TO<38th/Command> CC<USS al-Haytham/Command> FROMCMDR Hristine, Zillah SUBJObservational assistance with Kelterre II
Greetings, 38th Fleet.
Allow me to briefly introduce myself. I am a senior xenologist in the Pre-Warp Observation Branch here at the First Contact Division for the 38th Fleet's region of operations. We specialize in formation and deployment of research teams to pre-warp worlds to observe the civilizations who are growing there and document their development, as well as provide guidance to other units on the First Contact process, should it be determined necessary.
It has come to our attention that you have a particularly unique situation growing on your doorstep with regards to Kelterre II, so we are reaching out to see if we can be of assistance. As the civilization in question has not yet arrived to occupy their new dwellings, it seems like an unparalleled opportunity to set up a covert observation site without the usual potential threat for discovery, one we would sorely like to take advantage of before it is lost.
That said, we understand the circumstances are unusual and there are many unknowns, foremost of which is whether or not this civilization is indeed pre-warp at all. We are willing to engage in discussions with you on a plan of action, if any.
Regardless of whether or not you require our assistance, it would be beneficial if your officers could forward all their findings and research thus far, so we may compile a standards-compliant dossier for the civilization in question.
TOCMDR Hristine, Z. CC<USS al-Haytham/Command>; <38th/Command> FROMRADM. Konieczko, D.
SUBJRE: Observational assistance with Kelterre II
Commander,
Thank you for reaching out to us. I would agree that we find ourselves in a unique situation, even that may be an understatement. Currently we have the U.S.S. al-Haytham observing and reporting the developments on Kelterre II. They have been instructed to hold off on contact should the space construction lead to a first contact scenario.
As this is your branch of specialty, and I would welcome what Pre-Warp Observations can offer to the situation.
//SIGNED//
Rear Admiral Dmitri Konieczko
Commanding Officer
38th Fleet 'Argo'
TORADM Konieczko CC<USS al-Haytham/Command>; <38th/Command> FROMCMDR Hristine, Zillah SUBJRe: RE: Observational assistance with Kelterre II
Admiral,
We're pleased to hear of your interest. Ideally we would like to establish a covert observational post on the planet itself. Given that Kelterre II is an oceanic planet, we have a couple aquatic designs that would be appropriate and would allow us to house a research team on the surface to keep closer tabs on whoever comes to reside on the planet. While there is no doubt that the USS al-Haytham has done excellent work in their observations thus far, future study of the actual inhabitants cannot be effectively carried out from orbit, let alone remain undetected.
While we are prepared to staff this research outpost with our own staff, we would welcome officers of your own to supplement our staff and share in the discovery, if you would prefer.
With your approval, we could have an outpost built within ten days. I welcome any questions or concerns you may have over this proposal.
TOCMDR Hristine, Z. CC<USS al-Haytham/Command>; <38th/Command> FROMRADM. Konieczko, D.
SUBJRE: Re: RE: Observational assistance with Kelterre II
Commander,
You have my approval to establish such a post, however it would be inappropriate for me not to draw attention to the Oribot's tendency to disassemble foreign materials. This may have been a security feature or it may have been during their gathering of resources to construct the surface habitats. We have multiple instances of this happening, with several probes and then attempting to do so with a shuttlecraft.
I'll leave attaching additional officers to the discretion of the attached commanding officers. Even if they decline to attach personnel I would like for us to be kept in the loop of further developments.
//SIGNED//
Rear Admiral Dmitri Konieczko
Commanding Officer
38th Fleet 'Argo'
TORDML D. Konieczko; CMDR Z. Hristine CC<USS al-Haytham/Command>; <38th/Command> FROMCMDR S. al Firawn
SUBJRE: RE: RE: Observational assistance with Kelterre II
Admiral, Commander,
We are ready to give assistance where needed, including officers and science personnel, if not on a long term basis, then very much so on a short term one.
Commander, you are free to come onboard the U.S.S. al Haytham for a full briefing on the situation when you arrive in orbit. We look forward to working alongside you.
