Yeager:Second Mission - Vanishing Act
In the Yeager's second mission, ....
Contents
Captain's Logs
Captain Mattiana
Stardate 21405.22
Captain's log, Stardate 21406.22
Captain Mattiana recording:
The Yeager has been assigned a mission of exploration for a change. We're heading to a star system to explore X-25NA, a medium size asteroid cluster situated between the Alpha and Beta quadrants. The system has been relatively unexplored up to this point, and it's been at least a century since anyone from the Federation has been to this corner of space. We're to scout it out and determine if the asteroids will be viable enough to setup a mining colony.
Right now with Federation resources thing after the war, a colony here would greatly speed up the supply lines to some of our border worlds. It will be a change of pace to be doing something productive and positive, even though we'll be scanning and mapping for the most part.
This mission will also allow our new crew to settle in, and to give me a chance to get to know my new first officer, Commander Cameron Parker.
So far the mission has been quiet. We experienced a programming malfunction with the sensor systems that Commander Cole was able to repair.
As we reach the system it appears as though there is an artificial power source nearby. Given that nobody – not even the Romulans or Klingons – have been around her, we're going to check it out.
Stardate 21407.21
Captain’s Log, Stardate 21407.21
Captain Mattiana recording:
As the Yeager approached the power source we discovered the readings were coming from a satellite probe – the kind many civilizations launch when they are first exploring the reaches of their own solar systems. The scans I’ve read remind me of probes that Krios, or even Earth, launched approximately 400 years ago. The probe is very unsophisticated in comparison to current Federation standards.
The probe itself contains many of the standard elements that seem to be common to this type of exploratory probe: a very basic audio transmission, this one on radio frequencies, broadcasting prime numbers, language unrecognizable to the universal translator, and something that is akin to a variety of Federation music. The probe was also broadcasting a digital signal which included imagery of humanoid beings, and cities, and what’s clearly a home world.
The computer has since been able to parse the language enough to assume that this probe has come from a species called Betarian. The computer also estimates the probe has only been out in space a short time, likely no longer than a decade. I have to admit, the prospect at having discovered a new civilization is exciting, and you don’t need to be an empath to know the rest of the crew feels that way as well.
We’ve dispatched an away team aboard a shuttle to investigate, particularly since the probe is leaking harmful radiation out into space. Lead by Lieutenant Commander Trever Cole, the away team is being cautious while approaching in case the probe’s sensors are sensitive to pick up anything. We don’t want to cross the line of the Prime Directive.
In the meantime we’ve also detected more broadcasts from the Betarians, these ones most likely sent directly from the planet. At first we weren’t certain what the imagery depicted, but then Commander Parker deduced that this was likely a transmission of the planet’s popular entertainment; it’s resemblance to our own advertising transmissions was what gave it away.
[Captain, we might have found something worth looking at it if you want to return to the bridge at your convenience.]
Seems as though we’ve learned more about these Betarians.
Stardate 21408.19
Captain's log, Stardate 21408.19
Captain Mattiana recording:
We've arrived at what can only be the Betarian homeworld. It appears to be a thriving, pre-warp civilization complete with space station in orbit of the planet. The planet resembles many other worlds in history at this stage of development, and one can only assume these people are only half a century away from discovering warp travel.
That would be, however, if there were still people on this planet.
This Betarian world appears to be completely vacant of sentient life. The automated technologies continue to function as if the population simply left the planet for a quick bite to eat, fully intending to return home in a short while. However we have no indication of spacecrafts entering or leaving this star system in what would be considered a plausible time frame. There is a spacecraft attached to the space station, but again there is nobody there.
It's a conundrum to be certain, for an entire civilization to just up and disappear.
I can think of at least a half dozen reasons why a population may no longer be around, but we haven't found enough evidence to send us even in a general direction.
This seems like something we need to investigate further.
