To The Planet We Go

Posted on Mon Feb 3rd, 2025 @ 9:34pm by Captain Bethsabée Leroux & Warrant Officer Iryna Voznyuk & Lieutenant Andre Rhodes & Ensign Mercy Mourne & Lieutenant Avira zh'Kenarh M.D.
Edited on on Mon Feb 3rd, 2025 @ 9:36pm

Mission: Remnant
Location: Shuttlepod
Timeline: 408
1756 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

The trip down had been quiet even with the extra passenger in the doctor, even when the turbulence hit did anyone really make any sounds other than the pilot assuring them it was okay and the Captain confirming that the scanners were tracking the other pod and that they should land close to them so the groups could stay close. Iryna finally let out a whistle as she took in the vast, skeletal structures stretching across the horizon below her. "All these buildings." She commented as she noticed what once looked like huge buildings were reduced to jagged ruins, casting long shadows on the scorched and cracked earth below. She suddenly had a sinking feeling in her stomach over her mission - keep the captain alive, try to keep her out of trouble.

Mercy fiddled with her scanner, trying her best not to jump every time they hit turbulence. She would be happier when her feet hit ground. She tried to also ignore the statistics about accidents upon atmospheric entry that swam through her mind. Sometimes she wished she could forget certain bits of data more easily. From her seat she craned her neck, trying to see what Iryna noticed. “What do you think happened? Such a vast and relatively advanced city and not a sentient soul left.” She looked to the other passengers. “Kinda spooky huh?”

“War. War never changes.” The MACO said quietly as she gave one final look before turning away. She had seen similar scenes before and it was always the same the after effects. This was a long time ago by the overgrowth and decrepitude state of the buildings. There might not be many supplies other than the fuel but it was what they needed more than anything.

"Feels like we're going to pick apart Earth after World War Three. Guess we got off light, seems these folks had their own version of that and no one got to stick around after to pick up the pieces." Andre commented. This wasn't how he'd hoped they'd find fuel, but at this point, anything was going to have to do. "Just so long as we don't end up learning the hard way what did this planet's civilization in and can get what we need, I'll take that win at this point."

Mercy sobered slightly at that, looking between Iryna and Andre, then back out towards the planet below. “The Great Filter.” She mumbled to herself, then sits back. “Astro-physicists in the early 21st century had a couple of theories about why they were not able to find signs of alien life. One was the ‘Dark Forrest’ theory. Where they proposed that civilisations might hide themselves to protect against hostile species. The other was the Great Filter. The idea that most sentient life was destructive by nature and the need to progress so it would collapse before they could get to the point where they were advanced enough to explore life. Luckily we know Earth made it through such events, but perhaps this is one planet that proves that theory unfortunately accurate.” She then seemed to realise she had done that fact spewing thing she did sometimes and flushed. “Ah sorry, I’ll shut up now.”

“My great grandfather used to call it the great silence.” Iryna spoke up but it was the same theory as the core of it. Her great grandfather had been a smart man and used to say that as a child they were taught Intelligent life is rare which was obvious or that aliens were deliberately hiding themselves which was turned out to be the actually truth.

"There's also a whole slew of natural disasters that could have the same end result." Avira was going over the list of plants that Mercy had shared with her. Their Earth based look and feel as well as most likely biomes they would grow. "What we should be most worried about is whether the event, whatever it was, actually did manage to cull the entire population, or perhaps survivors will have escaped detection."

"Like I said, as long as we don't run into whatever did it, that's already a step in the right direction. Survivors we have the opportunity to de-escalate with but civilization ending cataclysms, not so much." Andre said, as he looked back down at his PADD with the information they had thus far, "But folks always said it was long odds that we survived World War Three. Couple things different and we may as well be the Vulcans landing on the remains of any one of our cities right now. It might be worthwhile to use this stop for anthropology research too. Don't need everyone to either get fuel or stare at the fuel gauge."

Mercy gave Andre an enthusiastic thumbs up. “I’m going to be scanning local plant-life and collecting samples. It will be easy enough to scan the structures and make a few observations as we go. We uhm… we are going to be sticking together right?” She glanced around the shuttle, she didn’t want to openly admit how bad her sense of direction was to so many senior officers, but frankly she was worried about getting lost if left to her own devices.

