AAR: Return to Kelterre


SUBMITTED:
Stardate 95686.8
FILED BY:
CAPT A. Derenzis
SECURITY:
Level 1 - Open


LOCATION: Kelterre II, Kelterre Sector

MISSION: Investigate unknown objects reported by the local research outpost.

OUTCOME: Objects found to be small robots, 456 in number, sampling local oceanic plant life. One robot secured for study. Probes in place for long-term monitoring of robot population.

KEY PERSONNEL:
RADM D. Konieczko
CAPT A. Derenzis
CAPT A. Nimitz
CMDR T. Akaela
LCDR H'ajah, Daughter of Shal
Lt. O. Prydin
LTJG S. Valore
ENS U. Stern

NARRATIVE: In response to a request for assistance from the research outpost on Kelterre II, starships Asimov, Pegasus, and Shackleton were dispatched to investigate the appearance of of several small objects entering the ocean of that planet. Asimov, under command of RADM Konieczko, with LCDR H'ajah as executive, would provide oversight, while Pegasus provided security for orbital and surface operations, and Shackleton handled the surface scientific investigation.

On arrival at Kelterre II, Shackleton deployed three shuttlecraft for the surface investigation. Shuttlecraft Hadfield, containing this officer as well as CMDR Akaela, LT Prydin, LTJG Valore, and ENS Stern, proceeded to one end of the affected ocean region, while Shuttlecraft Bondar proceeded to the other end of the affected region, and Shuttlecraft Garneau proceeded to a region 10 km from the affected area. Hadfield would investigate the objects themselves, while Bondar would investigate ocean and ecological conditions inside the affected region, and Garneau would study ocean and ecological conditions outside the affected region as a baseline against which Bondar's findings could be measured. Each shuttle also contained four security officers loaned from the Pegasus

On arrival at coordinates, Hadfield's sensors detected the presence of several small robots, measuring between 5 cm and 25 cm in diameter, engaged in some form of sampling or harvesting activity. Between ourselves and Bondar, a total of 456 robots were counted:

  • 45 robots (10%) were deployed in a perimeter around the others, scouting and patrolling.
  • 274 robots (60%) were engaged in sampling the local life, focussing exclusively on the seaweed present with occasional sampling of local fish and coral. LT Valore reported that the harvesting operations appeared to be in a manner designed not to disrupt the local ecology; "sustainable" being the word choice used.
  • 137 robots (30%) were engaged in unknown activities, occasionally assembling into large constructs for some temporary purpose before disassembling.

At LT Valore's suggestion of attracting one or more of the robots with bait, ENS Stern used tricorder scans of plant life from one of his previous excursions to Kelterre II to replicate a piece of seaweed from a cave ecology. We initially descended to under one meter from the water surface to deploy the 'bait', but had to ascend to 3 meters above the water surface when several of the robots began throwing themselves at the shuttle. No damage was sustained by the assault. Once the robots had returned to their normal activity, ENS Stern opened the shuttlecraft door and tossed the bait overboard. The robots immediately assembled a larger construct around the piece of non-local seaweed and remained in that configuration before dismantling and resuming their operations. The bait seaweed was effectively untouched. The behavior of the robots against the shuttle was sufficient for all present to agree not to send divers down after the robots.

At around this time, the Hadfield registered three Class-3 probes being launched from the Asimov. The robots did not respond to the arrival of the probes, but the probes allowed for continued monitoring of the robots' activities.

The initial behavior of the robots determined, it was decided to try to secure one of the robots for detailed study. However, the unique conditions of Kelterre II's atmosphere ruled out the transporter, and none of the deployed shuttles had tractor beams or other equipment which could be used to secure a robot without endangering any personnel. This officer ordered the shuttles to wrap up scanning operations and return to the Shackleton while other options were explored.

Six hours later, the above mentioned officers aboard the Hadfield, along with CAPT Nimitz and LCDR H'ajah, but minus LT Prydin, returned to the affected region aboard the runabout Endurance. The Shackleton's engineering teams had modified a basic exocomp drone for underwater operations and with a clamshell 'trap' designed to contain one of the smaller robots. A cable attached between the drone and a winch assembly added to the Endurance would insure we could safely retrieve the drone. This officer and CAPT Nimitz deployed the drone, LCDR H'ajah assumed control of the drone, while LT Valore and ENS Stern monitored the robots' behavior.

LCDR H'ajah secured one of the perimeter robots within the drone's clamshell trap and brought it to the surface for retrieval. ENS Stern reported that two other robots approached to examine the drone, but otherwise did not interfere with the capture process. Once back aboard, LCDR H'ajah detached the clamshell trap with its occupant and placed it in the quarantine chamber at the back of the runabout. After reporting our findings to the Kelterre outpost, we returned to the Shackleton.

