Help Is Here

Posted on Wed Sep 16th, 2026 @ 7:53am by Captain Nycolas Temple & Ensign Zeve Navot & Commander Cale Llewellyn & Lieutenant Jack Lashmore & Lieutenant Cyrin Xanth & Lieutenant Arianna Frost & Lieutenant Liana J'Oh & Ensign Velia

Mission: A New Day at Midnight
Location: Omipro City - Government House

ON:

<>USS Pandora Transporter Room<>

Jack entered a minute or two after the others with Ensign Velia in tow; he figured it would be best to trial Ensign Navot as tactical liaison and to have Velia assist with him Security operations with one the ground. Mostly a choice based on possibilities: if things got ugly on the ground, Velia was half Vulcan and half Orion, a genetic mix which was stronger, faster and more resilient than most other races.

Jack also carried a small rectangular container with him and opened it up immediately, holding it in his hands and showing its contents to the away team. "Take one each and conceal; leave your larger type-2's here."

Inside the container were several Type-1 thumb-sized phasers, typically known as "crickets."

"Oooh, yes! Gimme!" Ari exclaimed and extended her hand towards the container as she walked in. She wore the Science blues, rather than the Intelligence grey. She was planning on sharing that when Xanth arrived, as he would be key to selling this story.

"Ah, this should come in handy. Thank you, Lieutenant," Cale said as he took one. Is there anyone else that we're waiting on?" he asked.

"Hopefully not come in handy, but best to have and not to show." Jack replied as he then turned to offer Xanth a cricket.

The science officer took the weapon carefully after he walked in, and checked it to make sure the safety was on, the level was set to low stun, and that it had a full charge. Not that he doubted their security chief, but it was standard procedure and sometimes Xanth did like the book. Certain rules were important! Than he slipped it into a pocket, and triple-checked his tricorder for the charge level, then fidgeted with a case he had strapped over a shoulder which held some of his archaeology tools. Odds were they wouldn't be going on a dig right away, but again, he liked to be prepared.

Only then did he blink and look up in Ari's direction, looking pointedly at the woman. "Umm."

Ari couldn't help but wonder if the nervous energy that was sweeping off of the Trill was due to inexperience, or whether this was his normal mode. Time would tell as this crew gels together. Still, it was something to watch for down on the planet. If things got dicey, there was no telling how the reaction to it would go. As she hid her own 'cricket' in her belt, she noticed the Trill in question staring at her.

She pointed to her shoulder with an index finger. "This? Yeah. For the purposes of this mission, Lieutenant Jarok and I will be part of your Science team. With how chaotic it seems down there, having two people only in a different uniform could draw eyes and ask questions. It's easier for us to do our job if we're hidden in plain sight. It'll give us an easier time to break away if we need to." Ari said to Cyrin. "Introduce us however you like, whatever you deem works best, we'll follow your orders in sight of the public, and break away as we need to."

She then looked around the room, "you don't send the secret police to quell a riot."

The Trill pursed his lips together, and stayed silent on what he thought about having spies hiding as scientists, but the short man didn't look like he approved much. "Very well. You'll be trainees then, in the hopes that you don't get drawn into any in-depth conversations about stratigraphic units, colluvium versus alluvium, or seriation." He paused a moment, sighed, then headed up the brief stairs to the transporter pad.

Ari nodded to Xanth, "yes, sir. I'll talk myself out of any actual scientific conversations. " she said as she reached to her collar and removed the second pip. Putting it into her pocket, she followed after Xanth and took the position in the back of the transporter PADD, with Velia. The thought of being an Ensign again, brought back uncomfortable thoughts - a reminder of her now long dispersed team who had been demoted down to Ensign in the wake of the tragic, unsanctioned rescue op.

Frost willed the thoughts away quickly and more focused on the young Trill's displeasure of the situation. This she could understand and sympathize with. She'd have to make this favor up to him some day.

Zeve stood in the back of the room staring at the small firearm. He had wanted to play with the big toys, but he understood the Chief’s call for restraint. This was his first time on the ground for the Pandora, Lieutenant Lashmore was trusting him to be tactical while they were on the planet. Nerves would have to be put aside for now; this was his chance to prove himself.

The transporter chief gave a thumbs up to the assembled crew, letting them know it was time to beam down.

