The Darwin Engine, Ep. 3
Freshly refitted and under new command, the USS Sally Ride was drawn to an unsettled M-class world by a strange energy reading and discovered a crashed KDF vessel on the surface. When an away team beamed down to recover survivors, they discovered that they were being held on the planet by an ancient technological relic. The team managed to activate an interface with the relic, revealing that it was some kind of biological observation device, but can they convince it not to make them its newest specimens?
[attachment=1176]2012-11-17_00019.jpg[/attachment]
The combined KDF and Starfleet group reluctantly attempted to work together to puzzle out the device's purpose in restraining them, or some weakness that could be used to escape it. They were hampered in their efforts by the device's design, which did nothing to accommodate access or maintenance by humanoids.
After concluding that a persuasive approach should be tried before sabotage, lest the device perceive their actions as threatening, Captain Orenn resumed his one-sided communication while Counselor Kelsan attempted to telepathically analyze the relic's mechanical mind. Together they discovered an odd facet of the device's programming: it seemed almost disappointed by the results of its observations, if such a term could be applied to a centuries-old machine.
The device seemed to be programmed to observe evolution, but had become convinced the species on its planet would never evolve. This seemed to offer some motivation for detaining a more advanced species, but no real avenues of escape.
It was one of the KDF officers, a Lethean named Elivir, who finally made the connection between the relic's ancient Vulcan design influences and its frustration with its observations. During and after the schism, Vulcans and Romulans rapidly adapted to changing circumstances, becoming very different species in a very brief window of time. If the relic originated during that time, it would have had too little time to observe any real evolutionary changes, and it would have perhaps been biased to expect similarly rapid development from any species.
Orenn attempted to use biological records from the Sally Ride's databases as a bargaining chip to get off the planet, but the device seemed totally uninterested in negotiation, instead forcibly removing the information it wanted from the ship's computer. Along the way, though, it seemed to get some inkling of the prime directive; once it had processed the new data, it about-faced immediately, ordering the away teams to leave lest they interfere with the development of its planet's native species.
The crews were only too happy to get off the planet, but hardly any of the mysteries surrounding the relic have been clarified. Where did it come from? How is it so advanced? Why has it never been detected before? And what is its real connection to the Vulcan/Romulan schism?
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OOC notes:
SO late. Blame Thanksgiving. :S
Speaking of which, last weekend I decided to host "downtime" instead of a traditional event. No threats, no puzzles, just a few off-duty crew members socializing in the ship's lounge. I'm really happy with the character interactions that arose out of that, so I'm going to work that sort of thing into our regular schedule. For the time being, I think it's something I'll put in between plots. If there's a high demand for it, I may try to work low-pressure social moments into the normal events as well.
Next week's event will be held at the starbase. KDF characters (including new ones!) are again welcome to join in.
[attachment=1176]2012-11-17_00019.jpg[/attachment]
The combined KDF and Starfleet group reluctantly attempted to work together to puzzle out the device's purpose in restraining them, or some weakness that could be used to escape it. They were hampered in their efforts by the device's design, which did nothing to accommodate access or maintenance by humanoids.
After concluding that a persuasive approach should be tried before sabotage, lest the device perceive their actions as threatening, Captain Orenn resumed his one-sided communication while Counselor Kelsan attempted to telepathically analyze the relic's mechanical mind. Together they discovered an odd facet of the device's programming: it seemed almost disappointed by the results of its observations, if such a term could be applied to a centuries-old machine.
The device seemed to be programmed to observe evolution, but had become convinced the species on its planet would never evolve. This seemed to offer some motivation for detaining a more advanced species, but no real avenues of escape.
It was one of the KDF officers, a Lethean named Elivir, who finally made the connection between the relic's ancient Vulcan design influences and its frustration with its observations. During and after the schism, Vulcans and Romulans rapidly adapted to changing circumstances, becoming very different species in a very brief window of time. If the relic originated during that time, it would have had too little time to observe any real evolutionary changes, and it would have perhaps been biased to expect similarly rapid development from any species.
Orenn attempted to use biological records from the Sally Ride's databases as a bargaining chip to get off the planet, but the device seemed totally uninterested in negotiation, instead forcibly removing the information it wanted from the ship's computer. Along the way, though, it seemed to get some inkling of the prime directive; once it had processed the new data, it about-faced immediately, ordering the away teams to leave lest they interfere with the development of its planet's native species.
The crews were only too happy to get off the planet, but hardly any of the mysteries surrounding the relic have been clarified. Where did it come from? How is it so advanced? Why has it never been detected before? And what is its real connection to the Vulcan/Romulan schism?
_________________
OOC notes:
SO late. Blame Thanksgiving. :S
Speaking of which, last weekend I decided to host "downtime" instead of a traditional event. No threats, no puzzles, just a few off-duty crew members socializing in the ship's lounge. I'm really happy with the character interactions that arose out of that, so I'm going to work that sort of thing into our regular schedule. For the time being, I think it's something I'll put in between plots. If there's a high demand for it, I may try to work low-pressure social moments into the normal events as well.
Next week's event will be held at the starbase. KDF characters (including new ones!) are again welcome to join in.
