VSF Blessings: A Star Trek Fan Production
Episode 5: Keystone
July 7, 2024
SCENE 1: EMERGENCY CALL
SOUND: Bridge noises.
JEREMIAH 1
Captain’s Log, Stardate 44610.4. We will soon arrive at the Claxton Mining Colony in the Paca asteroid field. The size of a small moon, we are delivering needed medical supplies to this subterranean operation. Also onboard is a group of medically trained religious for our following stop on the outer edges of Federation space to staff a medical facility. I understand their skills are quite needed to help combat a planetary pandemic that apparently humans are naturally immune to.
SOUND: Incoming message.
MATTHIAS 2
Captain, we have an incoming emergency message from the Claxton Mining Colony.
JEREMIAH 3
Computer, end log.
SOUND: Computer ending log.
JEREMIAH 4
Brother Matthias, put it through.
MATTHIAS 5
Aye, sir.
SOUND: Communication beeps.
SUBSUPERINTENDENT MAX WILSON 6
VSF Blessings! I’m so glad to see you! I’m Max Wilson, the Subsuperintendent of this operation. We have an emergency!
JEREMIAH 7
And what is the emergency?
MAX 8
We’ve had a cave in in the mine!
JEREMIAH 9
Anyone injured?
MAX 10
Yes! Several! We fear we may already have a few fatalities, too, but unconfirmed. Superintendent Yelka is trapped with a small contingent. We are in communication with him now.
JEREMIAH 11
How may we help, Subsuperintendent Wilson?
MAX 12
Please, just call me Max. We need your ship and its transporters. How quickly can you be here?
JEREMIAH 13
Brother Matthias?
MATTHIAS 14
We’re reasonably close already, but at maximum warp…
SOUND: Insert computer sounds.
MATTHIAS 15
I would say 30 minutes, tops.
MAX 16
We’ll have to take it.
JEREMIAH 17
Matthias, increase to maximum warp.
MATTHIAS 18
Aye, sir.
SOUND: Computer sounds and warp increasing.
JEREMIAH 19
We’re on our way at top speed, Max. What can we do in the meantime?
MAX 20
My Lead Mining Engineer can describe our plans for your transporter to you better than me.
JEREMIAH 21
Lead Mining Engineer. I get the feeling we’re not just beaming up survivors, then.
MAX 22
Unfortunately, no. Too much interference from the minerals at the depth. Our primary group of survivors is trapped in a void. There’s a single large stone…a keystone if you will…holding up tons of rock above their heads. This keystone is developing fissures, so it’s a matter of time before it fails on top of them. If we can at least beam away some of the weight above them where our sensors can scan, it should buy us the time we need to rescue them as we dig a side tunnel.
JEREMIAH 23
Then I should bring our Engineer, Brother Patrick, into the conversation.
MAX 24
I would imagine so. Thank you, Captain.
JEREMIAH 25
You are quite welcome. I pray we are in time to make a difference and save lives.
SOUND: Intro
SCENE 2: DISASTER
SOUND: Doors open. Low engine noise.
JEREMIAH 26
Are we within transporter range yet?
PATRICK 27
Almost, sir. The Lead Mining Engineer has given me his coordinates at their external port so we wouldn’t have to compensate for the mineralogy.
JEREMIAH 28
Did you get his name? You two dove into the details so quickly that I never heard it.
PATRICK 29
There was no time for pleasantries, but his communications tag says Ben Claxton.
JEREMIAH 30
Is he part of the Claxton Mining family?
PATRICK 31
Unknown, sir. The thought never occurred to me. All I know is he is insistent about handling the transporter controls himself. I wish it were me.
JEREMIAH 32
Is he qualified?
PATRICK 33
He served in Starfleet for a while and has experience with this model of transporter, he says.
JEREMIAH 34
Have you confirmed?
PATRICK 35
Of course I have. He was in Starfleet. He scored high marks. Whether he used this model of transporter, he certainly would have had the opportunity given the ships he served upon.
JEREMIAH 36
Then I currently see no reason to deny his insistence. He certainly should know the mine and its complexities better than we do.
PATRICK 37
That is true, Captain.
SOUND: Computer alert.
PATRICK 38
We are within range now, Sir. He’s signaled he is ready.
JEREMIAH 39
Energize.
PATRICK 40
Aye, Sir.
SOUND: Beaming in.
JEREMIAH 41
Hello, Mr. Claxton. Welcome to the VSF Blessings.
BEN 42
Thank you, Captain. I apologize for being blunt and rude, but we have no time to spare. Are we in position yet?
JEREMIAH 43
We should be moving there now, per your instructions.
PATRICK 44
Yes, we have just arrived and come to a synchronized stop with the mining colony.
BEN 45
Good. I have the latest scans from both Superintendent Yelka from inside the mine and my team from above. The minerals start reflecting our scans the deeper you get. They have to be unraveled or untied like a knot, if you will. My algorithms help speed up the process.
