[Unknown settlement, ch'Dabhae]
Nothing. Nothing but the whispering of the wind between abandoned houses and a clear blue sky above.
Even the desert held more life than this place.
And just as that thought manifested itself in the young woman's mind, the unmistakable stench of death reached her sensitive nostrils. Even the cool breeze from the hills, saturated with the freshness of grass and flowers and the warm undertones of trees could not drown out this scent. For 1.3 seconds, Sakarra stood perfectly still, willing herself to utter stoic calm as her CO stopped in her tracks and the woman's usually so lively violet eyes turned to ice.
Even the desert held more life than this place.
And just as that thought manifested itself in the young woman's mind, the unmistakable stench of death reached her sensitive nostrils. Even the cool breeze from the hills, saturated with the freshness of grass and flowers and the warm undertones of trees could not drown out this scent. For 1.3 seconds, Sakarra stood perfectly still, willing herself to utter stoic calm as her CO stopped in her tracks and the woman's usually so lively violet eyes turned to ice.
"Ensign." she said in the hushed voice that was only appropriate in a graveyard such as this "if you set your tricorder to scan for Vulcanoid bodies rather than life signs, I believe we will find something very much out of the ordinary."
A closer look at the buildings revealed that not all of them were as undamaged as they had seemed from orbital approach. Doors that had been opened forcefully lay shattered in the entryways to empty homes and broken windows stared accusingly at the indifferent sky.
Turning slowly, the young Vulcan faced the domed structure that was the relay station. Her busily chirping tricorder confirmed that this building was as empty as all the others. But there was something else. The signal was being amplified here, yet it's origin was quite a distance away.
Survivors? Illogical as it may be, even Vulcans weren't entirely immune to the sensation that was hope.
Sakarra looked at her CO and pointed her chin in the direction of the stairs leading up to the relay station "Captain?"
Turning slowly, the young Vulcan faced the domed structure that was the relay station. Her busily chirping tricorder confirmed that this building was as empty as all the others. But there was something else. The signal was being amplified here, yet it's origin was quite a distance away.
Survivors? Illogical as it may be, even Vulcans weren't entirely immune to the sensation that was hope.
Sakarra looked at her CO and pointed her chin in the direction of the stairs leading up to the relay station "Captain?"
It felt as though a frost had set into her very marrow. She didn't need Dicari to confirm what she could see, smell, and feel. The world was dead- but what world? Shiarrael heard Sakarra but she didn't answer the Vulcan. Instead with languid and slow steps she made her way towards one of the abandoned buildings. A thick layer of dirt and rust covered a sign in front of the building. She stepped forward and dug her nails into the grime and ripped it from the sign. Taking a step back she stared at the word in shock "dabhae" she said aloud looking at Sakarra more so then Dicari "it is Rihannsu- it means to free oneself. This is…" her eyes widened in realization "this is ch'Dabhae." She remembered it clearly now.
"On Ch'Rihan [Romulus] there was once a movement called aaiy'hya or unification. There were many Rihannsu who wished to learn more about thaessu rhiymn [Vulcan tradition]." Shiarrael spoke so fast and with such fervor that her words were becoming a jumble of Federation standard and Rihannsu "it was finally decided by the deihuit [senate] to lheollah [willingly exile] the followers of unification. Many had wanted to taortuu [execute] them but they were given a choice- llaihr ruid lheollah [death or exile]- but..." Shiarrael stared at the sign in disbelief "hundreds of thousands were exiled from ch'Rihan [Romulus] and ch'Havran [Remus]. There was still contact when they landed on the planet but the Senate ended it fearing that aaiy'hya would resurface… did they kill all of them?" Her eyes were wide with fury and shock but it was something she could believe.
Cyrin adjusted his tricorder to scan for Vulcanoid bodies, suddenly his tricorder lit up with several dead bodies. He also listened to the Captains synopsis and was about as lost as he could be. This wasn't his element. He continued to scan and the number of dead bodies was just increasing, and the Captains fury was plaguing him like he was drowning in a sea of water.
"Vrekashtlar." Sakarra murmured. Outcasts.
She was quite familiar with the ideas of those who promoted a reunification of Vulcan with the Sundered, misguided as they were in her view. But that did not alleviate the surge of grief or the deep, silent anger over what she saw. These people had been a threat to no one.
She was quite familiar with the ideas of those who promoted a reunification of Vulcan with the Sundered, misguided as they were in her view. But that did not alleviate the surge of grief or the deep, silent anger over what she saw. These people had been a threat to no one.
