Snip

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 Glen. ” 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

“You’ll know by now that I’m not one for bells and alarms, Mr Singh,” Glen replied, “but continue to keep our ship’s defence fields energised, and the deflector shields at full power. I doubt that they will be bothered by that, though we still don’t understand any of this technology or how it works.”

Captain Glen asked,” Any progress yet on locating a detectable power source for all this technology, or for this city here, lit up like Christmas tree?”

“That curious harmonic note sounds like like a welcoming suggestion to me, similar to those notes that have already directed and guided us here.” Glen said. “And this display of unfolded pathways, real or not, they are a kind of ‘yellow brick road’. Anyone know those stories? They’ll be expecting a response from us. I guess that our next step is to follow that road and go and visit the great and all powerful wizard of Oz in his Emerald City to see what he has to say to us. That means I need volunteers for a landing party… or have we started calling them ‘Away Teams’ when, like this, we aren’t actually ‘landing’ on anything? Mr. Singh?”

Then Captain Glen added, “And to backtrack slightly, we should be sure that walkway is safe to… walk upon? Does it have any substance? Or a breathable atmosphere? Radiation levels within normal parameters? Make all those usual environmental safety checks? That’s probably the first step.”

“I hadn’t meant all the bells and whistles sir, but I get your point. Just a flashing light or two was all I had in mind. ” Rana replied to the captain. And as for the land of Oz I have seen that relic and thought the same thing. We know precious little of what they are doing and if indeed they even want us to go out. “

Rana knitted his brow then as he thought about the need or the necessity of leaving the ship. Thus far their friends seemed to have the power to come and go as they pleased. Why would they not come aboard to welcome them? If indeed it were a welcome, they were offering.

Rana listening carefully replied to the captain.” Sir, if a landing party is called for, I would like to volunteer. At this point you are far too valuable and with my experience I am easily expendable.”

None of Captain Glen’s previous Number Ones had prevented him taking part in Landing Parties so he wasn’t about to let Rana begin. That couched suggestion that he was too old only stood to make him even more determined of that, and was rather annoying actually.

Elyss had been fairly quiet during the last 15 minutes as the Merri made her way along the pathway set out for her. After M’Mera’s report, she’d agreed with the Caitian and told the CO so. She also kept them up to date on what her station reported as they made the transition from one end of the corridor to the docking port. “I’d like to volunteer also, Captain. This is what I signed up for.”

Lieutenant Elyss Zavey
Chief Science Officer USS Merrimack

Rana then walked to the science station. He asked her to continue with her in depth scans looking for all power sources. Also for new radiation measurements along with types of radiation and their location within the area closest to the ship. He also asked for measurements of gravity wells along with any sort of structure nearby that the people of the Merrimack could understand as a structure and scans for several hundred known metals and alloys.

Although he would love to get something resembling any sort of map of the area he doubted he would get much of any use. It seemed to be the way things worked anymore.

Rana Singh Number One

“I will certainly be a member of this Landing Party,” the Captain replied. “I’ll take Rana and Elyss, thank you. I’ll also need an engineer, maybe a doctor and security. I suggest M’Mera, Dr. Graham, Thalos and John Reeves, but I will also need someone competent to remain behind on the Bridge”.

• Glen, CO

GM Post - Vey’lan Scan Results
The bridge filled with the quiet hum of processing computers as Science, Operations, and Engineering continued compiling the data requested by Commander Singh and Captain Glen.

One by one, reports began appearing across the various sensor and analysis stations. The first concerned the city’s apparent power systems.

Sensor sweeps detected immense energy readings throughout Vey’lan, but the results immediately defied conventional classification.

No reactors, power conduits, or transmission grids found.

Instead, energy appeared uniformly distributed throughout the visible structures and the surrounding environment itself.

Computer analysis produced the following summary:

POWER ANALYSIS
- No centralized power source detected.
- No identifiable power generation facilities detected.
- Energy signatures present throughout all scanned structures.
- Energy field appears integrated with local spacetime geometry.
- Estimated output: Indeterminate.
- Source classification: Unknown.

Additional environmental scans completed moments later.

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
- Chroniton radiation detected.
- Tachyon emissions detected.
- Multiple unidentified exotic particle signatures present.
- Ionizing radiation: Within Starfleet safety limits.
- Atmospheric contaminants: None detected.
- Biological hazards: None detected.
- Environmental stability: High.

A separate report focused on local gravitational conditions. The resulting display immediately drew attention from several bridge officers.

Throughout the city, thousands of localized gravity nodes could be seen shifting position.
Some merged while others divided. Several vanished entirely before reappearing elsewhere. Yet all movements followed highly ordered mathematical patterns.

GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS
- Multiple localized gravity wells detected.
- Gravity sources exhibit controlled movement.
- No evidence of gravitational instability near docking area.
- Docking platform gravity: 1.01g.
- Environmental gravity conditions within expected humanoid tolerances.

Engineering’s material analysis followed shortly afterward. The computer struggled repeatedly to classify the composition of the surrounding structures. Many scans returned multiple valid classifications simultaneously.

MATERIAL COMPOSITION ANALYSIS
- Metallic alloy signatures detected.
- Crystalline lattice structures detected.
- Ceramic-like compounds detected.
- Multiple unidentified materials present.
- Several structures exist in overlapping quantum states.
- Classification confidence: Low.

One sample reading generated the following result:

SAMPLE STRUCTURE 14-A
- 43% Metallic Alloy
- 39% Crystalline Matrix
- 21% Unknown Material
- Status: All classifications valid simultaneously.

The final report concerned Commander Singh’s request for mapping data. To the surprise of the sensor teams, partial success was achieved.

Using the external guidance field surrounding the Merrimack, the computer was able to construct a localized navigational model. A three-dimensional display began forming across the bridge systems.

Visible and confirmed regions included:

• Primary docking platform.
• Illuminated access pathway.
• Several adjoining chambers.
• Multiple branching corridors.
• Numerous structural nodes within sensor range.

Large portions of Vey’lan remained obscured.

The computer’s estimate appeared beside the model:

MAPPING COVERAGE
- Confirmed Area: 4.7%
- Confidence Level: 81%

Attempts to extend scans beyond the mapped regions repeatedly generated the same response.

ACCESS DENIED
SOURCE: UNKNOWN

No transmitter or jamming field could be identified or detected. The response appeared to originate from the city itself.

A final section of the map then highlighted automatically. Beginning at the docking platform, a single illuminated route extended deeper into Vey’lan.

The path terminated approximately eight hundred meters from the docking area within a vast central chamber.

No alternative routes or destinations were highlighted. Only a single pathway remained illuminated upon the display.

Pic here:
https://www.star-fleet.com/media/images/motd/merrimack/IMG_3458.jpeg

GM Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare