"As you say, sir."
Jalla carefully crafts her message, hoping that the oddity of the transmission will lend weight to their tale, instead of encouraging the Orions to disregard it.
Jalla is well aware that the Orions are suspicious by nature. So she includes far too much information. Despite the oddity of the request, the Federation is more wary of the Orions than the Orions are of the Federation. The Federation tends to be fairly straight laced.
You receive a text only message in reply, "Bastion, you are cleared for brief operations in Orion space, assuming you avoid contact with all worlds and all ships other than the Safe Bet. Do not abuse our patience."
The exoplanet Zachriel is travelling through Orion space at nearly full impulse speed.
You wouldn’t think it’d be hard to catch an exo planet, space (as it’s been noted before) is very big and things moving in space (even at impulse) are moving phenomenally fast.
You’d think catching an exo planet would be easy...and watching Eliza at work wouldn’t dissuade you from that belief. She hardly breaks a sweat.
A moment later, the ship is in stable orbit around the exo planet. Eliza beams quietly in her chair. She knows what she did and how great she did it. She doesn’t need to brag.
Much.
That was actually quite hard she whispers to Jalla.
Gareb begins gathering data using the sensors as they approach the system. The more information they had the better they could proceed.
Jalla's antennae vibrate softly in amusement at Eliza's satisfaction. "Yes, it was very impressive."
The Safe Bet is already in orbit.
A quick scan of the planet reveals the following:
The surface of the world is near absolute zero, having wandered through space for a long time.
It has no atmosphere.
There is a colossal network of tunnels running all the way through it.
The planetary core is very geologically active and seems to be a power plant for the continent sized structures on the world’s surface.
The world has a continent sized engine array at its southern pole. This is clearly badly damaged and sensor readings suggests it has been firing for over 1000 years.
There is a planetary power grid that is 80% inactive. The remaining 20% is concentrated at a facility on the equator.
The planet’s entire surface is designed to capture energy. Sensors are picking up wave power stations in the frozen oceans, multiple geothermal power plants and evidence of a colossal solar sail array in addition to the geothermal core.
This is almost unprecedented throughout Starfleet history. An entire world, refitted as a colossal starship. And, apparently, somehow, still active.
The functional power is mostly active in a facility at the equator. Even in the facility, there is no atmosphere and it is very cold.
"Surface temperature is barely above absolute zero. No discernable atmosphere. I am detecting signs of a vast network of tunnels running all the way through the planet."
"Strangely the planets core is geologically active, possibly a power source for some structures on the surface. One on the southern pole is badly damaged, this array has been active I surmise for one thousand years but it is badly damaged. The power grid is primarily inactive but approximately twenty percent is concentrated on a facility at the equator."
"The planets surface seems to be designed to harvest energy. This world I suspect was refitted as a colossal starship and in some ways is still active. Identifying such a structure is unprecedented to be actually seen in Starfleets history but moving a planet or indeed a star system has been postulated for centuries Captain. There are a number of reasons for this potentially being done that I can think of but more data will be needed to be certain." Gareb was in awe of the feat of engineering and scientific achievement exhibited by this race.
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Eliza is in awe. Growing up, her entire world was a spaceship...but not like this.
Captain, if there’s even the slightest chance that we might have to fly that thing, I volunteer for the away mission...
"If it's a starship, then it likely is a generational ship, and there may well be people in cryosleep. I should go as well, if for no other reason than that we'll need to know if they are carrying anything dangerous to the crew."
"Not necessarily cryo sleep. There have been several cases of individuals or species leaving their biological forms behind to to live as energy, android or outright in computers. The Sargon incident the Kirk's Enterprise springs to mind."
"I had considered this to be a case to be somewhat similar to that of Kataan that affected Captain Picard to let him experience their now dead culture... but that doesn't seem appropriate."
"This thing is soaking up ambient energy and it's core is very active with the surface being extremely cold. It's more energy efficient to do calculations at lower temperatures. If you've placed your populations consciousness into a computer you need to consider that kind of energy efficiency."
Gareb turns to the Captain "This technology, it can not be understated is beyond us. A true wonder but for all that they need our help."
"Clearly something is trying to communicate with us. I think we need to make our way to the 'ship' regardless."
