Deep Down

The Type-16 shuttle came to rest on the surface of the desert sands about a hundred metres from where the two Warthog scout vehicles were parked. The Warthogs were parked either side of a small group of people and it was clear to see that half were Federation Marines and half Jem'Hadar.

As the shuttle settled, the entire group moved towards them and by the time the doors opened and Lieutenant Colonel Phanan and Lieutenant Commander J'Ross were stepping out, the group had arrived to greet them.

"Colonel." Gibs acknowledged, saluting Phanan. "Commander J'Ross."

"So what's the situation ?" Phanan enquired.

"We've got six prisoners ready for transport and we've also secured the entrance to what we think they were looking for." Gibs reported. "So far we've not done anything more than routine scans of the entrance, we thought it wise to await your arrival."

"What have the readings been saying ?" Lieutenant Rhee enquired, stepping out of the shuttle followed by Lieutenant Hart.

Last to leave the shuttle was Goran'Agar, the Jem'Hadar who had told them of his discovery years earlier. He looked around at the barren landscape and stated. "This is the place."

"It's odd." Gibs remarked. "We were told to scan for tachyon emissions and that's what's led us here. When we arrived, the scans revealed the highest contraction of tachyons were in the entrance to the cave system. But as we've continued to scan, the emissions have decrease in the entrance."

"That would be normal." Rhee suggested. "The tachyon emissions would have simply spread out over time."

"But our scans have shown no tachyon emissions in the surrounding area." Gibs stated. "All the tachyons appear to have been drawn deeper into the cave system. That's what our scans have told us."

"That's odd." Rhee remarked, pulling out her own tricorder and pointing it at the cave entrance. "He's right, I'm picking up a strong stream of tachyon particles, which appear to be 'drawn' into the cave entrance. Whatever is causing this must be having an enormous effect on the space-time continuum."

"Is it safe ?" Commander J'Ross enquired.

"I think so." Rhee replied. "The actual levels aren't high enough to be of any serious damage."

"Then I guess we should investigate some more." J'ross suggested.

"I agree." Rhee said confidently.

"Colonel !" J'Ross enquired.

"Private Jax, load the prisoners onto the shuttle and take them back to the Leviathan." Phanan ordered. "Take your Warthog team with you. Gibs and his team will remain with us and we'll bring both Warthogs back with us."

"Yes Sir." Private Jax confirmed, signalling to his team to move the Jem'Hadar towards the shuttles open doors.

Five minutes later, the shuttle took off once more, leaving Colonel Phanan, Lieutenant Jax and his Warthog team, Commander J'Ross and Lieutenants Rhee and Hart along with the Jem'Hadar Goran'Agar. They started to walk toward the opening in the cliff-face, with Jax and his team taking the lead, weapons drawn just in case. Lieutenant Rhee followed on, tricorder in hand, followed by the Engineer Hart. Phanan, J'Ross and Goran brought up the rear as they entered the cave system.

"There are a lot of pathways in here." Rhee commented as they got right inside the cave entrance.

The cave entrance was actually quite large and the survey team could walk around upright and freely. The opening to the cave faced south, letting in enough light to bathe the cave in reasonable light.

"How far down do we have to go ?" J'Ross asked.

"I can't say." Rhee replied. "The readings show tunnels going down deep into the planet, I'm picking up strong tachyon readings over ten kilometres down."

"So which way ?" Rayna Hart enquired.

"I guess our best course of action would be to follow the tachyons." Rhee stated. "It's very odd, I'm only picking up very small traces of tachyon particles in here, from the reading Lieutenant Gibs took just half an hour ago, there should be a lot more tachyons in here."

The group switched on their wrist beacons and with Rhee pointing the way, the group moved off in the direction the tachyons were heading.