To Boldly Go

THE DISTURBED CREATURES

Episode One (Part Two)

When Newt's team returned to the Euphoria, they found a glum-looking Lieutenant Commander Anderson and the security ensigns sporadically searching the area. "Commander, we can't find Lt. Caesar," Arthur gestured to Caesar's fallen tricorder, "And we currently can't reach the Beta team. We've already recalled Delta and Gamma but none have arrived," Newt, when they were deciding the research teams, deployed two drone teams (Delta and Gamma) so the search areas were smaller for each team.

"Do we still have contact with the Intrepid?"

"The Euphoria lost contact an hour ago. An attempt to regain communication has begun," Newt nodded at their subordinate and turned to face their security, "From quick calculations, I believe the Intrepid should be above us in twenty minutes. I suggest we rejoin it and gather a larger away team to search for the Beta team," Newt began collecting items, intending to pack them back into the Euphoria.

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"20 minutes until the end of the rotation," Ensign Kal called out to the Bridge. It was filled with buzz as a few ensigns gathered around the communications desk, trying to readjust the transmission. "Ensign Finn, do we have a visual on the Euphoria?"

"Visual on the landing site returning in five minutes, sir," Nella announced, crossing her fingers in the hope that her older sibling, Newt, would regain contact. Captain Berkley stood right behind Kal, looking over the warp controls. "Slowly bring us into a 12-hour orbit, we need to stay above the Euphoria for as long as possible," Kal nodded and started to lower the engines to impulse increasing the Intrepid's orbit path.

"Sir!" One of the ensigns around communications chirped at the Captain, who immediately ran over. "What is it?" Anthony glanced at the petite ensign, who turned a dial on the desk. The Bridge speakers whizzed in the assurance that it was turning on.

A series of monotone beeps filled the room, interrupting everyone's train of thought. "We believe Commander Newton is transmitting this from their secondary unit," The ensign nodded, although Nella furrowed her brows.

"What is it saying, Ensign Vudeex?" Nadrel shook her head at that, "The computer doesn't recognise the encryption, sir," The Captain spun on the spot, locking eyes with Nella, "Miss Finn, have you ever heard the Commander use this encryption?"

Nella listened to the beeps for a minute, scrunching up her face in forced remembrance. Every four beats, the pattern reappears but in a different pitch. The pattern itself didn't ring a bell, but something about it was eerily familiar. After another repeat, she knew.

It was only slightly different from Newt's programmed distress call. It was almost like someone mimicking her sibling: the professional mimic.

"It's not the Commander, sir," Nella began, "But it's trying to be. Someone is desperately trying to get your attention with a version of their distress signal," Anthony's face darkened, his mouth forming a tight line as he tapped his comm badge. "Captain Berkley to Transport Room 1,"

"Lieutenant Skossaath here, sir," The dry hoarse voice of the Vulcan lieutenant seeped through. The Captain's eyes moved to the communications desk and then to the view screen, "Lock on to the transmission at 355hz and beam it up,"