Day Two - And Things Are Different - Part II
Posted on Thu Jan 29th, 2026 @ 9:27am by Lieutenant JG Peri Valeri & Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii & Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova & Lieutenant Xavier & Lieutenant Amanda Rose & Lieutenant Robin Maxwell & Staff Warrant Officer Madelyn Steele & Lieutenant Endymion Tox
1,636 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission: Preservation Instinct
[PREVIOUSLY]
Madelyn took some time to look for an outer door that would lead to where access to the powerline to the building. Granted there could be generators in the basement but there also could be a housing for a separate building to power the buildings. And there she did go. Right now, though, after that strange sound from last night, Madelyn's head was on a swivel.
Tapping on her combadge "I may have found the power plant to get the power back up and running. Anyone wish to come look at it with me?"
[CONTINUED]
"On my way." Anahera said.
Madelyn walked along the outside mentally tracing the powerline towards the power house, At the moment she was alone until someone joined her. Still though things needed to be investigated. The gate she came across had a chain with a lock on it. Something that she'd not seen in a while, she pulled out some of her tools, and decided to pick the lock with the lockpicking tools. She pulled off the lock, and undid the chain the metal of the thick links making a rattling sound as she pulled it out from the gate.
She tapped on the combadge directing the call towards Peri, "Just to let you know I found the power station for the buildings, I'll be going in and investigating it. It had been chained shut with a regular chain and lock."
Anahera found her way to the Warrant officer. "Warrant, what have we found?" She asked.
"We've got the power station, and probably it’s been chained due to what if the power goes out of the station just like it is right now. so, we're going in and get things up and running. Need to find out just what is on the computers there." Madelyn opening the gate to step inside.
"That's interesting. I wonder why it was chained?" Peri made a note of it, and Madelyn's location. Then she noticed movement on the sensors. "Looks like Commander Chernova is with you. Also, I've picked up something moving in the trees to your left. It's not humanoid. Can't tell if it's an animal or not."
"Thanks Peri." Madelyn looking behind her and around.
Picking up on the comm chatter, Yiv made a decision, and hit his combadge, executively overriding the channel. 'Rose, Xavier, you're with me. We'll chase down this bio-sign. Maxwell, Ishall, don't wander too far from Chernova and Madelyn - if it's an ambush you'll need to stick together. You with them too Tox.'
Madelyn keyed in her response "Acknowledged"
"The rest of you inside." Anahera said. "I'll stand guard."
The Security Chief scanned the horizon in search of a threat. She felt a tingling in her brain, something was out there, but all she could see were plants.
Ishall came jogging up towards the Power Plant with her tool Kit.
"Nothing amiss with the exterior Junctions from what I saw." She looked around for a second ; hesitating. "I-I should get in there as you say, I am great at fixing, I do not like being watched.
Ishall moved to the entry.
=^= Maxwell here, I am at another building, heading to meet with Anahera and the rest.=^= Maxwell assured over the Comm Channel.
"You will wave Robin in here when you see him right?" She asked Anahera . "He tends to get into things if not watched you know?"
"Of course." Anahera said. "I've noticed.
Maxwell came jogging up almost casually, his face hard to read as it was almost stoic with only a hint of concern.
"Is Aya ; I mean Ishall safe?" He asked looking at Anahera.
"Yes, she's inside with the others." Anahera said. The corners of her mouth turning up in a part smile at the Lieutenant's slip.
"This is not a normal Hostile action or take over, the bodies are the objective." Maxwell noted in a near monotone. "To leave the complex open and almost inviting more to come and see two things about us."
He glanced around.
"First is to see how we act? The people down before us were few, to really help know much about humanoids. more is needed about our nature and our tendency towards hostility of the unknown. These are all traits of a certain type of individual. "
"So, you feel it too?" Anahera said. "A trap has been laid for us and our curiosity, just might spring it."
"That is why you are Security and I am just a little Spooky, you have the insights and instincts." Maxwell noted. "I am would not let anyone wonder alone that cannot take care of themselves." He joked. "We don't carry Covert troops do we..." He tisked, "Too bad..."
"Pity, I enjoy a little undercover work." Anahera said.