Dell nods, "I agree. You're all with me. Standby crew to the bridge." Standing up, he says, "Let's see how we can help."
Despite the stakes, he seems downright cheerful. A mission like this is a welcome change from the war.
The familiar shimmer of the transporter enshrouds you as the transporter room fades away and you find yourself in a dimly lit cathedral like room. A ribbed ceiling soars above you nearly 200 feet, and you could play several different field games at the same time within the footprint of the room. Between the ribs are surfaces that flicker irregularly. They might well have been coherent displays at some point, but whatever systems they are supposed to be linked to must be inoperative.
At ground level, there are several consoles of alien design, but ultimately they somewhat resemble the breadcrumb device that you have already studied. Each of them glows dimly.
Eliza takes a look at the console closest to her.
Jalla leaves the alien consoles to others, instead focusing on making sure no suddenly activating systems surprise her or her crew.
Dell looks around as they materialize, just letting himself be impressed for a moment. Then, he turns to business, and says, "Let's see if we can figure these systems out."
He moves to another of the consoles, examining it as well.
Eliza takes a few minutes to study the console, finding that it controls an automated assembly center that appears to construct the Breadcrumb devices, as well as a mass driver that can launch the breadcrumbs out of the planet's gravity well.
Tobin moves to another console that seems to indicate that the entire planet has been reconfigured as a storage device. Metals that at first appear to be randomly distributed are revealed to be configured as circuits, storing an immense amount of data.
Jalla scans the surrounding area with her tricorder. Her readings indicate that beyond the wall to the "west" there is another room, smaller than this one but still large. This one contains a habitable atmosphere and a some sort of holographic devices and...a federation power signal? That doesn't make any sense.
Gareb does his best to study the strange ancient technology before him making sure his tricorder is set to record all the readings detected for later study. "I think my previous experience will help me understand the methodology of the layout and design here."
"There's… I don't even know the word for how much data could be stored here. This is amazing. The whole planet is one big databank."
"Captain. Before we get too far down the Hybor hole, there's a Federation power signal in that chamber to the west. Was there any other indication we aren't the first to visit this ship?"
"Also, we should probably see about turning off the signal if possible sir, to prevent eventual madness and death."
Dell looks up with a frown, and says, "Not that I'm aware of. Unless Doctor Jenner sent the runabout here."
After a moment of thought, Tobin gives the orders, "Commander, you and Cunningham continue to try to figure out the system, see if we can discover how to help these people preserve themselves without killing us, or even communicate directly — if possible — so we can get their help with stopping the infections."
Then, to Jalla and the doctor, he says, "We can check out that Federation power signature. It may be the Orions using some of our tech, or it might tie back to the original spread of the infection."
"I believe the system is set up to transcribe the information onto a new medium- those infected by the virus. Otherwise the system is only st up to broadcast but I believe it is reacting to my experiments with interfacing with our holographic technology."
"The energy signature is an old antimatter reactor, at least seventy five years old. Not frontline technology but potentially still in use for certain services."
Jalla wordlessly takes the lead as they travel, making certain that her Captain doesn't get any foolishly heroic ideas.
Jalla and Tobin move toward the Federation energy signature, coming to a door that looks something like a Venus Flytrap in the way it's sides are intertwined. A few attempts at manipulating the panel next to the door result in it opening. You move through the door, finding a welcoming atmosphere beyond. As soon as you enter, the door closes behind you. You are left in a vast space like an Earth amphitheater. You are at the highest level, looking down into a half bowl of seating. Below you, on what might have been a performance platform, is a Federation shuttle, looking like something from the past. It is about the same age as your own ship, but has clearly been here for a while.
Within this theater or auditorium, the music of the Aria sound loudly into your helmets, joining with the tune that echoes through your head.
Mustering what protection she can from the likely backlash of such a thing, Pegira will attempt to reach out to the source of the sound with her mind.
Hello. I am attempting to reach the source of the music that has invaded both myself and my fellow crewmembers. We mean you no harm, and I am sure that you are not attempting to harm us, but your song is actually harmful to the minds of those it touches. We wish to communicate with you, but would find it difficult to do so while your song is harming our brains. Is there a way that you could stop transmitting it to us, so that we can open a dialogue?
