Retrieving Crew
Posted on Thu Sep 18th, 2025 @ 4:09am by Lieutenant JG Axel Heskin & Lieutenant Commander Amaya Capac & Lieutenant Cyrus Jericho & Lieutenant Harris Zim & Ensign Demetri Kilogg
1,792 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission: Mission 8 - A Blast from the Past
Axel sat quietly as the shuttle approached the atmosphere of the planet. He gazed out the viewport as the craft lowered into the thick clouds, heading towards the surface. The turbulence of the descent made him break his silence.
"What was the last coordinates where the XO and the Chief of Security had been?" Axel hadn't been a part of the away mission, but wanted to check
Harris sat at the flight controls and flew the shuttle down to the last coordinates of the missing America crew. He was glad for the inoculations that the doctor had given them so the pollen would not affect them any longer. "Their last known was three-six-mark-two. We are descending to that location and then we are going to have to see if we can get their signal."
Axel nodded as he commented, "Then that is the best place to start, on your recommendation. At this point you will be the guide."
Amaya Capac, the XO, he remembered meeting her just barely before this mission. Nice woman, hopefully they will be able to find her, well them, remembering that she has someone she was seeing.
He looked at the Doctor Demetri Kilogg, that was sent, since the CMO was otherwise occupied.
"Doctor, how are you holding up? And quite grateful that you were able to come with us." Axel remarked.
"Okay, but I'm not much of a flyer, Sir." Demetri said.
"Still thank you." Axel giving an encouraging smile.
------{Elsewhere On The Planet}--------
On the planet, Amaya had no way of knowing if the America noticed the shuttle explosion or not. She and Cyrus still had their combadges, just in case, and the supplies they scavenged from the shuttle. Twice they hard someone walking through the forest, looking for them. But they stayed quiet. If it was Starfleet, they would find them.
Cyrus was still in slight pain from the shuttle explosion. However, the whole sequence gave him such a rush that he was still going on adrenaline. He couldn't explain it. It was like when he was a kid, running with his brother again, getting into trouble. In fact, it was taking all his control not to wrap his arms around Amaya and kiss her with all the passion he had. He was nearly to that point. but he was still holding on. More specifically, he was holding onto her hand, leading her to what he had discovered.
When they got there, he stopped and looked over to her, his hand still in hers while he smiled from ear to ear. "Look?" He said between breaths as he gestured to the ruins of an old building. "I found it while securing the area last night. It's what I wanted to show you. It's got to be an amazing find, Amaya." He finally let go of her hand and walked over to the closest section of the wall, brushing away the vines and leaves that grew on it, uncovering words in a language he'd never seen before. "It looks like its been here for a long time, judging by all the plants and stuff covering it, but it doesn't look like anything the Bird's put together. It doesn't... I don't know... feel like something they would build." He placed his hands at his hips, took a step back, and looked back over to her. "What do you think?"
"This is amazing." She still had her tricorder and pulled it out to scan the wall and the ruins. "It might be a form of ancient Romulan, but I'd have to check the computer to be sure. Still...you're right. This is incredible."
"Think about it. Maybe this proves that the Bird's were discovered by the Romulans and they took it upon themselves to control their growth." Cyrus said, a huge smile on his face, as he took her hands in his. "Or... what if... these Bird's were here much longer and the Romulans are protecting them because they have some kind of historical significance to them." He paused and seemed to gather his thoughts. "Maybe that explains the bird decals on their ships. These Birds could be the reason for that." He seemed to let out a slightly off chuckle. "You should record this and... and... and write some kind of paper on it. We should go inside and learn more. We might find some more answers." He placed his hands on the wall and felt around. "Where's the damn door?"
"I don't think the Avians are why the Romulans have bird images on their ships. I also think the Romulans are a new addition to the planet. Well, new-ish. But I agree we should go inside and have a look, just to document what we found."
Cyrus laughed slightly. "I'm sure you're right, which is why it was a wild theory based on no facts, Amaya." He replied, leaning against the wall with a smile.
"The odds are in my favor, but I admit there's no proof either way. I was always told they used a bird of prey, and these Avians aren't that." She looked at the structure. "Still, I wish we had time to really look this over. Do you think we could do a quick walk-through and scan it to study later?"
"Yes, we should." Cyrus said as he placed his hands on the side of her face, a pleased smile on his own.
