Resolution’s Heritage (Artemis)

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USS Artemis-A
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ACTIVE STATUS
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Luna class
NCC-81287

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Captain's Log

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Captain’s Log, Stardate 240202.04

After receiving a communication from the Da’al, we are enroute to the Rinascita system to investigate a group of Klingon scientists who have violated Starfleet’s no-fly order of the Genesis planet there… This is the same planet that was formed following the destruction of the Resolution, a ship several members of the crew served on, me included. I must admit my unease at the situation – the situation that led to the destruction of that vessel was a particular source of trauma for those of us who served on it, and the idea of returning to the scene of the crime, as it were, is not a prospect I am excited about.

There are many questions that remain unanswered: why are the Klingons on the planet and what are they hoping to accomplish there? Why was Starfleet reliant on the Da’al to inform us of the violation of the no-fly zone? The Da’al are sending a team to investigate the Klingon team, and I’m hoping we will be able to arrive in enough time to avoid any potential conflict – needless to say, I’m sure their presence will no doubt complicate matters..

I have asked members of the senior staff who will be serving as team leaders to join me to discuss the mission ahead. If there’s one thing we can look forward to, it’s that we’ll be joined by our former CO, Commodore Kalianna Nicholotti, who will be serving as a mission specialist.


Revisiting the Past



MacKenzie: ::gesturing behind her with her thumb:: …and Dakora blew a hole in the wall behind me. Sucked that beautiful desk right out into space.

Kali smirked. At one point in time she had wondered if it was her bad luck that kept getting holes punched in ships, but now she was starting to come to the conclusion that maybe Addison's threats to airlock people weren't a joke to the universe. Where she went, it seemed that holes in starships followed.

Then again, the universe was full of coincidences.

Nicholotti: What is it with you and people blowing holes in starships?

“
”


Summoned to the Captain's Ready Room, Cmdr. Adea and Lt.Cdr. Jovenan are both shocked to find Cmdre. Kalianna Nicholotti - their former CO and current Captain of the USS Eagle - seated next to their Captain. Flt.Cpt. MacKenzie briefs them on their current mission; to establish why a team of Da'al and a team of Klingon scientists are gathered at the Genesis Planet - the site of the USS Resolution's last flight - especially considering its status as a no-fly zone. Since the destruction of the Resolution, no one has visited the planet before now, apart from Cmdre. Nicholotti who visited after the USS Excalibur-A was reassigned to the Tholian Border, and the Commodore reveals that - at the time - the only life on the planet was plants. While the USS Artemis' official mission is to establish the intentions of the Da'al and Klingon teams, and keep communications from becoming heated, Flt.Cpt. MacKenzie can't let this chance pass her by. Starfleet has - thus far - not sent a proper science team to do a survey of the Genesis Planet. Who better than the remnants of the crew who - once upon a time - loved the Ship that led to its creation?

Joining the other officers on the Bridge, Flt.Cpt. MacKenzie orders Ens Lyara to move the Artemis closer to the planet. A Da'al cruiser and a Klingon Bird-of-Prey are already in orbit, but readily make space for the Artemis to slot in between them. Lt.Cdr. Jovenan confirms Cmdre. Nicholotti's former statement that the only readable lifesigns on the planet's surface are those belonging to the Da'al and Klingon guests, and while things aren't currently hostile between the two teams, LT Silveira still urges caution.

Alright – team leaders, make requests for whatever equipment your people might need, and let’s go. I don’t want the Klingons thinking we’re dawdling.

“
”

Below decks, Lt.Cdr. Salkath settles into his new office as Chief Engineer with a sense of melancholy - though he would disagree with that description, as Vulcans are decidedly non-melancholic - as he vows to conduct his work in a way that would make the former Chief, Hallia Yellir, proud. Meanwhile, in Sickbay, LT Sadar is conducting a re-boarding medical check-up for LtJG Gnai, who's recently come back aboard the Artemis after personal leave back on Galador II. This is when the three of them each get summons to the transporter rooms, to prepare to beam down to the planet below, and visit the Ghosts of Days Past.



Klingon Scientists?

Nicholotti: As far as our mission...well, we're tasked with figuring out what a Klingon science team is doing on an off-limits Genesis planet.

Which, all in all, sounded like the start of a horrible joke.

“
”

Cmdre. Nicholotti meets up with the team put under her command in Transporter Room 3, before they all beam to the planet below. While the planet is a wonder to behold, the team focuses their attentions on the upcoming meeting with the Klingons, while Ens Lyara suggests doing some mapping while they're en-route, given that this is - for all intensive purposes - uncharted territory. It doesn't take long for the team to catch up with the Klingon Science Team, led by Captain Maular. The Klingon Captain prefaces his explanation with an apology, seemingly fully dedicated to the peaceful conclusion to their encounter, but Cmdre. Nicholotti - who's dealt with many Klingons over her time in the service - can't help but sense that something is afoot.

