Stardate: 60617:1415
Title: Seeking Survivors 
Author: Lieutenant Autumn Falls & Lieutenant Peter Hill
Time: During "Shivers of the Dead"
Scene: Tharan 3 / Waverider


Peter returned to the Waverider catching the last statement of the Captain. 

"Then I want you to take the Waverider out over the planet. You will probably have to fly low but we need to know the current location and number of any survivors." The Captain again paused.

"Captain, should we transmit any sort of message should we encounter life signs?" 

Autumn thought of the faces of those dead in the isolation chambers and hoped that not everyone on this planet had fallen to the same fate.

"Yes. Tell them that we are assessing the situation and that they should stay where they are. We don't want them to see a Federation ship and rush back to the city to get contaminated. We should give Ted time to work out how it is spread."

Autumn nodded in agreement and prepared the Waverider for its mission. 

Peter followed behind Autumn. 

"What did you guys find in there?"

The COO shuddered as images of the dead flashed into her head.

"We found a recording made by one of the Doctors. In it he tells how Raiders bought an unknown virus to the planet." Autumn paused her eyes sweeping over the ground around the Waverider. "The researchers thought they had cured it but as the Raiders left they stole other vials which then cause the original virus to reanimate and mutate. Before the Raiders left they infected a significant percentage of the populace. Death was quick for many; those not infected took to the hills."

Peter started to carry out a systems check.

"So our orders are?" The Helm officer asked.

"We need to fly high enough to transmit a message of what we have found so far to the Horizon. Then we are to do a search for life signs on the planet."

Peter nodded and with the minimal amount of fuss had the Waverider ready for take off. The descent had been a bumpy trip and the ascent proved to be just as tough. Autumn firmly strapped in her seat watched as the Helm officer skilfully negotiated the storm. When they were in range of the Horizon Autumn transmitted all the files and data that they had gathered. Then once more they plunged into turbulent atmosphere. The Waverider seemed to respond reasonably well to the stress.

Once past the storm the COO sent a message to Captain Deadilus confirming that the first part of the mission had been a success and that they were about to search for survivors. Scanning the ground below as they went they searched the outer city limits for signs of life. The view was not pretty - unlike the centre of the city and the Medical Facility there was chaos; buildings burnt down, rubbish littering the streets and the worst sight was of the dead bodies that had been left where they had died.

Peter flew the Waverider across the barren surface. He was looking back and forth keeping an eye on instrument panels as well the city ahead of him. The last thing he needed was for them to become one of the dead on that list that was already getting longer.

"My scans pick up nothing, not even a bug." He said. "Long range scan pick up a couple of settlements on the extreme outskirts just to the Northwest of here. Close enough to pick up, but too far to get accurate results given the atmospheric disturbance." Peter said as he brought up a map on the area on a LCARS screen between them. He pointed to them. "Initial scans show no life, but it's worth a check." 

He said this realising that the settlements were in hilly areas and there were a few places to hide that long range scanners may not pick up. When he saw that Autumn agreed, he banked the Waverider and gently picked up speed, keeping the balance of allowing the scanners to work at optimum level and, at the same time, allowing them to cover the maximum amount of ground at a brisk pace.

"These suit sucks." Autumn said as they headed for the hills.

"They certainly weren't designed for comfort that's for sure." Peter said with a chuckle.

Just then the scanners bleeped.

"I'm reading multiple life signs" Autumn said.

"I confirm that" Peter said as he marked their current position. Autumn started to broadcast Captain Deadilus' message that the situation was being assessed and that they should stay where they currently were for the time being.

"How many are you picking up?" The COO asked as Peter scanned the readings.

"I've got 25 life signs in the open, but those caves look hollow and they could hold more. The sensors can't tell." Peter flew low for another look.

"Ok, let's carry on further and see if there are any more lifesigns then I think we should head back. What do you think?"

Peter nodded his head in agreement.


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Lieutenant Peter Hill
Helm Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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&

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Lieutenant Autumn Falls
Acting Chief of Operations
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
=====================