Talking Around A Campfire

Posted on Wed Sep 24th, 2025 @ 3:33pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Yoshika Miyafuji & Commander Thomas Johnson & Lieutenant Ralen Trellis & Lieutenant Mizuki Nakahara & Lieutenant JG Connor Carey

1,803 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Preserving The Past
Location: Amerind
Timeline: January 25 & 26, 2397

Previously on Star Trek Tokyo:

"The tales tell us of a man named Kirok. He was a visitor from the stars, and set to be married to the priestess." The Elder said. "He emerged from the Temple and stayed for many sunrises. However upon a great storm he delayed in clearing the sky." The Elder looked around them for a moment. "The tales tell us that strangers appeared and returned Kirok to the stars. But these are old tales only told to children."

After finishing the meal, the Elder slowly rose to his feet. "We retire as the sky grows dark. Upon the rising of the sun we shall discuss your trade." He said. "You may rest here. Our people shall attend to any need you require."

With that said, the Elder and his two companions left the tent leaving the away team alone.

And now the continuation...

Yoshika was the first to speak. "Do you believe that this 'Kirok' is actually Captain Kirk?" She asked. She looked down at the fireplace in the center of the large tent, it's smoke drifting lazily through a vent in the roof.

"With the reports made available from starfleet, its hard not to believe, especially considering the type of ladies man the Captain was. Being betrothed to a woman wasn't an uncommon occurance." He looked around. "However we do have a problem, the missing girl saw the other away team, shes on the Tokyo right now."

"What?!" Yoshika exclaimed. "Why is she on the Tokyo? Isn't that breaking like... all sorts of rules?"

"For them to do so, the Captain would have to have a very good reason to do so. But now we have another going to search for her, luckily they made it in to the obelisk so we are hoping no one else gets noticed." Thomas replied as he took out his mat. "Lets catch some sleep. Thats an order."

"Oh My God... we abducted a minor..." Mizuki groaned. "We are so screwed..."

"If she was injured it would explain why Captain Aisaka beamed her up." Yoshika said. "We have the ability to wipe her memories, so no doubt it'll all turn out OK. It depends how bad she was hurt."

"We will talk when we can in the morning." Thomas replied

"Oh, sure; drop a bombshell like that right before we're supposed to be retiring for the evening so I can be up all night fretting about my future career aspects," Mizuki grumbled. "Thanks a lot, Commander, appreciate it."

"Stop grumbling. We're here to do a job, just go to sleep!" Yoshika scolded Mizuki as she laid down and rolled away to face in the other direction.

Ralen had been quietly observing the exchange, his counselor's training picking up on the undercurrents of stress and fear rippling through the team. As Commander Thomas issued his order to sleep and the conversation devolved into grumbling and scolding, he recognized the signs of a team on edge.

"With respect, Commander," Ralen said gently, his voice calm and measured as he settled cross-legged on his mat, "sometimes addressing the underlying stress by acknowledging the team's concerns may prevent hours of sleepless worry." He said, drawing on his counselor training and Dorian's experience in stressed military units.

He looked around at each of them in the flickering firelight. "Yoshika's right that we have a job to focus on. However, Mizuki, your concerns about career implications are understandable." The Counselor said as he unrolled his sleeping mat and tried to get comfortable.

"but we're dealing with unknowns right now. Captain Aisaka wouldn't have beamed up a local without good reason—likely medical necessity. And Starfleet has protocols for these situations, including memory modification if absolutely necessary." He said as he continued to pull out his sleeping gear, movements deliberate and unhurried.

"As for this 'Kirok' situation—it's fascinating historically, but it doesn't change our mission parameters. If anything, it suggests these people already have a framework for understanding visitors from the stars."

His eyes met each team member's gaze in turn. "We're all processing a lot right now. A few deep breaths, acknowledgment that we're in uncharted territory, and the knowledge that we'll face whatever comes together—will help everyone rest tonight."

Mizuki blushed. "Well... that's probably the first time this posting that someone outside of Commander Nishikigi has referred to me as "Mizuki"..." she muttered under her breath.

---

[The Next Morning]

The sun rose very early on Amerind, casting golding rays across the rich lush landscape. Bird song echoed across the land as they welcomed the new day. A cool spring breeze swept through the trees causing them to dance and flutter.

The first awake was Yoshika. Already she had neatly sorted out her blanket, folding it neatly and stowing it aside. She sat on her knees where she had been sleeping, watching the embers of the fire glow. She wasn't sure what the protocol was here. So she had opted to let the rest of the team sleep until they were needed.