Stardate 21409.20
Captain's log, Stardate 21409.20
Captain Mattiana recording:
I decided that I would lead an away team down in a shuttle to investigate the mystery of the Betarian homeworld. Commander Cole, Lieutenant MacDougan and Midshipmen Xzanarsis and Khrag have joined me on this away mission. I left the conn to Commander Parker, who I'm confident will be able to handle himself while also keeping watch on an away team that's been sent to the Betarian space station. Commander Rydell is leading that team, along with Lieutenant Patterson and Ensign Tiran.
The Betarian homeworld is… interesting, to say the least. First impressions of the world would leave you not believing there are no sentient beings around. The land is pristine, various insects buzzing about on a warm summer day, the city stands in the distance – it would be a lovely vacation spot at any rate. But even the view on descent made it clear there are no beings manning the planet: no other air traffic, nobody in the streets of the cities, just…. No one.
We've landed not far from one of the cities, near to one of three crash sites that were noted from orbit. It seemed odd to me that there would be three similar crashes on one planet, so our first stop was to check out the crash.
It's clear just from our initial observations that the craft was quite large. It seems pretty obvious to us that this is some sort of passenger craft, yet we have yet to find any trace of the passengers. I'm hoping that indicated that they survived the crash.
We have, however, found traces of life. A large creature – considerably larger than any of the away team members – was sniffing around the craft. It appears to me to be some sort of feline – canine hybrid creature, but I'll leave the analysis of that to my science officer. Commander Cole, wanting to scare the animal away lest it be dangerous to us, emitted a high frequency sound from his tricorder. The creature instead took interest in the sound, and has apparently now presented itself for… courtship?... to Midshipman Khrag.
I'm hoping Cole and I can get closer to the craft in order to download the flight logs for the craft. There's a chance they might give us some indication of what's happened to the occupants of this world.
Stardate 21410.22
Captain's Log, Stardate 21410.22
Captain Mattiana recording:
We were able to extract some of the flight logs from the downed craft. The logs seem to indicate that the craft took off using manual functions, was put into autopilot, and it stayed in autopilot until the aircraft crashed. The craft crashed well past it's the intended landing site that was logged, but it appears that the autopilot remained turned on during the time when pilots would typically be switching back to manual, at least as far as my and the away team's understanding of commercial aviation and atmosphere flight goes. We cannot determine from the flight records if there were any mechanical failures that prevented the craft from being taken out of automatic functions. But it seems as though the aircraft was perfectly fine, and it was only the absence of people that prevent it from landed.
This means that whatever happened to these people, it was unexpected.
Feeling as though this crash site wouldn't provide us with any more information, the away team has headed towards the nearest city. The city definitely gives the impression of a thriving metropolis, with public transportation systems, tall office buildings, and rather well maintain dwellings. The signs that life were her is evident in the way things have simply been left, as if groundcar drivers suddenly vanished from their vehicles.
As we approached the city centre we detected a life sign. Only one, way up on the top floor of one of the towers. We are currently en route to investigate. Perhaps this one life sign will have some answers for us.
Up on the space station it appears if they are having less luck than we are. The station is primitive by our standards - like all of the tech we've discovered so far. So far there is no evidence that the station is occupied apart from the away team, and no headway has been made in figuring out what has happened to the Betaraan people. That said, they had more important things to deal with like trying to stay alive on an alien space station. Ensign Tiran detected a fracture in the space station's engine core. She was able to eject it before it went nuclear, and sent the core tumbling into the planet's atmo. Fortunately for the away team the station can also operate on solar power, so at least they don't have to worry about losing life support.
On investigating the space shuttle that is docked at the station, it seems the Betaraans do indeed have some form of primitive warp technology.
The Yeager is another story all together. Apparently the ship is experiencing a series of bizarre malfunctions. While the engineering team is trying their best to diagnose the issues plaguing the ship, it seems as though this mystery glitch is making it's way through all of the systems... from transporters to life support to secondary systems and everything in between. I'm somewhat eager to get Commander Cole back to the Yeager so that he can take charge, however I know that the team on the ship is doing their very best to resolve the issue.
