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.

Stardate 21512.15

First Officer’s Log - Private

Stardate 21512.15

After the ‘ghosts’ had disappeared the Away Team began to experience headaches. The worst seemed to be in the Gryphon’s Main Engineering, but I had not been able to get a verbal confirmation from the rest of the Away Team. I encouraged Lieutenant Powell to attempt to get the Warp Core of the Gryphon restarted in an attempt to get away from the anomaly, unfortunately between the age of the Gryphon and the tetryons that had not been removed by flush fires started around Main Engineering.

Those Officers in Main Engineering, including myself suffered minor burns and inside the EV suit felt like cooking baked beans in the tin. The Gryphon’s fire suppression system had gone inert after fifty years of no maintenance and when Ensign Crystillin arrived to acquire bits for his pattern enhancer to boost his comm. device it was discovered that the portable extinguishers had gone the same way.

The fire and smoke made communication next to impossible. I urged the officers I could find towards the entrance to Main Engineering and we were almost out when Lieutenant Powell in some highly misplaced sense of heroism push myself and a couple of Officers through the open door and attempted to put out the fire by throwing an extinguisher into the fire, gesticulating that Ensign Crystillin should throw in as many as he could find and close the door, then he ran off do something equally stupid.

Not my proudest moment but I gave him an earful over my comm. when I had caught my breath. I encouraged Ensign Crystillin and those present to get to the Bridge and to check if the impulse and the self-destruct systems were still working. After a short while Lieutenant Powell arrived ready for a fight. We holstered our respective weapons and before words could be exchanged a weird nightmare vision knocked out the Away Team.

Safe to say I woke up first. Sadly that meant having to move Lieutenant Powell into an open turbolift and get the two of us up to the Bridge. After my arrival on the Bridge the Away Team began to slowly wake up. The anomaly had transformed into a rift. At its current rate of growth getting the Gryphon into the rift will not be a problem. With a bit of creativity Ensign Crystillin has set up a remote trigger for the self-destruct system. Not sure if he’s missed his calling in another department but we may have a renaissance man on our hands.

I am currently sitting in a shuttlecraft with most of the Away Team. Midshipman Zan was able to get one working with the help of an Engineer and Powell is attempting to open the shuttlebay doors, safely. The Pegasus is still ahead of schedule but talks on Bralen VII aren’t going to be much fun and I have to have a few conversations with people before that. Lieutenant Powell is a self-absorbed idiot and despite my preferences I can’t demote an Officer for a character flaw. At best he’s a work in progress, a lot of work.

Encrypt and end log.

Commander Kyle DeWitt, Tactical Assessor

Star Date 21510.06

Personal Log

Star Date 21510.06

Commander Kyle DeWitt recording:

My first assignment for Tactical Command, and I'm almost willing to just let this one slip right past me. Had any other ship been chosen, I doubt I'd have a problem but my career had essentially been derailed on Pegasus. I'm starting to wonder if this is someone's idea of a sick joke. Nevertheless I'll carry out my orders and try to make a record in getting these inspections done.

Arriving on the Bridge, I quickly found out that Captain Tokat wasn't on the Bridge. The most unfortunate part was that he wasn't in any condition to command, either, as I found a Chief Smith in charge. It appears that Commander Gregg, current First Officer of the Pegasus, was leading an Away Team to the Gryphon. The easiest option would've been to tow the old Ambassador-class vessel to the nearest base and observe it in a safer environment.

It would've been a smart move as well, especially considering I was also informed that Pegasus was in the Romulan Neutral Zone. That in itself would've been enough for me to immediately assume command until Commander Gregg return, but seeing as we didn't have any warbirds firing on us I'll stick with lending any assistance. This Bridge crew probably doesn't think I'm capable of commanding since I'm coming from Headquarters, but I know I'd show them a thing or too.

Other than Smith, the only person on the Bridge that seems to be welcoming is Midshipman P'lonnos. She seems like a nice and upcoming officer, almost reminds me of Jordan. Since her death, I have no doubt that I'm an emotional wreck. Somehow I've managed to hold myself together enough to keep a calm and professional appearance. I just hope somehow I don't have that jeopardized this mission.

While I'm sure in different time and circumstances Miss P'lonnos would be a welcome sight, I just don't see that being very possible. I'm a Commander and it's not really appropriate for anything to happen. Then there's that smug Zakdorn, Crewman Melton, that I would have no opposition to dragging him out into the corridor and teaching him some professional manners. Let's hope this mission will be over soon,

End log.

Ensign Acenvar Crystillin, Tactical Officer

Stardate: 21509.09

Personal Log

Stardate: 21509.09

The Pegasus was initially given the task of transporting the Vulcan Ambassador. It was as stated before was the initial mission which started out well. We were making good time and where nearing the half-way mark for the journey when our scanners picked up a ship. The USS Gryphon; a ship fifty-years old. Captain Tokat agreed to investigate the situation of the mysterious ship. Of course we formed the away teams and such.

The situation which puzzled me immensely was that of the amount of worry and fear going through the away teams heads. I have read quite a few historical logs about similar events occurring. The crews and away teams however did not have such a high amount of both emotions. I find myself conjuring up memories of safety, that is what worries me the most. The away team even saw a vision of the ship's crew for a extremely brief time period. I believe it has something to do with the time space continuum. I scanned the mess-hall, where we saw this event for trace Tachyon readings. The scans that came back indicated that Tachyon particles did spike for a brief moment, but dropped back down to almost none readable levels immediately. The rate and speed that this happened seems..... purposeful almost. It could be that the Tachyon particles are degrading, and have degrade so much that events like that are rare now. Or someone might be trying to bring Tachyon particles together to open a whole of some kind? I will have to look through the science logs with Ensign Moriarty. It was such a strange thing. I was able to pull up a video of the Chief Science Officer's son. Some sort of anomaly occurred which seemed to have taken the entire crew along.

I assume I should include some encouraging news yes? I meet a smart-young man on the away team. Ensign Anthony Moriarty. We are currently leading the bridge away team. He is currently looking through the ship's science logs. That is truthfully the only good news I have.

End Log

Stardate 21510.15

Personal Log

Stardate 21510.15

Ensign Acenvar Crytillin, Auidio Only.

The slight hum of machinery could be heard as the recording begins.

"This Scientific mission is not going as well as planned. We have not been able to figure out what this rift is precisely. We have educational guesses, but other then that we have nothing else."

A short pause to let the Vulcan hybrid breath was allowed.

"Mr. Moriarty is working as best he can by using the Gryphon's limited sensors and abilities. However if we continue on this limited path we might end up like the previous crew of the ship. The Commander in Engineering is no doubt trying his best to get the engines back online. Once that happens we have the ability to lure the rift away toward it and hopefully seal it for good. What bothers me is that question that we might have the possibility to save the previous crew of the Gryphon. Would that be plausible? Or that would be agasint the prime directive? Things like this are rarely seen, and the ability to do something for those people"

Then a quick snap of fabric like straightened out someone sleeve was heard.

"This rift… Is another problem. It is causing the crew to have headaches. I seem to be feeling them more then the others. Now I'm heading to Engineer- Wait, what is that smell? Smoke? Oh no."

The turbo lift doors open and fire could be heard.

End Log.