To Explore Strange New Worlds I

Posted on Tue Mar 10th, 2020 @ 9:58am by Captain Enalia Telvan & Commander Rita Paris & Lieutenant Commander Mnhei'sahe Dox & Lieutenant Commander Sonak
Edited on on Fri Mar 20th, 2020 @ 4:02pm

Mission: Dedjoy System Mystery
Location: USS Curiosity, Dedjoy System, Primordius orbit
Timeline: 2397

There was some internal debate as to whether to wear the flight suit or the standard EVA suit in order to undertake this mission. While there was some assurance that all should be well, and they shouldn’t need to leave the cockpit of the science vessel Curiosity, on the off chance that they did, Rita would prefer the standard EVA armor with which she had become familiar in the operation of rather than the specific flight suit recently innovated by Lieutenant Gonadie for use with the experimental spacecraft of the USS Hera.

The standard displays and reactions would likely be more than sufficient for this task, and if things did go other than ‘according to plan’, Rita wanted to be prepared for anything. So standard EVA was her choice. Right now she was on the flight deck early, checking over the small 2-man starcraft based loosely on the Romulan Scorpion design. In place of the overhead disruptor cannon located above the cockpit, the Curiosity boasted an enhanced sensor package which gave it superior scanning capability that nearly rivaled the Hera’s. However, the Curiosity could maneuver in spaces the Hera could not, and get close, detailed scans.

At least, when there wasn’t a few billion tons of neutronium interfering with the signals.

The titan Primordius had been assaulted with multiple Genesis devices, which had transformed the ‘Doomsday Machine’ into a conical planetoid fostering new life, in a planet shaped like a cone, with atmosphere and life on both the interior as well as the exterior of the planet. The Oberth class USS Turing had been assigned to study the planet as well as the system, until contact with the science vessel had been lost. Thus, the Hera had been dispatched to investigate; and now, that investigation fell to two experts in the field.

Commander Rita Paris was a veteran Starfleet officer, with nearly a decade of experience in the field… or 143 years, depending on how you looked at it. An able and experienced explorer, she was intimately familiar with the hazards of interplanetary exploration. Calm under pressure, adaptable and bold, the San Francisco native was an excellent pilot, and had been chosen to handle the Curiosity so that the other half of the expedition could concentrate on necessary fact-finding. While behind the times in many technical aspects of modern Starfleet, her pioneer spirit and willingness to work with others to accomplish goals tended to see her through most missions.

Lieutenant Commander Sonak was a Kolinahr, the pinnacle of logical thought. Purged of all emotion, his mind was a vast and organized storehouse filled with scientific fact and knowledge that was quite up to date. A brilliant researcher and gifted scientist, he would be analyzing the data from the mysterious planetoid It would fall to him to interpret the situation and seek to understand the unique nature of the planet they had simply named Primordius, in the system that had been created by the Genesis waves which had been named the Dedjoy system. Methodical, precise and brilliant, there were few in the galaxy who might be better suited for this mission than Sonak of Vulcan.

The fact that the two were a bonded pair, wed together on a spiritual, telepathic and emotional level was only a side consideration in regard to this mission. While it did give them an edge in communication as well as reactions, it could be considered a liability, as their emotional attachment could jeopardize the mission should it lead to one of them making a decision based on their commitment to one another. However, the duo had worked in tandem for years, across to different realities. Which had, in turn, led one to pursue the other in order to be reunited. Thus it was judged by the command of the Hera that the bond the two shared was more of an asset than a liability.

After all, few officers could boast the lengths these two had gone to in order to rescue one another over the course of their service together.

Today was the first time in a while that it would be just the two officers on a mission together. Back in their day it was usually themselves accompanying the Captain on the dangerous away missions. But in the modern Starfleet, it had been determined that captains should remain on the ship rather than risking themselves on away missions, and that responsibility had been designated to the First Officer, which was the position Paris now held.

Once the roles had been reversed; when the older, wiser and more mature Sonak had been the first officer, while Paris had accompanied him as the junior officer. However, while he had once been a captain, Sonak had no ego to bruise, thus Starfleet seeing fit to demote him after his transfer from another reality had not fazed him in the least. If anything, he celebrated Paris’ promotion, pleased to see her continue to advance and grow into the officer he knew she could be if given the opportunity.

