Star Trek: Constellations
Westfall/Star Trek TNG Crossover Fanfiction #1
Scene 2
Captain’s Log, Stardate 45233.5:
While traveling through a remote portion of the Alpha Centauri cluster, we have intercepted what appears to be a distress signal from a nearby planet. I have my best officers on their way to make some sense of the noise we are receiving, and to see if we can’t figure out where, and from what, the source of the distress is coming from.
The turbolift doors opened to reveal Worf, Data, and Gemini, and they quickly dispersed to their places upon the bridge. Data stepped over to the communications panel, relieving the officer sitting in for him, and Worf and Gemini took their places at the tactical station behind command.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard was seated between his First Officer, Commander William Riker, and the ship’s counselor, Deanna Troi. His gray hair had receded to a line behind his ears, and his sharp features held a firmness to the light smile on his face. Like the commander beside him, his uniform shirt was red and black, but four golden pips along the right side of his collar signified his higher rank.
Commander Riker glanced up at Gemini and Worf, offering them a grin that stretched the beard upon his chin. His short black hair was neatly combed, and his blue eyes drifted down to meet Deanna. She smiled at him before settling her hands on her knee and looking forward. Her long, curly hair was half-pulled up in a high ponytail, and its dark brown tone contrasted her light skin and rose-colored jumpsuit.
“Captain, I am indeed picking up a distress signal,” Data announced, “but it is too weak to establish an audio connection.”
The captain turned to the android in front of him. “Determine the source of the signal so we can approach it.”
“Yes, Captain,” Data began tapping away at his screen.
“Mr. Worf, scan for signs of life—or anything out of the ordinary—in this area.”
“Aye, sir.”
“Captain,” Data spoke as his fingers continued pattering away, “I have discovered the source of the signal to be the fourth planet in this system; I have sent the position to navigation.”
“Bring us closer, Ms. Vasquez; impulse power.” The captain ordered to the brown-haired woman at the helm. “Ms. Inova, search the records for anything we have on this planet and star system.”
Gemini bent over the computer screens. “Aye, sir.”
Commander Riker leaned his elbow on the armrest of his chair. “This is a fairly remote area; I wonder how long the signal’s been broadcast,” he mentioned in passing.
“We may be the first to encounter it,” Jean-Luc replied.
Will leaned heavier on his elbow as the ship continued to move closer. “Any improvement of the signal, Data?”
“Minimal.” He replied simply. “The signal is quite weak. It is possible their equipment is not meant for long-range communication, or it may be designed to only emit a standard distress code.” He began pressing buttons across his screen. “I can attempt to isolate the specific frequency it is being broadcast over.”
“Good; keep trying.”
“Captain, I have some information,” Gemini glanced up.
“Proceed,” the captain kept his eyes forward.
“This planet is called Braecia; it is the fourth planet in a single-star system in the delta quadrant of Alpha Centauri cluster. It is a Class-M planet that was colonized by Earth in the year 2113. It was set up with four colonies: Northway, Southbrook, Eastland, and Westfall. Each colony was made to resemble and function as an ‘American Old Western Town,’“ she concluded.
The captain and his first officer glanced at each other as Will broke into a grin. “Shall we dust off our Stetsons for this mission?”
Jean-Luc’s brows raised as his own smile widened, though he said nothing in return.
“While they were planned to be resort destinations, approximately four-thousand colonists settled among the four towns as their primary residence, using modern technology along with some customs fitting to their chosen time period.” She paused, brows furrowed over her glasses. “However, records indicate Earth lost contact with them not long after the first of their four towns was wiped out in a severe winter weather event.” She swiped her finger across the screen. “Looks like the last transmission was sent in 2155, and there are no records of the planet’s current state since then.” Lieutenant Inova glanced up. “Captain, that’s been over two-hundred years,” her voice was laden with concern.
Captain Picard’s smile had also soured as he stood, looking out at the wide swatch of stars in front of them. “Without any contact or outside assistance for so long... could these towns still be functional?”
“It appears their communications tower may be,” Will crossed his arms.
“We are within visual range of the planet,” Worf announced.
“On screen,” Captain Picard stepped forward.
The viewscreen flashed to a small, dusty planet swirled with white clouds. Patches of blue and green were almost hidden among the primarily dull color scheme.
“Any life forms?”
The Klingon lieutenant leaned on the wood panel railing of the tactical station. “Inconclusive.”
“Mr. Data?”
“I am isolating the signal’s frequency band now.” He pressed a final button and at once, a hissing filled the room.
“Sssss—we—sss—need help—sssss!”
Everyone glanced up upon the sound.
“Sss—if anyone can hear this—we need help! We are in West—sssssss—We can’t survive much lon—sssssss-nd—sssssss—rescue.” A long pause of static was soon broken by the same, harried voice. “This is Mayor Thomas—sssssss. We are the last remainin’ on Braecia. We urgently need help. If anyone can hear this—sssss—help! We are in—sssssss—and we can’t survive much longer. We need a rescue—ssssss.”
Data turned in his chair. “It appears the message is on loop, sir.”
Captain Picard’s frown tugged on his face. “Have we encountered this message too late?”
“Counselor Troi?” Commander Riker glanced at the woman at Jean-Luc’s side.
Deanna’s dark eyes were unfocused as her half-Betazoid heritage allowed her to search for other minds upon Braecia. “There is... something... but...” She concluded with a simple shake of her head, causing the waves of her hair to brush against her back. “It is difficult to focus.”
As the desperate message again replayed, the mood on the bridge was quickly deflating.
The captain turned back to the tactical station. “Mr. Worf: scan again.”
“Rescanning,” he said plainly, only for his eyes to widen. “Captain, I am now detecting life forms,” Worf announced, urgency somehow present in his generally stolid expression.
“Where? How many?”
“Seventeen, sir; collected together within the western-most settlement.”
“Westfall,” Gemini’s eyes flew forward.
Captain Picard nodded as a smile returned to his face. “Then, perhaps we are not too late.” He turned around quickly. “Number one; assemble an away team to assess the situation.”
Commander Riker rose from his seat with a wide grin on his face. “Yes, sir; and if I may—”
“No Stetsons.” The Captain sat down and tugged on the bottom of his uniform shirt.
Will smirked and half rolled his eyes. He tapped the badge on the right of his uniform. “Doctor Crusher, meet me in transporter room three.”
“On my way,” the woman’s voice returned from his badge.
He then pointed to tactical. “Worf; Data,” he ended with a point to the lieutenant commander.
As the two stood or otherwise followed Commander Riker to the turbolift, Gemini tensed where she stood. Even Deanna had noticed and was now looking carefully upon the Aravasti woman.
“Commander,” she spoke up.
With his hands crossed behind his back, Will paused in the doorway of the turbolift.
With all attention now on her, Gemini bit her lip. “Permission to join the away team.”
The commander’s brows raised, and he gave a quick glance to the captain.
“The Enterprise found me in a very similar way,” she gripped her hands tightly together. “I would be able to better sympathize with those we discover on Braecia.”
Will found a smile. “Understood,” he redirected his attention to the tall Klingon. “Worf?”
Worf nodded and stepped out of the turbolift.
“Lieutenant Inova,” Commander Riker gave her a nod. “Let’s go.”
With a determined smile, Gemini swiftly swapped places with Worf. Once inside the turbolift, her smile widened considerably before the doors slid shut.
Scene Notes
- I wrote this from a viewpoint of readers who may not know any of the characters (or their appearances), so I hope all my descriptor passages don't break up the flow too much!