Chapter III
Captain's Log: Stardate 58126.1. Until a few hours ago, we were on our way to Mars as ordered by Starfleet Command which puzzles me since our mission should focus on helping the Federation recover from the recent trouble with the Borg. However, on our trip we received a distress signal from an M-Class planet on the far edge of the Beta Quadrant. I have sent a message to Utopia Planitia explaining this delay and our intentions to investigate it. I hope that my superiors understand the need to take care of such difficulties before seeing to whatever is on their minds.
Captain William T. Riker felt a cold chill ease up his spine as he gazed at the dark planet in front of them. No twinkling light of life or evidence of civilization could even be seen on the dead surface far below, but he was not about to give up. We came this far and now it seems it was all for nothing… we might as well find out what is going on out here, he reasoned. Turning to his wife, William Riker asked, "Do you feel anything?" Deanna shook her head and said, "All I can sense is an immense sadness which engulfs this entire planet… and then rage…" "Who could've survived this?" his first officer, Christine Vale wondered. "Before we answer that, we need to find out what happened," he pointed out. "Will… I don't know about this. Something seems very out of place," his wife advised as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "You stay here and keep an eye on things," he told her and then gestured for Vale and a security officer to follow him.
"Are we certain that the atmosphere is suitable for life?" Christine asked as she brushed her blonde hair aside and stepped into the turbolift. "That distress signal came from a humanoid… so I'd say we have a fair chance of survival," Will replied. "But whatever happened here could affect us as well, sir," the ensign pointed out. "I'm sure you'll probably advise me to stay onboard the Titan, but believe me… that isn't going to happen anytime soon. I tried that with my former Captain and he taught me a thing or two about standing up for what you believe in," Riker replied. "I didn't mean to question your judgment, sir," the young man said fearfully. "Don't worry about it… I need somebody around here who's willing to," Will said with a smile and asked, "By they way, what is your name?" "Byron Thanes, sir," the brown haired youth replied. "Welcome aboard, Mister Thanes," Christine said with a nod as they arrived at the transporter room. "Three to beam down," Riker informed the officer on duty and then stepped onto one of the platforms.
He waited for a moment as they were sent to the surface and then got a look at his surroundings. His eyes had definitely not played any tricks on him before; this planet had just been through a terrible conflict. The bodies of fallen warriors from both sides of the battle were lying all across the area they had arrived at and Byron said, "What- what caused this?" "Their distress signal claimed that they were being attacked, but which side sent it?" Christine wondered. "Maybe if we can find somebody alive, they'll tell us," he advised and started walking towards one of the bombarded buildings. "Captain, please be careful… if there are any survivors they may view us as a threat," Vale pointed out. "Duly noted, Number One," Will said with a nod and then took out his tricorder and scanned the area. "It would seem that there is nobody around to worry about," Thanes said. "They said that they needed help… but they couldn't even survive long enough to get it," Christine said, shaking her head in bewilderment. "It doesn't look like they were waiting for a resolution to me," Byron commented, his face twisted in a scowl.
"Something about this doesn't feel right… Deanna is correct. There is something out of place about all of this," Riker muttered. And then abruptly, one of the soldiers rose from the ground and pointed his long sword-like weapon at him. "Captain, watch out!" Thanes cried. Riker grabbed his phaser and pointed it at the warrior before stating, "Stand down…we're here to help!" The alien looked at him as if he were crazy and then growled, "You think I don't see through those lies? I can tell that you're one of the others despite your pathetic disguise. I will strike you down before you even have the chance to harm anyone else!" Before the soldier had a chance to do so, Christine fired on him and the stranger staggered and dropped to the ground. "It would seem that they're not willing to listen to reason," Thanes observed dryly. "Apologies, Captain… I didn't want him to harm you," Vale explained. "Let's go inside and see if there is any record of what happened," Will advised them. The two officers followed him into the destroyed building and the Captain took a moment to gaze about at the carnage that had taken place here.
"Careful, you never know if someone else might want to pick a fight," Byron pointed out. Will kept his own phaser ready for any such encounter, but thankfully there was none. "Captain, I believe I have found something," Christine said as she activated a nearby holographic projection. One of the humanoids appeared, his visage exhausted from the lengthy battle that had taken place before they had even arrived and spoke in a pleading tone. "If you have found this message… I beg you to leave this planet immediately," it said. Will looked at each of his crewmembers in surprise and then listened as the alien went on to say, "My distress beacon… it has been sent out endlessly by an unknown force which we cannot stop. It draws starships here to become new prey for our endless conflict… and then they fall victim to this eternal bloodshed. Each day my people awake with scars and fight once more, killing one another in a vain effort to topple their foes. But then our wounds are healed… and we continue the conflict again, forever." Something about this seems very familiar, Will realized.
