Star Trek: Starbase 777 - outpost-chi-13

It was your typical science outpost, if not for the flowers adorning it's walls, swallowing the building in an ethereal half-cocoon. Somehow, they were buds, flowering, and rotting, all at the same time. The entrance and the windows were left untouched by the growths, and as the away team came closer, they could see dimmed lights inside, behind the thick curtains...

Shallow breaths came a little quicker, and the ACMO stirred, head pounding. Everything around him was too loud. His uniform had a little bit of blood down the front. Trembling fingers reached blindly for his holographic keyboard, eyes still screwed shut against the pain. "Ow."

She walked decently ahead of the group, arriving at the outpost early. Her rifle was still raised up as her eyes scanned the walls, ears twitching slightly as the chatter and the footsteps from behind got louder. Flowering and rotting at once, hmm? Somehow, that felt familiar. Regardless wasn’t sure what to make of it, or any of what had happened really. “Fascinating…” She muttered, speaking to nobody in particular.

To see Iviaan up was a relief. It was something off of T'She's plate, and so, they decided to ask whether he was alright. "I know you are probably hurting, but... are you alright? What hurts?" Their voice was slightly more frantic by this point.

"Head," he answered, reaching up to wipe at his nose. The noise had stopped. What was he thinking, reaching out to something like that? "Where.. Where are we, T'She? I can't hear the water."

They offered a cloth, "Try this, and remember to lean forward if your nose is still bleeding. Do you think you are going to be alright? At the moment we have moved away from that... thing... and are approaching the outpost." They answered, trying to keep calm despite all of this. They had survived worse, after all.

As the away team piled inside the outpost Aoife began to secure their immediate perimeter placing tactical and security officers on watch as it was needed. It seemed they had got off lucky from whatever those things were she didn't intend to get caught pants down again. Especially not after her little outburst. Aoife had worked hard since the cube to better come to terms with her past but to have the war forced upon her in such a way was not something she was in any way prepared for and that fact was weighing on her.

She let out a quiet breath at the consciousness of their crewmate, leaning against a wall, before straightening to do a head count.

Seht approached his division commander, who clearly looked concerned, and for good reason. Questions still flew in his head, so he leaned over to speak with her. "Er, excuse me, Commander..." He paused. The inexperienced programmer was unsure of how to politely address his concerned. "Uh, what was up with the... choking and fighting that Klingon there?"

"Right." They swallowed, leaning forward and pressing the rug to their nostril. "Thank you, Commander. I tried... It was foolish, I know, but I tried to reach out. To make our intentions known. And I felt... I felt..." Everything. Nothing. The weight of the world on their shoulders. Like a flea given all the knowledge of a god, its miniscule brain unable to comprehend just what it was seeing. "I don't want to talk about it. I don't know how." Iviaan regained control of their chair, continuing to steer forward. "I'm glad we made it safely." (edited)

Aoife turned to face Seht, the newbie to the gaggle of intelligence officers on the station. "It's nothing, the river showed me memories from a bad time and instinct took over." Aoife was deliberately vague not wanting to get into it with someone she didn't know outside of a personnel file and service record. The river was a conversation for someone like Timi when she was back stationside.

"I will not push you, Chief. I am glad we made it safely as well." T'She finished with a soft sigh, looking now to the outpost for any signs of life other than the flowers.

“I believe… we have everyone here, is everybody accounted for?” She asked, somewhat certain everybody was there but still wanted to check, “We aren’t missing anybody?”

"Yeah, I saw my old city, where my mom's living." He swallowed. "Crap, I hope I'm still alive to see her after this." *He groaned still. Seht sucked in a breath and pulled out his tricorder, nervously tapping to try an see if it picked up on anything.

Vara'l followed the group in, tense as he watched the Ensign and others. Watched carefully as mulled all that had occurred and his jaw twitched periodically in thought.

