New Life...

Posted on Thu Oct 9th, 2025 @ 7:04pm by Commodore Wilkan Targaryen & Commander Zhora zh'Roothi & Lieutenant Commander Ash Randall & Lieutenant Commander Kuzos & Lieutenant Commander Sevek & Lieutenant Commander Sora Bernadotte & Lieutenant Urvasi Elandorn & Lieutenant Rio Kholin MD & Lieutenant Amber Laurell

3,426 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Madre
Location: Bridge, U.S.S. Enterprise
Timeline: 2439-07-03, 10:30

Captain's Log, Stardate 116502.56:

After a little over three hours of travel the Enterprise has arrived at the coordinates gathered from Counselor Laurell.

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The turbolift doors slid open quickly to allow Commodore Wilkan Targaryen access to the Bridge. After having met with Counselor Laurell and Commander Ash in the Infirmary, Wilkan had chosen to personally oversee the diagnostics on the Enterprise's Phaser Arrays and Defensive Grid. Normally he was contented to allow the crew of handle this, but with the potential that the Chief Engineer had been a victim of this lifeform he felt he owed it to her in a sense.

"Captain on the Bridge," Galatea announced from the Tactical II console.

"As you were," Targaryen ordered as he walked along the railing toward his chair, "Report, please."

Sevek stood from the chair and faced the Commodore, "Sir. We have arrived in the system. I believe that there is something that you should see." The Vulcan motioned towards the screen.

"On screen," Wilkan ordered as he turned, surprised by what he saw looking back at them.

Approaching the forward workstations, the Commodore exclaimed, "Wow! What are sensors telling us, Commander?" He directed the question back to Sevek.

Sevek was already back at the science station. His fingers flew over the panel. The sensor result appears on the science screen, which the Vulcan transfered to the main viewer. "It is a jellyfish-like creature. Similar to the Farpoint Cnidarian that the Enterprise-D encountered at Farpoint Station in 2364. Though, it has it's differences." Sevek pushed the visual to a closer zoom, "Visual observations reveal lush, green forests inside the creature. This appears to imply that this creature has it's own atmosphere."

The Commodore watched the creature as it floated across the viewscreen, a sense of awe and wonderment filling him as the lifeform passed by. All he could say was, "Extraordinary."

Sora smirked as she looked at the image on the viewscreen. "A giant squid in space with its own atmosphere. That's certainly something." She glanced at the status displays. "Everything running nominal, the ordered regular diagnostics found no issues, Commodore. Your orders?"

Urvasi was performing station keeping at the helm. She was wondrous that the creature was also staying in a station keeping speed, seeming to either not pay attention to them or knew they were there and was hoping for something. As Sevek and Sora had already spoken out with Sora having a question to the Captain, Urvasi kept to herself. This was the second life form in space Urvasi had now seen. She had met a crystalline living ship visiting Tau-Riene at the advanced academy of whom which she had a very delightful repertoire. Thus, her most fore thought was of, 'Is this who called us? If so, is someone inside needing our help?'

"Take us alongside the lifeform, Lieutenant," Wilkan ordered, having heard Lieutenant Commander Bernadotte's request for direction. "I'd like a sensor scan of that creature and a means to talk to it if anyone has an idea," the Enterprise's Captain continued. "Any record of this being encountered before, Commander?" He asked the Vorta Tactical Officer.

Urvasi called out, "Aye Aye, Sir, moving to 2000 Kilometers." Urvasi began the Enterprises approach, being mindful of any reactions by the creature to know if she needed to stationkeep at a farther distance or if she could get to the distance she desired of the Enterprise.

Kuzos stared at the huge jellyfish as it floated serenely in space. He didn't reply immediately to the Commodore as he focused on the alien entity. After a few seconds he replied, "No thing like this Commodore as I said space whales but not this. Though something is not right."

Wilkan asked, "Oh?"

"Yes." Kuzos answered simply, bluntly. "I am sensing other Vorta Commodore, and it is coming from the creature."

The Commodore paused, considering the possibility of such a thing. While Vorta weren't, typically at least, telepathic, some did have telekinetic abilities. Regardless, in the short time he'd known him, Wilkan had learned not to dismiss any possibility with Kuzos. He was one of a kind.

"I wonder if these could be the Vorta from your story," Targaryen pondered as he looked at the viewscreen, "Or their descendants, at least?"

