Stardate: 80309:1320
Title: Once Upon A Time
Author: Captain Deadilus
Time: After "Grimalkin (Part 2)"
Scene: Orbit of Andarus


The Grimalkin sat in a geosynchronous orbit above an energy field on the planet. Whilst the majority of the surface was being battered by heavy rains and wind, the area directly below that of the other Nova-class vessel appeared to be lush green forest, a sea of calm amidst the storms.

~

The scans of the other vessel showed no signs of damage or conflict, but nor did they show any signs of life either. More curious still the scans of the calm and verdant green area revealed a strange dampening field affecting their sensors. Had the crew of the Grimalkin had to abandon the vessel, seeking refuge on the planet? But why was there no message back to Starfleet?

Deadilus puzzled over these and more questions as the away team prepared to beam across to the bridge of the Grimalkin and attempt to establish what had happened to the crew.

~

The blue cylinders of light evaporated, depositing the Horizon's away team into the middle of the familiar yet different bridge. As Emma looked around, expecting to find bodies, she was simultaneously relieved and worried to find none. Tapping her combadge she opened the link to the Horizon, reporting on their findings as they spread out, checking the Science, Security, Tactical and Operations stations.

Somewhere on the planet below, the communications signal set a chain of events into motion...

~

[... and the scans of the planet reported a dampening field just like that...] The link suddenly went quiet and Scott tapped a few buttons on the console beside him.

"Deadilus to Smith." The Captain was greeted by nothing but silence in return.

"Scans of the Grimalkin show no signs of our crew, Captain," Sparky reported from the Tactical station. "Their combadge signals cannot be located either."

"Contact Starfleet on subspace. Inform them that we have located the Grimalkin and our current situation." Deadilus planned to get a message off before anything else happened.

"Communications are offline, Sir. I cannot raise..." Sparky began before disappearing in a flash of light.

Deadilus turned to the Science station just in time to see one of their newest additions to the crew, Ensign Conway, disappear in a similar flash of light before he himself was swallowed...

~

The Captain found himself alone in a clearing in the forest. A quick tap of his combadge returned an eerie silence, not even an error beep, and the tricorder on his belt was similarly useless.

Looking up, he wondered why the tower in the distance hadn't appeared on their earlier scans...


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Captain Scott Deadilus
Commanding Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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