Posted by Lieutenant Kaia (Chief Engineer) in Side Sim - Holodeck; Exploring History (all welcome)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sebastian d’Aramis (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Side Sim - Holodeck; Exploring History (all welcome)

Posted by Commander Shedda Mal’athar (Executive Officer) in Side Sim - Holodeck; Exploring History (all welcome)
Posted by… suppressed (10) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(do not snip this cast list please)
USS Kepler
Captain - Sebastian d’Aramis (Orville Fleet)
XO/Security Chief - Thelos sh’Reni; Female Andorian
Medical Chief - Ka’Sora
Science/Library - Shedda Mal’athar
Engineering - Taylor Weyer; Nonbinary Human
Pilot/Weapons Control - Kylie McLaren, Female Human [NPC]
Navigator/Astrogation - Satok; Male Vulcan
Communications - T’Sai; Female Vulcan

<snip>

“You’re correct. We come from beyond your known stellar boundaries… though not as far as you might think. Our territory spans multiple systems—diverse species, unified under shared principles of cooperation, exploration, and, when necessary…” a faint edge crept in, “…mutual defense.”

Lt. Cmdr. Sebastian d’Aramis
CIO-USS Manhattan

Shedda studied the ship, it was fascinating, but she was more interested in the interactions of the different people. The only other culture she knew of where the planet had developed multiple sentient species was the Xindi. She could only imagine how exciting meeting this crew would have been for the first time.

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

“We are the same,” Wynn gestured to her ‘bridge’ crew. The fungal physician was receiving medical care, but seemed remarkably stable for having been partially crushed. As she spoke, she indicated the crushed physician, then the four-armed alien with the concussion. “People of three star systems. My home, Galdor. Bob’s home, Okinos. And Rain’s home, Kalar. United in cooperation and exploration. Although, I admit, there has not been a need for mutual defense. As far as we were aware, our three systems were the only ones to birth sapient life. clearly that is not the case.” The captain gave a wry grin.

She looked out the viewscreen, staring at the ‘beyond’, and began to speak in a tone that suggested she was talking to herself. “I must have made a navigational error. We are the first crew to enter the haze and live to tell the tale… that will be a story to tell my grandkits, not to mention the first contact with alien life from beyond!”

Now that the danger was behind them, the crew was more relaxed. They were still focused on their duties, but less urgently. One spoke to the comms, trying to get a connection to any other ships to request back-up. The plan was to limp Deryn back home, but if they could get another ship to help tow him home, it’d make their journey quicker.

Lieutenant Kaia
Chief Engineer USS Manhattan

Ka’sora was equally fascinated and remembered reading her own people’s first contact recollections. “”How far have you been able to travel away from your home worlds?” she asked.

~Ensign Ka’sora

Wynn considered the question, then got a bright look on her face and touched the interface orb for a moment. On the viewscreen, a star map appeared, showing the region of space that her people have explored. It is shaped like a rough wedge, wider on one end. About four dozen dots are displayed, in four colours. Three are large, red, and labeled in Wynn’s peoples’ script, which the Universal Translator hasn’t yet figured out. Two are closer to one another, while the third is further away at the other end of the wedge. Sixteen more dots are pink, and have much shorter labels that, based on how they repeat, are clearly numbers. One unlabeled dot is green. Finally, the remainder, all unlabeled, are tiny white dots. “This is a map of explored space. Our homeworlds, the stars with planets we have been able to establish colonies on, and the stars without any colonies.” The shape of the explored space maps pretty exactly to the shape of the shell of crumpled spacetime.

https://sites.google.com/view/gok-alliance/maps

Lieutenant Kaia
Chief Engineer USS Manhattan

Sebastian borrowed a PADD from an NE and pulled up a map of Federation space. Overlaying it onto Wynn’s representation showed that their universe lay within Federation space near the Black Fleets sphere of operations.

“Perhaps this ‘Haze’ as you called it is a conduit between our two universes, according to these maps.”

Lt. Cmdr. Sebastian d’Aramis
CIO-USS Manhattan

“Two universes?” Wynn examined the map, glancing out towards the ‘haze’ with a curious expression on her face, then back at the map. “I think it must be simpler than that. The haze has been around our stars, separating them from yours for as long as we know. The disruption to warp fields… it may be a protective field. I expect that, without our distress beacon, you would not have explored deeply into the field of ‘crumpled’ space, as your scientist described it.”

Lieutenant Kaia
Chief Engineer USS Manhattan

“That could be a possibility as well. I just don’t recall any anomalies in this area of space. Not that there AREN’T any in this area, I just don’t recall any off the top of my head. I’ll have someone check our ship’s library,” Sebastian replied.

“How long have your people been warp capable, Captain?”

