Lt Cmdr Naledi - Heat
Naledi
((Actors’ Archive, Behind the Scenes, USPS Showrunner))
It was true that Naledi had previous episodes of knowingly being unable to control their body, the muscles firing from the signals of anothers brain, directing them if you will. They did not feel such a presence in the archive, or in them presently.
As the translator finished decrypting their own language into one that Federation Officers could understand, the terminal slowly started to show signs of activity. One of the screens near the control panel that Talyra was investigating turned on, the language looking oddly similar to something they had seen in their minds eye.
Talyra: So it was just turned off. Interesting. I don’t suppose either of you are a linguist?
Naledi: Crick Pop Snap Hiss Twitch… It has taught Commander DeVeau the basics of Xindi-Insectoid language and their Federation standard meanings, however it is not skilled in the subject of other languages.
Taj’el: It is not my primary field of study, but yes, I have studied linguistics.
The Ensign nodded, but in a way they did not seem fully satisfied by the answer. Waving her hand towards the screen which had lit up, holographic buttons had now appeared. It seemed ready for an input, but what the output would be remained unknown.
Talyra: Well, would it not be logical to assume this machine may have relevant information for us? We only need to figure out a few keywords, not the whole language. Simply confirming this is a sorting machine will help because, to be honest, I have my doubts that this isn’t just another random prop sitting here. Given the piles of media lying about, our hosts don’t seem inclined to an excess of organization.
Naledi: Tick Snap Pop Crack… If it may use your word “logical” as an idiom. Tick Snap Pop Hiss Creak… Wouldn’t it also be logical that beings whom can seemingly rearrange the sets to their desire, would not cast an unnecessary object into the world?
Taj’el: Both statements are logical. There appears to be a wide assortment of items distributed throughout this area without any immediately identifiable organizational structure.
The Romulan ensign appeared confused as their cranium spun slightly on it’s axis.
Talyra: Come to think of it, one of them mentioned the use of “fifth dimensional technology”. It may or may not be relevant to our conundrum, but I’ll put the thought out there to include in your logic. Use of that technology may play a role in how they maintain these spaces and move both items and people around so easily.
Naledi: Tick Snap Pop Hiss Creak… Are you implying that this species does not possess these abilities as a result of natural evolution?
Of course, it was a strong possibility that they hadn’t, although some species did possess what others would call “powers”, the citizens of Pollox IV being a prime example.
Taj’el: At the moment, it does not concern us whether they are the source of the power or merely the ones who discovered and utilized it. That distinction is unlikely to assist our immediate objective
A thought occurred to Naledi. If this was an archive, then how far back did it go?
Naledi: Crick Pew Snap Hiss… Do either of you believe that more primitive versions of this technology may exist? If so, an archive would not be an unreasonable place to put them.
Taj’el: This does appear consistent with a dumping ground or storage allocation zone.
Talyra: Response
In the Starfleet archives back on Earth, it seemed humans were nostalgic for every moment of their past. Something as worthless as a bar of gold was held in fortresses. Perhaps this species too were hoarders of the useless and the obsolete?
Naledi: Snap Crack Tick Pop… If we could find this technology, and harness it. We could be able to bring the fight to them directly, on their own level.
Taj’el: I see what you are considering. I am uncertain how effective we would actually be in any form of direct confrontation or disruption of this system. However, if the intent is strictly to utilize any available means for escape, then I agree that such an application would be logical.
Talyra: Response
Bows and arrows are unsuitable weapons for the war fought with Phasers and Photon Torpedoes.
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Hiss… It has been here a year. For the first time, it believes it is speaking clearly and of it’s own mind. It is time to leave, and the answer may be in here somewhere.
oO It is time to leave, I am a very old nine year old Oo
Whether Naledi’s words resonated with the junior officers, or not. There was a silence in the archive. Although they still supposed that silence was preferable to TeeVee Cartoon Villains.
Taj’el: I agree. I believe the two of you should prioritize environmental scanning for usable equipment, power sources, or interface components that may provide mechanical or operational advantage. I will focus on linguistic analysis and attempt to derive a baseline for symbol interpretation.
Talyra: Response
Checking their clothing, Naledi panicked internally as they realised they had lost their tricorder. They both hoped and assumed that it had been removed from them over personal incompetence.
Suddenly they were back in the desert on MS1 Colony. Despite having a limited farming collective in the hive, hunting was still a primary method of finding food. Pheromones left by small reptiles and insects left trails thorough which Naledi had become quite skilled at following and eventually tracing back to their source. So far, the skill hadn’t traced into their Starfleet duties as so few species traced pheromones. Machinery certainly did not.
At least it meant that Commander Caras and Ensign Vharo never got lost.
Taj’el: Are you both having any luck? I believe I may have identified a partial…
As Lieutenant Taj’el skulked around one of the lower stasis chambers, one of the automated sorting arms assaulted the pod with an unfriendly amount of force.
They couldn’t see if it had also struck the junior lieutenant, they considered the most prudent course of action would be to verbally check. Their only medical training was in field medicine. Not surprisingly the doctor would have been a far better medic than itself.
Naledi: Crick Hiss Snap Pop… Are you alright, Lieutenant?
Talyra: Response
Taj’el: Yes, I believe I am beginning to derive the underlying structure, at least at a basic level. It appears the system is not using words in a conventional linguistic sense. Instead, it uses images or symbols to represent concepts directly. Each symbol likely corresponds to a state, function, or classification rather than a spoken equivalent.
The Vulcanoid rose their hand in demonstration. It was almost comical to see a stereotypically emotionless species overemphasising how one might feel with a flick of their wrist.
Naledi: Crick Snap Crick Pop… It believes it understands what you mean.
Drooping their antennae, allowing them to fall and express sadness.
Talyra: Response
Taj’el: Wait, what is this?
Naledi: Tick Pop Snap Crick… Is it sadness. You mean to say that the glyphs represent states?
Albeit perhaps not emotional states, were they not machines? Were their emotions not their own warning lights?
Talyra: Response
Naledi: Hiss Pop Snap… If the theory is correct. What do you believe the translation is?
Talyra/Taj’el: Response
An interesting proposal.
Naledi: Snap Pop… It sees.
Talyra/Taj’el: Response
Rushing to the adjacent panel, Naledi grazed their palps along the smooth glossy surface of the mystery.
Naledi: Crick Snap Pop Hiss… The tactile response is interesting, each square inch has a differing heat dispersal pattern.
Talyra/Taj’el: Response
TBC
Lieutenant Commander Naledi
Director of Strategic Operations
USS Thor (NCC-85852)
R240107AS3