Pegasus Mission 05: "The Haunting of the Gryphon"

Mission Summary

On 21504.01 the shore leave of the Pegasus crew was urgently cut short. Upon leaving Star Base Bravo the explained reason was that the new arrival Ambassador Sanor was requested to mediate in talks between the Bralen and the Rondel and the Ambassador needed a vessel which could get him to the Bralen system quickly and securely and one that could act as neutral ground for the two parties. These two systems had been at war for over 100 years and in recent years felt it was time to put the war to an end. The risk for the Pegasus was that the two systems were inside the Romulan Neutral Zone, but the risk was thought fair if the two systems could find lasting peace.

Two days into a three day journey the Pegasus encountered a strange reading two light years off their course. The reading was discovered to be the USS Gryphon, last heard of fifty years ago as having disappeared during a deep space survey. An Away Team was formed and an investigation was carried out. During the investigation it was discovered that the Gryphon had lost its crew to a subspace rift. Ghostly apparitions of the former crew were sighted at different times throughout the vessel. A rift formed and grew a short distance from the Gryphon. This rift presented a risk to the Away Team and the Crew of the Pegasus and attempted to ensnare them in visions of their worst nightmares.

The age of the Gryphon and the years without maintenance made attempts to move the Gryphon away from the rift impossible and endangered the lives of the Away Team. The Away Team made their escape using a shuttle found in the Gryphon's shuttle bay. Due to the high level of chroniton particles found in the Gryphon the vessel was fired upon with antimatter infused torpedoes in order to collapse the rift. The Pegasus made it to the Bralen system and talks went smoothly, though peace is always a tenuous thing.

Due to an unnamed Vulcan illness Captain Tokat had to return to Vulcan with Ambassador Sanor, this left Commander Gregg in command of the Pegasus until they returned to Star Base Bravo.

Logs

Commander Edward Gregg, First Officer

Star Date 21506.18

First Officer’s Log

Stardate 21506.18

Shore leave had been incredibly uneventful and thankfully cut short for a diplomatic mission. After centuries of fighting the Bralen and Rondel appear to be ready to talk peace. Our V.I.P. for the talks is a Vulcan by the name of Sanor. He seems to be very much the traditional Vulcan. Tokat’s response to his presence feels off. Possibly it has something to do with his recent shore leave, just another thing to follow up on if I can remember.

About two days into our journey to Bralen VII, in the Neutral Zone, sensors indicated a large metallic object two light years off our course. With the Pegasus 18 hours ahead of schedule it was decided there was time to take a look. Granted we’d have turned aside out of a sense of duty even if we weren’t ahead of time.

Initial theories that the object was a vessel have turned out to be correct. The vessel in question is an Ambassador Class ship called Gryphon. It appears to be in good condition for its age, but what it is doing drifting out here has yet to be discovered.

End log

Star Date 21509.09

First Officer’s Log

Stardate 21509.09

An Away Team was assembled from the different departments to go to the Gryphon in an effort to discover why the Gryphon was out here. Upon arrival in the Gryphon’s Mess Hall the scene that greeted the Away Team would not have gone amiss on the Marie Celeste and it certainly did not mesh with what I had been expecting.

There were the typical plates of half eaten food and no signs of struggle or disturbance. As investigations continued the lack of bodies added to the eerie feel of the ship. Initial scans of the Gryphon indicated that the core was still active and this had proved true as life support, lighting, artificial gravity and most of the other systems are in surprisingly good working order.

The Captain was called away to placate Ambassador Sanor whose meditation has been interrupted by ‘some thing’. I have divided the remaining Away Team members into two groups, sending one group to the Bridge while I have led the other group to Main Engineering.

So far I’ve found no evidence to indicate what has happened to the crew of the Gryphon. The state of the Gryphon appears to be preying on the minds of the Away Team as the crew have been unresponsive on occasion. As the investigation continues it currently remains an unpleasant mystery in need of a solution.

End log.

Stardate 21510.06

First Officer’s Log

Stardate 21510.06

The investigation into the Gryphon took a supernatural turn before the Away Team left the Gryphon’s Mess Hall. While waiting for the turbolifts to arrive Ensigns Moriarty and Crystillin had been scanning the Mess Hall and had an encounter. I went to see what the commotion was about and after looking at the scenery for a while I saw ghosts. Not exactly moving, but they were there like a brief after image. It was very much a blink and you miss it moment, until the moment came round again.

With a little encouragement the Away Team divided up and went to their assigned locations to continue the investigation. Lieutenant Powell and I arrived in Main Engineering. It was the same as the Mess Hall. No sign of any remains and from the condition of the vessel this appeared to be her first mission. Ship’s records were either in poor condition or barely enough to be called a log. There was an unpleasant sensation when I went near the Bussard Collectors. Yet another mystery to add to the list.

The Gryphon had encountered a rift and hadn’t been able to escape. Ensign Moriarty had theorised that tetryon particles from the rift had been attracted to the Gryphon’s warp core and prevented their escape. This turned out to be accurate. After analysis of the Bussard Collectors it was discovered that it was filled with chroniton and tachyon particles. Both are native to subspace and indicate that the Gryphon had spent time inside the rift.

The contents of the Bussard Collectors were used in an attempt to flush the tetryon particles out of the warp core. The result was a longer encounter with the ‘ghosts’ on the Bridge and according to Pegasus an anomaly appeared near the Gryphon. The unpleasant sensation is currently filling Main Engineering and it might have gone further. Hopefully all the mysteries can be solved before the situation becomes a serious threat.

End log.