Captain's Log

Posted on Mon Jun 6th, 2022 @ 8:45am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Avalon [ADMIN NPC]
Edited on on Mon Jun 6th, 2022 @ 8:51am

Mission: Season 5: Episode 4: Reef
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: MD1 - 06h00 25.5.2397
Tags: ALL Crew, Command team
920 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

[Captains Log. 25th May 2397.

The USS Elysium is being dispatched to the Ki’vara System to assist in the recovery of the USS Jefferson. The Jefferson is a science vessel and was assigned to the Ki’vara System to investigate the system’s M Class planet, Ki’V 4. A water-based world, the Jefferson was sending crew down to map the ocean floor in the hopes of discovering what happened to the native inhabitants.

The Jefferson’s last communication to Starfleet spoke of their being pulled out of orbit and down to the ocean. An odd mission brief but we have done this thing before. The crew are well trained, and I believe we can do the mission without interruption. I have instructed Avalon to recall all crew from Shore-leave with our departure set at 09h00. It would take us 4 days at warp 8 to get there. But with permission, I have been granted the chance to use our QSD thus shrinking our travel to 3 hours.

That is all the time this crew will have to prepare away teams and rescue shuttles. The Doctor will want to make sure his team is ready, so I have made sure to send along all information we have to his console in main medical.

The Jefferson is a Steamrunner class and has a crew compliment of a hundred and eighty five or so. Captain Miles Kentwell was in command, and he and his executive officer Commander T'Sar are long time command officers. They would not have sent a distress signal without due cause. Computer End recording."

[Acknowledged]

Phoenix sat back in her chair and rubbed at her forehead. She had been dragged from bed at 04h00 for a briefing with Starfleet Command, and now she had to get everyone back on board within 3 hours. She hoped it was doable.

She began pulling up schematics and data on Ki’V 4.

First discovered in 2355, by a Xindi Aquatic Science team. They were looking for a colony world. They chose not to use it as it had once been inhabited by a land based species. Who vanished. The landmass on the planet is less than 5%.

A single day lasts 19.69 hours and a year lasts 106 days. The planet used to be made up of 3 continents, which made up 24% of the planet's landmass. Now there is one, left the other two sunken beneath the waves. 2 moon(s) orbit the planet and Ki’V 4 itself orbits a red sun in a slightly elliptic orbit.

The plant-like organisms on this planet are made up of tall grasses and flowers, with even taller fungi and huge trees. Shrubs are non-existent and bushes are so rare they might as well be. While flowers come in more shapes and colors than grasses, they both share a wide variety of scents, most of which are related to the nutrients in their area. The fungi are tall, strong and, like the grasses and flowers, scented. The trees are also scented, but it's much harder to detect.

Attracting animals to help with pollination and reproduction is usually done with smells and bright colors, but most species on this planet do it a little different. Sound is by far the most preferred way to attract animals and it can lead to some of the most spectacular natural orchestras. Some species let the wind blow between specialized openings which create special sounds. Others produce sound with specialized mechanisms, usually in the form of clapping, which can be compared to how a Venus flytrap catches its prey.

The wonders seen on the surface are also seen underwater. A huge variety of corals and aquatic plants have made their home in the waters of this planet, both living in harmony with each other, at least in most cases. Some species have developed into more aggressive forms, effectively trying to force their species wherever there's water for them. This has lead to the decline of some other species, but also to the rise of new, specialized predators.

Sentience is fairly common on Earth and on this planet it's uncommon. However, on this planet most of the sentient species are insect-like creatures. The most remarkable creature can best be described as a large, winged spider. About the size of a pigeon, these 'spiders' are capable of flight, just like many insects. They aren't capable of creating webs however, but they do catch prey with sticky constructions. They're saliva is very sticky and is usually applied to a branch or large leaf, ready for an unsuspecting prey to land on. The 'spider' will usually cover several spots in a tree before flying to a higher position where it waits. These 'spiders' possess more intelligence than meets the eye though. They sometimes work together to scare prey towards regions with a lot of prepared sticky patches, often ending in a feast for these 'spiders'.

Beneath the surface on the two sunken continents, ruins of the once proud civilization that called Ki’V 4 home remained. They existed in their ruined state, between the depths of 350 meters below to 550 meters below.

On Ki’V 4, crush depth was at 600 meters below, and if the Jefferson crashed into the Ocean... well she hoped they had not.

As Phoenix read in silence, Avalon sent out a recall message to all crew.

[[Attention all crew, Shore leave is cancelled. Please return to the Elysium within 3 hours for departure. The USS Elysium is scheduled for departure at 09h00. Senior Staff Briefing at 08h30.]]

 

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