As everything seemed to slow down and the officers seemed to be slowly recovering, Marze took the opportunity to actually breathe and take a step back. She eyed the redheaded commander subtly, talking to the lieutenant, but as quick as she looked, she averted her gaze. Not the time Marze. She had to focus on the mission. She had done this before, she would do it again. The weight of these… situations should be lighter now after so many, right? Didn’t even bother her anymore. Right. She approached Suun. They had shared drinks once right? Probably better to be around her. “Yes, Commander, I think we are all accounted for.” She turned to Silver, who probably still had Saren. “How is he doing? The other lieutenant seems to be recovering.”

She nodded, letting out another relieved breath at the confirmation. She was… fairly certain this was the woman she had hung out with after the New Year’s party, but her mind wasn’t at its most useful at the moment. “Thank you, Lieutenant.” She replied, watching her move on to Silver and the unconscious science officer.

"You'll make it home fine." Aoife reassured the lieutenant gently, he seemed fairly fragile for an intel officer. Aoife clocked a pair of eyes briefly looking at her from the direction of Marze, she felt particularly bad for that as she was to blame. She'd even taken a bit of a shine to the young lieutenant before she took a swing at her. Aoife made a mental note to make some kind of apology when the opportunity presented itself.

Klaa had enough of this. “Can we just get inside already?” She asked impatiently. After what ever the crap just happened she just wanted to get the job done and over with. She walked up to the entrance, not waiting for instructions.

Suun nodded, smoothing back her hair and taking one more glance over the group. She was aware of her habits, double-checking quite literally everything while under stress, but at this point, it felt like her role in this situation, until she could get her hands on the outpost’s inner operations and workings. “I agree. We’ve spent enough time outdoors for… the entire mission.” She nodded, moving to test whether the doors would open or if they needed to use force.

"Maybe we should check for signs of life in there? Barging in might make things worse..." T'She commented quietly to make sure whatever was roaming around didn't hear them. "It would confirm if the group we were sent to save was alive... at the very least..." They offered their own opinion.

“Good idea.” She backed up, realizing the truth in T’She’s words and trying to snap herself out of autopilot, “I’ll leave the doors for last, then.”

”Hurry up.” She wined. She was ready to bust this door down if she had to.

T'She then proceeded to do just that! Scan for life signs within the outpost!

"We could just shoot the door down." Aoife mused half joking as she let the engineers work. She continued to walk around the perimeter of the group keeping an eye out for the creature from earlier.

“Also… a good point.” She tilted her head, rubbing her brows, “Do we even have the time to take those precautions?”

Looking closer, the team could spot lights inside of the outpost.

"Hey, there are lights inside the outpost." Paco pointed out, as he pointed at the outpost. Were they moving lights? Did the lights fill the whole of whatever room they were in? or where they little dots of light? "Either power's on or someone or something is in there... or both."

They just looked like room lights, dimmed by the drawn curtains. Not moving, not blinking, as steady as a lighthouse.

"Are there any life signs in there?" Aoife asked as she did her own scan with a tricorder.

What color were the curtains and lights? Was there any signs of stains and splatters? How high up were the lights and are they within tricorder range? Will Paco stop thinking of these questions like a D&D player? Probably not. "Scanning now, Sir. might need to get closer."

There were lifesigns - quite a lot of them, actually, huddled inside of the outpost. They seemed to be in one of the lit rooms, situated on the second floor of the three-level building. No splatters or stains were seen on the dark curtains.

"Multiple lifesigns on the second floor." Paco said as he read out his tricorder before he dramatically turned to Aoife. "And the curtains... are clean."

"Can you tell if they're the scientists or if it's something else like whatever the hell we saw back there?" Aoife asked paco as she chuckled a bit about the curtains.

Humanoid. Perhaps unaware of the newcomers... for now.

"They are humanoid life signs. I'm unable to distinguish what species, but I feel they haven't detected us yet." Paco answered, and just for curiosity, he focused his tricorder on the ground floor to see if there are also any life signs down there. If there are none, then maybe they could enter the outpost.