Thus today found her on the flight deck, clad in the gold and black customized EVA armor of which she had grown rather fond. The helm was retracted, while the ‘visor’ sat on the bridge of her nose, streaming telemetry as she performed her preflight checks of the bright blue starcraft which bore on its stabilizers both the modern Starfleet ‘twin towers’ delta insignia, as well as the classic delta of their day with the two interconnected rings of the Science department. While it had been tested and taken out for exploratory missions in the past, Paris was pleased that the small and agile craft would be put to good use again on this mission.

Now all she needed was the scientist who could make sense of those sophisticated readings, but she was of the opinion that he was finishing suiting up in his own EVA suit, in preparation for the exploration of the L-class planet.

At the exact appointed time, as was always the case with him, Lieutenant Commander Sonak, Chief Science Officer of the Hera, stepped onto the fight deck, fully suited and equipped for the upcoming mission. He took a moment as he approached to examine the sensor pallets installed on the small craft until he came next to his mission commanding officer, which was also the exec of his ship, and his wife.

''Chief of Science Sonak, reporting for away team, Commander.''

By voice, eyes or attitude, you could never guess if they had spent a lifetime together or barely just met. Unless you paid close attention to the precise positioning and angle he took relative to her and without missing a step.

"Thank you, Mister Sonak. It looks like a good day for a little sightseeing in system, I'm thinking. As she spoke, the pretty pilot was uncoupling leads and sealing up hatches, personally overseeing her flight preparations.

"I've laid out a basic search pattern, and once we're on board you can make course recommendations based on the sensor data you need, or whatever we discover out here. Apparently the crystals are absorbing ambient energy sources, which we think we've got shielded for Curiosity, at least. The Neutronium content baffles the Hera's sensors, so what's our plan to do better when we're onsite?" The canopy opened as she came around to the starboard side of the craft, stepping up on the reinforced stabilizer to swing her leg over and into the forward pilot's seat. While the secondary station was filled with screens and monitors for the various sensor platforms, the piloting station come equipped with an actual piloting yoke, a throttle and foot pedal controls that made for a considerably more elegant piloting experience than a shuttlecraft.

''Logically, once we are inside the neutronium structure itself, it will no longer interfere with our instruments, '' the Vulcan stated while beginning a level 5 diagnostics on the sensor equipment. ''As for the energy problem, may I suggest an old fashion powerless approach? Using momentum only to and steer with minimal thruster output should help us conserve energy which will logically be needed much more for the way out.''

From a pack he had brought with him, he took out three small conical devices encased in an isolated carrying case.

''I also took the liberty of bringing these pattern enhancers and emergency beacon. If we are unable to pilot our way out, this will provide us with an alternative means of escape; only if circumstances demand it of course.''

He was careful about his wife's aversion to transporters and so worded his proposal accordingly. But at the same time, he was not going to neglect what may be their only way to get back if they lost shuttle capability; hence why he insisted on the notion of 'emergency scenario' only. Statistics were far more inclined towards anything else other a freak transporter accident if things went south during their mission. He was not going to take any chances.

Vulcans did not believe in luck.

"Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that, but good thinking Mr. Sonak," Paris admitted, appreciating the science chief's delicate approach to the common-sense reality that they might need to be beamed out. "Piloting by inertia and thrusters is a logical approach, I must admit, and that's piloting I have plenty of experience with. All right- we'll cut impulse power when we get close and see how out of trouble we can stay using the pressurized thrusters instead of the impulse drive, and we'll see if the shields protect us. Not that I have doubt in Dedjoy's ability so much as I have faith in the unknown to surprise us."

'' I am recording into the nav computer the sensor logs about the distance where the energy drain was felt by the previous approaches,'' Sonak said while his fingers drummed on the controls. ''You will be warned when we reach it, and also a warning signal calculated with correlation to our power output and mass in case these are altering factors.''

