ST:TTV216 | "To Be Confirmed"

Stardate 94473.7

With her diplomatic escort mission completed, the Valley Forge heads back for DS13. On the journey home they are given another assignment- a simple survey mission of a potential colony site. The complexities of Alpha Quadrant politics is behind them, and the crew hopes for a more familiar and relaxing trip to a promising planet...

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Keliaya@anncarise FX | After delivering their ambassador guest to her destination with the Orions, the Valley Forge sets course back towards the Alpha/Beta Quadrant border. Keliaya@anncarise | T'Quila: "Captain, we're receiving a hail from Federation starship USS Pollux." Keelah@crystyll: "The Pollux...?" she muses aloud, glancing briefly to the holocaptains to see if they are familiar with the name, "Let's have it" Keliaya@anncarise | Wrolmacht: "USS Pollux is a part of a Steamrunner/Saber team that dates all the way back to the Dominion War, sir. They've been refitted many times since then, but they're still as sharp as - Keliaya@anncarise - their reputation." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Which is it? A Steamrunner or a Saber?" Fiona@falconecoose raises her eyebrow slightly, her hand fidgiting with something in her pocket "She is an old ship no matter what she is." Keelah@crystyll: "Well let us see what we can do for them shall we" she nods to T'Quila Keliaya@anncarise: "Pollux looks to be the Steamrunner, and Castor is the Saber." Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570 FX | An older looking Andorian bearing the signature white captain shoulders materializes as a hologram. Knight@hawkecosse#4702 glances back as the new holocaptain appears Keelah@crystyll: "Captain" she greets with a nod and polite smile Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570 nods with a slight formal smile, "Captain." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan nods to the Andorian. Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570: "I am Sithil Ch'ithiavoss, in command of the starship Pollux. You can just call me Sithil for ease." Keelah@crystyll: "Keelah Se'Lai of the Valley Forge, at your service Captain" Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570 chuckles, "I'd appreciate that, but I'm calling on behalf of Admiral Arishan. He told me to contact you." Keliaya@anncarise | T'Quila: "We're receiving sector command clearance. He is indeed authorized by the admiral." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "What can we do for the Admiral this time?" Knight@hawkecosse#4702 mutters something about Admirals always needing people to clean up after them Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570: "The Castor and Pollux rerouted from our patrol route in order to respond to a distress call. When we were doing that we brushed by the edge of unexplored space." Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570: "Pollux's sensors picked up a planet. M-class, breathable atmosphere, very promising for settlement, so I attached the info on my report to command." Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570: "Admiral wants to check it out, but we're not exploration vessels. He was hoping you could help." Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570: "You're passing by the area, and it's just a simple survey. Nothing you aren't familiar with." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan arches a brow "Thanks for jinxing it for us." Fiona@falconecoose nods slightly "A simple mission is never simple." Keelah@crystyll chuckles, "Well it is what we are here for after all" Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570: "Well it's standard Starfleet procedure," he chuckles as well. "Don't blame me if anything goes awry." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan looks over off screen to see if his XO's threat ganglia are going wild. Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570: "Never know what you'd find on an unexplored world." Keelah@crystyll: "That's what keeps it fun" she smiles Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570: "Admiral wants detailed scan data and boots on the ground to verify that it's inhabitable and fit for colonization. That's about it." Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570: "You know the routine if you find a Q down there or something." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Yeah yeah, just smack him with a fish." Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570 smirks, "That's the spirit." Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570: "We've got to be on our way for resupply, so good luck on your mission." Keelah@crystyll: "Safe travels Captain" she smiles, dipping her head Sithil Ch'ithiavoss@annpc#5570 nods back before his hologram disappears. Keliaya@anncarise | T'Quila: "We've received the planet's coordinates from the Pollux." Keelah@crystyll: "Well then, what's say we go take a look?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan nods to Keelah "We'll follow your lead." Fiona@falconecoose nods lightly "Aye, the MacAlpine is ready to follow." Knight@hawkecosse#4702: "Aye Captains, the Honington is standing by with all flights acounted for." Keelah@crystyll: "Very well" she looks forward, "Adjust course and engage" Keliaya@anncarise | Chag: "Course set and engaging warp." Keliaya@anncarise FX | After some travelling, the ships arrive at the designated system. To Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: The planet of interest is the third planet in the system. It's definitely M-Class with an atmosphere containing slightly more oxygen than Earth's, but within - To Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: - breathable levels for most species. To Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: And no one can sense any threat on it Keelah@crystyll: "Alright well there's plenty of us, so let's spread out and get a good picture of this place" Keelah@crystyll: should we do a sensor roll thing? Alistair Nimitz@natthaan looks over the "The planet is the third planet in the system, the oxygen levels are slightly higher then that of Earth, but still breathable for the most part." Keliaya@anncarise: Nah I'm just giving info! Nothing hidden or anything from sensors! Keliaya@anncarise: we'll have rolls later! Keelah@crystyll: nice To Fiona@falconecoose: The planet of interest is definitely M-class and brimming with life. There's all sorts of lifesigns and it's ecosystem is clearly very lush To Fiona@falconecoose: But no sign of technology or civilization Knight@hawkecosse#4702 nods slightly as she turns "Habitat flight is launcing for survey duty of the planets northern polls." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: the Akagi moves in to scan for life forms on the planet's surface, seeing any signs of civilizations Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: seeing if there any* To Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: There are lots of life but no sign of technology or civilization Fiona@falconecoose: "Orso is currently organising the sensore sweeps of quadrants A4 through B9 Fiona@falconecoose: " Alistair Nimitz@natthaan looks "We are seeing a lot of life down there, but nothing that shows any technology or civilization, I'll put togather an away team to see the life froms up close." To Knight@hawkecosse#4702: The planet consists primarily of one massive, Pangaea-like land mass. The poles are colder than the rest of the planet, but also inhabited and more so than Earth's poles Keelah@crystyll: "This does indeed sound promising" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan steps off the holo, and is quickly replaced with the Kelpin XO. Keliaya@anncarise: "This world looks rich in resources too. No dilithium, but a lot of other things." Knight@hawkecosse#4702: "Habitat 2 is reporting that the land mass is one massive super-continent, also saying that they are picking up cold poles though they are inhabited." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: Nimitz leads an away team to the surface to look at the natives. Keliaya@anncarise: "There's dots that we can't see through, but from surface magnification they look like natural deposits of topaline and magnesite than anyone hiding anything." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan the tall alien seems resigned at losing yet another arguement with his Captain. "Captain Se'Lai, I am Commander Koro, First Officer of the Akagi, Captain Nimitz is on the surface leading the away Knight@hawkecosse#4702: "I can get Habitat to do a closer fly by and attempt to get visual confirmation." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: team." Keliaya@anncarise: (I'll keep you in team so it's easier to relay info for you to <C> back to the others!) Keelah@crystyll chuckles, "My, he was keen wasn't he" Keliaya@anncarise: Nimitz and the Akagi away team find themselves in an extremely lush environment. They're on the edge of a plain with a hilly region behind him and some forests in the distance. Alistair Nimitz@natthaan sighs "He always is.." Keliaya@anncarise: All sorts of life forms can be observed, flocks of pterosaur-like flying creatures, herds of massive grazing beasts, and small critters hopping through the grass Keliaya@anncarise: (Think the peaceful scenes at the start of Jurrasic park!) Keelah@crystyll: "Well if things check out, perhaps more can join the away team" To Knight@hawkecosse#4702: Almost all of the planet is teeming with life, seas, rivers, poles, land mass, it's super busy Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: Nimitz would lead his team onwards, keeping a look out for the more dangerous creatures. Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: <C> Nimitz to Valley Forge, there are some pretty sizeable reptilans on the surface of the planet. Keliaya@anncarise: There looks to be absolutely nothing dangerous. Some animals are big, but a quick scan reveals that they're herbivores Keliaya@anncarise: Like any wild space there are a TON of bugs, but they seem to avoid the away team, flying away as they get close Keliaya@anncarise: None of them attempt to sting or anything Keelah@crystyll: "Predatory?" Keliaya@anncarise: Scans don't reveal a single carnivore in the vicinity Keliaya@anncarise: but it does reveal a maaassive lifeform, evne bigger than the dinosaur sized ones Knight@hawkecosse#4702: "Captains, Habitat is reporting a mass of life on the planet, they are saying the ground looks really busy." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: <C> Not yet, the ones we see are all herbivours, according to our scans there are no carnivores nearby, we are also reading soemthing big, I'm going to see what it is." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: Nimitz leads the team to see the really big thing. To Knight@hawkecosse#4702: If the pilots go low enough, the skies are also very busy and flocks of what look like pterosaurs will scatter and flee the incoming spacecraft Keliaya@anncarise: It points him to...a hill Keliaya@anncarise: Filled with little critters but nothing visibly big Knight@hawkecosse#4702 raises her eyebrow slightly at the latest report "Ehh Captains, don't know how else to say this but Habitat is having to gain altitude since they appear to have just startled a flock of dinosaurs." Fiona@falconecoose raises her eyebrow slightly "Dinosaurs?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: Nimitz tries to direct his team to scan the inside of the hill Keliaya@anncarise: The inside of the hill is indeed another reptillian lifeform Keelah@crystyll blinks, "A 'flock' of them? Is that to say they are flying. Flying dinosaurs..." Keliaya@anncarise: it seems that whatever it is is so big that foliage is growing on its back Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: <C> Nimitz to Valley Forge, we found the big guy, it's the size of a hill and foliage is grown on it's back." Keliaya@anncarise: It's also reading as a herbavore and likely harmless Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: <C> "it's another herbavore according to our scans." Keliaya@anncarise: "Flying reptiles aren't exactly unheard of...Gainsborough's encountered them before too." Knight@hawkecosse#4702 nods slightly "Aye captains, the pilot is a bit of dino nerd hence their pilot callsign, they apparently look like pterodactyls." Keelah@crystyll: "Yes I recall an unusually... excitable log from their XO. She... didn't call them dinosaurs..." Keliaya@anncarise: "What was the word...something from Terran mythology...dragons?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan the XO looks over "I believe Dragons would be breathing fire." Keliaya@anncarise: A flock of them flies off in the distance, away from the away team Keliaya@anncarise: Scans would reveal that they are also not predatory Keliaya@anncarise: Likely fruit eaters from their anatomy Keelah@crystyll chuckles, "My thoughts exactly. Still, she seemed to enjoy the sight" Fiona@falconecoose shrugs slightly "Some can, some can't depends on what type of Dragon we are talking about." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: would scanners show anything that could have spooked them off? Keliaya@anncarise: Nope, nothing at all Keliaya@anncarise: The local wildlife do seem to scatter as the away team approaches though Keelah@crystyll: "Well what do we think; worth sending a full team down to investigate more thoroughly?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: <C> Nimitz here, while the local wildlife seems to scatter at our approch, we don't see anything on scanners that would suggest there is any danger. Keliaya@anncarise: "Agreed, sensors up here aren't detecting anything dangerous either." Keliaya@anncarise: "As long as we don't accidentally get in the way and get stepped on by anything, we should be fine." Knight@hawkecosse#4702 raises her eyebrow slightly "With respect Captains, there is always a bigger fish...or in this case a bigger dino." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: <C> Yes, and we already found him. Keliaya@anncarise: "So...should we send more people down, or just have the Akagi team gather some more info?" Fiona@falconecoose shurgs ever so slightly as she seems off for a moment "I am not sure, it depends on what we think would be best for the survey." Keelah@crystyll: "I believe more eyes - and tricorders - would expediate the process" she smiles, looking to the other CO's, "I suggest we each have our teams congregate with the team already on the ground" Knight@hawkecosse#4702 shakes her head slightly "With clearence Captain, I will fly down with my flight. They can fly air patrol and I will land to provide JTAC for you." Keelah@crystyll: "As you see fit" she nods Knight@hawkecosse#4702 nods lightly as she taps her combadge "Crusader Actual to Citadel, requesting you finish prep for Crusader flight going atmospheric. I will be their shortly." Fiona@falconecoose nods slightly to Keelah as she moves to exit the holocall "Being seeing you planet side then." Keelah@crystyll: "Actually... you won't" she smiles Fiona@falconecoose nods ever so slightly "Managing to get out of away team work, lucky for some." Keelah@crystyll: "Someone's got to stay here and coordinate. Besides, now I want to read up on these 'dragons'..." Keliaya@anncarise: FX | The away team is greeted by the same wondrous site that the Akagi team first saw. Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: *Poudely declares to the newly arrived away team* "I'm naming this planet, Saganami." Rianni@crystyll: *blinks* "Saganami?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Something wrong with Saganami?" Keliaya@anncarise: "What does it stand for?" Rianni@crystyll: "I... have no idea. What does it mean?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "It's a name of an old friend." Knight@hawkecosse#4702: *A flight of 4 Peregrin class fighters fly over the head of the away team as another 8 in total fly up each side of the valley, before the central flight circles over as one of them moves into a land* Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Hey, I landed here first so I get dibs on naming." Rianni@crystyll: "Sounds good to me!" she nods, glancing up at the fly by before looking around more Keliaya@anncarise: FX | As the Peregrine lands, the ground around them suddenly shakes, something that shouldn't be happening with the smooth landing. Knight@hawkecosse#4702: *Knight jumps out of her cockpit as the ladder extends, before she starts to walk towards the away team as she throws her helmet back into her fighter as she shakes her hair loose* "It's not bad." Keliaya@anncarise: "Did anyone else feel that?" Rianni@crystyll: "That doesn't seem normal" she says, pulling out a tricorder to check seismic readings Knight@hawkecosse#4702: *Steadies her self as the ground shakes* "Crusader Actual to Habitat, you picking anything new up on sensors?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Besides, Saganami Colony sounds nice...." *Looks over at Keliaya* "I don't think you'd like to have a bunch of fighters land on your back would you?" Knight@hawkecosse#4702: "Hey it was only the one!" Keliaya@anncarise: "On...are we on something's back right now?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Yes, we are standing on Bob right now." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "The really big guy." Keliaya@anncarise: "What's -" Fiona@falconecoose: "Bob?" Rianni@crystyll: *doubletakes* Keliaya@anncarise: FX | The ground begins to shake again, and then their elevation seems to rise... Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: *Looks to Knight* "Move your fighter off of here!" Keliaya@anncarise: | Around them, the hill they are on separates from the rest of the terrain as a massive creature the size of a small escort rises Keliaya@anncarise: | As it awakens, four appendages comes out of the side through the soil, planting themselves firmly on the real ground beneath. Knight@hawkecosse#4702: *Quickly taps her wrist comp as her fighter takes off but just hovers nearby but far enough away from the new creature* Keliaya@anncarise: | Fully risen from the ground, it appears to be a turtle-like creature of gigantic porportions, so large that its shell is covered not in moss, but grass and ferns. Keliaya@anncarise: FX | The creature stomps away, shaking the ground with each heavy step Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "I thought I mentioned that we found a huge reptile the size of a hill..." Rianni@crystyll: "That would be problematic for a potential colony..." Knight@hawkecosse#4702: "Just a small one." Rianni@crystyll: "Unless there's a benefit to the colony being mobile of course..." Keliaya@anncarise: "That's an interesting idea...though I'm not sure the creature would like it if we built houses on its back..." Rianni@crystyll: "Probably not" she looks around, "What are our or-..." follows his gaze, hand hovering over her phaser Knight@hawkecosse#4702: *Glances over as her own hand hovers over her phaser, the other other hovering over her TACPADD to call in crusader.* Keliaya@anncarise: FX | Something that looks like it has many sharp claws/teeth/spikes suddenly leap out of the grass at the away team! Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: *Nimitz takes aim and starts shooting at it with his phaser on stun with his reflexes.* Rianni@crystyll: *jumps back to pull Kelly out the way, as the nearest personto her* Keliaya@anncarise: is pushed out of the way, giving Nimitz a clear shot at the thing! Keliaya@anncarise: | The creature either disintegrates or clumps to the ground depending on nimitz' weapon setting Knight@hawkecosse#4702: *Jumps backwards as she draws her phaser, assuming that something with that many sharp objects is not a heribvore as she activates her TACPADD* Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: *Was shooting on stun* Fiona@falconecoose: *Goes to draw her own phaser but her hand freezes just above the handle* Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: *Carefully approches the stunned dino, making sure it doesn't have any nearby friends.* Keliaya@anncarise: | The creature falls and fails to hit anyone, but stun doesn't seem to kill it as it still struggles to get up. Rianni@crystyll: *fires on higher setting at the wounded creature* Keliaya@anncarise: | This one looks nothing like a dinosaur...it's a strange creature with four long appendages of razor sharp claws and a tail with a two pronged stinger Keliaya@anncarise: | It finally collapses to the ground on Rianni's shot Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Nimitz to Akagi, I have a creature to beam up to the labs, make sure it is secure in a lab behind a force field." Rianni@crystyll: *remains prone and alert* "I thought there wasn't supposed any hostile life down here?" Keliaya@anncarise: "Apparently there are now..." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "It was hidden from our scans until it started moving." Keliaya@anncarise: FX | Tricorders and tactical devices beep wildly as many lifesigns start moving towards the away team Keliaya@anncarise: | Beep/flash/whatever they're set to do! Keliaya@anncarise: "So much for a friendly place..." Keliaya@anncarise: FX | The Akagi beams the downed creature up, but another leaps out from the grass! Knight@hawkecosse#4702: "This is Crusader actual to Crusader 2 for relay to Citadel, be advised we have been engaged by hostile wildlife, you have master arm is a go, I say again master arm is a go." Rianni@crystyll: *checks her tricorder / Alien(TM) radar bleeper* "Multiple lifesigns in all directions!" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan looks to Knight "Belay that order! Nimitz to Akagi, emerency beam out! now!" Fiona@falconecoose: *Still hasn't drawn her phaser yet despite her hand being locked in place against the handle* Keliaya@anncarise: FX | The away team dematerializes just as two of the creatures leap out once again....but one of the craetures glows as well as it gets caught in the transporter lock... To Knight@hawkecosse#4702: After the bombing run, fighters would instantly have an entire swarm of the previously docile pterosaur creatures try to ram into them Knight@hawkecosse#4702: They would perform evasive manuevers as the support flight covered them as they broke contact with the better speed of the fighters To Knight@hawkecosse#4702: The fighters evade without much issue, but the flying creatures seem to pursue relentlessly, even when the fighters gain altitude Keliaya@anncarise FX | The team materializes on the transporter pad...peacefully. Alistair Nimitz@natthaan looks like he is just about to relax as he prepares to step off the Padd Keliaya@anncarise | Transporter Officer: "Caught that thing just in time. You want it contained in a cell, captain, or back on the planet?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Is it the same sex as the one I had beamed up?" Rianni@crystyll looks to the others, "Is he... thinking what I think he's thinking?" Keliaya@anncarise | Transporter Officer: "From what I can tell, they don't seem to have sexes, sir..." Knight@hawkecosse#4702: They would continue to climb relying on keeping range with the dinos as they attempted to break atmo Keliaya@anncarise | Transporter Officer: "You might wnat to talk to the science team about that." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan looks to Rianni "No." *Looks back* "Send him back then Chuck." To Knight@hawkecosse#4702: The dinos would try to fly until they can't and begin dropping down towards the ground, Keliaya@anncarise | Transporter Officer: "The other one's not exactly alive anymore. Science already has some info on it, but a live one could yield more information." Knight@hawkecosse#4702: Once they had broken atmo they would return to land on the honington Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Fine, put him in the lab, make sure he is contained." Keliaya@anncarise | Transporter Officer: "On it, captain." To Knight@hawkecosse#4702: Once they break atmosphere, they manage to return to the Honington without incident Alistair Nimitz@natthaan glances to Rianni for a moment, and then looks to the others "You are free to return to your ships on your own time." Keliaya@anncarise FX | Nimitz' combadge chirps. Alistair Nimitz@natthaan taps his comm "Nimitz here." To Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: Akagi's scientists report in- apparently the creature has no gender and appears to be a herbivore, but looks like it's designed to kill To Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: And it's not a defense mechanism either, it's more like a genetically modified monster To Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: Although they detect no signs of artificial genome tampering Alistair Nimitz@natthaan blinks as he listens "Keep studying them.. when Bob settles down, send another team down and stample other creaters." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan looks to the others "It seems the creaters that attacked us were herbivores, and gentically modified." Keliaya@anncarise: "Genetically modified? Like..augments?" Rianni@crystyll: "Why do I always get the augments..." she grumbles Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Maybe, my team couldn't find any evidence of artifical tampering, they seem to be naturally grown." Keliaya@anncarise: "Maybe naturally bred for hunting...like those Earth hounds." Knight@hawkecosse#4702 raises her eyebrow slightly at this new development Keliaya@anncarise: "But that would imply some sort of civilization, which we don't see." Keliaya@anncarise: "I /think/ this means it won't be suitable for colonization...not at least until we find out what's going on down there." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan nods "I agree." Keliaya@anncarise looks to the captains, "It does seem to have some odd native life that could be worth studying though..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Might be more of a scientific curiosity than a development project." Moon@Savesh: Communications Officer, Ensign Brimstone Moon, reporting for duty. Sulayman@drcrippler slides in and to his console Sulayman@drcrippler sits in a bridge officer chair. Keelah@crystyll glances back with a nod, "Good to have you with us Ensign. Take your station" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Hey Kazra," he smiles as he does so. "How's the experiment?" Keelah@crystyll | Kazra beams, "Oh, I've just been working on using reactive manifestation of cyclic harmonic repititions combined with isomorphic silicon overlays to elicit completeness and interconnection + Keelah@crystyll: + with the universe. You know, usual stuff" she says with a wink Moon@Savesh puts on his comms headset and begins monitoring comm traffic Keliaya@anncarise Last time on TTV | The Valley Forge was given a mission to survey a potential colony site on her way home from her long mission into the Alpha Quadrant. Sulayman@drcrippler looks at her. "Wow, that's some pretty complex stuff. You got all the variables covered? Your data must have a large range; how'd you get by the processing speed?" Keliaya@anncarise | While the colony showed promise from initial scans, the away team found themselves under attack by vicious creatures who seem engineered to kill, but show no signs of artifical tampering. Keliaya@anncarise | Captain Nimitz, the leader of the initial survey party, remained with the Akagi to study the planet and conduct further away missions; while the planet may not be suitable for colonization, it - Keliaya@anncarise - could have scientific value. Now, the Valley Forge returns with new personnel to rejoin the study of this strange new world... Keelah@crystyll | Kazra chuckles, "With a little help from Mia, truth be told!" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: <FX> The Akagi hails the Valley Force. Moon@Savesh: Captain, I have a hail coming in from the USS Akagi Keelah@crystyll: "Let's have it" Sulayman@drcrippler smiles as he turns to his console, tapping away at it Moon@Savesh: Aye sir Moon@Savesh activates hailing frequencies Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: <FX> Shows up on screen. "Captain SeLai." Keelah@crystyll smiles, "Captain, I trust you've been having fun investigating this world?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "From my point of view, yes, I have, from my First Officer's view, his Threat ganglia have been going off nonstop the whole time." *Smirks at the annoyed Kelpien standing next to him* Keelah@crystyll chuckles, "Oh my! Well, as long as you're having fun at least" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Anyway, every away team that I've sent down to the planet have had the exact same thing happen, things are calm for a while, and then they are attacked by the same creatures." Keelah@crystyll: "That... significantly reduces the prospects for this becoming a potential colony site..." Keelah@crystyll: "Have we any further insight into said creatures?" Sulayman@drcrippler taps his console doing work. He was not checking up the UFP Universal Cup scores... Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "We know about the same as before, but they do seem geared to surive off almost anything, primarly fungus and roots, we've also found that they have an almost unlimited number." Keliaya@anncarise: "They have to be coming from somewhere..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Maybe rapid reproduction or something?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "We believe they live under the surface." Moon@Savesh speaks up, mostly to himself "Or no natural predators" Keliaya@anncarise: "That could explain it...the magnesite and other mineral contents make it difficult to scan some subterranean areas." Keelah@crystyll: "What about these mountain sized creatures you inadvertently landed on before?" Keliaya@anncarise looks to Moon, "I'm not biologist, but...no natural predators would quickly lead to overpopulation, wouldn't it? And then depletion of resources and probably some kind of mass extinction..." Sulayman@drcrippler: "I could try and recalibrate the sensors to try to negate some of the effects..." he gets to doing "actual" work Moon@Savesh looks back to Keliaya "I agree, I'm no biologist either, but I'm just surprised by the 'unlimited numbers' assessment." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "They seem to have some kind of relationship with their environments, and from what we can tell are perfectly normal sized for their species. They eat, sleep and so on. For other natives on the planet Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: they seem to be mobile cities." Keelah@crystyll quirks a very Vulcan brow, "How curious... any evidence to suggest a symbiotic - or even parasitic - relationship between the two species?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "We think it's more symbiotic, we haven't seen any hints of damage from a parastic relationship." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "However, we can't study them for long until the away teams are attacked." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "If we had a Jupiter class, we could maybe beam one up to study closely.." Keelah@crystyll hrms, "And you say they only attack after the away teams have been on the surface for a short time. almost like they're responding to the presence - like they are protecting the larger creatures?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "That seems to be the case." Keliaya@anncarise: "And you said last time that there were no carnivores on the planet, right Captain?" she glances back at Nimitz. Sulayman@drcrippler: "Oh wow..." he spins around. "Captain, my calibrated scans show an extenstive network of tunnels under the surface which are filled with life. The creatures down here are small, but there are larger + Alistair Nimitz@natthaan nods "Correct, there are no carnivores on the planet." Sulayman@drcrippler: lifesigns down here too, but I'm not able to get a cleared reading," Keliaya@anncarise: "Maybe instead of a predator-prey relationship, the animals on this world don't kill each other, they protect one another? Again, I'm no biologist and I'm not sure how that could work..." Keelah@crystyll: "It would certainly fit the facts" she nods over her shoulder, "So where does this leave us - what's the next step to investigate?" Keliaya@anncarise: "It depends on what exactly is provoking these creatures to attack the away team." Sulayman@drcrippler: "Maybe we could calibrate the transporters to beam us straight down to the tunnels. From there, we could set up pattern enhancers to allow for an emergency beam up if needed?" Keliaya@anncarise: "If it's any foreign presence, all we can do that doesn't disturb them is scan from orbit. But if it's just foreign biological lifeforms..." Keliaya@anncarise: "We might be able to get a drone down to observe, or perhaps nanites too small to detect." Moon@Savesh: This sounds a lot like my homeworld. Our native species first instinct is to protect our world from anything deemed alien. Keliaya@anncarise looks to Moon, "Really? It's conceivable we're looking at the asme thing here then..." Moon@Savesh shrugs, "probably, but I thought it was worth mentioning." Moon@Savesh: ((change that to "possibly..." Keelah@crystyll smiles, "Always worth mentioning. Even if not exactly the same, your experience with even similar ecologies could be invaluable here" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Maybe there's a way to mask our signatures? Or to make them conform to the environment. There has to be a way that they know the difference..." he runs his hand through his hair and does some science Moon@Savesh nods in appreciation "Thank you, Captain." Keelah@crystyll looks back to Nimitz, "Thoughts? This is your investigation after all, we're just here to help" she smiles Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "We were thinking that it could be the creatures reacting to the presence of technology, but we haven't had the chance to test it yet." Keelah@crystyll: "So, perhaps a remote drone to test that theory then. If successful we can try and take it into said tunnels" she glances back to science corner at the thought Sulayman@drcrippler is busy working with his lab partner. "Hmm, so the creatures are as varied as any planet... nothing seems to be linking them to each other, apart from having no carnivores... so... how have they + Keliaya@anncarise: "That's what I was thinking. These things might be dangerous, but put some extra plating on a drone and it should be fine." Keliaya@anncarise: "At worst we lose a remote controlled drone...: Sulayman@drcrippler: not over populated? And how have they evolved into this state?" he asks Kazra who's working away on the transporter changes Keelah@crystyll: "Well then, I think we have some suitable probes on board that can be adapted for this" she looks up, "Unless you already something prepped, Captain?