Stardate 21411.18
Captain's log, Stardate 21411.18
Captain Mattiana recording:
This mystery seems to be getting bigger and bigger. One moment, away team alpha and I are investigating a planet where it seems all sentient life has vanished. The next moment, the previously vacant city is now a bustling metropolis. What was none, and then one life sign, is now thousands in our vicinity.
Clearly we have unintentionally stumbled into first contact with the Betarians. They are presently escorting us to a 'safe' location, away from public eyes. Lieutenant MacDougan is keeping a transporter lock on our away team, so that we can beam out at a moment's notice. My away team continues to gather information on the Betarians in the hope that we can still solve the mystery around their disappearance and their sudden reappearance. I'm doing my best to keep most of the Betarian's attention on myself – Midshipman Khrag had picked up on this and joined in – so that the others may continue with these scans.
Meanwhile up on the Betarian shuttle, it seems as though away team beta has experienced a similar situation as us. The once empty space craft was suddenly re-populated with personnel. At this moment, the away team is safe. But our Betarian friends here on the planet are expression concern that away team beta are now prisoners of their enemies. It seems we've stumbled onto a planet of enemy nation states of some sort. I've attempted to telepathically send a message to Midshipman Xzanarsis in the hopes that she can contact away team beta.
Unfortunately, about the same time as the Betarians suddenly reappeared, we lost contact with the Yeager. I hope the crew on the Yeager are all safe.
Commander Parker
Stardate 21411.20
Acting Captain's Log, Stardate 21411.20
Commander Cameron Parker recording:
I suppose anytime the Captain is off of the ship I assume the role of acting captain and thus make recording a log under this heading a necessity. However, this is even beyond that, but I should not get a head of myself ...
As previously recorded the USS Yeager has sent out two away teams to investigate the strange abandoned locations we discovered on and near the Betarian homeworld. Captain Mattiana led a team on a shuttle to the planet itself and Lieutenant Commander Rydell beamed a team to the nearby space station. Both transports were successful and both teams confirmed that they found themselves in areas that were completely void of life.
My goal was to keep the Yeager in between the planet and the space station to ensure that we could provide support to either team in an instants notice. This goal however had to be scrapped. The Yeager began to experience strange engineer malfunctions in a variety of systems ranging from basic power outages to more severe losses of gravity, sensors, and life support.
These unexpected hiccups were causing significant distress to the Yeager and the only thing I could connect the malfunctions to was our proximity to the space station and planet. Before moving into those close ranges our systems had been operating at peak efficiency and while sensors were not detecting anything coming from the planet or station that might impact our ship I knew we had to test the theory.
I ordered the Yeager to break orbit and return to the distance we had previous been at while not experiencing difficulties. Upon reaching that distance our malfunctions seized and all systems returned to normal operational parameters. While this was certainly good news, it did place a significant distance between the Yeager and the away teams. Thankfully, we deployed a probe before leaving to allow us to remain in communication and sensor range of our teams.
After awhile we were contact by the Space Station team who requested a beam out. I ordered the Yeager to move within transporter range, beam up our people, and return to a safe distance as quick as possible. Midshipman Sakkar, a tactical officer who shows great promise, moved us in range and we initiated the transport. However, before the transport was successful the transporter chief announced that we had lost the away teams' signatures. This of course seemed like a horrific tragedy.
The loss of signal, it turns out, does not seem to be the fault of our transporter technology. At roughly the same time Midshipman Braxton of the medical department confirmed that the Captain's away team was gone as well. Certainly beaming one team would not impact the other. Something else occurred to cause both of our away teams to mysterious vanish in the flash of an eye. We are currently scanning in an attempt to learn something.
Moments later a shuttle launched from the space station. This was especially interesting considering our sensors indicated that the last known location of our away team was on that very shuttle. Are their life signs being masked? Are they in distress? As of now we do not know the answer to either question but I believe investigating that shuttle might help to provide answers.
I ordered Sakkar to place a tractor beam on the shuttle and to hit it with an EMP to stop it from breaking apart. Both tasks have been successfully completed and we are currently tractor'ing the shuttle to our bay so we can investigate further. It is bad enough to be missing two away teams, the fact that the Captain is among the missing makes it nearly unacceptable. We need to catch a break soon and I hope that break is found while studying the shuttle.
End log.
Captain Mattiana
Stardate 21412.23
Captain’s Log, Stardate 21412.23
Captain Mattiana recording:
As the Betarians escorted Away Team Alpha to what they called a “safe” place, it was becoming clear that cooperation between our two societies was going to prove tricky. My initial impressions of the Betarian people are that they are incredibly xenophobic, which is to be expected from a species that has never made contact with extra-planetary life. They are all incredibly tense and somewhat scared of us, though they are approaching the situation reasonably calmly all things considered.
I cannot say the same for this away team. The whole time the team has acted with nothing but suspicion towards the Betarians, even when we are the ones who appeared suddenly on their world. The team has been clumped together, whispering and casting suspicious glances towards the Betarians. They’ve been acting defensive towards our hosts, as if the Betarians have caused them some act of ill will. Commander Cole even went so far to do some dramatics, faking that he was sick and needed medication, which only put the Betarians more on edge, afraid we might infect them with diseases. I cannot blame the Betarians for their cautious attitude, because if I look at the scene from their perspective I, too, would be exercising care.
Unfortunately this has meant the Betarians are extra frightened of us, even when we try to carefully explain the situation or act in ways that are normal for Star Fleet first contact situations.
From our limited interactions with the Betarians it seems the political climate on this planet is tense, as the group of Betarians we’ve engaged with have indicated that a group called the Riskins are their enemies. This has put them a little more on edge, cautious that we could be some sort of weapon from their enemies. It makes me wonder if the Betarians’ disappearing act could be some aftereffect of a war they might be fighting, but so far I haven’t found evidence to prove this.
As for Away Team Beta, they got to experience re-entry on a primitive shuttle craft – lucky them! I feel for them, because I’ve done that once or twice in my lifetime. I hope the away team had strong stomachs. They appeared to have made contact with the Riskin Commonwealth, who were very interested in learning more about the Federation. Unfortunately the impression the away team got of the Riskins was that they were hoping to ‘download’ information from the away team’s brains and examine them in the freaky, horror vid program style. I’m hoping that interpretation of what they wanted was simply the Universal Translator not parsing the Betarian language fully, but we can’t really be sure.
Now planet-side, Away Team Beta was able to access the transporters aboard the Bell X-1. Despite what the Betarians had told us on Alpha, Beta found the shuttle surrounded by Betarians in heavy armour and weapons.
Just as Beta was about to take off – and Alpha was surrounded by Betarians raising weapons at us, due to too many misunderstandings – the Betarians disappeared again.
Both away teams are attempting to rendezvous. Alpha was apparently underground, so we have found our way back to the surface so that the shuttle can get a transporter lock on us.
With the Betarians’ disappearing act, we have regained contact with the Yeager. They have continued to search for a reason behind what’s going on, and it seems like they’re very close to coming to a solid theory. I’m eager to return to the ship to hear what facts they have discovered so far, and what this theory might be.
Stardate 21502.18
Captain's log, Stardate 21502.18
Captain Mattiana recording:
Both away teams were successfully able to meet up. A gremlin in the Bell X-1's transporters meant that Midshipman Khrag was left below on the planet's surface while the rest of us were beamed successfully aboard. The transporters then went into self diagnostics in attempt to resolve the errors. This meant we had to land the shuttle to pick up Khrag or wait things out. I chose the latter, much to the apparent annoyance of some away team members. Instead, I ordered both the shuttle and Khrag to rendezvous at the life sign reading we had.
