Ensign Meris - The Seedery's Secrets
Meris/Brian
((Computer Core - Sub Levels, Boraxian Vessel 'New Hope'))
Meris’ hunch about the children’s games proved correct, and a quiet sense of pride stirred within them at having made the connection. What seemed like simple diversions for the few children aboard New Hope contained a hidden communication channel, one someone had used to reach off the ship while locking others out. Tho’Bi uncovered logs of strange, melodic transmissions embedded in the system, sounds that must have carried meaning beyond their immediate ability to interpret. Though Meris could not decipher them, they knew the discovery was vital, and relief came as Tho’Bi transmitted the recordings back to Artemis for a linguistics expert to unravel.
Meris: If Dariell was using the games as a cover for covert communication, perhaps we can identify if someone else helped them set it up. Could the system show us who first restricted access to the games?
Tho'Bi: ::looking at PADD:: Whoever restricted access used an anonymous command code ::nods in direction of where the children had been:: like the children. ::looks up:: But I can tell you where the code was inputted ::beat:: the bridge.
Storm: The bridge? The bridge would have cameras. Or at least it should have cameras. Do you have a time index?
Meris pointed to a section of the log.
Meris: This looks like a timestamp to me... and, comparing it to system time, it looks to me like the lockout was performed before the New Hope’s most recent launch. However, the last communication off the ship was less than an hour ago.
The J'naii quickly withdrew their medical tricorder and adjusted it for data storage, recording the melodic communications entry to the device along with the data of when and where it had occurred. It might prove useful as evidence, and the Yurum might be able to understand it more quickly than Artemis' linguistics team.
((Ladder Tube - Direct Route to Seedery, Boraxian Vessel ‘New Hope‘))
Even after Salia had shown them a more direct route to the Seedery, the team still needed to descend by ladder tubes. Meris found it to be great fun swinging from rung to rung as they worked their way down. They were thankful for their sha'rel training, which had strengthened their core. Between that and their relatively small frame, they seemed to be having an easier time of it than Tho'Bi or Storm.
When they reached the bottom of the ladder tube they found themselves sweating lightly and standing on a hexagonal rusted deck plating suspended above the main seedery chamber. Straightening, they noticed a change in the air here too - it did not have the same recycled quality common to starships. A light breeze was blowing, and if they closed their eyes, they might imagine themself standing on the D'vine Plain of their own homeworld.
((The Seedery - Boraxian Ship ‘New Hope’))
Beside Meris, Tho'Bi snapped open his engineering tricorder and scanned the area while Storm righted themself on the opposite side of Meris. Behind them, Silveira and Salia joined the group.
Tho'Bi: ::excited:: The Seedery extends to the full length and breadth of the hull ::sweeps Tricorder upwards:: and is equal to... twelve decks in height.
Meris raised an eyebrow. For a ship intended to jump-start a new colony, it made sense. But the scope and scale were far beyond anything they had ever experienced. Most of the starships they had flown during their Academy training could have fit inside the Seedery like a giant shuttlebay.
Storm: Meris, why don’t you see if you can get a fix on any life signs down here?
The J'naii looked at Storm questioningly, then realized they were still carrying the team's medical tricorder. They reached for it at their side, trying again for the practiced snatch-and-flick that seemed so natural to Tho'Bi. This time they managed to withdraw the tricorder and open it without sending it plummeting to the Seedery below. With a silent cheer, they began scanning.
Meris: Aye Lieutenant.
Silveira: Response.
The tricorder chirped and beeped.
Tho'Bi: ::smiles:: The Boraxians are using excess heat from their Warp Core and the cold of space to generate an artificial breeze.
Storm: Very ingenious of them. I think we need to get off of this level and down to the main growing level. Up here, we’re sitting ducks.
Still scanning, the J'naii nodded and moved towards the small one-man elevator that descended from the platform.
Meris: Agreed.
Silveira: Response.
Tho'Bi: ::nodding:: I understand now why Dariell refused the filter to purify their Deuterium supply ::looks around:: The Boraxians are using their Warp Core to filter out the impurities ::beat:: after the Deuterium has burned off in the form of plasma, the impurities are all that remains: ::looking down:: Magnesium, Iron, Calcium, even Sodium ::looks up:: all used here ::beat:: nothing is wasted.
Storm: How many of the life forms you are detecting down here are Boraxian and how many are Yurum, Meris?
Meris: I am detecting approximately fifteen Boraxian life signs...
The pilot made an adjustment to their tricorder.
Meris: However, none of the life signs are Yurum. Dariell must not be here. But perhaps we can find Kulpadu.
Silveira: Response.
Tho'Bi: ::grinning:: There is such elegance to their engineering.
