ST:TTV316 | "Heart of the Matter"

Stardate 95126.1

As the crew of the Valley Forge & friends from the Forged Earth colony alike recover from the recent unprecedented attack on the FE Landing Day celebration, attention turns towards a startling revelation to have come out of the subsequent interrogations which suggests that the Humans here were not the first to inhabit this star system...

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Jenni@crystyll | /Previously on TTV.../ Jenni@crystyll | After participating in the Forged Earth annual 'Landing Day' celebration. The crew of the Valley Forge got a harsh reminder in the xenophobic reaction to post-first contact as seen in many cultures Jenni@crystyll | With a terrorist splinter group calling themselves 'the Heart of the Forged' bombing the reception and taking Captain Keelah & her daughter hostage Jenni@crystyll | Though quick to outmanouver the terrorists, the crew learned in the following interrogations conducted alongside FEPD officials, that the response was spurred by a mysterious discovery... Jenni@crystyll | The terrorist leader - a labourer from the mine on the 6th planet - claimed when they dug into a new tunnel section, they discovered strange alien technology Jenni@crystyll | Now - with the aftermath settled and life returning to normal - Starfleet has been asked by the FEPD to lend it's expertise in such matters and investigate the mine Jenni@crystyll | Officers congregate in the mine's control room. Where Jenni is already working with her FEPD counterparts to lock down the suspect area... Keliaya@anncarise waves Sulayman closer. Sana@turtles#8407 Taps on a tricoder Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ is here, too. Sulayman@drcrippler: "Commander," he nods coming closer. Keliaya@anncarise: "Glad you could join us, Commander Al Firawn. Your scientific expertise could come in handy." Sulayman@drcrippler: "Well, we were on our way back from the Nelara system, and I'd never say no to helping the Forge," he smiles Keliaya@anncarise smiles back, "Hopefully this won't be another supernova-causing device, but we have no idea what we could be dealing with." Keliaya@anncarise: "So we want people with varying expertise in science and technology." Jenni@crystyll: "No no no!" she facepalms at the mine foreman, tapping at the panel in front of them, "I want forcefields up across sections B through J, our guard will fortify section A..." Sulayman@drcrippler: "Awesome, so do we have a map of this mineshaft?" Sana@turtles#8407: "Forcefields yum." she mumbles to herself Jenni@crystyll: "...and no, I don't care about your quota for the month, this is bigger dammit! So keep your people in K through S; give them a few board games and lock them in the mess for all I care!" Keliaya@anncarise: "Jenni has all the details..." she looks behind her, "Is everything alright?" Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ leans against on the railing with her elbow, then glances behind her, at Jenni's outburst. Sana@turtles#8407 Messes with the console and starts looking at various data Jenni@crystyll: "Just... keep your people out of the way until we have this thing secured. For their own safety..." she turns to Kelly shaking her head in dismay Jenni@crystyll: "Between you and me Commander, in my time with Starfleet I think I'd forgotten how naive my people could be when it came to alien matters..." Sana@turtles#8407: "Oooo so many rocks!" Jenni@crystyll: "But... the situation is under control, I'm happy to report!" Keliaya@anncarise: "Hopefully they'll improve over time after more contact with other species." Sulayman@drcrippler: "Have we had ships scan the area to see what they could find?" Jenni@crystyll: "No doubt..." she sighs, "I... shouldn't be overly harsh on him, this is as much about discipline and civilian operations rarely hold to military standards..." Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ walks over to the console Sana is at. "Rocks? I wanna see!" Keliaya@anncarise nods, "They're miners after all, not guards." Sana@turtles#8407 Points at all the different mineral samples "What I would do to these things in the lab..." Jenni@crystyll: "Scans confirm the tunnel layout as we have it shown here. But no unusual energy readings were detected" Sulayman@drcrippler: "And we have no exact confirmation from the people who found it where it is?" Keliaya@anncarise: "It's possible whatever it is lies dormant. Or is potentially pre-warp technology that doesn't emit energy." Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ watches. "Any major differences with standard minerals? Sana@turtles#8407: "Everything else is pretty normal, these rocks seem like what we would consider granite and limestone. Though this E-On stuff it's like our dilithium but so much better...I want some." Jenni@crystyll nods to both comments, "At the end of the day, Sir; they're terrorists who would frankly say anything to justify their cause. We know the area of the mine they claim to have found it in from the log" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Good," he nods. "Well, I assume you've been organising seach patrols down each shaft? We should pick one too and head down there," Jenni@crystyll shakes her head, "This is way outside of our means to handle. That is why the Colonel asked Starfleet to handle the investigation here" Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ chuckles a bit. "How much of that stuff is there?" Jenni@crystyll: "We've secured that section of the mine and accounted for all workers, so there is nobody down there at risk of getting in the way" Sana@turtles#8407: "A fair amount..." looks behind her "If we find any in the mines we're taking it." she nods Sulayman@drcrippler blinks "Oh. So you mean... we're it?" he looks at the group Sulayman@drcrippler: "Okay... so..." he sighs. "I guess we should start going, we've a fair bit to cover," Keliaya@anncarise nods, "These people have no experience dealing with alien technology. In the case it is actually something dangerous, they could accidentally set it off." Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ grins. "Nice. I'll help." Jenni@crystyll nods to Kelly, "I will accompany you of course as liaison, and two support officers from the 1st Interceptors will accompany us, both as armed support and to learn" Keliaya@anncarise: "The Captain suspects it's likely something mundane that simply got the miners thinking about the recent alien contact, but it's best to play it safe." Sana@turtles#8407 Frowns as she reads a note on the screen "It's quite rare! WHY MUST MY SCIENTIFIC ENDEVEOURS BE HINDERED!" Jenni@crystyll: "That fits the facts with the lack of energy readings, but as you said; we can't rule anything out" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Okay is it worth splitting up..." he glances over to Sana Keliaya@anncarise: "Whatever it is has likely been here for generations, maybe even millennia. And without energy readings there's no immediate hint of danger." Keliaya@anncarise: "So we're in no rush to cover as much ground as possible." Jenni@crystyll looks between the pair, "Whatever you guys think is best!" she chirps, clearly pretty excited by this whole endeavour Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ glances to Sana. "I'm sure we can find a sample or something, right?" Sulayman@drcrippler: "In that case, let's get going. We'll set our tricorders to pick up any technology, and then work our way through the shafts slowly," Sana@turtles#8407: "We can try." Jenni@crystyll turns, "Actually... no you can't..." Jenni@crystyll: "Given it's value to my people and it's rarity, my government won't permit any samples of Element One to be removed. Sorry..." Sana@turtles#8407: "That's what they think." Keliaya@anncarise: "If it's far enough pre-warp, it might not even register as technology. We'll want to keep an eye out as well." Jenni@crystyll: "Scans and data gathering are however permitted. For those, I won't have to shoot you" she smiles Sana@turtles#8407: "I've been shot at many times in the name of science it is nothing new." Keliaya@anncarise: "Lieutenant, let's not go stealing from our allies. We've already got the Eon fighter to study if we want to test this fuel source." Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ leans over to Sana. "Could we put the scans throgh the replicator and see if we can synthesize it? Sana@turtles#8407 Eyes go wide "AN EXPERIMENT!" Jenni@crystyll checks her weapon and looks to the group, "Well, sounds like we have a plan. Ready when you are!" Keliaya@anncarise nods, "Let's get going, Lieutenants." Jenni@crystyll FX | The two guest FEPD officers fall in alongside Jenni Sulayman@drcrippler nods and follows Jenni, his tricorder out Jenni@crystyll nods and leads them to the not-turbolift to take them down to new mining tunnel. Keliaya@anncarise flips open her custom tricorder as well, scanning around. Sana@turtles#8407 Usses her tricorder aswell as sniffing,touching and occasionally licking the rocks Keliaya@anncarise glances to Jenni, "So judging from the Lieutenant's