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan shakes his head "Feel free." Keliaya@anncarise: "I'll get a probe launched right away." Keliaya@anncarise turns back to her console to notify engineering. Keelah@crystyll nods, and leans back in her chair, crossing one leg over, "Well then, this should prove interesting if nothing else" Keliaya@anncarise glances across at Sulayman, "Is there any specific functions we want to equip this drone with?" Keliaya@anncarise: "Other than armouring that is." Sulayman@drcrippler blinks. "Oh...we're sending a drone? Makes sense, it would be good if we can eqiup it with a tracker to place on a creature. And able to take a bio sample of as many life forms as possible. Oh and + Sulayman@drcrippler: soil, water, air, and mineral compositions too!" Sulayman@drcrippler stops short of saying "a device that can tell us everything" Keliaya@anncarise jots down the information on her console as Sulayman makes his list, "Done." Keliaya@anncarise: "The drone should be ready for deployment in a few minutes." Keelah@crystyll glances over to Moon, "Ensign, if there's anything you can think that may help uphold the probes communication - particularly if it goes subterranean - then now is the time" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Oh if it's going sub terrainan, we should add something to help transportation! One minute!" he taps frantically at the console Keelah@crystyll | Kazra slowly looks over her shoulder with a chuckle as she continues working, less frantically Moon@Savesh looks up "Yes captain, I suggest a rf descrambler be included in the probe's communication suite. That should help offset the effects of the magnesite Sulayman@drcrippler: "Sending you a small pattern enhancing program that should save us some leg work if we beam down!" Keliaya@anncarise: "Thank you both! Implementing these now..." Sulayman@drcrippler stops himself from turning the probe into a mini starship and grins up at Kazra. "Sorry, it's been a while since I've done fieldwork!" Keliaya@anncarise: "And drone is ready! Should I beam it directly into the tunnels, or try it on the surface first?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Surface first, see if it sets off the alarm bells."| Sulayman@drcrippler: "Surface first...at least then we get some data," Keliaya@anncarise nods, "Beaming drone down to the surface now." Keliaya@anncarise glances back to the captains, "We want the feed on the viewscreen, I assume?" Moon@Savesh turns back to his console to monitor the probe's tracker Alistair Nimitz@natthaan folds his arms and leans in his chair. "Please." Keelah@crystyll: "Please, Kelly" she nods over her shoulder Moon@Savesh: I can take of that captain. Keliaya@anncarise nods to Moon, "All yours, Ensign." Moon@Savesh puts the probe's transmission data on the viewscreen, and transfer's nimitz's transmission to the hologenerator. Alistair Nimitz@natthaan leans back in his chair on his own bridge as he watches the feed on his veiwscreen. Keliaya@anncarise FX | The viewscreen shows the lush landscape of the planet's surface. Buisness seems to go as usual with the natives until a few bugs circle curiously around the drone and abruptly flies away. Keelah@crystyll watches intently on screen, "Moment of truth..." Keliaya@anncarise FX | The camera catches one of the larger insects landing on a creature kangaroo-hopping across the landscape. The creature stops as the bug crawls across its body, then suddenly raises its head - Moon@Savesh monitors his console readouts carefully, checking for any signs of signal degredation or other transmission interuptions Keliaya@anncarise - in a cry and begins leaping away, followed by all the other animals that vacate the area. Moon@Savesh: Signal strength from the probe remains strong, Captain. Keelah@crystyll quietly nods her acknowledgement of the update as she continues to watch Sulayman@drcrippler: "The creatures seem to be running away from the drone just like the away team," he reports Sulayman@drcrippler: "And...now we see the attack creatures emerging...this is fascinating," he looks at the results, transfixed Sulayman@drcrippler blinks quickly "Oh we should maybe get the drone out of there..." Keelah@crystyll: "It's almost like the insects are acting as an early warning system to steer the others out of the way before the attackers come in to clean the foreign infestation" Keliaya@anncarise: "The drone shouldn't take any serious damage from teeth and claws, but yeah...this doesn't seem to be working." Keelah@crystyll shakes her head, "I am happy to lose the probe if it comes to it. I want to see where this goes" Sulayman@drcrippler is somewhat saddened by the fate of the poor probe but nods. Science is a cruel mistress... Keliaya@anncarise FX | As the creatures close in they pounce at the drone, clawing and biting. Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "What if we try dropping someone without any technology on them?" Keelah@crystyll: "I would feel more comfortable testing the theory with an inert biological sample that is not native to this world" Keliaya@anncarise nods, "That's worth a try. The lab can definitely cook something up." Keelah@crystyll: "Just a non-sentient mass to see if it's any foreign presence sets them off" Keelah@crystyll she adds before anyone suggest sending her cat... Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "I was thinking landing a shuttlecraft, dropping someone off, and then have the shuttlecraft keep a transporter lock on them.." Sulayman@drcrippler: "What about risk of conatimation?" Sulayman@drcrippler: *contamination Alistair Nimitz@natthaan looks off screen, perhaps at the unlucky Ensign that spilled coffee on the bridge that morning. Keelah@crystyll | Kazra: "From the evidence so far, I think this planet is registering any presence as a contamination. Think of it like how your body fights an infection" Keliaya@anncarise: "Except this is on a planetary scale..." Moon@Savesh speaks up somewhat reluctantly, "Captain, if we do decide to send an away team down, I think I should join it. My people have an ability that might provide some insights down there." Keelah@crystyll glances over curiously, "What kind of ability, if I may ask?" Sulayman@drcrippler looks at Kazra. "So...maybe...we need to find a way to nullify the affects of the antibodies. The insects..." Moon@Savesh sighs tentatively "We call it 'the verdant link' there's a lot of mysticism around it, but, basically, we can sense changes in life signs in close proximity to us. some people call it ... Moon@Savesh "... 'plant empathy'". Keelah@crystyll | Kazra shakes her head, "What would it do to your body if your entire immune system was shut down? Such a thing might 'kill' this worlds ecosystem" Sulayman@drcrippler: "No no, not to remove the antibodies all together, but just stop it from activating around us..." Keelah@crystyll quirks a brow, smiling softly, "A most curious connection to the world around you" she looks to Nimitz, "Captain, do you still have any live specimens on board? Perhaps the Ensign could provide some Keelah@crystyll: + fresh insight?" Keelah@crystyll | Kazra purses her lips in consideration and nods, looking back to her console as she starts working on possible ideas Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "We do still have one." Keelah@crystyll: "And... it's not living at the foot of your bed yet, right...?" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Perhaps... an insect repellent?" he blinks at the sheer simplicity of his idea Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Trellain draws the line at gentically modified killing things." Keelah@crystyll chuckles as she looks back to Moon, "Well it's up to you Ensign, but if you think you may be able to glean some insight into the specimen, feel free to transfer over to the Akagi and give it a go" Moon@Savesh rolls his eyes in jest "As long as no one starts referring to me as a walking biosensor, then yes, Captain, I'll be happy to try and talk to the specimen." Keelah@crystyll: "Alright Ensign, T'Quila can you relieve you here" Keliaya@anncarise: Awwwww that image! Moon@Savesh nods to specialist T'Quila "Thank you." Moon@Savesh takes off his comms headgear and heads to the transporter room. Moon@Savesh beams over to the Akagi Sulayman@drcrippler checks on the status of the drone Keelah@crystyll: "Meanwhile, how about that biological sample?" Keliaya@anncarise FX | The drone's feed is just a mess of claws and teeth now. Sulayman@drcrippler thinks that the animal needs to brush it's teeth Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Sula, I heard you were looking for more field time, you are welcome to join the Akagi for a rotation, we'll make sure you get the needed field experence." *Smirks as he reads from a Padd.