Repair Crew [✱5]

Posted on Mon Oct 27th, 2025 @ 11:53am by Lieutenant Commander Intharia T'Zor & Lieutenant Commander Yy & Lieutenant Rune Thul & SubCommander Saa Ni-Eng & Lieutenant Commander N'Tgni Creon & Master Chief Petty Officer Gaz & Captain Hadrian 'Sunshine' Palamas & Frater Maat'n & Grandmaster M'Hum
Edited on on Mon Oct 27th, 2025 @ 12:07pm

1,968 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: UnderMind [4]
Location: Order of Divine Harmony Colony - Dreizhen III
Timeline: Morning - MD03

The away team arrived outside the gate of the Order of Divine Harmony’s compound. They had erected large walls around it, perhaps not unwisely so, the fauna of Dreizhen III were not well documented. Although they had done countless survey flyovers with shuttles and extensive surveys with the station’s sensors, other than some small desert foragers and hardy birds, the only thing remarkable they’d discovered was what seemed to be a species of spherical lifeforms that bounced and rolled around. The planet hadn’t been a priority.

Although Chief Gaz had been given command of the mission, his enlisted rank meant Commander Creon had also been assigned to ensure the weight of command was felt. The Order had already shown their willingness to disregard the hierarchy of their hosts. SubCommander Saa was there in case the Order had made a mess beyond Gaz’s skills, so too were Commanders T’Zor and Yy among them, tasked with subtly making observations about the Order. Lieutenant Thul was there to provide security.

A pair of fighters soared overhead, surveying all around them.

Yy held her hand as a shade to her eyes, she took a long glance out at the vast flat desert. Such beautiful desolation. The Vulcan craftsmanship on the walls was obvious and appreciated. Survival was not guaranteed, but there was much to appreciate here.

To Saa, the scenery was simply desolate, and any appreciation for its potential beauty was suppressed under layers of bodily discomfort. Her mind idly calculated how many months it’d been since she’d last experienced true surface gravity. The unnatural weight of her organs crushing the suit’s cushioned polysilicate inner lining had already told her it was too many. Most cetaceans would’ve beamed down with an antigravity unit. But Saa’s brief stints of Starfleet service had already taught her the price of convenience. Those things were never reliable enough.

First rule of subspace engineering: subspace isn’t your friend.

Second rule: right tool for the right job.

Or she might’ve got those reversed.

“Nuts to all this standing around.” Gaz grumbled, tapping his badge. “Gaz to DS13. We’re not seeing a welcoming party. Are you sure they know we’re here? If not, would you kindly tell them? It’s hot out here.”

“Are we sure we weren’t supposed to beam inside the compound?” T’Zor asked, the troubleshooting part of her mind kicking in before whoever sat at comms had a chance to respond.

“Is there anything that looks like a door chime or sensor?” Rune quipped as he had his hand on his hand phaser on his belt, just in case.

“Nothing I can see.” Gaz grumbled, taking out his tricorder, and giving the large gate a cursory sweep. “Nope. No mechanism to open from the outside that I can find. I’m gonna give them another sixty seconds and then start considering alternatives.” He reattached the tricorder to his belt, and cupped his hands to shout through them at the gate, “Hello! Is anyone there?”

“No response to our hails, Chief. We’ve contacted them with every method we both have, short of telepathy.” The youthful voice of Cadet Brennick reported. “I can try again in a few minutes, if you’d like?”

“Leave them be for now. We’ll figure something out.” Gaz grumbled, looking back to the various telepaths they had with them. “Is there anybody actually home?”

“Lifesigns stable,” reported Saa with a shrug.

“I sense Vulcans within, but they are focused intently elsewhere, it seems. I do not sense that they are comfortable with unannounced telepathic interaction, even so limited as this.” Yy explained.

“They left us with no other course of action that can be announced, I could reach out to them using my telepathy, Chief, Commander?” Rune offered, his Betazoid heritage a blessing. He waited for a reply from the team leaders.

“Sounds like they prefer to be left alone, telepathically speaking. What do you think, Chief?” Creon asked Gaz.

“I think they asked us here, so we’re going to have to intrude a little. Lets stay out of their minds, though.” Gaz tapped his combadge again. “Gaz to CIC. Beam us to the other side of the gate, we’ll say hello the old fashioned way.” Gaz instructed.

Rune acknowledged the Chief’s call to not use telepathy, he didn’t ready his weapon, yet neither did his two security officers that stood nearby.

After an affirmative from the station, they were all beamed from where they were to a few meters on the other side of the gate, within the compound. “That’s more like it.” Gaz said. “Hello?” He called out again.

A few moments later a man in a hooded robe emerged from one the smaller buildings.

“I am Frater Maat’n. You are disturbing our community, explain yourselves.” The particularly serious-looking Vulcan said, flanked by a pair of similarly dressed Order members.

“I’m Chief Gaz. You asked us for help with some equipment problems. We’re here to help.”

“That was yesterday.” Maat’n countered.

“Well we’re here today. Unfortunately you’re not our number one priority.” Gaz responded. “So what’s the problem?”

Rune smirked, breaking and entering brought to a new level, he mused and glanced around the room. There didn’t seem to be any hostiles or hostile intent coming from around them, but he remained on alert.

