ST:TTV217 | "Stellar Archaeology"

Stardate 94492.4

The Valley Forge returns to the 38th Fleet's area of operations and meets up with old friends solving an even older puzzle. However, the answers they seek may lie with the new arrival...

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Sam@drcrippler strides onto the bridge. People may notice a faded Columbian flag painted on his left cheek. It is barely visible, but the colours can be seen on closer inspection Alistair Nimitz@natthaan still refuses to even glance in Timo's general direction Sam@drcrippler nods at Timo. "Hey Timo, long time no see," Leila Omar@annpc#5570 stands as Sam walks onto the bridge, "Captain Bishop. I'm glad you could join us." Sam@drcrippler smiles at Leila. "Archaeology and me are like moths and a flame." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois Timo's stepping just now from the turbolify. Seeing Sam, his first reaction is clearly enthusiastic. A huge smile appears on his face:"Sam, glad to see you again, finally." he says, while moving + Keelah@crystyll turns to the new arrivals with a smile, "Gentleman, good to see you both" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: + smile also to Keelah and Leila:"Keelah, captain Omar: thank you for your invitation." then nods to Nimitz, apparently still cordial. Leila Omar@annpc#5570 chuckles, "I thought as much." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan doesn't seem to have seen Timo's nod, or at least shows no sign of acknowledgement of Timo Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois Apparently he doesn't notice Nimitz didn't reply to his nod. He just got focused on Leila:"So, what's lying out there for us?" Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "A 500 year old mystery, it seems." Keelah@crystyll turns a quirked brow to Leila Sam@drcrippler gives a small smile to Keelah, pleasantly surprised to see her here Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "My crew isn't equipped to study extinct civilizations, well, not anymore after the Kilur experts had somewhere else to be." Leila Omar@annpc#5570 moves back to her chair and takes a seat again, tapping the armrest as she does. Sam@drcrippler his eyes briefly flicker to the helm and sighs a small sigh of relief when he notices Lara is not on duty. Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "That's a shame, captain" he says to Leila, jokingly. Leila Omar@annpc#5570 FX | The viewscreen displays a Class J (Jupiter looking) gas giant with a sizable debris field surrounding it. Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Fortunately my crew learned a thing or two during our time in Kilur space, and they can say that much- whatever this is, it's not Kilur based technology." Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Hasn't stopped scavengers from stripping anything useful from it, though." Keelah@crystyll: "Figures..." Sam@drcrippler turns to the viewscreen. "Interesting..." he moves to the science station...but ends up at Ops. "Er..." Sam@drcrippler looks at the crewman next to him. "Where's science?" he whispers Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "The usual problem with ancient ruins, I'm afraid..." he nods slightly:"But whatever we can find down there, it would be immensely useful." Keelah@crystyll: "I will be happy enough if it just doesn't try to eat us..." Leila Omar@annpc#5570 | Ensign Drek: "On the other side from the engineering consoles, sir," he points the way. Sam@drcrippler: "Ah!" he nods and walks in the opposite direction Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Tactical analysis is one thing we can do, and so far we've seen no sign of danger." Sam@drcrippler: "So...science...is not here...this is engineering..." he blinks Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "As long as we don't summon another Iconian fleet or a hur'q hord, we should be fine." Sam@drcrippler: "What is with this layout?" he mutters to himself Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "There's no active technology left, so I'd say we're safe." Keelah@crystyll glances over hre shoulder, chuckling softly at what she can hear going on in the background Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "There is one curiosity that my crew has been able to spot..." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Always thinking about dangers, gentlemen...." he chuckles:"We should think more about knowledge, in this case." Keelah@crystyll: "Oh?" she turns her attention back to Leila Sam@drcrippler shakes his head before walking to tactical. He knows what that is at least."Okay...so...scans..." Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Computer. Enlarge view, Grid Echo-9-4." Leila Omar@annpc#5570 FX | The viewscreen zooms in on a particular section of the wreckage. Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Pan right. Focus on central object and enlarge to maximum resolution possible without losing quality." Leila Omar@annpc#5570 FX | The viewscreen now displays what looks like a severed and heavily aged Bird of Prey wing in the background of the stormy gas giant. Keelah@crystyll: "Interesting..." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Looks attentively at the viewscreen:"Interesting....or, better, intriguing." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan looks off the screen to see what era BoP it is. Sam@drcrippler: "Have you taken a physical sample yet?" he asks Leila Sam@drcrippler hasn't seen the BoP wing yet as he was finding the science console Leila Omar@annpc#5570 glances back, "Not yet no. I was hoping you'd be able to identify the most prudent samples to take, since we can't just take the whole field with us." Sam@drcrippler: "Well let's see..." he taps at the screen. Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "We should also make some deep-level material analysis and other scans..." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "I can more then likely have the Akagi beam up the Bird of Prey wing." Sam@drcrippler: "Okay, well from scans we can see three different styles of designs. Let's get the computer to seperate them out," Sam@drcrippler taps at the screen and on the viewscreen, the three different styles begin to glow in different colours to denote the difference Sam@drcrippler: "And...the million credit question here is...what are all the different styles?" he asks around Leila Omar@annpc#5570 nods to Nimitz, "Make sure to take decontamination precautions, just in case." Sam@drcrippler hands the station over to the Leila lookalike and moves round to join the other white shoulders Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Dispite what some may thing, I am not careless." *Looks off screen to give the order to beam up the Bird wing.*\ Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: think* Leila Omar@annpc#5570 FX | With only debris to look at, it is difficult to tell what the ships were like when intact, but one of them has some visible bird motifs like the BoP style wing. Keelah@crystyll taps her combadge, "Se'Lai to Valley Forge; Vrolmacht, anything you can tell us about these wrecks?" Keelah@crystyll activates her combadge. Leila Omar@annpc#5570 FX | The second style appears to use large hull pieces that in their prime must have looked smooth and elegant judging by the curved designs. Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois Still looking at the viewscreen:"A sort of mmix of some sort...perhaps, the ship was very old, and continuously refitted..." Leila Omar@annpc#5570 FX | The third style is harder to tell as the debris is significantly more fragmented, but the hull is distinct from the other two and uses different composition. Leila Omar@annpc#5570 | <C> Vrolmacht: "The damage on the hulls aren't from energy weapons, captain. Looks like large projectile weapons. There are burn marks but no signs of phaser or directed energy..." Keelah@crystyll: <C> "Alright, keep investigating and let me know if you turn anything up" Leila Omar@annpc#5570 | <C> Vrolmacht: "I'd say this was part of a much more primative conflict, fought with railguns and missiles, but that's just a guess." Sam@drcrippler strokes his beard as he looks at the others. It is almost as if he knows the answers and is waiting to see who else can get them first. "Let's...run the designs in our database to see what could + Sam@drcrippler: match up," Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "So...a vessel which fought battles in different eras, or what?" Leila Omar@annpc#5570: | <C> Vrolmacht: "All the vessels seem to have fought with very old technology. Equivalent to Romulan War Starfleet or earlier." Keelah@crystyll: "That's a good question..." she answers, looking towards Sam's smugface Keelah@crystyll: <C> "Thank you Commander" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan is handed a Padd from off screen "The bird of prey wing is not Klingon for sure, I'm running a match for older Romulan Birds of Prey, after all, we gave the Klingons their first Bird of Prey." Sam@drcrippler: "I actually believe that this is not one vessel, but a few. We may be seeing the remains of an old battlefield..." he wonders. I could be wrong..." he turns back. "Is it possible to match up some of + Sam@drcrippler: the pieces? See if the debris are from the same ship or different ones?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Nods toward Sam:"That would make sense. If so, we would have at least two factions to identify here." Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Do you have an algorithm for such a thing, or would it have to be done manually?" Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Hmm.. it is more then likely not Romulan.. intresting to think that someone else could have created their own bird of prey." Sam@drcrippler: "It would have to be done manually but..." he walks back to his console. Keelah@crystyll: "We know that the EereE use a similar design principle, not to mention technology more akin to that era. Could be one of theirs perhaps" Sam@drcrippler taps at the screen once Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Also, we don't know much about the true origin of the Bird-of-Prey model, after all. It could've been originated who knows where, even here, perhaps..." Leila Omar@annpc#5570 nods, "That is a possibility. You've all read the Halcyon reports, correct?" Keelah@crystyll nods Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Everyone knows the Romulans created the Bird of Prey." Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "There was Klingon activity known in the region in the 23rd century. This predates that by quite some time..." Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Just a possibility from my own historical knowledge." Sam@drcrippler FX: The viewscreen begins to join the ships together. The Bird-ship begins to take shape well, but the computer has trouble fixing the other two Sam@drcrippler: "Hmmm," he frowns and taps twice on the console Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Launches a quick glance at Nimitz:"The origin of a shape is hardly traceable to a single civilization. The Romulans could have unconsciously borrowed it, or perhaps a similar shape could've been + Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: + created by more than one civilization, more than once." Keelah@crystyll looks quietly between the two as they debate Leila Omar@annpc#5570 FX | The computer slowly assembles two larger ships from the pieces... Leila Omar@annpc#5570: (and processes while I find the appropriate visual aids!) Sam@drcrippler walks to the front as the computer does this. Now he looks smug Leila Omar@annpc#5570 FX | http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg570/todd153/bsg/battlestar%20galactica/4841_1109996186877_1477354_n_zpsc72beb22.jpg Leila Omar@annpc#5570 FX | The second ship is soon assembled, looking like (http://fractalsponge.