09-30-2026, 12:04 AM
== Ensign Lars Olsen - Temp Security NRC ==
"Sensors are clear, Cadet," Ensign Olsen reported, his voice low as he adjusted the strap of his phaser rifle. He kept his eyes moving across the dense, humid foliage as they picked their way through the untamed growth. "No energy spikes, no hostile life signs. Just tree frogs and whatever's making that racket in the canopy."
Loma didn't drop his guard. He kept his right hand hovering an inch above his sidearm grip—a habit forged in the unpredictable scrap-yards of the outer rim, where 'clear sensors' usually just meant whatever was hunting you didn't emit heat.
Nothing on sensors means nothing is actively shooting at us, Loma thought, his boots sinking slightly into the damp soil. It doesn't mean we're alone.
"Stay sharp anyway, Ensign," Loma said, emphasizing the warning with a brief, sharp glance toward the tree line. "A clean tricorder scan just means the environment hasn't figured out a way to break our equipment yet."
After a short walk through the heavy canopy, the thick brush gave way to the clearing.
The archaeologists' base camp sat before them, eerily quiet. Loma slowed his pace, his eyes methodically sweeping the tents, the equipment racks, and the surrounding tree line as they crossed the perimeter.
"Everything looks totally normal," Olsen murmured, stepping up beside Loma with his tricorder open. He shook his head at the display. "Unremarkable. So where the hell did six people go?"
Loma unclipped his tricorder with his left hand, popping the housing open to run a localized sweep while keeping his right hand firm on his phaser grip.
"People don't just vanish without leaving a footprint or a power signature, Lars," Loma said quietly, his voice tight with deliberate focus. "I don't like clean screens when there should be six people besides us standing here."
Loma raised his phaser to a low-ready stance and motioned toward the nearest tent structure, carefully scanning the immediate terrain.
== GM Input ==
Does a closer physical inspection of the ground around the camp show any distinct foot traffic, drag marks, or signs of direction where the archaeologists went?
Are there any personal logs, power readings, or open data-padds left behind inside the main camp tents?
"Sensors are clear, Cadet," Ensign Olsen reported, his voice low as he adjusted the strap of his phaser rifle. He kept his eyes moving across the dense, humid foliage as they picked their way through the untamed growth. "No energy spikes, no hostile life signs. Just tree frogs and whatever's making that racket in the canopy."
Loma didn't drop his guard. He kept his right hand hovering an inch above his sidearm grip—a habit forged in the unpredictable scrap-yards of the outer rim, where 'clear sensors' usually just meant whatever was hunting you didn't emit heat.
Nothing on sensors means nothing is actively shooting at us, Loma thought, his boots sinking slightly into the damp soil. It doesn't mean we're alone.
"Stay sharp anyway, Ensign," Loma said, emphasizing the warning with a brief, sharp glance toward the tree line. "A clean tricorder scan just means the environment hasn't figured out a way to break our equipment yet."
After a short walk through the heavy canopy, the thick brush gave way to the clearing.
The archaeologists' base camp sat before them, eerily quiet. Loma slowed his pace, his eyes methodically sweeping the tents, the equipment racks, and the surrounding tree line as they crossed the perimeter.
"Everything looks totally normal," Olsen murmured, stepping up beside Loma with his tricorder open. He shook his head at the display. "Unremarkable. So where the hell did six people go?"
Loma unclipped his tricorder with his left hand, popping the housing open to run a localized sweep while keeping his right hand firm on his phaser grip.
"People don't just vanish without leaving a footprint or a power signature, Lars," Loma said quietly, his voice tight with deliberate focus. "I don't like clean screens when there should be six people besides us standing here."
Loma raised his phaser to a low-ready stance and motioned toward the nearest tent structure, carefully scanning the immediate terrain.
== GM Input ==
Does a closer physical inspection of the ground around the camp show any distinct foot traffic, drag marks, or signs of direction where the archaeologists went?
Are there any personal logs, power readings, or open data-padds left behind inside the main camp tents?