Negative. The first floor was deemed empty.

"Ground floor is clear. we could go in, start investigating and figure out a way to the second floor to see what's going on in there." Paco reported as he waited to hear what the others would plan.

“We should stick together, though. Splitting the group only proves to risk more injury and damage.” They peered through a window.

“Is there a way to communicate with those inside? Perhaps we should first ascertain whether or not these are indeed real individuals or some anomalous entities.” She noted.

"I could throw a pebble at the window until they notice us. Or throw a rock at the window to break it and see if they get mad at us. Either way, we could illicit a reaction from them to see if they're hostile, or the thing we encountered earlier." Paco genuinely proposed. This was not Paco being sarcastic or disrespectful, he's suggested the simplest idea on the top of his head.

“Getting their attention does seem like a good start.” *She mused, in response to his proposal. Maybe throwing rocks was a little juvenile for Starfleet officers, but she wouldn’t turn down a good plan.”

”Or we can just ask.” Klaa was ready to shout.

"I'd advise against making contact just yet." Aoife said going against the grain of the rest of them. "Whatever it was we just came up against took action after we made our presence known. For now it's probably best to keep quiet and not make ourselves known until we confirm the life signs are the science team."

"If we did the rock thing, we could hide." Paco said, but then a couple more simpler ideas with more outcomes popped in his mind. "One of us, not me, could knock the door really loudly, and then hide. Someone comes out, we get the confirmation we need... or, if we know the comms channels of the outpost, we can just, call them from a distance."

"Well- m-maybe we should have a backup?" Seht chirped. "In case they're... you know, one of those freaky angel monsters!" He fidgeted, picking at the fingers on his leather gloves. He looked hopefully between the security officers and Commander Aofie.

“Hm. Maybe one of us gets their attention, like Lieutenant Umali said, and the others stand by out of visible range with phasers, or some kind of precautionary weapon.” She wasn’t entirely sure what phasers would do, but it was better than going in unarmed.”

”Me! Pick me!” She quickly volunteered. “what are we going with? Rocks, phasers or just yelling at them?”

"She seems ready." Paco casually pointed over to Klaa with a shrug. "And as Lieutenant Seht suggested, and I know it's a stretch from what you just said, I'm sorry, but maybe it would be a good idea for someone to go with Ensign N'garen as back up just in case things turn... le bad." *Paco suggested before he turned back over to Seht. *"I think we're on our own for this one, unfortunately."

“Alright.” She exhaled, “Ensign Klaa, you and Lieutenant Umali will attempt to get the attention of the beings inside. The rest of us need to hide.” She rolled her shoulders, looking around, before taking out her phaser, hoping that there was no need to use it.

"Understood." FUCK! This completely backfired on him! He was going to suggest Marze should go with Klaa.

”Yes! Come on.” Klaa said grabbing the lieutenant JG’s arm and pulling him to the door with her. “Ready?” She asked Paco with a mischievous grin. “HEY, ARE YOU GUYS THE SCIENTISTS?” She yelled, banging her fists on the door.

”You want to send him to the mouth of the lion’s den, sir?” Marze pointed towards Paco while looking at Suun with the biggest “are you sure” expression ever.

“If you’d like to take his place, go ahead, just… ask him. This is just to make some noise at the door, it doesn’t matter who does it.” She held up her hands, “The quicker we get inside, the safer we’ll be.”

"W-wait! No! I think there's a better way we cou--AAAA!" Paco's a scientist for a reason. Remember that. It was fairly easy for a stronger person to pull him around despite resistance. Once at the door, Paco stood behind Klaa, and at the moment she let her go, Paco quickly scrambled to pull his phaser out and aim it at the door to get ready

She could not wait for the answer though, was the little man was suddenly pulled along and her only possible reaction was to ready her riffle and follow both of them with a big “FUCK” exclamation. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING ENSIGN.” Marze was positioned right after them, ready to shoot or pull someone in case of retaliation.

