Initial Study: Aggressive Fungal Entity

Subspace Network Communications
1

To: CMDR Alina Mandra
CC: CPT Lunya Vel
From: LTJG L’sherra
Subj: Aggressive Fungal Entity: Initial Study



Attending Science Staff: LTJG L’sherra, Xenobotanist
Study Environment: Vacuum Lab 2, lvl 5 shielding in effect.
PPE Precautions: Full environment hazard suit, handheld torch for self-defense reasons
Hazard Level: EXTREME

Study Transcript from attached Audio Log Recording:

This is LTJG L’sherra of 38th Fleet Argo, Xenobotanist, Science Division. Deep Space 13 research facility, Vacuum Lab 2. Subject is an unknown aggressive form of fungus encountered in a derelict vessel, adrift in the Beta Quadrant. Subject is contained in a level 5 shielded specimen collection vial.
Researcher is currently outfitted in a full hazard-rated environment suit.
Beginning initial observations.

Subject has filled the entire vial. Sample gathered had been less than two centimeters in diameter and now had spread to the limit of it’s confinement. Whether this is due to self-propagation or the sample…spreading out…is unknown at this time.
I’m fetching a large containment chamber now, with the appropriate shielding.

Alright…starting the transference procedure.
Heavy breathing
Inserting…containment vial into the transference receptacle…
Mechanical sound. Whoosh, then loud ‘thump’ noise. L’sherra screams. Heavy breathing for a few moments.
Subject…subject…violently transferred. Fungal specimen…shot…into the larger containment at incredible force. It is now currently…moving. Moving around the surface of the containment chamber. Movements are slow, but quite visible. It…it seems to move via…tendrils. Like an amoeba. It’s…

shaky breathing. L’sherra’s voice drops to a whisper.

It’s following me.
I move…it moves to…to…keep me in…vision? No…it has no eyes…no sensory organs of any kind…but it knows where I am…oh stars…

more shaky breathing

It stopped. It’s not moving anymore…even as I circle the containment chamber…it’s not moving…clinging to the wall like a sp…

a thump and L’sherra screams again. sounds of rustling fabric and panicked breathing.
It JUMPED! It jumped across the containment chamber right at me! The chamber held, but it JUMPED! It didn’t act like this on the ship! Ending initial study…I can’t do this right now…I’m getting out of here…locking down the Lab upon exit…

heavy breaths, hurried steps, the sound of a lab lockdown procedure initializing. a sigh of relief.

Vacuum Lab 2 locked down. Recommend restricted access to essential personnel only. Containment shielding should be requested to be a priority for power consumption until specimen is either destroyed or…controlled? I don’t think we can control it…

LTJG L’sherra, ending initial study.
I recommend this…entity…be kept classified and Starfleet advised of this…threat.
End recording.

//SIGNED//
LTJG L’sherra
Xenobotany
Deep Space 13 Science Division

—

//ATTACHMENT// lab voice recording

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To: LTJG L’Sherra (@Rio)
CC: CAPT Vel, Lunya (@LunyaVel); CAPT Varley, @Lauren; CMDR @Valore, Sera
From: CMDR Mandra, Alina
Subj: RE: Aggressive Fungal Entity: Initial Study



Thank you for the enlightening, and honestly, unsettling analysis Lieutenant.

In truth I am torn. I don’t ascribe intent or intelligence by simple actions alone, but it is clear this fungus can sense living organisms nearby and is very hostile toward them as a matter of survival and propagation. This makes it an inherently invasive and aggressive species.

I see two potential outcomes to encountering this specimen in any future scenarios: Evasion and Destruction. There is no evidence to currently ascribe any conscious ability to this, so due to the danger it possesses, I am thinking that immediate extermination is not only valid but preferable in case it goes on to harm other lifeforms.

You are wise to suggest this be restricted knowledge Lieutenant. No doubt if another power with aim to use it antagonistically against an enemy were to learn of it, it would be even more dangerous. In light of this destruction of further organisms is even more wise perhaps. I recommend these things to my superiors, whom I’ve added to this message should they see it prudent to raise it up to Fleet Command.

I will be assigning a dangerous organism specialist on our staff into looking into our specimen further. They may try to learn more from it, though I will also order implementation of a fail safe to destroy it if it poses a risk of containment breach.

If you have any desire to be further involved Lieutenant let me know. I get the sense you may not though, and that is fine if so.

//SIGNED//
Commander Alina Mandra
Chief of Sciences,
Deep Space 13

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To: CMDR Mandra, Alina (@Master_Dex)
CC: [Reply All]; LTJG L’Sherra (@Rio)
From: CMDR Valore
Subj: Fungal Entity Response



Commander Mandra,

I have reviewed the log attached to this message chain. It is clear that this organism could pose considerable threat to both the station itself and its personnel. As such, it should be considered ultrahazardous and all precautions should be taken to safeguard this installation from potential breakout of the science labs.

I have considered the balancing test with regards to containment, attempting to communicate, or to destroy this organism. Destruction would be the safest option given potential ramifications should containment fail. However, on further consideration, I believe that it may run counter to Starfleet’s instrumental mission to seek out and study new life if indeed it is doing what it is doing out of self-preservation rather than malice. Given lack of evidence to indicate otherwise, I must come to the conclusion until other data indicates otherwise that it is attempting to protect itself.

