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Cmdr JFarrington

Andromeda Mission

The Manticore has been drawn through an unusual hole that opened up on the edge of our galaxy. After a wild ride we find ourselves 2 million light years from home, in what appears to be the Andromeda galaxy. How did we get here? More importantly, how will we ever get back?

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Species of Andromeda

The Qin

The Qin [pronounced kin] are a race of extremely intelligent and technologically advanced hominids who inhabit the 4th planet orbiting a main sequence star on the edge of the Andromeda galaxy. Though they are technologically advanced, they are essentially peaceful, resourceful, and reclusive, preferring to hide from intruders rather than confront them. Their history includes a devastating interstellar war, the memory of which they use to defend their resolution of non-alliance and isolation. They call their planet Qin-a [pronounced kin-ah].

Phenotype

The Qin are agricultural arboreal mammals who only slightly resemble apes. They are slender and agile, and have great dexterity. Averaging in height from 1.5m to 2m (5 to 6’), their bodies are covered in a downy fur. Several quill-like structures, about 5 cm in length, protruding from their backs are raised during times of stress, much as a frightened person gets goose-bumps. The quills inject a paralytic substance that enables them to escape from predatory species and anything else that might pose a threat.

Sensory Data

The Qin have limited capability of speech as we know it. They communicate mostly by clicks and high-pitched sounds, most of which are outside the range of human hearing but within the range of other species and humanoids such as Vulcans. The ultrasonic vibrations are produced in a large resonance cavity located on the forehead. They also have a small degree of telepathy; to say they are fully telepathic would be incorrect.

As they have ultrasonic communication, it follows that they are also able to hear within the ultrasonic range as well as within the normal humanoid range. Receptors located in auditory prominences where humanoid ears would normally be are so sensitive that they are able to hear planetary vibrations such as tectonic stresses. They also hear certain naturally-occurring transmissions from nearby stars and stellar phenomena.

The Qin have compound eyes which give them excellent sight. This, together with ultrasonic hearing, has enabled them to detect and usually evade the main planetary predators.

Social Structure and Technological Development

Over the last 7,000 years, a highly developed social structure has evolved. They deliberately have no organized cities, nor have they allowed a complex political structure. Urban development and elaborate political structures are contrary to their chosen simple life-style. Family and clan rank highest on their list of social priorities; contact with other worlds and species rank lowest.

Because of their innate sensory abilities, high intelligence, and extremely advanced technology they are fully aware of star travelers and other species residing within their area of the galaxy. They are not interested in exploring beyond their own planet, deeming it a frivolous and dangerous pursuit. The interstellar war of the 4th Millennium cured them of all curiosity regarding interstellar contact.

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Mission Update, 51080908

Manticore is in a galaxy far, far away.

OPS Officer Lt Cdr Margaux Roget and Admiral Nuts-a-Plenty are on the bridge of Manticore while Captain Sovak and Commander Farrington take the Cerberus and the Chimera planetside to investigate.

Will the species on this planet in Andromeda resemble those we find in our home galaxy? Given the laws of nature, they must be similar in at least some way. Hopefully we'll find a place to survive, if not in the long term, at least until we find a way to return home.

Crew of Cerberus, under Captain Sovak:

• Cmdr Kyle Mele, Medical

• Ens Vilanne Chalice, Medical

• Lt Cdr Garnoopy, Engineering

• Lt Cdr Matt McFly, Security

• Lt Cdr Kansas Kenickie, Security

• Lt (jg) Ian Syndrx, Science

Crew of Chimera, under Cmdr Farrington

• Lt Cdr Faldek, Security

• Lt Cdr Malcolm Escher, Science

• Lt Ritah Lowen, Medical

• Lt Richard Hilee, Engineering

• Lt Doug T., Engineering

• Lt E.J. Pilot, Engineering 

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The Lintu-Saal

Main Predator of Qin-a

 Patterned after a giant pterosaur called an azhadarchid, the lintu-saal is a bird capable of high altitude flight.

It has a razor-sharp toothed beak, padded feet, and is carnivorous.

The lintu-saal is approximately 3 to 4 meters in height (18 to 24 feet), or 3 to 4 times the size of a human.

It feeds at night, primarily during the dark of the moon, but has been known to feed at other times.

Its large head has a resonance area that emits ultra-high frequency sound waves that paralyze its prey, after which it swoops down, grabs its prey in its beak, then flies to a high promontory, usually a craggy outcropping near its nest, and feeds.

