A two ship formation slipped out of high warp at the edge of a small star system consisting of only four planets. The star itself was a yellow dwarf.  The second planet, right in the middle of the Goldie Locks zone was Arkan II.  An earth sized ball of rock with about sixty percent of its surface covered in water. There was no native fauna on Arkan II, but it was lush in various forms of flora and valuable minerals. 

It was for these minerals that the Federation had set up a mining colony. These raw materials supplied the Federation with the ability to build things from ship hulls to replicator housings. There were almost 20,000 full time inhabitants on Arkan II.  Some were tied to the mines, some supported the mines, and others scratched out a living farming a land that was too cold to make farming easy.

It was for the flora that drew the Dominion to this planet. There were several species of fungi that contained high amounts of an isogenic enzyme. This enzyme was necessary for the manufacture of Ketracel-white. The chemical compound made it possible for the Jem’Hadar to survive. More than that, their Vorta and Changeling masters used it to control them.

“Status report,” Aoife said sitting straighter in her chair as they approached the blue and green ball of Arkan II.

“Nothing on sensors,” Lieutenant Commander Abbygale Willis announced from the operations station. “No energy emissions,  no life signs.”

“No ships in the area,” Lieutenant Eduardo Villaseñor added from the tactical station.

“Take us in,” Aoife ordered.  “Remain at yellow alert.”

After a few minutes the Valhalla and Andromeda were orbiting Arkan II. “No response to our hails,” Willis announced working the console.  “There’s ionizing radiation in the atmosphere.   They aren’t at toxic levels, but it is enough to distort sensors  and prevent sub-space communications.”

Aoife stood and moved next to Willis to read the scans herself,  “They don’t look natural.”

The Choctaw woman looked up and shook her head, “No.”

“Why would the Dominion attack a planet and then leave it? Especially one that would be as strategically useful to them as Arkan II? I don’t know how much white the Lost Fleet has, but it isn’t indefinite.”

“I don’t know ma’am,” Abbygale responded.

Aoife turned, “Eddie, continuous scans. Hail the Andromeda.”

“Channel open,” Eddie responded. 

Captain Murphy appeared on the screen. “Órlaith I need you to send in away teams to the planet.  I’ll remain with the Valhalla and cover the Andromeda from here.”

“Understood Aoife,” Órlaith replied  “The ionization in the atmosphere will prevent transport.”

“Do what you need to do Órlaith,” Aoife replied.  “We’ll work on establishing communications from here.”

“Understood. Andromeda out.”

Aoife walked to her chair and pressed the comm button, “Bridge to Washington.”

“Go ahead Captain,” chief engineer Marcus Washington replied. 

“I need  communications with the planet.”

“On it,” The engineer replied. 

Aoife closed the channel,  “Ms. Willis help Marcus out please.”

Abby pushed away from her station,  “Aye captain.” 

Engineering…

Abby pinched the bridge of her light brown nose several hours later.

“Headache?” Marcus asked sitting next to her.

Abby nodded, “Mathematical calculations like this always gives me a headache. ”We are no closer to breaking through the interference than we were when we started.  The Dominion clearly wanted to cut this planet off from the outside galaxy.”

“That’s why we’re here,” the chief engineer said smiling showing a row of perfect teeth.

“To bash our heads into the proverbial brick wall?” She asked giving him a sideways glance and smirk. “Because that’s how it feels.”

Marcus shrugged, “So what? What happens if we can’t establish communications? Will the planet cease to exist? We’re here, and we have shuttles. It’s all a matter of convenience for the captain to be able to use transporters and whatnot.  So take that stress off the table. Now, focus on one thing at a time.”

Abby filled her lungs with air in a centering gesture before letting the air out slowly.  “Okay, well we know the ionization is restricted to the upper atmosphere, and it is this ionization that is bouncing back our sub-space communications.”

“Yeah,” Marcus agreed.

A thought struck her and she started entering data into the computer. As the computer returned the results she smiled.  “We need a radio transmitter operating between 750 to 1700 kilohertz of the AM radio band. There will have to be some sort of interface here in geosynchronous orbit with a receiver on the surface that can interface with the planet’s communications grid. Keep in mind this will be audio only.”

“It’s better than nothing.” Marcus turned to his console and started working up some ideas. After several minutes he announced, “I think I got it.  I’m pretty sure we can modify a Class-2 probe to transmit and receive AM radio waves.  We can attach it to a Class-6 warning buoy which holds the sub-space radio equipment and the RCS thrusters to maintain geosynchronous orbit.”

“We’ll just need to write a software program to get the two distinctly different  systems to talk to each other.  We’ll need something similar planet side but It will need to be able to survive the elements.”

“We’ll need some sort of antenna too.” Marcus added.  “I think we can get away with a satellite type antenna for both and just boost the amplitude. There isn’t enough bandwidth in AM for a transporter signal though. As far as protection from the elements how about one of those prefabricated emergency shelters?”

“Pattern enhancers should be sufficient once we can get a lock,” Abby said still working out the code to get the two very different systems to work together. “An emergency shelter? Yeah that could work. Probably not long term, but in a few months the radiation may have dissipated.”

Marcus nodded, “My thoughts as well.”

“How do you suggest we deploy?”

Marcus thought for a moment, “I don’t see any other way. We’ll need to take a shuttle.”

“What’s this ‘we’ Lieutenant?” Abby teased remembering one of her dad’s famous lines. “You got a mouse in your pocket?”

Bridge, Later…

“It’s good to hear your voice Aoife,” Órlaith’s voice came over the bridge’s speakers. The signal was poor with static and other annoying pops and cracks created by interference. 

“How’s it looking down there?” Aoife asked.

“They were hit hard. The Jem’hadar leveled most of the buildings. There’s a lot of homeless people tonight and temps are projected to dip below ten degrees. It was good to see Lieutenant Washington come walking in to set up that radio thing you guys built.”

Aoife sighed, “I’ll see if we can’t get some prefab colony structures built. With re-establishment of communications, transport enhancers should work to get the transporters working.”

“Glad to hear it. It’s getting dark down here.  Let’s not worry about the colony structures tonight.  If we can get about 200 tents, five or six-hundred sleeping bags, portable heaters, and some food that should get us through the night. We can worry about something a little more long term later.”

“Understood. Expect the first set of supplies within the half hour. If you don’t mind I’ll get commander Hayden to help from the Andromeda as well.”

“I appreciate that,” Órlaith replied.  “The sooner we get those supplies the better.  These are strong people who are used to a harsh climate, but even they have limits.”

“Understood. Valhalla out.”