Regards,
//SIGNED//
Commander Sulayman ibn Tariq al Firawn
Commanding Officer, USS al-Haytham
38th Fleet "Argo"
TOCMDR S. al Firawn CCRADM Konieczko; <USS al-Haytham/Command>; <38th/Command> FROMCMDR Hristine, Zillah SUBJRe: RE: RE: RE: Observational assistance with Kelterre II
Commander,
After our initial scouting of the regions near the hypothetical colony, we've elected to go with the attached design for our covert observation post. Please allow me to go over the highlights:
Roughly 32 kilometers away from the floating colony site is an underwater mountain spire, a common geographic feature of Kelterre II, and one of the four that are closest in range. We've selected a site in a chasm and plan to dig out a section in the side of one cliff, then build a foundation and shell to house the observation post. Especial attention is being paid to the digging process with respect to the presence of picoverbium.
We will be utilizing significant resources to mask the emissions of the outpost, as well as visually disguising it to appear like the remaining cliff face. We'll be using both physical scaffolding and holographic projections to provide the most convincing illusion while reducing the emissions output.
The observation post will include an airlock that can house up to two hydrofriendly shuttlecraft at once, assumed to be our primary method of entering and exiting the outpost. At this distance, shuttles exiting and entering the water will not be visually apparent to the colony and emissions dampeners should ensure that they stay off local sensors as well. (For once, the scattering effect of Kelterre II's atmosphere can only be counted on to aid us in this particular scheme.)
Max crew capacity at any given time is 12, emergency situations up to 20. All officers who are posted on a long term basis must be scuba certified.
TO<USS al-Haytham/Command> CCCMDR Hristine, Z.; <38th/Command> FROMRADM. Konieczko, D.
SUBJRE: Observational assistance with Kelterre II
ALLCON;
With the report submitted on Stardate 96093.0, orders from Command are as follows:
-If a method of surveillance of the space gate can be established without revealing observation it should be done.
-The al-Haytham should vacate the immediate vicinity of Kelterre II to avoid detection but remain in or on the system's edge to provide necessary support if needed.
-There is an orbital communications satellite orbiting Kelterre II, this needs to be collected prior to the al-Haytham leaving the system. This does also mean that communications with the ground team will be interrupted.
//SIGNED//
Rear Admiral Dmitri Konieczko
Commanding Officer
38th Fleet 'Argo'
Since our last communication, we were able to make many new observations of Species 2515 and further our research into their developmental status.
Note that we have also recorded sufficient samples of Speces 2515's verbal dialogue to provide a Universal Translator profile. Species 2515 refers to themselves as the 'Tidehollow', so references shall henceforth shall use the same term.
We have recorded an approximate colony population of exactly six hundred adults. The vast majority of these individuals are being kept in stasis on the Tidehollow's mothership, which seems curious given their use of gate-assisted warp travel. A skeleton crew of twenty-five individuals stayed awake and handled the initial landing and assessment operations after the Tidehollow mothership landed on the planet. This group has been slowly assessing various factors on Kelterre II and they have been awakening their population in phases, so currently the colony is active with approximately 162 adult individuals.
The exception to this is the youth, or perhaps infant, population. We have not been able to get an accurate count, but we did notice that the Tidehollow deposited a number of small masses into what Argo personnel have previously speculated was a nursery or hatchery area of the colony. These appear to be egg cases or pouches. The existence of such suggests that newborn Tidehollow have a vastly different physiology compared to adult individuals at birth and may undergo some sort of metamorphosis after they are born. We will be monitoring these closely over time, as much as our distance enables us to.
We have also observed their governmental structure, inasmuch as one exists. There are three individuals who make up the primary leadership: one lead scientist/researcher who has been at the forefront of learning more about their new surroundings, one lead civics officer who has been managing the colony development affairs, and one security officer who has been responsible for the colony's defense measures, though thus far they have not been tested on that front in any manner.
We also suspect that their ability to complete scans of orbit and beyond has been likewise hampered by Kelterre II's scattering atmosphere. Assuming they are curious about space at all, it seems likely that they will look for a solution for this.
No new vessels have entered through the orbital gate thus far.
We will continue observing until ordered otherwise.
Please see the latest update regarding Kelterre II. With the First Contact team sufficiently embedded, I believe the U.S.S. al Haytham's mission here is drawing to a close. A probe can be deployed to monitor the gate further, and to forward any updates directly to command.
Regards,
//SIGNED//
Commander Sulayman ibn Tariq al Firawn
Commanding Officer, USS al-Haytham
38th Fleet "Argo"