* Moon@Savesh steps onto the Akagi bridge. "Captain Nimitz, I have interacted with the lifeform and have my report." Sulayman@drcrippler blinks. "Erm... I'll...come back to you on that one sir,,," Moon@Savesh steps into the capture radius of the hologenerator on the Akagi Keliaya@anncarise looks to Moon as he appears on the projection. Moon@Savesh begins his report and looks a little sad "Well, in a nutshell, the creature feels oddly empty, like it's missing a part of itself. It's also hungry" Keelah@crystyll frowns a little in sympathy, "Intriguing, sounds like these lifeforms perhaps share a deeper relationship than we first thought then?" Keliaya@anncarise: "Maybe some kind of hive mind?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "I was thinking a hive mind." Moon@Savesh: That would be very much like my home world, we're more of an interconnected network, than a hive mind though. Keliaya@anncarise looks to Moon curiously, "How exactly does your planet work? You said you're naturally inclined to defend the planet from foreign invaders?" Moon@Savesh rubs the back of his neck, not sure how to explain "It's complicated. It's biochemical mostly, pheremones to communicate, and then there's the mayevi tree root network...i'm sorry, it's very techn Moon@Savesh ...nical. The biome senses when something isn't emitting pheremones that are native to our Moon, and they respond accordingly. Keliaya@anncarise: "That does match with what's happening here, just without the pheromone part. Is it just your species that defends the planet, or the entire planet tries to fight off the foreign intruders?" Sulayman@drcrippler listens intently Moon@Savesh: Well ::pauses to think:: it's not us really, the sentient species, it's more like an autoimmune response. we had a difficult time with outsiders not being beaten around by our trees and having... Moon@Savesh: ...nuts thrown at them by our Quepelels... they're like a cross between Terran sloths and monkeys. Moon@Savesh: I mean, the sentient species on our homeworld are aware of changes, but we don't rally to attack unless it's something like the iconian invasion. Keliaya@anncarise: "Looks like the opposite here...they just try to kill anything no matter how harmless or harmful..." Keelah@crystyll: "As the Doctor said; more like antibodies reacting against an infection in a sense" Moon@Savesh: That means they must be able to communicate, on some level, with each other. We had to well... train... our biosphere to be more accepting of outsiders, and we still don't recommend outsiders... Moon@Savesh: ...go exploring outside of our safe zones. I wish we knew how they communicated with each other. Mr. Sulyman, are y ou sure it's not biochemical? Keelah@crystyll: "Well, clearly this world will not make a fitting colony site. However, it would be nice to find a way to accomodate further in depth study on the surface" Sulayman@drcrippler shakes his head. "From what data I've gathered, I couldn't find anything linking the creatures to each other. Perhaps it's a telepathic field? Or some other way of communication?" Moon@Savesh: I wonder if there's a way we could 'blend in', somehow mimic the native species on the planet? Keelah@crystyll nods, "That would be nice" Keliaya@anncarise: "That's what we were trying to figure out when we were searching for how they communicated." Moon@Savesh: I could try and communicate with them. Tell them that we're friendly, maybe? Sulayman@drcrippler: We'd need a deeper study. What if we shot a probe deep into the planet's crust? Where the insects can't get to it?" Keliaya@anncarise: "The tunnels seem to be where the attack creatures are coming from. Beaming anything down there would probably just result in more attacks." Sulayman@drcrippler: "Would it though? Would they know of the drone's presence if the insects don't detect it?" Keliaya@anncarise: "We could try beaming the drone deeper..." Keelah@crystyll: "Even if it did work, it would be very limiting to survey just the tunnels" Sulayman@drcrippler: "It would be a start?" Keelah@crystyll: "Attack the symptom rather than the cause - to coin a further medical analogy. No, we need to address what it is that makes the creatures detect a foreign presence and find a way to mask it" Moon@Savesh: have we beamed down any inert biomaterial yet? Keliaya@anncarise: "Not yet, no." Keelah@crystyll: "Then if the sample is ready, let us proceed as a matter of course" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan looks up from his Padd "Hmm..." Sulayman@drcrippler sets up the console to take readings from the biomatter Keliaya@anncarise turns back to the console and beams the biomatter down. Sulayman@drcrippler: "It seems like the biomatter hasn't been detected yet! Oh wait... no... the insects found it..." he runs a hand through his hair Keliaya@anncarise: "It lasted for quite some time though..." Sulayman@drcrippler: "They're running away again. It doesn't look like they knew it was there until they actually crawled on it though. I don't think the insects can identify something as foreign without physically + Sulayman@drcrippler: touching it..." looks at Kazra again. "What do you think, could a repellent actually work?" Keelah@crystyll | Kazra nods slowly, "It... could work" Sulayman@drcrippler: "If we can catch a bug we could make a repellent," he turns to the rest. "It might take some time though," Alistair Nimitz@natthaan nods "I'll send a team down." Moon@Savesh: Captain, I'm concerned. If we're taking part of this interconnected biome away from its source, it feels like kidnapping. Sulayman@drcrippler: "I'll go with them and get to work in creating a repellent," Sulayman@drcrippler says whilst standing Sulayman@drcrippler says whilst standing Alistair Nimitz@natthaan looks to Moon "Noted." Keelah@crystyll: "Very well" she nods, "I think we may be at a good time to hand this over to the station science team" Keelah@crystyll: "Perhaps they can send a dedicated team to assist here, though I am inclined to agree with the Ensign; perhaps any disruption should be kept to a temporary minimum" Sulayman@drcrippler: "I'll get to work," he says and heads to the lift Alistair Nimitz@natthaan nods "Understood, the Akagi is needed back at DS13 anyway." Moon@Savesh wrinkles his face in disappointment. "Aye, sir. It would have been interesting to try and communicate directly with the planet's life, but, I just grew this new body, and those claws looked sharp Moon@Savesh: Thank you for the lift back to Deep Space 13, Captain. Alistair Nimitz@natthaan nods to Moon.

