USS Leviathan
Anomaly Observation
Posted by Lieutenant Commander Adam Magnusson (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Anomaly Observation
Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Ryland Kael Thorne (RTF Officer) in Anomaly Observation
Posted by Lieutenant Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief Tactical/Lead RTF Officer) in Anomaly Observation
Posted by… suppressed (17) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The report was sent out to all relevant crew as the Leviathan made her way to the Dendra System
NAME - The Face
TYPE - Einstein
CONDITION - GreenPERSONNEL CLEARANCE - Alpha-02
CONTAINMENT - Containment protocol to be determined after further observation and experiments.
DESCRIPTION - The Face was first observed on star date [], appearing on the third moon of gas giant Dendra II. At first it appeared to be a standard geological feature, its resemblance to a face assumed to be the result of pareidolia.
However, measurements taken of the moon’s surface showed no distinct geological structures in the expected areas that would explain the appearance of The Face. It also fails to appear on photographs or recordings of the moon’s surface. It is only visible when observing the moon directly.
When researchers began to attempt to describe the appearance of The Face, they could not agree on its exact appearance. They all report that The Face does not change in appearance, yet all describe differently from one another. Many report it as appearing to have the facial features of their own species.
Skogheim took center chair in the CIC. Her expression calm as she observed the crew. Occasionally she would type something onto her PaDD. She was a quiet yet commanding presence, only occasionally breaking silence with clear and direct orders.
Soon, Dendra II was in view, a gas giant. Banded with clouds of hazy purples and cool reds.
From some viewports on the ship you could see it. The moon, an icy methane blue. Splotches of dark blues and whites created a convincing illusion of a face. No two people saw it the exact same way. But it was undeniably there.
“Synchronize our orbit around Dendra II with that of the moon,” she directed,
“Keep a distance of 100,000 km between us and edge of the moon’s gravity well.”
Now is when the real test would begin.
|Lt. Cmdr. Skogheim, XO|
*Bumping *
Bethany stood at the tactical station, watching her sensor readings for any offensive or defensive weapon signals or other ships/crafts/probes/etc that might be in the area.
Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF
While there were no weapons signals, sensors did pick up a faint power signature. Not coming from the moon, but seemingly in orbit with them around the planet.
“Lieutenant Gadi,” Skogheim directed, “Lay in a course for a standard science probe, Mark 211.0. Launch when ready.”
Even for a task as simple as this, the Commander was no doubt scrutinizing her performance.
|Lt. Cmdr. Skogheim, XO|
Adam had moved to his usual duty station on the CIC near the back, where he was accessing the sensor information available as well as reareading the limited information they’d been given.
CIO
Ash leaned forward on the Security Conosle, her hands eagerly hovering over the tactical controls.
-Lieutenant Ashara Mavix: Chief of Security-
That strange little energy source continued at the same steady rate in orbit. That was until the probe was launched.
That little blip on the radar sped up. It changed to an intercept course. Nothing was visible on the view screen and yet something was out there.
200 km from its target, the probe disappeared in a flash of light. Right as this mystery object intercepted its path. All connection was lost. And not a speck of debris were left in its place.
Skogheim tilted her brow. She had only the view screen visual to go off of.
“Interesting,” she remarked. She glanced toward the other officers at Ops and Tactical,
“What do you make of it?”
|Lt. Cmdr. Skogheim, XO|
Bethany searched her scans for any kind of energy signature. “Transporter of some sort, or a cloaking shield perhaps.”
Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF
Whilst he others did their jobs checking out sensor input, Adam checked whatever visual records they add as they came in.
CIO
The visual records were not much help. At normal playback speed, it appeared as Gadi said, transported or entering a cloaking field.
After the disappearance of the probe, the source of the energy signature remained in its position between the ship and the moon. There was an unusual quiet. Different from confident silence routine that was there before.
Another flash emanated from that mysterious point. This time, it was mobile. A ball of energy rushed the ship with the speed of a torpedo. But before Skogheim could react, it dissipated harmlessly through the shields.
Gadi may have sensed something amiss. As if the thoughts of the entire ship all at once shifted in a single direction. A force much more powerful than a single thought. Much less clear.
