Posted by Captain Kastarak (Commanding Officer) in Main Sim: Bridge: Within the Expanse

Posted by Gamemaster Nosferatu (GM) in Main Sim: Bridge: Within the Expanse

Posted by Commander William Archer (First Officer / Nav Officer) in Main Sim: Bridge: Within the Expanse
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The bridge of the Chernov remained cloaked in low amber lighting as the derelict slowly rotated across the main viewscreen. At first glance it appeared dead — a fractured hulk drifting in the black — yet subtle movement betrayed something more unsettling. The vessel was not tumbling naturally. It was adjusting, ever so slightly.

Science consoles began chirping almost simultaneously.

“Multiple gravimetric eddies forming around the wreck,” one of the science officers called out. “Localized distortions… inconsistent with normal stellar drift.”

The image on the viewscreen magnified automatically as the computer attempted to stabilize the feed. Portions of the wreck flickered in and out of phase for fractions of a second, as though sections of the hull were briefly existing somewhere else entirely. Then the internal geometry shifted.

What should have been collapsed corridors momentarily appeared intact. A jagged breach along the dorsal spine sealed itself for less than a heartbeat before returning to ruin. Sensor telemetry scrolled rapidly across T’Sol’s station.

“Lieutenant,” another science officer said carefully, “the scans are conflicting themselves. Structural mapping is changing between sweeps.”

Operations reported next. “Still no detectable main power,” came the update. “No impulse signature. No warp field. But relative motion has increased point-zero-two kilometers per second.”

The wreck was drawing closer though it was not under thrust. Something around it was moving.

The stars behind the derelict distorted faintly, bending as if space itself were flowing around the vessel like a current around stone.

A sharp tone cut across the bridge. “Alert,” the computer announced. “Subspace harmonics detected.”

The readings matched none of Starfleet’s known propulsion profiles.

For a moment the derelict’s darkened forward section illuminated from within — not with powered systems, but with a dim bluish pulse deep inside the hull. Like bioluminescence beneath ocean ice. Then it vanished again.

Bridge officers exchanged uneasy glances as another report arrived from Science.

“Commander… there is now evidence of intermittent life-sign traces aboard the wreck.” The officer hesitated. “Weak. Unstable. They appear for only seconds at a time.”

On the viewscreen, the drifting vessel slowly turned another few degrees toward the Chernov. As though it had finally noticed them.

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

“This reminds me about an incident that happened during the NX-01. there was a ship that was traveling through space its crew has no physical bodies just energy. They were able to temporary take control of a body of the crew members. Maybe it is a similar race that travels on ships, but they have no actual physical bodies.” He said out loud almost to himself deep in thought.

Lt. John Forster (CWO)

Crewman Tal entered the discussion hesitantly from the auxiliary science station, his young Tellarite features tight with concentration as streams of distorted telemetry rolled across his console.

“Sir… there may be another possibility,” he offered carefully, glancing toward Forster. “Not necessarily non-corporeal life in the traditional sense.”

His thick fingers moved rapidly across the LCARS controls, isolating one of the flickering internal scans.

“The phase variance inside the wreck appears synchronized with the subspace harmonics around it. If parts of the vessel are partially displaced across quantum states…” He paused briefly. “Then the life-signs may not be fully present in our frame of space-time consistently enough for sensors to maintain a continuous lock.”

At the neighboring operations console, Petty Officer Mirek looked up from her station.

“That would explain why the structural mapping keeps changing between sweeps,” she added. “We may not be observing a single static configuration of the vessel. The computer could be reading overlapping spatial states of the same structure.”

Several bridge officers exchanged uneasy looks as another series of tones pulsed across the science displays.

Tal’s expression tightened.

“The harmonic frequency just shifted again.”

On the viewscreen, the dim bluish glow flickered once more deep inside the derelict’s fractured hull — longer this time. Not random but more rhythmic. Almost biological.

At tactical, an enlisted sensor technician suddenly straightened in his seat.

“Sir… transient life-signs are increasing in duration.”

The young technician hesitated before continuing.
“And one of them just appeared near what sensors identify as the forward observation section.”

The derelict slowly rotated another few degrees toward the Chernov.

Then stopped completely.

A low silence settled across the bridge as the wreck remained fixed on the ship like a patient predator finally focusing its attention.

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

Kastarak entered the Bridge, accompanied by the usual whistle, just after Tal had finished his exposé. As such, he was not yet aware of it, but hoped someone would make him aware of it, and propose orders accordingly.

“Lieutenants T’Sol and Batario remain in Sickbay. The entity appears communicating to both of them. Ensign Shroni zh’Rohi, please take the engineering station. Anyone in here versed in Science to take on the Science station?” Kastarak asked, wanting preferably someone on Bridge with the context of the situation to take on the role right now.

He looked around and saw Tal.

“Crewman Tal, please take the main science consol.”

“All stations report.”

Kastarak, Cpt
Commanding Officer

“Tactical is still running systems are functioning shield recycling system is still operational ready to launch additional bullies for navigation at your command” John said sitting in his chair, looking at his readouts

Lt. John Forster (CWO)

“Captain, good to have you back on the bridge.” Will said with a slight nod. “Ship systems are operating within tolerances,” he continued, stepping down from the Captain’s chair. “The ship on the view screen seems to be ‘phasing’, for lack of a better term. What was effectively a hulk that our sensors couldn’t interpret, is now providing clearer sensor readings. We’ve even picked up some life forms, although have not yet made contact.”

“I recommend we open hailing frequencies,” he finished.

Cmdr William Archer
First Officer

Just bumping this back on the boards

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

Kastarak nodded slightly, acknowledging his first officer’s both greeting and recommendation. He was at a loss at the situation. Kastarak was a physician by training, not a strategist, not versed in first-contact situations.

But then, no one else was equipped for this situation. Pawl had gone above and beyond to communicate telepathically, with great risk to his neural health. T’sol had also begun experiencing what seemed to be communication, perhaps, also with neural risk. She was now in Sickbay under monitoring by Drs Najjar and Sovan.

Yet everyone looked at Kastarak for leadership. He would have preferred otherwise. He missed Captain Taggart, who seemed to know what the best cause of action was at every given turn.

Surely it could not be injurious to continue on with the first officer’s recommendation? Everyone else had been quiet. They had not reported nor come with recommendations. This was the only thing he had to go on now.

He turned to comms.

“Mr Valharra – please scan broadly for communication frequencies emitted from around us.”

He paused.

“Perhaps we will register some kind of communication that will not involve neural injury in our crew.”

He thought of Pawl. His gut tensed.

“Carry on,” he said, and seated himself down on the captain’s chair.

Kastarak, Cpt
Commanding Officer

John was rubbing his chin “Sir coms are useless in this expanse. Maybe that is why these entities are here maybe the strict calm silence is what they need. As far as we know our communications can’t be harmful to them” he said trying to look at the captain “just keeping an open mind sir” he concluded. That he went back to his counseling, continuing to monitor the vessel and keep an eye on the results of the changing storm around them.

Lt. John Forster (CWO)