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/mc33.jpg) but with two tiny nacelles sticking oddly from the back... Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "Hmm.. the second one looks aquadic in design.." Sam@drcrippler: "Now what do we have here?" he steps forward almost instinctively to get a closer look Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Perhaps it is a bit early to draw conclusions about who built them, but at least it bears some resemblance to old Xindi designs, indeed." Leila Omar@annpc#5570 glances to Keelah, "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Keelah@crystyll: "I believe so" she smiles, "And I believe Captain Nimitz may be on to something. Our water loving friends the Tiks" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Tiks? The ones who gave us the map who helped us recover the Gainsbourough's survivors?" Sam@drcrippler begins to deconstruct the ships, running simulations into how the ships were destroyed from the damage patterns Keelah@crystyll nods, "That's the ones. Hard to say for certain, but the resemblance is certainly there" Leila Omar@annpc#5570 nods, "The Valley Forge's report mentioned some kind of connection between the Tiks and the EereE, did it not?" Keelah@crystyll: "Indeed. We learned that they used to be a part of the EereE Order" Sam@drcrippler: "Interesting," he muuters. "Did we get a scan of the gas giant?" he looks back Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Only a passing one, why?" Sam@drcrippler: "Well...from the very basic scans of the destruction patterns on the ship, it sems like whatever was firing at it was coming in the direction of the gas giant..." Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "If anything was in there during the time of this battle, it would have long since been dragged into the core by gravitational pull and storms." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Perhaps, a trace?" Sam@drcrippler: "Perhaps..." he nods at Timo. "Exactly..." Leila Omar@annpc#5570 motions to the science station, "Commander, perform a detailed active scan into the core of the gas giant." Leila Omar@annpc#5570 | Commander Skolyr: "Yes sir." Sam@drcrippler: "OH so that's where science is!" Leila Omar@annpc#5570 looks to Sam, "Were you looking for the science station?" Sam@drcrippler flusters slightly. "Er it was only as a tactical procaution. I...needed to check all the stations for... tactics... I did ops...engineering...and tactical. Now I should...do science..." goes to the+ Sam@drcrippler: station to give weight to his lie Leila Omar@annpc#5570 watches Sam go off to science. Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois clears his throat hearing Sam, a smile appearing on his face, though he doesn't say anything. Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Still looking at the viewscreen with the two pictures, he finally exclaims something:"Wait a moment....there's something wrong here." Leila Omar@annpc#5570 turns her attention to Timo, "Oh?" Keelah@crystyll turns to Timo, "Oh?" Sam@drcrippler turns back after doing his...tactic. "Oh?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Raising a finger toward the simil-Tikr vessel:"Those nacelles. They're way too small for a ship of that size. I don't know what kind of propulsion systems they were using, but as an engineer, I find + Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: + at least weird placing two small nacelles for such a vessel." Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Either it had two larger nacelles like the Jupiter...or it went on the bird of prey?" Sam@drcrippler: "Perhaps...we got it wrong when reconstucted it?" Sam@drcrippler looks to the science station to rectify the error. "Move the nacelles onto the Bird of Prey," he says Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "It's a possibility. After all, the computer is not a god. Try reconfiguring the designs..." Leila Omar@annpc#5570 FX | The computer puts the nacelles on the wings of the Bird of Prey Sam@drcrippler looks slightly hurt at Timo's comment since it was him who did all the work Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Now the profile looks Romulan..." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "It is -not- a Romulan ship." Alistair Nimitz@natthaan: "And it's way too old to be a prototype of any current Republic or Imperial design." Sam@drcrippler: "Hmmm..." racks his brains to see if he can recall the design Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Computer, pull up a schematic of a known EereE design." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois His attention is entirely focused on the viewscreen, trying to understand more about the enigmatic designs. Leila Omar@annpc#5570 FX | https://i.imgur.com/qzOuXq0l.jpg appears in a corner of the viewscreen Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "That's a nacelle placement we don't see in Romulan ships. Or at least one I've never seen before." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Which would rule out the Romulan option, apparently." Leila Omar@annpc#5570 | Commander Skolyr: "Scans are complete. They do reveal an unusual concentration of metals and metal alloys such as tritanium within the gas giant." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Unusual concentrations?" he repeats. Leila Omar@annpc#5570 | Commander Skolyr: "It is far more than what is usually seen in the core of gas giants, and some of the alloys detected do not occur naturally. If we assume that all such alloys came from - Leila Omar@annpc#5570 - starships that was destroyed and pulled into the core, this site would be the graveyard of at least sixteen Lexington-sized vessels." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Impressive, but not unheard of." he comments:"Perhaps this is exactly what it is." Sam@drcrippler is deep in thought Sam@drcrippler ponders the situation. Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "So we appear to be looking at some sort of large battle involving the ancient EereE..." Keelah@crystyll: "Something to do with their... what was it now... crusades?" Sam@drcrippler: "I may...be able to get a date actually..." he goes BACK to the console Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "That makes me wonder..." he says thinking, then nods to Keelah:"Who knows, perhaps. For sure, it could help us better understand what they are now." Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Perhaps your expert on board would be able to help?" she looks to Keelah. Keelah@crystyll nods, "I've no doubt Zee already has her on the bridge for this" and taps her combadge Keelah@crystyll: <C> "Se'Lai to Valley Forge; Is Mana on the bridge and up to speed with what we're looking at?" Leila Omar@annpc#5570 | <C> Mana: "Mana has just arrived on the bridge, Mana is told that Mana's knowledge of the EereE Order is required?" Sam@drcrippler taps at the screen and then at his combadge. "Bishop to Endeavour. Kuris, I'm transmitting wreckage pieces for you to beam aboard. Proper containment proceedures of course. Use cargo bay 2 for this+ Sam@drcrippler: I'll be over to analyse them myself. Bishop out," Keelah@crystyll: <C> she chuckles, "Yes Mana, take a look at Vidzia's data and the images on screen. We think this site may be linked to the Crusades you've told me about" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "I hope she could tell us something. I don't know why, but I strongly believe we could make good use of any data we retrieve here." Keelah@crystyll nods her agreement Sam@drcrippler walks over to the front. "So I'll have a quick look over these pieces to give you a proper analysis," he smiles Leila Omar@annpc#5570 | <C> Mana: "This is the remnant of an old Tik vessel...Captain Keelah is familiar with the Tik from the encounter when searching for the Gainsborough, the Tik have not used mechanes for - Leila Omar@annpc#5570 - many hundred-cycles now!" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Nods to Sam:"Well, at least I hope you'll send my the results." he smiles. Keelah@crystyll: <C> "As I suspected Mana, thank you. Tell me; are you aware of any significant events from the crusade times that may correlate with the dating on this wreckage?" Sam@drcrippler winks at Timo. "And what, have you steal my credit? Not a chance!" Leila Omar@annpc#5570 | <C> Mana: "Mana is no records keeper...actually the Arshai and EereE had not had records keepers since the Overseer was created. However Mana does have some astronomical knowledge of the area..." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "You offend me, Sam." he says, falsely serious. Sam@drcrippler: "I aim to please," he smiles. "Well, time to get to work!" he nods politely to them all and heads off Keelah@crystyll: <C> "Any insights you can share may be of use Mana" Leila Omar@annpc#5570 | <C> Mana: "Judging from the position of the star this could be EeAEe...that is the best Mana can do with the EereE name." Keelah@crystyll: <C> "EeAEe...?" she asks with a somewhat puzzled tone Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois Quirks an eyebrow hearing Mana. Leila Omar@annpc#5570 | <C> Mana: "From what Mana knows, EeAEe was the location of an enemy mining station during the Crusade times. The Order tried to capture the station but somehow the station was destroyed leading - Leila Omar@annpc#5570 - to neither side gaining control. The Overseer uses the battle as an example of the chaos that unregulated organics can cause." Keelah@crystyll: <C> "Interesting. Thank you Mana" Leila Omar@annpc#5570 | <C> Mana: "Mana always assumed the station was above a planet or moon...but gas giant mining is plausible." Keelah@crystyll looks to the others present, "Well it's as good an explanation as any" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Nods:"I agree. Moreover, this confirms that we're dealing with pre-Overseer EeRe. Which means, in turn, that we have an opportunity to understand their civilization BEFORE the Overseer, and thus how + Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: + they came to the actual stage." Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "It's outside EereE Space, and from what I understand we're not allowed to enter their territory but they have no power over anything beyond." Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "That means it's open for study as we please." Keelah@crystyll: "It is indeed a rare opportunity to learn more of them - for Mana too I suspect, as much of her people's knowledge of this time has been lost" Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "I imagine Captain Bishop would also like to stick around for a while longer here." Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Lexington will resume its course to chart other nearby systems," she looks to Keelah. "I imagine Valley Forge is returning to base for resupply after her long journey?" Keelah@crystyll nods, "That we are, I'm sure the Endeavour will be remaining for a spell though. I will speak with Captain Bishop and Mana, perhaps she would like to remain with them while they study this" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Since I'm here, I'll jump to the opportunity as well.I'll ask Sam to bring me on board until the Attar will reach this system." Leila Omar@annpc#5570: "Do let me know if you discover anything new," she nods to Timo. "And welcome home, Valley Forge." Keelah@crystyll smiles, "Thank you Captain" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Nods:"Of course." then to Keelah:"I hope to see you back on DS13, for a family dinner perhaps." he says smiling. Keelah@crystyll: "That sounds good to me" she smiles