“Bring us in closer to the moon,” Skogheim ordered,
“If we cannot send a probe, we need to get closer to complete our scans.”
|Cmdr. Skogheim, XO|
“Sure thing, Commander, adjusting flight path.” Lt. Wilde responded.
In a few strokes on the nav console she entered the information for a closer approach.
|Lt., j.g. Wilde, Ops/Helm Officer|
“Bring us closer,” Skogheim repeated, mumbling in a half awake daze.
“Lower main deflectors, they will be arriving soon…”
The energy signature resumed its movement, this time aligning itself parallel to the ship’s movements.
A vessel decloaked off the port side of the ship. A ship of unknown origin or design. About 150 meters in length, five decks tall. It was rounded and slightly bulbous, with two saucer-like structures positioned behind and either side of the central body. There was also the pair of sharp upturned structures on the front, resembling a pair of tusks.
Their intentions were yet to be determined…
[OOC: a small ‘commercial break’ to allow for any more comments before we continue. The next section will be up Friday :) ]
|Cmdr. Skogheim, XO|
Gadi glanced at Magnusson. He heard that hypnotized monotone in the Culcan voice, right? He heard it to? That wasn’t normal even under meditation. “I’m sorry, Commander, it is reckless and dangerous to turn off our deflector shields. It is what keeps small debris from ripping our hull apart. If you meant the shields that goes against RTF police when confronting an unknown anomaly.” Her sensors lit up with the ship. “Ship decloaking.” Nope, not lowering shields.
Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF
Adam took a step forward with a nod “Aye, belay that, scan that Vessel Lieutenant” He said firmly to Gadi as he walked sideways around the CIC, circling the first officer “Commander Skogheim, are you alright ?” He called out, his hand behind him gave the hand signal for Medical to whichever officer stood behind him.
CIO
“Aye, Sir.” Bethany tapped at her console running a complete scan of the vessel that had appeared. It was a simple matter of pressing a single key on her console to alert both Primary and Secondary sickbay that they were needed immediately on the bridge for an unknown situation and to proceed with caution.
Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF
There were approximately 150 individual life signs aboard the ship. They read as insectiod. No recognizable weapons systems were armed. But there was an energy field concentrated between the two point protruding from the ship. It was advanced, capable of containing and directing an amount of energy beyond what the ship itself could produce.
Skogheim turned aside to Commander Magnusson. Eyes fluttering as she had difficulty pinning his exactly location in space. Sweat began forming on her brow.
“Open hailing frequencies between us and the ship.” she ordered, voice cracking back into its usual cadence,
“Afterwards I will explain.”
Adam put his hand under his uniform jacket at the small of his back then gave Comms a slight nod, still circling the Commander.
Communications glanced between Adam and Bethany, then back to Vivian. Before cautiously obliging.
Through the open channel came a cacophony of buzzes and chirps. Skogheim blinked, almost a flinch. Through it all a high pitched, mechanical sounding voice penetrated,
“I was certain you had received our previous message, Commander.”
The buzzing increased. Skogheim closed her eyes and gripped the sides of her chair. Beads of sweat continued condensing on her forehead. It was more than a physiological effect. It was in her very mind.
“I must properly inform my crew of your demands.” she declared, amidst heavier breaths.
“This is not a matter of discussion, Commander. I have revealed to you what will happen otherwise.”
“We have protocols that must be followed,” she replied. Fighting for each syllable, exhausting every breath with each word,
“The arrangements must be made in accordance with our own regulations. I am obligated to inform my crew.”
There was a pause. The buzzing became quieter, a soft drone in the background of the transmission.
“Very well, you may have time equivalent to 10 minutes to complete your arrangements.”
“Channel closed, Ma’am.” reported communications.
Skogheim exhaled.
“Commander Magnusson, Lieutenant Gadi…” she addressed them, her normal tone returning,
“The facts are, as of now, we have ten minutes to determine what portions of the ship and which crew are the least necessary for our continued operations.”
|Cmdr. Skogheim, XO|
Bethany met Magnusson’s gaze. There was no way in any species’ hell she was giving up crew or the ship. A very quick command on her console sent a silent but deadly warning to her RTF people. And less than a second later, a phaser appeared in her hand.
