Fishing (Darwin-A): Difference between revisions

In the ready room Cook reveals that the patient is none other then the Captain! Cook asks the captain about Zackdorn, The QSD and Raikenoff, wondering if this will cause an outburst. It does not, in fact Renos appreciates the concern, something that stuns the doctor. Shifting to his tricorder for a more thorough diagnosis Cook and renos continue to discuss the nebula. After Cook gives Renos a clean bill of health Cook sits down to discuss Dr. Tarna and getting him a proper burial, but his body was still part of an ongoing case. Renos admitted to the need to catch up on things and they talked of Rosek and the difficulty in getting the body back. Their conversation ends in frustration and anger not only at the murder of one of their own but the uncooperative nature of the Numiri government

Meanwhile back on the bridge, Merrick’s surprise and being ‘given’ the bridge was broken as Valdivia calls the bridge and shares with R’Ven his theory that the rise in metaphasic energy is not natural but due to a weapon that the Numiri have developed and that he would be in hazmat trying to confirm it and to let the captain know.

Quickly the teams got themselves together. The shuttle teams reporting to sickbay first and then to the shuttle bay in preparation to move out into the nebula, adding in any last minute modifications. Brell and Pond got the [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/ZHOrykL2Nr8 MSD panel reconfigured] to be able to monitor and lock onto any biosigns on the shuttles.  

The bridge was no less a hive of activity.

Meanwhile the probes were launched, and with the increased sensor data now appearig on his screens the motion of the lifesigns and their movement reminded Merrick of the schooling of fish, [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/lxNB4d2F1oI triggering one of the memories] he had received from the not-Borg nanoprobes. At the same time Merrick detected a larger life sign trailing the small ones at the edge of sensor acuity, and he called the bridge to alert them.

On the docking bay the shuttles were being prepared for launch after their crews had received their vaccinations.

Rennyn, Shayne, Mpeba and Lambert were the first to get to their shuttle, and Mpeba and Lambert set to work installing aby last minute modifications to the sensors and the shuttle itself. However Rennyn noticed a bit of friction between Lambert and Shayne as things got underway and [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/t1ZRwbtxBx0 asked a few questions]. After the last adjustments were made, the data feed between the Darwin and the shuttle was established and the Santiago was launched.

   

Meanwhile on board the shuttle Ayora things were [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/otGHOoPgRKU not so smooth]. Varaan and Logan had arrived and began to prepare themselves for launch, but Doctor Cook had taken ill and Doctor Pond was called in to take his place. Also Stennes had been removed from the team to attend to other matters and was replaced with Icavoc. With the change in personnel they did not have as much time to modify the ship and the result was that they would be relying more on the telemetry fed to them by the Darwin. Also  they were mixing [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/r9UdLOEo4us Pond Logan, which may be asking for trouble].   

The crew of the Ayora made up for the delays by launching and the quickly making their way out into the nebula and located the installation that they were to explore. Jostled about by their initial entry into the nebula their flight smooths out. After making a progress report to the Darwin they docked their shuttle. Donning their EVA suits, with [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/fHgkHzoPptc Icavoc needing a bit of help] as he was still dealing with the partial loss of an arm, they were finally able to enter the installation. A scan of some of the writing that was found indicated that this installation was Numiri, the data suggesting that it could be an abandoned listening post or gas collection facility.  

Back on the Darwin, things were becoming more interesting as well as well. That the smaller fish are being pursued by what appears to be a larger predator fish. Renos theorizes that these creatures are [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/wQB9q_XR4X0 cosmozoan entities]. The question was, what did they do next? Firing itinerant pulse from the main deflector dish, stalk them and close into an optimal range for study and observation, or even bring them inside the sphere for study are a few of the ideas put forward.  

As the darwin continues its approach it Valdivia discovers that the smaller entities are being attracted to the probes and that is putting them in danger of being killed by the predators, so he has R’Ven shut down the probe’s active scans. In Astrometrics R’Ven does so but points out that the perhaps they could use the probes to actually guide the ‘fish; into the sphere and suggests that they may not want to see what happen. Renos thanks R’Ven for his suggestion but would rather pursue other options given the concerns about harming the fish. Interestingly Brell, who had recently come to the bridge since Pond had been sent to the away team, endorsed at least some of R’Ven’s idea, perhaps they could cycle through the probes’s sensor spectrum and [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/6lCl_OQ4TUQ see what attracts them].

At the same time the Santiago, is also approaching its target. While they had to deal with the turbulence of entering the nebula, they had little to no trouble communicating with the Darwin they receive the updates about the cosmozoan lifeforms in the nebula, [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/2IoUbb4P_7w something that caught Lambert’s attention] as he worked on the sensors. It was only a sharp sound from Rennyn that pulled him away as Rennyn reported seeing "an eye!" At the same time Lambert’s work on the sensor grid bore fruit as it reported subspace distortions off the to starboard. His sensors began to pick up life forms four times as large as the shuttle, something that seem to bear a striking resemblance to a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prognathodon#/media/File:Prognathodon_saturator_DB.jpg prehuman aquatic dinosaur].

On the bridge Captain Renos asked that the ship be brought around so that they could get a better view of the predator around the Darwin. As the bridge crew reacted to the view Valdivia called the civilian oceanographic Scientist [https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php/Hars_Vlin Hars Vlin] and asked him to view the spaceborn lifeforms from the sphere viewport and for his insight, however Hars was [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/NqsR2DE8HWc too sick] to take him up on his offer and instead asked for the sensor data to examine.

