Arrival at Mirisam V (Part One of Two)

The Hellcat dropped out of the quantum slipstream outside the Mirisam V system. For the past couple of days, apart from a brief 'pause' to re-calibrate the SIF, they had been travelling at top speed to reach the systems before the rogue Jem'Hadar.

"Status ?" Lieutenant Commander Barker requested.

"We are just outside the Mirisam system." Lieutenant J'ross announced from the Helm position.

For the past twelve hours she had been sat at the helm, with Lieutenant Shale beside her. Between them they had kept the Hellcat at top speed and avoided many of the more unpleasant obstacles in their way. J'ross has suggested that they do this to avoid losing the engines, which would have further delayed them.

"I'm picking up the Federation beacon from Mirisam V." Lieutenant McQueen announced from the Security station. "Should I hail them ?"

"No not yet." Chu replied. "Scan the area."

"The system shows clear Commander. "Ensign Vasquez announced. "I'm not picking up any unusual activity or readings."

"Mister McQueen, hail the colony." Chu ordered.

"Commander." Logan replied. "They're hailing us !"

"On speaker." Chu requested.

[This is Federation Science project, Deep Ice to unknown vessel.] A voice announced over the conn. [Please identify yourselves or we will be forced to defend ourselves.]

Chu nodded to Logan to mute the signal.

"Can they do that." Lieutenant Kahfre asked from the auxiliary station where she sat.

"The records show that they do have a couple of satellite phaser arrays." Logan remarked. "Looks like they're remotely operated from the base."

Chu nodded to Logan to open the channel once more.

"This is the Federation vessel, USS Hellcat." Chu announced. "We are transmitting our transponder signal and security ident to you now. We will be at your base in an hour and will need to speak to your leaders immediately upon our arrival."
There was a pause before a reply came back.

[Hellcat, this is Doctor Roger Cooke, science team leader.] The voice replied. [Could you be more specific about why you have come here. Our next transport vessel isn't due for another month.]

"I'm sorry, but I can't discuss our mission over an unsecured sub-space channel." Chu replied. "All I can say is that we need to make preparations to get you and your team off planet immediately."

[Evacuate. Why ?] Doctor Cooke enquired.

"We'll explain everything when we arrive." Chu announced. "Hellcat out."

Logan cut off the communication so that the Doctor couldn't ask anymore questions. Logan knew that anyone could intercept an open comm channel and their mission was highly confidential.

"Lieutenant J'ross." Chu said. "Time for you to let Lieutenant Shale have his seat back. And thank you for your assistance."

"Understood Commander." M'eko replied, rising from the central position and heading back to the Engineering console.

"Mister Shale, take us in." Chu ordered.

An hour later, the Hellcat arrived at Mirisam V. The planet was Class-L and subject to violent ice storms, which as well as making the planet virtually uninhabitable, also caused major disturbances in the upper atmosphere. These disturbances prevented anyone from transporting down to the surface and so the Hellcat was going to have to land on the one small area of the planet that was capable of sustaining human life.

Close to the equator, there was a large island, made from volcanic rock released from deep within the planet millennia ago. The magma had formed a protective 'wall' around three sides, where tidal flows and further eruptions had created a plateau. The steep walls of the now extinct volcano protected the island from most of the storms.

"There are the two phaser arrays." Shale remarked. "And there's a couple of class nine long-range sensor arrays in polar orbit. That would explain how they detected our arrival so far out."

"This system is highly controversial." Chu remarked. "If the Dominion knew that there were the raw materials to make Ketracel White here, they could try and take it by force."

"Approaching upper atmosphere." Shale remarked.

"Blue alert." Chu ordered. "Prepare to enter the planet's atmosphere."

The shuttle was rocked and bumped by the wind sheer, but Lieutenant Shale was one of the best pilots in Starfleet, a former fighter pilot. Whilst the Hellcat was no one-man fighter, she was designed to be highly manoeuvrable. As they got lower in the atmosphere and closer to the colony, the weather eased and within fifteen minutes, they could see the lush green oasis of the island where the colony was based.

"Approaching the colony." Shale remarked. "Picking up a navigational beam."

"Take us down Mister Shale." Chu remarked.

Another five minutes and the Hellcat was safely back on solid ground.

"Time to meet the locals." Chu announced. "Lieutenant J'ross, Lieutenant Kahfre you're with me. Lieutenant McQueen, would you organise the Marines and get the supplies offloaded. Shale, Vasquez, prepare the Hellcat for a quick launch, I hope the Jem'Hadar don't arrive until after the Taurus has evacuated the colonists, but me must be prepared to defend the colony of we have to."