PATRICK 46
Impressive.
BEN 47
Okay, now to match these results up to the geodetic marks…or survey markers, as some call them.
SOUND: Computer sounds followed by completion sounds.
BEN 48
There. That should do it. If you look at this map of the mine, Superintendent Yelka and his companions are here. The side tunnel they are building is here. They’re getting nearer, but not there yet. The keystone that’s critically close to failing from the weight above it is here. We’re going to beam away the material above it in this region. It should take 3 cycles of the transporter, with each subsequent beaming being deeper than the last.
JEREMIAH 49
That seems like a logical plan.
BEN 50
We’ll check with Superintendent Yelka between each cycle to judge how things are going.
PATRICK 51
Anything you need before we begin?
BEN 52
No. Let’s start now.
SOUND: Communicator sound.
BEN 53
Claxton to Yelka. I’m ready to proceed. How about you guys?
YELKA (telephony) 54
As ready as we’ll ever be. Those fissures in the keystone have grown quite a bit.
BEN 55
Ok, commencing Cycle 1 of the transporters now.
SOUND: Transporter being activated.
BEN 56
Yelka, how’s it going?
YELKA (telephony) 57
So far so good, Ben.
BEN 58
Commencing Cycle 2…now.
SOUND: Transporter being activated.
BEN 59
Yelka, are you doing okay down there?
YELKA (telephony) 60
A little rumbling, but yes.
BEN 61
Good. Commencing the third and final Cycle 3 now.
SOUND: Transporter being activated.
BEN 62
Yelka? How’s it going?
YELKA (telephony) 63
What just happened?
BEN 64
What do you mean?
YELKA (telephony) 65
I was looking up at the keystone. Then there was a bright flash…the transporter beam maybe? It’s so dark down here that any light looks bright. Then the keystone had vanished. I’m looking up into complete darkness now. Where did the keystone go?
BEN 66
WHAT?!
YELKA (telephony) 67
It’s gone. I hear rumbling now…
BEN 68
TAKE COVER! TAKE COVER BY THE WALLS! TAKE COVER IN CREVICES! TAKE COVER, YELKA!
SOUND: Telephony rumbling as mine collapses on top of the trapped miners. Screams. Communication cut off.
BEN 69
YELKA! YELKA! ANYONE!
JEREMIAH 70
What’s happened?
(Silence.)
What’s happened?!
BEN 71
I'm not sure...I don’t know how it could have happened. I just don’t know.
JEREMIAH 72
Don’t know what?
BEN 73
I think I beamed the keystone away…the lifesaving keystone…and they were all just crushed to death. I killed them. I murdered them.
SOUND: Segue music
SCENE 3: ALARMING
SOUND: Bridge noise. Proximity alarm.
JEREMIAH 74
Brother Matthias, what’s that?
MATTHIAS 75
That’s the proximity alarm. That doesn’t make sense. We’ve been following the flight plan closely since we entered this cargo tunnel heading to the docking port. But the ship’s sensors show us getting closer and closer to one of the walls.
JEREMIAH 76
Close enough the proximity alarm was triggered?
MATTHIAS 77
Yes, sir. I’ve asked Brother Patrick to run a diagnostic.
JEREMIAH 78
In the meantime, trust your instincts, Matthias. They’ve served us well so far.
MATTHIAS 79
Will do, sir. We’ll be ready to dock in 10 minutes.
JEREMIAH 80
Good. Our medical guests are eager to help as soon as they can get through those port doors.
MATTHIAS 81
We were lucky they were on board.
JEREMIAH 82
It is certainly a fortuitous blessing.
SOUND: Communicator chirp.
JEREMIAH 83
Jeremiah to medical team, 10 minutes to go. Remember, stay safe. Don’t do anything crazy, like running into an unstable mine shaft. You can help more people alive than injured…or worse, dead.
MEDICAL STAFF #1 (telephony) 84
Understood, Captain. We’re here to help, but also have a next assignment that’s just as important with the planetary pandemic.
JEREMIAH 85
Indeed. Let us pray. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. God of all goodness, Look with mercy on all who suffer injury within this community, that they may be comforted. Let your hand of healing and protection be upon them…
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 4: CASUALTIES
JEREMIAH 86
Subsuperintendent Max, our medical staff is currently lending a hand with your injured. Your previously allotted medical supplies have been unloaded. What’s the status of the situation?
MAX 87
It’s grim, Captain. Superintendent Yelka and eight others were killed in the latest collapse, in addition to the three confirmed dead in the first one. Twenty five injured.
JEREMIAH 88
I’m so sorry, Max.
MAX 89
This recently became a more heavily trafficked tunnel, thanks to a new mining area being opened. It could have been worse, though.
JEREMIAH 90
I see.