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The Qin communicate through ultra-high-frequency sound. Their hearing is acute. Their compound eyes give them exceptional sight, which includes night vision. They do not want to make contact with Manticore, though Kree has determined they are "mostly harmless" (Thank you, Douglas Adams!). Kree has some convincing to do before the council will buy it. A group of travelers they call the Arcarians apparently caused mega-problems, though they seemed harmless enough at the beginning.

The Lintu-saal paralyzes its prey by using ultra-high-frequency sound bursts, drops out of the air, then take their pick of the group they've paralyzed. It nests and eats on high crags, is carnivorous - and did I mention hungry? It feeds during the dark of the moon.

Something is giving people headaches. It could be caused by anything from stress and allergies to high-frequency sound. Science has detected ultra-high-frequency sound waves. Non-human crew who have acute hearing have heard some of the high-frequency sounds (Sovak, for one). They have also detected some strange energy signatures that come and go, source unknown.

The planet is rich in resources, probably enough food and water to sustain us until we can find a way home. Though it resembles home, it is far from it, and our ignorance of its ecosystem makes it more dangerous. It will be livable if we listen to the signs and remain aware of the environment in which we find ourselves. Power is at a premium. Use it, lose it is the motto.

Paralysis and the Predator:

Paralysis will last about five minutes. During paralysis you are fully aware of things around you - all your senses function perfectly. If you were close enough to Ens Rd'shrt when he was taken, you will have seen him and gotten a good look at the predator. Ens Rd'shrt was on the outskirts of Cerberus Camp (Sovak's group). Those who had sensors/tricorders running during their short paralysis will have valuable readings to consider when they recover.

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The Hopper

Similar in color and size to the South American Dart Frog, the Hopper of Qin-a has claws that protrude from its toes when it feels threatened. The claws inject a fast-acting poison into the attacker, then makes its escape. If left untreated for even a few hours, the attacker will be paralyzed and die.

 

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Heard on Manticore:

 

LtCmdr Roget ::watching the crew react and thinking ... sometimes cranial implants are a good thing::

 

Talk about strain.

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The Mission of the USS Manticore, NCC 5852-A

~from their entrance into the Andromeda Galaxy to the present~

Day 1:

 

The Manticore, along with other Black Ops ships, was sent to the edge of the Alpha Quadrant where intelligence sources had detected conduits opening at various points along the perimeter. It appeared that someone was probing the area for weak spots in advance of an invasion. Manticore drew the short straw and was stationed at the point where the next conduit was predicted to open.

Sure enough, the conduit opened and before they could counter its effects the ship was drawn into it. They emerged 2 million light years away in the Andromeda galaxy. The the conduit closed immediately leaving no evidence that it ever existed.

 Admiral Atragon called a meeting of all department chiefs to discuss the situation. Among the proposals were:

• Remaining at that location in the hope that the conduit would reappear for the trip home;

• Finding suitable habitable planets in case they were stranded for some time;

• Opening a rift in subspace and manipulating the mass of Manticore to allow it to travel at unfathomable speeds towards their home galaxy.

The third suggestion, from engineer Garnoopy, was by far the most drastic. The possibility that no one would survive such a trip and the possibility that several star systems would be destroyed because of their subspace manipulation led the command staff to dismiss the proposal immediately.

Remaining at the location seemed, in the words of Garnoopy, “Like watching paint dry.” Therefore, the last proposal seemed to be the best short-term solution.

Days 2 & 3:

The hunt began for habitable planets in the area. The ship began strict rationing measures, six possible planets were found, and a course was set for the first planet on the list.

Day 4:

Orbit was achieved around a planet with a thick, rich atmosphere, areas of flowing water, abundant vegetation, and cloud cover.

Two away teams took shuttles Chimera and Cerberus to the planet’s surface and set up camp not far from each other. The planet seemed promising, with plentiful wildlife, potable water, and an extremely habitable atmosphere. Both teams settled in, built campfires, and pitched tents in an effort to conserve as much energy as possible. A general holiday mood permeated the camps and thoughts that they were far from home were temporarily forgotten.

Throughout the evening, however, a feeling of being watched plagued the crew, and strange sounds from the forest seemed more threatening as darkness fell. Though security had set up a solid perimeter they remained vigilant. Not long after dark the holiday mood vanished as Ens Jason Shirt was taken by a large avian predator that paralyzed the crew with high frequency bursts, then swooped down for its choice of prey. Not long afterwards Dr. Ritah Lowen was poisoned by a tree frog, then disappeared, apparently taken into the forest by creatures unknown.

