Entry#3: Phase 3

 

Nobody noticed that the text wasn't quite aligned properly until it was too late.

 

Entry#3.1

Location: Facility 0444, Celes Sector

    "I'm here to see my client, Vinu." Adrar greeted the prison's Warden with his usual friendliness, which was greeting with her usual indifference. Nevertheless, Adrar once again submitted himself to a quick security scan by the Warden. The procedure was required for high security facilities such as this. When it did not reveal any dangerous items on his person, and that he was who he claimed to be, Adrar was allowed to enter the prison.

Like Facility 4028, Facility 0444's security was handled by holographic security personnel. The model the holograms here were based on was M'Athen, a deceased Caitian special forces soldier. The facility was lucky to get her consent to share data before her she went on her last fateful mission. This particular incarnation of the late special forces soldier went by the name of M'Lexis.

"Name?" inquired M'Lexis, though she already knew by this point. However, certain formalities needed to be observed to maintain a sense of order. Not that everyone shared that sentiment in the wake of the war.
"Adrar Beau."
M'Lexis made a show of inspecting her notes before proceeding, "Of course. Follow me Mr. Beau."

Today, Adrar was to continue his role as the lawyer for the former commander of Oscar 19, Vinu. Starfleet Command had discovered that Vinu may have been conducting illegal protomatter research and therefore had him arrested until his guilt could be determined. That didn't stop them from assigning a new commander though. Perhaps they have already determined Vinu's guilt and that the trail was itself a formality. An inconvenience to the larger plan to be sure.

Vinu was sent to Facility 0444 partly because of the seriousness of the accusation, but also because it was the closest prison to Vestige.

As Adrar arrived at Vinu's cell he made his request to the Warden,

"If you don't mind, this conversation is to be confidential."
"Of course." M'Lexis didn't particularly like that every conversation the lawyer had with the prisoner was confidential. Perhaps a fly on the wall wouldn't be a bad idea. Unfortunately any evidence collected that way could never be used for any legal action. With nothing to justify acting otherwise, she honored the request every time it was made. Hopefully no-one would regret it later.

Adrar entered the cell where Vinu was waiting.


Cell 519 internal sensor status: offline

     "I have made it clear to the Warden that this conversation will remain confidential between us per the Fourth Guarantee of the Federation's Code of Justice. You and I can speak freely."
Adrar made the announcement many times before, but continued to say it at every meeting. Protocol demanded it, and Adrar was a trained lawyer.

Vinu scanned the room as if to confirm their privacy. He proceeded directly to the matter at hand.

"Status on Phase 2?"
"We're looking over the data now. So far, it appears to be a success."
"And Oscar 19?"
"Just as your simulations predicted. Their lifesigns are stable, and their equipment appears to have remained untouched, relatively speaking. Only the material that was native to that gravity well was altered. It seems your invention is viable."

Vinu raised an eyebrow, and several moments of silence followed. He broke the silence when Adrar became visibly concerned.

"That is a most agreeable outcome. It seems that we should proceed with phase 3. When will you be ready?"
"We will be ready as soon as we can get you out of here. We'll be in need of your expertise going forward. Nobody knows this technology like you." 
"Indeed?"
"Indeed."

Vinu considered those words for a while before speaking again.
"Adrar."
"Yes?"
"It is only a matter of time before Starfleet realizes what has happened to Vestige. Time is of the essence."
"I can assure you that everything is under control."
"Overconfidence can destroy anyone, or anything."

Adrar took a moment to considered the point before taking his leave.

Cell 519 internal sensor status: online

    Outside the cell, the M'Lexis wondered what these conversations were about. The whole arrangement was unusual. Vinu's lawyer ought to have been Starfleet officer, not a civilian. This Adrar fellow knew his way around the law almost too well it seemed. Her thoughts were interrupted as Adrar emerged from the cell.

"Didn't need much time today did you?" M'Lexis asked, to which Adrar only frowned.
"There's only so much to discuss on the eve of the court-martial. I believe my client knows what's expected of him and what will likely happen."
"Is that so?"
"Indeed. Well, my business is done for today."
"Then follow me and we will get you signed out of here."
Adrar followed the Warden.

"You know, we've never had a prisoner with five distinct confidential conversations before. Then again, anyone getting so many visits here is unusual. I wonder, do you care a great deal about your client?"

The question was unexpected. My, she's getting suspicious about why I'm here. She's a clever one. Perhaps this place should be dealt with before business becomes too unpleasant, Adrar mused to himself as he continued the conversation. He did so while carefully making sure not to reveal his real motives.

Entry#3.2

Vestige, System TF-2011

    "I don't know what that was, but that teleportation trick was cool. It's a shame it didn't take us with it, I'm done with this cave." said Syn as he and Tax continued searching for a way out of the cave. They seemed no closer to finding an exit, and Syn was getting hungry. Not ideal for one with a fast metabolism and a lack of calorie reserves. Thirst wasn't an issue since Tax could replicate a water filter. Although there were many clean pools of water to be found, including an underground river. They were following the river downstream as it was their best chance at finding an exit.

As they went Syn began to muse about where he and Tax could be. As far as he could tell he could be on a different planet as Vestige didn't have any lifeforms on the surface. What little research he had read told him that Vestige did have life in the distant past, but that some cataclysmic event wiped out that life and forever changed the composition of the atmosphere to one of toxicity and generally anti-life. What it did not lose was its rich material reserves. Those reserves were why Starfleet Acquisitions was there. A wealth of resources and no ecosystem to ruin, it seemed like the perfect gig. It had become especially enticing in the aftermath of the Iconian War. If Syn was still on that same planet then clearly all that had changed. That seemed unlikely. Being thrown across the universe to another planet seemed equally unlikely, so present circumstances were surreal to say the least.

While thinking over all of this, Syn began to consider about something he never had before...

"Why was the planet called Vestige?" Syn mused aloud, "Isn't that an organ? Vinu came up with the name but I never asked why he chose it."
Tax then displayed a dictionary definition of the word via its holographic emitter.
"You just happened to be programmed with a dictionary. Let's see... 'a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something (such as an ancient city or a condition or practice) vanished or lost.' Huh. What trace could Vinu have possibly been referring to? That life existed here before? But this planet was hardly a unique case."
Tax managed to shrug.
"Well it doesn't help us right now. Maybe later once we find a way out of here, and I've found something to eat."

Syn and Tax continued to follow the river's course, and Syn was very glad that his suit was water resistant. As tired as he now was he pressed on, determined not to make this cave his tomb. After what seemed like an eternity light began to slowly but surely fill the cave. An opening was nearby. His eyes began to hurt after being so accustomed to a lack of starlight, but he pushed forward faster and faster until he stopped at the top of a waterfall. 

It was too tall to jump down, and it only lead into deeper and darker caves. Above was open sky filled in spots by vegetation. Only one of them could reach it.

"Damn, so close. You can go if you want buddy, I'll have to find another way out."

Tax immediately flew towards the sky leaving a surprised Syn behind. Did that thing really just left me here? Syn tried to sit down to think over some things, but he quickly realized that the current was too strong for that. Stand there he would to consider his lot in life. 

Fortunately for him Tax returned. As it did so it flew up to Syn, beeped, and then pointed to the rock wall to his right.
"Thanks for coming back but at some point I will build you a vocal processor, I don't know what you're trying to say about this wall."

The exocomp then lightly tapped the wall, and it was then that Syn understood. He then looked around for anything that would do to bash the wall down. Unfortunately there was little of use to be found in the underground river and Syn didn't have the energy to grind rocks for hours. A phaser would have been just fine, he thought to himself. There was one object that could do the trick, however. It just needed to apply more force than it could produce on its own.

"I hope that replicator can produce a hammer head."
There was a moment of silence, and then Tax replicated the head of a sledge hammer on its nose.
"That'll do. I'll make it up to you if this works."

Syn then got to work hammering the wall with the assistance of the exocomp. Their combined effort would quickly make short work of the wall. They just hoped they didn't collapse the cave in the process.

Entry#3.3

Vestige, System TF-2011-04

     Clear skies, a cool mountain breeze, the muffled sound of a waterfall, and the shade of a nearby tree. Blathma had surely picked the best spot on the planet. Not only was this a peaceful resting place, it was close to their base of operations if the canvas Blathma was using for a hammock was any indication.  The canvas was being held up at the foot by a pole and rope, and by an anchor he attached to the wall at the head. He was even using his suit, which he had removed from his person, as a blanket. The planet wasn't ready to kill anyone outright and could even be considered downright pleasant.

He would be enjoying his time of leisure if it wasn't for that incessant muffled clattering. 

What is all that noise? Thought Blathma as he tried to sleep. The sound was getting louder. Blathma was getting more agitated. When it was clear the noise would not go away he yelled, "Hey, can't a guy get some sleep around here!" At that same moment his hammock began to fill with rocks.

Entry#3.4

System TF-2011

   Delia and Zoe floated silently alongside Vestige's moon. Said moon had a new crater thanks to an unplanned yet enthusiastic landing on the part of Good Samaritan. The two were attached to each other with a safety cord so as to prevent separation. It is worth noting that Zoe had full mobility in the vacuum of space. Delia didn't.

