Cascading Echoes

Galorndon Core

MAIN BRIDGE

Approaching Modus III

Dropping out of warp, Discovery decelerated from five hundred times the speed of light to a sudden halt above Modus III, the second moon orbiting Galorndon Core. The dark side of the moon, scarred and shattered by passing asteroids, loomed large on the holographic screen, casting long shadows across the bridge. In the distance, six satellites orbited the planet, pulsing with activity as they mapped storm patterns and the dangerous landscape below.

"Lieutenant Detmer, bring us to heading four-seven-two point nine, quarter impulse," Saru commanded from the captain's chair, eyes focused on the moon. "Lieutenant Commander Airiam, is the spore drive online? Have Lieutenant Stamets and Dr. Asana been notified that the mission is underway?"

"Aye, Commander. Spore saturation levels are normal. Lieutenant Stamets is with Dr. Asana in Engineering," Airiam confirmed, her fingers deftly tapping her console.

"Commander Burnham, Commander Tyler—prepare your teams for departure," Saru ordered. "Discovery will reach your launch window in approximately fifteen minutes and forty-five seconds."

SHUTTLE BAY: DECK 9

"You ready for this, Sylvia?" Michael asked, performing a final check on the science officer's EV suit. The pearl-white environmental containment suit, designed for both space flight and hostile planetary conditions, glistened under the shuttle bay lights. Its detachable thruster modules were firmly locked in place.

"I'm ready," Tilly replied, adjusting her helmet. "Vothi and I trained in the holo-room for almost eighteen hours. I appreciate you assigning me to your team, even though it was because of Kuma's injury. I won't let you down, Commander."

Michael sealed Tilly's helmet with a reassuring smile. "You can thank Captain Pike; he recommended you. Our teams are ready, Mr. Saru. We're prepared to launch on your mark."

"You'll need to land the shuttle manually, Commander Tyler," Saru explained over the comms. "If the force field upgrades hold, it should be smooth. If not... well, you'll manage. Once planetside, all communication will be cut off, and standard tech will fail outside your modified equipment. Transporters won't be an option—you're on your own until the mycelial amplifiers are activated. Good luck."

"We won't need it, Commander Saru," Ash replied confidently, strapping himself into the pilot's seat.

"Twenty-three minutes to our entry window," Michael reminded, taking her position in the co-pilot's seat. "Everyone is strapped in. Ready to begin descent on your mark, Discovery."

With a loud hiss, the shuttle bay doors parted, the alarms blaring as the shuttlecraft rose steadily into the cold void of space. Its impulse nacelles flared to life, propelling the craft forward, away from Discovery and toward Galorndon Core.

"Listen up, everyone," Michael began, addressing the crew. "Satellite mapping shows underground labyrinths on the western hemisphere. My team will locate shelter there before the next superstorm hits."

"My team will find cover in the mountain range northwest of that position," Ash added, veering the shuttle toward the planet. "There are promising caves that should boost our signal."

"Agreed," Michael said, projecting a holo-map of the terrain. "If anything goes wrong or we fail to establish communication with Discovery, rally back to the shuttle in twenty-four hours. Understood?"

The group behind them nodded in unison—Lieutenant Nephium Jo'til, Ensign Sylvia Tilly, Cadet Vothi'Cha, and Quilik. Between them, the dormant mycelial amplifier sat securely, its regulator showing that the spores were stable and active.