From The Divine To The Squidiculous (Darwin-A)
| Season 2, Episode 2 |
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| USS Darwin-A | ||
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 INACTIVE STATUS | ||
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After a short shore leave at Deep Space 6, the crew of the Darwin are ready to launch on its next mission. The crew is faced with some departures, and some new arrivals. Ensign Ian Patrick Connory, Lieutenant JG Cadfael Peters, and Ensign Ilyazi Malon transfer off the ship, while some new transfers are accepted onto the Darwin:
During shore leave, Commander Renos is named director for the regional Starfleet Multispecies Initiative, and is tasked with mentoring an influx of temporary assignments from under-represented worlds. He shares this information with the departmental heads, and the ship is readied to accommodate these new crewmembers. A senior staff meeting is called by Cmdr Renos, where some promotions are handed out. Michael Jellico is promoted to Chief Petty Officer, Maxwell Traenor is promoted to Lieutenant, and John Valdivia is promoted to Lieutenant JG. As well, since the rift encountered by the Darwin in the last mission was determined to be related to the Prometheus Incident, all crew present on the Darwin during that time are awarded the Prometheus Ribbon. It is also revealed that Lieutenant Commander Kael Thomas will be reassigned as the Darwin's First Officer.After these announcements are made, Cmdr Renos informs the senior staff that their next mission will be to the planet Asav, a world visited twice before by Starfleet, including most recently by the Darwin itself a year prior. The Asavii are interested in fostering improved relations with the Federation, and have asked for Starfleet's assistance with an archaeological expedition on their homeworld.
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| Arriving in orbit around Asav, Cmdr Renos chooses Cmdr Thomas, Lieutenant Commander Nicu Icavoc, Lt Traenor, Lt Valdivia, Ens Lexicon, Lieutenant JG Ashley Deneve Yael, Ens Lyldra, Ensign Graham Block, Ensign Todd Manius, CPO Jellico, and Iy to accompany him on the Away mission to the planet. Beaming down to the biodome Gasceka (The Second Coming), they are greeted by Patriarch Aheran Phlendorp, science minister Saladin Veilta, and their retinue. After introductions are made, the Away team is split into two groups. Renos, Yael, Lyldra, Jellico, and Iy will accompany Patriarch Phlendorp for a cultural tour of the biodomes, while Thomas, Icavoc, Traenor, Valdivia, Lexicon, Block, and Manius will accompany science minister Veilta to the docking bay where they will commence with the exploration of the mysterious cavern structures called Skarlozent (Unbelievers Folly).
Prior to the Away team mission, Ens Manius confides to Ens Alekos that he would rather not be back at Asav, due to his previous experiences with the planet, but dutifully brushes off his concerns. Iy, still acclimating to life on a Starfleet vessel, is surprised to find ne is invited to the planet. Cmdr Renos asks Patriarch Phlendorp to explain the meaning of the biodome's name Gasceka, and he obliges. Phlendorp leads the cultural team through the reception hall of Gasceka to a large room where refreshments are laid out, and leads a toast to the Asavii god of the seas, Zolrak. CPO Jellico is discomfited by the diplomatic proceedings and the layout of the feast. Iy, unfamiliar with Starfleet doctrine, asks discreet questions of protocol to Lyldra and Jellico. Science Minister Veilta leads the scientific team to the docking ring, and enroute Manius asks him about the exploration vessels' similarities to their attack ships. It is revealed that both Manius and Thomas piloted Asavii attack ships on the Darwin's previous visit to the planet. Valdivia asks about the geological history of Asav. Arriving at the docking bay, Thomas divides the scientific team onto two ships, with himself, Alekos, Manius, and Valdivia on one, and Traenor, Icavoc, Lexicon, and Block on another. Traenor assigns duties to the crewmen on his exploration vessel.
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| At the docking bay, Cmdr Thomas and the rest of the scientific team welcome the arrival of Cmdr Rennyn, new to both the Darwin and the Away team. Thomas assigns duties to the officers on his exploration vessel. After preparations are complete and EV suits donned, they are ready to launch. With Rennyn and Ens Manius piloting, Lt Valdivia and Ens Alekos prepare their consoles and man sensors in the back. Valdivia muses over the comparison between their sample-gathering methods and the Terran tall tales of alien abduction. Dealing with nerves imparted by the underwater environment, Rennyn adapts to the differences between aquatic and space vessels in terms of control, while Manius imparts some assistance base on his previous experiences. Entering Skarlozent, the crew discover a promising find on a cavern floor and stop to investigate.
On their exploration craft, Ens Lexicon liaises with their Asavii pilot Korig Tamit on integrating Starfleet sensors with their ship. Launching behind the first watercraft, Ens Block assists pilot Tamit with navigation. Lexicon also implements a buoy marking system, and assures pilot Tamit as to their inert status. Approaching Skarlozent, they encounter an unknown life form, and take readings of the creature to forward to the Asavii researchers. After the creature passes, Cmdr Icavoc identifies a plant sample that he would like to capture. Meanwhile, Patriarch Phlendorp entertains inquiries by the attendant Starfleet personnel. Iy asks questions about the religious tolerance of the Asavii, and a question by Ens Lyldra about biodome interaction leads to a long monologue by Phlendorp. A social faux pas causes CPO Jellico to beat a hasty retreat. After this, the feast concludes and they continue their short tour of Gasceka. Iy and Lyldra converse about similarities between Asav and Bolarus. Lyldra and Renos make an offer to the Asavii for collaboration on aquatic technologies. Upon reaching the docking bay, Cmdr Renos is awed by the Asavii method of launching their watercraft via immersion. Patriarch Phlendorp describes the docking bay procedure to the Starfleet personnel. Phlendorp offers the opportunity to CPO Jellico and Iy to try piloting the craft that they will be using to follow the previous two watercraft. Lt Yael returns to the Darwin for pressing matters. Iy shares a story about a mythical J'naii sea creature called a horlobok, and Jellico shares a story about a fictional Terran character called Geppetto. Arriving at Skarlozent, Renos notes that the path they have chosen may be too narrow to safely traverse with their submersible. Lyldra shows promising scans past the restriction. Iy suggests that they exit the watercraft to continue forward.
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This episode is still airing, stay tuned for periodic updates!
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| REV SD 239205.02 |
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