Suun ducked to the side at the sudden noise, phaser flying to her hand in preparation as she watched the others do the same. This is fine, just sudden. This is fine, just sudden. This is fine, just sudden.

Seht ducked to the ground with his phaser over his head as the door whirred open. He lifted a single eye up, nervous of what would emerge.

"What the fuck was what Lieutenant Umali?" Aoife said as she readied her phaser rifle to the door. "Get your ass down from there before I bust you down to a crewman." (edited)

As soon as the banging and screaming had begun, the lights on the second floor were snuffed out, leaving the whole place dark. A minute or so would pass, before a muffled voice could be heard from the other side of the entrance: "Hello?.. Who is this? Commander Amunn-Ho?.."

4

She moved from her crouch to slowly stand, looking to the other officers once again before her gaze fell on Paco, waiting for him to reply, if he wanted to at all.

This isn't the first time Paco was thrown into crazy Starfleet shit, but the first time he was actively pulled into crazy Starfleet shit, excluding all the times his cousin Maya got him into her shenanigans. Either way, Paco was here now, and all he could do is stand firm and keep his hand steady. He was If he lives, he is going to write the angriest personal complaint in his repor-- OH FUCK A PERSON! Wait. A person!! or maybe... IT ISN'T A PERSON! BUT A THING IMPERSONATING PERSONALLY IMPERSONATING A PERSON!* "H-hi... will you kindly open the door, please?" *He asked in such a way that didn't made him sound like a person pointing a gun at the door. (edited)

4

“We’re Starfleet, we were sent to investigate the anomalies on this outpost. There is something outside threatening the lives of our crew.” She stated, still holding the phaser. (edited)

What. The. Hell. How the fuck were these people officers? Why would anyone open a door to strangers based on “please let us in thank you!”. And thank the Commander for actually initiating the negotiations and providing context.

"We are definitely not armed." *Paco, Starfleet's finest science communicator and diplomatic attaché, added. * "Also what she said." (edited)

Seht kept his phaser out. Not armed.

She sighed, tucking her phaser back in her belt, in hopes of at least appearing unarmed and unthreatening.

”Little man, I’d advise you to shut it.” Marze half whispered and half growled, being right behind Paco, still with her own riffle. “They might know you are lying!” (edited)

"Hey, I wanted to suggest you do this. I was pulled into doing this." Paco whispered back, still pointing the phaser at the door because his arm couldn't move out of fear.

“Put the weapon down, lieutenant.” She whispered, reaching out to slowly move his arm down, “No empty promises here.” (edited)

”I was gonna volunteer. At least we agree on that front.” She slowly got closer, lowered her riffle but kept ready. She would let the Commander handle the talking. It was not her strong suit. (edited)

"Okay, thank you." Paco whispered to Suun, arm trembling as she moved it down. He holstered it back. Thank Sisko.... (edited)

"Stafleet?" there was a note of hope in the person's tone, before they cleared their throat. "One moment..." Opening the door for just a sliver, just in time to see the lowering of the weapons, the Betazoid balked at the glinting steel, the visible eye widening as the grip on their own phaser tightened, "Um?"

6

“Apologies.” She quickly stated, “We were expecting one of those light things.” She shot a glare at the weapons still being held up, before turning back. “I’m Commander Zalan, we’ve been sent here to investigate.”

If it was still just Paco and Klaa there, and he was still holding a phaser, he would've shot the door when it opened out of impulse. Again, a scientist for a reason. Thank the Prophet's for the others, and that he already holstered his weapon back. Paco is going to let Suun do the talking since he isn't doing well so far. (edited)

They looked around, somewhat deflating as if in disappointment of not noticing someone in particular in the crowd, but the look they gave Suun was determined: "Understood. I am glad that our message has passed through. I am Lieutenant Junior Grade Moirai, and I see that you have some injured people. Let's get you all inside, before Sunhead comes back."