View AAR

SUBMITTED: Stardate 94473.7 FILED BY: CAPT K Se'Lai SECURITY: Level 1 - Open

LOCATION: Unexplored System

MISSION: Survey of potential colony site.

OUTCOME: Unique ecological system recorded. Colony site not recommended.

KEY PERSONNEL:

CAPT Se'Lai (USS Valley Forge) CAPT Nimitz (USS Akagi) CAPT Skye (USS MacAlpine) CAPT Sithil Ch'ithiavoss (USS Pollux) [npc] LCDR Keliaya LCDR Knight LCDR al Firawn ENS Moon CDT Rianni

NARRATIVE: After responding to a hail from the USS Pollux which saw a request passed to us to survey a planet identified as holding potential for a new colony; the Valley Forge, MacAlpine & Akagi set course for the identified system. Preliminary readings indicated a planet rich as rich with life as it was with mineral deposits, and so a joint ground team was authorized under the command of Captain Nimitz.

It was not long into the ground mission though that more alarming discoveries were made. Firstly being the sheer scale of the lifeforms (one of which the landing team had inadvertently landed on top of - a creature purportedly on scale with a medium sized geological formation). Second to this was the unprovoked attack of predatory lifeforms which had not been apparent during initial scans.

The away team immediately evacuated to the Akagi, though one of the predators was also beamed up as it lunged at the party. Safely held in the transporter buffer of course, it was later rematerialized under controlled conditions to allow further study - the point at which the Valley Forge resumed her duties and left the Akagi to continue the research.

Upon our return a few days later, we found that progress had been fair, but still leaving a lot of unanswered questions about the ecology of this world. We brought together teams from both ships and conducted a series of tests which suggested that we were looking at more than a simple ecosystem, something along the lines of symbiotic relationship on a planetary scale. Numerous tests were conducted still, including the launch of a low atmosphere probe (delayed reaction, but still attacked as in a territorial fashion once detected), beaming down inert biological samples (same result, faster response), and empathic communication with the previously captured predator (reported to read as a smaller part of a large life force which had been cut off from itself). Upon conclusion of testing - and determination of satisfactory results - the creature was returned safely and all vessels departed.

RECOMMENDATION: Though I can not in good conscious recommend this fascinating world for a colony site, I would wholeheartedly recommend it as worthy of further dedicated scientific study and so defer to the judgement of the DS13 Science department as to whether this is pursued or not at this time.