Repopulation And Forgotten Lives

Posted on Fri Dec 18th, 2020 @ 2:23pm by Major Tatiana Skobelova

Mission: S0E0: What Came Before
Location: Canopus Station
Timeline: 0700 Hours, Two Months Before Current Timeline

When a marine is on a ship or station for the first time, they can usually figure out where the marine detachment is located. And that area is usually the most run down part of the ship. Wall panels are cracked and overhead lights are not functioning. The air smells like stale beer and taco meat. Other members of the crew may call these areas "Slums" or "Ghettos", but the marines call the area "Marine Country."

The first observation Tatiana Skobelova made about Canopus Station was the state of he marine area. It looked newer than the rest of the station, as if the area had been hermetically sealed off. And it was eerily quiet. There were no personnel in the company areas. Even though it was early, there should have been marines that worked the night watch still about. This is also the time marines would be doing their personal training, either as individuals or as a group. But the area was empty. As a matter of fact, Tatiana had only seen one marine on the station before the others came over with her from the USS Normandy.

Tatiana poked about the area. Oddly, the weapons locker was unlocked. Normally, someone would have lost their job for such an infringement. Not this time as the locker was empty. Not a used power cell was to be found. Supply rooms were also devoid of goods. Once she found her office, it looked unused.

She sat the immaculate desk and began to work on her PaDD. The detachment records were a mess. Over a thousand marines were on the station but almost all of them lacked a formal assignment. Tatiana shook her head in frustration. She finally put the PaDD back on the desk and contemplated a cup of cha. Then the door chimed and Tatiana beckoned the party in. A lanky Rigelian timidly stepped into the office.

"Hello Major, I am Staff Sergeant Zamara. I am the detachment clerk."

"Yes, we meet when you assigned me quarters." Tatiana smiled. "Have a seat Sergeant Zamara. Maybe you can help my sort this out. Where is everyone? Especially Colonel Sytex, where is he?"

Zamara gave a slight smile as she sat down. "Thank you Major. Did you not read the briefing that was sent to you?"

"No, I haven't had a chance. Starfleet Intelligence wouldn't allow me to have a copy until I arrived at the station. I just received my copy about an hour ago." Tatiana replied.

"Colonel Sytex is indisposed." Zamara replied.

"Okay, so why is he indisposed? Is he out in the field or on a training exercise?" Tatiana asked.

"He is at Camp Sunshine. That's on Carpathia." Zamara stated.

"Then send him as message that his XO has arrived. Why is this so hard?" Tatiana ordered the Regilian.

"We cannot give him that message. He is a prisoner there." Zamara explained.

"Prisoner? Camp Sunshine is a prison?" Tatiana couldn't figure out which surprised her more, that her detachment commander was in prison or that Starfleet named a prison "Camp Sunshine".

"More of a restraining and quarantine facility." Zamara informed Tatiana. "Colonel Sytex is there because he is infected. Everything you need to know is in the briefing."

"Alright, so when is the next staff meeting?" Tatiana asked with growing frustration.

There was a few seconds of silence before Zamara replied. "Major, maybe you do not understand. That is where the rest of the marines are. They were all infected. Until you arrived yesterday, I was the only marine on the station. The entire detachment needs to be rebuilt. As of now, there is no staff and you are the commanding officer."

And with Zamara's words, everything became clear to Tatiana. There was a contagion. All the marines were rounded up and exiled. The facilities were in perfect condition because they had to be rebuilt. All the phasers, vacc suits, armored suits, pre fabricated structures, medical supplies, and other equipment had to be destroyed. It was a complete purge and sanitization of the detachment.

"How did you manage to escape?" Tatiana asked Zamara.

"I had to return home for a personal emergency. I was gone when all this took place. I returned with the medical ship, the USS Potter." Zamara explained.

"Very well." Tatiana stated with some resignation. "Call all of our officers to the marine briefing room. I want them assembled by 0730 hours. Also call a formation for all marines at 1400 hours. Hopefully we'll get this all sorted out by then."