Wondering if this creature had any relation to the Mertrakzion she had met, so Urvasi decided to speak up. "Captain, Helm, when I attended the Tau-Riene Academy, I met a crystalline living ship known as a Mertrakzion, and she used Telepathy to communicate with those visiting her. She also could use standard L'Tandrey and Federation communication signals as well, but preferred Telepathy as that was much faster and easier for her. Maybe that could be the same for the creature before us now that we are no longer separated by light years?"

Wilkan considered the implications of asking someone to reach out telepathically to communicate with the lifeform that was out there. The pain that the Counselor experienced and how Ash was being impacted, it was unfathomable to ask someone to willingly be exposed to that. Nonetheless, they needed to try to establish contact and the best candidate for that was someone that had already been in contact with this unknown.

"Thank you, Lieutenant, we'll try that," tapping the comlink for Sickbay, "Doctor Kholin, please bring Commander Randall and Counselor Laurell to the Bridge."

Amber was already up and about having sensed what was outside, now she was closer the uncomfortable headache had diminished considerably it seemed she was getting a better feel for the creature that had been trying to get her to listen. She looked towards Rio giving a nod to say she was okay.

Kholin had been watching for that signal from her patient and was relieved to see that Amber was holding up so well. She didn't take her eyes of the Chief Counsellor anyway, and she also kept her monitors running scans - the last thing anyone needed was for this to become a life threatening situation for Lt Laurell. Rio accompanied both of her requested colleagues back onto the Main Bridge to report together to the Commodore as instructed.

Returning to the bridge Amber paused to look at the viewscreen. “Goodness, it’s beautiful!” She smiled. “I guess that explains why I couldn’t understand communication from afar.”

Urvasi called out, "Captain, Helm, 2000 kilometers and holding. The creature adjusted itself in the last moments to perfectly match our heading as well."

Sora watched the creature on the viewscreen as the ship moved closer. Beautiful was certainly one way to describe it. Strange would be another. She knew of reports of space-dwelling beings having been hunted by the Terran Empire, but none of those matched the description of what Enterprise had encountered. "I must admit, I've read about creatures that live in space, but I've never encountered one," she said, addressing nobody in particular. "It's a weird thing to see, really."

Ash had arrived on the bridge with Amber but, as the engineer was known to do, entered, unnoticed, in the lee of the Counselor. The Tuansee stood near by, also looking at the space being on the main viewer, but kept her thoughts to herself, for the moment.

Wilkan turned to the Counselor and the Chief Engineer, "I hate to ask, but you two may be the only ones able to communicate with this life-form so far. If you're willing, I'd like you to try to reach out to it to communicate."

Amber nodded. “I’d like to try now we’re closer. It shouldn’t need to use such force now we’re closer.”

Ash shrugged, "Can't hurt..." She started to say and then looked to Amber, for a second or two. "...Scratch that." she added and shook her head.

"Helm," the hybrid called, "we don't know what will happen if we attempt communications, be prepared to run. Exec, we'll need all the power the engines can give us."

Urvasi replied, "Captain, Helm, Warp Microhops out system with vector course at max warp set and ready, on your command."

"Understood sir," zh'Roothi replied from the engineering station having returned to the bridge quietly. "You'll have everything we can give on tap."

"Sevek, have your sensor scans been able to penetrate the life-form?" Wilkan asked, then turned toward Kuzos, "I'm hopeful that Commander Kuzos' Vorta are over there. If they are, I want a way to talk with them, Ops."

Kuzos continued to look at the viewscreen and the creature in the center of it. "They are there Commodore." He replied simply.

Sora nodded. "Yes, sir. I doubt our regular communications protocols would work, though. Any ideas for alternative approaches?"

"That's why I have you, Commander," the Commodore teased.

Sevek slowly spun in his chair to face the Commodore, "Our sensors are not able to penetrate at this distance, sir. I recommend that we get to a closer distance to see if our sensors can penetrate it." He turned back to his station, "My assessment is that the same atmosphere is keeping our sensors from penetrating it."

While the others were talking Amber stood gazing at the life form on the viewscreen before she turned to Ash. “What is it you’re getting from this life form?”

Ash closed her eyes for a few seconds and then opened them again. "Ummm...take this for what it is worth? I THINK it is asking for help." She replied, quietly.

