The Zoalus Job

[Joe Manning 0]

Joe could almost feel the chill wind on his face as he looked out over the snowy landscape of the planet. Dr. Phantos' office -- currently empty but for Joe -- was high up one of the mountains of the Qatic range and just beneath the surface; a curved window as tall as Joe stood at the back of the office, looking down the slopes. His bones tingled as he looked down that incline, at flurries that were whipped around violently by the spiraling gusts. He couldn't be certain whether it was snowing or whether snow on the surface was in a perpetual state of being disturbed. Skiing could not seem a worse idea.

 

The door to the office slid open and footsteps entered. "Captain Manning."

 

The ridges along Dr. Phantos' cheeks and the cleft running down his forehead and chin marked him as unique immediately. He was rather short, dressed in a grey robe and shawl with patterns that could not easily be tied to any known culture. His clear green eyes and his ever-present smile put forth a pleasant demeanor. A light dusting of white hair atop his head was all that indicated his advancing age.

 

"I hope you'll excuse me, Doctor Phantos," Joe said, realizing he was behind Phantos' desk. He nodded back at the window. "Was just taking in the view. It's quite impressive."

 

"And fabricated, I am afraid," Phantos replied with a small chuckle. "That is a view-screen which shows an admittedly very realistic optic display. We are roughly 800 feet below the surface."

 

"800 feet?" Joe was looking back at the 'window' as Phantos spoke. He pointed at the display as he turned back to the archaeologist. "Well, that must keep you sane."

 

"An interesting point of view; others might opine that an archaeologist is most at home under the surface," Phantos said with an amused smile as he approached the desk. "I find that the illusion of the view-screen serves as a valuable reminder to me -- take nothing at face value. Such are affairs on Xorax that the reminder serves me well. Please, have a seat."

 

Joe circled around the curved desk and seated himself while Phantos settled into his chair. As Joe sat, he could feel the firm-cushioned bench sink slowly into the floor, until he was exactly eye-level with Phantos. He found such a height adjustment amusing. Another illusion on Xorax? "Hoping I don't sound too blunt, Doctor ... but you're a Denobulan, if I'm not mistaken?"

 

"Ah, you are familiar with my species. You are correct," Phantos gave a small nod. "There are only a scant few of my people left in the galaxy now. Far fewer than the Vulcans; their population has remained fairly steady over the past one hundred years. The Denobulan population, such as it was after the Romulan War, has only declined."

 

"I was fortunate enough to meet one of your people at a medical conference twenty or so years ago. One of the Federation's foremost radiology experts. He impressed the whole room."

 

"Yes, our people's tradition of cutting-edge medical advancement was always our strongest point. It pains me to think not only of what my people lost on Denobulus, but of the collective knowledge that was deprived from the galaxy," Phantos shook his head slowly. His eyes seemed to fade out of focus as his mind disappeared into the past. "As a small boy, I visited the ruins of Denobulus with my father. There was very little left -- the large cities had long ago been leveled by atomic attack. Subterranean passages and a few of the smaller settlements, marginally preserved by caretakers of history such as myself, still did remain. I was able to peruse a few fragments of data from the world's largest remaining public information archive. It called to my mind the great sense of loss -- brilliant minds, artists, philosophers, innovators, thousands of years of our cultural history scattered to the void, not only by the attack but also by the decades of looting that followed. So much is lost when a civilization such as ours falls."

 

"Enter the archaeologist, I presume?" Joe asked.

 

"Indeed," Phantos smiled. "My world is but one of many in the galaxy that has suffered such a tragic fate. I used to work for the Federation ... but alas, these days their interest lies more in exploiting ruined worlds than in digging up knowledge of past civilizations. Not that it is very different here on Xorax, mind you -- I know most of my colleagues only see the potential of Zoalus as a source of technological advancement. But in Bull's Head I enjoy a far greater degree of freedom in my own pursuit -- the pursuit of knowledge of the past. A Starfleet mission to Zoalus would no doubt be headed by an R&D official. That the Xorax administrators have allowed me to organize the Zoalus expedition should tell you a great deal."

 

"Tell me about Zoalus, Doctor," Joe said. "What do we know about it?"

 

"From an archaeological perspective, woefully little," Phantos answered. "We know that it did not go the way of Denobulus. Its cities remain in tact, though the structures have begun to collapse from simple neglect. Surveys from orbit have revealed no signs of conflict -- either planetary war or bombardment from space -- that could account for the disappearance of its people. The complete absence of -any- evidence of inhabitation -- even deceased lifeforms -- is the greatest mystery. Total population exodus is the most prevalent theory, but it would beg the question 'where did the people go?'

 

"The Zoalus system was first surveyed by Starfleet near the middle of the 24th century. Plans to give the ruins greater attention were curtailed by the onset of the Dominion War. In the years between the Dominion conflict and the Beholder invasion -- tense years in the Federation -- a few small expeditions probed at Zoalus IV and received their first introduction to the planetary defense grid."

 

Joe shifted position on the bench, listening intently but taking more interest in mention of the defenses. Phantos continued, "The turrets on the surface and the drones that patrol the cities have repeatedly made archaeological study difficult for us. The Ta'lok and Jennings expedition of 2406 was perhaps the most successful exploration of the planet's surface. Still, they only managed to retrieve a scarce amount of data and a few minor artifacts and trinkets before the defenses became too dangerous.

 

"In those days, the relationship between Bull's Head and the Federation was still a confused matter -- moreso even than it is now. Although their expedition was organized by Xorax, then a fledgling colony, Ta'lok and Jennings sold most of their findings to Federation buyers! Now, the items they gathered on Zoalus collect dust in Federation museum exhibits where I imagine they do not get the attention they might deserve."

 

"They have gotten some attention," Joe said reassuringly. "One of my scientists has seen such an exhibit; in fact, he took notes. He has images of multi-sided blocks with curious symbols, perhaps representing an alphabet. They're kept on K'Normia."

 

"Indeed, the K'Normia exhibit!" Phantos' eyes lit up. "Xorax colony has purchased a few of their relics. Alas, our efforts to purchase their entire Zoalus collection have proven very difficult; the Bull's Head credit is not very strong in Federation space I am afraid. But, I digress. Having someone with at least secondhand knowledge of Zoalus on your team should only prove a boon."

 

"I'm sure there have been other Xorax expeditions to Zoalus in the last few years?" Joe asked.

 

"Very few," Phantos answered with a sigh. "Our 2412 expedition was the first that I oversaw. Personally, in fact. It was ... rather a disaster. Much expensive equipment was lost probing the planet's defenses, and we had to return to Xorax with little more than orbital scans. It should not be difficult for you to understand, Captain, that when an expedition returns not only having recovered little of substance but also having lost many credits' worth of equipment, the Administrators can find little justification for funding further expeditions. Expeditions I've sponsored since have had little financial support from the Administration. I have had to rely more and more on mercenary help ... and mercenaries have proven to offer varying levels of competence ... -and- loyalty to the mission. No offense intended."

 

"None taken," Joe replied with a grin. "I'm the first to admit that not all my colleagues are shining examples to follow. I can assure you, for what it's worth, that my crew is an exception. What, precisely, would you require of Qob, Doctor?"

 

"Well, you would accompany the Verbistul, the ship that first carried me to Zoalus in 2412, named after one of the larger cities on Denobulus. It is a science vessel, one of many specially built for us by the Gular Consortium. It awaits rendezvous at the Hyades cluster boundary with your ship and one other mercenary vessel that we've already contracted." Joe nodded, but shifted uncomfortably at the unexpected mention of another mercenary ship. "From there, it is a sixteen day voyage to Zoalus at Verbistul's speed. I would like you to stay close to Verbistul the whole way -- raiders have had occasion to make their presence known in the region. For this initial escort, Xorax colony will pay you 50,000 credits on arrival.

 

"Generous offer," Joe nodded slowly. "Once we arrive at Zoalus?"

 

"We will pay you 5000 credits per day both to guard Verbistul from raider attack and to assist her science team's efforts to penetrate the Zoalus defenses and to explore the ruins and study any significant findings. They may request, and you will be expected to provide, a field team to accompany any personnel on the surface. If you do indeed have scientists of your own, their assistance in the exploration and study of the ruins would be much appreciated. Another 50,000 credits would be paid for escorting Verbistul back to the Hyades cluster on the return trip.

 

"We will cover all your basic expenses for the mission, as well as the cost of any special equipment you feel you will need. No more than sixty days will be allotted to the mission; Verbistul has orders to depart Zoalus after no more longer than one month of exploration and study. You may spend the next day or two purchasing whatever supplies you need here at the colony, but Verbistul will be expecting your arrival within the next three days."

 

"This is quite a bit more lucrative than I was expecting," Joe said honestly. "The known dangers of both Zoalus and the rimward regions notwithstanding. Now this fee -is- separate, correct? Not shared with this ... other mercenary crew?"

 

Phantos' smile widened slightly. "It is indeed separate. A Zoalus mission has not been quite so well funded in some time. We have recently received a boon of funding from benefactors whose identity is not known to me -- high-level Administration business. I do not fool myself into guessing that their interests are scholarly. Verbistul has orders to bring back any useful technology that they may locate and retrieve. I should also pass along that the benefactors are prepared to pay a bonus for one of the planetary defense drones or one of the ground-to-space turrets. If you could bring back either one, in good enough condition to study and possibly replicate the technology, I would make sure that the bonus is passed along to you."

 

"Well, I'm certainly interested, Dr. Phantos," Joe said. "If your colleagues are not averse to working with my crew, you can consider us hired."

 

"My colleagues will have very little problem working with the crew that captured Minos, I am sure."

 

"Aha ... " Joe smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. "You heard about that, did you? Here I was hopin' we could fade back into the obscurity of quiet mercenary livin'."

 

"Well, I can guarantee that you will find more than enough obscurity in the rimward regions." For a moment, Phantos allowed himself a small frown. "But I speak to you from experience, Captain, when I tell you that there will be nothing 'quiet' about Zoalus."