The Temple of (Vulcan) Doom

Posted on Wed May 6th, 2026 @ 10:29pm by Lieutenant Commander Ryan Keel & Lieutenant JG Jezra Siv MD & Lieutenant JG Sakkar
Edited on on Thu May 7th, 2026 @ 12:52pm

1,692 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Peril at the Unification Accords
Location: Crew Quarters
Timeline: MD 009 / 1700

Sakkar walked into his quarters, a slight limp in his step. Now that the adrenaline had worn off he was feeling a slight ache in his knee. The joint was composed of a durable plasticine-tritanium alloy, but it was still capable of feeling pain. It must have happened when he took a dive for the deck on that freighter. That was the logical explanation. Did it warrant a visit to sickbay? Probably not, he reasoned. The pain was not intense, and sick bay was already busy enough. An ice pack should suffice. The Vulcan made his way to the bedroom closet to get a fresh uniform.

Of more concern was his positronic brain implant. While reading the freighter's flight plan he had taken note of the destination, the planet Acrux IV, also known as Vekon. Why had he not recalled pertinent information about that planet? During his rehabilitative therapy he had sometimes struggled with memory. The implant was supposed to compensate for that. He thought he had overcome the problem. Did this represent a malfunction? He pulled a new uniform jacket out of the closet and unzipped the one he was wearing.

After receiving the implant several years ago, Sakkar had been told to report any issues immediately. While he did not want to alert the ship's medical staff over an issue that may not be an issue, the instructions were clear. An additional surgery might be necessary to program adjustments into the device. In a worst case scenario, the device would have to be removed and a different one implanted. Of course, this was only in the event that his memory problems continued to worsen.

Sakkar had to admit to himself that he was feeling reluctant to say anything yet. After all, everyone forgot things from time to time. Even Vulcans, with their renowned ability to retain even the precise details of a topic. Perhaps he was justified in waiting a few days?

He exhaled sharply. No. He was directly responsible for the flight operations of this ship. It was crucial that there be no question about his ability to perform his duties. "Computer, send a memo to the Chief Medical Officer requesting a full physical evaluation, and a consultation on my brain implant. Earliest convenience."

The computer chirped and replied. "Message sent."

A pause followed, then confirmation from Jezra came through, asking if he wanted to come to sickbay or preferred she go to him.

He tilted his head in surprise. He had not expected a swift reply from the Doctor. Perhaps sickbay wasn't as busy as he thought? Still, he was reluctant to trouble Dr. Siv over this. "Send reply to Chief Medical Officer..." He spent a moment considering what to say, then finally said, "I will...computer, stand by on the reply. I will come back to it later." His thoughts were wandering back to the freighter.

Sakkar zipped up the new uniform jacket and pinned his commbadge. The next stop was the replicator. "Small ice pack." The requested item materialized. Sakkar took a nearby chair, elevated his leg onto an ottoman, and rolled up his pant leg. The knee did not appear swollen. He applied the ice pack anyway. "Computer, I wish to research the flight plans of the freighter known as Katreen's Hope in relation to the planet Acrux IV. Was that a typical destination for that ship?"

The computer chirped again and replied. "It was not a typical destination. A survey of the ship's past flight plans shows that it traveled within commercial shipping lanes, in accordance with intergalactic treaty."

"What possible reason would Katreen's Hope have to visit Acrux IV?"

"Unknown. Insufficient data."

"Is Acrux IV associated with any criminal activity?"

"Negative. Acrux IV is an uninhabited M-class world that sits in the Neutral Zone between the Federation and the former Romulan Empire. Its final status remains unresolved under the Treaty of Charon. Permanent settlement is prohibited, and visitation is permitted only for scientific or archaeological purposes."

Sakkar raised his eyebrow. "Scientific or archaeological purposes?"

"Correct. Thirty-eight research teams have gone on expeditions to the planet since the establishment of the Neutral Zone. The most recent was two years ago."

"What is the focus of these research expeditions?"

"The focus varies. Acrux IV is home to the Zundushol, a flying serpent thought to be the largest of its kind. An aggressive mold known as Ariebrias can be found in the forest of the northern continent. The ruins of an ancient settlement are located atop Mount Shariel. Deposits of naturally occurring Idrimroth have been found--"

"Stop." Sakkar said. "Mount Shariel? Named for the Vulcan god of death?"

