A Buried Lie

Posted on Sun Mar 15th, 2020 @ 8:43am by Fleet Admiral Heather Duval & Lieutenant Tia Shalvari & Vice Admiral Valerie Dessaix & Gunnery Sergeant Olga Vaal & Sergeant Kosmo "Bug" Burganski & Private 1st Class Tamara Harrak & 2nd Lieutenant F'ianna "Firefly" t'Tahn & Staff Warrant Officer Bridget "Banshee" Cavanaugh & Technical Sergeant Tycho Krywitz

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Ravenna
Timeline: 0800Hrs - April 7th, 2393

The marines were lined up in full combat load. Clad in armor and holding assault phasers they awaited orders. Admiral Dessaix stepped in front of them to address them.

"Something has been found down on the planet. It is large and made of refined metals. There is no power or signs of life. I need you to help Lieutenant Shalvari investigate this site. I have no idea what you will find but I know you will do your best." Valerie turned to Gunnery Sergeant Vaal. "Is your platoon ready?"

"Yes, Admiral. Looking forward to going dirtside again." Olga replied.

"I'm glad you are." Valerie didn't know if Olga was being facetious. "Be careful down there Gunny. We don't know what we are dealing with."

An hour later Olga and her platoon were down on the planet. Olga had deployed her second squad to secure the north side and the third squad to cover the south side. From the skies the marines looked like ants crawling over the carcass of a large metal creature.

"Any sensor readings from inside?" Firefly asked as she flew her fighter over the site.

"No, it's still cold." Her wingman, Banshee, replied. "I'm glad I'm up her and not going into that wreck."

"Truth to that." Firefly replied. "Keep looking for anything odd and report that to me immediately."

Down below Tia was looking down into a great black chasm. "It is several hundred meters deep. It's an artificial structure for sure." She looked back at Olga. "Are your marines ready to go down."

"Yeah, they are." Olga replied. "Keep in mind I'm pulling them out if things get weird."

Tia nodded. "Fair enough. We don't know what we are dealing with and I don't want people in danger if they don't need to be." Tia turned to Tycho. "Is the drone ready?"

"The drone is ready. Just give the word and Tycho will pilot the drone in the hulk." Tycho answered.

"Good, go ahead and proceed." Tia ordered.

The spherical drone slipped over the edge and into the darkness. "The drone is making good process. Sensors are not picking anything unusual up. Everything is normal." Tycho reported the drones progress.

"Can you get the drone safely to the structure?" Tia asked. "I want a close look at how this thing is built."

Tycho nodded and a few seconds later he spoke up. "The drone has a clear shot of the inside structure."

"Let me see." Tia stated with interest as she looked over the PADD controlling the drone. "Hmm...It looks almost normal. It is a reinforced metal structure. The metal looks burned and a little rust. The burn marks are from when the structure entered the planet's atmosphere." She studied the pictures even more. "Tycho, have the drone give me a close up of that damage."

Tycho nodded and the drone obeyed. "So the burn marks came after the structure was torn apart." Tia observed.

"So it was shot up before it burned in?" Olga asked.

"Either shot up or some sort of accident but yes, it was destroyed before it burned in." Tia agreed.

"Tycho would like to pilot the drone further into the structure." Tycho asked and Tia nodded in approval. The probe sent back pictures of what looked like a passageway.

"I wonder what happened here?" Tia asked rhetorically.

"It is Deck 114." Tycho replied.

"And how would you know that from these shots?" Tia asked.

"Because it is labeled in Federation Standard on the wall here." Tycho replied.

"What! I need to see. Put that on the PADD! I must see that!" Tia was now excited.

As the probe refocused a sign on the passageway appeared and it was indeed 'Deck 114'.

"Okay, it looks like this belonged to Star Fleet." Tia announced. "Tycho, keep that drone moving."

"Tycho can't. There is a door closed blocking the passage. The drone can't open that door." Tycho reported.

"Could somebody go down there and open it?" Tia asked.

"They could but Tycho would not recommend that."

"Why not?"

"There is something burned on the door. It looks drawn." Tycho told Tia.

"Another surprise. Let me see." Tia ordered Tycho.

The drone transmitted back a picture of a closed double door. On the door was burned in some sort of skull or bug head. "Gunny, have your people open this door." Tia ordered Olga.

Olga looked at the door. "What the hell is that?"

"I don't know. That's why we have to down there and get a closer look." Tia replied.

"By 'We' you mean my squad of marines?" Olga asked.

"Look, I know it is a little disturbing but the probe isn't getting any lifeforms." Tia tried to reassure her.

"Well I know I wouldn't want to live down there." Olga shot back.

"We need a closer look. Please Gunny." Tia fell short of pleading. "I know the structure is on its side and it is dark down there. To be honest, we need to know what is behind that door and your marines are the most qualified to get down in there and deal with it.'

Olga let out a sigh of frustration. "Bug, get your squad ready to move. We're going down there."

The first squad of marines and Olga repelled down into the chasm. A light from the drone guided them into the hallway on the structure laying on its side. As Olga and Bug guided the marines into the hallway, they detached themselves from the lines. The marines awkwardly moved down the sideways sitting corridor to the burned pictograph.

"Bug, you and Gravik open the door. Harrak and Shalmar will go in. The rest will cover them." Olga issued her orders.

"Me, why?" Harrak asked.

"You have your orders marine. Follow them." Olga curtly told Harrak.

Bug and the Tellarite marine pried the doors open. The two females slipped in. There was an immediate scream.

"Report in!" Olga shouted with urgency.

"There are skeletons all over the floor!" Harrak anxiously replied. "They're wearing Star Fleet uniforms!"