Once there, we discovered that this life sign was attempting to send a focused burst of metaphasic radiation towards the Betarian sun. We attempted to destroy the transmission dish, but unfortunately the broadcast had already been sent. The burst had a negative impact on the sun, sending a large enough solar flare towards the Betarian world to consume it, in addition to sending the sun towards being supernova. It was determined that we simply did not have enough time to intervene in this situation, and unfortunately, we have to let things play out.
In the meanwhile, Midshipman Khrag was able to apprehend the Betarian controlling the dish. With the impeding solar flare, we had limited time to speak with the Betarian, lest we risk the shuttle being effected by the incoming electromagnetic radiation. We did a beam out that also brought the Betarian -- though unconscious due to the destruction of the transmission dish.
The shuttlecraft Bell X-1 and both away teams are now back on board the Yeager, along with the Betarian. I have tasked Lieutenant Olsen with the job of debriefing the Betarian. Hopefully she can pull enough information from him to determine what he was up to, what caused the Betarian peoples' disappearing act, and maybe even why he sought to destroy his own people.
Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do for the Betarians. They are doomed to perishing. I'm not sure if the disappearing act or the solar flare is a worse fate.
The Yeager has been ordered to a safe distance away from any possible damage from the supernova. I'm hoping we can gather enough broadcast artifacts and sensor information on the Betarians' activities to put a profile file together of this species. It's the least we can do: not forget them.
Crew Logs
First Officer
Commander Cameron Parker
Stardate 21406.02
First Officer's Log
Stardate 21406.02
Commander Cameron Parker recording:
The USS Yeager is preparing for launch. I have spend the majority of my shoreleave getting to know the ship and her crew. The Yeager is without a doubt bigger than the Oceanus but still has the family feel to it that you can only get on small and medium sized vessels. I am happy that at least a portion of my previous crew were also able to transfer over to the Yeager. Not only will their presence help me adapt but I also know that the Yeager is gaining a group of very talented officers.
Some people have asked me if I was frustrated by being named a First Officer when I had been serving as a Commanding Officer. My answer is the same each time, a resounding 'no'. While I certainly loved the center seat and hope to be back there one day the truth is even as the captain of the Oceanus I was really more of a First Officer than I was a Commanding Officer. The Oceanus was a part of the Titan's flotilla and very rarely did anything on our own. I never resented this but the fact is, technically Commodore Tregelen was in charge of the Oceanus in regards to the 'big picture'.
As First Officer on a solo ship like the Yeager I will have just as much authority and probably even more excitement than I ever did as the Commanding Officer of the Oceanus. Additionally, anything is better than being reassigned to Star Fleet Security Headquarters. Not that I did not enjoy my time there. I certainly continue to miss many of my great friends. Field work however is what I was made for. Had I not been assigned as the Yeager's First Officer I would have applied to be someone's Chief of Security.
I've not been able to review the upcoming Yeager mission in detail just yet but the brief mission profile I read seems to indicate we will be performing an exploration mission. I am very excited for this opportunity as exploration is the reason I joined Star Fleet in the first place.
End log.
Stardate 21407.02
First Officer's Log
Stardate 21407.02
Commander Cameron Parker recording:
The USS Yeager is tasked with exploring an asteroid field and some planets/planetoid like locations that are surrounding a failed binary star system. The system is called X-25N1 and although its location in the Beta Quadrant puts it between a few superpowers it seems like thus far it has been largely ignored. Our goal is to explore and survey the area and see if it is viable to mine any resources. If so, our transport lines will be made a lot shorter especially to Star Base Delta.
The trip out here lasted about ten days and not much exciting happened during that time. I am not complaining about this. After the long war with the Krynar I find calm to be a very good thing. It also gave me a chance to get to know the Yeager crew a little better. I think I am going to like it here on this ship.