"Nam-tor ek'etek nelauk k'tevakh hi vesht tvidonik k'pen-ha'kiv t'dular." The young Vulcan's low, melodious voice could just barely be heard over the gusts of wind that still drove dust and revolting scents through the empty streets "May you find the peace that you did not know in life."
For several seconds she stood perfectly still, and then she strode towards the relay station, throwing Cyrin a brief reassuring glance.
"The logical course of action would be to have Charon scan for survivors from orbit, Captain. Since someone activated the distress beacon, there is a possibility that not all the inhabitants were killed."
A light touch to the doors confirmed they were not locked and when Sakarra looked back towards her CO, something approaching compassion briefly flared in the depths of her night black eyes. "The signal does not originate here. If we can locate the source, we might at least be able to determine how long ago it was activated."
"The logical course of action would be to have Charon scan for survivors from orbit, Captain. Since someone activated the distress beacon, there is a possibility that not all the inhabitants were killed."
A light touch to the doors confirmed they were not locked and when Sakarra looked back towards her CO, something approaching compassion briefly flared in the depths of her night black eyes. "The signal does not originate here. If we can locate the source, we might at least be able to determine how long ago it was activated."
In all her years of serving the Galae Shiarrael had never once made herself or her crews' party to the sinister acts certain individuals of her ilk had long been notorious for. It was often a matter of power- a corruption of one's sensibilities resulting in wholesale slaughter. It was never pretty and certainly never an honorable achievement to butcher defenseless beings.
With a slight edge of sorrow she nodded to Sakarra and pressed her commbadge "Commander Falcon, perform a detailed scan of the surface. Try to locate any possible life signs." When she finished issuing the order she turned her attention back to the Vulcan woman "can you locate the source?" she asked.
"Yes." Sakarra nodded "Tricorder scans already confirm the original signal is transmitted from a mountain range Northwest of here. If I can access the relay station, it should not take long to pinpoint the exact location. However, Ensign Dicari's assistance would be welcome."
Standing by the doors, the dark haired young Vulcan let her eyes linger on the empty streets for a moment - but no, what she had seen might as well have been something moved by the restless wind or a small animal scavenging for food. What type of food she truly did not wish to ponder.
"Once security arrives, we also might wish to consider sending a medical research team. Despite the obvious damage to the buildings, it does not appear a battle took place here. At least not one of the scale that would explain …" at last, she found herself at a loss for words. Certainly, there were a few choice phrases presenting themselves at the back of her mind, but it would not do to be anything but professional.
"…this." She finally said, indicating the settlement at large with a small gesture of her hand.
"…this." She finally said, indicating the settlement at large with a small gesture of her hand.
Cyrin looked to the Captain and then back at the Sakarra, before he joined the Lieutenant on the stairs, his tricorder still bringing in readings of the dead Vulcanoid bodies.
Shiarrael followed the Lieutenant's gaze. Her eyes were steady but her heart skipped a beat. Dozens of bodies were piled up along one of the main streets and dozens more were stacked against a slightly taller building. Several of the piles bore evidence of a rather halfhearted attempt to torch the bodies. While clothing had burned to ash scorched flesh was easily visible even at such a distance, however, it was not difficult to ascertain what had occurred: "a plague" Shiarrael stated and pointed at the building where many of the bodies were piled. She specifically made reference to the sign displayed on the side of the structure "hifvai'rhe, medical center. There was some sort of sickn…" immediately the scene felt all too familiar.
"Ch'Lekab" Shiarrael whispered the name. 'This cannot be the same? That was the neutral zone, light-years away.' She studied the scene with added scrutiny but it still reminded her to that planet- of the death which consumed so many Rihannsu. 'Of course any plague would look similar. I am thinking too much into this.' She warned herself and looked towards Sakarra and Dicari "I will return to the Charon- there are some things I must look into. You two remain here." She pressed her commbadge "Charon, this is the Captain, one to beam up." After turning away from the carnage she dematerialized.
The young Vulcan nodded in confirmation and then pushed open the doors, motioning for Cyrin to follow.
As the hum of the transporter faded away, Sakarra stepped into a dark room that smelled of dust and decay.
As the hum of the transporter faded away, Sakarra stepped into a dark room that smelled of dust and decay.
[End Log]
Captain Shiarrael Rehu
Commanding Officer
USS Charon
&
Commanding Officer
USS Charon
&
Lieutenant Sakarra Tyrax
Second Officer
USS Charon
Second Officer
USS Charon
&
Ensign Cyrin Dicari
Chief Operations Officer
USS Charon
Chief Operations Officer
USS Charon