MAX 91
What I don’t get is why it all happened in the first place. Claxton Mining has a platinum record in the mining industry. No collapses that resulted in such injury and death in many, many decades. We take extra precautions above and beyond Federation standards to keep our people and assets safe. Why now?
JEREMIAH 92
Is Ben Claxton part of the Claxton mining family?
MAX 93
Yes, he is. They’re good people. Always have been. My father worked for them, too. This is going to be quite the scandal when it gets out that Ben was responsible for the transporter accident that killed the 9 people, including the Superintendent.
JEREMIAH 94
Sadly, it may be. Any ideas on what happened to cause the keystone to be beamed away? Ben reviewed his plans with us ahead of time. That definitely was not part of his stated plan.
MAX 95
No, it was not, and no, we know nothing yet. Ben’s beside himself with guilt. We haven’t had much chance to investigate any of it further, as key personnel are occupied shoring up the failed mining areas.
JEREMIAH 96
Do you mind if I have my people take a look since yours are tied up? It just doesn’t make sense.
MAX 97
I don’t mind at all, as long as you take precautions to preserve the evidence. There will be a formal inquiry.
JEREMIAH 98
Thanks, Max. I’ll let you know if they find anything.
MAX 99
I appreciate all your help, Captain. Despite the unfortunate outcome with the transporter, you were our closest hope, and you’re still providing it. Thank you, your crew, and your guests, Father Jeremiah.
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 5: Detective Work
SOUND: Engineering background hum.
ETHAN 100
How goes the detective work, Brother Patrick?
PATRICK 101
The forensic copy of the data that Subsuperintendent Max ordered took longer than anticipated, but I’m knee deep into it now.
ETHAN 102
Good. This whole affair is terrible. Just terrible all the way around.
PATRICK 103
I agree. It can make it hard to see God’s greater plan at times.
ETHAN 104
I know. We can only have faith during such times.
PATRICK 105
Faith and works, Brother. Faith and works.
ETHAN 106
Speaking of works, we have finished unloading their medical supplies…plus the extra we replicated for the injured.
PATRICK 107
Do they need anything else from us?
ETHAN 108
No, our medical team is working alongside the mining colony’s medical staff and have it all under control. They have plenty of volunteers from their fellow miners as well. As a matter of fact, I was feeling like I was in the way. Is there anything I can help you with?
PATRICK 109
I’m glad you asked. Brother Matthias had asked me to run a diagnostic on our navigation sensors.
ETHAN 110
Do you know why?
PATRICK 111
No, but it should be listed in the request he logged in the system. He’s always good at providing the needed details. It would help if you could run it while I dig through the mine’s data.
ETHAN 112
Ok, I’ll look into it right now.
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 6: GRAVITY
MAX 113
Father Jeremiah! Over here!
JEREMIAH 114
Hello, Max. You wanted to see me?
MAX 115
Yes, Ben and I do. We’ve been discussing what happened, and he wanted to confirm some scans of the area and the collapse. The whole incident is eating him up inside.
SOUND: Footsteps.
JEREMIAH 116
I can imagine so.
MAX 117
Ben, Father Jeremiah is here.
BEN 118
Thanks for coming, Father. I’m sorry to bother you, but something isn’t right about all this, and I just can’t put my finger on it. It’s not that I think I’m perfect or anything, but I cannot believe that a mistake of mine caused all these deaths.
JEREMIAH 119
That’s what Brother Patrick seems to think, too. So why did you need me to come here?
MAX 120
As the details of the incident leak out, Ben’s popularity isn’t what it used to be around here. Some people are downright angry. Ben wanted to take these scans himself, so rather than feed into the negative mood with a security detail…
JEREMIAH 121
…you thought the presence of the Subsuperintendent and a priest would put a different spin on things. That’s why you changed from calling me Captain Hollis to Father Jeremiah.
MAX 122
Something like that.
BEN 123
I hope we haven’t offended you, Father.
JEREMIAH 124
Not at all, Ben. I think it’s an excellent idea.
MAX 125
Not much gets by you, Father.
JEREMIAH 126
If only that were so. There is something that has been bothering me though.
MAX 127
What’s that?
JEREMIAH 128
We’re inside an asteroid. Sure, it is a large one, perhaps the size of a small moon, but you have Earth-standard gravity.
BEN 129
Yes, we have gravity plating installed throughout the complex.
JEREMIAH 130
But when Superintendent Yelka and the others were trapped in the void with the crumbling keystone overhead, why didn’t you reduce or turn off the artificial gravity to help save them?
BEN 131
That was actually the first thing we tried to do, but it was nonresponsive.
MAX 132
Yes, the local controls must have been damaged.
BEN 133
We even cut power to the area, but the gravity remained unchanged.