Buckling down in the cockpit, Paris secured herself to the pilot's seat, then jacked her EVA suit into the ship's controls This causes multiple holographic windows to open both within her armor, as well as within the cockpit of the starship as the two systems acquainted themselves, and she began running her internal preflight checklist. "Running on manual will help lessen our power output as well I suppose, and apparently the Yeoman shielded our suit power sources as well, in case we have to EVA. So an L-Class planet- vegetation, atmo and life, just not breathable atmosphere for humanoid life?"

''There are cases of some having oxygen-argon atmosphere capable of sustaining standard humanoid lifeforms,'' he specified. ''Class L worlds can have different kinds of atmospheres, ranging from suitable to unsuited without additional means; but typically they have higher concentrations of carbon dioxide than class M worlds. Our good doctor provided us we an ample supply of tri-ox compound if our suits happen to fail us. There are a dozen hyposprays neatly packed are in one of the side pouches of each of our suits.''


''As for lifeforms, they should be at a very early stage of evolution. Abundant chlorophyll-based or plankton-based life are indicative of a breathable atmosphere. While vegetation is common on L-class worlds, they are usually devoid of fauna; but not always. There are also cases of sentient lifeforms native to such worlds, but more often transplanted there. Class L planets are prime candidates for colonization and potential terraforming.''

He finished his diagnostics and turned to her.

''So at this stage, making any assumption could prove detrimental.''

“Fair enough, Mr. Sonak. That being the case, let’s stop with the supposition and get to the actual scientific exploration to get some answers, shall we?” Paris offered with a smile to the small screen on her canopy that displayed her rear passenger to her. “Hera flight control, this is Away Team 1 in the USS Curiosity, requesting launch vector for planetary scouting, over.”

“Curiosity, you are a go for flight path 3, good luck out there, Commander,” came the reply, to which Paris replied with a smirk. “Here’s hoping luck doesn’t come into play today, Mister Brodsky. Acknowledged flight vector three.”
With that, the impulse engines came to life with a soft hum and the small blue craft rose off the deck, pivoted precisely, then moved out on minimal power as it passed over the busy flight deck. Switching to internal comms, the buxom bombardier activated and sealed her helmet, then activated the environmental controls for the EVA suit.

“Let’s seal systems, Mr. Sonak. We’ll be clearing the flight deck and going to impulse in ten seconds,” the nubile navigator reported. Of course, Sonak knew the procedures and checklists, likely better than Rita herself. But the back and forth exchange of information was an old pattern for her that she would follow with anyone on a mission, and she found she was actually excited for this particular exploration. In truth, it had been a long time since they had ventured into the field as a team, and even if it was just a fly around scouting mission, she was glad to be here with the stoic scientist who had saved her life so very many times.

Not that it was just a one-way street, as she had saved him a time or two herself. But the Kolinahr was the very definition of reliable, and over the years it had given the human explorer a foundation from which to launch into her heroic efforts that sometimes overextended her, and required cool logic, instant decisions and split-second timing… all of which were the solemn scientist’s stock in trade.

''All systems nominal, sensors at maximum output; we are clear to proceed along expected parameters,'' the Vulcan dutifully reported, eyes on his instruments.

For his part, Sonak was all business. There was confidence that anything his logic could fail to understand, the instincts of his human wife, so many times proven correct, occasionally in defiance of logic, would fill in the gaps. As far as two officers on an away mission was concerned, there could not be a better, more complementary pair.

Their marriage was the already proven testbed for that theory. Many would see this mission as a cakewalk in comparison to their ongoing evolving relationship.

Once clear of the starship, the small craft burst to life, the impulse engines coming to power. Propelling the small craft forward, Paris casually tapped in the coordinates and measured the travel time. “It looks like we’ll be in position for the first orbit in seven minutes, which I’m planning to take at a range of 10,000 kilometers. Then I’m thinking we’ll move in on a steady closer orbit each time, as we take our readings and make determinations from there. Will that work for you, Sonak?”

''Affirmative.''

With this methodical approach, the Vulcan would be able to validate and correlate the sensor readings with each pass, reducing significantly the possibility or error. His wife might not be a scientist, but she was certainly intelligent and experienced enough to understand how to best pilot their craft for the main purpose of their mission.