Lt. Cmdr. Sebastian d’Aramis
CIO-USS Manhattan

“Sir, we wouldn’t have record of any anomalies,” the Kepler’s Astrogation officer, the Vulcan, spoke up. “We have never explored space near this region before, and the odd anomaly in spacetime was only detected when we got within ten lightyears.”

“Based on the time conversion system we established, We have been warp-capable for … I believe nearly three-hundred of your years?” Wynn answered the question.

“They said their current year is 2250…” one of the Da’ryn’s crew members, a scientist, spoke up. “I believe that would put our discovery of warp in… 1975, their time.”

Lieutenant Kaia
Chief Engineer USS Manhattan

Ka’sora’s ears pricked at that statement. Wow. Her people only just got warp drive a few decades ago. In fact, technically she, as a Zaharan, was entirely out of place in this era, which made the whole thing so fascinating to her. She turned to face that scientist. “Then you have had a chance to explore, even if it’s not as far as you might wish. You must have gained a lot of knowledge from your travels.”

~Ensign Ka’sora

Wynn nodded towards Ka’Sora. “We have, at least, had the opportunity to fully explore the region surrounded by the haze. Every star, planet, and moon is mapped out and studied to the best of our abilities. We have nearly four dozen stars, but only four which harbour any form of native life in the planets which surround them. How common is life in your Federation?”

“We currently have approximately 30 member worlds in the Federation, of all different races and species, but there are dozens, maybe hundreds that have not joined. They either choose not to join, due to their cultural beliefs, or they haven’t achieved the the required level of technological advancement. We’re firm believers in allowing a world to advance on its own until they reach that level. We call it the Prime Directive.”

“We have a similar philosophy, although it has had no need of being a widespread thing. Only three of our four worlds are represented here on Da’ryn, as the fourth’s people are only beginning their journey towards civilisation. We call it the Cradle Protection Act. I am glad to know your people have similar ideals.”

That surprised Shedda. That was a long time to not have found a way to explore past the collapsed space. “What difficulties did you encounter in navigating the ‘haze’. Perhaps we could help you find a way around it so you can explore father. If that is what you wish to do.”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Hearing Shedda’s question. Wynn tiredly gestured to the ship around them, to the slight creaking that still sounded as Da’ryn adjusted to being in regular space again. “We cannot cross the boundary between explored space and the great expanse beyond. The anomaly I call the haze lies between. Warp does not seem to function inside, and as you saw, Da’ryn was heavily damaged by merely existing within it.”

Lieutenant Kaia
Chief Engineer USS Manhattan

“Perhaps we could help you find a way to pass safely through the haze,” Shedda suggested. Their ship had had problems but not like Da’ryn had. And maybe together their different experiences could solve the problem.

Cmdr. Shedda Mal’athar, XO

“The purpose of the Federation is to provide protection to its’ members from hostile forces throughout the galaxy, and unfortunately, there are a number of those. Another important purpose is the sharing technology, science, medicine, cultures, and ideas to the benefit of all members.”

“As I mentioned, your world and sphere of influence does lie within federation space. You’re not required, nor will you be forced to join the Federation, but it might be worth considering to send a delegation of diplomats back with us to our space, as well as accepting a delegation from our worlds. The preliminary talks have to start somewhere.”

Lt. Cmdr. Sebastian d’Aramis
CIO-USS Manhattan

“I’m sure the politicians and leadership will have things to say on the subject of joining your Federation or not. I expect it’s a lengthy process,” Wynn replied with a nod, putting her hands on her knees and taking a deep breath. “The gods always spoke of worlds beyond, and the choices we would have to make when we eventually encountered you, but I never expected it to be me to be the first one out of the tree.”

Lieutenant Kaia
Chief Engineer USS Manhattan

“It’s very likely then, you will go down in history, Captain,” Sebastian added with a smile. “Yes, it can and most likely be a long process. When I get back to my ship, I’ll contact the Federation Council about your existence, as I expect you will, as well, to our existence. I would like to send a delegation of our people with you to learn as much as possible about your world, and your culture. I also extend an invitation for you to do the same.”

Lt. Cmdr. Sebastian d’Aramis
CIO-USS Manhattan

“I think we all will,” Wynn replied, bowing to the captain.

There was a pause, and the holographic characters froze. The blood on Wynn/Kaia dissolved, part of the holodeck’s illusions, and the scene faded away, replaced by the holodeck’s dark panels.

Kaia sighed, a tired smile on her face. “So, what do you think of the program?”

Lieutenant Kaia
Chief Engineer USS Manhattan

The Zaharan was quiet for a moment. “It makes me wish I could have witnessed my own people’s first contact. There’s something so exciting about it. More than exciting really, but I’m not sure I have a good word to describe it. But it’s a wonderful event to get to experience for yourself. How does it make you feel?” she asked.

~Ensign Ka’sora