Snip

Stella screwed up her face and sighed as she looked once more at what she was seeing. She watched the same harmonic. Time and time again interacting with the ship. And each time there was only a short pause. Barely even noticeable to the computers. But in that short pause it seemed like aa lot was happening.

” Captain. The harmonics they are sending us are deceptive. Harmonics are by themselves deceptive. Although they sound like a simple single sound, they are not. One can hid most anything you could want between the major tones and notice them. I believe that our friends out there have gotten into the ship’s computer, taught it to speak to them and.” She paused for a second before adding the rest. ” They seem to be getting along nicely. It would be my recommendation to let them proceed at this point with a watchful eye.”

Glen wasn’t feeling great, but he decided that he wouldn’t let it show. He didn’t know if it was a flair up of his old injury from the brain worm or just this general brain fog that everyone else was experiencing too. Now that Dr. Cross had left the ship, there was no one left from the secret mission in which he received his injury. He could to talk to Joe the Barman. Joe had been COS of the Merrimack back then, before becoming its XO. However, Dr. Kahu Grahams did not have clearance from Star Fleet’s Department of Temporal Investigations so he couldn’t go to her. Even a cursory glance at his redacted medical files would raise questions.

Glen would need to rely on the advice of his command crew. “They seem to already know everything about us then, if they have access to every system. If we have no secrets then i suggest it’s time we went and learnt a little about them. Let us continue down the corridor.”

“Permission to return to the lab and to further investigate this new dimension/ corridor/ alternate wormhole with my more specialist equipment there, Sir,” Astrid asked. “In the future, this voyage could be looked back as important as that of Zefram Cochrane breaking the Warp Barrier, or as just the beginning of the environmental degradation of the fabric of space.”

• Astrid Murdock, Astronavigation and Warp Field Dynamics Engineer

“Permission granted!” Glen replied. His headache was growing worse. He hoped that it would improve before he was required to engage with the Shiarains. Otherwise he would need to see Dr. Grahams and increase her security clearance a few levels higher so that she knew about the Ancients and the Harvesters. He didn’t want to rest. From experience he knew that falling asleep during these episodes only resulted in nightmares of what he might have been capable of doing while under the influence of the mind worm.

“Lt. ch’Sorel, it appears that we don’t have much choice anyway, but proceed ahead slowly with caution. As little speed and as much caution that is available to us!” Glen told the Helmsman.

• Glen, CO

There was nothing for Elyss to do except follow orders, even if she was hesitant to do so. The situation was so unusual and unknown to the crew, and the danger of not conforming to the restrictions the Shiarians had placed on them would result in their non-existence. She licked her lips as she sat at her console and monitored data. The soreness from banging her ribs when the ship had first been contacted, was easing up, but the headache persisted. Elyss rolled her head, stretching her neck muscles that had tightened with stress and holding the same position for a long time. That felt a bit better. Looking up at the view screen, she watched as the ship followed the corridor to the city.

Lieutenant Elyss Zavey
Chief Science Officer USS Merrimack

The comms came through to the bridge.

=/\= Sickybay to bridge: It’s Dr Grahams here. I think someone should come down and see this. We’ve got some strange going on’s here in Sickbay. There seems to be an entity which seems to be affecting my patients, they’re reporting hearing sounds that aren’t there and have taken great interest in looking at the bulkhead. They’ve also said that they know we are here and that it’s not a who but a place. Sir, it was a little spooky, they all just spoke in unison. =/\=

Lt. Kahu Grahams, CMO

---

ch’Sorel initiated partial impulse engines as they navigated through this unknown corridor. Unlike anything the junior officer had encountered before. This mysterious entity had now been able to access the ship’s computer core, where their personal files as well as the fleet’s database could be found.

His paw moved upwards before alerting any of the crew. Instinct over mind, survival was all the young Canidin happened to be thinking. The city had initiated forceful contact through audible harmonics. Rynak was no specialist with communications systems, but one could assume there could be a message hidden within song. Focus on the ship, make it out alive. circled his mind, all he had to do was flying the ship. This was not a game of pretend like the simulators at the Academy anymore.

