1x04 - "POINT OF IMPACT"

Written By Alex Matthews

Based on 'Star Trek' 
created by Gene Roddenberry

STARRING

Evangeline Lilly as COMMANDER MYRA SHAW

Jai Courtney as LT. COMMANDER CARL KELHAM

Jack Harrer as LT. FINLEY McKENCHIE

Marc Ruffalo as LT. PERRY ALLEN (R.N.)

Temuera Morrison as COMMANDER ALDRED 

WITH 

Cobie Smulders as COMMANDER T'MUR

Star Trek and all related marks, logos and characters are solely owned by CBS Studios Inc. This fan fiction is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with CBS, Paramount Pictures, or any other Star Trek franchise, and is a non-commercial fan-made film intended for recreational use.  No commercial exhibition or distribution is permitted. No alleged independent rights will be asserted against CBS or Paramount Pictures.

Copyright (c) 2019

Produced by Sojournerverse Productions

The sun is burning bright through the hazy energy field around the planet. A local lizard-like animal scurries along the ground, coming across the crashed Cornwell.

*             *             *

Shaw awakens, finding Aldred and Perry helping her come to. The power is out, with only emergency batteries keeping the lights on, but some minor hull breaches allow air in. Shaw waves off Perry's concern about head trauma to help Aldred with the doors to the cockpit, as they have been unable to communicate with those inside. 
Just as Aldred manages to use his own enhanced strength to push the doors open enough for the others to help, they suddenly open - to reveal a bloody Kelham. Shaw is immediately concerned but happy to see him alive, as McKenchie frantically calls for help.

*             *             *

McKenchie is desperately trying to help T'Mur, who has collapsed. Perry, Kelham and a medtech survivor rush in, and quickly try to help. Kelham wonders what happened, since she was fine when he left to get into the aft compartment. Perry quickly finds a large shrapnel wound bleeding profusely on her lower abdomen. McKenchie can't believe she functioned for so long with that injury but Kelham reminds him she's a Vulcan and they won't let a little thing like a life-threatening injury interfere. Perry is worried though - her pericardium has was pierced and she's lost a lot of blood - he can patch her up but he's not skilled enough for the surgery she needs. 

*             *             *

Shaw and Aldred are checking on the few passengers aboard the Cornwell as Kelham lets them know what's going on with T'Mur. All are beaten and bruised from the impact, but she is dismayed as Aldred covers up two who were killed during the crash. She has a minor emotional moment until Aldred gently points out that with T'Mur out of action, she is the ranking officer, and she needs to put the crew at ease and put together a plan. She takes strength in that and Kelham's quiet support. She orders them to begin what repairs they can to the shuttle to get power to sensors and comms so they can make contact with any other survivors.

*             *             *

Aldred and Kelham soon find that the shuttle is not as badly damaged as it appears - power is being generated but it's not making into systems. Aldred reasons that the cause is external, since they cannot find any faults with the ODN circuits. 
A tricorder scan reveals that the topsoil around the crash site is laced with faranite, creating a low-level dampening field that is interfering with the computer - systems are working, but the data isn't being read and processed by the computer. Aldred deduces that the tricorders and smaller instruments have not been affected because their interior circuits are manufactured as standard with a counter-agent coating, something the shuttlecraft lacks. Kelham reasons he can patch a tricorder into the shuttle sensors and use it as a way to access them, and possibly the same with the comm system... 
IF it works.

*             *             *

As Shaw and a couple of NDs manually release and lower the rear hatch, McKenchie is checking the systems on the ground vehicle that the Cornwell carried, pleased to find it operational and intact. He's more then looking forward to trying it out, as it's been a while since he drove anything like it, but Shaw is hesitant to send anyone out yet until they know more about where they've landed. 
Kelham's voice coming over the comm system gives them a minor win, but it's very short range only. The better news is they've access the sensors, and they need to see what they've found.

*             *             *

On one of the wall-screens is a scan of the continent they landed on - or rather, the 'supercontinent', as it dominates about 3/4 of the planet's surface, almost entirely desert-like terrain. 
Their limited scan range has reveals just over a dozen or so 'metallic signatures' which he believes are escape pods from the Ascendant. They realize that this mean, at most, only half the crew survived, unless other pods landed outside of sensor range, which is a possibility. He also points out two larger masses, which could be wreckage from the saucer and secondary hull. 
They haven't been able to make contact yet, but are working on it, as Aldred works to understand the energy field more. He also points out that a collection of five pods made landfall together, about 70 kilometers away. However, the sensors aren't clear enough to pick up or determine life-signs. Kelham points out that the escape pods could be salvaged to use to repair the shuttle and help build a base-camp. Shaw agrees, making her decision.

*             *             *

McKenchie drives the land vehicle out, which he has nick-named the 'Pryce' after Lois Pryce, 21st century adventurer, as Shaw is grudgingly convinced to allow Perry to join him and another volunteer, Security Officer Bautista, from the Cornwell survivors, since they don't know how badly injured anyone might be and him going to be the difference between life and death. T'Mur's condition has stabilized for now, and MedTech Lake can keep her comfortable. 
Shaw gives her orders - the away team is to investigate the closest of the larger 'metallic signatures', to determine if it is part of the Ascendant, and if it can be salvaged of anything useful. They are then to make their way to the location of the assembled escape pods. Hopefully, by that time, enough repairs to the Cornwell will have been made to get the communications system up and running. 
Kelham offers some small words of comfort as they drive off, but Shaw is still worried...