Amber stood for a moment letting her mental defences down enough to let the creature back into her mind to get a good sense. “I could be wrong, this life form’s emotions aren’t like ours, but I think it’s unhappy, it feels like…it wants rid of those infesting it, at least that’s the sense I get.” She looked towards Wilkan. “Commodore, I’d like permission to get closer to this life form, much closer.”

"I'm not exactly thrilled with that prospect, Counselor. That life-form's the size of a starbase and if it decides to swat us, I'm not sure that the Enterprise would be able to take the hit," the El-Aurian explained. Still, the prospects of communication were necessary. He looked at the viewscreen at the massive alien and then back to the duo. He relented, "Helm, calculate what you feel is the minimum safe distance from the alien and hold position there."

Urvasi immediately stated, "Captain, Helm, working on it, Sir," even as she began doing mental calculations as well as using her control panel navigator for spheric volumes. Calculations were incoming. As the creature was 10.7 Km in length with its main dome being 4.8 Km in diameter, and then the first section tendrils directly under the dome being 3.8 Km with the second section being about 3.2 Km, the safest place would be at the dome, forward, and just a touch over that dome. At least, that should give the Enterprise protection from those tendrils or at least a decent warning if they tried to come over the creature. And, if the distance as radius about 2.2 Km, then...

Distance decided, Urvasi called out, "Captain, Helm, moving to be a radius of 2.2 Km from center point on Dome of creature, with a distance of 1.1 Km above the Dome and forward of the Creature. I believe that will help keep the Enterprise safe as well as give a cushion to the creature so hopefully it won't feel threatened by us." The Enterprise moved from its 2000 Km from directly aside the creature into an arc and finishing into its holding position above the outer rim of the Dome. Urvasi called out, "Captain, Helm, in position. Sciences, Helm, this should give you better readings of the land within the dome of the creature as well as direct line of sight for optical recordings as well. Umm.. I think the Creature's brain will probably be in the center mass directly below the lands and above the tentacle extrusion mass."

Amber stood somewhat transfixed on the creature, between her Betazoid senses and Vulcan logic she was completely fascinated. “If we determine it’s safe enough, I’d like to try contact in a more personal manner. I can communicate as much by touch as I can via mental communication, adding touch makes for an easier connection. Plus my Vulcan half finds this all totally fascinating!” She grinned as she looked around at Wilkan and the others.

Sevek turned in his chair, "It is in facinating, Lieutenant. I would advise caution as we still have yet to acertain the intentions of this life form." The Vulcan turned back in his chair and faced his console which was now trying to penetrate the creature's interal layout. It chimed it's completion of the scan, "Commodore, scans complete. As I determined, closing the distance did allow the sensors to penetrate the life form's internal layout. It does indeed have an atmosphere. 19% Oxygen, 72 % Nitrogen, 5% Carbon Dioxide, and 4% mixture of other non-lethal gasses. This is inded very facinating." Sevek rarely showed this much emotion, but it was something that he had not experienced before. A lifeform making it's own atmosphere. "Sir, if we intend to board, I would suggest limited exposure to the air. While it can support most life, it's mixtures are different than what our bodies are used too. Medical should be able to come up with something to counteract the effects."

"Doctor that should be your top priority at the moment," the Commodore answered as he looked at the Medical Officer. He sighed as he returned to his chair, "Exec, prepare an away team to travel to the life-form. Commander Kuzos, Counselor Laurell, Commander Sevek, and Doctor Kholin will accompany you with Lieutenant Elandorn piloting the runabout you take. Commander Bernadotte will remain here as Acting XO until your return." Normally he would've had Ash maintain that role, but in her current state he needed her to potentially communicate with the alien. Continuing, "Make contact with the life-form and any natives."

"Very well," the XO nodded and rose from her temporary station to the relief officer.

Amber would have jumped for joy, but she kept her enthusiasm contained. She was excited to be going, but she just hoped she wouldn’t end up regretting it if the creature should turn out not to be so easy to communicate with once there.

Kuzos nodded at the Commodore's order. "As you wish Commodore." He replied his eyes still on the giant jellyfish filling the main viewscreen.

Urvasi, one ear always pointed back towards the Commanding Officer, immediately pinged her console for the next person in rotation for the Bridge. It was Ensign K'Mari, a Caitian whose instincts always seemed to be spot on. Urvasi thought about the Caitian naming structure as she pushed the summons toggle on her panel. The first letter of a Caitian's name was always in reference to their personality, which usually fit that particular Caitian to a 'T', as it were. The 'K' in K'Mari's name was for a protective and/or hunter's instinct personality, which was just like K'Mari and her instincts in flying the ship. Urvasi enjoyed the holodeck training exercises with the young Caitian and was very happy to see the Ensign was the next one up. There was an answering ping showing two minutes or less. Urvasi called out, "Captain, Helm, relief navigator on the way."