"Correct."

Sakkar set the ice pack aside and sat up in his chair. "How did the mountain get its name?"

"Uncertain. The name can be found on topographical maps of the planet dating back to the time of the Romulan exodus from Vulcan, more than two thousand years ago. Acrux, known as Vekon to the Romulans, was a waypoint for ships traveling to Romulus and Remus." 

"Interesting. Have the Nideans ever had any interest in the planet? Have other Nidean ships been there?"

The computer took a few extra seconds to answer. "On Stardate 47951.3, a joint Vulcan-Romulan expedition visited the planet using a chartered Nidean ship."

"What was the purpose of that expedition?"

Again, the computer took extra time to answer. "That information is unavailable on this database. Please contact the Vulcan Ministry of History and Culture for further assistance."

That struck the helm officer as odd. If the purpose of the expedition was to advance knowledge, then why wouldn't it be instantly available to the Starfleet database? "Computer, connect to the Vulcan Ministry of History and Culture and request that information."

"Accessing. Stand by."

A full minute went by as Astrea's computer sent the request over subspace, all the way back to a government office on Vulcan. Meanwhile, Sakkar stood and took a test walk around his quarters. The dull ache in his knee was subsiding now. Finally, the computer answered.

"The requested information has been marked unsuitable for public consumption. Access denied."

Sakkar came to a dead stop. "Unsuitable? Why has it been labeled so?"

"No further information is available."

A look of genuine astonishment came over the Vulcan's face. He had never heard of a government-level ministry from his planet censoring knowledge that should be freely available to all. Unsuitable for public consumption? What could it mean? "Computer, is there any legal mechanism that could compel the Vulcan Ministry of History and Culture to share that information? For example, if it may prove significant to a murder investigation?"

The computer offered up a three second long, two-toned chirp as it considered the theoretical question. "A ministerial executive or a credentialed diplomatic official may submit a formal démarche under the terms of the Treaty of San Francisco, Article 3, Section B, regarding cooperative security and law enforcement actions."

Sakkar tapped his commbadge. "Sakkar to Commander Keel."

'This is he,' Keel answered, the drawl giving his response a lazy air. 'How can I help you, Lieutenant?' He was sat in his office, leaned back in his chair as he read a briefing padd on the situation developing on Borzan II, a small backwater planet near Astrea's area of operations.

Sakkar spent the next couple of minutes explaining what he was researching and the unusual twist he had just encountered.

'I see,' Keel replied, 'it presents a little conundrum that the information seems to have been ... suppressed. You'll know better than I that Vulcan scientific expeditions aren't usually kept from the public. And, you are correct that I can use the Treaty of San Francisco to compel release of the information, but I need to know what kind of investigation that's being conducted here, even if only to provide an answer to any Vulcan ministerial questions.'

Sakkar pursed his lips for a moment as dead air filled the open channel. Then he said, "I must concede that there is no 'investigation,' sir. I was merely curious about the Nidean freighter and its unusual flight records. And it seems asking further questions only leads to more abnormality."

Keel thought for a moment, then sighed heavily. 'I might have a back door,' he said reluctantly. 'No need for an official request if there's no official investigation, y'know?' Pursing his lips as he looked at the artwork on his office wall, 'we've been pushing the Vulcans hard recently, they're quite out of their comfort zone - like a sehlat in a savannah you might say - so I just really need to know there's no other way for you to get the information you need?'

Sakkar had one other avenue in mind besides Keel. A professor of exoarchaeology from his Academy days, who might have connections of his own. But he was reluctant to pull his old mentor into this situation just yet. Vulcans didn't believe much in "hunches," and yet something within was warning him to proceed carefully. "None as good as you, sir."

Nodding to the reply, Keel said, 'alright, gimme a couple of hours and I'll get you the information you need.'

"Understood."

Keel sighed once more and booted up his terminal, requesting a long-range call to his contact's last known position. He crossed his fingers that his information was current enough. T'Mev was not known to stay in one place for too long. Her fastidiousness bordered on paranoia, but she was one of the best V'Shar agents he had run into.

He hoped she wouldn't take too much convincing.



Lieutenant J.G. Sakkar
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Astrea


Lt. Commander Ryan Keel
Chief of Diplomatic Intelligence
USS Astrea


Lieutenant J.G. Jezra Siv
Chief Medical Officer
USS Astrea

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