Lileeta looked away from Janeway and straight at Chakotay "Venturing into Tiger-Vulture territory this close to first sun is not advisable, not for those who wish to return."
The security team glanced at each other anxiously, tightening their grip of their phaser-rifles.
"Is there a safer route?" asked Janeway
"Yes."
"Could you tell us where? Or put us in the right direction?"
"No." Lileeta answered bluntly, "But I could show you" she added, now casting looks from Chakotay to the Captain.
"Do you know this land well?"
"I made the only known charts." she said, although it sounded like fact, not as if she was boasting
Captain Janeway turned to Chakotay and Tuvok for their opinions, he just nodded slightly, Tuvok looked wary, as if he suspected a trap.
"Well, lead the way then." she said
Lileeta disappeared back into the tree, a moment later she dropped down from her branch, landing lightly on her toes. She was a few inches shorter than Captain Janeway, and she was barefoot, her trousers had been cut off at the knees.
"Don't get lost, many of the beasts will be waking soon, still, it would be unwise to wake any of them before hand, they aren't known for being merciful." she said, not looking back at them as she moved swiftly off in the opposite direction they'd been going in.