JEREMIAH 134
You cut the power, and even that didn’t work? Doesn’t that sound strange? I mean, I know the plating’s internal capacitors would still hold a momentary charge, but they typically drain rather quickly…within minutes at most.
BEN 135
You’re right. It’s like they were receiving power from another connection or source.
MAX 136
How could that be?
ASSISTANT MINING ENGINEER ARCHIE CAMPBELL 137
Excuse me, sirs. I think we should get moving along. A crowd’s gathering.
BEN 138
Father Jeremiah, this is my Assistant Mining Engineer Archie Campbell. He’s my right-hand man here.
JEREMIAH 139
Nice to meet you, Mr. Campbell.
ARCHIE 140
Same here, Father. Please, call me Archie. Everyone does.
JEREMIAH 141
Of course, Archie.
MAX 142
Archie’s correct. Let's move along to get those scans.
BEN 143
Of course.
SOUNDS: Footsteps and tricorder. Segue music.
SCENE 7: METTLE
SOUND: Med bay sounds.
MEDICAL STAFF #1 144
As you can see, we’ve been quite busy here, Captain. Some of my team are fresh out of medical school, but they all performed admirably. Triage such as this isn’t for the faint hearted.
JEREMIAH 145
They’ve proved their mettle in the field. I’m impressed. What’s the current status?
MEDICAL STAFF #1 146
Things have stabilized. Colony personnel are working to extract the bodies of Superintendent Yelka and the others. The local medical staff have everything under control now. There’s actually not much more my team can do.
JEREMIAH 147
I see.
MEDICAL STAFF #1 148
I guess we’re ready to move on to our actual assignment to help with the planetary pandemic. When can we continue with our journey, Captain? Their need is greater than what’s left here.
JEREMIAH 149
I agree it is time to move on. I’ll have the crew start preparing to leave immediately. Start gathering your team onboard.
MEDICAL STAFF #1 150
Thank you, Captain.
SOUND: Communicator chirp.
JEREMIAH 151
Hollis to Brother Matthias, it is time to leave the Claxton Mining Colony. Please ensure the VSF Blessings and her crew are ready to leave in the next 30 minutes.
MATTHIAS (Telephone) 152
Aye, Sir.
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 8: KEYSTONE MOMENT
SOUND: Bridge sounds.
JEREMIAH 153
Let’s undock and proceed up the transport shaft to open space, Matthias.
MATTHIAS 154
Undocking now…
SOUND: Computer beeps and undocking.
MATTHIAS 155
Turning to align to the navigation points to follow the path out…
SOUND: Door whooshing.
PATRICK 156
Captain, I wish we’d had more time at the mining colony to help with their investigation. I don’t feel that Ben had anything to do with this. You saw the man’s face when it happened. He was as shocked and horrified as we were.
JEREMIAH 157
I know, Patrick, and I agree. There will be a full investigation performed. They’ll get to the bottom of it. In the meantime, despite our personal interests here, we have to get to our next destination posthaste.
SOUND: Proximity alarm.
JEREMIAH 158
Is that the proximity alarm again, Brother Matthias?
PATRICK 159
Proximity alarm?
MATTHIAS 160
Yes, Captain. It makes no sense. Brother Patrick, you completed a diagnostic on the navigation system, right?
PATRICK 161
Yes, Brother Ethan completed it. I looked over the results, and the diagnostic found nothing of note.
MATTHIAS 162
Then why are we so close to the shaft walls to trigger the proximity alarms? I’m following the navigation points and path we received from the colony precisely.
SOUNDS: Computer buttons.
PATRICK 163
Yes…you are. WAIT A SECOND! THAT’S IT! Captain! We must contact Ben and Subsuperintendant Max IMMEDIATELY!
JEREMIAH 164
What? Why?
PATRICK 165
I KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT! BEN’S CALCULATIONS WERE RIGHT! THE PARADIGM WAS WRONG! IT’S THE KEYSTONE OF IT ALL!
JEREMIAH 166
Ok, Brother Matthias…
MATTHIAS 167
Contacting the Claxton Mining Colony now, sir!
SOUNDS: Communications sound.
MAX (Telephony) 168
Subsuperintendent Max, here. Miss us already, VSF Blessings?
JEREMIAH 169
Max, Brother Patrick has something important to share.
PATRICK 170
Subsuperintendent Max, can we bring Ben into this conversation, too?
MAX (Telephony) 171
Of course. He happens to be with me now. He can hear you.
BEN (Telephony) 172
Hello, Brother Patrick.
PATRICK 173
Is anyone else within earshot?
MAX (Telephony) 174
No, we are alone. What’s up? What’s so important?
PATRICK 175
When you tried to save your trapped colleagues, the keystone was accidentally transported away. We checked and double checked your calculations, scans, ran diagnostics on the transporter, and that simply should NOT have happened, correct?
BEN (Telephony) 176
Yes, we know that. What are you getting at?