With nothing more than her gut feeling to base her suspicions on, however, the Commodore decides to render assistance to the Klingons in an effort to get them off of the Genesis Planet as quickly as possible, but when it comes to the suggestion that Lt.Cdr. Salkath and LtJG Bergmen be granted access to the Klingons' equipment, the Klingons seem reluctant. In the end, Captain Maular agrees to the officers' suggestion, enlisting their aid in not only solving their equipment issues, but also in obtaining knowledge about the planet for his onw purposes. Captain Maular shows extreme interest in the interconnected properties of the planet's plant life, and while Cmdre. Nicholotti doubts that he's being entirely truthful about his motivations to trespass on the Genesis Planet, she nevertheless acquieces to his encouragement and leads her team to join up with the wider Klingon contingent. Lt.Cdr. Salkath tries to open a channel to his Engineers aboard the Artemis, only to find that his combadge is incapable of making contact. Their communications are jammed.

Disturbed by the exceedingly vulnerable position that the team finds itself in, Lt.Cdr. Salkath attempts to alert his team to their predicament without attracting suspicion from the Klingons, but his efforts go in vain, as Captain Maular quickly realizes something's wrong. He suggests that the Da'al may be at the heart of the issue, as their purpose on their planet is clearly nefarious, but Ens Lyara questions this with the reminder that the Da'al showed no offensive intent when the Artemis came into orbit. The team of officers realize that something is wrong with the vegetation around them, but when Captain Maular offers his assistance with the issue, Cmdre. Nicholotti puts an end to the charade, assuring him that she doesn't trust him nor his team, and that their one priority is getting them off of the planet as quickly as possible.


Da'al in the Wrong Place

MacKenzie: Well, isn’t it a great day for some scientific exploration?

Sadar: It would be, but... ::sigh:: That’s not what we’re doing. Is it, Sir?

Vitor shook his head.

Silveira: No.

“
”

With the Bridge Officers having left just ahead of their Captain, they meet up with LT Sadar in Transporter Room 2, just in time for the Mizarian Doctor to complain to LT Silveira about the phaser order before the Captain's arrival. After a poor attempt at levity, Flt.Cpt. MacKenzie reveals their mission profile of having to make contact and ascertain the intentions of the Da'al team on the planet's surface, and the officers beam down to the planet proper. Upon arrival, LT Silveira remarks upon the complete lack of native wildlife or insects, as they prepare to set off to intercept the Da'al. The team speculates as to the reason for this absence, but are unable to reach any satisfying conclusions prior to intercepting the Da'al. Their speculations regarding the Da'al's motivations for being on the Genesis Planet are also rampant, with Flt.Cpt. MacKenzie urging her crew to approach the coming talks with an open mind and no bias.

The team soon encounter a large team of Da'al soldiers, led by Colonel Evreste, who - despite an amicable tone - doesn't seem quite as welcome to the Starfleet team as the Klingons encountered by Cmdre. Nicholotti. Tensions are high-strung and right under the surface, not aided by the brand of cowboy diplomacy employed by LT Silveira, and the ever-anxious LT Sadar soon excuses herself to brief the Artemis on their succesful rendezvous with the Da'al. That is, however, when she realizes a rather concerning reality: she can't get in contact with the Ship or any of the other teams planetside. Colonel Evreste seems certain that the Klingons' purpose on the Genesis Planet is nefarious, and Flt.Cpt. MacKenzie orders her officers to not only figure out what's causing the jamming, but also to form some viable hypothesis on what the Klingon might want from the planet. While Ens Imril and LT Silveira work on identifying the jamming signal, LT Sadar and Ens Kel's scans show a level of interconnectedness among the plants that is out of the ordinary. Furthermore, the plants are moving. LT Sadar informs the rest of the team about this fact, and while all the Starfleet officers agree that this development is cause for concern, one of the Da'al soldiers physically interact with a Niburian sunbush that has snuck up behind them, prompting a visceral reaction from the forest itself. A big burst of pollen envelops the soldier, and the team rushes away to safety.

With Flt.Cpt. MacKenzie demanding answers, the crew all start hypothesizing what this most recent development means for their inquiries on the planet. LT Sadar assures the others that the Da'al soldier is still alive, so at least the forest isn't attempting to kill them, but Ens Imril and Ens Kel remains cautious about any action taken that might be considered hostile by the planet. Ens Imril finally succeeds in counteracting some of the interference, allowing the team to form a tenuous connection with the Artemis, but they don't have time to stand and dawdle, as the forest continues to react to the invaders around them. The dilemma the team now faces is, what should they do now? Head for the Klingons, who may be facing similar attacks by the forest, or focus on getting off-planet and safely back to their Ships?