interest in Eon, am I to understand this is one of your major sources?" Jenni@crystyll: "The only viable one" she nods, "Other mining outposts are focused more on construction resources and soft fuels" Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ follows Sana around, her tricorder out as well. Jenni@crystyll FX | After a long plunge kilometers down beneath the planet's surface, the elevator creaks to a halt at the bottom of a dark, damp and eerily quiet cavern Jenni@crystyll: (( https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GXH64w5fiXc/maxresdefault.jpg )) Keliaya@anncarise: "Good fuels are fairly rare and precious. Dilithium isn't all over the place either." Sulayman@drcrippler: "I only glanced at the reports on the way here," he says. "This mine is located on the outermost orbital body?" Jenni@crystyll: "Yes, and even rare that Eon in this system" she notes to Kelly Jenni@crystyll: "Not quite, Sir" she notes to Sulay, "There is a Class P body beyond this" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Ah," he nods. "There goes my idea," he frowns and sets off down the passage Keliaya@anncarise glances to Muir as she sets down the passage as well, "Have you gotten a chance to try Lieutenant Baelai's Eon fighter yet?" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Did... anyone bring a flare?" Jenni@crystyll nods to her fellow FEPD's who remain prone with ready weapons as they follow and listen attentively Sana@turtles#8407 Starts poking the wall and sniffs it then scans it Keliaya@anncarise: "No Commander...but I brought something better." Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ looks over at Keliaya as she walks with them. "Not yet, sadly. Still trying to get the holosuite hours." Keliaya@anncarise unhooks a flashlight from her belt and activates it. Sulayman@drcrippler taps his tricorder. "I have a small torch," he says, and the light turns on, before he turns to look at Kelly Sulayman@drcrippler: "Smart," he chuckles. Keliaya@anncarise chuckles, "I can lead the way if you need. Or do you want the light?" Jenni@crystyll & her group had meanwhile activated holo-visors which apparently granted night vision, wincing and quickly disabling them when facing the bright torchlight Sulayman@drcrippler: "If you want to take the back with the light, it'll light it up for everyone, whilst I take the front with my smaller light," he says Keliaya@anncarise: "Good thinking." Sulayman@drcrippler leads the way with his own torch Jenni@crystyll FX | Even the light from the smaller torch would dance wonderously off all the exposed crystalline formations around them Keliaya@anncarise glances to Muir before falling back to the rear of the group, "It's quite an amazing piece of technology, veeery different from how our fighters work. I highly recommend giving it a try!" Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ is moderately distracted by the sparkly walls, walking along. Sulayman@drcrippler scans for technology, keeping his eyes open for anything out of place Sana@turtles#8407 Continously walks up to things and does her touching,sniffing,licking,scanning "hmm yes indeed." Keliaya@anncarise stares around at the environment from time to time between checks of her tricorder. Sana@turtles#8407: rolls 42 (1-100) Keliaya@anncarise: rolls 98 (1-100) Sulayman@drcrippler: rolls 97 (1-100) Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ: rolls 44 (1-100) Keliaya@anncarise: "These formations...they look like decrystallized dilithium." Keliaya@anncarise: "Dilithium, but already drained of power somehow, and useless as a fuel source now." Jenni@crystyll looks at one with Kelly, "Are you... sure about that? They're just... common and unremarkable formations?" Sana@turtles#8407 Walks over and licks the formation they are talking about "Tastes like dilithum to me." Keliaya@anncarise: "One of my specialties is warp cores. I'm fairly certain these are a form of dilithium." Keliaya@anncarise: "Could be a defect in their formation somehow that makes them unviable for use." Keliaya@anncarise: "Only alternative would be that something already drained them without extracting them from their natural environment. Which is a lot less likely." Sana@turtles#8407: "Or they could be hooked up to the ailen technology." Jenni@crystyll: "But..." she frowns, "These are where we get Eon from. It's rare, maybe 1 in... 1000? But occassionally one of these has a small but highly compressed signature" Keliaya@anncarise: "Wait, you extracted Eon from drained dilithium crystals?" Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ hmms. "Does Eon absorb the power?" Jenni@crystyll nods to Kelly, "If... that's what you say these things are, yeah" Sulayman@drcrippler has totally disappeared from view Jenni@crystyll turning to Muir, "As for it absorbing the power from... I don't know, maybe? We've never regarded these in the same light as dilithium due to them being so common and, well, lifeless!" Keliaya@anncarise glances to Muir, "It's a very interesting proposal!" Keliaya@anncarise: "It's either that or Eon is a byproduct from draining dilithium in a particular fashion. But in the latter's case our scientists would've discovered it by now..." Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ nods. "How often to you find any Eon? Like, how much space is between each bit of Eon?" Jenni@crystyll: "Like I said, it's super rare! Maybe 1 in 1000 of these shells might hold a trace amount of it" Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ nods. "Right, but is there like...an actual pattern? Like," she points to a random spot on the wall, "How far down that way before we could find Eon? And would that be the same in the othe direction? Jenni@crystyll shakes her head, "No consitent distribution I'm aware of. You could find traces in the first piece you trip over, or you could tunnel for several kilometers before finding any" Jenni@crystyll: "What do you think, Comman-..." looks around, "Um... where's he gone?" Keliaya@anncarise glances around, "I don't think he noticed that we stopped..." Jenni@crystyll | FEPD escorts instantly ready their weapons and scan around with their visors Sana@turtles#8407: "I'll go get him!" she heads off into the darkness Keliaya@anncarise: "Wait up Lieutenant!" Jenni@crystyll hand signals one of the npc's to follow her Sana@turtles#8407: "Commander!" she calls as heads into the darkness "WAHHHHHHHHHH!" she goes flying over a lump in the road Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ pulls out her phaser pistol, and follows Sana. Sana@turtles#8407 face plants Sulayman@drcrippler: "Ouch!" Keliaya@anncarise cautiously steps forward, holding her flashlight in one hand and tricorder in the other, and scanning for anomalies. Jenni@crystyll leads the remaining group as they follow while her other npc brings up the rear Sana@turtles#8407 Sniffs, licks the floor..."Still alive." she stands Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ quirks an eyebrow. "You ok up there, LT?" Sulayman@drcrippler FX| The light would shine on Sulayman holding both his head and his ankle Jenni@crystyll: "Commander, Lieutenant?" she calls out to the immedate response of endless echoing Sana@turtles#8407 Dusts herself off "That was a large rock." Keliaya@anncarise: "I see them! You two alright?" Jenni@crystyll holsters her weapon when she sees they weren't nabbed by xenomorphs. the npc's keep a vigilant watch Sana@turtles#8407: "Becareful there are large rocks...." Notices Sulayman "LArge rocks in the shape of the commander on the floor." Sulayman@drcrippler looks around. "Excuse me?" Keliaya@anncarise: "Uh...I think that was the Commander on the floor." Sana@turtles#8407: "A very good hypothesis." Sulayman@drcrippler: "It... was... me on the floor," he snaps, and then winces Muirgen@BobSagetYYZ blinks, holstering her phaser, looking to the Commander. "And...are you ok?" Sulayman@drcrippler: "I think I've twisted my ankle," he mutters Sana@turtles#8407: "Twisted your cankles?" Sulayman@drcrippler blinks. "My ankle," Sulayman@drcrippler points to his ankle Sana@turtles#8407: "Makes sense you wouldn't strike me as a man with cankles." Keliaya@anncarise looks around to make sure there aren't tripping hazards as she approaches Sulayman. Sulayman@drcrippler: "What are you talking about Lieutenant?" he frowns Sulayman@drcrippler FX| In the light, all trip hazards could be avoided Sulayman@drcrippler FX| Unless you were really silly... Jenni@crystyll eyerolls at the silhouettes of Starfleet's finest setting her comrades such a fine example, turning with them to take actual samples of the meaningless crystals following Kelly's theory" Keliaya@anncarise retrieves a small aid kit from her toolbelt and sets it on the gorund before Sulayman, shining her light on it as she opens the box. Sana@turtles#8407: "Unsure, my face did hit the floor pretty hard my brain functions are probably not at 100%" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Do you know basic first aid commander?" he asks Kelly. "Or would you need some instruction?" Keliaya@anncarise: "I got it covered, don't worry," she takes out one of the small devices, "Which ankle is it?" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Left one," he says, leaning back and shining his small light on it to help Kelly Keliaya@anncarise runs the small regenerator over the ankle before putting it back in the kit, "Better?" Sulayman@drcrippler gingerly gets to his feet, wincing slightly as he places his weight onto the repaired foot. "Seems okay..." Keliaya@anncarise smiles, "Great. Just...don't step too far out of the light again." Sulayman@drcrippler: "I didn't realise you all had stopped..." he mutters Jenni@crystyll returns to the others, presenting the sample container to Sana, "I'm guessing you'll be wanting this" she smiles Keliaya@anncarise: "Sorry! We...got sidetracked from studying the crystals." Jenni@crystyll: "It may not be Eon, but... could be more of a mystery to solve than we thought!" Keliaya@anncarise: "Apparently they're decrystallized dilithium, and also the source of the Eon fuel source." Sulayman@drcrippler: "That's... not why we were... oh..." Keliaya@anncarise: "It's not quite ancient artifacts...but still very unusual and interesting." Sulayman@drcrippler: "Very interesting..." he nods Sulayman@drcrippler: "But we should get moving," he says, and starts heading forward, slower Keliaya@anncarise: "Anyways, think we're good to keep moving." Jenni@crystyll looks between the pair with a chuckle and follows Keliaya@anncarise chuckles as well before following, staying at the back of the group to shine the light for everyone. Sulayman@drcrippler turns red. "What the Commander said," he nods Keliaya@anncarise continues scanning and visually looking for signs of ancient alien technology. Jenni@crystyll FX | Still no change in readings or visuals. Just a winding cavern full of sparkly dead crystals... Sulayman@drcrippler: "Do we not have a vehicle for this kind of thing?" Jenni@crystyll: "In the more developed tunnels we have rovers" she nods, "But this section isn't cleared enough for them yet" Keliaya@anncarise: "It's not /that/ long of a walk..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Just think of it as good exercise!" she chuckles. Sulayman@drcrippler: "Well, it isn't that bad if we find it now... I just don't want to be roaming these tunnels for hours..." Jenni@crystyll: "Well it is a new section after all, so I doubt there's hours worth of roaming to be had down here yet!" Sana@turtles#8407: "I do have an appointment with one of the counsellors as well something about me being not mentally sound? Oh well wouldn't want to be late for that." Keliaya@anncarise: "I suppose the scenary might get same-y after a while...but it's a nice view for now!" Keliaya@anncarise continues scanning as they go. Sulayman@drcrippler: "I'm an astrophysist, not a geologist," Sana@turtles#8407: "I just like blowing stuff up." Keliaya@anncarise: rolls 60 (1-100) Sulayman@drcrippler: rolls 15 (1-100) Sana@turtles#8407: rolls 81 (1-100) Sana@turtles#8407: "Go to the left." Keliaya@anncarise: "You're reading something that way?" Sulayman@drcrippler stops. "Pardon?" Keliaya@anncarise: "The Lieutenant suggests heading to the left." Sana@turtles#8407: "To the left to the left." Sulayman@drcrippler looks to the left Sana@turtles#8407: "I've got some readings to the left to the left." Jenni@crystyll FX | The cave does branch off that way in an increasingly narrow passage Keliaya@anncarise steps forward and shines her light into the narrow passage. Sulayman@drcrippler: "This... is going to be a squeeze..." Jenni@crystyll FX | It winds fairly tightly so not much to see from here Sana@turtles#8407 Is tiny Jenni@crystyll: "Doesn't look so bad..." Keliaya@anncarise chuckles, "I was just about to say. Want one of us to go first?" Sulayman@drcrippler clears his throat. "Okay, I should," he mutters, unconvincingly, and heads into the passage Keliaya@anncarise shines the light for Sulayman as much as she can through the winding passage. Jenni@crystyll follows close behind him, ready to draw her weapon if needed Sulayman@drcrippler sqeezes through and shines his broken tricorder light through Keliaya@anncarise scans with her tricorder as she moves through the passage. Jenni@crystyll FX | The narrower passage winds around some and whilst smaller than the main tunnel, it's not quite at the point of anyone having to breath in to squeeze through or anything Jenni@crystyll FX | But then, it opens out into a huuuge cavern! Sulayman@drcrippler stumbles into the cavern. "Wow..." Jenni@crystyll FX | The cavern is vast, and strangely lacking in any of the crystal formations. Torchlight suddenly just... vanishes into nothingness Sulayman@drcrippler: "Erm... this... is... wow..." Jenni@crystyll FX | Even the slightest whisper echoes deeply in this area Keliaya@anncarise: "That's quite a big amount of open space..." Keliaya@anncarise: "And quite an echo effect!" Jenni@crystyll FX | "...Wow... ow...... ow........ow........" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Echo!" Sulayman@drcrippler grins as the sound reverberates. "Sorry, I had to do that," Jenni@crystyll looks around, speaking softly and humbled, "This... can't be part of the mine. No way they'd have had time to clear all this out..." Keliaya@anncarise nods, "Something tells me we're on the right path." Keliaya@anncarise: "I don't see any crystals here. Nothing to mine, even if they did come here, so I doubt Forged miners bothered to open up this much space." Jenni@crystyll: "I think we should take a closer look around here" she nods in agreement Sulayman@drcrippler: "Let's spread out, but keep in visual contact with each other," he nods and moves Keliaya@anncarise scans as she shines her light around, trying to find a wall or some surface other than the ground they're standing on. Jenni@crystyll: "We can pair off" waves her npc's to split up with Sulay, Kelly & Sana while she joins Muir Keliaya@anncarise: "Good call!" Sulayman@drcrippler heads of straight down the middle Keliaya@anncarise heads off to the right side. Sulayman@drcrippler: rolls 89 (1-100) Keliaya@anncarise: rolls 85 (1-100) Jenni@crystyll: rolls 28 (1-100) Sulayman@drcrippler: "Oh," he says, and moves towards what looks like a smooth surface buried under the rocks. "I've found something," Jenni@crystyll looks to Muir, "Sounds like the Commander found something, come on!" Keliaya@anncarise hurries over as well, "What'd you find?" Sulayman@drcrippler: "It looks like a metal object," Keliaya@anncarise takes a moment to determine where Sulayman's voice is actually coming from and shines her light there. Jenni@crystyll FX | It's part buried, but bares a distinctly curved edge. It's large too, the visible fragment over a meter in length and looking to disappear more into the rock Keliaya@anncarise stands closer and hovers her tricorder over the partially buried object. Sulayman@drcrippler sees if he can moves a few pieces of rock to better ascertain the object Keliaya@anncarise: "Looks like an archway, maybe an entrance into a bigger structure?" Jenni@crystyll | Sulay's rummaging yields what could be likened to emitters on the inner arc Sulayman@drcrippler: "I agree," he nods. "Can we tag it to beam onto the Valley Forge?" Keliaya@anncarise: "Let's not move it yet. Best to keep it in place in case we find other related things." Jenni@crystyll: "That also looks pretty buried, I wouldn't want to bring this place down us by disturbing it..." Keliaya@anncarise nods, "When we get an idea of the whole picture here, we can start transporting samples back for more in-depth study." Keliaya@anncarise scans for other things around the arch. Jenni@crystyll steps closer to see better, "Is this really... dear lord, they were right. It's really alien tech isn't-..." Sulayman@drcrippler looks around to see what else he can see Jenni@crystyll FX | The emitters seem to glow as Jenni approaches, as does... her sample container?" Keliaya@anncarise: "Seems like-" she glances to the buried arch, "What did you do?" Jenni@crystyll scrambles back in a slight panic at the reaction, causing it to fade. Not that it was particularly strong at the best Jenni@crystyll: "I..." shakes her head, staring fearfully at it Jenni@crystyll FX | light dust falls around them as the entire thing hummed and vibrated slightly at the brief surge Keliaya@anncarise steps back as well, "Did it react to the crystal?" Sulayman@drcrippler: "I think it could be something to do with the crystals," he nods Jenni@crystyll: "I guess..." she slowly steps forward, holding out the sample container and sure enough the same effect ensues Keliaya@anncarise: "Interesting..." Keliaya@anncarise scans while the effect is occuring. Jenni@crystyll FX | The glow is faint at best, and clearly seems underpowered. After a few moments even at close range it fades to nothing Sulayman@drcrippler: "Wait..." he looks to Kelly Sulayman@drcrippler: "Did you see any crystals at all on the wall?" Keliaya@anncarise: "There's none...are you thinking this is what's been draining the crystals?" Sulayman@drcrippler nods "That was my theory," Keliaya@anncarise glances back down to her tricorder, "No...really? That's...I've only seen readings like this once before..." Sulayman@drcrippler looks at Kelly curiously Jenni@crystyll does so as well Keliaya@anncarise: "Can't be a tricorder malfunction...even if it is misreading it won't display something this specific." Sulayman@drcrippler: "Commander... what is it?" he coaxes Keliaya@anncarise looks up to Sulayman and Jenni, "It's Iconian." Sulayman@drcrippler blinks. "What?" Jenni@crystyll: "Commander, you're... familiar with this... 