PATRICK 177
We just undocked from your port, turned, and started our journey up the transport shaft. Almost immediately, our proximity alarm went off because we were getting too close to the shaft walls by following your navigation path. The same thing happened on our way in as well. What do these things have in common?
BEN (Telephony) 178
OF COURSE!
MAX (Telephony) 179
What? What am I missing? What do they have in common?
JEREMIAH 180
I’m lost as well. Please explain more.
PATRICK 181
It’s the geodetic marks! All of Ben’s scans and calculations plus our path out of the shaft are based upon the assumption the geodetic marks are correct!
MATTHIAS 182
And am I to assume they’re not?
BEN (Telephony) 183
They can’t be! The geodetic marks are off!
MAX (Telephony) 184
But how is that even possible? Everything we do in this mine is based upon the accuracy of the geodetic survey markers. They are surrounded with multiple layers of protection. They don’t just change. Only Superintendent Yelka, me, and you, Ben, can even access them.
BEN (Telephony) 185
I know. They must have been changed just prior to the accident. I mean immediately before. That way the scans I received would have been accurate, but with the last-minute shift in the geodetic marks, the transporter would have been off target.
PATRICK 186
Off target just enough for you to accidentally beam out the keystone rather than just the rubble on top of it. This was murder, but you didn’t do it, Ben!
BEN (Telephony) 187
Do you know what this means?
JEREMIAH 188
Someone within your mining colony did it intentionally!
MAX (Telephony) 189
HOLD ON! Before we get too carried away, we need proof. VSF Blessings, please hold your position. I don’t want you to go running into our shaft walls if our geodetic markers are out of alignment.
JEREMIAH 190
Brother Matthias, hold our position.
MATTHIAS 191
Aye, Sir.
SOUND: Computer button beeps.
MAX (Telephony) 192
Captain Hollis, let Ben and me investigate this more. It is of utmost importance that we keep this just between us for the moment.
JEREMIAH 193
Of course, Max. We understand completely. Let us know if we can be of any assistance.
MAX (Telephony) 194
Will do. Max out.
SOUND: End communication.
JEREMIAH 195
Is there anything we can do from our current position to truly confirm the geodetic marks are wrong?
PATRICK 196
I think so. By precisely determining our position within this shaft compared to where the marks say we are should definitely help.
JEREMIAH 197
Do it. I do not appreciate my ship…our ship…being used as a murder weapon. May God be with Max and Ben over there.
PATRICK 198
Aye, Sir.
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 9: JOURNEY ON
SOUND: Captain’s ready room sounds. Communication sound.
JEREMIAH 199
Yes?
MATTHIAS 200 (Telephony)
Captain, I have Subsuperintendent Max wanting to talk to you.
JEREMIAH 201
Please put him through, Brother Matthias.
MAX (Telephony) 202
Captain, your crew really hit the nail on the head. With our scans and the data you provided, the geodetic markers are definitely off. They’re off significantly. When the transporter coordinates were corrected, it targeted the keystone perfectly. It was precisely but quickly planned.
JEREMIAH 203
I imagine only a select few would have had the access to pull this off.
MAX (Telephony) 204
And only one would have had the intelligence to pull it off on the fly.
JEREMIAH 205
You already have your suspect list narrowed down, Max?
MAX (Telephony) 206
Yes, and he’s in custody being questioned right now.
JEREMIAH 207
That was fast.
MAX (Telephony) 208
Yes, it was. If it wasn’t for Brother Patrick and your team, Captain, we would still be scratching our heads. Thank you, yet again.
JEREMY 209
While I wish this entire tragedy never happened in the first place, as we all do, I’m glad we were here to help when needed.
MAX (Telephony) 210
Me, too. We’ll keep you informed once we know more.
JEREMY 211
My crew and I were hoping you would, Max, but we didn’t dare ask.
MAX (Telephony) 212
You’ve all earned it, Captain. In the meantime, we are transmitting a corrected flight path for you to exit the transport shaft right now. You’re free to continue on to your next stop. We’ll be in touch though.
SCENE 10: CHECKING IN
THOMAS 213
What brings you to Sickbay, Captain?
JEREMIAH 214
Hello, Brother Thomas. I haven’t had much chance to talk with you the past few days. We’ll soon be landing to unload the medical supplies. The medical team will be disembarking, too.
THOMAS 215
I know. We’ve been in communication with the ground crew for a while now. Brother Ethan has everything sorted for efficient offloading.
JEREMIAH 216
Are you going to miss having fellow medical professionals on board?
THOMAS 217
As I continually remind you guys, I’m merely a Med Tech.
JEREMIAH 218
But still…
THOMAS 219
Have you ever heard that doctors make the worst patients, Captain?
JEREMIAH 220
Yes, I have.
