Something's Amiss

Posted on Sat Oct 3rd, 2026 @ 2:15pm by Captain Kelly O'Connor & Lieutenant Drake Yarrow & Commander Makai ("Kai") Nakamura & Lieutenant Kailani Young & Lieutenant Harris Zim & Lieutenant Axel Heskin

1,032 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Mission 9 - Unearthing Life
Location: USS America
Timeline: MD03 - 0930

In accordance with O'Connor's order, all of the shore leave was cancelled and people started beaming up onto America. Finally, O'Connor, Yarrow, Young, Zim, Heskin, and Radars all appeared on the transporter pads. However, all of shoreleave was faced with a Commander that none of them had ever seen before.

O'Connor furrowed her brows. Something had happened and it was not just Heskin falling into a hole. She looked over at her fellow transportees questioningly. She then asked a generic question, hoping that the foreign commander would introduce themselves and explain why they were here. "Is everyone alright?

"Certainly, Captain," Kai said, gesturing toward the ship behind him. "From what I hear, all the fun was down on the planet. Did get a chance to catch up reports though. Hope shore leave was everything you'd hoped it would be."

O'Connor was not about to admit that she did not know this person. Something was wrong and O'Connor was damn certain that it was not with her. Best to play along and sort this out with the rest of the shoreleave folks later. She said, "It was odd. None of our sensors showed anything on this planet other than simple animals. No history of anything ever being on this planet that resmbled advanced civilization. Yet, Heskin stumbled down a hole and found it, so Zim insisted on following protocol and we are here."

"I think so, captain," Kailani said, a little embarrassed to be still talking to her captain in her bathing suit. "We found what looked like evidence of a technological civilization. Then we were beamed back up."

O'Connor looked over Kailani in her bathing suit, said nothing for a moment and then asked, "You found something, too? Where were you?" The Captain furrowed her brows. A debrief looked like it was going to be in order.

"We were on a beach," she said, which also explained the attire. "We saw something in a cave back from the shore. We found it was protected by a forcefield. We managed to penetrate it but we found no one inside. Then we were beamed up."

I bet that was not all that was being penetrated, O'Connor thought to herself. "I see," the Captain replied thoughtfully. "We need this planet mapped. I hope the Commander has been doing that while we were on the planet. After that, I want anyone who saw anything that was not what our scans expected in a briefing in one hour, along with all senior staff."

"Now what kind of First Officer would I be if I hadn't," Kai answered. "Science has some findings they wanted to share with you."

O'Connor's eyebrows raised momentarily, he eyes widenening, but she quickly controlled her expression. She looked back at the shore leave party to see if any of them had reacted similarly. What happened to Capac? she wondered. No ships should be in the area. In the couple of hours since I left the ship, there could not have been a transfer. Something's amiss. So, who is this person, that is my "first officer"?

"Science does?" O'Connor asked. She looked at her Chief Science Officer, Axel Heskin, and wondered what he had ordered. "Alright, Heskin, you and I will meet with Science, since it is your department and you can translate into proper English for me."

She looked again at the foreign Commander. "Anything else I should know, Commander?" The title rolled off her tongue smoothly but her brain felt it was wrong and awkward.

"Other than that," Kai responded promptly, "things have been quiet up here. Usual duty reports are awaiting you, of course, but no, that's about it."

Well, that confirmed it to O'Connor. If there was nothing unusual up here, then something happened between here and the planet. What it was, she did not know. Maybe she should get her head checked. Well, the doctor was here.... "Alright, Commander. Thank you for meeting us here but who has the con at the moment?"

"Duty officer," Kai answered. "Who is bridge-certified but hasn't spent enough time there to his own liking. Any particular orders, Captain?"

"No," O'Connor responded definitively. "You can take the con back and I will meet with the science department, along with Heskin. Then, we will have our briefing." She looked back at the shore leave crew and then back at this strange commanders. "Just keep monitoring that planet and let me know if anything else shows up out of the ordinary."

"Aye, Captain," Kai answered. "On my way." It wasn't until he'd left the Transporter Room that his mind strayed to beaches and perfect waves. Oh well, he thought, better luck next time, I guess. He entered the nearest turbolift and indicated his desire to return to the Bridge. Something's not right though. She didn't look nearly as relaxed as someone who'd been on shore leave would be. Maybe we should do another set of surface scans.

Axel blinked at seeing the unfamiliar executive officer. Where was Lieutenant Commander Amaya Capac? He shivered, getting an uncomfortable feeling in his bones.

He also wanted to know who was still in the science department. He looked at O'Connor.

"When would you like the meeting Captain?" Heskins hoped it would be after they had the chance to get cleaned up.

"I need time to meet with science and I believe everyone here needs a chance to get in uniform. Let's say one hour," O'Connor told the apparent first officer. That will also give us some time to coordinate what happened and who this mysterious commander is, I hope.

Zim had no recollection of the Commander. When Axel mentioned a meeting that perked Zim's ears. "That will allow me to check the security records and see what I can learn."

"Yes, captain," Kailani said.



Captain Kelly Jean O'Connor
Commanding Officer
USS America

Commander Makai ("Kai") Nakamura
First Officer (whether anyone believes him or not)
USS America

Lieutenant Harris Zim
Chief Security Officer
USS America

Lieutenant Axel Heskin
Chief Science Officer
USS America

Lieutenant Drake Yarrow
Chief Navigator
USS America

USS Kailani Young
Chief Helmsman
USS America

 

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