101660.2
CAPT Tyrstoc
LOCATION Aldebaran sector, Acheron system, pulsar debris ring
MISSION Investigate source and intentions of Cthon transmission to DS13
OUTCOME Relay station and all personnel affected by rogue transmission accounted for and restored, Cthon signal traced to Acheron system, extended monitoring and cataloguing completed on Conam Mining Outpost 423 and Cthon self-propelled stellar objects.
KEY PERSONNEL
Captain Tyrstoc
USS Heimdall Chief Science Officer CMDR Piram K’shoph
USS Heimdall Chief of Operations LT CMDR Nakcetu
NARRATIVE In pursuit of the strange transmission that afflicted CAPT A. Nimitz aboard DS13 several months ago, USS Heimdall discovered an unusual pattern of asteroid movement around the Acheron pulsar.
After tracing the signal from DS13 to the affected Starfleet deep space relay, all personnel were found in good health, but the communication satellite’s equipment was critically damaged by overload. This transmission had presented as a standard Starfleet greeting with all associated protocols. Once accepted, however, the transmission penetrated system firewalls and accessed databases, before locking onto CAPT A. Nimitz’s location and redirecting there. The relay’s systems were damaged by power surge in the process. Heimdall delayed further investigations to aid in relay repairs by order of commanding officer CAPT Tyrstoc.
The signal’s origin point was determined to be the Acheron system. Upon arrival, Heimdall’s sensors detected normal electromagnetic radiation from the neutron star, and found the asteroid housing Conam Mining Outpost 423 to be in an unusual orbit close to the star. The orbit was unusual by nature of being perfectly circular, rather than the elliptical standard of the system. The housing asteroid was found to be composed of 90% dilithium, likely prompting Conam to create the mining outpost in the first place.
Further research using both CAPT A. Nimitz’s original reports on the Cthon, as well as reports from Conam, indicated the asteroid was positioned well within the pulsar’s radiation danger zone, making safe approach impossible except by utilizing a “shadow” effect from other nearby asteroids and rendering transporters inoperable. The facility itself was built into the asteroid and heavily shielded. Heimdall approached with extreme caution making use of the observed “shadow” effect. A probe was sent ahead, as no further intelligence was available in the four years following A. Nimitz’s original mission to the outpost.
At this time, ship sensors detected an asteroid on an irregular course toward the Acheron system in the direction of the Heimdall, then lost contact. Visual scans revealed eight-legged lifeforms unfurling what appeared to be web-like solar sails along the asteroid, which absorbed scan frequencies. Angled deflector scans were able to reacquire the object in time to see that, upon full deployment of these “sails”, the object moved to a low warp 3.5 at the system’s edge. Course was estimated to be approximately the Aldebaran sector.
Some time after this, several launches were recorded from Outpost 423. Unlike previous catalogued self-propelled asteroids, these objects slowed as they reached the debris field surrounding the pulsar, and visual scans detected the same manner of web-liked solar sails as observed prior. However, rather than leaving the system, these objects made course into the asteroid fields, and contact was subsequently lost.
Detailed probe scans of Outpost 423 revealed the station to be covered in some form of massive, web-like structure theorized to be some manner of shield.
The Cthon—as the previously observed lifeforms have been identified—appear to have arrayed the mining facility’s mass driver on an adjacent ridge at an angle sufficient to use it as a crude launch system to send objects out of the system. More web structures were detected around the mass driver superstructure, possibly as shielding or even a power source.
All forms of scan proved unable to penetrate these web-like structures to gain more detailed and precise information. Further approach was deemed imprudent without reinforcement and clear orders.
These observations were made prior to the events detailed in AAR: The Visitation, when the USS Heimdall redeployed to assist the USS Endeavour.
RECOMMENDATION It must be determined if these Cthon have hostile intentions toward the Federation or surrounding populated systems, as they appear capable of inflicting substantial harm over extensive range. It must also be assessed to what degree diplomatic relations are possible with these lifeforms, as they display characteristics of advanced intelligence and are capable of interstellar travel. Such diplomacy, if possible, should be pursued to ensure sector stability. If diplomatic solutions not possible, quarantine should be enforced.
OOC I’m very sorry this took me forever to put up, particularly to @Trellain43 who has been absolutely wonderful behind the scenes in making sure I can still feel included and a part of this really cool story they have put such work into despite my total inability to function of late.