The Object

Posted on Mon Oct 7th, 2024 @ 2:03am by Lieutenant Alph & Lieutenant Rune Thul & Lieutenant Atna & Ensign P'Lar & The Object & Navigator Korusca
Edited on on Fri Oct 11th, 2024 @ 6:59am

2,402 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: DownTime [1]
Location: USS Excalibur - Shuttlebay
Timeline: After 'Icebreaker'

The ethereal whistling of the transporter resonated through the shuttlebay of the Excalibur. It was empty as they had expected, with the ship's name written in large letters on the forward wall. There was nothing within, other than the three officers who'd just materialised, and something in the middle of the deck.

It was a strange shape about the size of a person, a bronze colour, topped by a dome with a stalk emerging and two transparent cylinders that looked like warning lights. The dome was supported by a vented cylinder which was atop a more rectangular plated segment, where around the midsection, two more appendages emerged, one of which had a concave hemisphere on its end, the other which appeared to be a hollow metallic tube. Below, a skirt-like base covered in hemispheres led down to a ridged bottom that seemed to be fused to the deck.

Whatever it was, it was not in good condition. Scorch marks and other signs of damage covered much of its surface.

Atna had her tricorder out almost immediately, and it took a moment to walk across to where the object rested. "Have either of you ever seen anything like this?" She asked Alph and Thul, her scans immediately repelled by the strange alloy that seemed to compose the object.

"A number of physical similarities come to mind, though none are exact in their comparison. Promellian fertility idols. Iyachan Midwinter festival dance-cloaks. Human pepper grinders." Alph said, studying the form with intense curiosity.

From one angle, it almost reminded Atna of a watering can she used on one of her planetary botanical assignments, but she didn't verbalise the thought as she moved around the strange object. "Any thoughts, Mr Thul?" She ashed the security chief.

"Any energy readings coming from it, Lieutenant Atna? I suggest not getting any closer to it." Rune called out as he pointed his phaser at it and began to circle it slowly to see if it reacted. It was strange that only one of them were here, whatever it is. He hoped that they didn't encounter any more of them, as those appendages, Rune had a feeling, were probably weapons.

"Nothing. Either the alloy it is composed of is far beyond our science, or it is completely inert. Perhaps both." Atna folded up her tricorder, and stored it on her belt. "It is a curiosity, and I agree we should give it a wide berth, but it may be purely ornamental. It should not interfere with the landing of the shuttle."

Atna looked around the room, she had not committed much of the it's layout to memory. "Mr Alph, where might we open the bay doors?"

Alph moved swiftly to the nearest console in one of the recessed regions against the starboard bulkhead. He interacted briefly with the console, looking slightly confused. "I can access the control systems, but the databases seem to be corrupted. Duonetic computers are designed to either shut down or go into debug mode in the event of this manner of corruption."

"A curious development, but irrelevant to our present goals. Please open the bay doors." Atna instructed.

"Forcefield established. Opening shuttlebay doors." As Alph said it, the two doors parted smoothly, revealing the empty bubble around the ship, with the glowing shields and dark seas beyond. The Runabout Hou Yi moved forward, past the strange bronze object, before settling down on the Excalibur's shuttle turntable. The hatch of the runabout descended, and Ensign P'Lar emerged. Korusca remained in the pilot's seat.

Watching the Flyer-class runabout move inside the bay and land like it was an organic creature was nice. The design is still one of Rune's favourite small craft out of the standard ones Starfleet uses. They needed more designers like Tom Paris, he hoped to one day meet the famous former helmsman of Voyager, well that really went for all that famous ship's senior officers.

"What is this?" P'Lar asked of the strange object.

"We are uncertain." Atna responded. "It has proved immune to sensors, but it appears inactive, if indeed it is not purely decorative." Atna tapped her combadge, opening a channel to the runabout. "Mr Korusca, begin scans of the object fused to the deck plating. We have been unsuccessful with our tricorders." The Navigator responded affirmatively, and Atna turned back towards the fore of the ship.

