Posted by Gamemaster Nosferatu (Gamemaster) in Main Sim - Bridge
Snip

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. =/\=

=/\= Captain Glen here. Just monitor and keep us informed. I believe it is affecting everyone to some different degree, it is merely that your patients are more susceptible, or more in tune with it… more in harmony, might be a better word. It’s only giving me a headache. I’m hoping that once we arrive things will be clearer and that there is no permanent neurological damage, but we are set firmly on this course now, for better or for worse. Glen out =/\=

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.

Captain Glen sat back into his chair. There was no turning the Merrimack about now.

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 Vey’lan 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, Vey’lan 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.”

Captain Glen acknowledged the crewman. They had arrived at their destination.

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 Vey’lan but beneath it. Something immense. Something that had been dormant until now.

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

Lieutenant M’Mera’s ears flattened slightly as the new sensor data rolled across the Engineering display. The Caitian leaned forward in her chair, her tail swaying slowly behind her as she studied the incoming power readings. Something about them bothered her. Not because they were unstable. Because they were far too deliberate.

Golden eyes narrowed as her claws extended briefly from their sheaths before retracting once more against the console’s edge.

“Mrrr… I do not like thiss,” she muttered quietly.

Her ears twitched toward the viewscreen where the vast docking structure dominated the display. The immense arches and glowing rivers of energy reminded her less of a city and more of a living thing.

A very old living thing.

Her tail lashed once before settling. “Captain,” she said, turning toward Glen. “Engineerring is confirrrming the powerrr fluctuationss. They arrre not rrrandom.” Her fingers danced across the controls.
“Whateverr is beneath the city wass dormant. Now it iss drrawing powerrr frrrom multiple grrids throughout Vey’lan.”

“Understood,” replied the Captain, although he wasn’t entirely sure that he did understand the full extent of what was happening.

M’Mera rose from her station in a smooth, feline motion and paced a short circle behind her console, a habit that frequently appeared whenever she was deep in thought.

“Morre importantly…” Her ears rotated backward slightly. “The city’ss enerrgy output is adjusting itself to match ourrr prrresence.”

She glanced toward Elyss’s station before returning her attention to the engineering data.

“It iss almosst as if the entirre facility is rrresponding to uss. Not ourrr systems specifically. Us.” The Caitian’s whiskers twitched. “That docking berrrth ahead was not active beforrre. Neitherrr werre many of those powerrr conduits. They arrre coming online as we apprrroach.”

Her tail curled around one leg.

“If thiss Silent One is awakening, then I would ssuggest maintaining full powerrr availability to shields, structural integrity fields, and emergency propulsion.” A brief pause. Then her ears flicked forward again. “Not because I detect a threat, Captain.”

Her gaze returned to the massive berth waiting at the heart of the city.

“But becaussse whateverr is happening…”

She allowed herself a slow breath.

“…I suspect we arrre about to witnesss something no Starrrfleet vessel hass everrr seen beforrre.”

Lt. M’Mera CE

With an external guidance field now in place, the Canidin’s muscles seemed to relax ever so slightly. White paws easing gently into the vessel’s throttle. Ahead, a rounded platform awaited for her hull to meet the ground. If only the crew knew what they would be about to face.

He had read about objects phasing out of reality once before from an away mission starring Captain Pike’s crew. On a planet known as Vadia IX. Upon visiting an ancient temple which had separated six members from the landing party into different realities. This seemed to be the case with Vey’lan. Making Rynak’s blood run cold, even if just for a moment.

Vezda hadn’t been spoken about for centuries. But there was something about the glowing arches toward which their ship had been led that was causing growing anxiety to the junior officer. ch’Sorel stood from his seat, planting both paws against the navigation display. White muzzle pointing down in thought. Crimson rivers ran beneath Merrimack’s hull, flying a few kilometers the surface. Watching how the city behaved certainly reminded him of a breathing organism. Something ancient.

A shepherd’s lantern hung tense behind him, as crimson light came to illuminate the young helmsman’s eyes. The city had come to adapt to their ship’s specific harmonics. Leading that flight path down to a landing pad, the sensation was eerie all in itself before M’Merra’s voice filled the bridge. She wasn’t the only tense officer responding to the situation. Rynak’s ears were held flat against his skull as every conduit beneath them lit up once Merrimack flew by. He remained standing for as long as his body could allow before returning to that chair.

He took a shallow breath before beginning the ship’s descent, paws steady on helm controls. A nervous laugh escaped him.

“Look at me. Starfleet helm officer, terrified of a docking approach.”

The Merrimack drifted silently before him, massive and beautiful.

Rynak smiled despite himself.

“You know, they always say a ship’s just steel and circuitry.”

He shook his head.

“They’re wrong.”