"The old days of playing different parts of a puzzle." Maxwell gave her a wink. One of the games we Spooky types get to play." Keeping a vigil around them. "They say that Diplomats are the best undercover types you know?" Wiggling his eyebrows. "Ever volunteered for a Diplomatic Security Detail?"
"No, but before joining Starfleet, I did work as a body guard." Anahera said. "Also, just prior to joining the Ontario, I was an undercover Security Officer on Starbase Capri."
"I knew we would get along." Maxwell admitted. "Ishall is not really tuned into what an Intel Officer really does." He chuckled. "You and I are both here to help protect; good to know I am not alone in that Commander."
He had a hint of slyness in his tone.
"Why is there no struggle or sign that the people were taken aside from no one being here? Any theories about it Ma'am?"
"Maybe, they're still here?" Anahera said. "We have no evidence of an external attacker, so perhaps there wasn't one."
"With all the scans we have bounced around this area." Maxwell lean almost casually with his back to the wall. "From my experience, no bodies or signs of struggle mean evidence clearing or coercion, what would make each member want to leave without any word of clue as to where they are going?"
In the woods, a branch moved slightly, its leaves rustling as the creature watched the aliens, waiting for one of them to be alone...
Amanda looked at all the others and whispered, "It is still watching us." She thought about the situation. "Perhaps we could put a tracker on one of us and that person allow themselves to be captured. It could be the quickest way to discover what happened."
Madelyn paused when she heard Amanda's comment.
"What, you'd be willing to be captured by whatever is out there?" the red-headed chief engineer shaking her head. She didn't know anything about Lieutenant Rose, the counselor, she was either crazy, or brave or both. "Okay, hmmnn." disappearing inside the building. "I guess I'll see you when I see you?"
"Of course," Amanda answered before going up to Madelyn and whispering, "But I'm not stupid. We get a tracker on me. If they are intelligent and know our technology, then they will remove my combadge. So, something subcutaneous, perhaps?"
Chewing a lip for a moment, Yiv thought. 'Perhaps ... that could work,' he said reluctantly. 'It seems disinclined to approach us, so perhaps we have to make the first move. A subcutaneous tracker with a transporter booster would be the best approach, if we were to go down this road.'
Amanada beamed. Finally, they might see her as something other than the counselor who gets her heart ripped out. "So, let's do it. Besides, I've gotten good at getting kidnapped," she concluded with a small giggle.
Xavier looked at Amanda. “How does one get good at getting kidnapped?”
"I don't really know. It just seems to be my unique talent."
Xavier raised an eyebrow. "An alarming one to be sure."
Raising his eyebrows, Yiv shook his head, 'let's not tempt fate now, shall we, Counsellor?' He turned to Tox. 'Well ... if you've got the kit, Tox, let's get to it.'
Tox gave a nod. “Sounds like a plan Commander dear.”
Xavier suppressed a groan. “I would think that you could address our XO with more respect.”
Tox put his hand over Yiv’s shoulder. “I address him with love and kindness.” He looked at Yiv. “Right boss?”
Grunting in response, Yiv pulled a face, 'I wouldn't phrase it quite like that, Tox, but you're in the right area.' He winked at Xavier, 'so long as you all remember when the chips are down the orders come from the top, we can keep up the banter.'
Xavier raised an eyebrow. "I would prefer we don't."
Tox grinned. "That is why I'm infinitely more fun then you." He grinned at Amanda. "How will you honour the XO?" He watched as Amanda turned to Yiv.
Amanda replied, "Maybe I'll pick a flower for you. I know that you like those."
Yiv flashed a smile, 'I like a lot of things, Amanda. I also like my Counsellors intact with all their extremities. Make sure you're careful.'
"If I can survive being imprisoned with Haruna, I can survive anything." Amanda flashed her former love interest a winning smile and a wink. She then lowered her voice further and asked seriously, "Are we ready?"
From the safety of the foliage, the rustling stopped.
(To be continued...)
Staff Warrant Officer Madelyn Steele
Chief Engineer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova
Chief Security Officer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant JG Peri Valeri
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii
Executive Officer
USS Ontario
Ishall
Damage Control Specialist
LIeutenant Robin Maxwell
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Amanda Rose
Chief Counselor
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Xavier
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Endymion Tox
Head Nurse
USS Ontario
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