Delia had the sudden urge to break the silence. "So, Zoe, how long until someone responds to the distress signal? It was on long enough for detection."
"The signal will never be received." Zoe's voice was ever calm and composed. A little discordant considering the gravity of the situation.
"What do you mean?"
"There is an interference field present in this system."
"Interference field? What's the source?"
"Unknown. It is interfering with all subspace frequencies. We are unable to contact anyone in or out of system."
"That assumes anyone is still alive" Delia said as she looked at Vestige once more.

The planet had changed. No longer was it the barren wasteland from her reports. Now it looked like a paradise world on the level of Risa. Only one kind of device could effect a transformation on that scale, and as far as she knew there weren't suppose to be any survivors. It was also forbidden research. At least it was until the Lukari demonstrated what responsible usage of the technology looked like but most in Starfleet were still coming to grips with that new reality. That isn't even considering the Federation at large. There was also the matter that Lukari tech shouldn't be available in this part of space yet.

However, that idea doesn't hold up. If it was a protomatter device then why did it not transform herself and Zoe? Or the moon as well? And what was the deal with this interference field? A lot of things just weren't adding up. Little did she know that Zoe was about to complicate matters even more.

"Delia, perhaps it is time I informed you of what our real mission is."
Delia was taken aback by this, "Our real mission? What are talking about?"
"Starfleet didn't just want you to rescue Oscar 19's resource output, it wanted you to investigate them for evidence of forbidden research."
"Protomatter research?"
"Affirmative. Lieutenant Commander Vinu has been accused of engaging in such research unlawfully."
"Vinu? I thought he was awaiting transfer to a new assignment?"
"He is currently awaiting his court-martial at Facility 0444."
"Prison? Why didn't I hear about any of this? Why didn't Commander Cleveland tell me?"
"Operational security. Since the particulars of our assignment has changed I have elected through my own judgement to present to you the official orders."

Zoe produced a holographic image, which Delia examined carefully. It was genuine, and the orders dismayed her.

"Zoe, when were you planning on telling me about this had the 'particulars' been unchanged?"
"When you've gained the trust of Blathma and Syn. After that I would have informed you of your mission parameters. Specifically, you were to determine if Oscar 19 had been involved in its entirety and whether Vinu had left anything dangerous on Vestige."
Delia took another look at the planet while Zoe continued, "It seems that Vinu did leave a device and it has been activated."
"You're telling me."
"Whatever research Vinu was involved in, he had the backing of someone more resourceful than a mining team. Someone is continuing Vinu's research in his absence."
"Yeah, uh, give me a second..."

Delia had to take a few moments to process everything Zoe was telling her. If that was her mission, then it meant that Starfleet knew what her genetic makeup allowed her to do, what she was trying so hard to leave behind on Genome. She could feel the anger welling inside her, and she wanted to scream in frustration, but she quickly realized that doing so would not help her present circumstances. Delia would not lose control now.

"Zoe, I'm glad you told me about this, but it won't do us any good unless we can get out of this."

Just then Delia caught a metallic glimpse in the corner of her vision. Looking in that direction, she didn't see anything at first. However, on a hunch, she activated her helmet's telescopic function and she saw the orbital anchor of a space elevator. It appeared to be orbiting the planet dragging along the remains of the cables that were meant to tie it to the surface. What? Did they try to build it before I got here? What were those guys think-, and then she had an idea.

"Hey Zoe, the orbital anchor of a space elevator can function as its own space station, right?"
"In cases of emergencies."
"Like this one?"
"Yes."
"Can you get us to it then?" and Delia pointed to the floating anchor, "I think we'll have a better chance at surviving in there than trying re-entry on a moon."
"Target acquired, rendezvous coordinates set, hang on and enjoy the ride."

The exocomp took off in the direction of the rogue elevator with Delia in tow.

Entry#3.5

Odin Base

     Adrar re-materialized in the control room's transporter pad. Neva was there to greet him.
"What's the word?"
"Vinu wants us to proceed with Step 3. We will oblige."
"Understood."
"There is something else. I fear the Warden has been too observant for her own good. We will need to decommission facility 0444."

Neva blinked in surprise. She prefers the direct approach but to hear it from Adrar was jarring. Normally he preferred subtlety. She decided to challenge him on the decision.

"Is that necessary sir? We have the specs for the device and the test proves the technology works. Why do we still need Vinu?"
As usual, Adrar had a reason. "I do not believe he has told us everything about this technology, not to mention what he wants to do with it. The more we can learn about this technology the more useful it will be to us. Therefore, Vinu is still valuable to us."
"But at what point do the costs outweigh the returns?"
"For our cause, maybe never."

On the other side of the room Sond was busy pouring over the data from Vestige with his assistant, Jeff. Both seemed unusually perplexed.

▬ END OF ENTRY ▬

"Vestige" definition from Merriam Webster