Ahote Personal Log - Surviving Ailebes
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PERSONAL LOG
QALATAQA AHOTE
SUBJECT: SURVIVING AILEBES
KEYWORDS: AILEBES, CYGNAN, JUNGLE, SULIBAN, SURVIVAL
Ailebes did not confine its hostility to Starfleet ensigns. It also bore a considerable grudge for electronics. All of our electronic gear malfunctioned. I was keeping a log during the survival exercise on Ailebes, but the planet’s weird magnet field fried the tricorder. Or so I guess. I never could get a straight answer from those Cygnan scientists.
We’re making a career of rescuing scientists, it seems. A few days… A few days. Days became meaningless on Ailebes. Over 40 hours of daylight every day. Darkness magnified by the jungle. And the heat. Ye gods, the heat.
The three Cygnans arrived via crashed shuttle. Two male Cygnan scientists (MIZARI and AKORII) were accompanied by a Starfleet shuttle pilot named Bahri. Their outpost had been attacked by an unknown ship. Only Bahri’s considerable skills as a shuttle pilot saved them from capture. Figuring there was sure to be someone coming along soon to find this downed shuttle, we stripped it of gear, acquiring two phasers, food and medical gear.
Hours of marching later we came across a Suliban, answering to my satisfaction the question of “Who attacked the scientists’ outpost?” We disarm the Suliban (GOLAR) with only minimal resistance and take him prisoner. Later we came across two humans (TRAVIS and EDGAR) who, once captured, claimed to be form the planetary militia of some nearby world. Atomsk ended up nearly killing one of them with a full burst from a Suliban laser pistol. We disarmed them and gained two Rainbow laser rifles and a Federation communicator.
Early on in our hike I had set our initial goal to be the river, which I reasoned we could take to the hills where the communications hut was located. The hiking was slow, with near-hourly rains impeding our progress. Not that the river, once attained, was paradise: large schools of piranha-like fish followed the raft, nearly making lunch of Atomsk’s hand at one point. A giant sea serpent was easily dispatched by Bahri, using one of the capture Rainbow lasers. A giant spider nearly killed Edgar, impaling him with a poisoned fang and wrapping him in webbing, until Atomsk burned it to a crisp with a Rainbow laser. Bahri fell ito convulsions at the sight of the spider and its attack on Edgar. Atomsk helped her, but she was embarrassed and shaky for hours afterward.
The toxic air of Ailebes was taking its toll on us. Traveling up river we had time to rest a bit, but not enough to recover from the steady abuse our lungs and bronchia were taking. The scientists and Bahri had breathing apparatus to help them. The remainder of us coughed near-constantly.
I slept fitfully most nights, plagued by dreams of being underwater, of discovering the ruins of an ancient city, and of being swallowed by a large lamprey-like creature. The dreams seemed connected to the planet. I’ll have to ask my grandfather about them next time I’m on earth. I’ve recorded them in my dream journal so I won’t forget the details.
We followed the river to the lake at the foot of the hills and made camp on the beach near the mouth. Atomsk and Travis hunted down a few of the local mammals and we had ourselves a luau. Then we began making our way around the lake – my dreams had convinced me not to cross the open water.
We weren’t free of danger, of course. A crocodile-like creature attacked the raft, delivering severe injuries to Mizari, Akorii and Edgar. Phaser fire barely deterred the thing. Able Atomsk got them patched up, but they wouldn’t make it much longer. We had to get to the hut and called the Valley Forge.
It was about 12 hours before daybreak when we made the shore beneath the communications hut. After setting up camp and getting a good night of sleep, I decided to hike up to the hut and check it out. If no hostiles were in the area, I would contact the Valley Forge and then return for everyone.
Not far out of camp I began taking laser fire. Locating the shooter on the bluff ahead, behind a make-shift sniper’s blind, I opened fire with the Rainbow. Then I quickly took a closer position. I could see my shits had hit their mark.
At the hut I could another Suliban. By his bearing and ways I could tell he was a leader. I’d listened on the communicators (before they malfunctioned) as his men succumbed to the hostile jungle. There were some large reptiles who had a taste for flesh, and Oz poppies which could bring a man down in seconds. And the heat!
Thus Suliban (MALRUS) challenged me to personal combat. My instincts told me otherwise, but I accepted the challenge. The terms: if he won, he would get the scientistis. I foolishly gave the Suliban his knife, taking another for myself. The planet had done more damage that I anticipated, and soon I was cut badly. I tried to grab my rifle but passed out.
I awoke in the hut, my wounds tended by Malrus. He demanded I live up to my side of the challenge. I told him I couldn’t give the order, but I could ask the female scientists (the males being critically wounded) if she would go along. Not knowing any better, Malrus bought the ruse. Bahri arrived in less than an hour. Once she was in the hut, I struck Malrus with a chair and she grabbed him. We managed to disarm him and soon contacted the Valley Forge.
We’re safely aboard now. I’m recuperating in sickbay. I’ve been assigned private quarters and given off-duty status in the mean time. We’ve been ordered to stay away from each other and the crew until we’ve filed our reports. I’m thinking of going down to the brig with my chess set and seeing if Malrus knows the game.
It was an adventure. I’ll say that much for it. But the next time I’m in a jungle it will be too soon. I’m looking forward to a little desert hiking on my next leave. Maybe a trip to Vulcan is in order. I wonder if Hil’ta would accompany me on the journey.