Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Main Sim - Alien Planet - Landing Party 2 Near A Cave Mouth

Posted by Gamemaster CockRoach (GM) in Main Sim - Alien Planet - Landing Party 2 Near A Cave Mouth
[snip]

The entrance showed signs of likely inhabitation at some point, bits of a small cooking campfire was off to their left in one far corner, crude leathers and furs used as dirty bedding/clothes were here and there in piles. Signs of trash, bones, half eaten rotted meat were in another corner that seemed to be the source of the foul smells they had before them. But also picked up was signs that some kind of small fight took place here within the past day or so. Some tracks were those of the mysterious party they had followed here, others were new. The new tracks were likely of a tiny creature, with three long toes and a foot shape that was semi-humanoid with a lizard like quality to them. Going off the patterns of the tracks, the mystery party had engaged about 8-10 of these little scaled people, who then made a hasty retreat down the tunnel ahead of them which the mystery party then followed.

GM CockRoach

A bit behind the group, Alwyn was scanning the place with his tricorder. Everything, from the meat to the blood and the bones, no biomass escaped his scan. From the outside, his scanning approach would look… passionate. Almost obsessed. All those precious information was vital in order to understand the species of this planet and its biosystem. “Such a treasure…”, he said to Ch’Sirhc, a bit lost in his thought. “This is a big step in understanding the biology of this species. Isn’t it fascinating ?”

“Yes. Incredibly fascinating.” Kovan said in his best deadpan voice. Someone’s squatter cave was hardly impressive. Kovan sneered at the trash and leftover foodstuffs, the dirty bedding and clothes. This was the pitiful encampment of society’s lowest members or the outcasts who had no where else to go. And Yarwood’s unbridled glee was beginning to grate upon Kovan’s nerves. He took the time to memorize the two different sets of tracks then moved on.

Rand wasn’t a tracker, though she could identify most animal tracks found in her beloved Scotland. She was able to tell there were two different types of prints but not what had happened. She was careful not to disturb the prints as she moved around the room, after the room was cleared. Once they knew it was empty she pulled out her tricorder using it to take images of the prints, the bedding, the trash, the fire, and anything else left behind. These were obviously sentient species and taking any of their things for ‘study’ was the same as theft, in her mind, so images were the next best way to study them after. She was careful not to touch or disturb the sleeping spaces but she did try to see if there was anything that might be worth mentioning to the rest of the party. And since they were on the planet to investigate the warp signature, she set her tricorder to scan for any energy signatures. She wouldn’t know much more about it, having only taken basic classes, but she could still help in that way.

Rand

Roman was no tracker, though as a biologist and zoologist, he did have some experience. When one needed to locate elusive strange alien animals on strange alien worlds, one tended to learn how to do it. Going over the area carefully, it was obvious someone had camped here. He was fairly sure those were the marks of a scuffle, and one set of tracks matched the ones from outside, the other definitely looked reptilian, but humanoid. A scuffle meant either or both of the people involved might be hostile, and that put him on edge. “It looks like both parties went that way.” But should they follow? Did they have any business following? Or would they just needlessly walk into danger? Roman wanted to think before saying anything else aloud.

~ Roman

Approaching the new set of unknown tracks, Alwyn felt this day was a lucky one. Two in a row, he thought with a big smile, crouching next to the track. * I love my job !* He scanned the new print with his tricorder, trying not to show too much of his excitement, which consisted in wiggling his head like he was nodding to something. Plus, according to the scene, it was a bit obvious that those lizard-like creatures were mostly likely carnivorous, and maybe predators, hunting in groups judging by the size they might have.

Standing up, the doctor looked at Roman and pointed to the other foot tracks: “Maybe we should follow those. If someone can tell us about the explosion, it might be this strange party. And they might be wounded after the fight they had.”

Doctor Alwyn Yarwood - Ensign

Follow or turn around and check out the nearby town. Kovan was glad it wasn’t his decision to make. He stood before the path deeper into the cave, and pulled back his hood to let his antennae up. With barely any conscious thought the two antennae turned to face the opening and Kovan was still while he listened. It wasn’t that he had super hearing, that was myth that other species loved to perpetuate. No, he didn’t have super hearing, but he had very sensitive hearing and could potentially pick up the faintest of sounds across a wide band of frequencies.

Kovan didn’t expect to hear anything, but it didn’t hurt to listen. In the long, narrow spaces of caves sounds tended to bounce and echo. If either their campers or their reptilian attackers were close-by or even active further down the caves then he might be able to hear it.

Ensign ch’Sirhc, COMMO/ENGR

Ch’Sirhc’s listening did pick up somewhat distant, drops of water, maybe the sound of a stream somewhere ahead, and though he wasn’t 100% certain the faint wisps of possible fighting even deeper. Given the reports they were likely of a primitive fashion, swords, clubs, etc hitting metal, or rocks or something. Then again it could also be someone or a group mining deeper in the tunnels, it was impossible to tell. Also impossible was the exact distance it was from the party.

GM CockRoach

Roman shook his head. “If there was a fight, we have no business getting involved. Certainly not to heal their wounded. It would be a violation of the Prime Directive to involve ourselves in the affairs of the planet more than we must.” And Roman was judging this as ‘more than we must’. “Let’s get all the information we can from here and then turn back to the village.” He glanced at Kovan and shook his head, “And put those away before somebody sees you.”

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand didn’t say it but “more than we must” was bending it a bit far. They weren’t supposed to interfere at all in any way. Of course things happened. But if the inhabitants were fighting she was all for staying out of it. Out of everyone there she was the weakest link if it came to a fight. Forgetting that though, they didn’t have enough information about what was going on. For all they knew the group being chased had broken a law. It was not for them to decide who was right or wrong. Not when they were no more than trespassers and imposters.

Rand took a last photo and returned her tricorder to the bag, the wand tucked under the secured flap to continue recording and made her way back to the entrance of the cave.

Yeoman Rand

“It’s not like there’s anyone close enough to even know we’re here.” He said, unsurprised that he hardly heard a thing. At least it told him that no locals were near-by, and that was enough. He smoothed his antennae back with one hand, and pulled his hood back up. Kovan turned around and followed after Rand towards the cave entrance while the rest of the crew finishes their scanning and observations.

Ensign ch’Sirhc, COMMO/ENGR