With two crewmen gone the away teams abandoned their tents to sleep in the shuttles and wait for day before initiating search and rescue.

Day 5:

Because of communication problems, Admiral Atragon dispatched a fighter, piloted by LtCmdr Roget, to the surface. She landed near the Chimera and Cerberus and waited for dawn before checking on the status of the away teams.

At sunrise the away teams and LtCmdr Roget merged to determine a strategy for search and rescue. Security spotted a slender hominid in the forest close to camp. Cmdr Farrington mistakenly used the scope of a phaser rifle to get a clear look at the creature and was completely disabled by a sonic burst. At that, the away teams returned immediately to Manticore with a comatose Cmdr Farrington, leaving only Captain Sovak and a security team on the planet to hunt for Dr. Lowen and Ens Shirt.

Captain Sovak and his security team had just begun searching for their supposedly captured crewmembers when they were met by a sentient hominid similar to the one that disabled Cmdr Farrington. He identified himself as Kree of the Qin who inhabit the planet Qin-a. He also explained that his mate, Vai, a “healer,” has been nursing Dr. Lowen back to health from the deadly venom of the tree frog that attacked her. Dr. Lowen returned with Captain Sovak and Kree agreed to furnish the away teams with protection from the avian predators who took Ens Shirt the night before.

Back on Manticore a new plan of action was formulated. A science team returned to the surface to find the source of a dampening field that continued to interfere with sensors and prevented the transport of personnel and supplies. In sickbay, Dr. Mele puzzled over Cmdr Farrington’s injury. She flatlined and he worked feverishly to revive her. Suddenly she disappeared from sick bay, snatched by an alien transporter beam from the planet’s surface. Though the Qin maintained the facade of a low-technology agrarian society, speculation as to their true nature ran rampant through the crew.

Day 6:

The science and security away teams that were searching for the source of the dampening field also began to search for the missing Cmdr Farrington. Engineer Hilee, piloting Chimera loaded with supplies from Manticore, met them at the surface. The now-combined teams converged on the source of the dampening field, a mountain called “Mt. Atu” by the Qin. There they found Kree of the Qin waiting for them. After bringing them into a conference hall inside the mountain Kree apologized for his species’ lack of understanding of the crew, whom he calls “The Travelers.” He explained their reluctance to unveil their highly sophisticated society and technology and offered to help the crew of Manticore find a way home.

Kree has led Captain Sovak, science chief Escher, science officer Syndrx, Dr. Lowen, engineering chief Garnoopy, and security officer McFly into the heart of Mt. Atu where the knowledge and technology of the Qin is kept safe from hostile forces in the Andromeda galaxy. 

* * * * * * * * * * 

Presently, another moonless night has fallen, one that will be rampant with predators. Admiral Atragon, Keb, Doug, Dr. Mele, Dr Chalice, and Lt Cmdr Roget remain on Manticore. Pilot, Hilee, Faldek, and Kansas hunker down at the entrance to Mt. Atu with Kai and the Sentries of the Qin First Guard.

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Day 6

The science and security away teams that were searching for the source of the dampening field also began to search for the missing Cmdr Farrington. Engineer Hilee, loaded with supplies from Manticore, met them at the surface. The now-combined teams met at the source of the dampening field, a mountain called “Mt. Atu” by the Qin. There they found Kree of the Qin waiting for them. After bringing them into a conference hall inside the mountain Kree apologized for his species’ lack of understanding of the crew, whom he calls “The Travelers” and he offered to help the crew of Manticore find a way home.

Kree led Captain Sovak, science chief Escher, science officer Syndrx, Dr. Lowen, engineering chief Garnoopy, and security officer McFly into the heart of Mt. Atu where the knowledge and technology of the Qin is kept safe from hostile forces in the Andromeda galaxy.

Another moonless night has fallen on the planet Qin-a, in the Qin System of the Andromeda Galaxy. Admiral Atragon, Keb, Doug, Dr. Mele, Dr Chalice, and Roget remain on Manticore. Pilot, Hilee, Faldek, and Kansas hunker down at the entrance to Mt. Atu with Kai and the Sentries of the Qin First Guard. Kree has led Captain Sovak, science chief Escher, science officer Syndrx, Dr. Lowen, engineering chief Garnoopy, and security officer McFly into the heart of Mt. Atu where the knowledge and technology of the Qin is kept safe from hostile forces in the Andromeda galaxy.