Jack took his place on the transporter pads beside Arianna and whispered with slight sarcasm a ponderance of her cover-stories background, "how many science classes does one fail to be a trainee at your age?"

"I'm just a late bloomer, sir." Ari gave him a side-eyed smirk which disappeared away along with the rest of her as the transporter beam took them all.


<>Planetside<>

The main government building of the small Omipro colony sat on the northern end of the city, next to the Kulin River. The building itself was a fairly common civic construction, with tall glass windows separated by sandstone pillars, standing three stories high. Normally, it would appear nondescript and boring as any other outpost town hall, but the attack on Omipro had seen the building scarred by phaser fire, many windows smashed by debris, and the hasty erection of a military boundary fence around the entire facility to protect the government members hiding inside. Police officers guarded the main entryway, phaser rifles in hand, as a small rabble of frightened and angry protestors stood outside, shouting at those within the building.

"We need food!" They screamed.

"HELP US!" They cried.

Inside on the third floor, Governor Lenneitha Reed-Humes paced back and forth in her office; which wasn't a very long journey given it was barely a 4-meter square room. She held her arms to herself, ignoring her own deeply empty stomach and the pains of her injuries that had not properly healed. All she could do was repeat to herself, "Help is here. Help is here."

As the team materialized down on the planet, Ari immediately took out her tricorder and initiated a scan. First thing was first, danger to the team and the civilians. For any orders and actions, they would follow Commander Llewellyn's orders.

Well, this might not have been the best transport location, Jack surmised as they were beamed into a courtyard just outside of the capital building. Whilst what few local law-enforcement officers present were maintaining a buffer zone between the away-team and the desperate civilians...it was loud...and chaotic, which in the past would not have bothered Jack in the slightest. However, at that moment, his head seemed to buzz, he felt light-headed and suddenly almost overheating, his heart raced. For a moment he swore he smelled smoke, then blood and instead of crying civilians his vision was filled with bodies of dead jem-hadar and Betazoids piled in Betazed's capital. He shook his head and took a deep breath, only then realising he must have temporarily frozen in place whilst the away-team proceeded toward the building.

The olive-green-skinned and pointy eared Orion-Vulcan security officer, Velia stopped and turned to stare at Jack side-ways with an arched brow. Before she decided to step toward Jack, Jack shook his head and gave her a nod before following, taking in the real and non-flashback details of what surrounded them.

Cyrin looked around with dismay as the away team approached the government building, his eyes filled with sympathy. Actually seeing the need up close like this it put the attack into a different perspective for him. "All of this, just to steal some relics from a museum? It doesn't make sense. If it were me and I had this much firepower, I would have just taken the museum, grabbed what I want, and left." He blinked at looked at the others. "I mean, thinking about efficiency. Not that I would. Do this. Whoever did is cruel."

"I agree with you, Mr Xanth. This is very cruel," Cale said stopping next to the Lieutenant. "It's OK to get a little upset but don't let it get to you too awful much, Cyrin. Don't let it suffocate you."

Frost had stayed quiet mostly, observing. The team each reacted differently, ranging from concerning, to reassuring, to expected. Jack's split-second freeze, Llewellyn's steadyness and Xanth's youth.

"Ah the joys of working with people..." a personal thought slipped through her mind before she reigned it. She would check in with Jack when the time was right.

Then, Xanth's words brought her back. Why so much cruelty? It was unnecessary.

Then a thought, "to misdirect? To hide something bigger? Has to be." They needed more information.

At that point Jack's mind had focused on the job at hand and he made his strides just a little quicker to catch up with his Executive officer. "We're striding right in or standing at attention outside to be invited in...both have their merits? But I suggest waiting...whilst this is a Federation colony and we have technical authority, best not make the people more threatened?"

"Agreed, Lieutenant Lashmore. I'll go in first," Cale said summoning all of his steadfastness. He pushed the large ornate doors open, took a deep breath and said, "I am Commander Cale Llewellyn of the USS Pandora and the United Federation of Planets. We have been sent here to help you in any way possible and necessary."