THOMAS 221
Well, they make the worst guests in a tiny Sickbay, too. They’ve rearranged EVERYTHING in my Sickbay more than once. They’ve “TAUGHT ME” how to use my own instruments multiple times.
JEREMIAH 222
I see.
THOMAS 223
They’re very nice people. Don’t get me wrong. It’s just that traveling together on a small ship on a multi-day journey with the excitement of the Claxton Mining Colony’s medical emergency in the middle breeds a familiarity that I’m not always comfortable with. I like the solitude this ship can offer at times.
JEREMIAH 224
I understand, Thomas. There are times when I like it, too.
THOMAS 225
It didn’t help that I was right in the middle of the triaging of the injured and dead mining colonists. I truly am just a part-time Med Tech. I witnessed things I hoped I never would have to.
JEREMIAH 226
I’m told you performed admirably.
THOMAS 227
I kept my head down and trudged forward doing what I was told to do.
JEREMIAH 228
I’m sorry you had to experience all that, Thomas.
THOMAS 229
Thanks. I’ll be fine with time. What bothers me more is the senseless loss of life. An accident is one thing, but knowing there was intent behind these deaths just flabbergasts me.
JEREMIAH 230
Me, too.
THOMAS 231
Do we not know anymore about who the culprit is yet?
JEREMIAH 232
No, but Subsuperintendent Max assured me he would let us know more as soon as he could.
THOMAS 233
These things take time, I know. Patience is a virtue. I pray for more of it.
JEREMIAH 234
As do I.
THOMAS 235
Don’t you have a ship to land on a planet’s surface or something like that.
JEREMIAH 236
Something like that. I’m sure Brother Matthias could do it by himself by now. Still, I should probably be there. It was good talking with you.
SOUND: Door swoosh open.
THOMAS 237
Captain?
JEREMIAH 238
Yes?
THOMAS 239
Thank you.
JEREMIAH 240
For what?
THOMAS 241
For listening. You knew I needed that.
JEREMIAH 242
I did.
SOUND: Door whoosh closed.
SOUND: Segue music.
SCENE 11: REVEAL
SOUND: Door swoosh. Ship engine’s background sound.
PATRICK 243
Sorry to be the last one in the door. I came as quickly as I could.
JEREMIAH 244
Not a problem. Brother Matthias, can you please patch us in with Subsuperintendent Max? He’s waiting for our communication.
MATTHIAS 245
Of course, Sir.
SOUND: Hailing sound.
ETHAN 246
I see we have the entire crew here in the Briefing Room.
JEREMIAH 247
Yes, they wished to brief us all at once. It seems efficient that way.
SOUND: Communication starting.
MAX 248 (Telephony)
Hello, Captain and everyone. Good to see the crew of the VSF Blessings today.
JEREMIAH 249
Good to see you two as well, Max and Ben.
PATRICK 250
Hello.
BEN 251 (Telephony)
Hi, everyone.
MAX 252 (Telephony)
Thanks for all you have done from delivering medical supplies to lending a hand in the tragic events that transpired to helping figure out what really happened. You’ll always be welcomed with open arms by the Claxton Mining Colony within the Paca asteroid field.
JERMIAH 253
Thank you, Max.
MAX 254 (Telephony)
Ben and I just got back from the last funeral of the victims of the collapse. It was for Superintendent Yelka. We lost a good man.
JEREMIAH 255
We are so sorry for all your losses. Thank you for making time for us today.
BEN 256 (Telephony)
There will be a memorial plaque placed near the incident so they are not forgotten.
MAX 257 (Telephony)
Plus, the loved ones of all those impacted by the incident are being fully supported by the Claxton family. I expected no less from them, and they went above and beyond.
BEN 258 (Telephony)
It’s what needed to be done.
MAX 259 (Telephony)
Now, before we continue the rest of this conversation, I must swear you all to secrecy. As you will learn, there are reasons I need to do this. May I trust that what you learn here stays here…at least for now, until this whole thing is resolved? Keeping this promise should not cause you any conflict, I hope.
JEREMIAH 260
On behalf of my crew and me, I promise it stays our secret for as long as you need, within our oaths of duty.
MAX 261 (Telephony)
Good, I can expect no more. Now, where to begin. The first thing you must know is thanks to the information you discovered and provided, we were able to quickly identify and apprehend the culprit.
PATRICK 262
Who was it?
MAX 263 (Telephony)
It was Archie Campbell.
PATRICK 264
Archie?!
JEREMIAH (at same time) 265
Archie?!
ETHAN 266
Who’s Archie?!
BEN 267 (Telephony)
My Assistant Mining Engineer.
JEREMIAH 268
But why?
BEN 269 (Telephony)
It seems that Archie was doing some extracurricular activities.
MAX 270 (Telephony)
Indeed he was. As you know, the mineralogy of this asteroid makes direct scans difficult in many locations. Ben here has developed algorithms to help unravel the scans, but some areas of the mine are far more difficult than others. We list the areas that are the most impenetrable to our scans as anomalies on our maps.