Urvasi next pinged the shuttle bay with the request for a runabout to be brought to the flight deck and prepped for the away team with a request for medical and guard extras to the standard outfitting. This should give them some extra bio sensors along with personal armament for just in case. Urvasi did a final call out while waiting for her relief, "XO, Helm, runabout requested and being prepped, medical and guard extras in addition to standard preparation."

"Thank you Lieutenant please prepare the Sol for departure once Doctor Kholin has our inoculations ready," the Andorian addressed.

Sora turned around in her chair and nodded at the Commodore. "Ready to serve, sir." Of course, she had plenty of experience as First Officer from her time back in the Empire - but this was not the time to point that out. Nevertheless, she immediately slipped into the role. "I recommend maintaining transporter lock on our landing party at all times, just in case. We have no means of predicting the creature's behaviour when faced with an attempt at a landing, so would also recommend going to Yellow Alert."

Urvasi's tail still as it's hairs fluffed out. Her thoughts were, 'Wouldn't raising shields beyond navigation shields provoke a negative reaction?', but then the Captain's words lowered her concerns as her tail returned to its normal, slow, side to side movement.

Wilkan raised a hand, "Plenty of time for all of that, Commander. We can maintain monitoring for transport, but we need to be careful not to be provocative." Looking at the creature, "Let's not keep our friend waiting."

Sevek stood up from his chair. It was always a relief to be able to have his feet touch solid ground. He was intruiged by this life form that they encountered. He stood by the turbolift doors, waiting for the rest of the away team to assemble.

The Turbolift doors opened to reveal a lithe, young, Caitian Lionid female with silver hair that had two black streaks in it. Her silver eyes located Urvasi quickly as she entered the bridge to perform the shift change.

Urvasi and K'Mari exchanged status information quickly, then Urvasi stood up and said, "I am relieved at the Helm," to which K'Mari replied, "I am on duty at the helm," as she sat down. Her watch relieved, Urvasi moved over to stand by Sevek in waiting for the rest of the away team occupying the bridge.

Amber joined the rest of the away team, she was eager to get going ever curious about the creature that had caused her so much distress.

As Rio stood up and began packing up her med-kit ready to accompany the Chief Counsellor to the Shuttle, she turned and very quietly spoke to the Commodore, seeming a little reluctant to add something that might be a nonsense in this scenario. "Sir, in Biology classes - pre-Academy days, therefore too long ago to be completely up to date with the current scientific - or biological - thinking, I was very taken by an Octopus - an ancient Terran aquatic creature that did seem to look very like this creature, at least on the surface. Those tiny creatures couldn't possibly be related to something as sophisticated as this creature in front of us, which actually appears be more like a jellyfish, but...... well, Sir, the remarkable thing about the octopus was that it had a brain in every tentacle so we can't assume this creature will have only one brain, and - well it's just a thought that might be something or then again might be nothing relevant at all but I felt that every possibility should be on the table, so to speak. I hope I'm not wasting your time at a critical moment Sir." she fell silent and finished closing up her medical kit with all the monitoring gadgets now inside, safely packed away.

Sora smiled as she heard the medical officer's comments. "My thoughts exactly. We should be ready for anything. Keeping tactical systems on standby would be a sensible precaution." She tapped a few commands into the Ops console, signing her personalized profile out. "I assume you'll want someone from Beta shift to take over at Ops, Commodore?"

"Mister Blake will do fine, Commander," the Commodore answered as he accepted a PADD from a Yeoman. "Steady as she goes."

At Navigation/Helm, K'Mari sternly checked over the readouts, then called out in a steady and even voice, "Aye Aye, Captain, confirmed." This was her domain, to keep the ship, the protector, in a position to protect, strike, or defend as needed by the brain of the body, the Captain. She smirked slightly as she remembered Urvasi teasing her about her shifting things into being that 'protector-hunter' of her K' personality namesake, but, for her, in doing so, it kept her on her toes and never dulling in routine. She felt no tension on the bridge, and so 'relaxed' to be the observer and making sure ship danced as the creature danced, a duet through space.

 

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