Cyrin followed close behind, hands clasped behind his back, watching with curiosity and alertness too, legs moving quickly to keep up with the taller Cale, just a step or two behind him. Already he could identify some artwork set into the main entryway that was of the original Omipro civilization, but these artifacts were of the simple variety, pottery, stone tools, and therefore hadn't been of any interest to the pirates. He was pleased to see that despite the ostentatious doors, this space appeared to be rather open to the public, and while well-built, it wasn't so opulent that it looked like the people had been neglected; this was their space, as much as it was their leader's.


Ari followed in line with the tall green woman, as was her role and place in this temporary hierarchy. It also gave her the opportunity to quietly observe the locals and their expressions and reactions. Whilst she didn't hope for much, the possibility was there of information being received or gleaned in how the locals greeted and reacted to their rescuers. Happiness? Annoyance? Anger - which could have multiple reasons. Angry for being too late, or angry for coming in and interrupting whatever was actually happening on this planet. Gratefulness? It all remained to be seen.

There was a little girl who saw them first. She had stood anxiously at the back of the protesting crowd, hand practically welded to her father’s as the loud yelling and angry faces gave the seven year old an unnerving pit of fear inside. She was too young to hear such rage and frustration, to have known the terror that had befouled their little city. But the twinkling blue lights caught her eye and she had turned around. There they were; Starfleet officers; resplendent and authoritarian in their black uniforms, looking every bit of the saviours from her bed time stories.

The girl pulled at her father’s arm eagerly, screaming for his attention. “Look dad! Look!” She cried to him. Finally her father’s gaze followed where the girl was pointing and he saw them too.

“Starfleet!” The man shouted. “Starfleet is here!”

The girl was hoisted onto her fathers shoulders as the crowd turned away from the government building and walked together towards the group of officers now in front of them.

Sensing the grouping tightening around the away-team once they had been noticed by the locals, Jack stepped to one side of their team, though as he passed Velia he whispered, "take the right."

A nod, "sir." Velia took her place on the opposite side of the away-team and stood in a rather intimidating at-ease attention, feet lightly apart with hands behind her back, her head on a slow, repeating swivel back and forth, scanning the crowd.

Jack was much the same in his position; he knew the away team's centre had close protection, as he deliberately left Arianna there. Jack's eyes focused on the ground, passing over anyone who seemed excited or angry; he focused more on the relatively non-reactive ones, if any presented...the oddballs who acted separately from the masses.

As the crowd surged forwards, a chill went through Ensign Navot’s body. “They’ll swamp us.” He warned.

"And we stand firm unless they -" Jack was cut off.

“Make way!” A voice from behind the crowd commanded in a harsh bark. The people turned and quickly parted as a small squad of four armed colonial officers made their way through citizens, creating a pathway through the swarm.

“We’re here to escort you into the building.” The leader announced to the Pandora crew.

Jack indicated with a singular wind-up overhead gesture with his hand to both Velia and Navot to cover the retreat. He turned to face the crowd and moved backwards as the away team was funneled into the building. Occasionally, he looked back to make sure he would not trip on a step.

As the away team followed the officers into the building, the crowd fell into a quiet lull. There were hopeful words shared in hushed tones.

"Are they leaving us?" The little girl asked her father.

"No, darling, they're just going to get themselves organised and I'm sure they'll be right back." He said with a smile.

======

After taking the stairs up to the third floor, the Away Team were escorted down a short corridor to the Governor's small office. Lenneitha stood inside with her door open, a pained grimace on her face.

"I'm so glad you're finally here." She said, the words conveying the depth of her desperation. "It has been a nightmare."

"Governor Reed-Humes, what is the main problem your people are experiencing here?" Cale asked the governor. "I would like to see to that issue quickly. Lieutenants Xanth, Lashmore and Frost, take positions about the colony and assist them where you can while I am working on the main one."

Jack nodded, though he remained where he stood, and motioned for Velia to stay where she was too, glancing knowingly to Arianna a moment Jack then settled his glance on the governor. He was not going to let the team disperse to areas until after they had the lay of the land and a read from the Governor themself. Though a part of him was forcing himself not to give quite focused glance to his executive officer, the Governor's people and by default, person had been recently attacked and metaphorically stripped bare - show some tact. Though Jack bit his tongue from interjecting at that moment, though, that did not mean he was not reconsidering taking over the microphone for Starfleet at that point. Though, perhaps the main problem was Jack and Cale had never truly met nor had more than thirty seconds to get a read on each other (beyond an uncomfortable misunderstanding) prior to beaming down to the planet, and that did not help at all.