A Scientist's Mecca

Adea: Right, we’re not sure what we’re going to encounter down there, but I want every millisecond and millimetre of it documented. ::he smirked:: If venomous man-eating plants consume our bodies, I want our tricorders to serve as warnings to future generations, okay?

Queue the brow raise as the Vulcan listened to the Commander, even as he noted the smile lingering on his face after he finished speaking. A joke, more than likely, but not a terrible idea. The needs of the many, after all.

Savel: I'll have a message pre-recorded to play on a loop, in the case of my demise on this planet Commander.

“
”

After convening aboard the Artemis, Cmdr. Adea's team beams down to the planet with intellectual enthusiasm in spades. Soon after arriving, however, LtJG Gnai expresses its confusion with the distinct lack of fauna - or indeed any other kind of life than plants - and Lt.Cdr. Jovenan speculates that the Genesis Device wasn't programmed with the intention of introducing insects or animal lifeforms to the planet. As it turns out, animal life is entirely unnecessary in terms of introducing a bit of a chase, as Cmdr. Adea realizes that the flowers are actively moving. The team is astounded to realize that the flora on the planet is capable of movement, as they retract below ground upon closer inspection. As Lt.Cdr. Jovenan speculates on the plausibility of intelligent plant-based lifeforms, LtJG Savel recommends that the team pursure the migratory flowers, in an attempt to ascertain to what degree an 'intelligence' may be at work on the planet.

While following in the plantsteps of the fleeing plantlife, the team continues to hypothesize as to the degree of intelligence the planet's greenery might possess, with Lt.Cdr. Jovenan suggesting that samples would be preferable, provided that they aren't sentient, of course. This is when LtJG Gnai turns about, only to realize that the clearing that the team used as their beam-down point is now completely gone, having been taken completely over by a wide variety of flora that has suddenly appeared behind them. Though there is the underlying fear of them being herded in a specific direction, the team follows the logical course of action and continues towards 'Ground Zero'. They don't make it far before LtJG Savel realizes that the plants aren't simply content to bar their way backwards, but also in preventing their forward momentum, as more and more vegetation seems to appear in their path. Simultaneously, Cdr. Adea is startled to realize that he can empathically sense of wave of anger from the trees, but as quickly as it is registered, so too does it fade away.

Alarmed, Cdr. Adea requests theories from his team about what might be ahead of them, since the plants seem so intent at keeping them away, just before LtJG Gnai realizes that some of the flora are of familiar genae to Starfleet. Unbeknownst to the Galadoran LtJG, Flt.Cpt. MacKenzie's team has already encountered this particular type of bush, and just as with them, the bush reacts to LtJG Gnai's approach with a sudden expulsion of pollen that tips over their mech suit, covering their tank in its substance. Concerned that this action by the plants might be an attack upon their group, Lt.Cdr. Jovenan suggests aborting the mission, but when LtJG Savel attempts to contact the Artemis, he founds that they are unable to reach it. Thus, the team decides to instead attempt to leave this particular area, where the plants seem rather intent that they not be...

Under Floral Attack

Mr. Tree, I presume?

In attempting to find a way to escape the advancing plants, LtJG Gnai outlines the correlation between the plants' aggressiong and the EM waves its tricorder picks up on. Using that as a navigational tool, the team proceeds in the direction where the EM waves are the weakest. Doing this, they observe that the plants seem almost docile, but Lt.Cdr. Jovenan questions whether this is evidence of the plants avoiding the place, or herding them there. The area the team now enters is nothing like the forest which has formed the backdrop of the mission thus far, barren and rocky and with almost no greenery in sight. Lt.Cdr. Jovenan remarks upon the fact that the rocks and minerals around them are of a very different composition than the naturally created rocks elsewhere on the planet, with complex material weaved throughout them. This is when Cmdr. Adea solemnly identifies the area they've now entered: the crash site of the USS Resolution and the impact site of the Genesis Device that first formed this planet. The complex material weaved throughout the landscape around them was, most likely, material from their old Ship, used as building blocks for the Device's terraforming endeavour.

Upon cresting a small hill, the team finally sees it: The Tree. An large oak-like tree, positioned precariously on a hill overlooking the planet's landscape. Lt.Cdr. Jovenan reads out her scans, revealing that this tree is far more complex than any other piece of flora they'd encountered thus far, and LtJG Gnai suggests that this tree - for lack of better terms - is the 'leader' of the plants which had been harassing them up to this point. It is also not impossible that the crash of the Resolution, and the diseased crew members, had a visible effect upon the development of this tree. The team decides to approach the tree vigilantly, but as they descend the slope, Cmdr. Adea's cane gets stuck in a hole. When he retrieves it, he's shocked to find that the tip of his cane is coated in a thick sap.