The secured robot has been placed into an aquatic environment closely mimicking the environment of Kelterre II in one of the Shackleton's science labs. Before the Shackleton departs the Kelterre system, this aquarium and its occupant will be transferred to the Asimov.

RECOMMENDATION: At this point, the officers who took part in the surface investigation agree that the robots pose no immediate threat to Kelterre II or the research outpost, and that the researchers are free to continue their work. The probes in the ocean can provide the outpost with updated data on the robots' behavior. Should that behavior change, the outpost has been instructed to contact Starfleet at once.

The secured robot should be studied in its captive environment to gain further insight into its behaviour and programming as well as the ultimate goal of these robots. This officer recommends limiting study to non-invasive scans until a better gauge of the robots' sapience, if present, can be determined.

It is possible that whoever built these robots may return to collect them, though some have posited the robots, despite their small size, might have the capacity to leave Kelterre II on their own. This officer recommends the satellite network at Kelterre II be expanded to provide continuous monitoring of the space around Kelterre II in the event that a follow-up vessel or vessels arrive.


OOC: This is the AAR for both parts of the "Return to Kelterre" event, hosted Sept 5 and 7. Special thanks to Kat for running both events. As always, if I've missed or misinterpreted your actions, please let me know and I'll make the appropriate corrections.
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SUBMITTED:
Stardate 95687.3
FILED BY:
LCDR H'ajah
SECURITY:
Level 1 - Open


ADDENDUM: HAVING FEARLESSLY BESTED THE INVASIVE MACHINES WHICH STYMIED THE FIRST CAPTURE ATTEMPT AND CLAIMED AS MY PRIZE ONE OF THEIR NUMBER, I RETURNED TO THE AZIMOV, VICTORIOUS. THERE, SUPPORTED BY A TEAM OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS PERSONNEL, I SOUGHT TO STUDY THE TINY MECHANICAL EXPLORER IN CAPTIVITY.

THE SPECIMEN'S STRUCTURE IS COMPOSED OF A SQUARE SHEET OF SYNTHETIC PLASTIC MESH, SUBDIVIDED BY A NETWORK OF SEAMS WHICH ALLOW THE SHEET TO CREASE AND FOLD INTO INTRIGUING, COMPLEX SHAPES. WHEN SUBMERGED IN LIQUID, IT ASSUMES A BULBOUS CONFIGURATION ALLOWING IT TO COMPRESS THE LIQUID MEDIUM THROUGH A NOZZLE TO GENERATE THRUST, IN A MANNER VERY MUCH LIKE MEDUSOZOAN ACQUATIC LIFEFORMS. WHEN REMOVED FROM THE LIQUID MEDIUM, THE MACHINE RECONFIGURES INTO A COMPACT, VIBRATING SHAPE, LOOKING MORE LIKE SOME CHITTERING INSECT.

THE STRUCTURAL MESH IS NOT KNOWN TO THE FEDERATION MATERIALS DATABASE, ALTHOUGH HAVING CONDUCTED MOLECULAR ANALYSIS, MY TEAM BELIEVES THAT THE MATERIAL COULD BE REPLICATED. IT IS LIGHT, FLEXIBLE, CONDUCTIVE AND APPARENTLY PHOTOVOLTAIC. THE METHOD OF THIS LAST PROPERTY IS STILL BEING STUDIED, BUT IT APPEARS TO MIMIC THE PROCESSES OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC PLANTS.

THE MESH SHEET CONTAINS NO APPARENT CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT; INSTEAD, A SERIES OF NANOPROCESSOR NODES ARE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE MESH AT THE JUNCTIONS OF ITS SEAMS. THUS FAR, THE INNER WORKINGS OF THESE NODES REMAIN OPAQUE TO US. WE HAVE FOUND NO MEANS OF INTERFACING OR COMMUNICATING WITH THE MACHINE.

IT IS THE CONSENSUS OF MY TEAM THAT THE SPECIMEN SHOULD BE DUBBED ORIGAMI PROBE, IN REFERENCE TO A HUMAN TRADITION OF FOLDING THINGS TO MAKE SMALLER THINGS. I MAINTAIN THAT MY ORIGINAL SUGGESTION, DIMINUTIVE CONQUEROR, IS A FAR SUPERIOR TITLE.

RECOMMENDATION: CONTINUE TO STUDY THE MACHINE. ATTEMPT TO ASCERTAIN HOW IT COMMUNICATES. CONSTRUCT FACSIMILE MACHINES TO INTRODUCE TO THE SPECIMEN, WHICH IT MIGHT ATTEMPT TO COMMUNICATE WITH.
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