Frost used this time to observe their surroundings, primarily the people. How Reed-Humes and her people were acting, how the subordinates were acting. The reaction of the little girl was interesting. Perhaps worth pursuing. She may try to find her, or her father, with an excuse in order to talk to them. Ari then stepped a little closer and spoke softly to Xanth, "I'm ready whenever you are, sir." Ari said to keep up appearance of her role. She wanted to see what the young Trill was made of, whether he was a leader, or whether he was still shaping to be one. Either way, she'd help make the 'younger' man do it.

"Food for the masses and aid to our injured." The Governor replied, "Our hydro and solar power station is about two kilometers down the river; the attackers hit that first. Including the storage batteries. It has been causing havoc on our food replicators and infrastructure. We've had to divert what we can to the hospital. Getting our power back, we can stop living off rations and get the people fed and healed."

"Captain, I just need an engineering team and Navot and I can get their power fixed," Cale said "Llewellyn to Pandora. I'm going to need an engineering team at the Power station."

Liana responded quickly, =/\= "Away team, I have the Engineering team prepped and ready to transport." =/\=

"Of course, we need help in our hospital." The Governor continued, "We have several people on critical life support, many more injured. But it is also where..." She sighed, "The protestors are gathering. I have tried to maintain order, keep things calm, but I think the people's anger over the attack has turned towards us. It's made it difficult to help people."

Jack sighed lightly, the situation at medical sounded like a primary pressure point that could break at any moment. He nodded once to Velia who nodded dutifully in return, then waited to hear the rest before heading out.

"Finally, we still don't know why this happened." The Governor shrugged, "Having answers may give people some comfort and... focus. We have had to use our police force to secure the Government building and hospital, so we had to corner off the Museum for now, we haven't had a chance to actually investigate why they attacked us. I just want to know that these scumbags won't be coming back."

Ari nodded subconsciously, glancing between Xanth, Llewellyn and Lashmore. Cornered off was not secure. This would be very problematic for the small team of one scientist and two spooks pretending to be scientists. "How do you want to proceed, sir?" She looked over at Xanth.

"I'd recommend getting there fast." The Governor replied, "If you want answers."

Jack could not help but side-eye Arianna at that moment, a part of him felt he should be going to investigate the museum as well, yet that was more a personal thought rather than a professional one. He needed to get things more settled on the domestic front first; Arianna would inform him of anything of importance.

Lenneitha felt a deep well of fatigue roll over her. It was if her body had been holding on until help had arrived and now that it had, she felt ready to collapse into a long, long sleep. She held a shaking hand up to her forehead, swaying slightly in her stance. She had to grip onto her desk to steady herself.

"I'm sorry, I feel faint." She weakly stated, colour draining from her cheeks. "I haven't been able to go to hospital because of the... people. But if I could maybe make it to my house? I can rest there."

Staff Warrant Officer Kristopher Heyerdahl walked from the back of the landing party looking around. He was a Starfleet veteran of 25 years so while this wasn't his first away mission, this would be a first for him; a ride to aid a far-flung colony world he had never heard from. He was perplexed to the maxx. But he was fine with it. He looked to the other officers for direction but none returned the look. Looking for the FO, he saw the young man look over and with a nod gestured him to join him and the governor.

Heyerdahl walks over to the Commander saying, "Sir?"

"Chief, would you escort the governor back to her residence?"

"Yes sir and I promise I'll guard her with my life," the older chief warrant officer says with a smile.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Chief," Llewellyn said in passing. And after the pair had left the area, Cale looked around and sighed.

"Thank you." Lenneitha breathed out, she reached over and used the officer to steady herself. "My, you are strong." She commented as the two left the room.

=/\= Pandora to Away Team, what is your status? =/\= Temple's voice came over the team's comm badges.

"Llewellyn here, Sir. We're all doing well. The team has everything under control. What's going on shipside, Sir?"

"Very good, Commander, no sign of any unwanted guests up here. Let us know as soon as we can send down the Medical team. =/\=

"Send them down as soon as they're ready to go and thanks for keeping an eye out for us up there," Cale said with a smile he knew they couldn't see.

"Keep me posted." Temple said. "Pandora out."

OFF