Stranded...and Hiding

Posted on Thu Mar 28th, 2024 @ 5:39am by Lieutenant Commander Amaya Capac & Lieutenant Cyrus Jericho
Edited on on Thu Mar 28th, 2024 @ 5:47am

1,388 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Mission 7 - Aenerth for an Earth
Location: Lost in the Woods

While Cyrus found a place to set up a shelter, Amaya found some food that the tricorder said was edible. That, and the rations they brought from the shuttle would hopefully be enough to keep them for a few days.
 
Cyrus put his hand-held phaser in its holster. "Make a list of everything we have. Rations... resources... things like that. We need to know how much we have so we know how much we can waste." He ran his hand through his hair, combing it back slightly, before looking back to her. "Amaya... We're gonna get out of this, okay? I'll make sure of it."
 
"I know you will." She smiled at him to let him know she meant the words. "I trust you. I think the replicator will continue to work for a while, but the bigger concern is that whoever shot us down will be coming to investigate. We have enough rations for a week or so right now. I'll get more in case they find the shuttle before the captain finds us." It was definitely a possibility, especially with all the pollen in the air. Maya had never seen pollen this heavy before and she wasn't sure how it would affect them. Perhaps she should also replicate some medication to treat for pollen allergies.
 
"I don't plan on making it easy for them to find us." Cyrus replied softly before winking at her. "Believe it or not, this isn't the first time I've been chased. I've been known to fracture an occasional law or two before putting on a uniform."
 
She put a hand over her heart and pretended to look shocked. "I think you gave me a case of the vapors." Then she grinned. "That will come in quite handy, depending on who shot us down." She had her suspicion it was a Romulan ship, based on what they'd been told, but whoever it was, they weren't to be trusted.
 
She grew serious again as she looked at him. "I'm glad you're here with me." She could survive on her own, but not as well as she could with Cyrus—and she felt better having him around.
 
"There is no place I would rather be." He smirked back at her and turned around to walk away. He paused for a moment, looking back at her with a serious look, before adding softly. "I would like the record to show, us crashing on this planet, should not draw any negative conclusions on my ability as a pilot. In fact, if you take into account we were shot and made it on the ground alive, should reflect very positively on my abilities." He then smiled and walked away. "See you in a few minutes."
 
"You got us down, that counts for a lot in my book." She watched him go until he was out of site, then grabbed the packs and headed back to the shuttle. She'd pack as much as she could and bring it back to the shelter. She was afraid if she waited, the Romulans—she decided to assume that's who it was until proven otherwise—would find where they crashed and strip the shuttle of anything useful. With the amount of damage it did to the trees, it wouldn't be hard to find it—or them, if they weren't careful.
 
 
Amaya was careful as she went back. She'd spent enough time in the woods to know how to mark her path so she wouldn't get lost. And, even if she did, she had her tricorder. However, there was now a breeze and it made the pollen heavier. It even seemed to affect the tricorder, making it harder to tell what was more than fifty yards ahead. Amaya carefully marked the trail so she'd make it back. She'd remove her markings on her return trip, just in case.
 
By the time she found the shuttle, she was wheezing from the particulates in the woods.  She sat down and bent over, sucking in the sterile air for several minutes until she could breathe freely again. Her clothes were dusted with pollen, as was her hair. She brushed some of it off and scanned it with her tricorder, but she wasn't able to determine if there was anything unusual about it. That it was unusual was clear, but she'd have to run some tests later.
 
"Computer, analyze the pollen inside the shuttle and search the surrounding area for a reason why it's so thick. Also, is it harmful to humanoids?"
 
"Processing," the computer replied. "The micro sporangia is similar to that found on most habitable planets. The type here is unusually large and contains elements not found in this database."
 
"Can you postulate on their effect on humans?"
 
"Insufficient data."
 
That figured. "Please continue to scan the woods and surrounding area to monitor the effect of the pollen on the creatures that inhabit them. Send the completed report to my PDD."
 
"Acknowledged."
 
While the computer scanned and analyzed the pollen, Amaya began to replicate some basic supplies, including food bars and fruit. Then she replicated some basic staples she could use to prepare meals. She had quite a pile when she was done. There was no way she could carry all of the supplies. If she remembered correctly, there should be an anti-grav cart in a compartment somewhere for carrying supplies…
 
When she eventually found it, she loaded it with everything she'd replicated, plus the shuttle's medkits and the allergy medication. "Computer, transport all pollen on the shuttle outside." She could at least start clean. And, if the Romulans didn't find the shuttle, she wouldn't have to worry about what the pollen might do to the air filtration system.
 
It was a little thing, but it made her feel better. Then she covered the anti-grav cart with a couple of blankets and a large tarp to keep out the pollen.
 
The computer was still scanning the area and analyzing the data, so she made sure the power wouldn't be affected if the shuttle got buried in pollen. Hopefully, they'd be able to return later for more supplies and see if the computer learned anything more about the why it was so abundant.
 
Finally, she replicated a hat and a balaclava to keep as much of the pollen away as she could. Then she pulled the cart down the ramp and secured the shuttle. The wind had picked up and visibility had decreased noticeably. A quick scan showed nothing out of the ordinary in a 50 foot radius. The tricorder wasn't reading as far as it had on the way in. Amaya sighed. She hoped this wind would clear out most of the pollen so they could do some reconnaissance later. But if not, at least it would be easier to see if anyone was moving around in this stuff.
 
 It was also harder to find the path as the pollen was now an inch thick in many places. Slowly, she managed to find her markers, removing them as she passed.
 
When she was at last at the shelter, she took off the tarp, slid the cart inside, then did her best to remove as much of the pollen dust as she could. She needed a shower. She needed Cyrus. How long had she been gone? She didn't sense him inside, so it couldn't have ben that long.
 
Her thoughts again went to Cyrus…and then to some of the looks the captain had given him when she thought he wouldn't notice. A bubble of jealousy formed in her belly, to be squashed immediately. What was she thinking? She knew how Cyrus felt about her. He wasn't interested in the captain and she knew she could trust him with her heart. She did trust him. She'd been falling in love with him since they first met. This jealousy was nuts, and she knew it. She was just tired and stressed. A shuttle crash would do that. This crazy pollen could do it, too.
 
She shook her head to physically remove the unwanted thought and began to unpack the cart and put everything away. Cyrus would be back soon, then everything would return to normal. Right?
 
A Post by

Lieutenant Cyrus Jericho
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

Lieutenant Commander Amaya Capac
Chief Operations Officer/XO

 

 

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