Posted by Lieutenant M’Mera (Chief Of Security) in Colony: Tunnels

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Troy Hunter (Senior Medical Officer) in Colony: Tunnels

Posted by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) in Colony: Tunnels
[snip]
M’Mera shrugged, “Yourr call, Captain.” Her eyes narrowed at the Captain’s musings. “Indeed it sseemss ssusspiciouss that the Advisorr didn’t know about the Aenarr. If he did know, I bet he didn’t want to quit mining.”

“Not necessarily, Lt.. There have been numerous reports over the years that the colony was haunted, from the various people that have lived here. The Aenar have been here long enough that I’m sure they could live in these tunnels without anyone knowing they were here. And anyone having a fear of the supernatural would most likely avoid going to deep. to investigate. Prior to the taking of these two miners, I doubt there was any interaction with them at all,” said the Helmsman.

“I’m not sure about that,” replied Captain Glen. “I feel that the miner’s leader is holding back about who knew whether the Aenar were here, and I’m not even telepathic!”

The helmsman turned to face the captain. “Captain Glen, if I could get the assistance of a few of the Aenar to help carry and guide me out of the tunnels, I can start loading up all this date onto the shuttle we came down in.”

“We beamed down in a clearing out of town!” Glen said. “Anyway, there is no rush to upload this. Starfleet committees will take years to sit and read and work upon it, kicking the final report down the road for years, just like a can in a back street alley… I also don’t want us to split up. That always leads to problems. Usually, it’s Dr. Cross we have to go and look for. “

‘’Apparently the Romulans knew ‘’ Hunter chirped in ‘’ So much so that they changed their DNA for what reason I cannot fathom ,not to mention how they were able to do it ‘’.

“I has assumed that the Romulans brought them here following the genetic experimentation,” Glen puzzled. “Not that it took place here. There is no sign of a laboratory here. I guess I thought they meant to hide them here, knowing how enochlophobic they are? Why they did it? How they achieved it? Maybe we’ll never know those things!”

’’ That makes sense ‘’ Hunter replied ‘’ How they did it is mind blowing to me ‘’.

The doctor picked up his things as it seemed they where about to head back ‘’ Is there any other easier way we can leave the tunnels? ‘’ for if there was Thalor would surly know about it . Hunter’s morale was low ,he felt both inadequate and incompetent that he could do nothing to help the Aenar .

Thalor nodded, “We have a freight elevator very close to here that we use to get to the surface. It is how we got the miners down here and committed the sabotage.”

Hunter heaved a sigh of relief that they would not have to go the way they came in, he felt psychologically drained.

Glen’s transmitter bleeped ,it seemed Cross was back taking the bridge whether she wanted to or not =/\= Captain a shuttle with Cara and Morris are about to land on the planet surface were Guy and Stella are =/\=.

=/\= I see… We found the source of the interference and have neutralised it, but if the shuttle is coming down anyway… Cara would have liked to have met who we met, but sadly I don’t believe she will today. =/\=

We don’t yet know this, but the Romulans now largely disappear from Federation radar for over 50 years, not seen or heard from again until a Romulan scout ship encounters the USS Enterprise-D in 2364. Only the Klingons and the USS Enterprise-C will see the Romulans during that time period, when they attack Narendra III in 2344.

Hunter then addressed Thalor ‘’ Are you the first generation with the altered DNA? ‘’ the doctor asked.

“No, we are the second. Our parents were altered and we were born with altered DNA. Our children are the third.”

The miners looked at Thalor, “Will we be able to go back up with them?” They asked.

Thalor nodded, “Of course. As we told you we only brought you down here to share this information with you and show you our people. You may go with them.”

M’Mera moved from her position against the wall to join the Away Party again as it looked they would heading out soon. She signalled to Sharp that if they were heading out that he was to take the rear, she would go with the Captain again. She then looked to the Captain.

Sharp nodded understanding M’Mera without saying a word he took his position.

“What would you like to do, ssirr?” She asked. So much discussion going on she had gotten a bit lost in it all.

*Get the hell out of here * the doctor thought .