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SUBMITTED: Stardate 94492.4 FILED BY: CAPT L Omar SECURITY: Level 2 - Confidential

LOCATION: Alpha-7190 Sector

MISSION: Study of ancient debris.

OUTCOME: Debris determined to have been the site of a battle involving the EereE Order approximately 500 years ago.

KEY PERSONNEL:

CAPT Bishop (USS Endeavour) CAPT Nimitz (USS Akagi) CAPT Omar (USS Lexington) CAPT Timoreev (USS Attar) CAPT Se'Lai (USS Valley Forge) CIV Mana-Arshai Dos Sndoi'Ihaie'Vaie Nos Indoi-Ihai

NARRATIVE: On stardate 94485.3, the U.S.S. Lexington charted the star system designated POI-E-0793 as part of our exploration mission in the Alpha-7190 Sector. Our scans detected debris around the J Class gas giant in the system which was determined to have been from ancient starship wreckage dating back at least 500 years. As the Lexington was not carrying the personnel to handle this situation, I relayed the scan data back per standard protocol but also notified Captain Bishop of the U.S.S. Endeavour, who is a known archaeological expert.

Captain Bishop expressed interest in the situation and since we were set to rendezvous with the U.S.S. Valley Forge returning from her escort mission in the Alpha Quadrant, the Lexington held position in the system and continued scanning. We were joined by the Attar and Akagi, who had also taken interest in the find. When communication was established between all the ships, I presented the information the Lexington had gathered so far, including a curious object we identified which resembled a bird of prey's wing.

Under Captain Bishop's suggestion to take it on board as a sample, the Akagi retrieved the wing and began to analyze it. Meanwhile, the Valley Forge's scans determined that though there was no trace of energy damage anywhere on the wreckage and it was likely the result of a war fought using ancient projectile-based weaponry. Captain Bishop was also able to discern three different styles among the wreckage, suggesting at least three different types of ships present.

The computer managed to reassemble the wreckage into a rough image of what the complete ships would have looked like, with Captain Bishop's assistance. Both Captain Keelah and myself noticed that one of the vessels bore a striking resemblance to the cosmozoans utilized as bioships by the Tik species (See this report for more details on the Tiks), albeit with small nacelles assembled at the end. Captain Timoreev pointed out that in his experience of engineering, these nacelles would make no sense in such an odd position on a larger ship, so they were moved to the smaller warbird-type vessel.

This gave the rendering of the warbird a very Romulan-like appearance, but Captain Nimitz and the Akagi crew was certain that the vessel was neither Romulan in origin nor a recent enough creation to warrant the resemblance to modern Romulan designs. With the knowledge that the ancient Tiks used to be a part of the EereE Order (See this file for details on the EereE) whose territory was nearby, the nacelles were moved to the rear of the warbird, which matched it with modern EereE design.

Captain Bishop also noticed that the damage pattern on the Tik ship indicated that it was attacked from the angle of the gas giant, which led to the Lexington performing an in-depth scan of the gas giant's core. We detected an unusual concentration of metals, including artificially created alloys, within the planet, suggesting that there was once more wreckage which had been pulled into the core by the gas giant's gravity.

Working with the hypothesis that this was the site of a battle involving the EereE Order, Captain Keelah contacted Mana, a civilian on board the Valley Forge who is currently the only individual from EereE space that the Federation has encountered. Mana also believed that the wreckage we were looking at were EereE and Tik in origin and suggested that the location of POI-E-0793 aligns with a place the EereE call 'EeAEe.' EeAEe was apparently the site of a battle involving an EereE assault on an enemy mining station which ended with the station being destroyed and neither side gaining control of the assets they desired.

RECOMMENDATION: Captain Bishop and the U.S.S. Endeavour wishes to continue studying the wreckage for more insight into the battle and the cultures that participated in it. Captain Keelah has suggested that Mana may remain with the Endeavour due to her familiarity with the culture being studied and her personal interest in the matter.