Lt. Commander Tahna Meru - The Moss That Bites, The Vines That Catch (Part II)

[Tahna Meru]

((The Vineknot, Gateside Dimension))

V’Lar: Lieutenant, would a spectral analysis be more likely to succeed?

Pace: Yes, sir, that’s a great idea! ::She was already reaching for her tricorder before the sentence was finished.::

Meru smiled slightly, though the gesture was somewhat halfhearted. She always appreciated Pace’s cheerful outlook. Even here. 

Was that something…moving through the vines? Meru could've sworn she saw something humanoid in outline moving through the vines. 

Alright. She picked up her own tricorder, scanning the area. She didn't have high hopes with the interference and warping they were experiencing, but a passive scan for larger fauna wouldn't hurt. 

V’Lar: Do your readings match those of the sample encountered in the laboratory?

Pace: Yes they do, doctor. I wonder why it’s so dense here though…

V'Lar: The sample within the outpost was isolated and likely deprived of optimal environmental conditions. Given how well it thrives here, we can infer that this environment presents highly optimal biological conditions, and is likely its native ecosystem.

Meru’s own scan came back unsurprisingly inconclusive, accompanied by a tremor deep in the earth, like a small earthquake. Meru almost lost her balance in her distraction, but she quickly self corrected, resisting the instinctual urge to reach out to one of the giant vines to stabilize herself. She glanced at her team; V’Lar seemed steadiest, unsurprisingly, but Pace was regaining her own footing with all the skill she'd expect from the athletic Elaysian. 

Pace: Uh, the scientists are on the move again… are they coming this way?

Tahna: Doctor?

Meru watched V’Lar stabilize her tricorder and scan. If Meru's scan directly prior had been so useless, she doubted she'd get clearer readings right now. 

V'Lar: These readings appear erratic. While the distance between us is decreasing, the velocity seems inconsistent with typical bipedal locomotion, especially given the terrain and lighting conditions. If our readings are correct, it is highly probable that the xenoflora, or some other as yet unidentified lifeform, is physically transporting the transponder signal. Lieutenant, can you utilise your spectral analysis to determine if the vines in that relative direction are actively shifting?

Pace: Response 

Tahna: It may have been an illusion, I was unable to corroborate it with my own scans, but earlier I thought I saw someone moving through the vines in that direction. 

V'Lar: If the structural vines are indeed in motion, we must consider the catalyst for this sudden activity. It is statistically possible that our artificial light sources, despite their low yield, have triggered a phototactic response. If this environment acts as a predatory organism, we may have inadvertently designated our coordinates. Remaining exposed would seem tactically unsound.

Tahna: Then we'd need a way to reliably navigate without light. 

Pace: Response 

The ground continued to shake. Was it geologic, or was it a consequence of the vines themselves shifting, or might it be a warning of some larger creature? How much time did they have to prepare? They were surrounded by vines and flora that might become hostile at any minute. They could go in blind, possibly reducing their chances of being found, but definitely increasing their difficulty in navigating this strange terrain. What options did they have?

V'Lar: Have any other teams, either from the Gorkon or from the outpost itself, reported encountering any native lifeforms or anomalies that could account for these readings? 

Tahna: Not before we crossed over, and we haven't been able to get in contact since. 

Pace / V’Lar: Response 

Meru dropped the backpack from her shoulders and took out a rope and carabiners. Simple mountaineering equipment, but it would work. Suddenly, she didn't feel like she'd overpacked. She hooked the rope to her own suit, and each of her crew mates suits. If it was a hostile creature and they were attacked, they'd have to be quick to unclip. But if they weren't, then in this land of unreliable readings, this was the best way to make sure no one got lost in the vines. 

Tahna: Now turn out your lights, let's see if it calms in the dark. 

Pace / V’Lar: Response 

Meru turned her own light off as well…and waited. She felt like…what was the human saying? A sitting goose? Slowly, the tremors stilled. 

So…maybe lights were a bad idea. Or maybe it was a coincidence. Either way, it seemed like they needed an alternative way to navigate. 

Tahna: Where's the transponder pinging now?

Pace / V’Lar: Response 

--
Lt. Commander Tahna Meru
First Officer
USS Gorkon (NCC-82293)
G239801TM4