102241.2
CAPT Kermit, J.
LOCATION Caldori System, Ba’aja Sector
MISSION Investigate First Contact Division’s observation outpost on Caldori Prime and determine why it became inaccessible.
OUTCOME Outpost power grid was destroyed by massive earthquake. Away mission team was able to restore power after applying repair patches, but determination was made to dismantle outpost due to a lack of certainty that further quakes might take it offline again. All outpost data was downloaded prior to final outpost shutdown.
KEY PERSONNEL
- CAPT Kermit
- CAPT Carter, B.
- CAPT Tyrstoc
- CMDR Sedai
- CMDR Warner
- CDT Reese, H.
NARRATIVE
USS Reyga rendezvoused with USS Opportunity and USS Heimdall in orbit of Caldori-C, as the large gas giant would be best for obstructing the vessels’ presence from Caldori Prime inhabitants. CMDR Sedai briefed the away team, which then departed on delta flyer Aesop to approach Caldori Prime.
Officers took note of Caldori’s three orbital platforms, none of which had any lifesigns aboard prior to descending towards the planet. Aesop reached the outpost coordinates in short order and visual inspection alone was sufficient in seeing the damage the facility had sustained, in the form of a severe fissure cracking down its centerline.
CAPT Kermit set the Aesop down and the officers disembarked from the shuttle. They located the facility’s entrance hatch and hooked up a portable generator to give it power, which allowed them to enter. CAPT Carter likewise powered the facility’s replicator in order to print a repair patch for the ruptured power cables inside the facility, which restored full power and allowed access to the station’s consoles.
Officers discovered at this time, through careful reading of the gathered sensor data and logs, that Caldori Prime has been experiencing an escalation in seismic activity due to destabilization of the planet’s mantle convection.
CAPT Kermit made the determination that the outpost should be dismantled, as there was no guarantee another quake might not just undo their work to restore it. He assigned the Opportunity to the deconstruction project and requested CAPT Tyrstoc and the USS Heimdall to take advantage of the natives’ lack of space presence to take additional surface scans to determine whether there might be a safer location for a new observation outpost.
RECOMMENDATION Unless Heimdall is able to locate a more seismically stable region, there is significant risk of both injury to observers and discovery due to damage, to establishing a new ground-based observation post. With the reduction in local spaceflight activity, it may be safe to maintain short-to-medium range remote observation, with the caveat that any launches be detected and trigger a prompt withdrawal out of detection range.
In the event that further study of the recovered sensor logs and the results of Heimdall’s scans reveal a way to stabilize the planet, I would propose consideration be given to whether such a mission could be undertaken without detection, and whether such intervention would be permissible under the Prime Directive. Even if it isn’t in the immediate term, having the problem studied and the solution prepared in advance of first contact couldn’t hurt. Nothing like discovering you’re not alone in the universe, and that your new neighbors are willing to help solve your earthquake problems.
RECOGNITION All present performed their duties admirably. I’d like to note CAPT Tyrstoc’s thoughtful mentoring of a (comparatively) junior officer and in turn, CMDR Warner’s valuable contributions to mission planning and preparedness (which he should not be hesitant to voice in the future). CAPT Carter, meanwhile, has not let command dull his engineering aptitude. Well done.
OOC Thanks for running this @Katriel, peak trek!