If he had not been Kolinahr, he would have been proud of her. As it were, he was gratified by her care with their task.

The minutes passing through the system were spent in silence. While Rita didn’t exactly need to focus on piloting the small craft once it was on course, she could see all of the activity going on behind her. Thermal imaging, quantum resonances, projected orbital paths and gravitational soundings were but a few of hundreds of scans the scientist in the back seat was performing. While he was perfectly capable of making small talk or commenting on the incoming data, that wasn’t his preference, per se. Focusing on the task at hand would ensure better data results, and Rita didn’t need the reassurance. With the flight plan agreed upon and the scans underway, she relaxed until they approached the planet, then she banked into the projected orbit, marveling at how the holographic projections on the canopy predicted the route and scanned ahead for possible hazards.

“Is it me or is the gravity a little strong for a planetoid that size?” Paris asked. At the extreme orbital range with which they were beginning, the gravity should have been around 1/3 of the pull it would be on the surface. But if she was reading the instruments correctly, the gravity was either considerably high on the planet or extended out considerably further than traditional planetary logic would dictate.

''It's the neutronium shell,'' Sonak explained. ''This is the matter found within a neutron star, a stellar body collapsed nearly but not quite into infinite gravity, what is colloquially referred to as a black hole. A single teaspoon of neutronium has a mass of a hundred million tons. Consequently, the gravitic well is formidable. This is as predicted, and our travel path has been computed to take this into account.''

"Of course. Just a little tugging on the controls, wanted to make sure I was interpreting it correctly. Coming up on the pokey end now, demagnetizing the hull for cleaner mapping of the magnetosphere. What do you make of its orbit?" Paris asked, looking over the projected telemetry that was showing out an oddly fixed orbit, with the open end of the cone planet pointed toward the sun. "Wouldn't that kill life on the dark side by denying it light and heat, while cooking the facing end?"

Sonak didn’t need to look at his instruments to provide a preliminary answer.

''The shape of the construct is irrelevant to gravitational mechanics. Since it is not a naturally-occurring stellar body, it's orbit is obviously established and maintained artificially with the use of something akin to our thrusters or stabilizers, just like any artificial satellite. As for the effects of cosmic emissions, the neutronium outer casing is totally impervious to all forms of energy and any matter collision. Logically, this construct, therefore, must have energy collectors and a distribution grid to make everything life-sustaining inside, at least to the L Class level, including an artificial gravity.''

“So you’re saying that even though the Genesis wave rewrote the existing construct to cover it with life, at its heart the power systems and thrusters are still theoretically operable, and in operation sans any guiding sentience?” Paris sought to clarify. While small talk wasn’t useful, asking probing questions tended to help her understand the complex science they often encountered. “So basically, the superstructure is still sound, since the Neutronium clearly resisted the Genesis wave, so you hypothesize that the power systems and core infrastructure are still intact? Then what is it doing with the stored energy, I wonder?”

''Neutronium would be unaffected by the Genesis effect; nothing short of a black hole could,'' Sonak reminded her. ''And so would be the case with an automated system inside the neutronium structure; which this so-called Doomsday Machine was by definition. Obviously the sotred energy serves to keep the whole terraforming stable; otherwise it would have collapsed like the Mutara nebula did when the wave had been first deployed.''

The small speedy craft was already around the ‘pointy’ pole and making its way back around to the open ‘maw’ of the planetoid. While they might have accomplished the orbits sooner, Paris was keeping the speed to an average in order to give the sensors time to record, in addition to the arc of their orbit being so very wide to make a cautious approach to a potentially dangerous situation. While she had done some cursory reading of the Genesis affair of 2285, she was unfamiliar with most of the hard science, save that it used protomatter, which was notoriously unstable.

Apparently not so unstable when paired with neutronium.

“So what are these vibrational frequencies I’m seeing on the surface, Sonak? They seem to be mostly near the ‘maw’… but lots of overlapping patterns that seem to be approaching and moving away from harmony? I mean, they are barely registering at this range but it’s like… waves?” In recognizing the phenomenon existed, Paris was uncertain how to analyze the data as they approached the opposite ‘pole’ of the planetoid, the maw. “Is that a form of communication we’re seeing on a rather large scale d’you think?”

