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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| On the first watercraft to launch, Lt Valdivia muses about the intricacies of underwater travel, until he spots an interesting site. A perfectly flat surface with a technological relic centered on it presents itself. As Cmdr Rennyn illuminates the area, Ens Alekos uses a robotic arm to try and scour the sediment from the structure. Writing becomes visible, and Science Minister Veilta is able to discern that the device was manufactured by Chitern, a pre-cataclysmic corporation. An off-the-cuff remark by Rennyn annoys Science Minister Veilta. Cmdr Thomas orders Alekos and Valdivia to retrieve the object and bring it aboard, and Alekos finds the foreign task nerve-inducing. Valdivia assures Alekos during the delicate procedure, while sharing details of his past. Rennyn discovers that the sonar can't penetrate behind the flat surface, and Thomas orders a closer look.
Back at the interesting plant life, Ens Lexicon and Ens Block work together to capture a sample and transfer it into a container for further study. It surprised the inhabitants of the exploration craft when it started to glow eerily green. The Asavii pilot Tamit makes an admission after the fact that the plant is well-known to his people, much to the consternation of the Starfleet personnel for his reticence to mention it earlier. On the final watercraft, the decision is made to exit the craft and continue through the restricted corridor ahead in their EV suits. CPO Jellico hooks a tether onto the watercraft as a guide back. The group traverses the tunnel, and finds a fork in the path. Lyldra reads a large number of life forms down the path that leads to a lower chamber, and some artificial signs down the path that leads to a chamber above. While they consider their options, Iy notices an indigenous life form, which Phlendorp identifies as a tremuro. The crab-like creatures are an Asav delicacy, and upon examining them further, Iy also notes an unnaturally straight bore-hole that the tremuro have retreated into. While the group examines the new find, Cmdr Renos receives a hail from the Darwin, advising of the imminent arrival of two new officers. While Renos is away, the others discuss the origin and meaning of the long man-made tunnel. Cmdr Icavoc and Lt Traenor are patched into the conversation between Cmdr Renos and the Darwin, and Renos requests Icavoc to return to the ship in order to receive the new officers. Icavoc concurs, and shortly beams back up to the ship. As Block rechecks the integrity of their connection to the Asav mainframe, Ens Lexicon is sent back to the Darwin as well. Moving over to the rear wall of the cavern they are in, they discover etched hieroglyphs. Block is able to deduce that the glyphs predate the biodome era of Asav's past. When Cmdr Renos returns to the rest of nir group, ne advises Phlendorp that two new officers would be reporting to the planet. As the group discuss which path to take, Phlendorp advises that it is safe for their watercraft to bore through the tunnel to their current location.
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| In orbit around Asav, the shuttlecraft Coriolis docks with the Darwin. Cmdr Icavoc, sent ahead to be aboard to receive the new officers, arrives on the bridge and notes a weather disturbance that has little consequence to the mission. Cmdr Walker and Ens Logan report to the bridge, where they are surprised when Icavoc advises them that they will be immediately assigned to one of the Away teams on Asav.
After retrieving the mysterious technological device, the Away team led by Cmdr Thomas discuss the void on sonar, and the possibility that the flat surface hides a sealed room. An idea to breach the area is brought forward, though there is concerns about maintaining the integrity of the void if it is flooded. Despite initial misgivings, Science Minister Veilta and Cmdr Rennyn convince Thomas to try a watertight connection to the flat surface before cutting their way in. Rennyn asks Ens Manius for advice on dealing with panic attacks, and Manius tries to talk him through his discomfort. Deciding to avoid the life sign readings in the lower chamber for now, the Away team headed by Cmdr Renos and Patriarch Phlendorp decide to explore the upper chamber. Iy suggests that the exploration craft be brought to their current location for convenience, and Patriarch Phlendorp sends an attache to fetch the vehicle. CPO Jellico produces a micro welder to widen the opening to the pipe, and is tasked to lead the procession up the pipe. During their ascent, the noise and reverberations of the advancing exploration craft cause momentary consternation among members of the party. Iy and Jellico note that an exit to the pipe is not as obvious as the entrance was, but are able to infer a few possible locations for cutting themselves out.
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This episode is still airing, stay tuned for periodic updates!
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| REV SD 239205.10 |
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