Posted by Ensign Ben Wilkinson (Security Officer) in Bridge Main Sim

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Thomas McGregor (COS) in Bridge Main Sim
<snip>

Some hours later, the ship’s sensors were able to read many of the radiation levels and quantum level changes that were quite part of the standard Academy courses concerning the formation of nebulae. From the analysis of the computer, the following was the most probable:

• There was a supernova about 7 months before.
• A pulsar is present in the midst of the gases.
• The nebula resulting from the expanding gases and particles is still expanding.

There was something that the sensors were also picking up. There was a large body absorbing some of the energy given off by the pulsar. The body seems to be changing the energy into mass. The process is slow and the sensors at the present range were not able to calculate the increase of mass accurately. From the probability calculations, it would be gaining between 4 and 20 kg an hour.

GM

Ben had been making his rounds and he was in the turbo lift on his way to the bridge for the last time on his shift. He had about two hours left and was looking forward to maybe asking Ens. Ayeka to a late breakfast. He certainly hoped she and the CMO had worked out their problems. They both looked pretty grim when they went into the CMO’s office. The turbo lift door slid open and Ben stepped out onto the bridge. He glanced at the security console,”Nothing new there” he muttered. As he looked around he noticed the same skeleton crew as before, but everyone seemed to be much more involved. He moved to the science station where NE Shwair was busy checking data and readings. “So what’s up, you all seem a little tense ?”

Ben SO - The plot thickens

“Sir,” said NE Kerr. “From the sensor information, there is a body that is absorbing the energy of a pulsar and it is gaining mass. I have not seen this before. I would gather a guess that there is a lifeform in the nebula and it is a massive one.”

GM

“Who all is aware of this, besides us ?, Ben asked. “How far away are we, and let’s go to a Yellow Alert status just in case, security protocol authorization .” Ben wasn’t sure if this was necessary, but better to err on the side of caution he thought. Ben tapped his comm badge, “Bridge to Lt McGregor, Ens. Wilkinson here, we have a developing situation concerning the nebula and a possible life form.”

Ben SO - Hoping he’s doing the right thing.

=/\=Sounds interesting,=/\= Thomas replied. =/\=Not really my area, but interesting. I’m on my way up. Has Science been appraised of the situation?=/\=

COS

“Science is very aware of the situation, sir, and are evaluating data and readings, this apparent life form is incredibly large and growing exponentially. Thought you should be apprised.” Ben tapped his comm badge nervously, and continued to peer over the science NE’s shoulder at the mass on the view screen. The massive life form was still growing. “Hope this thing is friendly”, was the thought going through Ben’s head.

Ben SO

About five minutes from arriving at the edge of the nebula, the sensor information became more accurate. The large body detected was close to 1300 kg. It was in the shape of an oval. There were no visible appendages except for a small protrusion on one of its tips. It was oriented towards the pulsar. The oval was about 5 m long and it was widest at 1 m in the middle. It was glowing white like a frosted light bulb from the 20th century. The uptake of energy converting to mass resulting in the body increasing in body mass at an average of 14 kg in one hour. However, this seemed to fluctuate quite a bit and was not stable.

GM

Ben walked back over to the security station as science seemed to have things in hand. He activated and scanned his displays to /make sure all the Genesis’s defensive and offensive systems were operational and in standby mode. Again he hoped that if this new life form was sentient, it wouldn’t be hostile. As he awaited LCdr McGregor he watched the viewscreen as the life form continued to pulse and grow.

Ben SO

Marius arrived on the bridge. He still seemed to be a little tired, perhaps he enjoyed the party a little too much. “What’s the situation boys and girls?” He sounded curious but looked bored.

Marius

Ben turned from the security console. This was the first time he had seen the Captain, other than from afar at the party. He glanced at the Science NE, who was busy scanning data and making adjustments to the sensors. “Sir, there’s a life form in the nebula that’s huge and is continuing to grow, apparently drawing power from the nebula itself. Science is on it and taking readings, shields are up and all weapons systems are in standby mode.” Ben swallowed and continued, “I called the yellow alert as a security precaution.”

Ben SO - expectantly hopeful he hasn’t screwed up.

