2 Complimentary Posts: Lt. Cmdr. Katsim Peri - "So Much For That Idea" | Commander Etan Iljor: The Cacophany

[Josh Herrick]

I'd like to highlight @Alora DeVeau and @Etan Iljor; 2 outstanding simmers:

• They have a great ability to write out descriptive and immersive scenes that get me 'perpetually refreshing' my inbox waiting for the next one
• They advance the plot line and leave enough room for any simmer to take it in the next step
• Masters of 'yes, and'
• Excellent canon use

I also think in general, the arc I think also nicely highlights how we can interweave 2 separate story lines, while keeping them distinct. Without further ado:

 

Quote

Lt. Cmdr. Katsim Peri - "So Much For That Idea"

((Ancient Ruins, Alpha Brenkelvi II))

The group had unceremoniously been trapped in the structure they were
exploring, and as a result, they had traversed further into it in order
to find another exit.  At first, they found themselves in another room
with walls covered in more greenery.  Moving, and in some cases
removing, some of the moss revealed more writing, along with some
pictures, though they offered little context considering they hadn't
anywhere to really start with the vocabulary.  Once they had all the
scans they could get, Peri shoved aside some roots that had grown over
the door that led even further into the structure.  They refused to move
completely, but they would flex enough to allow each of them to climb
through to the other side.  Once they did, they found themselves on the
other side of the structure, another door, but this one leading to the
outside along with a couple of windows, one completely covered with
roots, one partially.  The door, too, was also partially covered, but
there was enough room that Peri suspected even the largest among them
could squeeze through.

Stepping up to the door, Peri peered out before attempting to escape. 
Outside,the rain still fell, though no longer in the sheets that had
cascaded from the sky before.  Instead, the clouds had settled into a
more lingering sorrow, the downpour shifting to a drizzle that promised
to linger.  Outside, the building ceased, but butted up against other
buildings with walls erected between them.

Squeezing through, Peri tried to ignore the bit of rain that plipped
plopped upon her head, the harder drops likely from where they had
pooled on the leaves above them, then gathered together into larger
bodies before tumbling down to the ground, or person, below.  It was
cold, and she shivered a little, but was quite grateful that she had
worn a layer beneath her regular uniform - a standard practice since
most environments were too cool for her in general.  However, she also
regretted not grabbing something a bit warmer.  Brodie’s comment about
the jacket came to mind.

Stepping into the courtyard further, the ravages of time and the march
of nature were even more noticeable there.  Walls  had crumbled, but in
their place, thick, gnarled trucks stood in their place, Even in the
middle of what had once been a courtyard, trees had sprung up, and a few
had even grown to a goodly size, though not as many as Peri would have
expected, considering how old the place was.  There was enough open
space for children to run around if there had been any to do so.  In the
middle, she noticed a structure, one that had stood the test of time,
somehow remaining upright, and formed into something familiar, though it
was covered from head to toe with vines and moss and greenery.  Scans
revealed it to be much younger than the other structures, closer to
40,000 years instead of sixty or more, so must have been constructed
later.  Peri stepped nearer to it, blinking away at the moisture and
reaching to try and reveal some of the stone that lay beneath.

Pulling off the vines proved more difficult than she had expected, but
she didn’t give up and motioned for Tyber to assist her, relying on his
strength. Though the greenery was tenacious, and put up a sore fight, in
the end, it was no match for the combined efforts of those who were
determined to find the treasure hidden beneath.  And treasure indeed it
was.  As the flora gave way, the stone revealed itself, a flat facade,
likely one of multiple sides, but this was the one they had uncovered,
and upon it was more writing. However, that writing was far different
from what they had found inside - furthermore, Peri recognised it.

Katsim: It’s…it’s Bajoran!

The structure, like much of the other walls and structures left behind
was covered in flora, but what Peri had pulled off left a space where
stone beneath was clear enough to see a little bit of the inscription. 
Surely there must be more, for that amount was only a small portion of
what stood over them.  It was about as twice as tall as she was, but so
overgrown that it would take hours, maybe even days to pull it all off. 
Peri supposed they could use phasers, but that would require great care.

Brodie: ::Reverently:: It is…or a form of it…::Turning to Peri::…and
it’s on a Bantaca Spire, or at least what looks like the remains of one.

Promontory: ::to Tyber:: OK, that’s intriguing enough to risk a little
mud on my uniform!

Peri nodded toward Brodie.  It very much looked one like one, and the
script upon it only confirmed that idea.

Katsim: This is not modern Bajoran, but looks to be Ancient Bajoran. 
They’re are enough similarities to know that much.