The space wasn’t just filled with plants. Meris observed vats of purple liquid, half-built structures, and stacks of hexagonal crates. Everything echoed hexagons - corridors, ladder tubes, containers.
Storm: Beautiful, sure. Unless you’re the one who has to climb twelve decks of it, or unless someone’s hiding in wait in the tubes above our heads. Meris, how many Yurum and how many Boraxian?
Meris looked at Storm, wondering if this was another sign of the effect the Boraxians were having on the Lieutenant.
Meris: I told you... I am detecting fifteen Boraxians and no Yurum.
Silveira: Response.
Storm: Well, that is interesting. These are single person lifts. I’m going to go down first. Assuming the Commander is okay with it, we should all head down to the main level. I have a theory about Dariell.
Meris nodded though concern about Storm lingered. They glanced at Tho'Bi and Silveira. It wasn't their place to question the Lieutenant, but their brow furrowed.
oO Would it be wiser if someone else went first? Oo
Silveira/Tho’Bi: Response.
Alex entered the single-person lift and the J'naii watched as it descended. The process was slow - twenty seconds down, twenty seconds back.
Meris: Tho'Bi. You next.
After speaking, the J'naii realized their mistake. Unlike earlier when they had carefully left room for Captain Munro to object to their suggestions, this was an outright order to someone of equal rank. It had likely stepped on the toes of Lieutenant Commander Silveira who was the team leader. They blushed slightly and looked to the Chief Tactical Officer and Engineer apologetically.
Once everyone was gathered at the bottom, Storm looked over at Meris.
Storm: I couldn’t visually account for everyone you said was on this level.
Meris nodded and returned their attention to the tricorder. It was a massive space, so it wasn’t a surprise that the Tactical Officer couldn’t account for everyone right away.
Silveira/Tho’Bi: Response.
Storm: I get it that someone could be crouched down. It’s also possible that someone could be hiding.
Meris: There appear to be some structures in that direction... ::pointing:: Some of the Boraxian life signs are working in that area. At the same time, perhaps we should focus on finding Kulpadu. Since there are no Yurum life signs in this area, he may be our best lead on Dariell.
Silveira/Tho’Bi: Response.
The J'naii pilot approached the nearest Boraxian life sign. As they neared, they observed that the Boraxian was harvesting something like wheat with a device resembling an old thresher, its curved blade rippling with electrical energy. Each sweep cut down stalks as if they were no more than the whiskers of a Sharpa beast.
Meris swallowed, holstered their tricorder, and approached with hands open.
Meris: Greetings. I am Meris of the Federation Starship Artemis. It would be an honor to know and be known.
Silveira/Tho'Bi/Storm: Response.
The Boraxian male looked their way and frowned, continuing his work with little interest. His eyes went to Salia, and he seemed slightly more accepting of the group’s presence with another Boraxian among them.
Sethaleen: I am Harvester Sethaleen. I'd heard we had aliens aboard.
Meris: May we speak with you, Harvester Sethaleen?
Sethaleen: So long as you do not disrupt my work. This grain will not harvest itself.
Silveira/Tho'Bi/Storm: Response.
The J'naii smiled slightly, appreciating the harvester’s focus on their duties.
Meris: Have you seen a Yurum down here recently?
Silveira/Tho'Bi/Storm: Response.
Sethaleen: A Yurum? Down here? No. The Yurum do not venture into this area. ::gesturing to their fellow Boraxian:: Like Salia, I am one of a small number of Boraxians that support their desire for independence. On the city ship I served them in the spires, bringing food for their blessings. When I learned of their plans to escape, I volunteered to continue serving them. The Yurum are ill-equipped for what they are trying to do and they need our assistance. I am pledged to assist them in any way I can … apparently that means harvesting crops.
Meris considered this. It was noble of Sethaleen to step away from home to help the Yurum. It spoke to the importance of the Yurum in Boraxian society that anyone would give up family, friends, and the only home they’d ever known to serve the cause of Yurum independence. Meris wanted to ask if Sethaleen had left anyone behind in order to come on this journey with the Yurum but decided it might be too sensitive a question.
Meris: What about a Boraxian named Kulpadu? Have you seen them?
Sethaleen: Kulpadu? Of course. He's our foreman. He usually spends his time over there, near the harvest silos ::pointing::. He is responsible for transporting the food to the upper levels when it is called for.
Meris considered this. If Kulpadu was responsible for food transport, that gave him the perfect opportunity to move throughout the ship unnoticed - even sneaking a Yurum in and out of areas might be a simple matter for such a person.
Silveira/Tho'Bi/Storm: Response.
Meris: Thank you for your time, Sethaleen.
The Boraxian only grunted and continued harvesting as the team moved away.
Silveira/Tho'Bi/Storm: Response.
---
Ensign Meris
Helm Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240207M14