''It is too early to assign any specific function to those energy waves; but it is not implausible. All forms of communication are a coherent use of energy; spoken language is the coherent controlled use of sound waves, to cite but one mundane example.'' Taking her idea into account, he recalibrated some of the sensors to investigate. While it was a rather large intuitive leap with little logic to support it, Rita Paris' observations in such instances often were. Yet they had a surprising tendency to be correct, or at least in the neighborhood ofbeing correct, so he recalibrated some sensors to take her idea into account.

''However, to assume this is a form of communication is to assume a form of sentience present within this construct. So far, we have no evidence of this yet except the obvious artificial nature of the construct, which may be unrelated to this new observation. Mold on bread does not mean mold made the bread. This could be energy emissions as mindless as radio waves from a pulsar. We will need to make more refined scans and studies to validate your hypothesis.''

"I once read a theory that the radio waves from pulsars are the mating songs of the galaxies. Heck of a hard theory to prove, but a wonderfully romantic notion, I feel," Rita replied wistfully. "Your mold analogy was very instructive, by the way. Great parallel to draw, as it put the concept into perspective in an easily understandable frame of reference. Okay, we're coming up on the first orbit, dropping to 9000 kilometers and moving to trajectory B."

''Astrometric data updated to nav computer. Proceeding to multispectral analysis and chemical scans of interior of the stellar construct,'' Sonak stated for her benefit ,and the recorded flight log being transmitted realtime to the Hera.

The chief science officer of the Hera took several measurements and made mental calculations as they raced along and data poured in. Then, his right eyebrow rose slightly.

''Curious; I have confirmation of chlorophyl-based plant life inside and atop the structure; at least where it is exposed to sunlight. But as we move in closer to the aperture, the background radiation levels drop significantly, as if all ambient radiation is being absorbed, not just visible light. I have yet to find any previously recorded data of plant life acting in such a manner. I would hypothesize that there may be something else, other than just vegetation inside the 'cone'.''

Readjusting some of the sensor packages, he studied the stream of revised data pouring in and his eyebrow rose even further. he repeated his scans and reperformed his calculations before speaking up again.

''Commander; sensors seem to detect a repeating pattern in the vibrational frequency. it stops every time a scan is aimed directly at the possible source within the construct, then is replaced by a pattern of pulses that begin decreasing in frequency, one degree at a time.''

"So you're saying that we're seeing action/reaction from down there?" Paris asked, seeking clarification of what this would signify as she continued their slow yet methodical approach to the unique planetoid.

Making some adjustments to the delicate and sensitive instrumentation, the sombre scientist then nodded to himself before reporting.

''Confirmed, Commander; I aimed the sensors at the neutronium shell instead of directly at the potential source location and, since neutronium ignores all forms of energy, our scans caught a perfect reflection of it. I am triangulating the actual position of the source without aiming directly at it; this seems to nullify the decreasing pulse pattern and only leaves the repeating vibration detected earlier.''

Pausing, he considered before finishing his report. ''There are two possibilities; either this is an artificial automated system designed to react to any approaching object or signal; or this is an attempt at communication.''

"A defense system maybe? Possibly a warning?" Paris asked as the small craft shuddered, seemingly buffeted by energy waves. The comely commander struggled with the controls, righting the craft and keeping her on course, but noting the effects. "Okay, not sure what that was, but shields are down 19 percent, and the hull's ionized.... if it's communication it's not seeming very friendly. If this is it's way of seeking to make friends, we'd better figure out that language quick. Dedjoy's modified shields are holding, but I'm starting to see a mild power decrease across all systems. Analysis?"

''The detrimental effect is in direct correlation to our proximity to the construct, ' he answered. ''I recommend moving away to a safer distance to let our systems restore themselves and further analyze the data we have.''

"That works for me," Paris replied, adjusting course to take them out to a wider orbit and increase their distance from the planetoid. But even as she did so, warning lights began flashing. "Those power losses are slow but steady.." she began, before another wave struck and the craft shuddered again, significantly more pronounced this time.

To Be Continued...