Readings on the large, red, M-type star were as expected - despite the giant size it was not giving off much heat; if not for the greenhouse gases and geological activity on most of the rocky worlds and the huge gas giants producing their own heat the solar system would be quite cold compared to others which supported at least one habitable planet. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : With the ship out of warp, more precise calculations of the star and the solar system’s makeup were underway with the main computer. There was an unusually high number of planets and asteroid belts in the system, which was not outside the realm of possibility. Science instruments projected more accurate orbits given exact masses and velocities. Dentreba-I through Dentreba-VI would be absorbed into the sun’s corona within months, though their orbits could not be projected backwards with the computer’s physics model. The other planets, including Dentreba-IX, also projected forward with a rapid decay that would mean certain fall into the sun. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Everything in the solar system was moving too slowly to maintain orbit, yet, their orbits were maintained. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Gamemaster : : : : : : : : : : : : Tyler had volunteered to take the shift in Stellar Cartography, even though it was not his area of expertise or even something he particularly enjoyed. However, the assignment was usually a solo one, which meant he had time to be alone, not around the other members of the department, who still gave him sideways glances and even went as far as to avoid eve contact or physical proximity to him. : : : : : : : : : : : : He was sitting at the main console when the data began coming in on the solar system they were entering. He looked over the data, a frown creeping on his face. It was most unusual to see the slow movement in the system, but there was no doubt that in a few months time, or perhaps sooner, that the planets would collide with the system’s sun. : : : : : : : : : : : : Assuming command would want to review this data, he tapped his comm badge. : : : : : : : : : : : : =/\= Lieutenant Wells to Commander Fell-Drake, I’ve got some interesting data on this planet. Would you prefer to see it in person or should I transfer the information to the Bridge?” =/\= : : : : : : : : : : : : -Tyler Michael Wells, science : : : : : : : : : : The XO replied with a somewhat shaky voice. =/\=Send it to the Bridge, Lieutenant, thank you. Fell out.=/\= : : : : : : : : : : Fell-Drayke, XO : : : : : : : : Bump : : : : : : Tyler forwarded all of the information he’d gathered to the Bridge, continuing to comb over the data himself in case anything else interesting or important popped out at him. : : : : : : -Tyler Michael Wells, science : : : : Bump for GM : : Tyler whistled to himself as he sad idly in the stellar cartography lab. So far other than some rather basic information about planetary orbital shifting there was nothing else for him to report. : : -Tyler Michael Wells, science Readings from the planet below were rapidly changing, a storm system was forming along the equator of the planet that dissipated past its massive 400 kilometer north-south width. While the equator showed increased signs of electrical interference and disruption, the poles each became clearer from interference, enough for Tyler to detect transport signatures landing people close to a cave systems in the far north. The smallest of the planet’s moons was orbiting only tens of kilometers above the planet’s atmosphere, running along the equator which brought it quite close to the storm. The moon had no atmosphere to interact with the storm, but the moon suddenly developed a shifting magnetic field. Its metallic core was heating, and the now-moving liquid metal was generating a fast-changing field. While the moon was difficult to scan through, organic material was rising to the moon’s surface, filling pockets in the solid, grey crust. Gamemaster

=/\= Wells to Bridge. I’m detecting transport signatures near the northern pole in a system of caves. The moons orbit has decayed to near collision with the planet. If we are going to attempt any rescue of the inhabitants we need to act quickly. =/\=

-Tyler Michael Wells, science