His voice softened.

“You’re far too pretty for that.”

The ship jolted slightly.

“Ah—stars…”

He corrected the approach, gripping the controls tighter.

The landing grew larger.

Closer.

Closer.

“Please don’t let me embarrass myself.”

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

Glen ignored his Helm officer talking to himself. They were all under pressure on the Bridge and some people expressed that in different ways. Since no one on the Bridge was hearing the voices heard by patients down in Sickbay, maybe Dr. Grahams was correct, and if they wanted a conversation then they ought to bring one of them to the Bridge.

• Glen, CO

The bridge fell quiet as the Merrimack descended.

Ahead, the illuminated berth expanded across the main viewscreen until it dominated nearly the entire field of view. What had first appeared to be a landing platform now revealed itself as something far more intricate.

Concentric rings of copper-red light rotated beneath the vessel, each moving at a slightly different rate. Vast archways towered above the docking structure, their surfaces shifting between solid metal, crystalline latticework, and translucent geometric patterns that seemed unable to decide which state of existence they preferred. The city responded to the starship’s approach.

Across Vey’lan, rivers of crimson light brightened. Structures kilometers away awakened one after another. Like neurons firing or a heartbeat accelerating in anticipation.

At Science, sensor readings flooded the consoles.
“Captain,” came a startled report. “The entire city is reacting to our presence. Energy output has increased by over three hundred percent.”

Another officer looked up. “And yet… there is still no detectable power source.” The statement hung heavily in the air as the berth beneath them continued to grow.

Closer.

Closer.

The external guidance field tightened around the Merrimack with impossible precision. Helm controls became almost unnecessary as the city itself seemed to take an active role in guiding the vessel.

Rynak’s displays showed no tractor beam, or graviton locks. There was no measurable force moving them.
Yet the ship settled exactly where the guidance solution predicted. As though the city simply expected reality to cooperate.

The final meters passed in silence.

Then—there was a pulse. Not the expected impact or a docking clamp in sight. Just a harmonic resonance.

The entire ship vibrated softly for less than a second
while every display across the bridge flashed.

CONTINUITY ANCHOR ESTABLISHED

PHASE STABILITY: SYNCHRONIZED

LOCAL STATE DRIFT: 0.00000%

The Merrimack had landed and for several seconds nothing happened. There were no alarms, weapons signatures or transmissions. Only silence.

Then the berth beneath the ship came alive. The concentric rings surrounding the vessel began rotating faster.

The great arches overhead illuminated in sequence, carrying waves of light upward into the impossible sky of Vey’lan.

Deep beneath the ship, something vast stirred. It was felt more than heard it. A vibration. Ancient and immense. The city was waking.

New sensor alerts immediately appeared.

SUBSURFACE STRUCTURE DETECTED

SIZE: UNKNOWN

DEPTH: UNKNOWN

CONFIGURATION: CHANGING

The readings expanded faster than the computers could catalogue them.

Kilometers below the docking platform, hidden beneath countless layers of folded space and overlapping realities, an object of unimaginable scale was beginning to emerge from dormancy.

The lights throughout Vey’lan brightened further. One by one and then all at once. The entire city illuminated.

And from somewhere below the Merrimack came a single signal. It was not transmission or in any known
language but a note as before.

One impossibly deep harmonic tone that resonated through the hull, through the deck plating, and through every living mind aboard the ship. The same tone that had echoed faintly through Sickbay,
that had been hidden within the mathematical messages and guided them here.

On the viewscreen, directly beyond the docking berth, a section of the city slowly unfolded while massive pathways separated. Ancient structures rotated aside.

An avenue opened that seemed to be leading downward. Toward whatever had just awakened.

And for the first time since entering Vey’lan, the city seemed to be inviting the crew of the USS Merrimack inside.

GM Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

Rana had silently paid close attention to what was going on around him. As a new XO he knew deep in his stomach, or what was left of it that once this was over there

would be more reports to be filed than was imaginable. He watched as the helmsman seem to be dazzled and somewhat confused. He supposed it was something very new to him. But from what Rana could see there was nothing at all amazing by the way the ship was being handled. The technology was certainly different and a lot more exact in its calculations but other than that it appeared the same as docking in any star base. The only difference being all seeming voodoo magic of a new technology.

It as only when the folds of this place began to open. As if on a flower. The image of a Venus flytrap flitted through his mind quickly. The image disturbed him. He considered that these people hadn’t tried to hurt them yet. Much. Perhaps they should be doing something to keep the crew on their toes. ” Captain?” he began as addressed Glenn. ” Do you think our new friends would be annoyed if we went to a yellow alert until such time as we have docked somewhere? We don’t want to damage any of their technology by accident and all you know.”

Rana Singh Number One