“I think we can return with the miners now,” Glen replied. “We take a copy of their evidence. It will be difficult to tell the miners not to mine in these areas but that’s just tough. Federation Law is clear where there is a prior claim. We’ll pick up the others and return in the shuttle that is coming down.”

Thalos signaled to a couple of his men who packed up the samples back into the crate. Thalis himself moved over to the ancient computer and ejected the data disk and brought it over to the Captain. “My men will escort you out. I will let you investigate this material and speak with the Advisor. If you would like to set up a meeting later, I am open to it but I would request that you be there as a …mediator. Is that possible, Captain?”

“If you mean a meeting with Federation lawyers and lawmakers, then I’d certainly try my best to be there, but as a Starfleet officer, I’m subject to a chain of command and must obey the instructions and directives issued by my superiors,” Captain Glen replied. “I think Commodore Stone would grant it, but such a meeting might take place off-world, probably at Starfleet Headquarters on Earth. Will your people be able to travel to that?”

Thalos blinked, “They would not come here?” He obviously looked taken aback and was obviously very reticent to leave planet.

“I will also try my hardest to arrange for the meeting to be here,” Glen said. “Interstellar relations are complex and the challenges of maintaining peace and cooperation in a vast and diverse galaxy mean that ambassadors and their staff often have to travel to conferences, even if they don’t like leaving their comfort zones. I will let them know that you cannot leave this planet.”

Hunter remained silent , in his opinion Thalos had a point .As to why the Captain had suggested that any meeting would take place on Earth the doctor could not fathom . They might question how much the Captain really wanted to help them or why they should trust him , after all the Federation had to keep in mind the Romulans ....... would they eventually start a war in the near future?.

M’Mera went over to the table where the crate was and then looked toward the rest of the away team. “I will lead, with Sharp at the rear so two of you will need to carry the crate.” The crate was about 3 1/2 feet by about 18 inches wide and having watched it be brought in, it would take two to carry due to its awkward size. There were a lot of samples in there obviously.

‘’Count me in ‘’ Hunter replied as he moved towards the crate ,in the past he was always enthusiastic exploring caves but now the doctor could not wait to get out of there .He reasoned it might be that this was a mission rather then a hobby.

Hunter Dr.

Eros replied, “I guess that leaves me for the other end,” as he started stretching his arms and back. . . .

Lt. (jg) Dionysovich
Helm

Glen found that walking with others, was often a subtle form of intimacy. Side by side, words flow more easily, silences are comfortable, and the direction of the conversation may follow the twists of the path. Shared walks have mended friendships, sparked romances, and forged understandings. Even a silent walk with companions can be a powerful bond, a mutual witnessing of the world.

• Glen, CO

Eros and Hunter started their journey out of the tunnels carrying the crate ,it felt heavy for the doctor ,not the crate that was not much of a problem .His uneasiness came from what was inside and the fact that he could not do anything to help the Aneras ,though he kept his thoughts to himself .

Hunter Dr

The Aenar that Thalos had assigned them led the Starfleeters out of the compound to the Northeast edge where a large freight elevator/lift was found. It was easily large enough to fit them all. M’Mera was in the lead and after the Aenar opened the lift and then stood back, she moved forward to inspect the lift first. She wasn’t a trained engineer but it looked to be in sound mechanical shape and she could see no dangers, bombs or anything like that. And her nose would have sniffed them out.
The Aenar closest to her thought she was trying to figure out how it worked so he showed her.
M’Mera nodded in thanks before turning to the Captain.
“Looks safe enough, sirr. I can operate it.” She said as she stood by the controls and waited for the rest of the team to enter.

Once everyone was onboard, M’Mera activated the lift and it whooshed up in the dimness of the lights that were, fortunately attached to the corners of the lift. It had taken them many hours to get down the tunnels to where the Aenar were but it was only about little over an hour’s ride to the surface. Mind you the lift was moving very fast.

Lt. M’Mera COS

The doctor was not sure if there was anything that could break in the crate ‘’ Lets keep on holding it ‘’ he told Eros . Seeing the lift moving fast it seemed it had been a wise decision.

Hunter Dr.