Posted by Lieutenant Commander Max Wynter (Chief Engineer / 2nd Officer) in Engineering Lab - The Artifact

Posted by Lieutenant Kiama Naim (Chief Science Officer) in Engineering Lab - The Artifact

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Max Wynter (Chief Engineer / 2nd Officer) in Engineering Lab - The Artifact

(snip)

That pull turned into a tug as Kiama let her mind move towards the galaxy, and the tug to a sudden rush. It wasn’t random, it was very specific and Kiama could feel exactly how specific as her mind flew through space and into the arms of one particular nebula. The galaxies background hum began to change, turning into something more distinct. Not voices, but places. Each one distinct the closer she got to them, worlds full of life both intelligent and primal.

Kiama would know she could change her direction at any point, it was as if she rode a wave and all she need to was point her mind in a new direction and it would be carried to where she wanted to go. Despite the vastness she would know was in front of her, it took mere seconds. Soon, her mind could feel the energy of no less than five worlds teeming with life before her, still far too far away to listen to any voices they nevertheless had an identity she would be sure she could remember. One world seethed with what she felt was water and one was a frozen ball. Two of them were green and fresh, although one much hotter. The last world had an energy that was different, less natural. All Kiama had to do, was point her mind at one or more of these tugs.

Lt Cmdr Wynter, CE

For several short moments that felt like an eternity to her, Kiama felt torn between the different worlds. Where should she direct her focus towards? At first she wanted to move closer to the ocean planet. She had always loved the sea and was intrigued by species that lived in the water. But in the end her focus turned towards the world that felt less natural in a way. Lay there the key to unlock this mystery, so to speak? Would she find out more about how this galaxy ended up in this device if she let her mind move closer towards it? If it did, how was it possible? Had someone managed to put the galaxy they were living in within this device? She couldn’t imagine how that might even be possible and at the same time she couldn’t disregard that thought either.

~Lt. j.g. Naim, aCSO

Space flew past like it was nothing but a short distance to her, stars and nebulae whizzing by as her mind honed in on the planet she had chosen. The energy here was massive, but the feeling coming from it was different to the others, less natural.

Soon, the solar system and world came clearer into her minds view, and the reason why it was different was apparent. This world was covered in one single megacity and the energy she felt was not that of natural living beings, but artificial mixed with organic.

Skyscrapers and factories covered the world, massive flat lands where once oceans had stood had been drained to make way for more space. Vehicles buzzed between the artificial lights and around the planet, numerous space stations surrounded the moonless world.

Lt Cmdr Wynter, CE

A frown appeared on Kiama’s dark face as the world came into view in front of her mind’s eye. It made her feel sad to see that the planet had been changed so drastically and it made her wonder what it had looked like before when there were still oceans and plants, spaces for nature between the cities. “This is so surreal,” she whispered softly. “How is this even possible? There are populated worlds here!”

~Lt. j.g. Naim, aCSO