JP: Lt Cmdr Alieth, Lt Luxa Lorana & Ensign T'Fearne - There’s Maleconite In That Nebula Part 3
Teayl Thorn
((Un-named Class-L Planetoid, Jintara Nebula, Alpha Isles))
Suddenly, Luxa spotted spirals of light flitting through the trees, glowing like fireflies. As they drew closer, beautiful, slender creatures emerged, seemingly born of the planet itself—an ethereal blend of crystal, plant, and flesh.
They didn't appear to be hostile, only curious as they watched from a safe distance long graceful limbs and inquisitive features observed them.
As they approached, the young security officer shifted slowly to have a clear line of sight to the rest of the away team and observe the watchers.
T'Fearne: They don’t appear hostile. :: raising her voice:: What are they?
Lorana: I think … They're natives to this world.
Luxa looked to her tricorder, they had a DNA that appeared to be constructed with the rare Maleconite.
Lorana: They have a similar genetic construct to Tetra :: looks to Alieth and smiles :: The atmospheric saturation has resulted in an evolutionary process, probably over a much more controlled and natural time span than we have seen with Tetra on the Rhine.
An alarm beeped from Alieth's tricorder, drawing their attention back to the moment.
Alieth: They also seem to exude radiation harmful to us... or the tunnels or formations from which they emerge emit it. Our suits will not be able to sustain this level of radiation for long.
Possibly none of those present were willing to suffer the molecular degradation that Alieth and Lorana had previously endured. Even less so far from a well-endowed Sickbay like the Ronin.
T'Fearne::: Checking her EVA suit radiation levels:: She is right, my suit is showing close to cellular damage levels of saturation.
Lorana: We don't have much time.
Luxa suspected that the answers they sought would be at the formation. That somehow it held a significance to not only the planet itself, but these natives.
One of the glowing natives stepped forward on six, long, segmented legs, its crystalline skin shimmering with an internal luminescence. A series of soft melodic hums emitted from the leader as it reared back on four hind legs and gestured at them with its now raised set of upper appendages. The away team shared a curious glance, their journey on the vibrant, uncharted world taking an exhilarating turn as it seemed like they were being urged to follow, deeper into the forest, towards the unnatural Maleconite formation. The away team followed, cautiously trying to establish a connection with the creatures and more than slightly mesmerized by the hypnotic display.
Alieth: Keep a relaxed attitude.
T'Fearne::: following the senior officers’ lead:: Are you concerned about following the inhabitants of this world? We have no way of knowing their intention.
Lorana: I think … I don't think they mean us any harm to us :: shows T'Fearne her tricorder :: These readings, I've seen them before. During my research with Doctor Beck we recorded Tetra's varying emotional resonance. It's almost an exact match for … peace.
The natives gracefully moved deeper into the vibrant alien forest. As they walked, the trees around them began to change. The organic plant structures were more crystalline here, and the atmosphere was becoming more charged with energy and the colours seemed to be more vivid, shifting like the sun reflecting off an oil slick.
Eventually they emerged into a clearing in the treelike structures as their guides strode gracefully to an unnatural-looking deposit of Maleconite, glistening under the soft light of the pink sky as a large pale blue moon stared down at them. The structure resembled hexagonal cells, each radiating a soft, pulsating glow. The natives surround the deposits, moving in unison, their bodies weaving intricate patterns.
Alieth: : with the content awe: A welcome ritual
T'Fearne::: Murmuring:: It’s so mesmerizing.
Luxa observed the leader gently command the others with a graceful elegance of bodily movements and low chirrups and whistles. There were younglings, and family groups and small caves that they'd enter and emerge from, potentially habitation.
Lorana: It’s a community. All built around the Maleconite.
One of the natives approached Luxa, front forelegs extending with shimmering raw Maleconite crystals. The being hummed softly at the Caitian, the sound reverberating through the air, sending ripples of energy into the atmosphere.
Luxa purred in response, using the same communication techniques she had developed with Tetra. One of the native children approached excitedly, seemingly curious about these strangers.
T'Fearne: Fascinating. :: Shaking off the dreamy mesmerism:: I think they want us to understand how they use the Maleconite. It’s a life force for them.
Alieth: It seems their whole life cycle revolves around it :: she gestured to several of the natives, some seemed to be accumulating and building with it, others were holding pieces that were shrinking in plain sight, as if they were being consumed:: If we make analogies with Earth creatures, it seems as if it were both wax and honey for them.
Luxa indicated a section at one of the cave openings of the large formation. Elders carried smaller wrapped bundles in and out.
Lorana: I agree. I think that's their hatchlings.
The young security officer glanced at her tricorder, her skin was beginning to itch with concern or maybe phantom radiation damage.
T'Fearne: We can’t stay much longer. The radiation in this zone is intense. We need to beam back in the next few minutes. I recommend any future teams that visit bring heavier-duty radiation protection and work out a long term radiation protocol for lengthy exposure.
As they took their last scans of the unusual structure, the air hummed with the remnants of the natives’ energy. The away team could still feel the resonance of their song, echoing softly as they recorded their attempts at communication. There would be plenty of material to study and analyse for another visit. Maybe even a language translation by then.
T'Fearne: Ready?
Lorana: :: nods :: When you are Ensign.
Alieth: Alieth: =/\= Rhine team, beam us =/\=
The CSO’s announcement activated the transporter. The familiar whirring sound enveloped them as they began to dissolve into shimmering particles, leaving the surface of the resonant planet.
((Cockpit, USS Rhine, Jintara Nebula, Alpha Isles))
In a blink, they materialized in the Rhine’s cockpit, the familiar hum of the shuttle grounding them once more. The grey metal and industrially fabricated interior offered a stark contrast to the vibrant colors they had just left behind. An odd smell of burned electrical components hit their senses.
The Scottish crewman turned in the control chair, a broad grin on her pale face, reflected blue in the glow of the Starfleet displays.
McVey::: eyes sparkling with curiosity:: Welcome back, sirs! Good huntin’ out there, was it?
Luxa smiled to her colleagues. Her tail danced above her head.
Alieth: We have made some good findings, indeed.
Lorana: Good is an understatement, I can't wait to pour over our findings. This can change all of our understanding of how Maleconite works :: relief :: This gives Tetra a chance.
T'Fearne: However :: joining in:: the radiation levels in that region are significant. I recommend following decontamination and medical protocols directly for possible radiation exposure, Sir.
McVey: We’ll start analyzin’ the data ye collected right away. It’s gotten a wee bit, ya know… interestin’ while ye were away.
Her voice sounded slightly exasperated, and she gave a subtle nod to the back of the shuttle. A section of the new science lab was charred and still smoking, appearing to have been on fire only moments before. Grayson, Lyrik and Fraslil were working suspiciously industriously as far away from the burned console as possible in the spacious shuttle but, they paused, almost in unison, and glanced fearfully to see the petite Vulcan’s reaction.
Just then, the console sparked with a loud crackle and caught on fire again.
[The End]
===============================
Chief Science Officer & 2O
USS Ronin USS-34523
E239702A10
&
Lieutenant Luxa Lorana
Science Officer
USS Ronin
A240004LL2
&
Ensign T'Fearne
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14