Onboard the Intrepid…
Captain Pike jumped out of his chair. "Okay, did you all see that?"
"Aye, Captain. The Commander's shuttle got sucked into that…that…anomaly." Ensign Singh answered.
"Ya think? I need to know how. I need to know why. And I need to know now! You get me a recon drone in there now! I want video and I want readings!" Pike looked over his bridge crew. "What do you not understand about the word NOW?"
"Sorry, sir. Right away." The first officer sent four drones into the void and waited. They were sucked in but 1st Officer Carl Jenks received read outs and some video before the drones disappeared off radar.
"Sir, I'll need a some time to analyze the data, but I have photo of a planet." He put it up on the view screen. It was covered with a multi-colored haze, but a blue and green planet could still be distinguished. "I believe we may be in luck, sir. If the Commander and his cadet landed on this planet they may have a chance. As for the cloud cover…I have a theory but I really need to see the science officer. If you'll excuse me sir, I'll be in the science lab."
"Thank you, Jenks. And remember, maybes aren't going to cut it. We have to get them back." He turned to the communications officer. "Curtis, I need you to see if any other vessels have gone missing in this sector within the past five…no, ten years."
"Yes, sir." She turned back to her screen and began her search. "Sir, three years ago a colony vessel heading to the Benecia Colony had engine trouble, they were set to land on Alpha Onias-7 for repairs. That was the last time they were heard from. A search of the planet turned up nothing. A few weeks after that, a Vulcan shuttle came through with the intent to search for the colony ship before meeting their own vessel, they also disappeared."
"So, it would appear two other vessels got pulled into this anomaly as well. Lt. Curtis, contact Ambassador Sarek and send him to my ready-room." Pike rose from his chair and walked across the bridge. "If anyone has any information, interrupt me." He turned to her again.
"Contact Star Fleet, send them a report and tell them they need to send another ship out to pick up the instructors and their 2nd years."
"Aye, sir." She nodded and made the sub-space call to Earth and Commander Spock's father before contacting Star Fleet.
Back on the planet…
Spock was manically working to try and control the shuttle that was quickly being pulled down onto a small planet that hadn't been their a moment before. He could see the electromagnetic clouds surrounding the orb. The same magnetic field he was sure was pulling them into it's atmosphere.
"Cadet, secure yourself. We are going to have a rough landing." Although his voice didn't betray his concern, Nyota could feel it.
"Yes, sir. What can I do?" She tightened her belts.
"Just hold on, Cadet." Spock looked over at the young woman whose face told him how much she trusted him. He only hoped her trust was well founded.
Nyota held on to the armrests and held her breath as the ground came up in what seemed like seconds. Spock had leveled out the shuttle but they were still coming in fast and were at a very low altitude. So low in fact, she could see the natural features of the planet. Lots of trees, mountains, valleys and water. Lots of lakes. Oh, she blinked, was that a volcano? As the shuttle began to slow down, Nyota suddenly noticed that she wasn't hearing the engines.
"Commander? The engines…" Her panic didn't allow her to finish her question.
"Cadet, we lost control as soon as we entered the stratosphere and engines as soon as we entered the atmosphere. How we were not made aware of the pull from the ionosphere is a…puzzlement. The electromagnetic pulses must have shorted our propulsion units." His voice was so calm that Nyota had to turn in her chair to look at him.
"We're going to be okay?" She squeaked.
"I am unsure, Cadet Uhura. I will attempt to land as safely at possible." He caught and held her eyes for a moment. "Please, relax and hold on."
Nyota took a deep breath and nodded. She looked out the window again and saw more of the planet. They past a group of buildings and her heart leapt. The planet was inhabited, there was help. She wanted to tell Spock, but when she turned to him she saw how deeply he was concentrating on landing the shuttle. She'd let him know once they landed.
"There is where we will land." He looked straight ahead as did Nyota and she saw the open field they were going to set down in. She gripped the armrests again and pushed her back against her chair. Closing her eyes, she prayed for the first time in years.
Back onboard the Intrepid…
"Ambassador Sarek, I…I may have contacted you a bit early, but…" Chris was very rarely at a loss for words, but with the news he was about to deliver and with the Ambassador looking directly into his eyes he felt as if he were back at school about to be scolded for one of his many offenses.
