Captain’s Ready Room

Tiberius leaned back, having concluded his review of Thalora’s culture and its people. Founded around a core religion that praised an entity known as the Great Nest. There was little recorded about it beyond the nest being a collective of sorts. Tib imagined it to be similar in mindset to what the Borg might have supported for a religion. Should they have need of such a thing. Lots of endorsement of the community over the self, and service to support the nest.

He leaned back, unsure what to make of the message they’d received. He stood, making his way to the personal replicator in the office, and ordered a coffee, 2 creams and sugars. Then took his seat to think. He had the makings of a puzzle. But not enough pieces to figure out exactly of what yet. Still, he had some hypothesis, but couldn’t properly test them or even vet whether they were adequate without further investigation at the colony. For now, he’d have to wait.

He still wasn’t quite sure how he wanted to approach this. Religions were a mixed bag, especially if they required sacrifice of the self for the whole. Tib didn’t want to upset the prophet by letting him know someone in his congregation wanted to leave before their ascent. But at the same time, he was duty bound to both investigate and offer any aid required. While the Federation might have an agnostic approach to religion, tolerance was important, and he wanted to respect the practices and rights of these people.

He made some notes in the margin of the report he was reviewing of his thoughts so far. Chief amongst them, was what would upset a lone individual enough to call for help in what is otherwise a happy community? Something doesn’t add up. He didn’t like when things didn’t add up.

His desk chimed, and Commander Kael announced they’d reached the system. Acknowledging her, he logged off his terminal and left his ready room. Entering the bridge, he noted the uncertain expressions on everyone’s faces.

“Did I spill something on my jacket?”

Kael cleared her throat in her best attempt to not chuckle. “The prophet has hailed us.”

Tib paused, brow arching. “He has? Mr. Vossk, any chance they’ve got a solar system sensor net? I thought this was just a small religious colony?”

“That’s what we were led to believe, anyway.”

Vossk’s hands swept his console. The Saurian working feverishly to retrieve an answer to the captain’s question.

After a few minutes of silent work, Vossk finally glanced up, finding the captain had taken his chair.

“Sir, it would appear there are after market sensor nets placed at each planet in the system and at several Lagrange points.”

Tiberius leaned back. His expression was pensive. “Now, why would a small colony like this need an early warning system?”

“They’re looking for someone they’re afraid of, or they have something to hide.”

“Well, let’s go see what we can find. Accept the prophets hail, please.”

A beat later and the system chimed receipt of the transmission and put it on the main screen. A large humanoid man appeared on screen draped in ceremonial garments of varying reds and oranges with a few embossed gold trimmings. It had all the trappings and fanfare of the station.

“This is prophet Varik Corvus. Who are you and why have you come to our system?”

Tib and Commander Kael shared a look that bordered on amusement and shock. He stood, clasping his hands behind his back in what he hoped was as non aggressive a posture as he could manage.

“I’m Captain Tiberius Rain of the USS Rubidoux. We received a distress signal that originated from your colony and came to investigate.”

The prophet’s expression stayed carefully neutral, giving nothing away. “There’s no emergency here, I can assure you.”

“Well, see, that’s the thing. I’m duty bound to investigate now. It’s all just a formality, you see. Check the boxes and do the diligence. It wouldn’t reflect well on me if I just took you at your word and left while something was going on, even you weren’t aware of.”

“Who placed this distress signal?”

Tib didn’t know, but even if he did, he wasn’t at liberty to disclose that so soon in the discussion. Not without some consideration. And besides, this guy was giving off the wrong kinds of vibes to him.

“Unfortunately, it’s too soon to know. There weren’t any names given and without a more thorough investigation, I wouldn’t be able to determine who singular or plural made the transmission. With your permission, I’d like to transport down with my doctor and a small detail just so can do our part to make sure everything is in fact okay here. The last thing we want is to get too far out of warp travel range to respond to an actual emergency waiting to blow out of control.”

“Are you insisting we can’t help ourselves?”

“Quite the contrary, prophet. Just that things have a way of sneaking up on when you least expect it. Take it from a guy who’s lived it first hand. We won’t be long, and I promise we’ll stay well out of your way.”

The prophet considered it for long moments before reluctantly agreeing.

“Smashing. We’ll be down shortly.”

Tib turned and cut the channel. The silence poured into the absence of the call like a thunderclap of air.

“Lt. Jel’kan, tab a two-man details to accompany us down to the surface. Commander Kael? The ship is yours.”

He tapped his comm badge. “Captain Rain to Sickbay.”

“Sickbay here. Go ahead, captain.”

“I need you with me on an away team to the surface of Thalora. Meet me in transporter room one.”

With that, Tib made his way down. The wait was brief and soon his team gathered with him on the transporter pad and they all beamed down to the waiting surface of Thalora’s colony.