“Thank you.” She nodded, looking to the others before moving forwards, “Our science officer and one of our medical officers were badly affected by the creature, what exactly can you tell us?”

Iviaan gave a sheepish wave as if to indicate himself. He was feeling a bit more... like himself, at least, so he could steer closer to the outpost. "It's nice to meet you," the TTS chimed politely. "Thanks for your hospitality.."

The officer opened the door wider, to allow everyone an entrance. As the away team strolled in, they looked at the OPS representative, "They will be fine. The effect is only temporary, and we have some medical personnel that already have some experience with, um... this. Just... don't look at that creature if you happen to encounter it again, or you will drop too. "

“Good to hear.” She nodded, pausing to stay near the Lieutenant as to continue the conversation while the others were heading indoors, “The river, where we landed— it showed many of us things from our past. And the distortions, they’re… bizarre. When did they start?” (edited)

Aoife made sure to take up the rear of the away team to keep an eye on the treeline as they made their way inside the outpost.

"We are going to the second floor," they announced, spearheading the movement so that the team knew where to go. "All of this is a result of a whole series of unfortunate events... I am not even sure if the breach of the temporal matter was the result of an oversight, miscalculation, or something else entirely, I am not the one who can say for sure. But as soon as it all began to... leak, we've put up a forcefield to prevent it from spreading to the whole planet, and sent out a distress signal."

”So, the thing we saw…” Marze came in then once they made their way inside and followed the other lieutenant. “Sunhead, you called it? What is that?”

"It... came from the temporal breaches," Kove responded hesitantly. "It is literally not of our world, or plane, whatever you want to call it. It's existence is so abnormal to our minds, that when it moves, we just... can't comprehend it." By the time they've explained that, the away team reached the #outpost-second-floor.

T'She was downstairs by this point, having been herded by the almighty storyteller.

Heading down with the rest of the group, Suun stayed at the back of them, making sure everyone going with them was accounted for.

Maggie moved with the team!

Aoife followed the group downstairs.

Up and out, angrily stomping behind Suun.

And time to go! No looking back.

Iki was here to help, too, even if the most they'd be doing was holding an unmodified tricorder and shouting out sensor readings.

Kove indeed did step down to the first floor, a determined look on their face as they did so: "Hi again. I will help you out in the forest - I know some paths there that might help us, if we're lucky..."

Aw fuck Iki was here. Gimura’s folded arms tightened a bit as she leaned against the doorway, “…if we’re lucky?” She said with a raise of her furrowed brow.

3

Maggie looked at the ensign. “I mean, a lot of away missions are luck. Sometimes you get Borged for two weeks, sometimes you make it out all right.” She said with a normal look on her face. Geez somebody get this cat some therapy.

”If we’re lucky we’ll find their commander before we have to leave.” Marze came down right after Gimura. “And if we’re lucky Sunhead won’t get the chance to explode our brains while we try.”

Suun would… rather be bored, at this point, although she’d never say that. “Thank you for agreeing to help.” She nodded to Kove, “We’ll need all the guidance we can get for the woods.”

Gimura’s eyes widened at Maggie’s statements. What the hell- Every away mission she heard about on this base got crazier and crazier! Getting Borged, meat moons…she grumbled to herself, not quite hearing what Marze had said.

"We'll take the backdoor exit for this, it'll get us straight to the forest," with that said, the Betazoid began to lead the charge, opening the door to the #fractal-forest.

INCOMIIING. Autumn somehow managed to Akira bike slide the shuttle into a landing. Not by skill, mind you - this was acheived by sheer panic. They desperately got back onto the comm.

2

With the shuttle now here, and the plans changed due to the rescue team's unexpected revelations, the remaining bunch would ensure that all of the survivors made it to the vessel, and then proceeded to pick up the rest of their team as well.