As we approached the area we realized just how massive the area of space was. The living star was a G-Type star and the failed star was massive, about sixty times the size and mass and sixty times the gravity pull of Sol’s Jupiter. If this was not interesting enough we detected some sort of artificial energy signal in the system. It appears to be some sort of probe and looks like it has some minor damage.
We are sending an away team, led by Lieutenant Commander Cole, to check things out and report back to us.
End log.
Science
Mid Valeria Xzanarsis
Stardate 21501.31
Stardate 21501.31
Science Officer’s Personal Log
Midshipman Valeria Xzanarsis recording:
I don’t know what to think nor what to feel at the moment.
We are on our way back to the Yeager after recovering Khrag from his little expedition with the Betarian that he had found on the skyscraper. As far as I could tell everyone seems quite happy that we are on our way to safety and although I feel the same, there’s a part of me that mourns for what is to happen on the people of the planet once the sun goes supernova.
There was so much potential on the planet and the civilization that lived with it. They have their own technology and as I have read in the reports from the Yeager, they might have been on their way to their own warp travel. But now, as time ticks slowly… all of those potential would be reduced into nothingness.
I pity the Betarian once he emerge into consciousness again. I wonder on what he’ll feel once he learn that it might be his fault on why his home and his entire race was obliterated. I pity him for I know that knowledge would kill him slowly inside as long as he lives.
I don’t know if it was because of panic or the heat-of-the-moment but throughout this whole mission I have seen several things worthy of concern. There were several decision acted out of impulsiveness like firing on the transmission disk after it had already transmitted. I mean, we might had a chance to save the planet by using that transmission disk to send an inverse metaphasic burst to the sun to counter-act the effects of the first burst, but instead of asking us anything about it they went on and blew the thing off. As the only science officer on the shuttle and the one constantly on tab with the scientific cause-and-effect of things I felt really insulted that I wasn’t consulted first on such important move. Suddenly the next thing I know the freaking transmission disk had been melted and even causing a small fire on the control room.
Besides that, there were also several problems going on between the Captain and some crew members. It’s probably nothing worth mentioning but some people seems to be not so happy with how the Captain do things, so far that I think I heard an article of the Prime Directive being quoted in one or two occasion. This could prove to be quite problematic if not solved immediately and of course it’ll be hard to work on a ship with a member of the senior staff and the commanding officer having a tension rolling around.
I feel sad and quite guilty that we weren’t able to do anything else for the planet. I know that I did my best and I could only hope that the guilt would fade with time. I shall remember this event throughout my career and remember the things it taught me.
As of the moment seeing that there’s only one path we could go now, I’m looking forward to going back to the ship, sipping a mug of hot chocolate, and burying myself under the warm silky covers of my bed.
End Log.
Security
Mid Khrag
Stardate 21407.28
Security Officer, Khrag-Cadet, Personal Log Entry 21407.28, 15:00.
So far, my time aboard Yeager has been uneventful. It has afforded me time to become better acquainted with my fellow officers and crew. Time, yes, for we are a small crew of about 70 Men, but I feel that I still need more time to come to know everyone well, because I find that many personalities here are difficult for me to understand. I overlook this because I am sure that others must feel similarly about me.
Though I would not harm any of them, unless the Captain wishes it, some seem to find my benevolence unbelievable, as they often approach me with obvious caution, or, rather, not at all. If only they realized that I would rather give my all in their defense, then I think they might open up to me. Having said that, I have to exercise considerable restraint in virtually every area of personal discipline. Sometimes, I feel close to letting myself go.
Chasing helps.
But I must continuously employ more elusive prey, as I find my pent up energies too quickly dominate any mere exercise.
And we are only beginning our mission; my supply of zheerekti is plentiful. Nevertheless, whatever I can do to support our scouting missions, and the scientists aboard, I consider an honor.
. ‘,.:,.’, .:,.’,.’,.