'Iconian'?" Keliaya@anncarise: "The only time I've ever seen readings like this was above Una II, on Stardate 91333. During the initial Iconian onslaught." Keliaya@anncarise: "And as far as I'm aware...they're the only civilization known to be capable of producing something like this." Jenni@crystyll shares an uneasy glance with the FEPD npc's, not liking the sound of an onslaught Sulayman@drcrippler: "We fought a war against the Iconians. We almost lost... before they disappeared without a trace," Keliaya@anncarise: "It's beyond Forged Earth technology. Beyond Federation technology, even." Keliaya@anncarise nods at Sulayman, "Una II was my only involvement in that conflict. But there's no way I can mistake an Iconian power signature for something else." Jenni@crystyll: "What are they, time travellers or something? I mean if you fought them... but this" she gestures to the artifact, "...this has been for centuries at least" Keliaya@anncarise: "They're more like highly advanced space travellers, who can connect points in space-time and travel across instantenously." Sulayman@drcrippler: "I mean, it makes sense for it to be here... we should contact Command," Keliaya@anncarise: "They were supposed to have been extinct, but suddenly came back a few years ago, and then promptly went off to mind their own business after killing millions." Keliaya@anncarise: "Most of their technology is very old, like this." Jenni@crystyll: "So they're still out there? Does this mean having this thing here poses a danger to us?" Keliaya@anncarise nods at Sulayman. Keliaya@anncarise: "Not if it's powered off and buried like this." Keliaya@anncarise: "If the Iconians wanted to use it, they probably would have during their invasion." Jenni@crystyll tentatively holsters her weapon, "Well... I guess the Captain will want to know first up" Jenni@crystyll: "Hopefully she can help us understand this 'gateway' thing better before I try explaining all this to the Colonel..." Sulayman@drcrippler nods. "The Captain will most likely make a decision before passing it on to command," Keliaya@anncarise: "Definitely. There's still functional gateways across the known galaxy, and ones the Iconians haven't used to invade since the war suddenly ended." Keliaya@anncarise: "But finding a gateway is still a very rare occurance. And certainly potentially dangerous..." Jenni@crystyll: "Really?" she gives Kelly a dubious look Keliaya@anncarise nods, "There's other gateways, I haven't been to them, but Starfleet is making use of them to travel to remote parts of the galaxy from time to time as well." Keliaya@anncarise: "Like the Delta Quadrant expeditions." Sulayman@drcrippler: "This could potentially be a great discovery," Jenni@crystyll 's eyes widen, "Wait. You... you use them?" looks at the wall, "I can't imagine travelling so far on foot. Couldn't even fit a rover through there..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Oh those ones are larger. Like...space station large." Keliaya@anncarise: "They're not dangerous on their own, but it's still highly advanced technology that a known enemy of the Federation has access to." Keliaya@anncarise: "So...best to be cautious. I'm sure the Captain will know what best to do with it, though." Jenni@crystyll crouches to the floor as she gets dizzy trying to comprehend the magnitude of it all Sulayman@drcrippler: "Woah," he takes a step towards Jenni. "You okay Lieutenant?" Jenni@crystyll nods, still staring at the wall, "I'm fine, Sir... fine. It's just..." shakes her head," It's a lot absorb..." Sulayman@drcrippler smiles. "Take it easy Lieutenant," he looks at Kelly. "Let's get a security and science team down here," Keliaya@anncarise: "On it. I'll inform the Captain about what we're dealing with here. Try not to touch anything in the meantime." Keliaya@anncarise goes to comm the VF. Sulayman@drcrippler: "I... can promise that... I can't promise..." he looks for where Sana's gone too and spends the rest of the time making sure she doesn't bite anything

