Darwin Mission 01: "Ghost in the Shell"

The USS Darwin heads out on a routine survey, when it registers a ship that appears and disappears literally meters away. Eventually the Darwin tracks down the alien vessel and after some haphazard communication, the ship turns out to be a highly advanced and almost sentient construct. The vessel has been heavily damaged by some unknown force and is 'dying'. Can the crew save the vessel and win it over, or will it die?

Captain's Logs

Cdr Stovon Stewart

Stardate 20808.11

Commanding Officer's Log, Stardat 20808.11, Commander Stovon Stewart recording.

We have finally been issued our new mission. It is in the words of command rather mundane. However, it is precisely the kind of mission that the Darwin was built for - exploration and discover. We have just left SBC and are headed towards the Betreka Nebula to gather information on some sensor anomolies and to update Star Fleet's information on the region.

Commander New, the former CTO of the Gettysburg is our new First Officer. He will make an interesting addition to our crew, given that he is an android.

Now, it is time to pass what information I have along to the senior staff.

End log.

Stardate 20809.15

Commanding Officer's Log, Stardate 20809.15, Commander Stovon Stewart recording.

Seven days into our journey toward the Betreka Nebula, the Darwin's collision alarms sounded and the automated systems dropped us out of warp. An alien vessel had suddenly appeared tewnty-five AU in front of us. As the Darwin drew near the ship vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. According to visual reports at the time from the bridge, the Drake then appeared. Sensors indicated a temporal anamoly in conjunction with the Drake's momentary appearance; however, beyond that there is no evidence that the Drake was anywhere near us. I have ordered Lieutenant St Vrain to collate the information and forward it back to SBC so that it can be studied in more detail there.

The alien vessel has since appeared two more times, in a seeming pattern. We are currently moving towards the projected next appearance, in hopes of being able to short-cut catching up to the vessel to further investigate it. Commander Trem is currently working on ways of attempting to communicate with the vessel through non-standard means as it has not responded to any of our hails.

At this point we don't know whether or not this ship is connected to the anomalies reported by SBC or not. However, logic would suggest that there is a strong possibly of that being the case. Thus, we have taken the time to investigate further.

To further keep things interesting, we've had our own on-board situation arise. It seems a lab tech inadvertantly freed a pack of Cardassian voles and a Trellican chimp. Security has been working with the science department to try and contain the animals and return them to the lab.

End log.

Stardate 20810.02

Commanding Officer's Log, Stardate 20810.02, Commander Stewart recording.

We have made contact with the alien vessel, after what to use Commander Trem's analogy was quite a rabbit chase. The vessel does appear to be organic in nature, but we don't know whether that means it has a crew or not. So far the only communication that we have been able to gain from the ship was a series of color shifts along its skin and then a series of runes remarkably similar to Japanese characters. Commander New has provided a righ translation for some of the runes, nad they indicated pain and injury.

The vessel appears to have sustained some damage and may indeed be in need of assistance. While reluctant to violate another's ship without having adequately established communication, I have ordered Commander New to prepare an away team to investigate and provide any assistance.

End log.

Stardate 20810.18

Commanding Officer's Log, Stardate 20810.18, Commander Stewart recording.

We have lost contact with the away team. I can only hope that my worst fears aren't realized. However, given the illogical nature of fear in this case, I will simply reserve judgment until the situation can be rectified. On the bridge we have been able to isolate what appears to be two sets of life signs on the alien vessel, however, without the benefit of the comm badges it is impossible to discern which is our away team.

A way has also been suggested for attempting to communicate witht he vessel using holograms and projecting them much like old Earth movies. I've instructed the engineerng team to work on the idea. I've also brought one of our exobiologists to the bridge to look at the external damage to the vessel. If indeed it is either a biological construct or a living being, both of which sem logically plausible, then a doctor's opinion of the damage to the hull may be just what we need.

End log.

Stardate 20811.26

Commanding Officer's Log - Stardate 20811.26, Commander Stewart recording.

So far every effort we have tried to either communicate with the alien vessel, or our away team has failed. The ship has simply ignored every effort and the sensors are unable to penetrate what ever field is being generated by the vessel. Our attempt to beam pattern enhancers in failed miserably.

At the same time, it appears that the damage to the vessel is getting worse. Combining medical and engineering thought processes, it was determined that the damage to the outside of the vessel resembles a human condition, and could possibly be treated the same way. The only way to do so on such a scale is to modify the Darwin's deflector array and use it as a dermal regenerator. Lieutenant Bang has been working on the modifications and has just informed me that they are complete.

In more positive news, we have just had two new midshipmen join our crew. In a very odd move, Star Fleet ferried them to us from SBc rather than simply waiting for us to return. Still, odd or not, it is agreeable to have them on board.

End log.

