[Video, Monday Evening, Week 14] CMO's Log: Entry One

[damn_it_jim]

[It's shortly after Nem's message goes out that a new face appears on the network. Bones had awoken from his pod a couple hours previously, but had spent the time finding his pants and prowling around with a suspicious glower, trying to get his bearings and trying to place just what the hell sort of alien storage facility he's found himself shunted to.]

I don't know where the hell I am, or who the hell you people are, but if you need shelter or you need medical help, then I'm inside some sort of stasis facility and the walls here look good and thick.

The name's McCoy. Dr. Leonard McCoy.

Comments

[prime_logic]

[Inside, Spock wants to jump for joy at the sound of his friend's voice. On the outside, however, he remains as stoic as possible, although someone familiar enough with the Vulcan would hear the smile in his voice.]

Doctor. It is quite agreeable to hear your voice.

[damn_it_jim]

[It may not be this particular Spock that Bones is familiar with, but it will do well enough.]

Spock? If you're here, then Jim's either not far away, or you've stranded him on an ice ball again. What's all this business about wars and fogs, and how is he mixed up in it?

[Base slander: among friends it means 'I care'.]

[prime_logic]

[Spock is unclear on the "ice ball" reference but he lets it go, assuming that his time in the pods has slightly messed with McCoy's memory]

It is... difficult to explain in this sort of conversation. For now, however, it would appear best if we stay where we are. Currently, I am in the town, and once the weather lifts, I shall head to your location.

Jim... the Captain is here, but he has joined a search party of some sort and has not returned yet, to my knowledge. He is, however, quite capable of taking care of himself, and I am sure he is well. I trust you are as well? You have not completely destroyed the medical facilities yet?

[Spock can give as good as he gets.]

[damn_it_jim]

[The snort this question gets is pitch-perfect Bones, so apparently the pods haven't affected his personality, at least.]

I don't destroy sickbays, I improve them.

Yet to find any here, though, just a lot of stasis tubes, and a lot of them with tenants. Are we dealing with kidnappers, here? They're not very intelligent ones if so -- I've got nothing left worth paying as a ransom.

[prime_logic]

It does seem to be kidnapping, of a sort. However, I do not believe their intentions are hostile. The people who have brought us here appear to be in need of assistance.

[Spock raises an eyebrow as the something "different" about his friend finally clicks.]

Doctor, what is that you are wearing?

[That uniform does not look like the Starfleet standard.]

[video]

[knightoflight]

[Back from the mountains, Wing has been rummaging for things for the new dwelling. He's not far from the ship, but not right outside as usual. Still, he thinks it's his duty to greet new arrivals.]

If you need help getting to someone, or bringing them to the ship, I can help.

[damn_it_jim]

Well.

[Yep, that sure is a talking robot. Bones squints at Wing with scientific curiosity and the background levels of suspicion that mean he's awake and breathing.]

I won't say no to someone capable of making themselves useful, but not to put too fine a point on it... what the hell are you?

[knightoflight]

[In other words...the usual greeting Wing gets.]

I can fly. Is that useful enough?

[He laughs.] Cybertronian. And you're from Earth. [See? He knows things!]

[damn_it_jim]

I see.

[He doesn't.]

And just what do Cybertronians want with Earth, then?

[knightoflight]

I could take you flying sometime? Tolansky seems to enjoy it immensely.

[Kaidan had not enjoyed it, but perhaps those were the circumstances they were under.]

[He blinks, startled. ] N-nothing! I've never been. My kind--the Circle--all we want is peace.

[Video]

[weapabilities]

Wow... you're pretty quick on the uptake.

Need anything? I mean, anything within reason? Transport? Supplies?

[Look at him, he tries to help, don't mind him.]

Re: [Video]

[damn_it_jim]

Oh hell, there's more of you.

[Hi, Drift. Don't mind the doctor, he'll get over the feeling of being surrounded by robots eventually.]

Transport to where, and supplies for what? All I know about the situation is what I've said, so some useful information would be appreciated.

[Video]

[weapabilities]

I see you must have met Wing, then.

[He rubs the side of his helm, wincing.]

Well if you wanted to go to into the old city... I-

Ah. Useful information, right. We're all kind of in the same situation here. Apparently most of us have been asleep on that ship for quite some time.

