“Sensors clearing.” Ensign Lita Morrison had returned to her seat on the Zephyr’s bridge. It had taken much of the overnight shift to conclusively identify the radiation isotopes actively blocking their scans. She had gotten some sleep after ensuring the science teams were on the right track, and the morning had come. She held a cup of coffee in one hand while she adjusted the sensors. The team had been able to narrow it down and, with that, had been able to deploy several mitigating measures from both the deflector and some modified probes. It had impressed Lita. She’d made sure to give a small speech of thanks to the crew before they retired for some much-deserved sleep. She didn’t want to be the head of a department that didn’t recognize her team’s hard work.

Earlier, Captain Samson Bradley, accompanied by his XO, had walked onto the bridge. They sat in their respective chairs in the center of the bridge. She’d read each of their available dossiers. They were scientists and incredibly insightful ones at that. She had her work cut out for her. Bradley turned to her, “Report.”

Lita worked through the first bits of data that were scrolling across the screens at her station. Some of the data would be addressed by the science team in the depths of the Zephyr, while she would take the lead on the more critical readings. “We’re getting unusual readings from the planet – aside from the Borg Cube.” She reworked the scanners, frowning as the revised data streamed into her console. “I’m detecting another settlement…correction, three other settlements at different points on the planet.”

Bradley stood, his fingers restlessly moving at his side, “Show me.”

The viewscreen shifted to show the planet, lines appearing to show longitude and latitude. Each settlement appeared as a dot. Lita scoffed, “That’s…unusual.” She rotated in her chair to face the screen and her CO. “The settlements are equidistant from each other – nearly exact measurements in distance and elevation.”

The captain’s face remained placid, but his eyes shared a growing concern with his chief science officer, “The survey 15 years ago – they didn’t detect the other three?”

Lita tore her worried eyes from his and pulled the data up. “It was limited in scope—they were worried that if they remained in orbit, the settlement could become hostile. They made a note to return.”

Commander Augusto Vargas spoke up from his seat, working his small console, “There’s no record of a survey before or since.” His eyes shared concern with Bradley in a glance before returning to his console.

Morrison stared at her screens. What were they missing? What was the purpose of the other three settlements? Why were they so curiously positioned? She adjusted the cameras, studying the other three sites. Something about them was familiar to her. Something about them was unique. She snapped her fingers as her mind caught up, “They weren’t here to colonize. They were here for the other three settlements.” She shifted the images of the sites onto the screen, explaining, “You see? They dug these out – each of them. You can get all kinds of archeological work done in thirty years.”

Bradley stared at the images on the screen, walking closer to examine what she saw. He traced each element from each site in the air, a quiet smile breaking through. “You have a point, Ensign Morrison. Are you able to scan underneath them?”

Her mouth dropped open, realizing what she had missed. “Yes – give me just a moment.” She spun in her chair and began to activate the ground-penetrating sensors and systems, focusing on the three additional settlements. She glanced at the images – Bradley had been right. There wasn’t much above ground like there was in the original location. A few buildings, but nothing signifying a city or town.

The computer beeped, pulling her from her thoughts. She gasped as the true nature was revealed. She sent the data to the screen, turning in her chair to explain. “One of the sites has at least ten levels into the ground, while the other two have five. It will take time for our sensors to categorize and catalogue each level.” Another alarm sounded on her console, and she swung around, stopping at the report that was now flashing on her console. “Captain, sensors are picking up lifesigns in each underground site.” The numbers started clicking upwards with each site until they settled.

Bradley was in shock, as was the rest of the bridge crew. There were 30 life signs at the two smaller ones, and just over a hundred at the larger one. He cleared his throat, asking, “Do they know we’re here?”

Lita rechecked her scans, “I’m not detecting any kind of communications technology or sensor systems in any of the underground settlements, sir.” It was a case of wonder and worry – who were the people in the other settlements? Had they been here this whole time? Had they lived while the Borg Cube came crashing down far from them?

The CO returned to the center chair, “Do we know if they’re from the settlement?”

Morrison scrolled through the data, annoyed. “Inconclusive. We’d have to enter the facilities and get close enough to verify. The 100 feet between each floor is making it hard enough to get answers.”

Bradley stared at the screen for several minutes before making his decision. “Senior staff meeting in one hour, conference room. Bring every bit of data you can get. We need to get this right. Mr. Kondo, you have the CONN. Commander Vargas, with me.” The CO and XO headed for the ready room. Lita turned her attention back to the science station screens. The planet’s mysteries continued to elude them even as they continued to chase down the leads. Each turn led to another question and not enough answers.