Conflicting Narratives

While under attack by the planets' flora, the two teams led by Cmdre. Nicholotti and Flt.Cpt. MacKenzie manage to join up, leading to a tense standoff between the Klingon and Da'al leaders. Considering that they've yet been unable to make contact with the USS Artemis, Captain MacKenzie orders a new split of teams. While she and the Commodore remains with Colonel Evreste and Captain Maular to sort out this mess, and determine what the two illegal squatters were aiming to do on the planet, Lt.Cdr. Salkath, LtJG Bergmen, Ens Imril and Ens Kel are ordered to identify a means to break through the interference and make proper contact with the USS Artemis, and LTs Sadar and Silveira, along with Ens Lyara, are to make more of the medicine that LT Sadar created to prevent further casualties by the Sunbush Pollen. They are joined by Commander Dela, Captain Maular's second-in-command.

Diplomatic Team

“
”

Faced with probably the most troublesome task of all, Cmdre. Nicholotti and Flt.Cpt. MacKenzie are faced with the leaders of two seperate factions who are both entirely unable, and indeed, completely unwilling to cooperate. Accusations and threats are thrown between Colonel Evreste and Captain Maular, with the two Starfleet officers attempting to peacekeep. Repeatedly insulted and belittled, Captain Maular continuously asserts his innocence and willingness to cooperate with Starfleet, while Colonel Evreste remains certain that the Klingons are there to create new advanced weapons with which to wage war. As the argument gets heated, Cmdre. Nicholotti physically inserts herself into the argument, ordering the two arguing faction leaders to stand down. Meanwhile Flt.Cpt. MacKenzie realizes that something is off about the Klingon, and questions him on why he - despite being belittled and insulted at every turn - doesn't act like a Klingon. This is when new information arrives. The Klingons' tricorders beep erratically, letting Maular know that they've accomplished their objectives, and he calls for 'Gamma Protocol' to his crew. Soon, disruptor pistols are produced and cloaking devices are switched off, revealing that all the Klingons surrounding the Starfleet officers are, in fact, Suliban. Maular calls for a beamout, and disappears in blue energy.

Communications Team

“
”

Expected to break whatever jamming that is preventing the team from communicating with the Artemis, Lt.Cdr. Salkath recommends that his team fuse the two ideas that had already been created independently of each other: Ens Imril's modified EM emitter, standard Starfleet issue, and Ens Lyara's emitter rig. Ens Kel voices his concerns regarding the likely outbreak of a violent altercation and questions what they could do to prevent this, but considering the likelihood that outright violence would summon the planets' ire, along with the fact that that wasn't the their job, prompts Lt.Cdr. Salkath and LtJG Bergmen to call for calm. As they can hear the negotiations with the Klingon and Da'al representatives heating up, shouts reverberating across the camp, Lt.Cdr. Salkath determines that restoring communications has now become a matter of utmost priority, so they return their focus to the EM emitter-workaround. Upon activation, however, the EM emitter splurts and shoots sparks, showing that more modifications are needed.

While Ens Imril gets to work fixing the device, Ens Kel unknowingly echoes MacKenzie's own reservations over the seemingly non-violent approach of these Klingon. Ens Imril completes their repairs, and with great joy manages to get a clear and unscrambled connection to the Bridge of the Artemis, where Lt.Cdr. Dakora is minding the shop. Further, he reveals that the only communicators that remain affected by the scrambler should be the ones of the faction responsible for the communications blackout in the first place. Their rejoicing is short-lived, however, as with the implementation of 'Gamma Protocol', they now find them surrounded by Suliban on all sides.

Medicine Team

“
”

Considering that the size of their most immediate team has more than doubled in size, the replication of another batch of anti-pollen dosages has received high priority. The portable replicator contained within a Starfleet-issued medikit - while trusty - would take a while to replicate that many hypos, and as such, LT Sadar requests permission from Commander Dela to use one of the Klingons' replicators in the camp. Commander Dela is hesitant, but does allow this while lending her support to the Starfleet team. While Ens Lyara is requested to get to work on the Starfleet-dosages, Sadar asks if one of the Klingon's has medical expertise to lend to revising the formula for the hardier Klingon physique. Dela quickly volunteers herself, claiming to be the Ship healer, but once the calculations are completed, it becomes clear to the Doctor that Commander Dela has no idea how to make medicine applicable to Klingons. She conveys as much to LT Silveira, covertly, as Dela assists Ens Lyara with operating the replicator, but soon thereafter, the replicator malfunctions, ruining the batch of medicine that it had just been replicating. At this time, Dela's tricorder whirrs with new information: their team has located the Tree. Gamma Protocol is put into place, as the Klingons decloak, revealing their Suliban forms, and the officers now find themselves at gunpoint.

MSNPCs and NPC Mentions

FNS Headlines

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*  Stardate 240201.31: USS Artemis Returns to Deep Space 224 for Shore Leave

Fun facts



References

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