The Emergency

Posted on Thu Aug 20th, 2026 @ 6:19am by Captain Andre Hunt & Ensign Emily Douglasdale & Commander Thomas Carey & Lieutenant Commander Mattys Plaatjes & Major T'Ria & Ensign Kynian Th'kyrheth

1,480 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Ashes of Vega Colony
Location: Meridian: Conference Room

Staring out the window in the conference room, Captain Hunt thought about the current situation that awaited them on Vega. Since arriving back on board, he had been receiving updated information. And it wasn't going well at all. The only good news is that the current supplies had loaded onto the Meridian days ago. So, there would be no need to wait around, once the crew was completely back on board.

Typically, there would be some kind of appetizer at these meetings. But the galley staff were just returning back and getting things situated. So, the pitcher of lemonade would have to do for now.

Making his way into the conference room, Plaatjes waved the PADD with the details of what was going on at Vega. 'Sounds grim Captain,' he said, frowning as he took his seat at the table. They had been aboard long enough for him to have used it as his regular seat and for no-one else to pinch it. 'Bit of a comedown if you ask me, eh.'

Looking over to the Chief Engineer, Hunt smiled. "Things are getting more hectic by the hour. And I was looking forward to the last three days of this shoreleave."

"This is why I avoid shoreleave... I finally get down there, and boom this happens. I didn't even get the scoop"

"We got a couple of days in, so I'm just going to be grateful for that."

'We'll get the ship back up to speed and underway as soon as you need us to,' Plaatjes replied with a flashing smile. 'Have no doubt about that.'

A minute later Kynian walked in and took a seat in an unoccupied chair. Figuring it would be rude to interrupt, he settled for listening to the other officers and silently eyeing the lemonade.

Observing the Ensign who quietly entered the room. and now was eyeing the lemonade. Hunt almost smiled at how the Ensign still seemed a little nervous around the senior staff. "Kynian feel free to have a drink."

The door opened again as Emily Douglasdale entered the conference room. Finding the seat across from Kynian, she sat down. "How everyone doing?"

'Raring to go, Douglasdale,' Plaatjes replied, looking up from his PADD that he'd been reading. 'Nothing like a bit of downtime to recharge the batteries and refocus the mind, you know?'

“Agreed,” Kynian said, pouring himself a glass of lemonade. “The situation itself seems like a bit of a mess, but it’s still nice to have something new to do.”

"Just wishing that something new didn't involve serious injury or the loss of life," Emily spoke with a sigh. "But the time off was nice indeed."

Kynian’s eyes widened. “Oh, I didn’t— I didn’t mean to make light of what’s happening, just… trying to focus on something other than the plans I’m leaving behind. Sorry if that came out wrong.”

"I believe most of us understand where you're coming from Ensign," Hunt assured.

"So, what has gotten us all up in arms this time."

The Captain held up a hand. "I'll fill you and the team in once everyone arrives."

The conference room doors again opened with a soft hiss, and Major T'Ria stepped through.

She was late. Oh, she wasn't dramatically late; not enough to warrant any form of apology. But late enough that every other officer was already seated, the meeting was clearly about to begin, and a pitcher of an acidic-smelling drink had already made its way around the table.

For a Vulcan, it was... noticeable.

T'Ria seemed entirely unaffected by the fact as she entered, carrying a PADD in one hand. Her expression was composed, her posture perfectly straight, and there was no visible indication that she considered her tardiness worthy of comment. T'Ria moved to the remaining empty chair.

The Captain watched as the Chief Medical Officer walked in and took a seat. Simply nodding, he turned his attention to the large viewer on the wall and activated it. The viewer displayed that latest telemetry from Vega IX. "At 0143 hours, there was an explosion at the Termes Mining Facility. Potential injuries are in the hundreds and climbing. Deaths are still coming in, but last count at thirty-five. The chemicals coming from the damaged reactor is sending a poison dust cloud into the atmosphere. "

"Going to be tough navigating through that," Emily spoke.

Andre smiled in acknowledgement. "Tough perhaps, but nothing you and Heath can't handle. Three shuttles will go down to the colony. Once the away team gets down to the surface, you all will bring the more serious, injured back to the Meridian for medical care. Afterwards you all will proceed with search and rescue operations."

"With respect Captain, one team should go down first, assess the situation with shuttles on the ready. Going down all at once is going to cause a rukkus. People wanting to flee, fear is a great enemy that does crazy things. Suggest we do a fly by determine a safe landing zone, clear the area of any threats if any, before the other two make their arrival." Thomas replied.

The Captain carefully considered the suggestion, nodding in approval. "Alright Commander. Kynian, Maatys, T'Ria, Emily and you will go down to the surface on the first shuttle? Once we get word regarding the situation from you, I will send down the rest."

Thomas nodded his approval looking over at the other members of the team thats going to be going down with him. "I suggest fully armoured, and something for riot control, possible some of the stronger stun gun for when we open up the shuttles."

"Take whatever you think you're going to need to address the situation," Andre spoke.

"Plaatjes, I need for you to determine how this explosion occurred," Hunt spoke up. "We need to know as soon as possible if this was an accident or sabotage."

'We can do that - we'll have an assessment team take a shuttle straight to the site. If the contamination is as bad when we arrive as it is now, I'm sure we'll be in need of environment suits.' Plaatjes looked down the table at the Captain and then to Kynian, 'perhaps a few happy scientists to help us out too. Never know what we'll need in the field.'

"Kynian, I need for you to analyze the environment and collect forensic evidence," the Captain instructed.

“Understood, sir.” Kynian turned to Plaatjes. “We should definitely coordinate. If this is sabotage, I wouldn’t want to be tripping over each other in an active crime scene.”

Nodding, Plaatjes replied, 'sounds like a good idea - we'll set up the proper processes so we don't get in each others' way.'

"I agree we will bring a few extra security officers with us in order to secure the scene before the main parties get down. I will have a list of all the equipment we will need when we first arrive." Thomas replied he seen these scenes before during the war, but at that point it was obvious it was sabotage, or an accident. This needed more.

Turning his attention over to the Chief Medical Officer. He may have now just focused his attention to the Major, but her job here would be the most important. "Major, once Thomas secures the area I need for you to set up triage. Save as many lives as you can down there."

T'Ria gave the Captain a measured look. "Save as many lives as possible? That is, presumably, the objective of every medical officer."

Hunt allowed himself to smile slightly. If he didn't know better, he swore that the Vulcan had either attempted a joke or was being somewhat sarcastic. That was the thing about working with Vulcans you never really knew. "Glad that we're on the same page."

"Emily what would be our ETA at warp seven?"

Jotting down some information into the PADD in front of her, the Ensign was silent as the answer to the question came up. "The Meridian will arrive at Vega Colony in twenty-three hours."

"Prepare your people on what to expect," Andre spoke up. "The next couple of days are going to be crazy and will likely get worse before they improve. But there's no doubt in mind that each of you is capable of getting this tragic event rectified. Anyone have any questions?"

'No questions here,' Plaatjes replied. 'Let's get the information downloaded so we can set up a proper plan of action to help these people out.'

=================
Captain Andre Hunt
Commanding Officer
USS Meridian

Commander Thomas Carey
Executive/Chief Armory Officer
USS Meridian

Lt. Maatys Plaatjes
Chief Engineer
USS Meridian

Major T'Ria
Chief Medical Officer
USS Meridian

Ensign Kynian Th'Kyrheth
Science Officer
USS Meridian

Ensign Emily Douglasdale
Helm Officer
USS Meridian

 

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