Lieutenant Serin Velis: A Different Kind of Communication
Lael Rosek-Skyfire
Nearly three hours after the briefing, Serin Velis was growing frustrated with how little they actually knew. The sensor data had confirmed the obvious: the creature was gray, enormous beyond reason, and shaped vaguely like some deep-sea predator pulled into space. Beyond that, every attempt to understand what was happening inside it dissolved into interference and static. The closer the Ronin moved, the smaller the ship began to feel.
Serin had seen enough in her career to know that approaching the unknown with fear usually made things worse. Years earlier, she had watched a nervous security team nearly provoke a territorial species simply by bringing shields online too aggressively. Another mission involving plasma-based organisms had spiraled after active scans startled them into reacting violently. Those experiences stayed with her now. Part of her was genuinely relieved the Captain had chosen restraint instead of rolling toward the creature with weapons hot and shields raised. At the same time, she could not ignore the quiet tension sitting in her chest. If things went wrong, they would have very little time to react.
The closer they got, the stranger everything became. Space around the creature rippled with gravitational distortions and strange energy currents that rolled outward in repeating patterns. That was what truly caught Serin’s attention. Random phenomena did not behave this way. There was rhythm to it. Structure. The kind that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up because she could feel her instincts trying to connect pieces her mind had not fully solved yet.
While others discussed backing away, Serin found herself leaning forward instead, eyes fixed on the readings and the massive shape drifting silently outside the viewscreen. She should have felt intimidated by it. Maybe part of her did. But beneath that was something stronger: curiosity. The kind that had driven her into science in the first place. Whatever this creature was, it was unlike anything she had ever encountered, and for the first time since arriving on the bridge, she had the uneasy feeling that they were no longer simply observing it.
Kel: Captain, I'm not getting much from passive sensors. We may need to knock.
Venn: Response
Her brow furrowed in confusion, not quite sure what Kel meant until the Captain spoke.
Niac: Very well...Mr. Kel...begin active scanning...start with the low power bands...if our friend out there takes offense abort and we'll fall back. Ready on the helm Mr. Raga. Mr. Kessler...if you assess a threat I want those shields up as fast as possible. Lieutenants...you came all this way to see this...hope you're getting a good view because this is...unprecedented.
She tensed slightly, concerned that the active scans might trigger a reaction from the creature. Unlike Starfleet Intelligence who seemed more interested in killing the creature to keep it from falling into enemy hands, she wanted to learn more. Normally, she was highly opposed to removing lifeforms from their natural habitats as it could easily disrupt the ecosystem’s delicate balance.
However, it was life or death. The Lattice Alliance wouldn’t leave it alone. She was torn between wanting to trust that the creature could defend itself and protecting it. All life was precious and, selfish as it was, she wanted more time to study and understand it.
Raga: Aye, sir. Course steady as we can be along a parallel heading. I recommend we have the external feed put up throughout the ship so everyone can get a look. The more eyes we have on this the better.
Kessler: Aye sir.
Kel: Data's coming back. There's a series of tunnels and chambers inside, not sure what's in them. There seems to be a large chamber on the ventral side with an external opening. ::guessing:: Waste expulsion?
Velis: ::nods:: Given its location, it’s entirely possible.
Venn/Niac: Response
Raga: We’re holding steady at five hundred thousand kilometers from the entity. As for getting a full view of this thing, we could use a class 2 probe. ::he turned in the seat to look at Karrod:: We could have the flight deck crew push it out the aft flight deck and activate it remotely once it’s clear from us and the entity.
Kessler: I can have a Class 2 probe ready and transported to the flight deck in just a few minutes, Captain.
Velis: ::pauses:: Would a probe be able to get close enough without alarming the creature? Maybe a shuttle instead?
Venn: Response
It was risky either way. At least with a shuttle, they could do some dodge and weave, allowing them to get enough data actually to do something with. Yes, the probe could be piloted to achieve the same. But they’d already been dealing with interference, and human eyes would be able to analyze the data directly without risking incomplete information from a corrupted data stream.
Velis: I just think we could get more information firsthand.
Niac: Response
Kessler: Aye sir.
Venn/Niac/Raga: Response
Serin watched the sensor readings flicker across the PADD she’d connected to the science station as the bridge moved forward with the probe launch. The strange energy patterns still sat uneasily in the back of her mind. The closer they got to the creature, the more the interference felt structured instead of random.
Still, the Captain had made his decision. The probe was going out. Serin understood the reasoning, even if part of her remained unconvinced it would give them the answers they needed.
Velis: If the telemetry degrades too badly, we may still want to consider a shuttle later for closer observation.
Her eyes lifted briefly toward the massive shape dominating the viewscreen before a faint, uneasy smile crossed her face.
Velis: Assuming it keeps tolerating us being here.
Kessler: ::in a lower voice:: Did you ever think you'd see anything this large out here?
Kel: ::chuckling:: You missed it, buddy. The Thor was swallowed by something like this. Watch for any sudden movements.
Venn/Niac/Raga: Response
Kel: Sir, I'm seeing electrical pulses running the length of the creature, they're increasing in magnitude.
Velis: Captain, if those pulses are connected to the interference spike, we may already be provoking a response…and I’m not sure it’s a good one.
Kessler/Venn/Niac/Raga: Response
Before she could respond, Kel was grabbing at his head, swatting his antennae. She knew little about Andorian biology, so she had no idea what could cause such an unusual response. She watched helpless, hoping someone else on the bridge would have insights. But she did know if it didn’t resolve itself soon, she’d be calling for a medic herself.
Kel: Aaah! My antennae are burning!
Antennae. Of course. She was no medical professional, but remembered something her Andorian roommate had once told her about how antennae amplified hearing and smell. Was it possible that’s what Kel’s antennae were doing? Picking up sounds that the rest of them, possibly even their sensors, couldn’t?
Kessler/Venn/Niac/Raga: Response
A sudden alert from her PADD drew her attention and her eyes widened when she noted the sudden influx of data streaming in.
Kel: =/\= Kel to Beck! Are you getting anything at all? I think we may have upset it. =/\=
Beck: =/\= Response =/\=
Velis: ::to Niac:: The pulses spiked at the exact same time. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
She looked toward the massive shape outside the viewscreen, her brow furrowing.
Velis: Captain, I don’t think it’s upset. I think it might be trying to communicate.
Kessler/Venn/Kel/Niac/Raga: Response
Velis: ::pauses:: The doctor or Commander Kel can likely confirm this, but I believe Commander Kel’s antennae might be functioning as a radio receiver.
Beck: =/\= Response =/\=
Kessler/Venn/Kel/Niac/Raga: Response
Velis: ::nods:: I think if we can figure out the frequency, so to speak, we might be able to program the computers to simulate the creature’s “language” and enable us to communicate with it.
Kessler/Venn/Kel/Niac/Raga: Response
Velis: ::shrugs:: It won’t be perfect, but I think it’s the best we’ve got.
Kessler/Venn/Kel/Niac/Raga: Response
Beck: =/\= Response =/\=