Mystery in Space

Posted on Tue Mar 10th, 2020 @ 9:50am by Captain Enalia Telvan & Commander Rita Paris & Lieutenant Commander Mnhei'sahe Dox & Lieutenant Commander Thex sh'Zoarhi & Lieutenant Commander Sonak & Lieutenant Samuel Clemens XV & Lieutenant JG Rena Pacci & Lieutenant JG Tovanna Mah
Edited on on Fri Mar 20th, 2020 @ 4:03pm

Mission: Dedjoy System Mystery
Location: The Dedjoy System
Timeline: 2397

Captain's log, Stardate 72152.59. U.S.S. Turing. Marnia DeVonis commanding.

Arriving in what Intel Command has dubbed the 'Dedjoy' system for reasons unknown, we have been tasked with performing research and data gathering on an astral body located at the edge of the Trill system. To call it a planet is almost a stretch as it doesn't exactly follow all of the primary requirements for that classification, but it's hard to define exactly what it is that's on our viewscreen as we rest in a parking position relative to the… object.

To be a planet, there are three defining characteristics. It must orbit a star, which Object: X3357-665 does. It must have sufficient gravity of its own to have cleared its orbital path of obstruction, which it has. And it must have sufficient gravity to have condensed into a spherical shape.

That is where Object: X3357-665 is quite… unique. The object, while thousands of kilometers in length, is conical in shape. Lieutenant M'Raan at the helm has taken to calling it a giant 'funyun', though I haven't the foggiest clue what that means.

Nevertheless, in spite of the vagueness of our orders and the lack of any data on just where this object that wasn't on any star charts a year and a half ago came from, orders are orders, and the Turing is a science vessel. So we will figure out exactly what this mystery is.

The object appears to have a core of Neutronium, which resists scans. But even more curious is that even that information was only verifiable through surface scans. The surface of the object is teaming with vegetation and currently unidentifiable life readings. Has a Class L atmosphere and a variety of climates across its area. But the INTERIOR is impossible to scan. We can see visually that there's something inside the massive interior, but scans seem to be being… absorbed. Not even radio waves will bounce back.

Myself, Flight officer Ensign Shing, Exobotanist and Doctor Garcia, Geologist Ka’Tang, Science Chief S’aked, Exobiologist Flures, and a security detachment will be suiting up in EVA suits and heading to the interior of the object via shuttlecraft presently.

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The mid-sized, Type-9a Shuttlecraft exited from the flight deck of the Oberth-Class Starship and began making its way towards the interior of the massive, cone-shaped planetoid. Leaning over the helm the Captain of the Starship Turing was fitted in her crimson-plated EVA armor, her helmet tucked under her arm as she stared in awe at the sight before her. “Where no one has gone before. Are we getting any readings back at all from this interior, people?”

Captain Marnia DeVonis was a middle-aged, slightly stocky looking Human woman with deep, caramel-colored skin and curly Auburn hair bundled up into a messy bun on her head. She turned towards the Vulcan Science Chief, clan in teal-plated EVA armor, sitting at the scanning station to the starboard side station of the helm.

“Nothing, Captain. Our sensor signals appear to be being absorbed by whatever is within the object in question.” The Vulcan officer replied in the typical flatness of her race.

“Approach vector set. We will be passing the rim of the orifice in 27 seconds at current velocity, Captain.” Came the officer at the helm.

“Thank you Miss S’aked. Mr. Shing, maintain course and speed and keep your eyes open. We’re flying on almost pure visual input.” The Captain replied as she went to the rear of the cockpit to address the assembled crew. “Intel Command has tasked us with figuring out exactly what this object is and what kind of life has been developing on it, so it is up to us to solve a mystery. And I know that solving mysteries are what you all do best, so let’s be our best and make command glad they assigned this project to us.”

There was a round of enthusiastic ‘Aye, Captain’ from the assembly as the shuttle passed inside the rim of the stellar mass and the light from the nearby star was cut off. “Cabin lights to a minimum and hit the floods, Mr. Shing. We need to see where we’re going.”

“Aye, Captain.” The young human man at the helm replied as the lights kicked on outside the shuttle. As they did, there was a series of light flashes from the surfaces that enveloped the shuttle. Blue reflections that seemed to move and the light bounced from their surfaces.

“Captain, sensors are giving us nothing back, however, visual cues indicate that something on the interior surface of this object is both aware of us and is… moving. Hard surface reflections are visible in the range of our floodlights.” The science officer calmly commented.

“Bring us down, Mr. Shing. Twenty meters from our ventral side. We’re in a cone, every direction is techically ‘down’, so we might as well pick a spot and go from there. Miss Flures, could you please contact Commander P’Ninge on the Turing and apprise them of our status?”

“Aye, Capt…” the brown-furred Caitian exobiologist at the rear of the shuttle replied before cutting herself off. “Captain… we have no signal. If the Turing is reading us, we have no way of determining as no signals are returning to us.”

“Whatever is absorbing our scan signals appears to be doing the same to our communication… communication signals, Captain.” The science officer added as, suddenly, the exterior lights began to flicker. There was a stutter in her voice as she knitted her brows, seemingly in pain for a moment. “My apologies, Captain. I appear to be experiencing a mild… headache.”

“Push through it, Miss S’aked. I need you sharp, here. Mr. Shing? What’s going on? Where are my lights?” The Captan called forward, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

“Power drain on all systems, Captain. Illumination, life support, propulsion. We’re getting red-lights across the board.” The young pilot turned, clearly beginning to feel the anxiety mounting. “We’re going to go down if the power cuts completely, Captain?”

“Confirmed, Captain. Power drain is coming from the surface. From whatever is absorbing our signals. As we get closer, it seems to be feeding off of.... GYAAAGH!!!” Lieutenant S’aked confirmed as the ship began to shudder. As she spoke, the usually stoic Vulcan let out a cry of pain. It was a sound Captain DeVonis was accustomed to hearing from her Science officer, and it sent a shudder down her spine for a moment.

Shaking for a moment, the tall, lean figure in the Teal EVA suit grabbed the sides of his head and fell back to the deck, moaning in pain. Turning with a jerk, Captain DeVonis shouted back. “S’AKED!!!”

The Vulcan writhing on the floor didn’t answer as DeVonis pointed to one of the officers in the rear. “Garcia! See to Lieutenant S’aked! Get her sedated and strapped in, NOW!”

“Do we have enough power to reverse course? Get us out of here?” The frantic Captain asked, leaning over the helmsman’s seatback.

“N...Negative.” He replied, beginning to sweat.

“Then set us down and lock down all non-essential systems. Lockdown your EVA suits, people. Helmets. The suits are well insulated and hopefully, their power systems will be protected from… whatever this draining effect is.” The Captain said, putting on her helmet.

The rest of the small crew followed suit as the skilled but anxious pilot attempted to land the shuttle with the only light available, that coming off of the warp nacelles. “Surface appears… uneven. I… I think those are… crystal formations. Impact in 7 seconds.”

Grabbing the back of the seat, Captain DeVonis shouted out, “Brace for impact, people!”

The shuttle shuddered and shook, and there was a crashing series of almost melodic tinkles as the crew was thrown about the cabin by the harsh impact. As the shuttlecraft slammed itself to a halt… the remaining lights flickered… then died.