Tobin stops and momentarily stares at the scene in front of them. Trying to think past the music in his head. "It's almost like they were gathering to listen to the shuttlecraft, building this place around where it landed. Either that, or whoever piloted that chose a rather unique landing spot."
He indicates for Jalla to take the lead, and then follows.
Opening herself to the Aria, Dr. Hagen experiences the full force of the information sharing. The voices of billions of Zachriel ring in her mind. The information that they transmit is incomplete. She is unable to contain the entirety of their message, and they are unable to hold back.
Tobin glances back to say something to the doctor, only to notice that she's struggling. Quickly realizing what the issue is, he spins around and steps up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't be afraid. Focus on my voice. You are in control of your mind. Push the song out and lock the door."
Pegira begins singing in a completely unfamiliar language, her mind completely engaged with the minds of Zachariel. The universal translator eventually catches up...
"We are the Zachra, our world is doomed, all that we are must not be subsumed. This is the all of what we are. We thank you, travelers, for following our star."
Hagen's personality is completely subsumed by the virus, at least outwardly.
Gingerly Jalla moves forward to disarm Pegira, in case the chorus turns more destructive. "Captain, while you tend to the doctor, I believe I should examine this shuttle. It is no good omen that this discovery is not already in the Federation's logs."
Tobin nods, and says, "Good idea, do it. But be careful."
He gently tries to help the doctor sit down, and says, "Am I speaking to the Zachra, or is this a recording being telepathically broadcasted?" Of course, if it's the latter he's not expecting an answer, but it's always best to be clear when the universal translator is struggling.
Once the doctor is sitting down, he reaches to try to gently take her medical tricorder. If she — or the Zachra — let him take it, he proceeds to do a scan on her.
17 Momentum, 16 Threat
The tricorder scan reveals that the doctor's neural activity is extremely high. Her entire brain is lit up in our scans, almost as though she is having a seizure. Her neural connections are being rewritten in an alien configuration, undoubtedly that of the Zachra.
"We are the Zachra, this is all that we are..."
"...all that we were is recorded here in the structure of our world, ready to be reborn when it reaches a home that will foster it. You will be remade in the glory of Zachra and Zachriel will be reborn..."
At that moment, Dell feels like an idiot. Because he was so desperate for a peaceful mission after so many years of war, he had assumed the initial contact was telling the truth.
Still, he keeps his cool and gently starts to reach for the hypospray of sedative that the doctor was carrying, even as he continues to talk.
"We came here to help you, but not like that. We would be useless for you, in any case. Our biology is not compatible. Your neural patterns interfere with vital biological functions. If you take our bodies, you will be facing certain death. Free our minds, and let us try to help you in another way."
"This form is an excellent transmitter for our message. It offers us freedom. How can you help us more than this?"
Tobin holds off — for a moment, anyway — on sedating the doctor, making the attempt at a peaceful solution. He has to at least try.
"Your people can, it seems, interact with technology as well as biology. It may take our scientists some time to come up with a more long-term solution, as we are in the midst of a war, but in the shorter term we do have the ability to create not only holographic bodies for you to inhabit, but virtual worlds for you to explore while we look for those solutions. We can do that if you leave the bodies of others — including ours — alone."
Dell's communicator chirps, "Captain, is everything ok down there? We have energy signatures flaring up across the planet."
A line of green light slides across the room, crossing over the command crew, clearly you are being scanned.
Hagen, or whatever is speaking through her, responds, "Yes, you will use this technology to build us new bodies, to re-create Zachra. This is why we have passed through the darkness."
"If they want new bodies, it's possible there can be a peaceful resolution, sir."
Despite her words, Jalla advances on the shuttle, hoping to find evidence of whether the Zachra can be trusted.
"Seeing as they are reworking and rewriting bodies rather than keeping them in their original bodies replicators or other technologies might provide a viable solution."
Jalla advances on the shuttle, scanning the relic with her tricorder. Her tricorder readings indicate that the ship has been tied into an energy feed from a planet, a sort of "wireless" power transfer. Inside the ship, all power has been diverted from the ship's systems to some sort of auxiliary system that she can't identify from outside.
The ship is the old fashioned style that has a door on the side rather than in the rear as Jalla is accustomed to.