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SUBMITTED: Stardate 95126.1 FILED BY: CAPT K Se'Lai SECURITY: Level 2 - Confidential LOCATION:Newfrika; Forged Earth system MISSION: Investigate claim of unearthed non-indigenous technology within mining facility. OUTCOME:Claim verified and area secured pending allocation of dedicated research team. KEY PERSONNEL: LCDR Keliaya LCDR Sulayman FLT Baelai LTJG Finney LTJG Minatozaki NARRATIVE:In the wake of the recent unprecedented attack on the Landing Day celebration of Forged Earth, interrogation of those responsible yielded information which suggested the recent discovery of alien technology within the Newfrika mining colony. At the request of the FE Council, Valley Forge remained to investigate given Starfleets greater experience with such matters. After allowing local law enforcement to secure the facility over safety concerns, I dispatched an away to locate and investigate the reported artifact - accompanied by LCDR Sulayman as the al-Firawn joined us whilst on it's homeward journey from Nelara. The team was also accompanied by supporting officers from the FEPD who were assigned to provide fire support if required, but more importantly to learn from our officers' example in such investigations. Whilst traversing the newly opened tunnel section of the 'Eon' (or Element One to use it's proper designation) mine, the team reported an unprecedented volume of crystalline formations which were promptly identified - owing to LCDR Keliaya's experience with warp core maintenance - as decrystallized dlithium. This was reportedly a revelation to the FE personnel who had only encountered unrefined dilithium in much smaller volumes on a different planet. The crystal formations here were seemingly unremarkable, save for an approximate 0.000138% which were the source of their elusive Element One; found in exponentially compressed traces within this fraction of the otherwise insignificant crystals. Taking samples of the common crystal formations for more detailed lab analysis back on board the ship, the team continued deeper into the tunnels where they eventually came upon a large cavernous formation that was completely void of crystals and too vast to have been conceivably cleared by recent mining efforts. Within this chamber, LCDR Sulayman was able to quickly pinpoint the unidentified object as a non-natural metallic surface protruded from the rocks. Closer inspection revealed that it formed a small portion of a largely buried structure several meters in height and approximately arch shaped. Furthermore; emitter heads on it's inner face seemed to react faintly to the presence of the crystal samples being carried and emitted a faint glow of energy in close proximity. Early hypothesis postulates that the reason the cavern was void of any crystal formations - continuing the depleted dilithium theory - was that this structure had been somehow constructed to siphon it's power directly from the raw mineral formations around it. Most significantly however, was the energy reading recorded by the power surge, as this was determined to be consistent with Iconian technology. RECOMMENDATION: Upon reporting to the ship that they had located what was believed to be a smaller Iconian gateway; I ordered the investigation team to return and have already posted increased security around the immediate area, with a provisional research team performing a more detailed analysis of the gateway. A find of this magnitude warrants greater scientific support than the Valley Forge can sustain however, so I request that we are relieved by a more suited resource as soon as possible. I would also suggest that said research team is based on board a ship which can maintain a long term orbital presence to present a reassurance of added security to the people of Forged Earth. I have already briefed the FE Council on the Iconians as we presently know them, and our limited understanding of their technology. Though my assurances as to the immediate safety of their system were accepted, I would suggest that whoever heads up the long term research project here be equally prepared to maintain diplomatic efforts and work closely with the local agencies. Should this gateway turn out to be active - or even have the potential to be - it could either pose a threat from Iconian control or an opportunity to us; for study comparable to the discovery of the New Romulus gateway. Either eventuality may one day warrant a more permanent Starfleet presence in the system, and we should mindful of this in our continued relationship with Forged Earth.