Recon Gone Wrong

Posted on Mon May 12th, 2025 @ 5:40pm by Commander Jenna Ramthorne & Lieutenant Commander Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Commander Jennifer Baldric & Lieutenant Sarah Wilson

1,344 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Masimal
Location: Masimal - City
Timeline: Current

Savar stepped out of the shuttle first. His sharp eyes surveying their surroundings. There were large buildings around them and the fog of spores. No people had yet to move toward them. "Sarah, please collect what you need I wish us to be here no longer than necessary."

Sarah nodded and made a beeline for a corpse that was nearby, taking a multitude of readings before moving on to the next one. She really wanted to study the transfer of the pathogen but knew that wad probably going to be unlikely.

Savar looked out over the field as Sarah moved from one corpse to another collecting data. He was more concerned that none of the native population moved toward them, endangering the away team members and their mission.

Sarah saw something out of the corner of her eye. Three adults cornering a small child with outstretched arms. The child screamed in terror and Sarah couldn't not move to help. She took off at a run, regardless of her own safety. "Hey! Leave him alone!' She shouted as she drew closer, pulling her phaser.

Savar's head snapped around at Sarah's shout and saw what caused it three adults were stalking a small child. He started off after her, drawing his own phaser as well, getting ready to use it if necessary.

Shuttle Guard

A few minutes had passed, she could still hear their footfalls, could still see their faint outlines in through the fog. Her eyes continued to try and focus tighter and tighter, as she started looking at the fog itself, the particles didn't look like any moisture she had ever seen. Then a voice from behind broke her concentration.

"So, uh, Commander Ramthorne, um just wanted to thank you for standing guard." Bonnie spoke and her voice sounded through the comm and in the room creating a 3D effect.

Jenna didn't turn, "My pleasure." But then to stave off too much chatter she decided to give the timid woman something to do to occupy her thoughts. "Do you have them on the scanner?"

"Yes. Vitals are strong, visuals are lacking but the infrared is coming through with no issues." Bonnie replied.

"And this mist? Have you determined what it is, or what's causing it?"

"The computer is analyzing it as organic, possibly a strain of fungus. Which, I'm no mycologist, but I know certain types of fugus thrive in warm wet environments filled with organic matter. What we saw coming down, what is sticking to the shuttle, those are fungal spores."

Jenna turned and now looked at Bonnie, "Can we collect a sample and take if back with us?"

Looking surprised, Bonnie pointed at Jenna, then to herself as she realized Jenna asking her to do the job. "Um, yeah, sure I can do that." She stood, sort of half up, hesitated then stood fully, and moved to the replicator. "Computer, one quarantine level sample container please."

Jenna smiled, watching Bonnie work, then turned and resumed her watch. Sarah's heart rate had increased. Baldric's was elevated but not extremely worrisome. Savar's was still... steady as a Vulcan's.

Scout Team

The three adults turned at the sound of a stranger and running footsteps, seeing the potential for another host for the organisms infesting and controlling their bodies.

"Run, run away!" The child shouted before disappearing in a way only children seemed to know how to do.

The commotion had drawn the attention of those around them and the crowd began to advance and descend. Fresh blood was hard to come by the days.

"Ah crap" Sarah swore, raising her weapon and looking for an out. "We're not here to hurt you, we want to help cure you from this illness!"

Savar had reached Sarah, his own phaser drawn. "Back to the shuttle Sarah, now." though his voice wasn't raised there was an urgency within it.

Shuttle Guard

Bonnie stepped outside the shuttle, 'into the soup', as some used to say. She turned and found a suitable patch of collected spores on the shuttle's hull, "It is beginning to build up out here."

"Do you think that will be an issue when we try and leave?" Jenna asked passively.

She took out the sample container and began scraping a chunk of the goop off. "I don't think so. It will likely burn off or freeze once we enter space. The added weight might cause some drag, but nothing this shuttle can't handle." She saw an extra gooey-looking bit and scraped at it, forcing it into the canister. The fungus reacted by releasing a plume of spores at her face, which was protected by her EV suit. "Ugh, it sprayed me."

The sound of Savar's orders pierced the communication channel. Jenna stood ready, "Bonnie, get inside, it's time to go."

"Coming." Panic set in as Bonnie realized something bad was happening and she quickly closed the sample container and made for the hatch.

Scout Team

"Go Sarah, turn and head back to the shuttle as fast as you can. I will follow you." Savar said evenly as he judged the distance between the adults and his position. Perhaps he could increase the distance by creating a distraction but how?

The crowd continued to close in on them, arms outstretched and leaving few options for the stranded team. Sarah kicked herself for putting the away team in danger and raised her phaser, darting for a small opening in the direction of the shuttle. Hopefully they wouldn't touch her.

Just as Bonnie squeezed past Jenna, the taller woman lifted her phaser at a body that appeared to be about to reach out and grab ahold of Sarah, and fired. It was set to stun. The beam lanced past Sarah's shoulder and struck the being which staggered momentarily but then continued unphased.

"Bonnie, skip the preflight, looks like we're going to have to bug out." She then increased the power to level 8 and fired again. This time the infected person dropped to the ground, writhing in agony. But it was replaced by a horde more. "Move, move!" Jenna encouraged the team to hustle as she continued to fire.

Savar kept his eyes on the mob as Sarah dashed back to the shuttle. He was grateful for whomever fired the phaser as it gained him precious seconds. He didn't hesitate as he raised the phaser and fired in rapid succession at three of the infected hoping to have them fall and create a 'traffic jam' of sorts by having the others stumble and fall. The three he hit staggered, slowed, but didn't fall. He increased his power and fired again this time the results were more favorable as those he hit did fall and spasm on the ground causing those behind them to fall. Seeing that he turned and ran back to the shuttle.

An errant phaser blast lanced towards the crowd, giving Sarah and Savar both a path towards the shuttle but also crossfire to contend with. They moved their way forward but just as they neared the shuttle Sarah felt a phaser blast glance her suit. It was enough to knock her off her feet but not stun her. It did however set off every alarm in her suit as it no longer was a sealed environment.

"You guys go! My suit's compromised" She shouted through the suit's comm system.

Savar had neared the shuttle when he heard Sarah's frantic call telling the rest of the away team to leave her. He stopped, the shuttle was mere feet away with Commander Ramthorne giving Sarah and himself covering fire. he turned and ran back towards Sarah, zigging and zagging (in a fine example of open field running) between phaser blasts. Nearing Sarah's position, he fired at the mob, hitting several that were closet. Reaching down to her he pulled her to her feet with one hand. "No one gets left behind Sarah. Now let us get to the shuttle." He replied as the pair ran with all due haste.

TBC

 

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