"2 months earlier"
Aegis 7. Gamma quadrant
A Oberth class vessel assumes low orbit
"Captains log. Stardate-- Captain Greg Venison in command. With a generous offer from the Dominion Starfleet has dispatched the USS Curry with me in command. Our mission is to chart out the planets surface and analyze the dilithum deposits below the surface. It still bothers me that after only 2months of the Dominions surrender that the founders would just openly and willingly give us a planet rich in dilithum. But i have my orders"
Venison sighed ending his log as he stared at the seemingly dead rock floating in the vast emptiness of space before them
Ageis 7 wasnt anything special nothing but a giant rock with a breathable atmosphere. The fact the planet was almost 60lyrs from the wormhole and 30 from the nearest dominion outpost didnt raise his confidence
The Defiant was supposed to join them shortly and serve as a security precaution but she was still 2days out.
"Prep landing parties tell Dr Castio she's clear to head down. Inform Defiant we are going ahead with the first set of survey teams"
- Planet surface Aegis 7-
"Sensor readings show no life signs. No vegetation. Picking up several dilithum deposits below us"
Dr Castio stood amongst the harsh winds covering her face as she eyed the 5 members of her staff. "They could have at least informed us of the wind" She spoke
"Winds at 25mph. Its safe ..wait a minuet. Is anyone pickint up what im seeing?" A science member spoke up
"Confirmed there is a large cavern 20ft below us...thats odd. ...it doesn't appear to be a natural occurring cavern system" Castio said
"Castio to Currey are you detecting a artificial chamber below our current location?"
"Negative doctor sensors show nothing. But the atmosphere is showing high levels of interference we assumed it was due to the large numbers of dilithium deposits" the ship replied
"Hmmm early data suggested this planet had never been inhabited or is the Dominion lying to us?... Team A i want you to remain here and do routine scouting anf catalog anything of interest. Team B with me lets investigate this cavern.. Tricorder shows a entrance in that mountain face to the west"
With orders given Castio set out with 2 of her staff trecking across the deserted dead ground
"Interferenfe is growing Doctor Tricorders are practically useless" An Officer spoke smacking at the scanning device in his hand
"Dilithum shouldn't be causing this much interference at least nothing we cannot compensate for. Something else must be causing this. Keep your eyes open people. Victor keep changing frequencies see if you cant penetrate" Castio replied
"If i was back on the Cury, I'd probably have better luck with her sensors. "
That wasn't a luxury they had at the moment. Soon finding the cavern entrance Castio found herself following a series of stairs
"This is definitely artifically constructed" She spoke aloud shining her light around. Eyeing the various violet crystals protruding from the walls
"There must be several thousand kilos of Dilithum in this corridor alone"
Focusing her light ahead the group soon entered a massive chamber that seemingly stretched for kilometers
"Holy….shit….what ...the….fuck is that?" Victor said in a shocked tone. Widen eyes gazing upon a massive black object centered in the middle of the chamber
"This seems to be the source of interference… tricorder cannot make heads or tails of it. … Fascinating its almost…..beautiful" Castio found herself drawn to the object. As if it were pulling at her like a tractor beam
Whispers in a language unknown filled her mind. The glowinf red symbols that covered its surface began floating off and circlint around her as she became lost in a trance
"Its speaking to me….there...js so much to….know"
"Doctor?" Victor asked finally realizing that their lead scientist was now approaching the object
"Doctor?" He asked again stepping toward her as she reached out to touch it
"DOCTOR!"
The shouting snapped Castio back into reality as she stopped and came to realize what was happening..
"I….sorry i got lost in thought… prepare transporter enhancers. I want this beamed aboard id like to study it in further detail"
"Is that wise? We know nothing about this thing and tricorders can't seem to analyize its structure" Victor replied
"You have your orders. Set up enhancers and beam it aboard"
Castio couldnt help but focus back on the Marker her eyes unable to shift focus
This was a bad idea.