Once within the laboratory the Qin grant the away team access to their equipment, which works on a basic principle: they think, the equipment responds. Together the Qin and the crew work on finding a way to Manticore's home galaxy.

At the laboratory, Qin healer Vai leads Dr. Lowen to Cmdr Farrington. The three of them, plus scientist Krell of Qin-a, beam to Manticore. Vai begins to teach Drs Mele and Chalice the principles of harmonic healing. Krell proceeds to the bridge with Keb to help modify the Manticore's systems to compensate for the natural harmonics of the planet and allow Manticore to beam to and from the planet.

Admiral Atragon is reunited with his wife, who remains weak but stable.

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Day 7

At dawn of the crew’s seventh day in the Andromeda Galaxy we find another crewman injured. At the entrance to Mt Atu and the Qin’s secret laboratories, Security Officer Kenickie had a disagreement with a Lintu-saal during the night. A flock of the large avian predators attacked the shuttle Cerberus, upending it and causing considerable damage. Though Kai and the Qin First Guard were able to deter the Lintu-saal from attacking the crew, they were unable to save the Cerberus.

At first light LtCmdr Faldek and Lt. Pilot work on making Cerberus spaceworthy while Kansas rests from her injuries.

Deep within the mountain the Qin have been working with Captain Sovak, Science Chief Escher and Science Officer Syndrx, Engineering Chief Garnoopy, and Security officer Matt McFly. A concerted effort has begun to find a way for the Manticore and her crew to return home. So far they have found a connection between the twin stars that emit wormhole-like conduits every millennium and the quartz construction of the mountain. What the connection is and if it can be manipulated remain a mystery.

During their investigations they are intrigued with Qin technology, definitely a cut above that of the simple agrarian society they pretend to be. Consoles respond to thought patterns, easily manipulated holographic images replace LCARS panels, and food materializes where requested by thought or voice command.

On the bridge of the Manticore, Krell of Qin-a has been assisting Helmsman Keb Mizu and Science Officer T’Prise. They finally succeed in configuring the Manticore’s systems to “harmonize” with the frequency of the mountain. Communications and transporters are restored. The injured Kansas Kenickie is beamed to sick bay.

In sick bay, Dr. Mele relaxes while watching Vai of Qin-a employ harmonic resonance to heal of Cmdr Farrington. Drs Vilanne and Ritah tend to Kansas when she is beamed aboard.

On the bridge, Admiral Atragon has relaxed, if only a little. It seems that his pronouncement that “this time, no one will die” has held sway so far. The only missing crewman is now Ens Jason Shirt, taken by the Lintu-saal their first night on the planet.

Noon approaches and it is time for the crew to rest, refresh themselves, and take stock of what they have learned.

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By evening of their seventh day in the Andromeda galaxy, the crew of Manticore had found a plausible way of getting home. Unfortunately, the crew was so consumed by the prospect of going home that they had all but forgotten an important fact. The circumstances of their coming to the Andromeda galaxy were dire and their sudden return could prove disastrous. But on the eve of their departure their only concern was to properly execute the intricate plan they had devised in conjunction with the Qin.

The science department had determined that the resonance of the crystal mountain on Qin-A was connected to the binary stars’ production of the inter-galactic conduits that had snatched them from their home galaxy. Theoretically, if the team could encourage the mountain to resonate at those frequencies again, the binary stars would resume producing inter-galactic conduits for the return journey. If not, the crew and its descendants would have to remain in the Andromeda galaxy until the next cycle, due at the beginning of the next millennium.

The plan worked, the ship entered the vortex towards the Milky Way galaxy, and within minutes it accelerated to unbelievable speeds, well beyond any known warp capability. As they popped into normal space, very close to their exit point seven days ago, key systems failed, including navigational control, external communications, sensors, tractor beams, and weapons.

Traveling in excess of warp 9.9 and without navigational control and sensors, within seconds the Manticore careened into a Sovereign Class special ops ship. The special ops blockade, of which Manticore had been a part seven days ago, was still in place with orders to defend the Alpha Quadrant against a possible invasion.

Some of the crew sustained injuries, including Dr. Mele, Engineering Officer Doug, Science Officer T’Prise, Navigation Officer Keb Mizu, and Security Officer Kansas Kenickie. However, that could be the least of their worries as the special ops blockade ships move in. Could the surrounding fleet suspect that the supposed invasion force has commandeered the Manticore?

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