“The fusion reactor has failed, and the condensation harvesters are operating at less than 30 percent capacity. There are other less pressing issues and failures, also.” Maat’n told the Tellarite.

“Let’s take a look then.” Gaz said.

“Frater, I’m Lieutenant Commander N’Tgni Creon. While our people assist you, these officers will be undertaking an inspection of the compound as per the terms of your settlement agreement. If someone could be assigned to help, they can get started right away.” Creon told the Vulcan, gesturing to Yy and T’Zor. She noted that a few others had emerged from their buildings to observe the goings-on.

“May I ask why your crew feel the need to deny us our civil liberty of privacy? This is a constitutional guarantee.” Maat’n asked with frictionless Vulcan dissatisfaction.

“Frater Maat’n, please. We are guests on this planet.” Came a voice from elsewhere, a grey-haired elder Vulcan emerged. He was Grandmaster M’Hum, leader of the Order. “Commander Creon, I am M’Hum. Please, explore where you will, but allow me the indulgence of guiding your tour. I trust we will soon have the repairs that our technology keeper has been unable to complete himself. The Frater will guide you with enthusiasm, will you not, Maat’n?” M’Hum asked his less polite subordinate.

“Of course, grandmaster.” Maat’n responded. “Please, this way to the Hall of Focus. It is where our main technologies are housed.” He gestured for Gaz to go ahead.

“The big building over there? Sure. Repair team, with me.” Gaz called out, waving them over with him. “We’ll keep in touch, Commanders.”

“Where do you wish to explore first?” M’Hum asked the team with what could have seemed to the untrained eye like warmth. He had a rare charisma.

“Why? Are you doing something you shouldn’t be doing?” Rune directed at Maat’n as the Betazoid approached the colder than usual Vulcan that Rune was used to with a smirk.

“Careful, Lieutenant. We may serve a higher calling, but we are still Vulcans. To infer that we would act deceitfully is to impugn our martial honour. We still maintain the old rites. Our lirpas are sharp, and our champions fierce.” M’Hum responded quickly, but calmly.

Rune put his hands behind his back, he eyed Maat’n for a moment before he turned to M’Hum. “Forgive me Grandmaster, but as I see it your group calls for assistance and doesn’t anticipate our arrival as we had to beam in to render that assistance, then proceeds to demand our immediate departure because of privacy. Which, when you ask for assistance, seems counterproductive and suspicious, does it not? Logically, there is something going on that is cause for concern.” He explained how he saw the situation and leaned forward slightly.

“Your assistance was requested yesterday afternoon. And your inspection is not of our asking. I merely offer the courtesy of guidance, as your senior officer has identified correctly, if you wish to turn over our beds, break open our drawers and slice apart our pillows seeking contraband, we will not stop you.” M’Hum explained, the traces of hospitality in his voice now gone.

“Grandmaster,” Rune began then held his hands up, palms facing M’Hum, either side of himself. “None of that was on my agenda. When we arrived we sensed that the majority of your followers were highly focused on something, that is the cause for concern that should it become a danger. I want to handle it for you,” he declared protectively. “Since I don’t know what it is, I do apologize for my words however they have been interpreted.” He bowed his head and kept his hands up.

“We were focused on our morning meditations, which we undertake as a group at this hour. They are a holy pursuit of harmony, we do not halt them because someone comes knocking on our door at the sacred hour. Any danger you interpret is of your own invention. And we do not consent to your psychic probing. I think I will be having a word with your Captain about the egregious breach of our right to privacy over our own minds. Starfleet should know better.” M’Hum chastised.

“Grandmaster, please accept my apology. We acted out of concern, but we have made no further telepathic exploration than to confirm your presence and well-being. Commander Yy is our Chief Counselor, and keenly aware of the ethical concerns. Lieutenant Thul here is our Chief of Security, I’m the senior command officer here. If it is still available, I would like on behalf of our inspection team to accept your offer of guidance.” Creon told M’Hum, finally stepping forward to try and salvage any goodwill that might have survived.

Rune knew to shut up, he was about to point out he didn’t actively probe the Vulcans. Then again it really didn’t matter now. He was also about to point out to have seen indication that certain times were scared on the door. He remained in his bowed head hands up position. He’d apologise, again, to the team afterward and accept whatever consequences come from the Captain. He really needed to not jump in like that, his bluntness was coming back up more. Rune sighed at himself and now he must improve himself, he will ask Yy for help. After a few more moments he righted his position and put his hands behind his back as he waited for the conclusion of the conversation.

“Then it shall be so, Commander.” M’Hum said to Creon with a slight nod. “Where do you wish to see first?”

“What do you think, Mr Thul?” Creon asked the security chief.

Rune looked between Creon and Chief Gaz, weird, he couldn't see Chief Gaz anywhere. He figured that the Operations Chief would have recalled that the fusion reactor had failed and might have gone with others to check on it.

He focused back on Creon. “Perhaps we should see how the food preparation is in this colony, Commander?” He inquired.

"Alright then. Grandmaster, might we see your kitchens?" Creon asked.

"Of course, Commander. On behalf of the Order, welcome to Shitau." M'Hum said with a bow.

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