"A direct approach seems appropriate, Captain." Sarek nodded for the younger man to continue.
"Yes, of course. Spock was on a training mission with our second year students. He had taken a shuttle out to land on his assigned planet when he and his student were…pulled into a space anomaly. I am confident we will have news to you before long, but I felt I should contact you regarding this…mishap." He sat a little straighter and waited for the Ambassador's reaction.
"I understand. If you would send your present coordinates along with all the readings and information you have, I will take the next ship out."
"Sir, I don't think that's warranted. We can keep in close contact and…"
"Captain, although I am the ambassador to Earth, I am also the next in line as head of state for the Vulcan people. And in turn, my son is next in line after me. He may have been ostracized by his peers in his youth and he shunned the VSA, but he is a direct descendant of Surak and as such will be treated with the proper import." He paused as his eyes narrowed. Although he did not share his family issues, this Pike was something of a surrogate to his son and was aware of Spock's history. "Are we in accordance, Captain?"
"Of course, Sir. I'll have the coordinates and all pertinent information sent to you immediately." It wasn't often Chris had his ass handed to him in such a…civilized manner. But the captain knew who was in charge here, and it was the Vulcan.
"Thank you, Captain. And I will wait for word if you have retrieved my son before my departure." Sarek nodded and closed the link.
On the planet…
Once the shuttle stopped, Spock turned to Nyota and held his hand out to her. "Cadet Uhura, Cadet! Are you well?" His voice held a note of concern Nyota had never heard. Well, of course, she thought, we almost died.
"I'm good, Commander." She tried to unbuckle her straps but found she was unable to stop shaking. Spock quickly released his restraints and went to her, gently pushed her hands aside before he unbuckled her. Nyota gave him a shaky smile before attempting to stand. Anticipating her reaction, Spock was on his feet in seconds to catch her as her knees buckled.
"I should have insisted you remained seated for a few minutes. You are still in a state of shock, cadet." He spoke into her cheek as he set her down on the long seat at the back of the shuttle. Nyota nodded as she fought the tears that threatened to fall.
"I'm so sorry, Commander. This is so unprofessional of me. Please…" She couldn't hold off the sob that erupted from her chest.
"Cadet, there is no reason to berate yourself. We have just experienced a trauma. We are suffering from shock." He held her hand in his and allowed peace and calmness to flow from him to her.
"Are you in shock?" She sniffed.
"Indeed, however I am practiced in controlling my emotions." He stood. "I will attempt to contact the Intrepid and advise them of our location."
"Commander? Why didn't we see the planet until we were inside of that…that wobble? And this atmosphere? It's like the Aurora Borealis everywhere." She looked up at him.
Spock returned her gaze and sat down next to her again. "Cadet, the wobble in space represents an anomaly. An electromagnetic anomaly if the readouts were correct before they shut down, as did our propulsion systems. We were not flying, Cadet, we were falling. As for the atmosphere, visibly you are correct in your assessment. It would appear to be electrically charged. Thus I am unsure we will be able to contact the Intrepid."
Nyota nodded. "Okay, so we're stuck. Right?"
"Stuck, I would not use this…yes, Cadet, for the moment we are 'stuck'." He agreed. "However, we were in plain view of the Intrepid so they will be researching the anomaly and they will be looking for us."
"Thank you, Commander. For being so…logical, so calm. I'm sure we'll be out of here soon." She smiled.
"I must run some analysis, see if the air is compatible. If it is, I saw a group of buildings approximately 10.25 miles away. We shall leave early in the morning and make our way to them." He rose and make his way to the control panel.
"I saw them, too." She swallowed. "I wonder how long a day is here."
"We shall find out. Rest, Cadet, we have a long hike tomorrow."
"Aye aye, sir." She went to the back of the shuttle and retrieved sleeping gear and made up two beds on the benches. "I'll just use the head, sir."
"Of course, Cadet." He turned to her. "Nyota, do not overly concern yourself, we will be…fine."
"Thank you, Commander, I know I'll be fine with you." She gave him a small smile.