The USS da Vinci raced in-system; her destination, the planet Harha’kuva and the two vessels currently in orbit around it.  One was her sister ship and divisional companion the USS Grus, the other a Romulan survey ship; neither of which answered to repeated hails.

“There’s still no response, Captain.” Ensign Phillanie called out, one hand held to the earpiece as the other moved swiftly across the Communication stations control surfaces.

“What’s the statue of the two ships?” Commander Anacostia-Bolling requested.

“Both appear to be undamaged and functioning normally.” Lieutenant Beriev responded.  “I am however picking up no, correction one life sign aboard the Grus.”

“Just the one?” There was a note of surprise in the Captains voice.

“Confirmed.” The Saurian confirmed. “One humanoid lifeform detected; deck 3, aft section.”

Lieutenant-Commander Alara Ley was sat at the second Science station on the Bridge, and whilst her assistant concentrated on the ships, her attention turned to the surface of the planet.  At first the mysterious planet tried its best to confuse and baffle the ships sensors, but for the briefest of moments she picked up life signs; over 250 of them.  “Multiple life signs within a 300 metre radius.”

“Is it the crew of the Grus or the Romulan’s?  Anacostia-Bolling enquired, swivelling her head round to speak to her XO.

“I’m unable to confirm.” Ley replied. “It’s lucky I’ve spotted anything with the interference being thrown up.”

“Can we transport them out of there?” The Captain asked.

“Negative, there’s too much interference, and I’m unable to pinpoint a source.” The Trill eyes were caught by a minor fluctuation in the readings. “Crap!”

“That does not sound good Number One.” The Captain jumped out of her chair, moving to the rear of the Bridge.

“I’m detecting phase variants.” The XO pointed at her screen as the data flashed up. “This entire planet is shifting in and out of our reality.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“That theoretically this entire planet could shift out of our dimension; taking everyone with it.”

“How long have we got?”

“Hours, minutes; I can’t give you a definite answer.”

Anacostia-Bolling paced across the back of the Bridge, running multiple ideas around her head in quick succession. “What if we used shuttles?”

“Even if we can us the shuttles from the Grus, we’re talking 6 or 7 trips per craft.” Lieutenant Grav knew the capacities of the small craft both the Saber’s were carrying. “Allowing for take-off, landing and everything else, it would take some time to accomplish.”

“I take it that this estimate is based on if they come willingly?” Lieutenant-Commander Ley, asked the Tellarite; to which he confirmed that fact.

“With security and medical staff on the shuttles, their capacity to bring up those from the surface would be greatly reduced.” The Captain didn’t the odds, at all.

“What if we took the ships down?” Ensign Toby Isaacs enquired from the Helm.

“A wonderful thought, if only these old girls had been designed to land on planets.”  Grav informed the Ensign of a fact that as Chief Helm Officer, should know all too well.

“No, I mean we hover.” Isaacs continued.  “Low enough for the transporters to be effective.”

Commander Anacostia-Bolling, turned to her Trill XO, for any sort of indication that this was possible. “Well?”

“If Mister Isaacs and one of his fellow helm officers are capable of holding over 300,000 metric tons steady within a planetary atmosphere, then it’s out best shot.”

A nod from him was the only thing the Captain and her First Officer needed to reassure them; not that there was much in the way of other options.

“Number One, take a team over to the Grus, and report back on whether you’re able to follow us in.” Anacostia-Bolling spotted the movement of Lieutenant Grav, and held up her hand to stop the Tellarite rushing off to join the away team. “Not you, I need my best man on Tactical, I don’t trust this planet not to throw up more surprises.”

There was a mix of annoyance, at not being part of the team heading over to the Grus, which as Security Chief, would be part of his role; and also pride that the Captain thought highly enough of him to man the weapons system in case anything unforeseen happened.  It was one of the reasons why the new job he’d been offered had seemed less appealing the harder he’d looked at it.  Yes he’d be in charge of a 40 strong security team, but space stations rarely came under attack.  They also never moved, and he’d already spent part of his career doing just that.  The XO might have difficulty understanding why he hadn’t just snapped up the promotion, but it wasn’t that easy.

He didn’t owe the Captain anything, other than to follow orders, so long as they didn’t jeopardise the safety of the ship and crew.  Nor did she owe him anything either; as one of disgraced former Captain Robert Eglin’s most loyal and trusted officers, the Tellarite still hadn’t figured out why Anacostia-Bolling had ever wanted him on the da Vinci, in the first place.

It was definitely a human thing, to be completely unpredictable and annoying; though to be honest, some were pretty good in an argument.

**********

The away team sent over to the USS Grus, arrived in two separate locations.  Lieutenant-Commander Alara Ley, beamed directly to the Bridge, along with a helm officer by the name of price.  He quickly took his position and started checking the ships flight and navigational systems.

Whilst the XO circled round to the Science station; her first job would be to create the same field that was protecting the crew of the da Vinci, and ensure the away team and anyone they rescued wouldn’t be under the planets hypnotic influence.

Once she was satisfied the safety measures were in place, she requested the second team beam over.  It was they who would be operating the transporters about the Grus, once the ship was in position.

**********

Lieutenant Yolanda begrudgingly led the other part of the team, annoyed at having been woken a good six hours before his Gamma shift was due to commence.  He was still bitter about his demotion from the position of Chief Engineer, a point he would often bring up at any opportunity.   With him were Ensign Sparrow and Crewman Cooper, both of which would help in get the engines up and running.  A final member of the group Denisov from security; drew his phaser and headed off to track down the only person on board the vessel when they had arrived.

“Who the heck set the system up like this?”  Yolanda questioned rather more loudly than was necessary as he cycled through the engine management system. “Does no one read the manual anymore?”

Ensign Richard Sparrow, who was a propulsion expert, couldn’t see any problems, as he looked through the same sets of data the Lieutenant was.  But it wasn’t his position to argue with a superior office; even if they were wrong.  He just had to make sure things worked the way they were meant to.

**********

As crewman Denisov came to a ‘T’ junction at the end of the corridor he was walking along.  The security guard halted and cautiously looked left then right; where he spotted a man in a red Starfleet uniform.  Denisov stepped out into the open, weapon ready. “Sir, if you’d like to raise your hands and turn around slowly.”

The figure complied with the instructions, without complaint or hesitation.

“Denisov to Bridge, I’ve located the ships First Office.”

< “Very good.” > The reply came a moment later <”Send him up to me and get yourself to Sickbay.  Check the status of their equipment and the EMH. >”

“On my way.” Denisov answered. “I believe you can find your own way to the Bridge.”

Jason Devron, gave a small smile. “I think I can manage, just about.”

**********

Happy that everything was prepared, Lieutenant-Commander Alara Ley, checked in with the USS da Vinci.  “All set this end, ready to proceed on your mark.”