Black nose twitched, furry radar dishes flicking over his head. For this long, he had been able to remain silent, letting elder crew members to take the lead on what could remain on one of the most important discoveries these lives would ever make. When Zephram Cochrane was mentioned, it pulled his lips upwards. That man had been the reason why ch’Sorel had found Starfleet. Through the first man on Earth to achieve space travel beyond Luna’s orbit. Captain Archer was the one to take the next step with NX-01 Enterprise, carrying an engine capable of Warp 5.

He had once started his career as an armory officer, not long before being offered a chance on a Command Division position. His parents seemed hesitant to let a 19 year old set his life on the line. Especially as a recent graduate. It was Captain Glen who firstly offered the opportunity. Three years flying the ship under a senior officer’s guidance, and somehow… Ensign Mayweather’s legacy.

One could only daydream before his mind snapped to the reality they were living with a shake of his head. The lieutenant’s vision for a minute was blurry, streaks of color across the helm console becoming a game of chess. The skin beneath that mainly black colored pelt felt cold, like freshly fallen snow on his home planet. Andorians had grown used to freezing temperatures. However, this was the result of an overwhelming moment being handled incorrectly. Vaerun had taught him from a young age about self control, discipline.

Apparently, that had long been thrown out the window.

Mismatched eyes blinked a few times before recovering their focus, some of the shivering still visible through the 21 year old’s shoulders and elbows. This crew happened to be mostly composed by humans, a Caitian and Andorian. Not counting himself, of course. But having a face from home seemed to make things easier. Even if they hadn’t interacted directly. This corridor was wide enough for the ship’s beam, carefully calculating distances. Keeping an eye out for any hostilities.

Hearing the captain speak, he offered a silent acknowledgment. He glanced over at the head of operations, attempting to guide the ship over his own nerves. Multiple lives were counting on him to make the journey safely.

“We’re going in. One eighth impulse.” Were the only words that barely abandoned his muzzle.

Lieutenant JG. Rynak ch’Sorel
Helm Officer
U.S.S. Merrimack - NCC-2346 (Mariner Class)

The Merrimack moved forward at one-eighth impulse, following the single illuminated corridor through the impossible darkness.

Beyond it, reality remained fractured. Vast structures drifted in and out of existence while rivers of copper-red light flowed through the city of Veh’Ruun like glowing arteries. Yet the corridor itself remained perfectly stable, as if it had been prepared specifically for the starship.

At Helm, Rynak found navigation almost effortless.

HELM STATUS
CONTINUITY ALIGNMENT: 99.99998%
EXTERNAL GUIDANCE FIELD PRESENT

At Science, Elyss watched as sensor data flooded her console. The city was no longer hiding itself. Structural layouts, energy networks, and historical records began appearing throughout the ship’s systems. It was not information being discovered but information being given.

Terms repeatedly appeared throughout the translated records:

Anchor.
Continuity.
Guardianship.
The Silent One.

Then Dr. Grahams’ report arrived from Sickbay.

“Not a who but a place.”

Almost immediately, the computer identified a match.

LINGUISTIC CORRELATION DETECTED
PLACE-IDENTITY CONCEPT PRESENT IN 87.3% OF TRANSLATED RECORDS

Before the implications could be discussed, Veh’Ruun brightened.

Across the city, thousands of copper-red pathways illuminated at once. Entire districts seemed to awaken as energy surged through the immense structures.

Crewman Tal looked up from his console.

“Captain, I’m detecting massive energy fluctuations throughout the city.” He checked the readings again.
“They’re synchronized.” He pause before adding.
“With us.”

The harmonic frequency that had accompanied the Merrimack since first contact rose slightly throughout the ship. It was not enough to be dangerous but definitely enough to be noticed.

Ahead, the corridor widened into a colossal chamber at the city’s heart. Towering crimson-metal arches stretched overhead while glowing energy channels flowed through the walls.

At its center rested a platform nearly three kilometers across. A docking berth that appeared to be open and waiting.

For the first time since entering the Aperture, the translated harmonic voice returned. It was calm, ancient and patient. “You have come near.”

A brief silence followed.

“The Silent One stirs.”

Instantly, sensors detected a new energy source deep beneath the city. It was not within Veh’Ruun but beneath it. Something immense. Something that had been dormant until now.

And for the first time, it was beginning to awaken.

GM Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare