Adelphous Station, Part III: Investigation, Continued

Posted on Sun Jul 13th, 2025 @ 11:01pm by Commander Karl Rogers & Captain Mitsu Sato & Lieutenant Jaina Zalla & Lieutenant JG Alicia Santos & Ensign Matt Connor & Ensign Eric Banner & Ensign Noa Oku

1,757 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Adelphous Station

“We thought it was dead. We thought it was an ancient life form that we could study. But it woke up. It’s smart and it’s learning. We lured it into the containment lab and diverted all power. If you find this... don’t open the door.”

Silence fell as the recording ended. The serious situation that the away team was in wasn't lost on Karl as he straightened slowly. “Suggestions?” he asked.

“Kill it,” Jaina said immediately. “Or keep it sealed in the module either until we figure out what to do with it or just simply forever.”

Alicia shook her head. “Forever isn’t going to last. The power systems are failing and I've been noticing that there has been something bleeding small amounts of power from the power grid here and there, most likely due to damage. In a few weeks if not less, containment will break down.”

Noa hesitated as she studied her readings. She was hesitant to speak up, since she was an ensign on her first mission, but she felt that she needed to say something. “We need to understand what it is. We may not get another chance.”

"And that is fine by me," Matt said. "Whatever that thing is, it is clearly hostile. It killed people on this station, and I for one don't think we should ourselves to the body count."

Eric spoke up. "Sir, we could go to the main computer core and download all the data from there. If possible, we can even check the communications systems and transmit the data over to the Eclipse. That way, the module stays sealed and the thing inside stays locked in there until we can learn more."

"What if the module has its own separate computer systems?" Noa asked.

Alicia shook her head. "A station of this design might have a separate computer server in the module, but there's only one computer core. Any data stored on the module server would be copied to the computer core as a backup file."

Karl took in each officer's statements, weighing the options. “Alright, we proceed carefully. Connor, Zalla, make sure the access hatch to the science module is secured. No one opens that door unless I say so. Once that's done, we'll all head to the computer core. I want every log, every scrap of data those scientists left behind. If we’re going to make a decision, we need the full picture.”

The station creaked around them as they made their way to the central core of the station, metal groaning like an old hull under stress. Somewhere beyond the bulkhead, the last remnant of the Adelphous Science Station’s final research project moved in the dark shadows, waiting. As the away team came closer to the computer core control room, a distinct sound echoed through the station. The sound was subtle at first, barely more than a metallic rattle beneath the floor plating and easy to mistake for a failing conduit or a shifting bulkhead. But with the sound came something else.

Jaina froze, motioning for Ensign Connor to halt beside her as her eyes scanned the dark shadows of the corridor before them. They were only a meter away from the computer core control room, but she didn't want to divert the team's focus. “There’s movement,” she whispered.

A hiss that sounded sharp and wet cut through the silence like a blade, catching the attention of every member of the away team. It was impossible to tell where the sound had come from, as it had been filtered through the EVA suits they still wore. Suddenly, a screech split the corridor as a section of the ceiling vent tore open. A dark creature which seemed to be made from the stuff of nightmares dropped from above in a blur of black and teeth. Its elongated head swept the corridors before its talons found Ensign Noa Oku. She screamed, a short, choked sound as the creature struck fast, impaling her through the chest and dragging her backward into the shadows.

“NOA!” Alicia shouted, lunging forward to grab the science officer's hand. She grabbed empty air instead. The science officer’s body seemed to have vanished into the darkness.

Jaina had spun around the second she had heard the creature fall from the ceiling, but it had landed behind the away team and she was out in front. "Contact rear! Down!" she shouted, hoping to get a clear shot.

Matt swung his rifle around at his chief's shout, but the rest of the team hadn't yet reacted. All he caught was the outline of Ensign Oku as she vanished into the darkness.

“Fall back!” Karl shouted, grabbing Santos and trying to pull her clear as she struggled to push forward. “That thing’s using the vents!”

Eric glanced around and noticed an emergency bulkhead, which was used to seal off sections of the station. He struggled to his feet and reached the bulkhead control panel, his hands flying over the controls. “I'm trying to seal off that section, just give me a few seconds.”

“You’ve got three!” Jaina barked, covering the group with her phaser as she scanned for any sign of movement.

Eric felt his fingers fumble a little at the security officer's tone, but he finished rerouting the system and activated the controls. The emergency bulkhead sealed shut, closing the team off from the thing that had attacked them.

Alicia shouldered out of Rogers's grip and knelt beside Oku’s tricorder, which had skidded across the floor in the chaos. She picked it up slowly, her hands shaking. “She's gone,” she whispered, her voice hollow. “It was waiting for us.”

Karl quickly ushered the away team into the computer core control room. It was one of the most shielded areas on the station. As he directed Connor to watch the open doorway, his eyes darted to the vents above as he tapped his combadge. “Eclipse, this is the away team. We’ve made contact with a hostile life form. We’ve suffered one casualty. Ensign Oku is confirmed deceased. We need immediate possible extraction options.”

On the bridge of the Eclipse, Mitsu froze at the words her first office had spoken. She glanced across the bridge and took measure of the expressions on the faces of the officers around her. A mixture of shock and disbelief, which mirrored her own reaction. She closed her eyes briefly, before she opened them again and spoke. “Copy that, Commander. I recommend you fall back to the shuttle or locate a secured position for beam out.”

“We'll need a few moments,” Rogers muttered, looking at the bulkhead that Banner had closed. He sighed as he realized that it sealed their way back to the docking ring. He turned to the team. "Options."

Jaina’s jaw tightened. “The longer we stay, the longer we're that thing's prey. I vote screw the shuttle and have the ship beam us out from here."

"Unfortunately, we're in the station core, and these remote science stations have shielding materials used in the construction of the central core areas to help guard against deep space hazards," Alicia said quietly. "Unless we can get to the docking ring or the transporter room, we're trapped here."

"What about the station transporter then?" Karl asked.

"There's not enough of a stable power flow to get it working safely enough to use," Alicia replied, shaking her head.

"That just leaves the shuttle, and Banner just sealed us off from that," Matt said from his position beside the door. His eyes and his rifle never left the doorway.

"Hold on a minute, Commander," Eric said as he dug out a PADD and activated it as he handed it to the commander. "I downloaded the schematics of the station before we left the Eclipse."

Karl took the padd and studied the deck plans for the station for a moment before he nodded. "Alright, we can use the main corridor to go to the central corridor junction. From there, we turn left and take corridor 2CL. That will take us straight to the docking port where we left the shuttle."

Jaina leaned over and studied the schematics quickly before she shook her head and pointed. "Sir, these three corridor junctions are possible ambush points. This thing was waiting for us here at the computer core control room. It's clearly intelligent, and I'd bet it's watching us. I'm willing to bet that it'll track us and figure out where we're heading."

"That's the risk we'll have to take," Karl said as he handed the padd back to Banner. "Zalla, you take point. Santos, Banner, Connor follow in. I'll bring up the rear. It this thing attacks, we double time back to the shuttle, seal the hatch and launch."

"Well, I'm not tiptoeing to the shuttle," Matt commented.

Karl nodded and decided to let the comment slide. He was sure that the ensign's comment was shared by the entire team. "One more thing," he said darkly. "Set phasers to maximum setting. Check your shots and don't shoot each other, but with this thing we're not taking any chances."

Jaina stared at the first officer before she cleared her throat. "Sir, Starfleet guidelines require me to remind you about the regulations involving phaser settings," she said, her tone serious.

"I understand," Karl said with a nod. "As the senior officer in the field, I accept full responsibility and my order stands. Set phasers to max power and let's move out."

The lights flickered again and somewhere in the duct work above, metal groaned. The away team moved out into the corridor and down the dark corridor along their intended route. The station fell quiet, a silence that not even their breathing seemed to disturb as they moved along. The silence didn't last long. The away team had barely reached the first corridor junction when the next attack came. It was faster this time and more deliberate. The vent above the junction exploded outward as the creature dropped into the center of the group like a living shadow.

Karl shouted for everyone to scatter, raising his phaser and opening fire. The beam struck the creature’s shoulder, searing black flesh, but it barely flinched. Its long tail lashed out, striking the bulkhead beside him with enough force to dent the metal. Karl moved without hesitation.

“Get back to the shuttle!” he shouted at the away team as he moved between the creature and the team. “Now!”

 

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