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Security Level 2 - Confidential
TO CAPT Egzo, Tabadi Mysti CC CAPT Cynis, LT B'atar, Merc Alyss FROM LT Yig SUBJ Korgasant observation results |
Honorable officers,
As promised, I'm sending you all the results of the „experiment“ that we performed last week. I apologize for any percieved tardiness on my side, but it took some time to properly interpret all the sensor readings and collate all the information.
INTRODUCTION:
On stardate 93882.7, task force Hurq Mevik encountered previously unknown cosmozoan creature during the scouting mission in the territory of the Breen Fenrisal Confederate State. Scouting force was able to observe the creature (later named as Korgasant, or „tentacled mauler“ in Orion language) destroying multiple Breen patrol vessels and evading any counterattacks by „jumping in and out of subspace“ (as noted by one of the observers). As the remains of the Breen patrol scattered, allied scouting force decided to fall back and abandon further scouting efforts in case Korgasant proves hostile. This prompted a staff meeting where it was decided that more information must be gained on the Korgasant, and it was decided that a test will be undertaken for this exact purpose.
TEST PARAMETERS:
The working theory was that Korgasant is a territorial predator that is drawn to and feeds on powerful energy sources like a warp core of a starship. To test this theory, two warp cores were provided – one of a breen Plesh Brekk raider (750 Cochrane output), and one of the KDF Qin raptor (1100 Cochrane output). These cores were affixed to salvaged hulls and towed to the test area on the border of the Breen space and within 0,1 LY of the subspace anomaly area (rougly 5 LY in diameter, further referred as „anomalous region“) created by latest Korgasant attacks. As the test hulls were set (500 thousand kellicams apart) all the allied vessels participating in the test (namely OSS Thana Vaneri, IKS Hag'lhr and IKS San'leth) moved to what was deemed a safe distance (10 million kellicams) from the test hulls, warp cores were remotely activated.
TEST RESULTS:
2 hours and 13 minutes after start of the test, subspace signal was detected 0,6 LY within the anomalous region. Signal was moving at warp 8.2 factor on an intercept course towards KDF hull. Within 42,5 seconds, subspace rift opened on the port side of the KDF hull, revealing Korgasant. As Korgasant captured the hull with large tentacle-like protrusions and devoured the hull, another subspace rift formed that engulfed the creature and it re-entered the subspace. Entire process lasted 6,3 seconds. Subspace rifts formed by Korgasant caused a subspace rift that targeted the second warp core in the Breen hull, causing it's detonation 3,1 seconds after Korgasant's departure. 1 minute 25 seconds later, remains of the KDF hull were detected entering normal space 7,2 million kellicams corewards into the anomalous region.
As a side note, Breen vessel (Plesh Brekk raider) was detected during the test at the other side of the anomalous region (5,2 LY spinward from our position). Vessel made no hostile action and it departed after the test end.
DATA ANALYSIS:
From the results of the sensor scans gained during the test, the following was observed:
- Korgasant is a worm-like cosmozoan entity, 4,1 kellicams in lenght (from maw/mouth opening to the „tail's“ end) and 0,4 kellicams in width at maw/mouth.*
- Creature's only discerning feature is large maw/mouth without any teeth. On the inside of the maw, radially aligned along the maw's length, 12 tentacle appendages are located, approximately 0,5 kellicams in length.
- Creature's body is protected by thick hide-like material, forming overlapping rings that go all the way from the maw towards the tail (getting smaller in diameter but growing in length as they near the tail). Hide was able to withstand fire from multiple Breen vessels without showing any sign of damage.
- During the test, signs of damage were detected on the area close to the maw. This damage didn't penetrate the hide, but it did prove to have some effect. Damage was recent and scans indicate subspace weaponry similar to tricobalt explosives.
- Korgasant is drawn to energy signatures of warp cores – if provided with multiple sources it will target the largest source available. How exactly does it process this energy (or if it uses this energy at all) is yet unknown.
- Korgasant projects a „natural“ subspace field that allows it to stay in subspace for a prolonged periods of time (if not indefinitely). It is hard to pinpoint exact location of the creature relative to normal space as it „dwells“ within the band of subspace spectrum that is not used by most warp drives. If we get more scans during creature's trips to normal space, we will be able to modify our sensors to allow us to detect creature's presence at larger distances and pinpoint it's exact position at close range. This, you may agree, will provide important tactical advantage.
PROPOSED COUNTERMEASURES:
- So far, use of cloaking and energy signal dampening technologies proved to be efficient in masking the presence of a starship. Combined with travelleing at lower warp speeds and keeping to lower warp core power levels might prove a useful evasive technique if we ever get the opportunity to observe Korgasant activities for a prolonged period of time.
- Saturating an area with antitetryon radiation will „strengthen“ the local space from subspace incursions. Even if the subspace brach happens, resulting tetryon-antitetryon reaction will most likely disable creature's sensory capabilities – akin to suddenly exposing a scent-tracking predator to extremely strong odour.
- Use of subspace weaponry is obvious choice, though one must question their legality. However, tricobalt explosives are still an option. In case legalities are of lesser concern, considering Korgasant activites create quite a „subspace mess“ and creature obviously has no concern to any long-term effects, schematics of isolytic weaponry are available for replication.
- „Feeding“ the Korgasant with liberal amounts of conventional explosives and detonating them inside the body could also work. However, if Korgasant survives the damage it might become more careful in the future and therefore harder to track. If decision is made to take out this creature, it should be done in a single attempt.
This concludes the report.
//SIGNED//
LT Yig
Science officer, IKS Daramar
* 1 kellicam (klingon distance measure) = 2 kilometers = 1,4 miles