He takes a lift down to sick bay. What is it? What’s wrong?
"Wrong? All of it, as far as I can tell. Nothing about this seems, right." Doctor Bhalla responds.
"Look, here." she says, pointing to a skin sample. When it appears to her Kreskin is not following, she engages a viewscreen, which reveals a high resolution scan of a single cell. "See?" she continues.
After impatiently waiting for what, to her, seems like an unnecessarily long amount of time, Dr. Bhalla points to portion of the screen. "There." she says.
"Its an artificial structure--something far beyond the capabilities of the Ithik. Indeed, far beyond even our own. And clearly not originating on this planet!" Doctor Bhalla says, triumphantly.
"What you are viewing, Commander, is a skin cell recently taken from one of the Ithik refugees. What I had initially thought were merely a collection of dark bone deposits on their skin is, in actuality, a synthetic structure. Like, an implant of some sort, but it appears to have been specifically designed to prevent the deterioration of cellular structures that results from exposure to excessive levels of radiation; in other words, the Ithik refugees possess artificial components bonded to their skin for the purpose of keeping them safe from the genetic damage done by radiation--like that of a dying star or a black hole!"
So you’re telling me that someone or something altered them?
Lance starts analyzing her data himself, running carbon dating on the assorted cells
Were the enhancements added at birth or were these creatures born with them somehow?
What is the cellular age of the organic tissue?
The enhancements are integral to the Ithik. There is no evidence to suggest they are added. You'd need to scan some Ithik for comparison, but there is no evidence of aging or age differences among the Ithik. They don't have children.
I think they were...born with these modifications, if that makes any sense. Hey doc...did you notice there were no kids on the planet? That’s weird, right?
Unusual, certainly." Doctor Bhalla notes. "The vast majority of biological species do undergo at least some additional development and maturation post nascencies."
The woman subconsciously closes her hand and brings it close to her heart as her facial expression begins to convey more distance, as if one drawn deep into thought. "The planet where the Ithik reside," she ponders aloud, her expression unchanged, "is quite lacking in most resources necessary to sustain biological life, much less produce it. There are certainly no indications of any present variety of biomes on the planet or substantial diversity of organisms that would allow for a vibrant, ongoing evolutionary process, particularly one that capable of producing sophisticated, intelligent life-forms such as the Ithik. To the contrary, the environment on the planet seems rather singular in its uniformity and the life-forms found there are predominantly insectoid in nature.
"I had assumed that the planet had once harbored such and that the absence of variety in resources, biomes, and life-forms was the result of some recent catastrophic event." continues the doctor. "But what if that were not the case? What if this variety was never present? What if the planet had always been relatively life-less? Largely uninhabited? And what if the Ithik hadn't evolved there, but had been placed there--perhaps even manufactured there--on purpose?"
"With all due respect I know there is a point we must depart but it's too soon. In the end either way we don't have time to debate the logic of it, it's the Captains call."
Reeves tries to look for signs of the lost Starfleet expedition.
The display turns black before lighting up with images of four Starfleet officers, two in red jackets, and two in security jumpers. They stand near a terminal not unlike this one. They key in a command sequence, opening a door into a large dimly lit room that displays a holographic representation of the station. Out of the door lurches a chromed robot form. Disruptor blasts fire from the robot's arms, disintegrating one of the security officers as he reaches for his phaser.
The image cuts out, but the panel displays a map to the control room.
"If the robot is remotely connected to the computer system perhaps you can send it off on a long patrol to the other side of this station? If it comes through a door I think it's fair to assume it's intent is aggressive."
A red dot appears at a distant spot on the map, and T'Karra believes that she has triggered a security alert there that will direct security to that location.
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After walking down the corridors for quite some time TKarra will wipe her brow and quite suddenly grab Lt. Kerensky pushing him against the wall saying I do not appreciate your earlier disagreement with my assessment to the Captain. We are most likely trapped deep in this complex now WITH NO WAY OUT! her phaser waving back and forth set to kill.
To say Kerensky was taken aback as his superior manhandles him in a rather emotional manner. "Commander I meant not disrespect, I have no doubt we can get our way out of here. Are you well? I did not meet to gain you disapproval" If the phaser waved back near himself or the Captain set as it was he would try to disarm the Vulcan but for now he chose not to incite her further... which with a Vulcan often meant don't suggest there response is emotional in any way.
Reeves reacts with concern. Not only is he fond of his engineer, he is aware that she would be a physically powerful foe if aroused to anger.
"T'Karra, what's the matter?" asks Reeves, moving to her side. "Is this place affecting you?""
"Report, Engineer."
Reeves kicks the phaser away and grasps T'Karra by the shoulders. "It's some telepathic effect. Kerensky, take point."
"T'Karra, snap out of it! This isn't you. It's the station, doing something to you. Look at me and focus on my words. On your duty. Center your mind. You're the only one that can advise us on what's happening."
Kerensky nodded, relieved he did not have to assault a superior officer no matter how justified but concerned over whatever was affecting her. He picked up her dropped phaser setting it to stun and putting it in his own holster for now.
Throwing some looks of concern at the chief engineer he took point.
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TKarra grits her teeth and straightens her uniform standing up logical outcomes.... logical outcomesshe repeats over and over just pointing down the hall knowing duty and mission must cone first.
you may be forced to leave me behind, Captain, time is.... running out now
Forcing herself to move she starts running down the halls now toward the command room.
