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. 

Previously on USS Pioneer

Our adventurers crash-landed on Zercan 2 whilst heading out on a simple mission to repair a faulty comms relay, quick work from both Charlie and Katsu managed to limit injuries though the runabout is lost. 

After being attacked by primitive beings wearing scraps of Starfleet uniforms, Katsu identifies a fungal spore in the air that causes devolution; unfortunately they are already infected and have only basic medical supplies. 

Following a gruelling journey through the jungle, including an extremely close call for Charlie as they cross a ravine & a failed attempt to protect themselves from a germinating fungus, they arrive at a severely damaged research lab and desperate cries for help.

Scene 1 – The Lab

As the team enter the, Katsu leading the way as she is drawn to the cries of help, they discover large potions of the lab have been damaged in what appears to be a physical confrontation. Through the gloomy, flickering red emergency lighting they can see impacted consoles and smashed research equipment; upon entering the small outpost’s central lab it appears there has been a riot with the central lab in disarray. The cries of help have fallen quiet and Katsu uses her tricorder to discover two life signs, one barely registering, deeper into the base’s still dark administration wing. In the direction of a long streak of green blood on the floor.  Whilst Katsu investigates the wounded life signs, Charlie explores the other side of the small base, discovering several large supply crates bearing a barely masked symbol of the Breen Confederacy; on further examination there is a significant amount of non-Starfleet technology integrated into the depowered base, including several experimental adaptations from governments considered ‘enemies’ of the Federation. 

Through a break in the damaged office doors Katsu can see two people, one appears unconscious with a chest wound whilst the second appears to be providing aid. Despite their best attempts they are unable to open the doors without the base’s power systems and Charlie attempts to bring the base online by reactivating the small M/AM generator. Unfortunately he continues to suffer from the devolution pathogen, exacerbated by the adrenaline rush of his near escape at the ravine and he is unable to restore full functionality; he does however reactivate a backup battery system, providing sufficient power to restore basic functionality to the base. 

Scene 2 – A Desperate Doctor

The doors now powered, Katsu manages to open them with the help of the much stronger Ensign Brogue and begins administering medical aid to the injured Vulcan whilst the scientist provides assistance. After stabilising the casualty the team question the human woman who reveals herself to be the chief scientist Dr. Schipp. She explains that the team had been on planet researching the medicinal benefits of the local fauna, including a possible treatment for Irumodic syndrome; unfortunately the team realised too late that the jungle was also producing the devolution spores and much of the staff were already suffering from advanced symptoms and one by one they began devolving, becoming exceptionally violent and primal. When she attempted to treat the infected with a trial treatment the worst of the patients broke free and damaged the station in their anger, she notes ironically that the treatment would have worked as it has kept the condition at bay in herself. The team enquire about the possibility of contacting Starfleet and Pioneer for aid but she shows them the damaged communication console, Charlie notices it appears to be damaged by phaser fire rather than blunt force but keeps this information quiet until the Doctor is not within earshot. 

Dr. Schipp asks the team to travel to a nearby crash site, where the research team had lost two of their hover transports when their pilots had suffered a failure of concentration due to the undiagnosed spore condition. The crashed vehicles have independent comms modules that connect with the orbital relays and could be used to repair the base’s systems. She also asks the team to retrieve the samples aboard the second the second craft as they will increase the chances of creating a cure for the devolution spores. The team agree and take the opportunity to re-supply and treat themselves with the trial cure before departing the base for the crash site. Katsu replaces her science & medical kit that was lost in the ravine and Charlie collects some ingredients for some make-shift grenades and pyrotechnics should the team require a distraction. 

Scene 3 – The Crash Site

After a short journey the team arrive at the crash site. On approach they notice the presence of six devolved researchers in the area, with indications there could be more nearby, from the edge of the clearing they ascertain the cabin sections of the hovercraft seem to have survived the crash in good condition and begin planning ways to cause the devolved ‘monkeys’ to retreat from the area. Charlie prepares a small package of chemicals brought from the lab, that when fired on by a phaser should create a loud but relatively harmless explosion; he manages to sneak in and out of the clearing without being detected. Ensign Brogue fires on the package at the teams instruction, unfortunately in his haste to make it, Charlie created a much more aggressive bomb that started a large fire in the clearing. The devolved scientists were scared but did not retreat from the area having noticed the team hovering at the edge of the clearing. 

With the fire growing dangerously quickly our adventurers decided to split up and made a dash for the crashed hovercraft; Charlie headed towards the northward wreck to retrieve the comm array whilst Katsu investigated the southerly one for the samples and supplies, Ensign Brogue provided covering fire as a distraction. Both officers were successful and managed to retrieve their objectives before becoming overwhelmed by the devolved researchers, retreating back to the edge of the clearing and towards the lab. 

As the three took a last glimpse at the crash site, the flames now beginning to engulf the wrecks, they noticed dozens more devolved beings illuminated in the firelight, far more than the dozen Dr. Schipp had reported were on the team. 

Scene 4 – Return to the Lab

On their approach to the lab the team noticed that the power appeared to be restored, as they entered the building they caught echoes of shouting coming from the central area, 3 distinct voices. Stowing both the comm array and the research samples safely behind a bulkhead they proceeded stealthily until they saw that Schipp in conversation with two Cardassian officers, bemoaning the state of their mission and the research lab. It was revealed that Dr. Schipp had been working with the Cardassians to produce mindless, primitive soldiers from prisoners using the spores produced on the planet. After losing control of the subjects she had signalled a Cardassian ship for retrieval. Surprised by the appearance of the Starfleet team she had dispatched them to the crash site with the expectation of being rescued before their return. A communication indicated the orbiting warship Krinnick was entering the atmosphere to retrieve the trio, attempting to avoid detection by Pioneer who was also on approach, having received the crashing runabout’s distress signal. 

After quickly considering their options the team decided to trick the base into an emergency lockdown by breaking one of the samples they had retrieved from the crashed hovercraft, Katsu was able to confirm this would seal the main lab and activate transport inhibitors to prevent accidental contamination. As they prepared to throw the vial into the lab they were spotted and a stand-off ensued, eventually our team took a moment of initiative, surprising the Cardassians and activating the lockdown with a thrown vial whilst Charlie simultaneously utilised the base’s cargo transporters to pull the wounded Vulcan to safety. As the doors sealed shut the base’s computer indicated their vessel had arrived and reinforcements would no doubt be en route. 

Our heroes decided to retreat from the base, taking the final sample and the wounded Vulcan with them, intent on falling back to the jungle and avoiding the Cardassians until Pioneer arrived. As they left the lab complex the tan hull of Krinnick was visible in low orbit, figures already on approach from the forest edge. As the team prepared for combat their combadges chirped.

“Pioneer to Away Team, standby for exfill.”

The gleaming silver hull of Pioneer soared overhead, phaser beams reaching out to scratch the stout form of Krinnick as they barrelled effortlessly through the sky; forcing the vessel away from the base and back into orbit. As the familiar white light of the transporter beam engulfed the party, lifting them away to a quarantine Katsu had quickly requested, they saw a growing number of devolved begins emerging from the forest edge, descending on the lab, intent on vengeance.