Lieutenant Commander Timothy Alentonis: The Great Cat...? Mystery
Zeph
Tim had just gotten word to suit up and head down to the planet. He felt like he’d been working for days on the interesting sciencey stuff, but this system had so many more surprises in store for them. He had gathered his gear, and stepped onto the transporter pad.
Lindsay: All set, Commander?
Alentonis: :: nod :: Energize.
((Landing Site, Rogue Planet, PE-629A))
Once the rematieralization process was complete, Tim shivered slightly. He attributed it to an emotional reaction to using the transporter after the events of Frontier Day, as despite the Bynars’ and Commander Kiax’s reassurances that the transporter systems were fine, it was still a source of discomfort. Then again, it was also just plain cold. He glanced around and looked at those on his team.
Harford: Commander, your timing is impeccable. I trust your last minute preparations went well?
Alentonis: Yep! All set. What do we know?
Matthews / Ral: Responses
Harford: If everyone’s ready then, I’d really like to get out of this tin can.
Matthews: Response
Ral: Response
As they stepped out of the shuttle, the three most obvious features were the ice, the cold, the dark…it wasn’t exactly scary looking, but the clearing they were in didn’t seem like much of a clearing. The stalagmite spires of ice that gleamed like frosty daggers as his light passed over them was disconcerting. On the other hand, it was also just cold.
Harford: As expected, no life signs and thankfully, as we are 1.2 AU from the system’s sun, radiation levels are well within safe limits even with the lack of atmosphere. It seems the only present danger would be removing our helmets and then I’m not sure whether you’d asphyxiate or freeze to death first. ::pause:: Commander, I thought our first order of business could be taking some samples to take back to the Astraeus for study later. What do you think?
It was reasonable to assume that’d be the safest course of action. Especially since the terrain appeared to be spiraled with webs of ice, or scorched by frostbite. Either way, it was barren and frozen. There was some snow but even with the dull glow of his flashlight he wasn’t able to make out very much. The trees in the area seemed to glisten in the dim light, but not nearly as sparkly as the icicles, but it was indeed impressive.
Alentonis: I agree. This place has a certain fascination to it…
Harford: Since presently it’s all ice and barren earth around here, I suppose soil and water samples will have to do, to get us started, yes?
By this point, Tim had wandered over to the closest tree. It was only about five feet or so from where he started, and he seemed fascinated by the ice fractals he saw in the bark.
Alentonis: Yes, I would say that’s a good place to start. Maybe some plant life as well. Some of this bark looks very interesting.
Harford: Lieutenant, are we alright to begin with the science or is there something else you needed from us?
Matthews: Response
Harford: Yes, Sir. Of course.
As tempting as it was to see if the snow on this alien planet resembled any of the snow on Earth, he opted to avoid the snowball fights and focus. He set down his kit, opened it up and began examining the plant life around him. The frozen bark, the ice, it was gorgeous.
Alentonis: I’ll start working on plant life.
Harford: Petty Officer Phillips, can I help with unloading some of the collection equipment? ::to Ral:: Chief, do you perchance have a plan for illuminating this endeavor?
Phillips / Ral: Responses
Matthews: Response
As the small group began working on the various plant, soil and water specimens, Tim couldn’t help but wonder about the tricorder readings. He began retrieving the bark then saw something out of the corner of his vision when his light passed over it. As he knelt next to the frozen river beside them, he caught a glimpse of something beneath the ice. He didn’t know what it was, and as he brushed his hand over the ice to get a better look it came into focus -- a smooth bone almost like one of the Terran beasts of old -- a smilodon fang. oO Smilodons? Here? Oo As he continued to brush away the ice, he revealed more of the skeleton. This creature was a cat of some sort, judging by its basic anatomy but far larger than any normal Terran beast although the skull…while the fangs more closely resembled a smileodon while the skull itself was reminiscent of a bear.
Alentonis: Fascinating….
Matthews / Harford: Response
Alentonis: I found a skeleton in the ice. It looks to me like some kind of hybrid, but the techniques required to produce such a creature are a mystery. I would be interested in your opinion, Dr. Harford.
Harford / Matthews: Response
Ral / Phillips: Response
Although the ice made it impossible to guess how long ago this beast met its demise,
Alentonis: Current theory? This might have been a beast native to this planet. Anatomically speaking, I am guessing a hybrid of a smilodon, bear & dire cat of some sort. It's twice the size of a Siberian tiger, which can grow up to 12.1 feet in length.
Matthews / Ral: Response