“No one should be going off alone that is for sure but sticking together is not completely needed.” Beth ordered from where she was sat being quiet and letting everyone talk back and forth. She did not glance back but she was sure Iryna’s eyes were on her as if to say I am sticking to you like glue Ma’am.

“You won’t find me complaining about that Captain.” She fiddled with the settings on her portable scanner. The clicking sounding loud in the momentarily quiet of the shuttle. “How long do we have planet side? I assume we will use the shuttle as a rendezvous point?”

“All depends on what we find.” Beth said quietly as she leaned closer to the window to get a better look at the structures and what was there. “Rhodes where are you heading first?” The Captain asked wanting to keep track of him and the other Engineers so they knew if it was bust or not.

Avira had spend some more time with Mercy in the previous days as she was working on the Genetic project for her. It had made her wonder sometimes exactly as to how she had gotten into the scientific field, and how she had been among the elite few deemed worthy of one of the half dozen or so first warp capable exploration vessels of Earth. "I'm sure we'll be fine, Ensign. We were going to be gathering plants and herbs together, after all. I won't leave you out of my sight." She pulled her Andorian plasma rifle into her lap and tapped it, hoping to reassure the scientist that she was in good hands.

"I'd like to start with the most promising site first, see if we're actually going to come up with something or we're drilling a dry well. If that turns up something, we can start setting up a full base camp, I think." Andre replied, "But for security concerns, I'd feel comfortable with others getting the top of the protection picks. I'm not out of my element entirely. Just somewhat." He added with a chuckle.

“And you will have engineers with you Lieutenant.” Iryna commented firmly. She was starting to realise why Gerhard had sent her instead of coming himself, this was going to be a security nightmare.

"Just trying to make life a little easier." Andre chuckled.

Mercy absorbed the information quietly for once, starting to feel a bubble of excitement and anxiety about what they would find. There was a series of soft clicks and she flicked through the scanners settings. Not really looking to change or check them but now just needing something to do with her hands.

Iryna noticed the woman looking at her scanner and frowned. “We have to be strong but we are stronger together.” Iryna whispered to Mercy reminding her of the time they had spent in the locker room waiting to board the other vessel. She offered a small smile. “Be thankful you do not have my job today.” She said indicating the Captain.

Mercy glanced at Iryna, it took a moment to process what she had said, but then she smiled and nodded. She had to cover her mouth to stop herself letting out a giggle at the Captain’s expense.

"Right now, unless this planet's surviving occupants have a say in anything, my bigger concern is the structural integrity of places we're going into. We don't know how well folks built stuff here - did they build to last like the Tellarites or was this built by the lowest bidder like some of the stuff Earth did in the 20th?" Andre commented as he glanced out the viewport ahead, "Be very aware of what your stepping on, what's holding what up, and what's above you. Just because it's still standing now doesn't mean it was built to last, could be it's on its last legs and ready to collapse if messed with. That's my concern past the proverbial Sword of Damocles hanging over us."

“Not heard that phrase in a long time. It seems very appropriate.” Iryna commented as she felt the final approach and the shuttlepod settled down on the planet. She could appreciate what he had said firmly but very simply to the group. She was going to have trouble with. the Captain she felt so it was good that someone else was telling the others to watch out. “I am sure that the Doctor would not want work like again.” She said thinking of the last structure that had collapsed on them.

“Copy that Lieutenant, Sword of Damacles and possible structural collapse. We’ll be careful!” Mercy turned to Avira’s and gave her a little thumbs up. Vibrating in her seat as she felt the shuttle land. “Do we plan to rendezvous with the L- with uhm the lead away party?” Mercy cleared her throat quickly, hoping her near slip up went unnoticed. She didn’t want anyone thinking she was eager to see anyone in particular.

Avira was unfamiliar with the bladed weapon they had mentioned, and wondered why they would be looking for something like that. "I brought a survival knife, if that helps." She commented before looking towards Iryna, "let's avoid requiring my services this time."