Marius groaned as his body sank in the Captain’s chair. “Life form… huge isn’t a very specific term, do we have any other information? Has anyone tried to talk to the thing?” He looked around.

=^=XO to the bridge please.=^=

Marius

=^=Copy=^= The voice of the first officer sounded over the Comm.

The turbolift hissed open again to admit Thomas to the Bridge. He took a quick glance at the scene on the viewscreen and blinked a couple of times.

“Big baby that likes eating radio waves?” he ventured a guess. “Although if that’s the baby, do we really want to see the mama?”

COS

By that time, the ship’s sensors could come up with a visual of the life form, although the resolution was grainy due to the interference from the pulsar and the dust in the nebula. It was like rod with a swollen middle. In fact it looked very much like a spindle shaped diatom. Of course the diatom is single celled and this lifeform could not be simply a single cell. Another difference was that while diatoms shells were transparent and made of silica, this lifeform’s shell had additional oxides of iron, magnesium and trace metals. In fact it resembled the igneous rocks that could be found in many planets.

GM

OOC: Question. Timeline is as the party is winding down. A yellow alert has been called. Would that not sound in the holodeck to bring that to an end? Not complaining there. In fact that would be eminently Trekkish for something like that to happen. - Gene

OOC: The post started at the same time the party was but there was a time skip of a few hours, I think that gives the party some leeway - Hjortur

Ben looked at science, who seemed to be entirely absorbed with all the data coming in. He scanned his viewscreen at security and replied to the captain. “Sir the thing is about 1300kg at the moment and growing, size is currently 5m long by 1m wide, and no sir, we haven’t tried communicating with it that I’m aware of.” Ben stood aside so LCdr Mcgregor could see the screen and the security consoles display.

Ben SO

Just moments after the Security Chief arrived the Turbolift doors opened yet again this time revealing the Ships First Officer. He took a few steps and looked at the blurry image on the Viewscreen “That’s an it?” He said in an amused yet slightly incredulous tone “We making first contact again?” He asked the Captain as he took his seat on the mans right.

XO

Ben shortly arrived on the bridge.in a wrinkled up uniform that he just threw on. He gave his uniform a sharp snug in a downward motion . He made a veer right to his Tactical to see what had happened as the reason for yellow alert.

Lt. Park, Tactical

Without warning, there was a change in the energy readings. The creature stopped siphoning energy and the pulsar had a respite. The creature itself stopped its internal processes and ‘powered down.’

GM

Ben had been closely observing the security station readouts and watching the life form on the view screen. He also noticed that it was starting to get busy and crowded on the bridge. He turned to LCdr McGregor, “Sir, with your permission I’ll continue to monitor the situation from the Security office and standby in case I’m needed.”

“Sounds fine,” Thomas said, nodding at Ben while casting his own eye over the readouts.

Ben SO - Still hoping he hasn’t screwed up big time

Magnus noted the change, he turned to the Science station “Report, what just happened?” He asked in curious tone.

XO

David had entered the bridge just as the XO was asking for a report. He walked over to the science station, relieving the NE there. He had managed to change into a fresh uniform before making his way up to the Bridge from the party.

“Give me a moment to catch up sir,” David said, logging into the console and reviewing the data.

“Without more data on this area and the life form I’m afraid I can’t come to any conclusion as to what it is or why it’s behaving as it is,” David said. Then he spotted a note from NE Wore who was monitoring things from down in the labs.

“I suggest sending a probe ahead into the nebula itself to gather more sensor readings,” David said. “I can have something ready in…” he paused as his fingers flew over the console. “Three minutes.”

-David Michaels, CSO

COS

Ben turned to enter the turbo lift. “I’ll continue to monitor from the Security office, yell if you need anything,” he said to LCdr McGregor. The turbo lift doors slid open and Ben entered. “Deck six please.” He always wondered why he was so polite to a computer. “Must have been mom, he mused.” He wanted to grab a couple of items from his quarters before heading to the Security office.

Ben SO - watching from afar

Magnus looked at the viewscreen for a moment “Prepare the probe” He said with a clear tone. He wasn’t sure if the Captain wanted to launch it but having it prepared was a good idea.

XO