"I have discerned the truth and this unapproachable force which is enticing valiant warriors to this lone planet is behind it all. I know I will probably die because I understand this fact, but I ask you to leave before you are caught in this web of destruction," the elderly humanoid said and then the message died out. "How is something like that possible? Warriors fighting each other on into infinity, their wounds being mended; yet never dying?" Byron asked in fascination. "Perhaps we should heed his warning and depart," Christine advised. Will nodded silently and then replied, "It may be best if we continue our investigation onboard the Titan." Tapping his combadge he said, "Riker here, three to beam up." But there was no response from his ship. "What's going on? Why won't they answer us?" Thanes asked anxiously. "I have a bad feeling about this," Vale said, looking about the room as if she was expecting some sort of attack from any angle. "Yeah… me too. Come on," Riker advised. As they walked outside of the construct, he paused in surprise to see the same warrior they had just shot down standing in their way along with several of his comrades.
"Lower your weapons and prepare to face the cold steel of justice," the one in the center said. "We are here in response to your distress signal. This fighting needs to end," Riker explained. "You're not the first… and probably won't be the last. You will die along with all the others," another in the group growled. "Please, if you would tell us what has happened here; we can assist you," Christine offered. "Captain-" Byron said, pointing to the field where they'd arrived. Will found himself gazing at a scene that appeared to be out of a horror movie. Suddenly, other warriors began to rise from the ground despite injuries that appeared to have taken their lives and he realized that they needed to depart from this area as quickly as possible. Fortunately, these new combatants proved to be a distraction to their attackers and the trio hurried back inside the compound. "We've got to find a way to contact our vessel," Vale said and then added, "I don't want to hurt innocent people." "That wouldn't do any good… you saw how quickly they recovered. These warriors should've been dead ages ago. Something is keeping them going," Will answered and tried desperately to piece all of the facts together.
He had read reports of something like this before, but he couldn't recall what the underlying cause had been. "Thanes to Titan, please answer," the ensign said, urgently tapping his combadge. "They won't hear you," Riker reminded them. "Where is the Captain?" a sudden reply came. Will looked at Christine in confusion, then tapped his combadge and was surprised to find his was working as well. "Right here, beam us out of here," he replied. He watched as the soldiers outside continued to do battle even as they returned to the security of the Titan and he met Deanna in a warm embrace. "How did you find us?" he asked in confusion. "The signal was dead until a few seconds ago… I could feel something blocking it," Troi explained. "But why would it let us go?" Vale wondered. "Sir! I'm detecting an unknown entity approaching the Titan," the transporter officer stated. "Let's hurry to the bridge," Christine advised. In a few short moments they were there and Riker requested for the mysterious entity to be put on the viewer. Will gazed at the strange being with intense interest and realized that his previous guesses had been correct.
This was a super-being quite like the ones he'd met onboard the Enterprise years ago. However, this particular one obviously has evil intentions considering the slaughter on the planet below, he realized. The soft glow within the crimson sphere seemed to radiate with the brilliance of a new star, or perhaps one preparing to burst into a supernova; he wasn't quite sure which. It was almost like two thin disks spinning rapidly in conjunction with one another and he found it dizzying to stare at it for too long. "I don't understand… what is it doing?" Thanes asked in confusion. "We are attempting to communicate with it… but I'm afraid the universal translator is not picking anything up," Vale commented as she got to her post. "Will…" Deanna said, holding his arm tightly. He nodded silently in harmony with her unspoken thought and realized that this being was definitely a threat. "Mister Thanes, get us out of here. Warp nine if you have to," Riker urged. "I feel an insatiable hunger deep within that creature… almost like a lust for destruction. A hate that knows no bounds," his wife said fearfully.
"Hold on… something else is going on," Thanes stated. Abruptly, the crimson sphere flew away from their vessel and retreated back towards the surface of the planet. "That… was odd," Riker admitted and then turned to Deanna and asked, "Why did it leave so quickly?" "I couldn't sense any sort of fear toward us… but it was more like… anticipation," she said. "What does that mean?" Vale asked. "I'm not sure myself… but I got the feeling that it was aware of something about to happen," Deanna explained. "Like an arrival, I suppose?" Riker asked. "Sir, if I might be relieved; I suddenly feel very ill," Thanes said, rising unsteadily. "Byron?" Will asked as the young man abruptly collapsed to the ground. At the same time, Deanna seemed to have a sense of dread in her eyes and pressed her hand to her brow. "You okay?" he asked. "I think we need to return to the Alpha Quadrant as quickly as possible," Troi answered. "I agree; Christine, can you get Mister Thanes to sickbay?" the Captain inquired. "Certainly, sir," his first officer replied and helped the unconscious ensign out. As their craft leapt into warp, he turned to her and asked, "What happened? What did you feel?" "I… I can't describe it accurately until I have more time to think," Deanna answered. "Will you tell me as soon as you're certain?" he inquired. "Yes…" she said with a nod and then squeezed his hand softly and replied, "Will, whatever it was… it wasn't a good feeling."
