Episode 0: The Rescue at Xerxes 4

"Damn." Nadim mutters to himself as he scrolls through the shuttles systems inventory. Well, on the plus side, his work with the light panels didn't screw up the transporter. Since there wasn't one.

Thank you for the report Ensign Patil. As we have no means of beaming down to the station, I see only one viable alternative at this time. Attempting to land. If it is a primitive display of aggression, our phasers, set to stun, should be enough to get us through to our personnel, yes? If anyone else has a better idea, please speak up. I'll give us a minute or two to decide before proceeding to the station. Phenna says, a little stress creeping into her voice.

What I wouldn't give for a proper Federation vessel right now. Something with a transporter pad, and some ship mounted deterrent weapons. At least then we could rescue these scientists without endangering ourselves.

Nadim instantly offers support for the plan. "An excellent plan, Ensign. I've already ensured my medkit is appropriately packed."

"Ms. Phenna, please take a slow orbit around the outpost, lets get a lay of the land before setting down...we might just startle whats down there long enough to help these scientist get on board " Martinez gestures as he turns to Patil.

"and didn't we have an Andorian on board when we departed?" looking at Patil, the medical officer with a whimsical smile, "and before I forget, i thought the lights were a nice touch." with that Martinez turned his attention to the Vulcan.

"Mr Sevek, what does the Starfleet computer say out the Xerxes 4 Outpost?" he asked with a sense of urgency.

Nadim points over to the red-shirted security officer in the corner. "Fairly certain he's the Andorian about which you speak. He's been quiet. Something about a going away party. I think he mentioned Romulan ale." He nods about the light panels and announces, "My kit is all set."

Aye Ensign Martinez. Going in for outpost orbit. Phenna says, keying in a course for the station. Ensure that your phasers are set to stun and ready for use. No sense being ill prepared.

Sevek accesses the somewhat limited computer library of the shuttlecraft and calmly recited the information presented on the Xerxes outpost.

Sevek gives a quick brief of the outpost:
* It's a planet based science station
* The science team consists of ~10 federation science officers and some engineers.
* They are currently researching the local flora and fauna, looking for possible scientific or medical uses.
* The team is lead by Dr. Heidi Schipp.
* Right before the storm hit a week ago they reported a possible breakthrough in their research, although the details are unknown.

He also briefs you about the scan results he saw earlier:
* The two lifeforms inside the station are humans.
* The lifeforms outside the station looks similar, but more primitive. Similar to earth's proto-humans.

As the shuttle starts it's decent the ion storm becomes violent, throwing the shuttle around.

Phenna: Peform a Bravery or Control + Conn Task, with a Difficulty of 2 to try to make a controlled crash landing near the station.
Sevek: Either perofrm a Control + Engineering to assist the landing by keeping the systems working longer, or a Reason + Science to find a better landing site.

This is the same scene, so you still have the saved momentum available.

Phenna pulls from her previous success with establishing an orbit to try landing more successfully.

Nadim steadies himself at the console and wonders aloud, "Hrm. Proto-humans. I wonder if the scientists have released something that's caused some form of recidivism in their staff. That could explain the near-human life-forms which we hadn't seen before, right Sevek?"

He calls up what data he can in the library around any similar issues encountered and published by Starfleet Medical. "Perhaps I can get some blood samples and reverse the mechanism. I wonder if there's been interaction with the ion storm...". He's tapping away, talking out loud...

As the shuttle jostled around Martinez listened to crew-mates as he continued to hail the the outpost, "...I say again this is Starfleet Shuttle to Xerxes Station,your transmission is breaking up, we are on approach to land near the outpost. Come in Xerses Station..."

Looking out the shuttle view port, he leans forward to see what is out there as the get closer to the outpost.

Sevek believes there must be a more logical location to land the shuttle. He attempts to find a better landing site.

I believe I have located an alternate landing site which should prove less hazardous. Ensign Phenna, I am sending the coordinates to your console.

Sevek looks to Nadim.

That is one possible explanation. However, we do not have enough information to draw any conclusions as of yet. Further investigation is definitely warranted before making any assumptions.

Phenna looks down at the coordinates being pumped through to her console.

Coordinates confirmed Ensign Sevek. Provided it looks clear, I'll do my best to set us down as softly as this storm will allow!

The controls become unresponsive as the ion storm surges around the small shuttle. Lights blink as systems are overloaded, and the craft shakes frightfully. As Phenna recieves the coordinates, mere kilometers from the outpost, she brings the shuttle back under her control and steers it onto a lightly vegitated hill. The viewscreen goes black just before impact, and you land in a great thud, sparks flying everywhere before the inside of the shuttle goes pitch black.

Exiting the shuttle you find yourselves in a lightly vegetated are with some trees nearby. As you assess the damage of the shuttle (it looks salvageable, but you need time and spare parts to fix it) a group of strange primitive humanoids approach the crash site. They look aggressive, brandishing clubs and throwing stones in your general direction. They all wear tattered remains of Federation-issued uniforms, and it appears one of the creatures wields a phaser, although it doesn’t appear to know how to fire it accurately... yet.

"I knew it!" Nadim mutters to himself upon seeing the humanoids approach. The uniforms are a dead giveaway. Or, at least, so he surmises. He's happier to jump to conclusions than any Vulcan, that's for certain. Preferring the cover of the shuttle, he nicks behind the shuttle to maintain a view of the woods and brandishes a phaser.

Nadim hits the closest creature square in the shoulder. It looks hurt and shocked, but recovers quickly. Another one throws a rock at Nadim in response, while making threatening noises. The rock lands short of the target.

Quickly considering his options, Sevek decides the most logical course of action is to join Nadim behind the shuttlecraft and aim for the same attacker that Nadim has already hit. He swiftly moves behind the shuttlecraft, takes aim, and fires.