LTJG Josh Herrick: Data Hound
Mark P
(( Outpost Cavern, Alpha Brenkelvi II ))
Josh stared at the screen; it was like he’d been hit by déjà vu seeing the images of the ceremony and some of the rooms that they’d been in. In the chamber that had been the most well appointed, a few more images flashed by — one looked like a coronation ceremony, but the angle and distance made it hard to confirm that theory. More unrecognizable images flashed through, and then finally something more recognizable.
Herrick: Is that the ‘Oumuamua?
Etan: Somebody knows who we are. :: he sniffed. :: The question is… who?
Maxwell: ::pointing towards Herrick’s side:: Any of you see my Da?
Josh was going to indicate that he did see someone, but that it was Mr. Voss and not Maxwell’s ‘Da.’ He went to speak, but in that moment, the image of the officer that saved his life nodded towards the screen as Etan reached out and touched it. Subconsciously the thought faded away while an image froze on screen, a woman in a black robe, who seemed to be a countryman of Etan’s.
Etan: She’s Bajoran. :: he whispered. :: My people were here.
Maxwell: Kind ae blows the lid off ae few things.....
Etan: Can you download any of this?
Arlill: I think so, hopefully without having to interface like before.
Etan: Do it.
Herrick: Just make sure you have the right question this time ::smiling a bit playfully::.
His mind was itchy; it was the same itch as he had with Lhandon. It was like he had all the puzzle pieces in front of them, but he had no idea how they fit together, just a vague outline. Is it a who? Is it a what? Is it neither?
As Arlill started to download the data, the marine in their company headed over to the commander’s position.
Maxwell: What do you make ae these images, sir?
Etan: I think… ::beat:: …I think these screens are trying to contextualise what we have already seen on our way here. The chamber with the statues was some sort of holy site- for many civilisations. The hooded apparitions we saw were involved in some religious ceremony. :: the connection came a moment later.:: This world was a…a spiritual epicentre at one time. :: beat :: What we are looking at here is a potted history of numerous civilisations coming on… pilgrimages.
Herrick: (whispering, but sounding a bit distracted) For who…
Arlill: I’ve started receiving data from the interface, from what I can tell, it looks to be some sort of timeline, maybe a historic recount?
Maxwell: That would make sense, especially if the commander is right and this place is a kind ae Mecca.
Etan: Response.
Arlill: ::while continuing to collect data:: Is it possible the prophets brought them here?
Maxwell: Again though, tae what end?
Herrick: Maybe… maybe they stumbled upon it. Based on what I’ve read about the Prophets, I’m not sure they would’ve necessarily directed them here; I suspect it’d be more like they’d make sure they’d survive the trip through the wormhole, but that’s just my theory… (trailing off)
Etan / Maxwell / Arlill: Response.
There it was; two puzzle pieces of a thousand finally slotting together.
Herrick: You said it was your Obasaan that touched the control, but it was the man I recognized who activated it, and when you ::looking at Maxwell:: asked if someone could see your Da… I saw my guy. Is it possible that the same thing… or being… is representing the images of safety to us? And, ::turning to Arlill:: did you see anyone?
Etan / Maxwell / Arlill: Response.
This gave the engineer a lot to chew on; up until this room, everyone’s vision had been independent. Now, they were seeing things at the same time — but what they were seeing varied widely. Josh turned to Toxin to run one of his wilder theories by the man.
Herrick: I’m wondering if our VRDs are picking up anything; perhaps we can watch what they've picked up? ::looking at the screens:: Barring compatibility issues.
While the tricorder could easily accommodate the storage of the VRD data; it would be difficult to make any statistical analysis without a 'main computer' of some sort to parse through the information, break down the different layers, and compare them side by side.
Etan / Maxwell / Arlill: Response.
Herrick: ::holding his hands up:: Okay, I guess I’m next in line for possession any way.
There wasn’t exactly a compatible port between the wall console and the VRD he was wearing; instead, he set up a three-way wireless link between the device, his tricorder (on-the-fly router), and the alien device.
The UT program they’d previously uploaded seemed to have continued to work in the background since Arlill’s encounter. Whether it was some form of artificial general intelligence, or just rapid processing, the system now presented most system functions in Federation Standard. As the tricorder synced everything up, a pop-up message displayed “New device connected. Begin Playback?” with a check mark or X mark.
Herrick: That’s strangely intuitive… it’s like it’s craving our data.
Etan / Maxwell / Arlill: Response.
TBC / Tags!
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Lieutenant JG Josh Herrick
Acting Chief Engineer
USS ‘Oumuamua
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)