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Plata #47407 Jött egy újabb bejegyzés.
Kings & Queens – The Anomaly
Admiral Kuumaarke is aboard the L.S.S. Jaleet on a Restoration Initiative in the Balancar Sector when a strange anomaly requires investigation.
By Fero February 04, 2025, 09:46 AM
“Did you manage to read my work on 4th Reckoning Restoration Initiatives? No?” Admiral Kuumaarke barely managed to suppress her frustration. She looked at the inexperienced science administrator who stood before her up and down.
“What about my thesis, then, on Protomatter Microcontainers as Critical to the Rejuvenation of Deserted Class M Planets? Or the Povin case study, co-published with the Klingons?” The administrator pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and shook his head, his face flushing.
“The Concordium did not supply us with any mission critical study materials, Admiral. We were told... that you would be able to tell us what to do,” he mumbled.
Kuumaarke glanced over the young man’s shoulder, at a group of bright-eyed students piled up behind their representative, like a fluff of nervous tribbles.
Kuumaarke unclenched her jaw and softened her gaze. “Of course, it’s not your fault, or anyone’s fault here. You’re just following your directive.” She peered at them, one by one, taking in their anxious dispositions - they were awaiting her orders. “Good work crew, we reconvene tomorrow. Dismissed!” The tension in the environmental engineering lab evaporated. The students collectively relaxed their shoulders as they made for the door, sighs of relief permeating the room.
. . .
2 hours later...
The L.S.S. Jaleet’s ready room had taken some getting used to. Although it was fitted out with the usual hydroponics pillars and flowing banners, it offered none of the warmth of Kuumaarke’s usual admiral’s quarters aboard the Reskava. Or perhaps, this was just her impression.
Kuumaarke slumped into an uncomfortably padded chair, and recited, as she so often did: “Computer, begin personal log... Admiral’s Personal Log, 5th Reckoning, Chronicle 45: Today marks my second circadian cycle aboard the L.S.S. Jaleet as Chief Planetary Restoration Advisor. Despite my best efforts to avoid such a scenario, the Concordium decided to assign me to yet another Restoration Initiative in the Balancar Sector - far beneath my station. I don’t mean to sound... ungrateful, of course. But as a lauded scientist who has now developed professional connections across multiple quadrants, I somehow expected I would be given... greater scientific conundrums to solve.” She buried her face in her hands and groaned. “I am in touch with Ensign Vaaruunte to receive regular reports whilst I am away. She-”
A violent jolt interrupted her log, as the lights of the L.S.S. Jaleet flickered, plunging the room into total darkness for but a nanosecond. Kuumaarke stood up and braced herself. Shouting and shuffling of feet could be heard from just outside her door. Then, quiet.
A soft, melodic chime emitted by the ready room’s control panel signaled a presence at the door. The indicator light shifted from gray to purple. “Computer, grant access,” she commanded. A slender, imposing figure stepped into her quarters hurriedly. “Commander Breevoore, is everything alright?” she probed, locking eyes with the L.S.S. Jaleet’s most senior security officer.
“Admiral, we believe the Jaleet has been compromised. Your expertise is requested by the Captain on Deck 9.”
. . .
Moments later...
“Our Chief Engineer has located an anomaly aboard the ship. Something behind this bulkhead’s wall panel is preventing the Jaleet from safely maintaining a warp field,” observed Commander Breevoore. “What’s more, Admiral - Captain Anvaame of the L.S.S. Treluun reported a similar incident just a couple cycles ago. A full diagnostic was run, but no internal damage to the Treluun was reported. Everything is back to normal now, on the Treluun and on the Jaleet. The disruption only lasted a second.”
Kuumaarke crouched down, flashlights panning across the bulkhead as senior crew members gathered round. Commander Breevoore pushed aside its panel to reveal the wall’s internal conduits. “This stuff, whatever it is, it’s scrawled all around the protomatter conditioning modules.”
“Well, I’m certainly no engineer, but I’ll take a look.” Kuumaarke pulled out her tricorder. “Optimizing for environmental scans... Cross-referencing data with prior scans, and prioritizing 5th Reckoning entries...” she ran her fingers across the bulkhead’s conduits.
After a couple of minutes, the tricorder lit up, displaying a holographic script. “The analysis is complete. It appears to be a language, Commander. However, it’s not one the Lukari Concordium has come across before. I’d suggest having a xenolinguist take a look at this. Until then, the Captain might want to perform a full system diagnostic, as the Treluun did, just to be on the safe side.”
“How can a language cause our warp field to malfunction?” questioned Breevoore.
“I’m not sure yet. But I suppose that if everything is back to normal now, that’s a good sign. This protomatter module needs replacing, in any case. Give the Captain a full report, and let me know as soon as you have any updates,” Kuumaarke replied, nodding swiftly at Breevoore, before turning around to leave. As she began to move down the hallway, a conversation between two senior crew members caught her attention. She turned around to see them kneeling in front of the anomaly with a bewildered look in their eyes.
“Did you know those things were called protomatter conditioning modules?”, inquired a science officer.
“We always called them science balls,” a tactical officer shrugged in response.
Kuumaarke released the profound sigh she had been suppressing all day, turned back around, and retreated once again to her ready room in order to finish her admiral’s log. She slumped down once more, into the uncomfortable chair, and continued: “Computer, resume Admiral’s Personal Log, 5th Reckoning, Chronicle 45.” She paused, gathering her thoughts.
“I have received word from Ensign Vaaruunte that the Lukari Concordium is expanding its list of diplomatic allies in an effort to understand more about recent Borg incursions across the galaxy. A series of conferences are being hosted on the homeworld, with many important faction leaders in attendance, including great allies of mine. She has informed us that the Concordium is searching for qualified individuals to act as ambassadors. Although I am a scientist first and foremost, I have decided to send in my application. I believe that my recent dealings with the Borg make me an ideal candidate! And, well, I do hope such a role would get me off this Concordium-mandated project aboard the Jaleet, once and for all...” Kuumaarke paused again.
“Lastly, I have been informed that a data device containing a set of classified documents has been transported to the Reskava from one of these conferences. Though it is customary to leave such items in a secure storage compartment on the homeworld for prior inspection, Vaaruunte was ordered to bring back anything related to the Borg immediately. There’s no time to waste."
. . .
7 cycles later...
As Admiral Kuumaarke prepares herself for another tedious lecture on planetary restoration in the environmental engineering lab aboard the L.S.S. Jaleet, she receives an unexpected hail from a Member of the Lukari Planetary Council.
“Admiral, I am reaching out to you on behalf of the Council. I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected for a trial mission, to test your suitability for the role of Concordium Diplomatic Ambassador.”
“You don’t mean it! I am honored, humbled, but most of all, absolutely ready!” Kuumaarke blurted out. “What’s next, Councillor?”
“Prepare to depart the L.S.S. Jaleet immediately for transfer back to the Reskava. We’re sending you on a highly classified mission, with a very important individual we’d rather not keep waiting.”
“Understood. Who is it?”, Kuumaarke asked.
“We are sending you the details now, any moment now” replied the Councillor. Kuumaarke’s display screen lit up. Her eyes widened as a smile crept across her face.
“My word. Is that...”