The bridge of the USS Nova was on screen.  Captain Walton stood behind Lieutenant Hazel Wallaker at science on the Perseverance as she ran through the rough translation she’d managed to work out, “It says something here about an experiment…and then death being an end…and then something about a contract being…fulfilled?”  She tapped at her console, “We’re working on a more exact translation, but Tholian language adds some complexity.”

Wren turned to the Nova, “We’ve checked what few sensor buoys survived—nothing on a Tholian ship or even a presence out here.”  She reasoned, “Tholians are known for arbitrarily moving their borders to suit their needs, or to do something like this to suit their needs.  Warp trails are too degraded to get an answer.”

Lieutenant Eseri replied, “Captain, the probes we sent down report a breathable atmosphere. Samples and scans are being completed on plant and animal life.  Initial scans indicate nothing concerning.”  She turned to her station, “The probe in the valley where the signal came from?  We’re getting some interesting data.”

The screen shifted to show the data on the area, including scans of the ground around the low valley.  Wallaker tapped at her console, bringing up the data.  “Captain, this data suggests something…underneath the ground…nothing large, but…something.”  Her hands tweaked the Perseverance’s sensors to focus solely on the valley floor.  “Whatever it is…it’s designed to repel both ours and Nova’s.  That’s…not a coincidence.”

Walton’s eyes stared first at the main viewscreen, and then at Wallaker’s console display.  The mystery annoyed her, but it needed to be investigated.  The scenario fit the two science ships and their mission to near-perfection.  “Let’s do this right.  Commander Park – assemble your science team with you as commanding officer.  We’ll dispatch our security and medical personnel to operate under you.  Nova and Peseverance will maintain transporter locks at all times and have shuttles on standby in case of emergency.”

“Thank you, Wren.  We’re on the way.”

“The ground was recently disturbed – I would say within the last month.” Lieutenant Eseri’s antennae were in curiosity mode, and her tricorder swept across the grass field.  It was a dull green. It matched the mood of the clouds that drifted softly above them.  Various shades of grey splotched across the sky, the sun unable to penetrate the thick lower atmosphere.

Park walked around the edge of the field, searching for an indication of something…anything that would indicate where a Tholian signal was or what Tholian influence had been here recently.  She adjusted her tricorder, “Signal is still strong.  It seems to be coming right from the center of the field.”  She pulled out a set of binoculars and searched the ground for a clue that would help her understand what had happened here.

“Commander?”  The shout had come from Cadet Catrin Williams, who had walked around the edge and was waving her over.  Park arrived a moment later, and the communications chief showed her the tricorder, “The power transfer we detected…it’s being transmitted in this area.”  She pointed to a smattering of grass down the way.  It was brown and dry, covering a good area.

Park pointed at the area, “Let’s see what we can dig up around it. Doctor Reid, we’ll need you to evaluate the strength of the power field and how close we can get to it.”  She watched as the chief medical officer from the Perseverance walked into the area and went to work.  Park had long admired Reid’s dogged pursuit of life after Ambrose Harris.  Her journey had been rocky.  She had served on seven ships in the two years since stepping into Starfleet.  Park knew part of that time had been spent in civilian work.  And yet, Jordan Reid had stayed with Walton on the Perseverance since December of 2401.  There was something about Reid that gave her pause.  A quiet grief slipped across her eyes occasionally, Park had noticed.

Reid’s voice brought Park back, “The power transfer is pretty low.  Whatever it’s keeping going isn’t in a high-power mode or anything.  The limit for anyone would be around two hours.”

“Then let’s get to digging.”

Wallaker stared at what had been exposed with a few hours of work. “That’s…an older model Tholian transport.  We studied them in the academy. Why would they bury it here?”

Park stood, eyeing it with her hands on her hips.  “It has to be something they didn’t want…or couldn’t keep around.  But why not just…destroy it?  Burn it and spread the ashes.  Tholians aren’t known for being particularly sentimental.”

Lieutenant Eseri walked carefully across the exposed hull, frowning as she went.  Park watched her, curious about what the Andorian science chief was hunting.  She circled a few areas farther along, returning with a confused look. “The hull plating…it’s of a specific material designed to repel scans.  We’d heard the older models had it, and I suppose back then, they were concerned about hiding whatever they had onboard from us if we got close enough.”  She knelt, scanning with her tricorder, “We’re going to have to open her up to see what’s inside.”

Reid asked, “Where was the communications signal coming from?  The one with the Tholian message?”

Eseri pointed to where several science officers were digging.  “They found it in the ground on the edge of the buried transport.  They sunk a large communications station pretty deep, then attached an antenna to it and buried that too – only a little was sticking out.  We’re inspecting and cleaning it up before we take it down the way to take it apart.”

Park shook her head, “We’re going to have to open it up.  Have Captain Walton dispatch those shuttles with some engineers.”  She kicked at the hull, “What were you all up to out here in the rimward?”

The door coughed open, sending dust, particles, and small debris flying as the entry crew braced in full protective gear.  They climbed down the stairs, armed with bright lights.  Five minutes later, they returned.  “All clear, Commander.  Ship is in pretty good shape, but her spine is broken – at first glance, it looks like they slammed the ship into the ground hard, and then just…buried her.”

Park thanked him and turned to the crew.  “Let’s find out what this mystery is.”