BEN 271 (Telephony)
On his own, Archie was apparently able to enhance my algorithms to unravel one of the anomalies.
MAX 272 (Telephony)
Unfortunately, he did not tell us about his find.
BEN 273 (Telephony)
No, he didn’t. I suspect it was because of what he found. The temptation proved too great to keep it as his own.
MATTHIAS 274 (Telephony)
What did he find?
BEN 275 (Telephony)
Topaline.
PATRICK 276
Wow! That’s a rare mineral used in life support systems, research equipment, and other high level uses. Capella IV is famous for it. It can certainly mess with the scanners, I’ve read.
MAX 277 (Telephony)
It’s also extremely valuable on the black market.
JEREMIAH 278
Oh no. I don’t like where this is headed.
MAX 279 (Telephony)
Don’t read ahead too far, Captain, but yes, Archie decided to mine it on his own and find a buyer.
BEN 280 (Telephony)
Archie definitely had the knowledge and skills, so he started his own unsanctioned, illicit mine. It wasn’t hard to hide since it was in an unused part of the mine. No real activity had happened in this area for years.
JEREMIAH 281
Until you opened up the new mining area. I remember Max mentioning how traffic had picked up in the area since then.
MAX 282 (Telephony)
Yes, it had, which set the sad chain of events into action. We believe Superintendent Yelka noticed some kind of unusual activity in the area and was checking it out. The next part of the story we don’t think was intentional, but Archie was trying to cover his tracks.
BEN 283 (Telephony)
To power his covert mining operations, Archie had tapped power off the gravity plating network. He was trying to disconnect it from this network so Yelka wouldn’t find it when a power surge happened. Power backfed from Archie’s batteries into the gravity plating, amplifying the local gravity field. Archie’s mine was right above where the collapse happened.
MAX 284 (Telephony)
The ceiling was weakened by the gravimetric surge and collapsed onto Yelka and the miners. Archie managed to escape through an alternative route unharmed.
BEN 285 (Telephony)
Luckily for the time, most, like Yelka, survived in a large pocket of space protected by a keystone of rock holding back the rubble above. As you know, this stone was failing slowly. We tried to turn down the gravity, but it didn’t respond. We tried to remove power from the gravity plating network, but that failed as well. We now know it was because of Archies batteries continuing to supply the power.
PATRICK 286
Ok, that’s making sense so far.
JEREMIAH 287
So the original collapse was more of an accident than anything intentional. There was still loss of life. Three people, if I remember correctly.
BEN 288 (Telephony)
Yes, on both accounts.
PATRICK 289
But how did things turn so dark after we arrived on the scene?
MAX 290 (Telephony)
Well, Archie had found a buyer for the Topaline. They took all he could supply and wanted more. They would not tolerate their supply line being cut off until the mine was exhausted. When Archie told them about Superintendent Yelka getting closer and what happened with the collapse, they told Archie to take care of him one way or another. If Yelka found out and their supply was cut off, Archie would be both exposed and later disposed of, in no uncertain terms.
MATTHIAS 291
But Archie’s mine had collapsed too, didn’t it?
BEN 292 (Telephony)
Part of it, but not the part with the Topaline. He could have picked up mining again later.
MAX 293 (Telephony)
Archie is a bright young man and quick on his feet. Unfortunately, he can be impulsive and lack a certain empathy. He felt trapped, so he did as he was told. He quickly hatched a plan to take care of Yelka for good. Anyone who got in the way was collateral damage to his self preservation.
THOMAS 294
Eight other people dead is collateral damage?
MAX 295 (Telephony)
In Archie’s mind, regretfully yes.
BEN 296 (Telephony)
Archie was instrumental in the next phases of the rescue effort. In hindsight, we know why now, but at the time, he seemed to have the best ideas. He quickly dismissed any more attempts at shutting off power to the gravity plating. He found a safe but slow route for the rescuers to tunnel to the trapped people. He actually came up with the idea of transporters to relieve the weight from the keystone.
MAX 297 (Telephony)
Our internal transporters aren’t mobile and are useless in this part of the mine because of the interference between the two points. We didn’t have any cargo ships in port that were equipped appropriately. I’m sure Archie knew this when he shared his plan, but it made him look like part of the solution, even if we all failed. Then I thought of the VSF Blessings bringing medical supplies. You would have a transporter and could maneuver to the optimal location for transport.
MATTHIAS 298
If only we’d been closer or farther away, I don’t know which would have been better.
JEREMIAH 299
We were where we needed to be.
BEN 300 (Telephony)
I think Archie was hedging his bets. We needed to make progress in the rescue, but not too much progress. Superintendent Yelka could not leave that tunnel alive. If he was crushed by a crumbling keystone and all that was above it, Archie was safe. That wasn’t happening fast enough on its own though. You guys were coming too fast with your transporters.
