Episode 44. Not What We Expected
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Wednesday, July 31, 2024 - 22:15
- Location
-
- Moon
- Apollo 11 Landing Site
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
After securing Earth orbit and facing an extraterrestrial vessel, the USS Enterprise picks up a Morse distress signal coming from the Sea of Tranquility, precisely at the historic Apollo 11 site. Upon arrival, the crew is stunned to find that the equipment left behind in 1957 has vanished. In its place stands a small unknown vessel. Angie Chen, Charlene Savea, and Eros Vitos are sent on reconnaissance when one of the craft's access ramps opens as they approach...
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain | Human |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander | Human |
| Tarsi | Starfleet / Temporal Division | Commander | Andorian |
| Charlene Savea | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant | Human |
| Eros Vitos | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign | Human |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Lunar Orbit |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical | Eric Corda Charlene Savea |
| Science | N/A |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Infirmary | Victor S. Calpel |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Ground Team |
Angie Chen Charlene Savea Eros Vitos |
TL;DR
On the lunar surface, Angie, Charlene, and Eros meet an Andorian named Tarsi, an officer from Starfleet's Temporal Division in the 26th century. Their first contact is far from solemn: the alien is eccentric, talkative... and completely drunk. After she passes out, Eros and Charlene carry her into the shuttle to try to revive her.
Story
The moment is memorable. Angie is walking on the lunar surface, a privilege I have never had. I would have loved so much to accompany her on this mission, to share this unique experience with her. But protocol decided otherwise. One of us had to remain on the Enterprise's bridge.
At the site, the exploration team has found no trace of the equipment abandoned by the 1957 Apollo 11 mission. Nothing. Not the slightest remnant.
I consider several hypotheses. Either the mission never happened... or someone took the equipment.
And that someone could be the being hiding in this mysterious little vessel facing Angie, Charlene, and Eros. A being who might also be behind the distress signal we picked up...
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Commander, a life sign is coming down the ramp. I can make out a humanoid shape.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Aim your phasers, but do not fire.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Aye, Commander.
The shadow moves forward slowly. Unsteady. It sways with every step, as if the reduced gravity were playing tricks on it. Its silhouette takes shape in the whitish halo: a clumsy, almost staggering gait, arms spread to keep balance.
Then a hand lifts limply toward them in an approximate greeting.
Alien
Heeey there, everybody.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Charlene... are you seeing what I think I am seeing?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Uh... Commander, I... yes. You are not hallucinating.
It is a humanoid life-form with blue skin, silvery-white hair, and two antennae at the back of the skull.
Without certainty... female.
Alien
Of course I'm female! Pink-skin here isn't very bright.
Say, I've been waiting for you for ages. What the hell were you doing, seriously?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Do not come any closer!
Raise your arms and identify yourself!
Alien
Heeey, calm down, my cocoa chick.
I'm on your side.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Answer my question. How is it that you speak my language?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Commander... do you think she is a real alien?
She is acting like someone who smoked a joint, and she is dressed like a teenager heading out to a club in Ibiza.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Indeed, Eros, it is... strange.
Did you see the glow on her stomach?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Yes, Commander.
It looks like a precious stone.
It must be worth a fortune.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
It is too bright to be a precious stone.
I think it is some kind of implant.
Alien
So what, guys?
Are you just gonna stand there staring at me like I'm a circus targ?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Do not make me repeat myself.
Raise your arms and identify yourself!
Cmdr. Tarsi
Okay, okay... My name's Tarsi. Commander in Starfleet's Temporal Division, 26th century.
Well... 2554, according to your calendar.
Can I lower my arms now?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
What species are you?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Good grief... can't you tell?
I'm Andorian, obviously!
Everybody knows that!
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Did you send us the distress message?
Cmdr. Tarsi
Of course I did!
There's nobody else here who could've done it!
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Did you take the equipment that was on this site?
Cmdr. Tarsi
What equipment, sweetheart?
Aaah... I see. You mean the stuff Apollo left behind.
Well, I plead not guilty on that one!
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Eros, search her.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Aye, Commander.
Cmdr. Tarsi
I swear, ma'am, I didn't hide it in my pockets.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Please keep your hands in the air and spread your legs.
Cmdr. Tarsi
I'm telling you, I'm on your side.
Hey... mustache guy! I forbid you to grope my boobs!
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
She has no weapon on her.
On the other hand, I found this small box, Commander.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Heeeee! Give that back!
That's my box of green worms in Ferengi jelly!
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Perfect. Everyone holster your phasers.
Commander Tarsi, you may lower your arms.
Cmdr. Tarsi
Aaaah... about time. I was starting to cramp up.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Allow me to introduce myself. Commander Angie Chen, USS Enterprise.
Cmdr. Tarsi
No need to introduce yourself. I already know you, honey.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
What do you mean?
Cmdr. Tarsi
It's a long story.
I need to talk to your captain.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
For what reason?
Cmdr. Tarsi
I'll tell you once I've swallowed a dose of green worms in Ferengi jelly.
Just to avoid a nasty hangover.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Uh... I do not understand.
Cmdr. Tarsi
I knocked back a few bottles of Romulan beer while waiting for your arrival and I'm a little... how should I put it...
She sways. Raises one finger, as if to continue her explanation.
Her antennae droop limply.
A discreet hiccup.
One crooked step.
Then she collapses full length onto the lunar dust, in a small cloud of silver.
Cmdr. Tarsi
ZzZzZz...
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Eros, carry Commander Tarsi and lay her down in the shuttle.
Charlene, you will scan her.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Uh... all right, Commander.
Charlene, help me carry her.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Come on, Eros. A big fellow like you needs help lifting one little blue feather?
Fine... I will help you. Only because it is you.
They both lean over Tarsi, whose antennae sway with the rhythm of their movements. The weak gravity does not make the task any easier. With each motion, her body bounces slightly, sliding over the lunar dust like a sack of electrified potatoes.
Eros grumbles. Loses his balance. Catches himself at the last second before hitting the shuttle hull.
At last, with a coordinated effort, they hoist her through the hatch and lay her on the rear bench. Her peaceful face is still marked by a sleeping smile.
For her part, Angie uses the moment to reestablish contact with the Enterprise.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Hello, Enterprise, Chen here.
Do you read me?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I read you, Angie. It's Agnes.
What is the news?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
We have established first contact.
It is an alien, but... this was not a conventional encounter.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Tell me.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
She is completely hammered.
For now, she is sleeping in our shuttle.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Drunk?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
I will explain later.
As soon as she wakes up, we will bring her aboard the Enterprise, along with her little vessel.
She wants to have a meeting with you.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Understood, Angie.
We apply standard protocols.
When you arrive on the Enterprise, all of you will go through the decontamination chamber. After that, the alien will be placed in secure isolation.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
All right.
We will try to wake her first.
I will keep you posted.
Chen out.