ST:TTV118 | "Xe Marks the Spot Pt. I"

Stardate 93903.2

After successful negotiations with the nomadic Tiks, the Valley Forge crew have obtained a map to what they believe to be another shuttle or escape craft from the Gainsborough. However, the Tiks and their cosmozoan bioships departed with no way to contact them and a request to leave them alone. The Valley Forge now calls for the 38th's finest minds to decipher this alien map...

---

View Episode

Eunha@turtles#8407 Places a PADD on Keelahs lap and moves back Keelah@crystyll blinks at Eunha and picks up the PADD, giving it a curious glance Eunha@turtles#8407: It's a warning message from Eunha: "My Grandmother is coming. Ready the battlements." also her latest reports Keelah@crystyll FX | VF is sweeping the last known area for the cozmozoans in an effort to pursue Capt. Omar's lead Mana@anncarise | Kelly is at the engineering console as usual, typing away and monitoring ship status. Sulayman@drcrippler is scanning the area for the Cozmozoans To Sulayman@drcrippler: Long range sensors pick up signals matching the cosmozoans in a system 4 lightyears away. Sulayman@drcrippler: "Sensors are picking up what looks to be Cos. signitures about 4 lightyears away Captain," Keelah@crystyll smiles, "Perfect. Helm; intercept course. Eunha, let's start with a friendly comms greeting as soon as we're in range" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Ooh Comms fun." she seems to be in a playful mood today but she does the comms thing Mana@anncarise FX | The Valley Forge jumps away towards the specified system... Keelah@crystyll glances back, "Sulayman; once in range let's see what we can learn about these creatures from non-intrusive scans only. I understand they are rather twitchy" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Captain, did you get any cookies sent to you recently?" she asks randomly Sulayman@drcrippler nods. "I'm on it Captain." Mana@anncarise | Kelly: "The report said they didn't like something about our technology." Keelah@crystyll: "Errm... no Eunha, I did not. Why... did you?" Sulayman@drcrippler tries to see if he can modify sensors to be non-intrusive and detailed Eunha@turtles#8407: "No it means Yoona didn't deliver it to you...." she hmphs Eunha@turtles#8407: "Carry on." she nods and taps on her console To Sulayman@drcrippler: Passive scanning is the most unintrusive as you'll just be picking up emitted signals and not sending any. It tends to not work with a lot of things though, so some degree - Keelah@crystyll: "Oh! Well then... seems I have something to look forward to!" she chuckles To Sulayman@drcrippler: of active scanning might be necessary Mana@anncarise | Kelly: "What's this about cookies?" Sulayman@drcrippler: Awesome thanks! Eunha@turtles#8407: "I baked alot...last year for my brithday I didn't bake enough this year it was over the top....I might have nearly set off the fire supression system." Keelah@crystyll: "And Kelly, you are quite right. See what you can do about narrowing the reasons behind that. Maybe it's some energy signature they don't like?" Mana@anncarise | Kelly: "On it, captain." Mana@anncarise | Kelly chuckles at Eunha, "At least you didn't modify the fire suppression system. I heard of an officer that got suspended for almost blowing up their lab." Mana@anncarise | While Kelly types away at the console, the Valley Forge drops out of warp… Keelah@crystyll sits forward slightly, "Let's get a look at them. Hold position at range for now while we establish communications" Eunha@turtles#8407 Does the comms thing! Sulayman@drcrippler starts to do some passive scans To Sulayman@drcrippler: Your results match exactly with the Lexington's and you detect the radio signals bouncing back and forth Mana@anncarise FX | The cosmozoans react almost immediately to the Valley Forge's appearance and move to circle around the ship. Keelah@crystyll: "Helm, back us off, nice and slow. Let them see we mean no harm" Sulayman@drcrippler: "I'm reading the same signals the Lexington picked up. There seem to be radio signals...is that how they converse?" To Sulayman@drcrippler: There's also something similar to what you expect to detect from deflector technology To Sulayman@drcrippler: It's on every cosmozoan Keelah@crystyll: "It's possible..." she nods slowly, "...see what you can do about interpreting the signals" Keelah@crystyll: "Eunha, any joy from our warm greeting?" Mana@anncarise | Kelly: "The report provided a translation matrix for their language, I think." Eunha@turtles#8407 Taps on her console checking Sulayman@drcrippler: "There's also what seems to be some sort of deflector technology on each of the Cosmozans Mana@anncarise sends the file to Eunha's console. Eunha@turtles#8407: "thank you." she calls back To Eunha@turtles#8407: Lots of radio signals that are just clicks. The translation program mightt be able to decipher them Keelah@crystyll: "Well, they are spacefaring after all. I suppose it makes sense that they'd utilize something...." Eunha@turtles#8407 Runs the program "I'll see what I can do right now it mostly sounds like clicking." Sulayman@drcrippler: "It's morse code is it not?" Mana@anncarise | Kelly: "From what I read, it's a similar style of communication, but not the same thing." To Eunha@turtles#8407: Messages deciphered! Read them ffirst or play them out loud? Sulayman@drcrippler is also scanning the radio messages to see what he can learn Keelah@crystyll sits back, crossing one leg over while she listens to the bridge crew work and considers the situation Eunha@turtles#8407: "Done." she plays it loud Eunha@turtles#8407: answered! Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "The Metal God is back." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "The Abomination has come to attack us." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Do not be so hasty in your presumption." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "It is attempting to commune." Sulayman@drcrippler archs his eyebrow at the mention of God Eunha@turtles#8407: "Metal God....Sounds like something from an anime." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "We speak, but be wary." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Prepare defense. Do not trust the metal ones." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Metal construct. Why have you followed?" Eunha@turtles#8407 Glances to Keelah Mana@anncarise | Kelly: "Not sure if Metal God is a good thing here..." Keelah@crystyll clears her throat, "This is Captain Se'Lai of the Federation starship Valley Forge; on a mission of peaceful exploration. We seek an exchange of information, nothing more" Mana@anncarise | Kelly: "I'm going to try and turn certain emissions off, see if that helps improve their perception of our technology." Keelah@crystyll glances back with a silent nod of approval to Kelly's proposal Sulayman@drcrippler turns to Kelly. "I can help if you want?" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "They always speak of peace. Do not trust them!" Mana@anncarise | Kelly: "Do your scans reveal anything about what systems we could shut off, something maybe not like the deflectors or warp fields, something they've never seen before and are afraid of?" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Exchange. That willb be our doom." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "We do not want any of your fell constructs." Sulayman@drcrippler: "Nothing that my passive scans can show. I'll do another round but we might have to do some active scanning." starts to see what he can learn from another round of scans Eunha@turtles#8407: "We could turn off life support." she is obviously joking Mana@anncarise | Kelly nods, "Thanks, that should be helpful. Nooot the life support bit..." Eunha@turtles#8407: "I'm always here to help." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Why should we desire anything you have to offer?" Keelah@crystyll hrms, "We seek specific knowledge about something you may have found. We believe it may our lost souls for whom we search this region. In return, if you wish for our kind to leave you alone; we can + To Sulayman@drcrippler: If active scans are used, the large amounts of lifeforms inside the cosmozoans will show up, along with the fact that there are no non-organic signs. If these beings have - To Sulayman@drcrippler: technology, it is purely biotech Keelah@crystyll: + take any desired precautions to ensure that your space is not inadvertently passed by our explorers" Sulayman@drcrippler turns to Keelah and waits for her to finish speaking. "Captain, may I switch from passive scans to active scans?" Keelah@crystyll shakes her head, "Not right now. I do not want to risk upsetting them further" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "It always begins with promises of peace and order. Then they take our way of life, poison the Gods, and seek to supplant them with minds of machine." Sulayman@drcrippler nods and spins back to his console Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Why should we believe you to be any different?" Keelah@crystyll: "It... sounds like you speak with specific reference. If we may know of whom you speak, perhaps that will allow us to better demonstrate this" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "They manipulate us to tell them our past." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Our past is behind us. It cannot hurt us." Mana@anncarise | Kelly: "Well that's not disorientating at all..." she listens as she types, trying to distinguish which messages are meant for them. "They should really develop some kind of encryption..." Mana@anncarise | Kelly: "Though on the bright side, we can be sure they won't plot behind our backs..." Keelah@crystyll listens patiently as the creatures discuss things among themselves Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "So we speak to them of our role in the Order?" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "The EereE have withdrawn. Speaking of them is fruitless." Keelah@crystyll blinks at hearing the name, "Did... they just say EereE?" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Those who sail in the Metal Gods will not understand our plight." Mana@anncarise | Kelly: "That's what I heard...are we translating this properly?" Keelah@crystyll 's eyes dart as she listens to them, "Eunha... are you sensing anything from them?" Eunha@turtles#8407: WHAT CAN I SENSE To Eunha@turtles#8407: Eunha can sense a large amount of sentient lifeforms. Not just the cosmozoans, but almost an entire fleet-sized group of intelligent beings To Eunha@turtles#8407: Just like Lexington's report that said they detected multiple lifeforms inside the cosmozoans Eunha@turtles#8407: "I can sense what feels like a fleet-sized group of intelligent beings." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "There is no harm in telling them." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "We do not exist to entertain these beings." Keelah@crystyll: "Can you tell if it is them we are takling with, rather than the creatures we see on screen?" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "The Gods will need feeding soon." To Eunha@turtles#8407: The creatures within seem to be able to exhibit the same range of emotions as the cosmozoans Eunha@turtles#8407: "They can exhibit the same range of emotions as the cosmozoans." Keelah@crystyll: "Now is it just me... or does their use of the term 'Gods' better fit the context of 'ships'?" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Perhaps we should see what they know." Mana@anncarise | Kelly: "It does seem so." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "You within the metal construct. Do you truly think you can comprehend what you have heard thus far?" Keelah@crystyll: "We would be arrogant to assume so. All I can say is that we are here and willing to try to understand, if you would allow us to" Keelah@crystyll taps her armrest console, "Mana, please report to the bridge" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Those like you always begin with promises of cooperation, and end with naught but destruction and assimilation." Mana@anncarise: <C> "Mana will be there as soon as Mana can." Keelah@crystyll: "We acknolwedge that there are many different species who travel the stars, and are saddened that your past experience with them has soured your perceptions. But whilst not all are honourable, there + Keelah@crystyll: + are plenty more who are." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Your metal is the very perversion of natural order. Whatever your intentions, you bring nothing but corruption." To Eunha@turtles#8407: Eunha senses a surge of anger from many of the smaller beings Mana@anncarise steps through the turbolift onto the bridge, "Captain Keelah wished Mana to be here?" Keelah@crystyll: "Which is why in return for telling us about the thing you found with the same atmosphere as the last vessel to meet you; we offer to establish a border so that our people may never disturb you again" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Captain I'm getting a surge of anger from them." Keelah@crystyll nods to Mana and waves her over, pointing to the viewscreen, "Recognise these at all? Their occupants spoke of the EereE Order" Keelah@crystyll frowns at the report from Eunha, clearly not the reaction she had hoped to achieve Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "The Gods must feed and propogate. We cannot be penned up in one region." Mana@anncarise examines the cosmozoans, "Mana has not seen such creatures before, but the EereE knew of many people before the time of the Overseer." Mana@anncarise: "Mana may need more information." Keelah@crystyll: "Forgive the poor translation. I did not mean to suggest penning you in, but rather that you could tell us where we may or not go so that we do not present further corruption" Keelah@crystyll: "Mana, Kelly should be able to bring you up to speed with all we know. See if anything she has looks familiar at all" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Away from the Gods." Keelah@crystyll: "You... want us to maintain a minimum distance from any of your 'Gods'?" Mana@anncarise nods and peers over at Kelly's console. "Does Keelah know what context they spoke of the EereE in?"d Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Keep your corruption away, if we can trust you to honour your words." To Eunha@turtles#8407: Some of the creatures appear concerned Keelah@crystyll: "If this is your price for the information we seek, then it will be done. While we can not speak for all spacefaring civilizations, we can for the Federation and it's allies" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Some