Mayday at the Mine

Posted on Thu Jul 17th, 2025 @ 9:34pm by Commander Rhupert Tyree & Commander Daynah Ral & Lieutenant Commander Richard Dalziel & Lieutenant Commander Zuub & Lieutenant Katya Davi

1,286 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: On the Trail
Location: On route to Quatral Prime
Timeline: MD 002

Mayday. Mayday. This is Avan’s Colony. We’ve had a mining incident and desperately need medical help. Mayday. Mayday. Mayday.”

“This is Proctor Dreth,” a one eyed Bajoran woman wearing a standard coverall said, her last name picked out on a patch on her right breast. Her hair arranged haphazardly around her face.

“We are on what’s commonly known as Quatal Prime. We have injured people down here and need help. Is there anyone out there?”

Rhu glanced a Dayna, then flipped then nodded toward Kat and said, “Open a channel and pipe this to all hands. All stations Katya.” Once he got the high sign from his Operations Officer he turned back to the screen, purposely slouched and said, “This is Captain Derek Crevins of the free freighter Adelaide. What’s your emergency Proctor?”

The static image fuzzed then seemed to leap ahead as the transmitting station boosted their gain and the Proctor’s voice came back. “Thank you Adelaide. We are the lone colony on Quatral Prime with some ninety people. Fifty hours ago, a mining party suffered some sort of mishap in a recently recovered Raslalt mine.” She broke off as a coughing fit took her.

The image jumped and Rhu noted it was eroding even as they continued to close and he sat at the helm, making slight adjustments to their course. Then the message cut out altogether.

"Try and get them back?" Rhu said, staring at the screen for a minute until the Proctor's voice came back.

Apparently they'd lost video.

"Our communications are erratic, Adelaide," the Proctor's voice reverberated, sounding tinny over the Adelaide’s speakers.. “The mining team we sent to rescue them derailed and are now cut off. The engine and evac car are now blocking the only line into the shaft hub. Our maintenance people are struggling to maintain the colony systems, and we just don't have the capability to mount a rescue. Finally, the air quality in the colony itself is degrading for an unknown reason and everyone is suffering from an unknown respiratory sickness. Our order of filters went missing and with no way to afford resupply unless we have ore to sell.”

Straightening herself despite the nagging cough that continued to pull at her she said, “Help us?”

Katya traced the distress call back to its origin to verify its authenticity. Then she double-checked that it hadn't bounced off relay buoys or been diverted by anything. Even when she was able to verify the signal, she wanted to check one more thing and sent the name of the woman and her image to Amy and asked the intel officer to check her identity against colony records as well.

Zuub replied, "We need to know what they were mining down there." Her antennae started to twitter, as they leaned forward. "I need to know so that we can help."

Seconds ticked by as they took in and processed the information, then Rhu saw the comms light blink and go out.

"We lost them again, "Rhu said, stating the obvious. "Try to reestablish the signal. We're maintaining Adelaide's best speed, but we've still the best part of a day."

Looking at the intraship monitor, then around the bridge, Rhu said, "Ok people. Let's start working the problem."

"Records show what they used to mine," Kat said to Zuub, but I'm not sure if they're still mining the same minerals now. That will be something for science or intel to verify."

Zuub insisted, "We should ask. I do not want to send anyone down there and find that we unleash something on our own people."

Richard entered the Bridge, he was dressed in civies. He wore pants and a shirt made of a dark, hardy material. His boots and jacket were leather, as was his tool belt. "Ship's ship shape," He said. "Or as close as I can get it with the parts available, sir." He said addressing Tyree.

As his crew checked in, Rhu nodded began a running list. "Doctor, we'll make sure we get tricorder readings and as much data for you and Dayna to process through on the mineral, the sickness they have going on and atmospherics for their colony before we set foot down there."

Zuub's antennae drooped. "I do not like sending people down there without data. Could we use a drone to get some information instead?"

"You think they'd fiddle with sensor readings?," Rhu considered. "The Adelaide doesn't have any drones, I don't think. The torpedoes could be rewired, but that's a bit aggressive. Off the top of my head, the best I can offer is some slightly used encounter suits we got on a good deal. Found them in a forgotten storage bin. I think they're only a hundred years old or so."

"I think that it is possible. My antennae are tingling when it comes down to it. The equipment that we have does not fill me with optimism, though."

"Noted," Rhu said. "And I share that, doctor. However, when someone needs help, I'm going to go and at least look and see what can be seen.

Turning to his Engineer, he said. Good work, Richard. Now we're going to need you together put together emergency tool kits for everyone and a large package for yourself as I think you're in for a lot of work. This colony sounds like it's been running on a promises and hope."

"Understood, sir." Richard said. "I've never been afraid of a good day's work."

"Katya, since you're looking at their signal's information, see if you can track who might be receiving their distress calls. The quality of the signal and if there's likely to be more help on the way for them."

"Yes, sir." She ran a wider search to see what ships were or may have been in range to pick up the distress call.

As he checked through the Adelaide's flight system and ops data, he said. "Why does Quatal Prime sound familiar?"

Amy answered Rhu, "The planet Quatal Prime is linked to Cardassia, for mining. A maquis leader named Michael Eddington had fired a biogenic weapon Cobalt diselenide which affects the nervous system and very deadly to Cardassians, though its harmless to most other humanoid. According to information I am reading, the Defiant under the command of Benjamin Sisko had tried to stop him."

Snapping his fingers, Rhu said, "I remember hearing about that. Bad business. Dig into that Amy, there's always more to the story and I doubt the Cardassian's would just walk away from a going mining operation they had claim to.

"We're the only ship in the area," Kat announced. "And the only one that received the distress call." Which meant, they'd be heading to the colony at best speed. So, she pulled up what the computer did have on the colony so she would know what to expect.

"Interesting," Rhu said, his eyes narrowing. Finishing with his food, he tidied his plate and utensils, fidgeting more than anything. "There should be more response. Beyond that, do the Cardassians even know they're there, or did someone just take it upon themselves."

"From the sound of that distress call, the Cardassians aren't around," Kat replied. "Which makes me want to know why." And how did that woman end up in charge? The question that came after that was, how old was that communications system and how easy would it be to update it?

Picking up his tumbler, Rhu leaned back. "Let’s finish food then start digging into this mystery? We've some time. You all know what you should be doing. Soon as we get within range, we'll establish contact and go from there.
END

 

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