Kerensky turned his head as she began to run. Taking on a Vulcan in hand to hand combat would be foolish... Samuel draws T'Karra's phaser from his holster knowing it is set on stun and winces as he fires at a superior officer... but she is moving so fast the beam just goes wide of her shoulder.
Samuel takes off to keep up with the addled Chief Engineer.
Reeves, Kerensky, and T'Karra approach the door to the control room that they saw earlier. With a few commands input to the control panel, the door opens, revealing a sprawling control center. The walls are panelled with 2 dimensional displays, while in the center of the room is an octagon of input surfaces surrounding a holographic display of the entire station. It could take a while to understand all of this, and you are tired.
New Scene:
The away team has been working with only minimal rest to understand the complex functions of the station. T'Karra has regained control of herself for the most part, though she still experiences something like human anxiety attacks. Suddenly, one of the 2d displays lights up bright yellow, and a portion of the holographic display turns blue. Tiny blue dots begin to spray out of the station into space.
Meanwhile, the Valiant has completed the quick biological and genetic survey of the planet. All of the Ithik are aboard. It is time to check in with the away team.
The Lieutenant on Sensors registers alarm before calling out, "Commander, I've got something strange on sensors at the alien station. The radiation from the singularity is making it hard to be specific, but definitely an energy spike, and some sort of debris or something."
"Debris, Lieutenant? Can you get a more accurate description?" Thoss hurries over to the Helm station and quickly calls up a tactical view. Not liking what he sees here, he turns to face Kreskin, "Even normal asteroids here could be deadly to us Sir. Recommend we go to red alert."
Kreskin reviews the sensor scans quickly. I agree. Bring us to red alert. Be prepared for evasive actions.
He hails Reeves. Uh, Adam...we're getting some strange readings. Energy surges and it looks like you just jettisoned something. What did you break?
He brings up the sensor data again to get a better idea of exactly what's heading their way.
Samuel spends his time trying to discern the meaning of the symbols and the ergonomics of the controls to figure out their function but for the moment it eludes him.
"Lance, we're trying to understand the controls down here. Do you think you can patch us into Valiant? I think it might give us an edge in understanding what we're looking at."
"In the meantime, Valiant is your first priority. If the ship is in danger, get her out of here while there's still time. That's an order."
Reeves tries to lend a hand to understand the system in front of him.
Captain, I'm monitoring the debris situation, but I promise to leave you all to die if it means saving ourselves. You can count on that. Meanwhile, I can't say I feel great about the idea of connecting our computer to an advanced computer system with unknown abilities and potentially hostile motives. Is this an order or a request?
Kreskin adjusts the sensors, focusing in on the area of the objects exiting the ship. Refining the readings, he can see that it isn't debris at all, but 5 vessels, each slightly larger than a shuttle. And each putting out far more energy. They appear to be propelled by manipulating gravity, and they are adjusting their course for Abyss Station, the Federation outpost.
Kreskin: Captain, I'm monitoring skchhhhhhh, but I promise to leave you all to die if it means saving ourselves. You can count on that. Meanwhile, I can't say I feel great about the idea of connecting our computer to ankchckhhhhhhchchr system with unknown abilities and potentially hostile motives. Is this an order or skckkkchh?
Based on the Captain's observations, he judges that the alien station has decided that you are intruders in the system and it is defending itself. There are separate systems for internal and external defenses. You have access to the internal, but not the external at the moment.
As the sensor readings get fed into his tactical board, Thoss barely maintains his composure yet he maintains his discipline here. Starfighters were not developed as warship, precisely because the energy output from the engines of these fighters were no threat to true starships, plus their shields could not withstand a concentrated phaser strike...but these were no ordinary fighters...
"Captain," Thoss antenna twitches in agitation as he addresses Kreskin, "I'll wager a year's worth of credits those craft are hostile...I think we can catch them though..."
He furiously taps his screen seeking to gather as much info from the sensors as possible, "Computer, analyze current alien ship data and cross reference to all known ships in the Federation library. Extrapolate all strengths and weaknesses and display on Tactical."
"Lance, forget the patching. This thing has identified you as a threat. We're working on reining it in!"
Stop trying to catch them and catch them.
Lance quickly runs some scans to see if the gravitational shielding can be negated with the tractor beam.
Tactical, fire at will.
Lt. Sabra, a Denobulan female, is currently at tactical.
Daring 10
Fitness 10
Insight 9
Presence 8
Reason 8
Command 2
Conn 3
Engineering 2
Security 4
Science 1
Medicine1
Focus: Starship Weapons, Ship based deflector shields, Investigation techniques
Thoss eases the Valiant out of its orbit and lays in an intercept course for the alien fighters. "Maybe instead of using the tractor beams we could use these gravitational waves being emitted from the black hole against them," Thoss suggests, "Change their polarity in some fashion. However, since T'Karra is not aboard I really have no idea how to do that Sir."
The turbolift doors swish open on the bridge, revealing Doctor Bhalla. She immediately steps out and assumes a position behind the captain's chair.
"Commander Kreskin, the Ithik refugees are secured. My medical staff is continuing their investigation into their unusual nature." she says without prompting. "I came to the bridge as soon as I was informed of approaching hostiles."
"Lieutenant Sabra, what is our current status?" she demands, as if taking charge.