of them are concerned." she starts sending messages to Keelahs chair if she has the console on her arm rest Eunha@turtles#8407: (that was the message) Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "And how can we know you will not return for us once we no longer possess information of value to you?" Mana@anncarise looks to Keelah, "Mana may have a theory...could Mana sample the untranslated audio of the messages?" Keelah@crystyll: "In truth? ...you can't. No more than we can trust that you will provide genuine information and not mislead us to maintain something of perceived importance to another. This is simply where diplomacy Keelah@crystyll: starts; with a small leap of faith... by both of us" Keelah@crystyll glances back off comms, "Please go ahead Mana, whatever you need" Mana@anncarise nods and moves over to Eunha and her comms info. Eunha@turtles#8407 steps to the side alittle Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "We will consider." Mana@anncarise: "Could Eunha turn off the translation function here?" Eunha@turtles#8407: "I can." Keelah@crystyll: "And we patiently await your decision. Thank you for hearing us out, if we can be of any further help in your decision making then please do not hesitate to reach out" Keelah@crystyll slumps backwards and exhales deeply; clearly awkward diplomacy is far from her idea of fun Mana@anncarise steps back to let Eunha do un-translating. Eunha@turtles#8407 Does the thing Mana@anncarise FX | A series of clicking noises fill the bridge's audio. Eunha@turtles#8407: "Can i mute it?" Keelah@crystyll listens curiously to the untranslated audio Mana@anncarise clicks her tongue, seemingly imitating the noise, "Tiks." Mana@anncarise: "Mana has all Mana needs." she nods to Eunha. Eunha@turtles#8407: "Turn the translator on or mute?" she looks to mana confused Keelah@crystyll tilts her head slightly, looking to the pair Mana@anncarise: "Does Eunha wish to continue to hear the Tiks?" Mana@anncarise turns back to Keelah, "Or Mana thinks the creatures are Tiks..." Keelah@crystyll: "Tiks?" Eunha@turtles#8407 Mutes it for now unless she is aked not to still slightly confused Keelah@crystyll tilts her head slightly, looking to the pair Mana@anncarise: "Does Eunha wish to continue to hear the Tiks?" Mana@anncarise turns back to Keelah, "Or Mana thinks the creatures are Tiks..." Keelah@crystyll: "Tiks?" Eunha@turtles#8407 Mutes it for now unless she is aked not to still slightly confused Mana@anncarise nods, "That is the name the EereE used for one of the first species in the Order." Keelah@crystyll: "Assuming for the moment they are indeed these 'Tiks'... what do we know of them?" Mana@anncarise: "The Tiks have a strong sense of natural order. Mana believes the information here aligns with what the EereE know of Tiks." Mana@anncarise: "The Tiks had a similar philosophy to the EereE views of order and joined the EereE without conflict." Mana@anncarise: "The EereE transformed the Tik world into a great industry for designing ships. The idea to build ships that look like natural creatures come from the Tiks." Mana@anncarise: "The Tik world was slowly consumed by industry, and the Tik gods, the big Space-Fish, could no longer lay eggs in the planet's oceans." Mana@anncarise: "Mana believes the introduction of the Overseer was the final thing that drove the Tiks apart from the Order, and the Tiks left in the Space-Fish to find the Gods new places to breed." Mana@anncarise: "This is the history the Overseer taught." Keelah@crystyll: "I see. Thank you, Mana. Let us now hope that they are in a sharing mood when comms return" Eunha@turtles#8407 Is ready to unmute and translate at a push of a button Mana@anncarise: "Mana does not know about what happened after the Tiks left, but mistrust of technology seems to align with what Mana does know." Mana@anncarise | The radio signals suddenly spike again. Keelah@crystyll: "Let's hear what they are up to Eunha" Eunha@turtles#8407 presses the button Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "You in the metal construct. What is the purpose of your presence in this reigon?" Keelah@crystyll: "We are searching for more of our kind who we fear are lost in this region following an encounter not unlike that which you imply of your own prior interactions" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "You were attacked by other metal constructs?" Keelah@crystyll: "Our people were yes. Their hand of friendship was met with extreme prejudice by the metal constructs we still can not identify" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "And you seek true peace, not an expansion of your ways like the EereE?" Keelah@crystyll: "Our only expanse comes through mutual agreement" Keelah@crystyll: "The Federation is made up of countless different species who all willingly work together for the greater shared good. Whilst I am more than happy to demonstrate this further to you, I do not believe Keelah@crystyll: this is desirable at present" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Very well. We will negotiate." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "The atmospheric similarity we located does not have proper hydrogen-oxygen ratio to be of interest. If you desire its location, we will provide it." Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "But they will stay away from the Gods." Keelah@crystyll: "We are most gracious for your assistance. And if that is your wish in return for this information, then I will inform my people of your wishes" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "We will guide the Gods on their path, and you will take yours." Keelah@crystyll: "Though if I may be so bold... what would be the proper hydrogen-oxygen ration to be of interest to you?" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "Two hydrogen. One oxygen. We detect some amounts on your Metal God, but not enough for it to live." Keelah@crystyll: "Two to One... water?" Keelah@crystyll: "Eunha, prepare a datapacket detailing all uninhabited planets we have surveyed in the region to contain water" Mana@anncarise: "Dihydrogen monoxide," Mana nods. "The Tiks live in water and the Space-Fish Gods must grow up in water." Keelah@crystyll: "Let's see if we can't return the favour with a show of good faith" she smiles, opeining comms again, "May we present to you a gift of infomration, in gratitude for your assistance?" Keelah@crystyll: "Something to help guide your Gods on their path" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "What form of information?" Keelah@crystyll: "Our people have surveyed many worlds in and around this region. I would like to share with you all we have discovered that are free of unnatural corruption and contain the desirable ratio you seek" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "If your information is correct, we appreciate the assistance." Keelah@crystyll: "We will relay the information now; may it serve you well in your travels" she gives the nod to transmit Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "We will relay ours as well." To Eunha@turtles#8407: Eunha can feel a sense of calm washing over the aliens Eunha@turtles#8407 Taps a message to Keelah Keelah@crystyll: "Then I believe we have reached an accord; I sincerely hope that we will hear from you again one day, with this meeting serving as the small step to building trust between our peoples" Keelah@crystyll: "But until that day; live long and prosper" Mana@anncarise | Transmission: "For now, we will take our path and you will take yours. May you find favourable currents on yours." To Eunha@turtles#8407: We receive a very long transmission that the translator says is not linguistic in nature. This is probably their map of the atmospheric similarity's location. Keelah@crystyll relaxes as the dialogue with the Tiks closes Keelah@crystyll: "I do hope all this effort was not in vain..." Eunha@turtles#8407: "I believe this is a map they have sent us." Mana@anncarise FX | The cosmozoans arrange each other back into a tight-knit group and all simultaneously warp away. Keelah@crystyll: "That's promising at least" Mana@anncarise: "Maybe the Tiks will trust technology-users in the future as well." Mana@anncarise smiles at Keelah, "Captain Keelah is a very fine negotiator." Keelah@crystyll: "As long as they don't become too trusting and fall in with the likes of Species 2492... that would not make a further encounter with usfavourable!" she chuckles Mana@anncarise chuckles, "Some caution is always advisable when encountering new beings." Keelah@crystyll: "But enough of that. Eunha, why don't we forward that map data down to astrometrics and take a proper look at things down there" Mana@anncarise: "Mana was not too trusting of Gainsborough in the beginning either." Mana@anncarise: "Mana hopes the map will assist in finding the lost people of the Gainsborough." Keelah@crystyll: "As do we all Mana... as do we all" Keelah@crystyll: "That's promising at least" Mana@anncarise: "Maybe the Tiks will trust technology-users in the future as well." Mana@anncarise smiles at Keelah, "Captain Keelah is a very fine negotiator." Keelah@crystyll: "As long as they don't become too trusting and fall in with the likes of Species 2492... that would not make a further encounter with usfavourable!" she chuckles Mana@anncarise chuckles, "Some caution is always advisable when encountering new beings." Keelah@crystyll: "But enough of that. Eunha, why don't we forward that map data down to astrometrics and take a proper look at things down there" Mana@anncarise: "Mana was not too trusting of Gainsborough in the beginning either." Mana@anncarise: "Mana hopes the map will assist in finding the lost people of the Gainsborough." Keelah@crystyll: "As do we all Mana... as do we all" Eunha@turtles#8407 Nods Keelah@crystyll: ---- SCENE END -----