Stardate 21409.27
Security Officer, Khrag-Cadet, Personal Log Entry 21409.27, 20:00.
I am standing on the surface of a Big World—
Apparently, as the mightiest, sentient person present on it.
It could be a big New World too, for it seems to be devoid of its inhabitants. A Big People who have constructed an entire civilization, complete with cities and flying machines. Even so, the world retains the nature of its wilderness and wildlife. How long I have waited for just such an opportunity! The Big World is ripe for the taking, and I could have it. Excuse me—
I must take a deep breath.
It would be hard for my Kzinti brothers to imagine what I must now do. I must reject the “gift” upon which my feet have landed, and, rather, work a greater nobility on it. It is like a wounded bird, fallen from the sky into my mouth.
I can taste it.
However, I must not bite. I must become party to its benefaction, seek to mend its wings, and, ultimately, let it go free. All, perhaps, without it even knowing what good I have worked, what restraint I have exercised, what powers I have employed in its behalf.
Perhaps.
Still, I would rather not forfeit the respect of my Captain and Crew, on the Little Yeager, my little Mobile Home.
. ‘,.:,.’, .:,.’,.’,.
Stardate 21411.20
Security Officer, Khrag-Cadet, Personal Log Entry 21411.20, 19:00.
Betarian paraphernalia everywhere—the crash site of an aircraft that apparently ran out of fuel, abandoned vehicles scattered all along quiet roadways, and a city full of abandoned clothing where the people ought to have been.
That is what we found, until we detected our first sign of intelligent life on the top floor of a very large building. Soon afterward, the Betarian city dwellers that we had presumed were missing suddenly appeared as if unaware of our wanderings and unaware even their own apparent absence.
I get the sense that our first contact with the Betarians might not have gone as expected. Their personnel in the name of law and order seemed surprised at what they might have presumed was our sudden appearance. Nevertheless, we are on the way to meeting a high-ranking official that should be able to represent a large portion of Betarian society. Already, we have been informed—indirectly—that the world is conflicted.
It is an honor to represent the United Federation of Planets to them.
. ‘,.:,.’, .:,.’,.’,.
Stardate 21412.21
Security Officer, Khrag-Cadet, Personal Log Entry 21412.21, 13:55.
I think I said it before: “It is an honor to represent the United Federation of Planets...”
He SHOT me!
Overzealous Betarian guard—he shot me. I was about to “shake hands,” and he shot me. It was a good thing too…
I learned of Betarian strengths and weaknesses from that experience. However, just as I was about to defend myself, the Betarians all seemed to disappear right before our very eyes. It was incredible, as if some kind of advanced transporter simply whisked them away! I overheard Ensign Valeria talking to the Captain about temporal fluctuations, but I—I really have no idea what it all means. I mean, How do we know that the Betarians disappeared? Maybe we disappeared and the Betarians are still right where they always were. I mean—.
I have no idea what I mean.
In any event, the Captain seems to want to keep pushing forward. Perhaps she is searching for answers. Moreover, it is my duty to safeguard her, and the rest of the team, as she does that.
Hmm. I suppose it is an honor to represent the United Federation of Planets!
. ‘,.:,.’, .:,.’,.’,.
Stardate 21501.29
Security Officer, Khrag-Cadet, Personal Log Entry 21501.29, 21:00.
The Captain’s desire to push forward in search of answers finally paid off. Despite certain “glitches,” of the space-time continuum type, I think, she managed to locate a single Betarian life sign, the very one we had been looking for since the beginning. I do not know what the individual was doing all alone on the planet, but I suspect that it had something to do with the “glitches” that we have experienced ever since we landed. Apparently, the Yeager has experienced similar unexplained “glitches” too.
These “glitches” prevented my transport not once, but twice, leaving me all alone on the planet’s surface, and even feeling very close to the last of my breaths for a moment. Nevertheless, I managed to catch up to the team in the brute strength of my speed and determination and even managed to first lay eyes on the Betarian madman in a control room on the top floor, just below the roof of the building where he had evidently set up a rather large antennae array. I call him a madman because he seemed as much to me. Besides, he was indeed “mad” about our presence. He accused us of ‘ruining everything.’