The two other men had finally ventured through, pushing aside the vine
and they managed to fit through, though perhaps with less ease than the
more petite Bajoran hybrid.

Tyber: Response

Brodie: We’ll need to try and date this of course to see if it matches
the surrounding structures but…if it does…this could be a Bajoran holy
site…on this side of the Celestial Temple…potentially older than B'hala…

Peri blinked and stared at the script.  Ancient Bajoran had begun its
shift into the more modern version at least twenty thousand years ago. 
This, however, was the purer form of the language. Though she could read
some of it, and recognise certain symbols, especially remnants that had
remained in the modern day version, she could not read it with
fluency.   At best, she could make stumbling attempts, and perhaps glean
snippets here and there. But Brodie’s words made her pause and ponder
over the idea at how old, exactly, this piece possibly was.

Brodie: I’ll understand if you need to take a moment to process that.

A moment indeed.

Promontory: ::joining the others:: The ancient Bajorans had some kind of
solar ships, didn’t they?

Katsim:  Yes.  They did.

The pictures she had seen of reconstructions had been beautiful, golden
wings that spread out to catch the light of their star and all passing
stars.  They could travel that way further than most had realised, and
even now, stories were told that involved the ships.  One slender hand
lifted and she traced the archaic designs.

Tyber: Response

The set of high pitched beeps that clustered together into the
characteristic chirp of the combadge sounded behind her.

Brodie: ::Exhaling:: We should call this in. ::To Peri:: I think it’s
only right that you make that call.

When Peri turned her eyes toward the counsellor, her gaze didn't quite
focus on him, but rather perhaps on something beyond, perhaps an age-old
scene in her mind.  The far away expression lasted a moment, then she
shook her head, and finally nodded.

Katsim: Yes.  Of course.

Dropping her hand away from the script, she then used it to tap at her
badge.

Katsim: =/\=Katsim to Oumuamua.=/\=

And though the chirp had notified them of a connection, she received no
reply to her hair.  She tried again.  Nothing.  A third time, still
nothing.  Finally, Peri turned her puzzled expression to the others.

Katsim: No answer from the ship.

Not that she really needed to say that when obviously that was the case.

Tyber: Response

Promontory: What!? That’s odd!

Brodie/Tyber: Response

Promontory: Well, let’s try the other away team then.

It was his turn to attempt contact with more of their crewmembers, this
time those who were on the same planet as they.

Promontory: =/\= Promontory to Etan =/\=

Still nothing.  As the silence stretched on, Peri glanced from one
person to another, worry beginning to show upon her face.

Katsim: The combadges are getting a signal, so they’re working.

But it wasn’t a signal from the ship or the other away team. Likely it
was simply registering their shuttle or each other’s badges.  Either
way, it wasn’t a good scenario.

Brodie/Tyber: Response

Promontory: ::hopefully:: We can check for sure from the Gamma Glider.

Katsim: We need to get back

With both the ship and the other team incommunicado, Peri felt it best
that they abort, at least temporarily, until they could connect with
their other crew members.  Her dark eyes darted briefly back to the
structure, and specifically to the hole in the greenery where the
symbols peeked out from among the foliage. They would return…but for
now, they had to connect with the rest of the crew.

Brodie/Promontory/Tyber: Response

That was a very question, one Peri didn’t have an answer to. Obviously,
they had no passage out to the other side of the house, and from the
looks of things, the house had been built into a wall, which, though
much had crumbled and tumbled down, its ramparts had been replaced with
trees.  Yet, that didn’t mean they were insurmountable.  Many sections
still stood, some lower than others, and one that was level with the
roof of the structure they had left looked passable - if they went over
rather than around. Motioning toward it, she brought it to the attention
of her companions.

Katsim: Looks like we’ll have to climb.

Brodie/Promontory/Tyber: Response

One of the upsides to having so much that cascaded down were plenty of
footholds and handholds to allow one to boost up. Making her way over to
one area where a tree had taken advantage of the space to invade and
situate itself between the structure and another structure connected by
the wall.  Utilising the layers of roots combined with what was left of
that wall, she pulled herself up toward the roof of the structure they
had just recently vacated.  Hand over hand, one foot up at a time, she
climbed upward and finally came to the edge.  Pulling herself up to her
feet, she stood tall on the roof.  Even though the clouds hung heavy in
the sky and the mist of rain still cast its veil over the area, the view
of the trees from that position was lovely, the roll of the hill over
the clearing where they had landed full of greenery that seemed somehow
fresher, perhaps enlivened by the precipitation.