PATRICK 301
And that’s when he came up with altering the geodetic survey markers?
MAX 302 (Telephony)
Yes, he is a bright young man, as I said.
BEN 303 (Telephony)
One of the brightest mining engineers I’ve dealt with. He had a bright future ahead of him. Unbeknownst to me, my algorithm program that untangled the scattered scans and precisely located them using the geodetic markers as anchor points also provided backdoor access to these markers that no one knew anything about…except Archie. I could kick myself for not knowing that…
MAX 304 (Telephony)
Stop that, Ben. It was still his actions that caused all of this. Not yours.
BEN 305 (Telephony)
Perhaps one day I’ll start to believe that, Max.
PATRICK 306
So Archie was able to alter the geodetic markers with enough precision to trick you into beaming the keystone away using the VSF Blessings transporters. He is quite bright…and diabolical.
BEN 307 (Telephony)
Diabolical is a good description.
MAX 308 (Telephony)
And he may have gotten away with it if Ben hadn’t locked out his algorithm program almost immediately after the accident. Archie could not go back and undo what he did to the geodetic marker calibration.
BEN 309 (Telephony)
He stuck to me like glue after the incident, offering to look over my program multiple times. He was with us down by the collapse when you joined us, Father, so I could get more scans. He kept trying to help. He was still hoping to have a moment to cover his tracks.
JEREMIAH 310
Then we had to leave port and nearly hit the side of the transport shaft to put two and two together.
MAX 311 (Telephony)
Exactly, Captain. While your ship may have been exploited terribly, it was also the key to bringing what justice remained for Superintendent Yelka and the other eleven victims. Your clues led us right to Archie. He was the only one with the smarts and access to pull this off. He didn’t put up much of a fight in the end.
MATTHIAS 312
But why are we sworn to secrecy about this?
BEN 313 (Telephony)
Because the buyer Archie was supplying was part of a crime syndicate that’s been plaguing our mines for years. Starfleet has sent a team of investigators to find out more and hopefully shut them down. If the crime syndicate found out your crew was largely responsible for figuring this out, you may not be safe.
MAX 314 (Telephony)
We simply cannot allow that to happen. This must end.
JEREMIAH 315
I do have my mission log that I sent back to VSF Command, but I can mark it in such a way that only a very select few have access to it.
MAX 316 (Telephony)
I think that would be wise.
THOMAS 317
How about you two? Are you safe?
BEN 318 (Telephony)
Starfleet and the Claxton family are doing all they can to ensure both we and the mining colony are.
MATTHIAS 319
What about Archie? What will happen to him?
MAX 320 (Telephony)
The judiciary system has to do its thing, of course, to ensure justice is served. If found guilty, which we know he is, he’ll be sent to a penitentiary to pay for his crimes.
THOMAS 321
But is he safe?
BEN 322 (Telephony)
For now, yes, but once he gets to the penitentiary, it depends upon the reach of the crime syndicate and how successful Starfleet is in shutting them down.
JEREMIAH 323
Oh, what tangled webs we do weave…
BEN 324 (Telephony)
…when first we practice to deceive.
JEREMIAH 325
Subsuperintendent Max and Ben, thank you for sharing all this, and thank you for considering our safety. The innocent loss of life and the waste of a lifetime are such unfathomable shames. We cannot take today for granted because we know not what tomorrow holds nor what plots are against us. I can say from experience that you will heal with time. Perhaps not totally and never quickly enough, but you will heal with time.
MAX 326 (Telephony)
Thank you, Captain.
BEN 327 (Telephony)
Thank you, Captain.
JEREMIAH 328
If you ever need us or just to talk through what has happened, please let us know.
BEN 329 (Telephony)
We will. That offer goes both ways.
JEREMIAH 330
Thank you.
PATRICK 331
Do you mind if I close with a prayer, Father?
JEREMIAH 332
You’re reading my mind, Brother Patrick.
MAX 333 (Telephony)
Mine, too.
PATRICK 334
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. O Lord, grant us your wisdom and peace to understand and accept these tragic events. Grant us strength to get through these days…
SOUND: Segue music.
END CREDITS
You have been listening to VSF Blessings, a Star Trek fan production. Episode 5, “Keystone.”
Created, written, produced, directed, and audio engineered by James McDonald. Story consultation provided by Noah McDonald. All character voices were generated using ElevenLabs AI voice generator. Sound effects from Pixabay.com under free-use content licenses and Trekcore.com.
Star Trek and all related marks, logos, and characters are solely owned by CBS Studios Inc. This fan production 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 production intended for recreational use. No commercial exhibition or distribution is permitted. No alleged independent rights will be asserted against CBS or Paramount Pictures.
Until next time, be the good, do what’s right, and be the light.
SOUND: End Music