First Officers Log, USS Pioneer

It’s been barely 2 days since we departed Deep Space 17 for the Talvath cluster, where we begin our new deep space research mission but we’ve already had our first divergence from the schedule. This morning a text only message came in from a research colony on Zercan 2 requesting a repair team to assist with some faulty comms equipment. It should be a simple task so I’ve taken the opportunity to deploy some of our newest crew members in an attempt to build some friendships. Lt. Commander Fox is an excellent engineer with a proven history of finding ingenious solutions and Lt. Oka is a scientific genius, I don’t think there’s a discipline she isn’t proficient in. Both of them are perfectly capable of repairing a broken antenna. To be safe i’ve sent Ensign Brogue along as some extra muscle but we’re still well within Federation space so I expect they’ll be lifting boxes rather than firing phasers. The captain has taken the opportunity to investigate a nearby supernova so the team have been dispatched in our only runabout Leif, they best bring it back without a scratch.

Scene 1 – Aboard the Leif

Our intrepid heroes are currently enroute to Zercan 2 to provide technical support for the research base’s faulty comm system. As is her preference, Katsu has her head buried in a research paper, whilst mission leader and new engineer aboard Pioneer, Charlie Fox, continues to consider which project will be his first envelope push aboard the recently reactivated starship. After several hours of quiet contemplation, the pale faced Ensign Brogue speaks up with a nervous voice to ask about the mission ahead, seeking reassurance that this milk run won’t turn into a death-defying adventure. Lt. Commander Fox assures the young man that he’ll take care of them before uttering the immortal words “Everything will be fine Ensign.”

The red alert sirens cut through pleasant atmosphere aboard the small runabout as the ship begins to show signs of engine failures and exposure to an unknown spatial interference as they enter orbit of Zercan 2. Jumping into the Ops station Katsu calls upon her in-depth Astrophysics knowledge to adapt the runabouts structural integrity fields and deflector shielding to provide some protection for the interference; unfortunately, it’s too late and the vessel begins a crash landing onto the jungle covered moon. Charlie and Katsu manage to wrest control of the plummeting shuttle and bring the team to a ‘safe’ landing on the surface, all whilst directing the fresh-faced ensign about how to use the seatbelts and sick-bags. 

Scene 2 – The Crash Site

As they take stock of their new surroundings, the thick veridian jungle barely dented by the angry brown scar of churned rock and soil left behind by the Runabouts ‘landing’, the team are beset by creatures who pelt the wreckage with rocks. Ensign Brouge, now operating on adrenaline more than logic exclaims “We’re being attacked by monkeys!” before opening return fire with his phaser. As Charlie and Katsu join him at the now open rear bay of the wreckage their more experienced heads notice the ‘monkeys’ all appear to be wearing shreds of Starfleet uniforms, one even appears to have antenna. Following some make-shift engineering from Lt. Katsu they manage to cause a small explosion that scares the creatures of and they are able to examine a stunned adversary. After applying some medical know-how they discover the creatures to show signs of primordial DNA indicators for Andorian, Human and Bajoran; casting their minds back to their studies at the academy they recollect the existence of several anomalies that have caused ‘devolution’ of Starfleet crew members in the past. Katsu also detects an unusual pollen in the atmosphere and concludes they may be connected, the team would now be infected. With the Runabout beyond saving and faced with the threat of devolution the team opt to collect what materials that might be useful (including parts of the communications array) and depart for the lab station, which according to the last sensor sweep of the Runabout is a few hours away on foot. 

Scene 3 – Jungle Treks

After an hour of relentless trekking, their guards up against further engagements from the ‘monkeys’ the team finds themselves at the edge of a deep ravine, the sounds of the rushing river several hundred meters below; the only crossing an aged and rickety bridge made only of slats and some fraying rope. After consideration the options and with the ‘devolution virus’ weighing on their minds they decide to cross here rather than move further down the river without any sign of a alternative crossing. Through some judicious use of the tricorder and reaching deep into her Biology classes at the Academy Katsu manages to find some suitable vines that when combined with a nearby fallen branch is fashioned into a javelin and spot line. Despite Charlie’s initial bravado as he approaches the first throw he misses the far side completely and must haul the line back up the cliff. Katsu channels the Olympic greats and lodges the make-shift javelin into the rocky outcropping across the ravine (OOC: a critical success rolled by Rawolfe). 

The bridge now fitted with a makeshift handrail and safety line, the team opts to send Ensign Brogue across first, the ensign agrees after some convincing from his superiors. After successfully crossing he provides an additional ballast to the handrail as Katsu crosses second, having passed off her heavy bag to Charlie to ease the travel. Luck however is not on Charlies’ side as he attempts to cross third and the bridge gives way, threatening to drop the engineer into the deadly ravine below. Grabbing the vine, he manages to stay aloft, his own weight barely countered by the pair of young officers. After crawling upwards along the rock face he manages to climb to safety, unfortunately his bag is lost in the process; its contents, including Katsu’s science kit, making a barely audible splash in the river that was almost Charlie’s grave. Unable to risk resting for long, the team moves onwards towards the lab, though Charlie begins to struggle with his focus as the adrenaline from his close call causes the ‘devolution’ to take hold faster. 

Scene 4 – The Titan Arum

Less than a mile from the base our group find themselves entering a natural gulley, where the thick ferns and vines of the jungle moon break to allow the distant yellow sun to the forest floor. The mossy clearing is home to a large stalk like plant, akin to the terran Titan Arum, it’s deep purple leaves circle a crimson red spadix that reaches high above their heads, small bulbous flowers pumping clusters of spores into the air that float like green snowflakes in the breeze. With Charlie’s symptoms worsening and without a clear alternative path the team decide to make their way through the glade on a direct bearing to the lab, straight through the dense spores. Katsu suspects that any inhalation of the dense spores in the air will only exacerbate their condition, though without her kit she can’t be certain; they opt to fashion some protection where possible and after quickly fashion face masks from their uniform jackets and some minor parts they had brought from the Runabout wreck. Unfortunately, Charlie’s focus is severely hampered by his accelerated ‘devolution’ and the face masks end up being of mediocre quality. Without the resources to fashion more masks they opt to push through, fashioning a large nearby patch of tree bark into a protective umbrella for the group to pass through the spores, timing their crossing with the plant’s expulsions as Katsu had calculated the rhythmic repetitions of the plant.

Our adventurer’s trial is almost at and end as the lab comes into view, it’s familiar grey and silver walls standing in stark contrast to the palette of greens and browns of the surrounding forest. As they approach the small lab however, they realise it is significantly damaged; blast marks and explosive damage scorch the large entrance doors, both blown outward by a forceful explosion, vines and ferns are already growing through the shattered windows of the lab’s main section. 

As the three officers stand slackjawed at the state of the lab, which had requested help with a faulty comm relay less than 24 hours ago, they hear a screaming voice echo from the flickering lights of the lab’s entryway “Help me! Someone! Please!” Katsu is already running.