The Grid-Part 1

Posted on Mon Dec 29th, 2025 @ 5:39am by Chief Petty Officer Heath Stoudemire & Lieutenant Commander Mattys Plaatjes

1,425 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Operation Shadow
Location: Main Power Grid

Heath Stoudemire had received a call from the Captain to meet with Plaatjes and the so-called advisor that would be showing them the power grid. Waiting outside the shuttle pod, it had been a few hours since the away team landed on the surface. This world was a bit dreary, but he could tell this place was once a very thriving planet. Pulling up to the launch pad was a ground vehicle, the doors opened and stepping out was a L'Diran short in stature. He was well dressed compared to the others he had seen in the area. Accompanying him was Commander Plaatjes. "So now were here to check out their grid?"

'That's right,' Plaatjes said with enthusiasm. 'As a gesture of good faith, we're going to see what we can do for them whilst supervised.' He shrugged as he ducked into the shuttlepod, twisting his bulk around in the small space. 'Did we bring a toolkit?'

"Never leave the shuttle bay without one," Stoudemire answered as he began powering up the ship.

The L'Diran stepped aboard the shuttle looking around. Somehow he always got stuck with the task that no one else wanted do. But in all honesty, he was curious about these Starfleet people who just showed up.

"So, what's your name?" he questioned.

"Yoto Teef." the advisor answered.

"Its good to meet you Mister Teef. I'm Heath Stoudemire. Hopefully my flying doesn't bother you too much."

The advisor looked over to Plaatjes and then back at Health with a smile. "I'm certain I'll be fine."

Closing the door, the Chief Petty Officer, powered up the ship and within minutes the shuttle was on its way to the appointed destination. "I'm interested in learning how your world depleted all of your Acelon in your system."

"A lot of bad decisions by our ancestors," Yoto answered. "They basically became way too dependent on Acelon. Building way too much stuff that required its use. Enjoying it and not thinking of the overall consequences. By twenty-seven five, Acelon was completed depleted."

'So you made it to space before the Acelon was depleted then?' Plaatjes asked, trying to get a feel as to how long they had been raiding for the stuff. 'And turned to, uh, unorthodox methods to acquire it once it ran out?' He settled his bulk into the shuttlepod chair. The Engineer desperately wished Starfleet would develop a bigger shuttlecraft for their vessels. These had always been so cramped.

"We didn't have warp drive, but we had developed spaceflight and traveling to other worlds in our system. One particular moon had Acelon. Just not as much as our world. We turned that moon into a mining colony. It took fifty years to deplete all of the Acelon there. By the time our world had pillaged the last here. Scientists warned our leaders. But the leaders gave in to the wealthy, who continued to mine. Many of our leaders took bribes from the wealthy.

'How did you even develop warp drive?' Plaatjes asked, appalled and admiring in equal measures. For a civilisation to have such a voracious appetite for a strategic resource was unfortunately common, hell, Earth before the Third World War had been the same, but it was uncommon for a civilisation to have flourished within that appetite as much as the L'Dira had.

"We developed warp drive around the time we encountered the Vulcans," Yoto explained. "Out of necessity to find more Acelon due to shortage coming about. But meeting the Vulcans opened are eyes that we weren't quite alone in the universe. We traveled outside are system in search of Acelon which happened to be located on Trill. My people aren't the best at talking. Honestly, we lack the patience or temperament for it with a few exceptions."

Heath chuckled a bit. "Vulcans just hovering around waiting to make first contact. Could only imagine how that went."

The Advisor thought about it. "According to our history books. My people ran them off. Vulcans were arrogant and looked down on my people. We lacked the patience for them. But the interaction inspired us travel further than we originally planned."

'Something that our peoples have in common then,' Plaatjes laughed. 'They turned up just as we broke the warp barrier for the first time - a coincidence no-one seems to want to probe too hard at. Vulcans were haughty, arrogant. Controlling wasn't quite the right word, but they definitely encouraged us to stay close to home.' He winked at the L'Dira, 'we didn't really listen.'

"Why did the Vulcans encourage your people to do that?" Yoto inquired. This bit of information definitely peeked his interest. Space travel to meet other wasn't really the way his people did things. Most space travel was for the purpose of acquiring resources.

'I guess they thought we weren't ready,' he replied after a moment. A thoughtful expression passed his face. 'And maybe they were right - we really weren't ready for what we would see. Things have changed so much since Enterprise was launched, changed in ways that none of us could have foreseen. Maybe if we had waited longer there would have been less chaos. Less ... bloodshed.'

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at their destination. The building before them was absolutely huge and had various pipes exiting the building stretching out as far as the eye can see. There was a humming sound that seemed to be struggling as if it was doing everything in its own power to keep itself alive. "There was a time this was one of the technological wonders of our world."

'It's still a wonder,' Plaatjes replied with a laugh, craning his neck to see how tall the building was. 'This thing is absolutely huge. Not sure I've seen the like for power generation in a long time.' He turned to the L'Dira, 'you lead us on, and we'll bring the kit.'

Yoto looked to the engineer. "This is the primary hub that connects to several others a but smaller than this one across our world. It all begins here and spreads about. Fairly certain other worlds have more efficient power grids. "

"Commander," Heath called from the shuttle. "The Captain wants me to return back to the Reach with the shuttle. But he wants you to stay out here and check things out. I should return in a few hours."

Watching the shuttle take off, the Advisor sighed. "The Governor would be upset with me for telling you this. But this station is having a negative effect on the health of the locals who once lived by it. Once we figured that this place was causing the residents health issues due to being around it for long periods of time, they were evacuated. But the death rates are increasing, and we can't quite figure out how to cure the people."

'Sounds like you have some sort of waste issue - whether radiation or otherwise,' Plaatjes said with concern. 'I take it you haven't approached our medical staff for assistance if you want to keep it a secret? If we know what it is, we can help you better.' He gave a reassuring smile, 'it's tough with the lives you've lead, but there's no shame in asking for help. Working together we can accomplish so much more.'

"My people are a proud people," he admitted. "A little too proud, in my personal opinion. That pride is slowly leading to our demise. Governor Vorren would never openly ask for help. But on behalf of my people. I beg for any assistance you could offer."

Putting a heavy hand on the L'Dira's shoulder, Plaatjes grinned. 'Help is our business.' He shrugged, and sniffed as he considered the options. 'Reconfiguring your entire grid is more than I can do on my own, though. We'll need some additional help - I think I can get an Engineering crew down here pretty quick, and one of our science officers to work through any problems we come up against. How does that sound, friend?'

Yoto looked over and smiled at the engineer. There was a sense of hope that he hadn't felt in a long time. "Thank you so much. Your Federation is nothing like what the Orion's were telling us about. Actually, you are exactly the opposite."

=================
Lt. Commander Mattys Plaajes
Chief Engineer Officer
USS Meridian

Chief Petty Officer Heath Stoudemire
Shuttlebay Manager
USS Meridian

Yoto Teef
L'Dira Advisor

 

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