View AAR

SUBMITTED: Stardate 93903.2 FILED BY: LCDR Keliaya SECURITY: Level 2 - Confidential

LOCATION: Alpha-7192 Sector

MISSION: Establishing diplomatic relations following first contact and obtaining information potentially relevant to search and rescue efforts.

OUTCOME: An agreement was reached with the Tiks, who still prefer to remain without contact with the Federation, but are slightly more amenable to us now after having understood our mission. The Tiks have given us their information on the atmospheric similarity they detected, though we do not yet know how to read their map.

KEY PERSONNEL:

CAPT Se'lai LCDR al Firawn LCDR Eunbi LCDR Keliaya CIV Mana

NARRATIVE: The U.S.S. Valley Forge set out on stardate 93898.1 to follow up on a potential lead for our search and rescue mission, temporarily conducted by the U.S.S. Lexington in our absence. The Lexington encountered a group of cosmozoan entities who claimed to have found something with similar atmospheric composition to the Lexington but smaller, deemed likely a shuttlecraft or escape pod by Captain Omar. However, the Lexington was unable to establish diplomatic relations with the distrustful beings (See this report for more details on the Lexington's mission).

The Valley Forge first searched for the cosmozoans in their last known location, and long-ranged sensors detected them in a system only four lightyears away. Upon arriving in the system, I attempted to minimize our threat appearance by lowering various types of technological emissions but did not achieve any results. Commander al Firawn scanned the creatures with passive scans only to avoid disturbing them, and though not much information was gained, he managed to observe deflector-like technology on the cosmozoans, as well as the radio signals they used to communicate.

Applying the Lexington's translation matrix, Commander Eunbi was able to decipher the cosmozoans' signals. Like with the Lexington, they were extremely wary of us and demonstrated a strong distrust for our metal-based technology. Captain Keelah communicated with them in another attempt at diplomacy. Commander Eunbi was able to sense a large amount of intelligent lifeforms inside the cosmozoans (verified by the Lexington's sensor data) but could not distinguish whether we were communicating with them or the cosmozoans. Their use of the word 'Gods' to seemingly supplement 'ships,' as pointed out by Keelah, did suggest that they were the smaller lifeforms within.

During the conversation, the beings mentioned the EereE, and the captain called Mana to the bridge due to her firsthand knowledge of the EereE. After showing her our scan data on the cosmozoans and playing the untranslated audio, Mana identified the smaller lifeforms as most likely being the Tiks, and it was them that we were speaking with.

According to Mana's historical information, the aquatic Tiks were one of the first species to join the EereE Order, and did so willingly due to the alignment of their ideals of natural order with the beliefs of the EereE. The EereE proceeded to industrialize their homeworld, which polluted it to the degree that the cosmozoan creatures (their gods) who required its oceans to breed could no longer have their young survive here. The EereE offered to repair all the damage they had done in their Crusade period with the introduction of the Overseer, but disagreement over the AI network's implementation was the final straw that broke the two species apart. The Tiks apparently abandoned their homeworld and left inside the bodies of the cosmozoans (their aquatic nature allowing them to survive in the circulatory systems of the creatures), who now function as bioships for them in return for the Tiks' assistance in guiding them to vital resources and maintaining their health.

Modern Tiks have formed a symbiotic relationship with the cosmozoans, whom they still refer to as 'gods.' Their experience with the EereE have soured their view of non-biologically based technology, perceiving them as 'perversions of nature.' It is unclear whether they believed our statements of peace, but they appeared satisfied by Captain Keelah's negotiation efforts. We promised that Federation vessels would leave the Tiks alone, and they agreed to give us a map pointing to the similar atmospheric composition they had discovered. In our exchange we learned that the Tiks ignored this discovery as it did not have the correct hydrogen-oxygen ratio, and they sought water to sustain themselves and their cosmozoan ships. As a gesture of good faith, Keelah also presented a map of systems Starfleet had charted in the region to assist the Tiks in finding water sources.

RECOMMENDATION: We should honour our word and not make further contact with the Tiks unless they do so first, or if circumstances make it absolutely necessary. However, the Valley Forge science teams cannot yet make sense of the 'map' they have given us. I recommend first consulting astronomy and navigation experts across the fleet, and if that fails, seek out the Tiks again for assistance.

//SIGNED//

Lieutenant Commander Keliaya

Chief Engineer, U.S.S. Valley Forge