Turning, Peri’s gaze shifted to the courtyard and all that held it. 
True to what they had seen, it was encompassed by structures, which were
connected by walls in between them, though she could only see so far
thanks to the encroachment of nature, but it was enough to imagine that
the circle of structures extended far further than what they could see. 
Obviously, it was for protection purposes, but Peri couldn’t help but
wonder how far that wall extended and how many structures it
encompassed. That was a question she couldn’t answer, for they had other
issues to grapple with.  Facing the original direction, she stepped
toward the edge of the opposite side of the roof.

The roof was not a comfortable bed.  Peri discovered that when she found
herself staring up at the sky, the grey clouds still scraping across the
sky.  On the inside of her head, a drum beat a steady rhythm against her
skull.  She blinked, then pushed herself up, one hand against her brow,
the ridges rough against her skin. Behind her, she could hear the sound
of someone climbing up to join her.  Reaching for her belt, Peri
unbuckled her tricorder. The high pitched whirr alerted her that it was
working, and seconds later, she had an answer.  Sighing, she lifted her
gaze and let it fall upon the shuttle - the shuttle she could see, but
not reach.

Katsim: There’s a forcefield.

Brodie/Promontory/Tyber: Response

--
Lt. Cmdr. Katsim Peri
Chief Science Officer
USS 'Oumuamua
M239008AD0

&
 

Quote

Commander Etan Iljor: The Cacophany

(( Sphere Chamber , Alpha Brenkelvi II ))

 

In the center of the Brobdingnagian chamber lay a tall plinth, some six feet in height, covered in the same circular symbols they had seen multiple times since their arrival on Alpha Brenkelvi II. Atop it sat a triangular base with three glowing prongs pointing inwards at 45o, towards a hovering spinning globe that bobbed up and down in the air. Made of what looked like a translucent liquid metal composed of countless layers, each one spinning in a different direction and rippling like somebody had thrown a pebble upon their surfaces. It was almost hypnotic, and Commander Etan Iljor found it difficult to look down at his tricorder screen in case he missed something.

 

As he raised the tricorder with his left hand, a rush of ice-cold adrenaline gave him pause. He observed in amazement as his movement was repeated four times, an echo after the fact. Eyes wide, his thoughts filled with questions.

 

Herrick: What the….

 

Etan: Well that’s new. :: he muttered himself.::

 

Maxwell: Commander….

 

The concern in the Marine’s voice was unmistakable. In the periphery of his vision he saw the man abandon his patrol, closing towards him.

 

Arlill: Response.

 

Waving his free arm, the Bajoran watched the same phenomenon occur again. As he did so, the tricorder in his left hand chirped out a series of tones that drew his attention.

 

Etan: It’s putting out chroniton energy and warping time-space in the chamber.

 

Herrick: That low-level energy field… it isn’t so low here. It’s overwhelming the tricorders’s scanners; I can’t get a good reading outside of the chamber. What we were detecting outside was likely a result of the amount of energy pouring in to keep this… ::pointing to the orb:: thingy going.

 

Maxwell: Question is though, what is this…. thingy for?

 

Iljor tapped another string of commands into the tricorder, seeking to understand how the device operated and what it was powered by. Almost instantly a warning flashed across the screen, advising that the scans were being compromised by the same issue that had kept Lieutenant Herrick from detecting anything out of the chamber. Dismissing the notice with a swipe of his thumb, the First Officer studied what little information the tricorder had managed to gleam.

 

Arlill: Response.

 

Etan: I’m getting the same issues as you, Mr. Herrick. But if I’m interpreting these fragmentary readings correctly, the energy field is leaking from this… this… thingy.

 

He did not enjoy scientific impreciseness, but ‘thingy’ seemed to be as good as any to use.

 

Herrick: Does the direction that the chronitons are spinning matter?

 

Etan: Perhaps. But we need more data. :: he considered the options before them.:: Maybe if we link our tricorders together, we might be able to cut through the interference.

 

Once they had done so, the four officers raised their palm-held devices and turned them towards the undulating sphere. There was still a considerable amount of degradation in the results, but the object seemed to recognise that they were attempting to unlock its secrets; a spike of chronitons drew a collective chirp from the linked machines. In response the sphere appeared to expand of its own volition. It brushed against the back of Herrick’s hand, the closest of them all, 

 

Without any prior warning, the huge cavern filled with dozens hooded figures radiating a ghostly white-golden light. It was difficult to make out precise details, but they appeared to be humanoid. They paid the Starfleet officers no mind, and Iljor could not help but wonder whether they were looking at borhyas.

 

As quickly as the apparitions appeared they vanished as Herrick withdrew his hand from the sphere.

 

Herrick: Did anyone else see that?

 

Maxwell: Aye, but where did they go?

 

True to form, Lieutenant Maxwell put his tricorder away and gripped his carbine tightly. After what they had just witnessed, the XO did not blame him. It had been an unsettling experience.

 

Etan: A very good question. They appeared at the same moment that the Sphere appeared to brush again Mr. Herrick. :: beat :: I would hypothesize there is some correlation. Although that doesn’t explain what we just saw.

 

Arlill: Response.

 

Etan: Perhaps it was some of temporal ech-

 

Iljor stopped speaking as a chorus of whispering voices filled the cavern and grew in volume. They sound distorted, overlapping with one another to the point where anything said was inaudible. It was as though they were eavesdropping on many conversations at the same time. He cast his eyes around the chamber looking for some sort of origin, but nothing caught his eye.

 

Maxwell: Routine science mission, aye?

 

Arlill / Herrick: Response.

 

Maxwell: My auld da always said there was nae such thing.

 

In that particular moment, Iljor could not help but agree with Maxwell’s da.

 

The swelling choir continued to grow louder and while he could not pick out distinct words or phrases, he was struck by the tone. There was a desperation or a longing, as if something had happened or was about to happen. He shuddered, a thrill of dread traveling down his spine and washing through his body like somebody had submerged him in ice. It was profoundly unsettling and, once again, he found himself thinking of spirits.

 

The ground rumbled beneath their feet, shaking the cavern ever so slightly- but hard enough to send a shower of fine, glistening dust trickling down from the gloom-concealed ceiling. In unison, their tricorder bleeped urgently. Grateful for the distraction from the macabre atmosphere, Iljor regarded his and studied the readings.

 

Etan: The chroniton energy leakage is increasing- :: he had to raise his above the growing din. :: - and I’m detecting what look like weak points in the layers of this object! :: beat :: I think it’s about to lose structural cohesion!

 

Arlill / Herrick / Maxwell: Response.

 

They back-pedalled away from the device as it undulated and rippled faster and faster. Over the din, Iljor could hear the rhythmic thrum becoming more and more rapid, not unlike the warp cores of old. It was both exhilarating and frightening, and he was strongly reminded of a mission on the Resolution, where the ship had become trapped in a time loop. He had experienced a warp core breach- and his own demise- over and over and over again. He had cheated death (after a fashion) that day and he knew that it would never happen again. Lightning, as the humans said, did not strike twice.

 

Then as the cacophony reached a crescendo and the four officers neared the exit, the noise faded away- leaving behind an eerie silence. The sphere stopped spinning and it hung limply in the air. The three incandescent prongs beneath lost their lustre, revealing their original composition to some kind of transparent material.

 

The quiet hung in the air between, as unsettling as the figures and voices had been. Nobody spoke for what felt like an eternity, all of them looking around the chamber for any sign of what happened.

 

Etan: Oookay… :: he said, trailing off in confusion. ::

 

Arlill / Herrick / Maxwell: Response.

 

He lifted his tricorder again- and noted that the temporal echo-effect had subsided. That was a relief, though it posed another mystery for them.

 

Etan: The energy field has returned to normal, and the… object appears to be… offline, for want of a better phrase. :: beat :: I’m also detecting what looks like a massive energy grid running throughout the underground complex. It seems to be drawing power from the field.

 

Arlill / Herrick / Maxwell: Response.

 

Etan: Let’s come at this from a 25th century perspective. :: beat :: Say a plasma relay malfunctions and threatens to overload. What steps do we take to prevent that from happening? :: he looked between Arlill and Herrick, who were well versed in the systems of the ‘Oumuamua. ::

 

Arlill / Herrick / Maxwell: Response.

 

Etan: What if the same thing happened here?  Perhaps the grid is powered by the energy field and detected this object malfunctioning- and it deactivated it? :: beat :: And the apparitions we saw and the voices we heard were a… temporal containment breach?

 

Arlill / Herrick / Maxwell: Response.

 

--

Commander Etan Iljor

Executive Officer / Archaeology Nerd

USS Oumuamua

NCC 81226

C239203TW0

 

[Theo Whittaker]

Thank you for the kind words @Josh Herrick. I’m glad to hear you are enjoying our new mission!

*prepares to bribe Starfleet Admirals in charge of promotions* 💸

[Alora DeVeau]

Awww, thank you!