I attempted to apprehend the Betarian, as the Captain had ordered, but I was too late to do anything but pick up the pieces after—I suspect Junior Lieutenant Bryan MacDougan—he had suffered electric feedback through his equipment from a phaser attack that destroyed all of it.
Giving the Lieutenant the benefit of the doubt, I suppose the Betarian madman received what he deserved.
Right about then was when I felt certain that I was going to spend my last few minutes alive, alone with the madman, abandoned. Shortly after that, however, the transporters finally operated as expected and—now this is the amazing part—beamed us; that is, me and the Betarian madman onto the Bell X-1. Imagine that! The giant—he must have been about a full meter taller than even me—barely fit inside the vehicle. I feared the worst, if the Betarian ever had a mind to start a fight in midflight, but he must have been too weary to resist his capture, or too discouraged because of the destruction of his equipment.
I wonder what he was working on anyway, and if it was truly wise to destroy him and his work.
Maybe I can find the answer in my tricorder. I should get someone to check it out.
. ‘,.:,.’, .:,.’,.’,.
Tactical
Ens Veronika Anilova
Stardate 21405.28
Tactical dept.
Personal log
Stardate: 21405.28
Ensign Veronika Anilova recording.
Okay so apparently we are heading out in a few hours, to where I still haven’t got a clue but the captain seems to know where we are heading, she’s been terrorizing… -wait did I just say terrorizing, I meant tasking-… people to speed things up so we can depart within three hours from now.
I wonder how this new dude, Hank will hold himself. He seems alright though, calm and confident. Another new addition we have to put up on the bridge is that Parker guy. Apparently he is the permanent replacement of our previous FO. I surely do hope he stays alive, cause I am pretty sick and tired of all the jokes about me having been responsible for his death. Official report said I wasn’t, so I wasn’t, end of discussion.
I truly hope we are getting to see some pretty marvelous Spacial specialities, some really rare phenomena would be amazing to witness. Perhaps if I discover it first it can be named after …me!
Okay enough, hope this little chat pleases the folks that never listen to these logs anyway.
Nika out.
Mid Taylor Sakkar
Stardate 21501.18
Tactical Officer - Mid. Taylor Sakkar - Personal Log
Star date 21501.18
My mother used to say "Life is just one damned thing after another." At the moment, that particular quote stands absolutely true.
First, we arrived at a planet that appeared to technologically active but almost entirely missing it's sentient occupants. We could only detect one potentially sentient life sign. Then the Yeager malfunctioned at the same time as the away teams sent to examine the life signs both disappeared. We interacted with a primitive warp shuttle, which once turned off, seemed to have to do with the away teams reappearance. Now, as we all try to figure out what is going on, someone or something has shot a multiphasic blast at the sun and created a massive solar flare which is now threatening everyone on and around the planet.
I simply do not know what to expect next. During this, my first bridge duty in which something significant has happened, I find myself attmepting to assist in finding solutions to problems that we still know almost nothing about. It is these sorts of situations that my mother comes to mind, as they are the sort of situations she was able to handle without problem. This is probably why I find myself thinking about her, drawing upon her "words of wisdom."
In any case, there is nothing we can do now but "roll with the punches," as my mother would have said, and try to come up with a solution that will not cause everyone's death. No pressure. I can only hope the metaphorical punches have not been pulled so far.
End Log.
Cartography
Star Fleet Cartography’s topographical map number fs-tm-2 2 1093 106 21507.10 depicts the surface features of the following explored astronomical object: Betarrat, Betarian capital; Planet Betaraan; System X-93J6. (The SECRAT of topographical map number fs-tm-2 2 1093 106 21507.10 is LEVEL 1, RESTRICTED.)
