Junkyard Paradise

Posted on Mon Dec 9th, 2024 @ 11:38pm by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Lieutenant Jackson Smith & Lieutenant Soto Gantt

1,150 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Interlude 1 Gamma Quadrant
Location: Moon of a planet in a nearby solar system
Timeline: A couple weeks into interlude

[ON]
Jackson expertly navigated the shuttle through the turbulent atmosphere, the craft bucking and swaying as it battled the fierce winds and blinding rain. He expertly guided it through a treacherous canyon, the narrow passage lined with jagged rock formations. Finally, they emerged into a hidden valley, a sprawling expanse of metallic debris shimmering under the pale sunlight.

"Welcome to paradise," Jackson announced with a grin, gesturing towards the vast junkyard sprawling below. Even from their vantage point, the sheer scale of the operation was impressive. Mountains of twisted metal discarded starship components, and crates overflowing with unidentifiable objects stretched as far as the eye could see.

He glanced at Gantt, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, my friend," he said, his voice laced with anticipation, "think we can find anything useful here?"

---

With practiced ease, Jackson landed the shuttle and the two of them sprang out of the shuttle to survey the junkyard.

Lured by strange shapes and curious contours, Gantt silently scanned the yard for several long moments. He gathered a cylinder into his arms, the tension in his body almost reverential. The cylinder could have been coiled from an electro-plasma system or a dozen other things.

"This is so much more than what I imagined. Have you seen many junkyards back on Earth, Jackson? This is just waiting for the right hands to parts into, well, about anything you want. " Gantt scuffed the sole of his boot against the packed earth as though grounding himself into the space. Then he looked back at Jackson. "It would be easier if we had full specs of the tech the aliens have but that would be locked away and nearly impossible to get."

Jackson grinned, his excitement bubbling over. "Come with me, Gantt," he said, beckoning his friend forward. "I've got something to show you."

Without waiting for a response, he set off across the junkyard, weaving through the maze of discarded technology and salvaged components. He headed towards a large, nondescript structure that blended seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. Its irregular shape and muted brown color made it appear almost like a natural formation, but as they drew closer, the outline of a massive hangar door became evident. A smaller, humanoid-sized entrance was nestled discreetly to one side.

Jackson paused at the door, his expression turning serious. "Now, what I'm about to show you has to stay between us," he said, his voice low and conspiratorial. "And don't ask where it came from." A mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes as he opened the door and gestured for Gantt to enter. "After you, my friend."

Inside the smell of lubricants, sweat, and plasma cutters mingling thickly with a metallic tang Gantt couldn’t quite place. Shadows loomed along the walls behind row upon row of shelves packed with things he could only guess at. Metal plating, tangled wires, half-built engine cores—some were Starfleet-issue, with familiar Federation emblems stamped on their surfaces; most seemed alien, crafted in shapes and materials that defied any design he knew.

A single, low-hanging light illuminated the central area, casting a warm glow on scanners, circuits, boxes, and a welding torch still faintly smoldering. The hum of machinery buzzed softly, punctuated by an occasional sharp hiss or clank from deeper in the hangar.

What caught Gantt’s eye most was a covered object in the corner of the room. A tarp draped loosely over something big, bulky, and unmistakable. He could make out the sleek curve of a starship’s engine manifold beneath the fabric. Gantt heard the door behind them close with a quiet click. "I'm not going to ask a single question about where we are, who owns it, or how they collected their inventory," said Gantt, turning to smile at Jackson. "What can I take?"

Jackson's smile widened, taking in Gantt's awestruck expression. "I can probably work out a deal for you to take almost anything here," he offered, his voice brimming with generosity. He paused, his gaze shifting towards the tarp-covered form in the corner. "Except, of course, for that."

He nodded toward the shrouded starship, a hint of mystery in his tone. "You can take it apart, analyze it, study it to your heart's content," he explained, "but every piece needs to stay right here." He clapped Gantt on the shoulder, a playful glint in his eyes. "You good with that?"

There was a moment when Gantt knew he had paused half a heartbeat too many before answering. When the thought of sneaking part of the drive into a satchel had overstayed its welcome. He nodded at Jackson, his mouth pressing a grin to a flat line.

"Of course, I wouldn't even think of stealing anything. You know that's not my nature. But I am very excited to get my hands into this." Gantt sighed the kind of sigh you make while settling into a warm, comfortable place. "What arrangements will you make in exchange for this?"

"Arrangements?" Jackson chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. "They're already made, my friend." He gestured towards the shrouded ship with a flourish. "You have free rein to study it, dismantle it, reverse engineer it – whatever your heart desires. It's packed with some pretty advanced alien tech, so I'm hoping you can glean some inspiration for our new starfighter project."

His tone shifted, a hint of seriousness creeping into his voice as he moved towards the ship. "We're going to need every advantage we can get in this quadrant," he said, his gaze sweeping across the hangar. "I suspect we have more enemies than allies out here."

With a wink towards Gantt, he approached a nearby console and pressed a button. Wires whirred to life, pulling the tarp upwards, revealing the sleek, alien vessel in all its glory. It shimmered under the dim light, its curves and angles hinting at a technology far beyond anything Gantt had ever encountered.

"Shall we get started?" Jackson asked with a hint of excitement in his voice.

"I'm already going," said Gantt. There were too many gadgets here that had grabbed his attention. In truth, he hardly cared what arrangements had been made. The Firebird emerged from the wormhole into a war Gantt intended to win. He did not hesitate in that feeling. "This power cell sends feedback to a keyed sensor. A pilot firing phasers with several of these might be able to adjust frequencies almost in real-time to pierce shielding." He turned back to Jackson, as the weight of conviction settled into his chest and shoulders like body armor.

"We win this. No matter what."

[OFF]

Lieutenant Jackson Smith
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298


Lieutenant Soto Gantt (NPC by Leed)
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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