Magnus stopped in his circling, he was now standing at least five meters from the Commander and there was no one standing on the other side of Skogheim in relation to him and no critical machinery. His hand grasped around a type one phaser picketed on his uniform waistband at the small of his back “Quick explanations: how do you know, what is the risk factor, how compromised are you, what are the consequences?” Ten minutes wasn’t enough time to make informed deciscions, whatever had been done to the new First officer had shaken her to a degree that unnerved Adam, she wasn’t green by any means.
CIO
There was an attempt at remaining calm and authoritative. But Skogheim was still shaking as she spoke,
“We have violated the sacred spaces of the Leptagogma and disturbed the sanctuary of their master. I have been informed via telepathic communication of the consequences. Our vessel and crew will face complete destruction unless, in compensation, we surrender one twelfth of our ship’s mass— including no less than one twelfth of our crew. Approximately 4.9 million metric tons and 159 crewmen.”
Skogheim’s gaze darted, breathing stifled. Sweat still staining her brow. It was only through tense posture and gritted teeth she held on to her last shred of composure. The crew could see she was compromised. Her authority possibly already gone, but the safty of the Leviathan depended on them believing her.
Most disturbing was the intensity of the vision she had been convinced of. How real the experience was. How palpable their future devastation. Further worsened by both the physiological and cognitive burden of the forced telepathic transmission itself.
Skogheim was resilient, as both a Vulcan and a Commander had to be. But this much pressure could squeeze such integrity out of anyone.
“Even if I were relieved of command,” she continued, sending a challenging glance toward Magnusson,
“The outcome would be the same. Anyone who would take my place, the Leptagogma would either convince them or destroy their mind while attempting.”
|Cmdr. Skogheim, XO|
Bethany scoffed, “Maybe we need a stronger telepath then,” she muttered under her breath. “Cmdr it is not Star Fleet policy to give up and surrender. You haven’t even given an attempt at negotiation. How long have you been controlled by them?” Where was medical?
Lt. Gadi, CTO/RTF
Gadi’s personal communicator gave a very suttle inaudible two short vibrations, she barely felt it herself. Response code two meant they were silent, containment was on lockdown, teams were in place at the only turbo lift in or out, and teams on all containment decks were now armed and in strong positions. Lead Element would now be working to secure the lift deck, exercises said the deck would be secure in 5 minutes or less.
Ryland Kael Thorne
Lieutenant Junior Grade, RTF OfficerAdam raised his left hand to the Chief Tactical Officer “Stand down, Lieutenant, we literally don’t have the time” He said simply “Red alert, Mr Gadi, prepare a countdown. At nine minutes from their declaration, I want you to open fire, full salvo of Photon torpedoes, maximum yield. Science I want a report on the vessel. He never looked away from the first officer =^=CIC To sickbay, I need a doctor here yesterday. I also need every chemical solution we have to shut out telepathic communication with a human brain, use my profile for dosage=^=
He looked at Skogheim “Ma’am, I deem you to be unfit for command at this time due to evidence of Telepatic interference, under Starfleet Order 104 Section C, I formally request that you relinquish Command under Regulation 619 until such time that the Chief Medical Officer clears you for active duty” He knew he needed the CMO to make it official but there wasn’t time “Helm prepare a sequence of evasive manouvers and plot a course out of the system”
CIO
“I am not under their direct control. However, they have established a limited telepathic link. Enough to the transmit the messages. I truly believe it is in our best interest that we comply.”
Skogheim stood from her seat, weak and wobbling. Bracing herself against the nearby console, she took in a deep breath and continued,
“I acknowledge that I am in no position to attempt either negotiations nor to take hostile action against them. Not with the link they have established. Therefore, if either of those are actions you wish to take, you would have to proceed without my involvement.”
Her statement was uncharacteristically cryptic, and it hard to tell if she was agreeing to his assessment or calling it mutiny. Regardless, she was in no condition either mentally or physically to challenge Magnusson’s orders.
By the end of it all, there were eight minutes left on the countdown.
|Cmdr. Skogheim, XO|