Second Contact

Posted on Thu May 22nd, 2025 @ 7:21am by Captain Michael Murphy & Lieutenant Commander Steve Ryan & Lieutenant Kestra Ral & Lieutenant Stuart Mann
Edited on on Wed Jun 4th, 2025 @ 2:56am

1,369 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Maintaining the Status Quo
Location: Janus VI

Kestra's idea to re-establish contact with the Horta reignited Steve’s enthusiasm. He quickly brought Captain Murphy into the loop, who was clearly eager to proceed—though it meant returning to the planet once more.

Leaving the Montana in capable hands, the away team assembled in Transporter Room One and beamed down to Janus VI.


[USS Montana Bridge]

Lt. Mann was one of those left on the bridge. He was ready to put them through some complicated maneuvers if they got to fight Klingons today. He glanced around but others on the bridge seemed anxious for other reasons. Lieutenant Mitchell, for example, sat in the Captain's chair. Although Mitchell was left in charge during the away mission, it was clear he would rather be elsewhere. He was fidgety and looked a little pale. Stuart just hoped if they did face the Klingons, it would be while all of the crew were on the ship.


[Janus VI]

The team consisted of Captain Murphy, Lieutenant Commander Ryan, Lieutenant Ral, a small security unit, and a medical team prepared for any needs the Chief Science Officer might have.

"Here we go again," the XO muttered under his breath as they materialized near the mining tunnels, scanning the surroundings.

Murphy was ready for anything, but wasn't worried about the Horta. He had every confidence in Kestra's ability to work with them. He was keeping eyes out for the Klingons, though.

From the scans Kestra took the Horta was a Silicon cycle life form so her team and her had come up with a silicon based treatment that should harden and replace the areas on some of the Hortas that had been damaged. Kestra closed her eyes and let her mind reach out. Sending thoughts of help, healing aid and friendship.

There was 5 that needed help to heal. She could feel their pain and one of the Horta was moving towards them. “One is coming to talk. At least I hope its to talk. I am sensing curiosity and interest. Not hate and anger.” Kestra told them. “ She pointed to a spot on the rock wall she thought it would come out of. “should be about here but others are close in case they need to defend the one coming.”

Just as she had predicted, the spot she had pointed towards dissolved and out came a Horta. The quivering round mass came near, stopping about three meters from them. It stayed in place for a moment and then moved to one side revealing a message burned into the ground. It read "NO KILL MORE".

Steve instinctively closed his hand to his waist where the phaser was holstered but waited for Kestra to take the lead in the negotiation exercise.

Kestra took a chance and lowered herself to a squat. It put her level with the Horta. She sent trust, friendship and help.

The Horta seamed surprised by the connection.
Kestra spoke as well as sent telepathically “only friendship and help. We no kill. Some of you are hurt I can heal.”
The Horta seemed to move side to side like he was trying to decide something.

After a moment, the Horta moved slowly closer to her. Not in an ominous way, but in a making-no-sudden-moves way. Kestra detected trust, friendship, and help coming back from the Horta, although not as strong as what she was sending. It was clear the Horta felt as though it was taking a risk.

Steve watched the scene in awe. He never really had a chance to have a close look at the Horta. Last time he met them he was too worried to survive and get the team out on time to appreciate their form. His gaze darted between the alien and Kestra, wondering what was going on unverbally.

Kestra slowly took her tricorder out and scanned the wound on the side of the Horta “I can fix this will you let me?” When she got the yes from him Kestra looked behind her “slowly bring me one of the Silicon packs we made.” One was placed in her hand and she showed it to the Horta “this is made to match your outer shell. It should fix the damage done.”

Hearing it’s consent she slipped gloves on and started to spread the sealer on. She talked to medical about a antibiotics or a clearing but any thing they came up with might be more harmful. Her last scan didn’t show an infection. Her guess was the air touching the wounded area would hurt. “how does that feel?” she asked hoping she had been right.
Pleasure. It was happy.

It quivered in place for a few moments, and then the other four wounded Horta came from the tunnel. One after another, they appeared and came straight to Kestra. They seemed excited to get help.

Kestra had been worried this might not work or it would cause them pain but the Horta eagerly started to join them. She changed her gloves with each application. Afraid it might harden on her hands. Once all had been healed she scanned each one carefully to make sure it had been applied correctly and was drying. All seemed well she thought then slowly she stood up and nodded to the Captain “looks like they will make a full recovery sir.” She gave him a smile.

The Horta began making a low humming sound in unison. It gave Murphy vibes similar to an Earth cat purring. The additional four slowly retreated back through the tunnel, while the first one Kestra had healed remained.

Murphy spoke, "Great work, Lieutenant." He then turned toward the Horta. "Thank you for your trust." He wasn't sure if they could understand him or not.

It gave a quiver, but Murphy was still unsure if it had been in response to him, or if it had been a coincidence.

Kestra smiled “he does understand you sir he just doesn’t have vocal cords to make the words. Perhaps at some point a device will be made. He is happy he trusted and that he has no more pain.”

Steve watched in awe. It was bizzarre to see how humans relied so much on verbal communication and lots of other information were left out for untrained eyes and minds

Kestra looked over her shoulder at Steve. In her amazement of these beings she had almost forgotten they needed more information to keep them safe.

“Have there been any other people besides the miners?” Kestra tried to keep the question light and add just a little curiosity in her thoughts she sent.

She received an image of the Klingons along with the feelings of mean being, angry and bad. She raised an eyebrow “so they were here. What did they want?” she asked slowly so she would be understood.

Kestra frowned but control her breathing as the answers came back to her. “sir they wanted the worthless things the miners liked. It would seem the rock is all the Horta wants, everything else is worthless to them. The miners collected the things they wanted but the Klingon wanted it also.”

Still frowning Kestra slowly stood up “Sir it is possible that more evidence could be found in the command center.” She counted each idea off on her fingers as she talked. “Vid feed should have been documented for the mines.” She pointed to the cameras around the area they were standing. There should be more all over the base she thought. “Then there should be communications reports of their interactions with the Klingons.” She added. “There might even be more orders for more supplies from the Klingons.” It would give them at least more information to go on.

"Good idea, Lieutenant. Since the Horta do not consider us hostile, let's go see what we can find," Murphy said. He began leading them towards the command center. "Do you suppose the things the miners and Klingons wanted was the pergium?"

"That would be my guess." Kestra add.

"Definitely makes sense " Ryan echoed as the team moved towards the CC.

================================

Captain Michael Murphy
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Steve Ryan
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Kestra Ral
Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant Stuart Mann
Navigation Officer

 

RSS Feed