Re: [Video]

[damn_it_jim]

Well now, that's interesting. How long, would you say?

[The question about wing receives a bare nod, before his attention is focused on the content of the briefing, rather than the appearance of the brief-er.]

I've heard of stasis, but it's more use for emergency medical situations, not long-term storage. Well, outside of some loons chasing immortality, anyways.

[Video]

[weapabilities]

We're... not really sure. A long time. Could be months, could be years.

[He shrugs.]

Wing told me we were supposedly weapons in a war that's now long since ended. Kind of a perturbing thought.

[Voice]

[relicrebellion]

You are inside a crashed ship on a human colony world called Verdana. There is a settlement to the south-east, once the fog has lifted enough to allow travel.

[Voice]

[damn_it_jim]

I wasn't aware we had any human colonies named that, but thank you for that information.

[Bones' tone is that of someone who'd really likelike to remain irritable, as a means of coping with an unfamiliar situation, but is grudgingly admitting that he's just gotten something worthy of gratitude.]

Can you tell me anything about this fog? Or this war responsible for it? Has anyone bothered to study it?

[Voice]

[relicrebellion]

It is possible that the colony was once known by a different name - but as it is located outside of the known galaxy, that seems incredibly unlikely.

[There is a brief pause.]

The war in question is a conflict between Verdana and its sister world, Antiqua. Unfortunately, there is only a limited amount of information available on it - the passage of several centuries, and the terrestrial conflict that sprang from the aftermath of that war has served to eradicate much of the historical record, at least locally. As for the fog, I do not believe the locals have studied it beyond learning how to avoid it or control its effects. If anyone who awoke on the ship did so the last time it occurred, they did not think to leave a record of their findings.

[Voice]

[damn_it_jim]

...and we certainly don't have any extra-galactic colonies. Or do you just mean outside the Alpha Quadrant?

[What. The. Hell. says Bones' tone, but as the disembodied voice on the other end of the line is being helpful, he remains dialled back on the snark.]

I have some equipment with me that I could use to take some scans, but what I don't have is the sort of EVA equipment that would let me take them safely. Are there any medical or research facilities still standing, or did the war take them out too?

[Voice]

[relicrebellion]

I am afraid I'm unfamiliar with that designation - it is entirely possible that we are from different timelines. Are you familiar with mass relay technology at all?

[One can almost hear the frown in her voice.]

As for medical facilities, there is a hospital in the settlement outside the ship, but it is both under-equipped and under-staffed.

[She pauses briefly.]

It is almost inevitable that someone will have either been caught out of range of shelter, or will decide the warnings do not apply to them. Would your equipment be able to isolate the active compounds in a human bloodstream?

[video]

[jimkirk]

[ It's pure chance that Jim happened to look at the network at all. Things have been kind of busy. So when the video comes on, he looks tired, but he's managing, like he always does. ]

Bones?

[video]

[damn_it_jim]

[It helps that Bones is holed up on the ship, waiting on the chemical-laced fog surrounding it to lift and growing steadily more bored with waiting as the hours pass. His response when the message comes through is immediate and exasperated and entirely unfair. Because he cares.]

Jim! What the hell have you gotten up to this time?

[video]

[jimkirk]

H-hey! Don't blame me for this. It's not like I just decided to let someone waltz on my ship and kidnap people. Anyway, most people can't do with without Scotty's equation, right? Last I knew, no one outside Starfleet had that info.

[ He sighs. ]

Look. I don't know how we got here, but this place is all kinds of messed up.

[video]

[damn_it_jim]

You're telling me. A nice intelligent blue lady who I really hope you haven't offended yet explained a few things, and a pair of what are apparently giant intelligent robots explained a little more. Some sort of war zone between two planets, with godforsaken chemical fogs and a blue energy dome full of flamethrower-toting facists?

And then there's something up with Spock... You owe me a drink, Jim.

[video]

[jimkirk]

I haven't offended anyone, Bones, ladies love me and you know it.

...Spock? What are you even talking about? Did you hit your head?

[ He knows he missed something, being on the trip and all, but now he's second-guessing himself. Damnit, Bones. ]