Stardate 20812.27

Commanding Officer's Log - Stardate 20812.27, COmmander Stewart recording.

Events have transpired very quickly. Shortly after our new officers cmae on board, the decomposition of the alien vessel seemed to progress at an alarming rate. While up until that time we had not been able to find the away team on our sensors, they suddenly appeared. Ensign Carstairs was able to get a transporter lock on them and bring them aboard.

The away team was beamed directly to sick bay based upon some abnormalities in their vital signs. They were coated in a strange substance that apparently was secreted by the alien vessel in order to protect them when they were exposed to the hard vacuum of space.

The ship itself disintegrated shortly thereafter and the away team members concur that it seems to have acted to save them at the end. It is a shame that we weren't able to save the vessel, as it did appear to be alive - the issue of sentience however is debatable. Lieutenant St Vrain was able to obtain samples which we will continue to study.

We resumed course to the Betreka Nebula per our original orders, but were then inexplicably to return to Starbase Charlie. We are now en route.

End Log.

Crew Logs

First Officer

Cdr New

Stardate 20809.15

First Officer's Log, Stardate 20809.15:

We have nearly collided with a vessel never before encountered, and in and of itself is possibly a new form of life. It first appeared in our path close enough we could not evade it, then somehow moved. The vessel's method of travel appears quite unique, disappearing from one location and reappearing in another within seconds. We have tried twice now to approach it, and twice it has moved out of our way, and far enough that it would take us hours at maximum warp to catch up to it again. So far we have also not been able to make contact.

We have derived a pattern from its movements, however, and are moving to its next anticipated destination. We may have to provoke it into moving again, which may be relatively easy, if we launch a class nine probe in its direction. We shall see.

Stardate 20812.10

First Officer's Log: Stardate 20812.10

Ultimately, our pursuit of the vessel in question was less difficult than it appeared. The ship was indeed living and had been damaged by an unkown cause, which was why the distance of each of its jumps was decreasing.

After we approached the vessel without it jumping away again, probably because it no longer could, I led an away team over to inspect the vessel and, if possible, find a way to help it. The away team consisted of a Doctor Larsen, Chief Engineer Trem, Science Officer St. Vrain, Security Chief Pedersen, and a security team.

Upon arrival in an open space of the alien vessel, we found that we could not communicate with the Darwin. Then we were forced to move to another room due to some form of an electrical discharge from the ceiling. I had concluded that it was a natural activity of the alien ship, as PO3 Moffet was protected from the effects of the discharge when he failed to clear the area in time.

The ship exuded some sort of gel from itself that covered the crewman before the charge took place, protecting him, but not his equipment.

The second room we encountered also reacted the same way, but this time we all managed to clear the room before any one could be harmed. Thus we found ourselves in a corridor with several exits, each blocked by an aperture that was closed by what our medical officer determined to be muscle tissue. She used a muscle relaxant on the door opposite from that which we entered, opening the door and allowing us to pass into another corridor.

This corridor was like the first (see sensor logs for details), save for it only had one other door, again opposite from where we entered. The corridor was lined on either side by three nodes that emitted electromagnetic interference that prevented our equipment from working. Due to the fact that neither this nor the corridor behind us reacted like the first two rooms, I incorrectly concluded that the reaction from before was not defensive, but part of how the ship worked, and we were now safe because we were in a section that was intended for habitation.

Doctor Larsen was out of muscle relaxant, and with none of our other equipment working we were prevented from proceeding.

Unable to advance, and unwilling to turn back because of the electrical discharges in the previous rooms we stayed in the corridor, waiting for something to happen. One of the security officers and I heard sounds coming from the other side of the closed aperture, which I mistook as movement of another inhabiting creature. I attempted to make contact, but there was actually nothing to make contact with. I even tried to force the aperture opened, but failed.

During this time it seems the ship was dying, as after a time the aperture muscle began to fail, and we found the reason we could not open the door was that it was defending us from the hull breach. As the aperture slowly opened, the air began to vent. The ship protected us, as it had for Moffet when we first boarded. Tendrils extended from the floor to hold us down and we began to be covered in the same gel.

The next thing to happen was the timely beam out back to the Darwin, as whatever was blocking our signal dissipated with the ship as it died. See medical report for status of crew upon return.

End Log.

End log.

Engineering

Mid Elin Lantori

Stardate 20808.11

"Computer, being recording personal log: Midshipman Elin Lantori - Stardate 20808.11."

"Well, I've found myself assigned to the USS Darwin after completing my final exams at Star Fleet Academy. She seems like a fine ship so far, and I am looking forward to our upcoming mission. My department head is Chief Engineer Commander Imrix Trem. I have yet to report in to him, as we are on shore leave, but from what I understand, the Darwin from an engineering perspective will be challenging, and rewarding."

He walked back over to his bed, picking up the picture of his father.

