| SUBMITTED: Stardate 95862.0 | FILED BY: CAPT A. Derenzis | SECURITY: Level 1 - Open |
LOCATION: Lowka M-1, Lowka System, Doza Sector
MISSION: Exploration of a cave system uncovered by initial survey.
OUTCOME: Evidence of a possibly extinct subsurface Bronze Age civilization found, as well as possible clues to its extinction. Survived attack by local predators.
KEY PERSONNEL:
CAPT S. Bishop,
CAPT A. Derenzis,
CAPT A. Nimitz,
CAPT T. Nimitz,
CMDR T. Akaela,
LCDR J. Eunbi
CAPT A. Derenzis,
CAPT A. Nimitz,
CAPT T. Nimitz,
CMDR T. Akaela,
LCDR J. Eunbi
NARRATIVE: This officer and CMDR Akaela, at the invitation of CAPT Bishop, joined an exploration on the surface of the M Class planet designated Lowka M-1. A previous survey team had uncovered a cave system not picked up by orbital scans.
Our beam in site showed a healthy ecosystem with a diverse collection of flora and fauna, though no sign of the cave reported. Tricorder scans were unable to reveal the subterranean network due to an unknown scattering element in the ground. We were able to find the cave after a brief search thanks to CAPT T. Nimitz' employing her infrared sensitivity and CMDR Akaela's keen night vision. At the cave entrance this officer noted the presence of mineral veins in the weathered rockface, which extended approx. 4/5 up the hill before stopping abruptly. The top 1/5 of the hill appears to have suffered significantly more weathering than the rest. While we entered the cavern, CAPT T. Nimitz had additional climbing gear beamed down from the Endeavour to aid us if necessary.
Inside the cavern, we encountered small obstacles such as a short (approx 2 m) drop and rockfalls blocking part of the caverns. This officer and CAPT Bishop were able to clear one of the rockfalls enough to allow for access further into the cavern network, where we eventually found a much larger chamber. Prior to entering this chamber, CAPT Bishop discovered evidence that part of the cave system had been excavated or expanded artificially, using bronze tools.
The chamber itself had houses carved into the rockface, though scans revealed them as having been abandoned for upwards of 30,000 years. At this point, LCDR Eunbi, keeping watch for any telepathic signs of inhabitants reported that we were no longer alone, and CMDR Akaela reported hearing something skittering nearby. Those of us with weapons immediately went to alert. Seconds later, a number of crab-like predators attacked the away team, but were repulsed with no injuries. The predators demonstrated an aversion to light and heat. CAPT T. Nimitz reported that the predators' body temperature blended well with the background temperature.
In the aftermath of the attack, team members started finding skeletons in some of the houses. Some of the skeletons, humanoid in overall structure, were intact, while others were missing a number of bones, and bore evidence of something having gnawed on them. We wrapped up our scans and returned to the surface before the predators could regroup and return.
RECOMMENDATION: There is sufficient evidence that whatever civilization here was wiped out by some cataclysmic event, which this officer hypothesizes is connected to the geological changes seen outside the cave. Further examination of the planet may uncover whether this civilization started underground or was driven there by the aforementioned event. Examination of the cutoff point for the mineral veins in the rockface may also yield clues as to the nature and age of this event.
This officer recommends extreme caution in further cave explorations on this planet. The surrounding rocks are opaque to tricorder scans and may also block or scatter transporter and comm signals. The crab-like predators pose a significant threat to any ground teams, but since they are repelled by light, this officer recommends strong floodlights be employed as a passive defense, with phasers set to wide-beam stun as a secondary defense. Finally, although this cave system yielded an extinct community, it is not outside the realm of possibility that other communities may have survived and still exist under the surface of Lowka M-1. If so, we may have a possible first contact scenario brewing with all attendant Prime Directive complications.
OOC: AAR for Sam's impromptu event Sunday night. Thanks to Sam for running this, it was fun! As always, if i missed anything or misconstrued events, let me know and I'll make the necessary corrections.