PT 7 - This is bad

Posted on Sun Apr 12th, 2026 @ 7:54pm by Commander David Wallace
Edited on on Sun Apr 12th, 2026 @ 8:33pm

Mission: STELLAR NURSERY
Location: USS Cascade - Deveron Sector

On:

David was back on the bridge, both of the geologists were enthralled with their work, most of the other staff were busy with their duties. As the ship continued it's orbit they were now ahead of the ash cloud and the other ejected gasses, the Cascade began to pass over the settled continent David looked at a small display on the command chair when Ensign Bear spoke up "Sir I'm getting life signs in one of the evacuation zones."

David turned to the tactical officer who nodded agreement, "Damn." David muttered

"The location is about four hours from the edge of the ash cloud, we should investigate sir." The tactical officer said.

"Let's get those people out, hopefully they were an oversight in the evacuation." David started "Lieutenant Clark and Lieutenant Davis to the transporter room." looking behind him "Chen with me." David said as he moved to the turbolift.

As the quartet met in the transporter room, "The follow up scan showed three people on what appears to be a grain farm, there wasn't any signs of weaponry but that scan could be incorrect." Ensign Chen said as he closed the clasp on her sidearm belt.

"How did they get missed?" Sara asked

"It's an evacuation, it's entirely possible they got missed by the local authorities or just flat out forgotten." David said as he secured the thigh strap on his sidearm belt.

"I hate this part." Lieutenant Davis said as he secured his sidemrm, "How much time until the ash cloud catches up with us?"

"Two hours and thirty six minutes, but the ash will start falling within the next hour which means we have less time." Sara added

"Risks?" David said as he stepped onto the platform

"Volcanic ash is fine enough that when inhaled it becomes like concrete so the risk of suffocation is very serious." Davis said

"Oh fun..." David said then "Energize!"

The four officers materialized on the planet, the darkening sky not only looked ominous it was a real threat, David pulled out his tricorder "Confirmed, three humans in the house."

As the foursome advanced to the house David felt something was off, "Hello?" he called.

The crack of a shotgun firing filled the air, David shoved Sara behind a pair of barrels to their left as Chen and Davis ducked behind a pile of wood, David fired in the direction of the house the howl of the phaser splitting the air.

"Okay okay you made your point!" a voice called out

"We're here to evacuate you." David called out

"What?" the voice called back

"A super volcano erupted on the other side of the planet, it's turned into a major eruption and the colony was evacuated as a precaution due to the high levels of ash being pushed into the atmosphere." Sara said

"We never got any alert." the voice now in the form of a younger man called back.

"The alert went out four days ago for everyone to meet in the nearby settlements." David said as he approached the house.

The man looked up at the sky, "Is that what caused the sky to turn so dark?"

David secured his weapon, "Yes, the eruption happened about four hours ago with it expanding less than an hour ago, that ash cloud is very hazardous."

"My wife just gave birth so we weren't exactly paying attention." the man said

"Our ship is equipped to help, but time is not on our side." Lt Davis said.

"We can beam all three of you directly to sick bay." David added

"I guess that's why the town doctor never came back to check on us, let's get going I guess." the man said. "Sorry about shooting, we had some problems with local thugs."

David just shrugged "I get it, Doc take a peek at mom and the tot and then let's get outta here."

Lt Davis made a couple of quick passes with his tricorder, "We're good here." he confirmed

"Wallace to Cascade direct transport to Sickbay for six and one infant." David said

As the away party and new arrivals materialized in sickbay David looked at the man, "I'll get one of my crew to set your family up in quarters, I'll see if we can scare up a crib of some kind."

"Wallace you said? are you any relation to Admiral Wallace?" the man asked

"He's my dad why?" David could sense something.

"He helped me out a few years ago..." The man said "Looks like I owe you both."

David was confused but looked too the man "What's your name?"

"My name is Russel Watson, that's my wife Eline and my baby Jarred." the man said

David just stood there as he tried to process the information, "I'll let the Admiral know you're okay."

About an hour later when David was alone in the ready room he waited for his father to contact him, his mind was rushing hoping this wasn't something he needed too keep secret, 'Who am I kidding? I know I'm gonna have to keep this one quiet.' he thought

"David! what do I owe this one too?" The Admiral said

"Russel Watson." David said

The Admiral froze, "What happened?"

David began to recount the events leading up too having to beam them up too the Cascade, "Who is he?"

"Russel Watson was my chief engineer on the Asia for a few years, he got caught up in some stuff and I had intel relocate him into hiding, who knows he's aboard your ship?"

"Just my crew." David said

"Don't log him in." Jarred said

"I think the Doctor logged his wife in as a patient, why?" David said

"Medical records are safe until you get back too the station, wipe any other records including transporter trace files, I'll contact you on another channel in an hour, out."

As the screen went blank David sat back, 'Shit' was all David could think

"Chen and Clark too the ready room." David said.

As the two women entered the ready room David tried to play out how he was going to handle this situation, "Chen I need you to wipe the mission record of anything surrounding that away mission, get the doctor to seal the medical files if not purge them."

"Clark can you erase the house from the scientific files?"

"Yes, but why?" Sara was very confused at this

"That family doesn't exist far as official records are concerned, we need to ensure they're never discovered." David said as he stood "There's a risk of a run in with some rough players and we might have to make a break for it."

End