Upon his touch there was a slight warmth and a feeling of ease that came over Amaya. It was as if there was a sudden calm, a moment where the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them. At that moment, it was like a cloud in her head passed, but as soon as he removed his hands it returned. As if the affects of the pollen seemed to ease, before returning again like a wave.
She looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you." It may not have lasted long, but she appreciated that moment of calm.
Amaya scanned as much as she could as they walked through. She took images, sensor readings, and air and soil readings for later analysis. She wished they could spend more time here, but with the Romulans looking for them, they couldn't.
They were approaching the entrance again when they heard the sound of a shuttle passing overhead. Amaya directed her tricorder in that direction. "Federation. Looks like our ride is here."
Once the shuttle landed, and they had stepped out from the shuttle, Axel pulled out his tricorder. Scanning around he thought he picked up something, it was faint . With a grin of sheer delight, Axel looked at the Doctor.
"I feel we have found them. Follow me!" his voice urgent as Axel moved forward quickly. The closer the small group got, the stronger the signal.
Amaya and Cyrus had just emerged from the city when they heard people approaching. They made sure the entrance was hidden again and moved away to greet the arrivals.
"Commander Capac, Lieutenant Jericho, We're here to get you off this planet." Axel was paying close attention, also noting the ancient ruins that were there. He would have loved to have the time to search this area, but for now they needed to get back to the ship.
"Excellent." Amaya had everything she wanted to take with her in the pack on her back. The food and bedrolls could stay where they were.
Now they'd found the missing crew, Demetri moved forward, "Commander, Lieutenant, I'm Doctor Kilogg, are either of you injured?"
"Oh yes, also Doctor would you give Commander Capac and Lieutenant Jericho the antidote to the pollen out here then we can proceed to the shuttle, please?"
He looked at Amaya, " We were able to come with an antihistamine to counteract this pollen."
"Counteract?!" Cyrus questioned. He placed his head on his face, before running it through his hair, brushing it back as he looked to the Doctor confused. "But I feel fine, Doc. I don't know if you know this, but I just outran and explosion and a handful of Romulan's. I feel better than fine. I feel... amazing."
"Right now, its important for the antihistamine to be given. Or not but we can discuss this further inside the shuttle. And Romulans you say? Then this is another reason why we need to go, now." Axel urging them towards the shuttle.
He was possibly being slightly bossy, maybe? Just that the pollen seemed to have an adverse effect on people. "Please Lieutenant and Commander?"
Demetri produced a hypo. "Who's first?" He asked.
Cyrus let out a deep breath and smiled at the Doctor. Without hesitation, he pointed to Amaya without a second thought, saying firmly. "Give it to the Commander first."
"Can this wait until we get on the shuttle?" Amaya asked. She didn't have an objection, but they'd been on the planet for a couple of days and she didn't think a few more minutes would make a difference. "I would rather not be be where a patrol team could find us."
Demetri raised a quizzical eye brow. "Really, it'll only take a moment?" He asked wondering why two of them didn't want to take it.
"There are Romulans in the woods looking for us," Amaya said. "But if you feel it necessary, okay."
"Okay, we'll wait 'til we're back on the shuttle." Demetri said. I'll have to cut down on those mystery novels He thought to himself.
Zim had been monitoring the rest of the team via the shuttle's sensors. He fired up the engines and began to head to the location where the team was. "Zim to away team. I am en route to your location. Eta five minutes."
"Thank you. We'll be ready. Capac out." That eased her mind. Now there was little chance they'd run into Romulans. She turned to Demetri. "Looks like we can get that shot now."
"Okay, Commander, take off your jacket and roll up your sleeve, please?" Demetri asked.
Nodding, Amaya did as he asked and turned her arm toward him.
Demetri retrieved the hypo, and double checked the dose before placing it on Amaya upper arm and activated it.
"All done, Commander. Your turn, Lieutenant." Demetri said.
Vincent a smile, which became broader when he heard the arrivel of the shuttle.
And then the shuttle beamed them aboard and they were finally on their way back to America.
END
Lieutenant Cyrus Jericho
Chief Security Officer
USS America
Lieutenant Commander Amaya Capac
Executive Officer
USS America
Ltjg Axel Heskin
Assistant Chief Science
USS America
Ensign Demetri Kilogg
Medical Officer
USS America
Lieutenant Harris Zim
Assistant Chief Security
USS America
RSS Feed