At the same time [https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php/Emery_Rhyn LtCmdr Emery Rhyn], since there are no shields in the nebula boosts the structural integrity field and Wilmer keeps them at a safe distance.  Valdivia notes that some of the ‘fish’ are being distracted by the probes and Valdivia asks R’Ven to shut down the probe’s active scans, which he does by placing them in passive scan mode. However R’ven suggests in turn that they use the probes to lure the spaceborn creatures into the sphere, but Renos declines, and gives Brell a stoney look when he agrees with R’Ven.  

Then Varaan calls saying that the shuttle Ayora is beginning its exploration and will make contact again in one hour.  

Meanwhile the bridge crew continues to try and find ways to lure the cosmozoans into the sphere for study and then a predator approaches. Wilmer suggests scanning the smaller ‘fish’ to see how they communicate, but Valdivia points out that that would only give them a starting point since they could not know what aspects of communication they would [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/rM7ok8GTrJ0 pay attention to]. The last suggestion was: ‘hill-billy hand fishing with the tractor beam’ although Wilmer was not too confident of its success. When Renos said ne was not looking for anything too traumatic Valdivia suggested voiding the Darwin’s front sphere and pulling the Cosmozoians inside, and that the spaceborn animals were actually using gravity to ‘swim’ with and they probably think that the Darwin is a larger version of themselves. He goes on to suggest that if they switch from impulse engines to thrusters and activate the sensors in the same way that the probes were doing that the fish would become interested in them as well. Renos agrees eagerly and in short order there were 4 creatures swimming around the inside of the sphere.  

Renos has Brell take Valdivia and Rhyn to examine the new residents of the sphere and R’Ven is called to the bridge.

At the same time Varaan and his team have docked the the Ayora in the landing bay of this massive ceramic station. Icavoc, Pond and Logan had followed him through the airlock and into the station proper. Pond notes that the area is depressurized, but cannot tell if there are any structural failures. Icavoc doesn't detect any powers or system failures and theorizes that it may be intentional. Pond scans and finds a large room and Icavoc suggests that they look for any text that would reveal the species that built the station. Logan picks up no traces of anyone in either direction. Calling it a unanimous, Varaan directs his team in the direction Pond indicated.  

Then Pond Screamed!

Back on the Darwin, they are dealing with changing circumstances. [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/azdpt8-W5Jg Merrick arrives on the bridge] just after Brell and Valdivia have left and takes his seat at the science station and gives a report to the Captain. Interestingly Renos receives a call from Starfleet command and takes it in nir ready room, leaving Wilmer in charge of the bridge. R’Ven reiterates his update to Wilmer that sensors had picked up fleeting secondary life signs from the large predatory creature that nearly impacted the ship earlier as well as the Santiago. While the energy from the nebula makes acquiring a precise reading difficult it appeared that the readings came from either inside or in very close precise proximity to the creatures.  

Rennyn says they are going to steer clear of than and closes the connection.

On the bridge Renos has reappeared after nir call and actually asks Wilmer [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/qIxCECZKK9M “Did you miss me?”] Vacating his position at the center seat Wilmer updated Renos about what has been seen. R’Ven informs Renos about the much larger Cosmozoan that is holding position. Renos wonders about the away teams and informs them that Starfleet is recalling them to work on damaged communication relays between the Alpha and Delta Quadrant. Renos notes that the metaphasic energy that permeates the nebula appears to be damaging the young and R’Ven investigates. At the same time R’Ven is still examining the huge Cosmozoan. It is still holding position, energy coalescing and dispersing at its tail end, but nothing threatening. Occasionally it opened its large jaws and sucked in several smaller Cosmozoans and then closed them again. As Merrick watched the creature/ship.

And then the ship’s internal sensors detect an energy discharge from within the sphere near where Commanders Brell, Valdivia and Rhyn are working.  

Brell, Valdivia and Rhyn, after stopping to get appropriate EVA gear quickly make their way down to the science lab which is linked to the containment sphere to get a closer look at the fish that have been brought on board the Darwin. Standing inside the airlock they plan their mission. Valdivia wanted to take readings and warns that the creatures possess a field that surrounds them at a strength that the Darwin would not easily detect but that it would make it painful to touch. He also professes a desire to tag the fish, even though it is something that is no longer done, but says he would put a request in for it as SST. It was something that [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/5IqV6rz3wE0 Brell frowned upon].  

Once the medical technician gives the team their innoculations they enter the sphere itself and start moving towards the creatures. As the approached the creatures stopped movement and approached them. Brell’s tricorder was picking up more signals in the subspace bands as one of the fishlike creatures passed by no more than twenty meters from them. Taking a moment to discuss if the creatures are capable of [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/Z-fB2TYx4vw scanning them] or not they begin to scan the creatures as well while using their thrusters to navigate around the sphere. One of the cosmozoan approached them and there was a surge of energy that painfully surged through their bodies and suits and they lost consciousness.::

On the Santiago things are getting interesting as well. The life forms seems to be moving around the shuttle, barely acknowledging their presence . . . or the Dawin’s as noted by Lambert. In fact they are congregating around the area of the shuttle when Lambert barked out to stop the ship! No sooner had Shayne brought them to a halt the shuttle was rocked fiercely and the crew knocked around like pinballs inside. Lambert was picking up subspace pockets and some kind of nest and other subspace anomalies converging on their position and and were four times bigger than the shuttle. Mpeba speculated that the creatures may actually [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/0ktpz5pT38k see in different wavelengths] and noted if the creatures could not see them, then it would be difficult for these creatures to avoid hitting them. When Rennyn asked if they could fly out, Shayne thought that their chance for success were dubious at best, but felt more confident once they were able to actually identify that the subspace disturbances were actually just the creatures.  

Mpeba runs a few simulations and announces that the shielding may make the distortions from the Cosmozans worse . . . and then Rennyn announces [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sb118-darwin/ySPy-YguV4w  "Incoming! It’s the biggest one yet! Evasive maneuvers!"]