"Let us proceed." Atna removed her tricorder once more, and began to scan for the lifesign they had detected earlier. "The signal is vague, but appears to be towards the front of the ship. I believe we would be best served by proceeding to the primary hull and meeting Commander Flynn's team if the readings do not become clearer as we progress. If any of you wish to offer feedback, please do so now." Though her Vulcan manner was still flat, there was an energy to her that would be new to those who had not known her before their assignment to DS13.

"Stay clear of that Bronze thing, everyone, I mean it. It might be wise to program the Hou Yi's computer to alert us the first sign of activity from that while we are further inside the Excalibur? Not to mention lock down the computer as well. That is if we all are going?" Rune recommended strongly to Atna as he approached her, though still facing it and phaser aimed at it.

"I do not believe this level of concern is entirely logical, Lieutenant. From what we have observed, the odds of it being something dangerous are equal to those of it being something decorative. If it's reason for being here relates to some manner of conflict between it and the ships crew, all signs point to it being worse off as a result, even if the crew are notably absent."

"Perhaps to appease any security concerns, I will remain with Navigator Korusca aboard the Hou Yi." Ensign P'Lar suggested. Her Vulcan logic told her that Atna was right, and that it was most likely an emotional response to fear it rather than a rational one, but she did not wish to go against her department head. "We will use the runabout's sensors to keep you apprised of anything your tricorders are insufficient to detect. We can also beam you back in case of emergency."

"Very well." Atna agreed. "Does that address your concerns, Lieutenant?" Atna asked Thul dispassionately.

Rune turned and approached Atna. "There are several things wrong with your logic, Lieutenant, the crew missing tells me they couldn't defeat their enemy. That enemy could be that bronze, the ship being here tells me perhaps the crew are attempting to keep this bronze here in order to keep it from hurting anyone else. Not to mention that considering you are unable to determine anything about it is extremely concerning." He said and gestured back at the unknown object. "Just because it appears dead doesn't mean it is by any comparison. Ever heard of the term 'playing dead' Lieutenant?" He stepped back and gestured at Atna. "If you believe that my advice is illogical, then you can be the one who explains to the Commander how we all died because bronze ambushed us from behind after destroying Hou Yi." He raised an eyebrow and stared for a moment before stepping around Atna to head towards Excalibur proper at the Shuttlebay inner door.

He looked over his shoulder. "Yes, you would be unable to tell the Commander anything, since you will be dead in the scenario that we do not follow every security precaution. It is why I am here to keep you all safe, so yes," he turned to P'Lar with a nod and a smile. "Now you are get the hell out of the bay and then to beam us up, no matter what, should that thing emit the slightest energy signature or move at any second, am I clear Ensign P'Lar?" Rune ordered with all the seriousness he had. "Do whatever it takes to stay alive. Well, I know that is quite obvious, but I wanted to say it anyway. Now we better get to exploring, for the longer we stay aboard the level of risk increases, however illogical it may be." Rune said, leaving the notion that perhaps there could be more bronzes elsewhere aboard and gestured for them all to follow, it was better he be at point of the group.

Atna took a moment to look around the room and consider her response before providing it. "If it is your decision to employ inductive reasoning instead of deductive, then that is your prerogative Lieutenant. If you wish to consider any and every unexplainable oddity as a potential threat to life and limb, then I will of course defer to your judgement. I remain open to the possibility that what we see here may be, despite appearances, something designed with the express purpose of universal genocide. At present, however, I am satisfied that we have as much evidence to support that theory as we do the theory that it dispenses ice cream.”

Atna looked to P’Lar for a moment, then back to Thul. “We are in proximity to the only known breach between universal realities within known space. Logic suggests this is not the USS Excalibur of our own universe, given that it was scrapped and salvaged for parts two centuries ago. Perhaps in the universe it originates from, what we see here rendered in bronze is a standard feature. I do understand the need for caution, however, we are first and foremost, explorers. Every door we step through may close, bisecting us. Every tile we stand on may be a trap that triggers a vacuum energy cascade that annihilates the planet, if not the solar system. Lethal risk is an intrinsic feature of exploration. If you feel we are better served jumping at shadows than embracing uncertainty, I will, again, defer to your judgement. But I will state for the record, that in my view, current evidence does not support your suggestions, and as one not afflicted by emotion, it would appear to be the primary influence of your suggestions and response.” She finished in a dry, even tone.

"Then it is agreed, the Ensign will stay here and beam us back if the object shows any signs of activity." Alph said, hoping to diffuse the disagreement. "I suggest we proceed." He told his fellow Lieutenants.

Laughter fell out of the Betazoid security chief as he listened to the extreme situations coming from Lieutenant Atna. Rune smiled, he did register the fact he forgot about the interdimensional rift they were here to explore and it was obvious that the Excalibur was from another universe. Theirs had long ago been decommissioned.

"You are right about this probably being from another reality, I do apologise for not immediately taking that into consideration as I am new to the area," Rune agreed still chuckling, "and as you say being from another universe it could contain just about anything that could be a threat to us, as long as we are cautious while we explore and have an emergency exit set in place, then have at the Exploration and Science of the situation."

He eyed Atna a little longer. "What's this your logic didn't tell you that non-Vulcans operate under the influence of emotions like they can physically change? I suggest you anticipate emotionally influenced everything." Rune countered with a grin. "Yes let's go." He said and went into a search and destroy stance as he left the Shuttlebay, checking all directions. His mind quickly went through his memories of Old Starships Designs. He scrolled the deck layout of the old Constitution-class, though he allowed for differences due to extradimensional circumstances.

He figured they want to check out the Bridge first. Rune led the way checking all directions as he walked through X-sections. "To the Bridge?" He asked after several corridor intersections were past.

"That would be a logical route, we will pass near all the major areas of the ship." Atna said, walking towards the door at the rear of the room. It opened, revealing another long hallway instead of the turbolift Atna expected. She made no remark of it but continued forward, the door closing behind them. As they reached the next doorway, the doors parted once again, revealing yet another identical hallway.

Atna looked back the way they came, then to Thul and Alph. "Unless I am mistaken, crossing through this same hallway again will take us to a point at a distance greater than the observed length of the secondary hull. This does not make sense." She reviewed her tricorder's readings, there was nothing odd she could perceive, other than the impossibility of their location. Regardless of which universe this ship was from, they'd seen the outside of it, it's dimensions were finite and observable.

"My calculations indicate you are correct." Alph stated. "I had observed a similar discrepancy but assumed it was an internal malfunction in my processing systems. The properties of this continuing hallway do not conform with relativistic spacetime or our observations of the vessel."

"Well this is annoying." Rune muttered having the same observation, he sighed. "That leaves two things: Psionic manipulation of our minds. The problem is I am not sensing this so either they are a far superior telepath or we may be in an illusion construct being controlled by that superior telepath."

"Plausible, but as an android Lieutenant Alph should not be susceptible to telepathy." Atna looked around the room once more, then back to Thul. "I believe illusory influence protocol suggests we should make every attempt to return the way we came. Unless you have another suggestion, beaming back may be our best course of action, if the runabout can still hear us."

He couldn't agree more but he had a feeling it wasn't that going to be that easy. "Indeed. =/\= Thul to Hou Yi, =/\=" Rune called hopeful that they would actually get out.

"Hou Yi receiving." Came the ethereal voice of Korusca through Thul's combadge.

"Beam us back, please." Rune urged. He tried to keep the annoyance from his voice at their situation, though it did seep in a little.

"Energising." Came Korusca's voice, and the whistling blue particles of a transporter beam surrounded them once more.

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