"Dad, I wish you could have seen me graduate. I know we had our differences, but I think that you would have been proud. When I missed your funeral because of what happened on Europa… It's almost as if I didn't get to properly say good-bye. I am sure you are up there somewhere, watching all of this. It's been difficult at times without you around…

"I still wonder sometimes though if I made the correct decision. Was it all worth it? Will it all be worth it? I guess only time will tell.

"Time… Now there's an interesting concept. I find it hard getting used to the whole 'aging' thing. Perhaps it would have been better growing up on Denobula. All of my human friends are getting older. Brian is in the hospital. We have been such close friends over the years; it will be difficult when he passes. But then again, without being on Earth my entire life, I would have missed so many important events... With over six decades under my belt, hopefully I can bring a unique perspective to my new assignment. I just don't know. Perhaps I'm just being foolish. After all, I'm not the only person who has had to deal with these issues."

Elin placed the picture on his nightstand, and continued unpacking while he finished his log entry, placing his uniforms and civilian attire in the closet.

"As I embark on this new adventure with this ship, a ship designed purely for exploration in these difficult times, I pray I can be a worthy crew member. Granted, my ultimate goal is to be a Chief Engineer myself, way far down the line, but I have a feeling that these first few years in Star Fleet are going to be the most memorable."

Elin grabbed an old fashioned leather bound notebook out of the bottom of his suit case and tossed it up onto his pillow. Just then, a voice broke in over the ship's comm system.

[Attention all crew. The Darwin will be launching from SBC at fourteen hundred hours tomorrow.]

Elin took a deep breath and picked up a pair of uniform boots out of his suitcase.

"Well then. It looks like we're going to be underway. I better concentrate on getting settled in. Computer, end log, and store in my personal database."

Science

Ens st. Vrain

Stardate 20808.11

Personal log of Ensign St. Vrain, Science Officer USS Darwin. Stardate 20808.11

We have had some excitement since my last entry. Captain Jal has left the ship, Maternity leave, no less and Cdr. Stewart will be our new CO. He seems a very competent individual and I am looking forward to serving on his crew. The new FO is, surprisingly, an android. I have only seen him briefly in passing. He has the physical appearance of a Romulin, having been created by Romulin science.

For an unknown reason, our initial mission has been scrubbed. We returned to SBC only a few days out and our CO, her spouse, their adopted daughter and the ship’s counselor all transferred off. The two admirals also departed. I understand that the special pod adaptations are being removed and the science pod will be returned to its original configuration.

Then, a murder!! It seems that one of the medical technicians, Svenson, had a romantic attachment to a crewman Denozzo. She either found out or assumed that he was seeing another crew member as well. She murdered him in a very bizarre manner, I’ll leave the details out of this report. She is being transferred to SBC for courts martial and no doubt, from what I’ve heard, life in prison or possibly personality adjustment (i.e. memory wipe) and a supervised living situation.

More later. End of personal log, St.Vrain.

Stardate 20808.18

Personal log, Ensign St. Vrain. 20808.18

We are leaving SBC and starting our new mission. There is no information available to the crew yet but I expect the department heads will be briefing their subordinates soon. I am looking forward to getting a chance to use the updated technology which the Darwin has available. I’m too excited to continue this log. I am going to go to the science department and see if I can get anyone to share any rumors.

End of dictation St. Vrain.

Medical

Cdr Taryn Larsen

Stardate 20809.16

Personal log, 20809.16 Cdr Taryn Larsen

I've just stopped by our quarters to check on the twins but I can't stay long. I have no real worries for them being onboard the Darwin and there are plenty of offers of help. It's a little easier now but still incredibly hard work - you just have to go with the flow but being a mother has expanded my thinking, made me aware how much my role as Chief Medical Officer is just that - simply a job, a career. As a parent of two babies my head is always thinking of the twins. Thank the stars, Imrix and I are together on this beautiful Exploration vessel.

Everything seems relatively quiet so far on this, the Darwin's maiden voyage - apart from the sighting of an alien ship which appears to be playing a cat and mouse game with us. There is one other problem which could result in the entire crew being distracted from their duties if the problem isn't dealt with soon - an apparent invasion onboard of Cardassian voles let loose from the science labs. Boris, the young mugato who is being transported to the Bolarus system - (though I hope we never get there as Imrix and I have become quite fond of him) - sighted one of these vicious creatures and is in hot pursuit. I've alerted security not to harm him but just as in the past, this could end in disaster unless I find him first - or he meets the Trellican chimpanzee! I'm sure they do a lobotomy on security cadets to ensure they shoot first and think last! However, the new Chief of Security and I met on amicable terms; we enjoyed a plate of Earth pastries together. I sensed she is a formidable woman and a force to be reckoned with, as they say.

Signing off now. I must rush!

End log.