As such, I must proscribe any proactive attempts to terminate it at this time. Unless there is a concern that containment is no longer viable, upon which I will reconsider this decision, it will be prudent to keep it where it is or in a substantially similar situation to where it is right now. If observers are not safe in studying it, then impersonal methods will have to be deployed instead.

See if you can discover the source of how it makes decisions. I will leave the scientific particulars up to you, but such fungal spores would surely have to communicate somehow. It must have been able to detect Lieutenant L’sherra somehow, which implies a degree of perception. Whether it is rudimentary or sophisticated, we simply lack sufficient information at this point to make an informed decision.

That is where you come into play. Do what you can to find out more. If deemed relevant and helpful, you may request of the medical department that they send their physicians to assist in studying it. I commend your department’s initiative thus far. I also personally commend LTJG L’Sherra for her dutiful fact-finding efforts in the face of the unknown.

Such is my order that you shall carry out save for new instructions higher in the chain of command.

//SIGNED//
CMDR Valore
Executive Officer
Deep Space 13

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To: CMDR Mandra, Alina (@Master_Dex)
CC: CMDR Valore (@Valore)
From: CAPT Vel, Lunya
Subj: RE: Aggressive Fungal Entity:
Initial Study



Thank you all for the updates on this dangerous organism. I echo the concerns of everyone over the nature of this thing, and listening to the testimonies of my away team, I am highly concerned with the handling of it on the station. Its mutation when attached to a living “host” seemed to produce a super aggressive being, with enough intelligence to try to operate navigational equipment. What it could do on this station, with the amount of people on board, I would consider that a nightmare scenario. Any of those on the away team are available for interview should any of your research team need any information they can provide.

As of the writing of this reply, I have dispatched part of my fighter wing and a shuttle to investigate the area of where the derelict ship was destroyed. I do not imagine they will find anything, as the derelict was destroyed by several quantum torpedoes. There is possibly a relation to the rogue planet that we were en-route to survey. I have attached its telemetry data and tracking information to this reply.

If at all possible, please keep me informed as time and security restrictions allow

//SIGNED//
Lunya Vel
Commanding Officer,
USS Midway NCC-90133-B

—

//ATTACHMENT// XL1-A22Telem.Teldat

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To: CMDR Valore @Valore ; CMDR Mandra @Master_Dex ; CPT Vel @LunyaVel
CC:
From: LTJG L’sherra
Subj: Continued Research



Thank you to all who read the report, and I sincerely apologize for the screams in the audio log. I am regrettably quite easily startled.
I am relieved to find that there is agreement that this organism be taken seriously and that it be kept from general knowledge at this time. The last thing I want is a panic that involves more than myself!

As for the continued study of the entity, I feel that, despite my personal feelings regarding the organism, I have unique insight into it’s behavior, having seen it in all known stages thus far. One of only four people who have, and three of those are needed at their respective postings. Thus, it falls to me.
In addition, botany has some insight into fungal growths, and so I have the scientific training necessary, as well.
On a personal note, my fear is of little concern when regarding how this could very well impact other people. At the very least, we need to know what this is, and how to deal with it.

On the subject of the organism being sentient or capable of communication, I had that thought after calming down following the initial study. With the permission of fleet command, I would like to propose a series of experiments to ascertain whether the fungus can, and will, communicate.
I plan to do this in three phases:

  • Vocal, Visual, and Textual forms

  • Mathematical, Symbolic, and Allegorical

  • Telepathic, Emotional, and Pheromonal

These are the majority of most communication forms, from the most basic to the most exotic. I can present or simulate each and see if the fungus responds to any of them. This will help us understand, at least, if it is a sentient form capable of telling us what it wants or if it is perhaps more ‘feral’ in nature.
Once we have this baseline information, I think we can move on to finding a motivation for doing what it does.

I’m hoping that it is willing to compromise. That we can find some way to dissuade it from…eating people.

I’d rather as few people be involved in this as possible, to prevent greater risk of breach or…infestation.
I’m fully aware of the risks to myself involved and though I will take every precaution, I believe failsafes should be in place to seal the lab and incinerate the interior should the organism become larger than a certain amount.
Even if I am inside at the time.
Because if it gets to that mass…it means I’m already gone. Like the helmsman of that ship.

Starfleet has always balanced safety with risk, in order to know what is out here in our galaxy.
I’m willing to do my part in that.

Even though I’m terrified of the possibilities.

//SIGNED//
LTJG L’sherra
Xenobotany
Deep Space 13 Science Division

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To: LTJG L’Sherra (@Rio)
CC: CAPT Vel, Lunya (@LunyaVel); CMDR @Valore, Sera
From: CMDR Mandra, Alina
Subj: RE: Continued Research



I’d be happy to allow you to work alongside Dr. Taldar on this. He will have the final say though on if the specimen needs to be destroyed however. I also think specific plans need to be worked up for each level of these tests before they are just attempted.

I admit I am skeptical there is much to learn, though my surprise at Commander Valore’s insistence makes up for it I suppose. The lab will have ample safety precautions available.

This is exactly the kind of study I wanted the off site asteroid based lab for years ago but was denied. Something about post-scarcity budget overruns… always felt a bit fishy but nonetheless, we’re here at this point now. I expect to hear back from you later, and if not, at least hit the alarm so I know to evacuate the station.

//SIGNED//
Commander Alina Mandra
Chief of Sciences,
Deep Space 13

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