The soft rustling of fabric and the subtle shift in breathing patterns pulled Ralen from sleep with the practiced alertness that belonged to Jaret. His eyes opened immediately, muscles tensing with that instinctive readiness that had kept the former Marine alive through too many dangerous dawns. But as consciousness fully returned, another presence stirred within him—gentler, more contemplative.

Thessian, he realized, feeling the archaeologist's appreciation wash over him as he took in their surroundings. Rather than immediately sitting up as Jaret's instincts demanded, Ralen allowed himself a moment to truly observe the morning.

The golden light filtering through the tent's opening painted everything in warm amber tones, and he could hear the symphony of birdsong that Yoshika was also enjoying. The cool breeze carried scents and sensations that made Thessian's memories stir—the way ancient civilizations had chosen their settlements, how they had lived in harmony with their environments, the patience required to truly understand a culture.

He sat up slowly, careful not to wake the others, and gave Yoshika a quiet nod of acknowledgment. Moving with deliberate calm, he folded his own blanket and stowed his gear, but his eyes kept drifting to the tent opening and the glimpse of the lush landscape beyond.

"Beautiful morning," he murmured softly to Yoshika, his voice carrying a note of genuine appreciation that went beyond mere pleasantries. "Thessian—one of my previous hosts—was an archaeologist. She understood the importance of observing a culture in its natural rhythm." He gestured toward the dancing trees visible through the opening.

"There's something to be said for experiencing a world at its own pace, rather than rushing through on a standard away mission schedule." The Counselor said.

Yoshika smiled. "I agree." She replied softly. "We zoom past so many worlds at such high speed, sometimes I wonder if we ever get to really explore all the places we visit."

"Mmm... no..."

The two officers glanced over at Mizuki, who lay fast asleep on the far end of the tent.

"The monkey's stealing the BMW..." she could be heard mumbling. "You have to stop him..."

"What's a BMW?" Yoshika asked curiously, "And why would a monkey want to steal it?" She looked over at Trellis. "I think it's time to wake them up now."

Yoshika looked around, spotting a metal cooking pot and large spoon set to one side. A mischievous glinting appeared in her eyes as she trotted over and picked up both.

"Wakey wakey! Rise and shine!" She called loudly, as she began striking the base of the pot with the spoon making a loud 'clang' sound each time they contacted.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL F-!?!?" Mizuki shouted as she sprung out of bed, only to realize that it was Yoshika intentionally making a ruckus.

"God dammit, stop that!" She cursed, evidently not one too pleased at having been rudely awakened from her sleep.

"And a good morning to you." Yoshika said cheekily.

Finally stirring, "Good morning everyone, I hope you had a great sleep." Thomas replied as he stretched his back.

"Well, I was, until somebody here decided to make an ungodly racket..." Mizuki grumbled, shooting Yoshika a dirty look.

"Good morning, Commander." Counselor Trellis responded with a slight smirk at the sense of levity that appeared to flow throughout the tent.

"So what is on the schedule for this morning?" He asked.

At that very moment the fabric where the 'door' to the hut was pulled back. The Elder stepped in and looked around. "The morning here is still new." he said to them all. "Yet Tahuna has yet to return to us. I do not often ask of strangers, however your help with discovering her path would be gratefully recieved."

This was a little concerning to Thomas. especially given the amount of time. Taking a breath, "Of course elder, all that is needed is to be asked and we shall assist. What of the young man that went off in search."

"You mean that they still haven't returned Tahuna yet?" Mizuki whispered nervously to Yoshika. "How long are they planning on keeping her?"

"Obviously her injuries may have been far greater than we suspected." Yoshika whispered back.

The elder then spoke. "Six men have searched from the river to the edge of the mountains since last light." He spoke a hint of worry in his voice. "Tahuna is not a child who wanders far."

"We will assist... we will talk to father sky, and see if he can return her to us. We have some special herbs, that we can make the goods talk to us. Maybe father sky will return her if we use the herbs, and contact them." Thomas replied as he reached into his pocket. "This herb, can allow us to hear into another dimension where we can communicate with the sky gods." He knew he was pushing it, and to his crew mates this may even sound crazy talk.

"Such herbs are unknown to us." The Elder replied. "If it is the gods you seek. We shall take our leave so you may speak in solitude." He bowed his head and then left the tent.

"Try explaining this one to command." Thomas replied looking to the others.

"When this works, isn't it against the prime directive. What happens when they try and they get no response." Connor asked

Suddenly without warning, all of their comm badges began to chirp out. Then the tent was filled with Captain Aisaka's voice.

"Tokyo to Kanna, and away teams. Herald ships inbound. Prepare for immediate extraction."

To be continued...

 

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