Cause Unknown



Literary Challenge 63 - Nightmare Anomaly

 

Captain's Log, Stardate 86782.16. The Solaris has been on a survey mission of SMU-14 in the Zenas Expanse when we received a faint distress signal near the nadir warp point of the system's star. Upon arrival, we discovered the long-lost VSS Kol'Dagnar, a Vulcan science vessel. It was presumed lost with all hands in 2398 during it's mission in the Afehirr Nebula. There are no responses to all hailing frequencies, so I will be sending a Away Team to investigate. How it is on the other side of the Alpha Quadrant is one mystery to solve. What happened to the ship is another one ...

+++

The blue shimmer faded as the five person's coalesced into being. The darkness of environment was complete and each member of the Away Team looked around without a step to attempt to get their bearings. One wrist-light was activated and pierced the darkness, illuminating on a member of the party. In quick succession more wrist-lights brought light to their position. Each member wore the bright whit Federation-issue EV suit and wore field-kits relative to their ship-borne position.

As the beams scanned from floor to ceiling, the layout of the ship's bridge started to become familiar to the team. One member suddenly grabbed the side of the helmet and screamed in terror, causing the others to focus their attention on their team mate. As the screaming became more intense, arms and legs thrashed, striking the other members. Another person suddenly stood from the fray then fell back against a console, cracking glass and spraying dust into the air. A third member tapped a button on their EV suit and all five quickly disappeared in a shower of blue light.

+++

Captain Kathryn Beringer stood looking at her Away Team on the beds. She was still wearing the EV suit and was cradling her helmet. She watched passively as Doctor Annika Kramer pulled the hypospray away from S'Rel's neck then wiped the sweat from her forehead, while Karl Melango and Bur'ar placed a catatonic Romas Verthir on a bio-bed.

The doctor tied her long blonde hair into a ponytail then walked to the other bio-bed where Lieutenant Commander Verthir lay, his medical reading were faint. She turned to Kathryn. "What the hell happened over there?"

Kathryn looked down trying to hide a tear forming. "We were onboard for only seconds before S'Rel started screaming in pain. Moments afterward Romas collapsed in his current state. That's when I called for medevac." She sniffled quietly and quickly.

Karl shifted his weight as Kathryn spoke, his EV suit's material wrinkled. He looked around the room at various items or people and scratched at his chest. Bur'ar stood sentry in the center of the room, his Bat'leth held tight in one hand, with a very determined look upon his face.

Annika looked at the three other members of the Away Team. After a few seconds, she listened to her instinct and pulled out a tricorder from her jacket to start a medical scan. When finished, she looked concerned. "Captain, I strongly recommend you and the others get some rest ... here in sickbay."

Bur'ar lifted his weapon and grumbled, "a true warrior only sleeps in death."

Annika quickly tapped her badge, "Transporter room, emergency transport. Lieutenant Bur'ar to the Brig, no questions, do it now!"

The Klingon Chief of Security lunged toward Annika with a roar and just as quick dematerialized.

Karl had cowered under a bed looking around the room frantically and Kathryn had covered her eyes trying not to cry. Annika recovered from Bur'ar's attempt and pulled her Captain toward a bio-bed. A nurse applied a hypospray and Kathryn drifted to sleep.

Lowering herself to Karl, Annika extended a hand. He recoiled and said through trembling lips, "they will ... always remember ... Please help ... me ... forget ... their ... pain."

+++

Later, in the conference room ...

Science Chief Commander Omazei entered the meeting room, smiled at the four other crew members and sat down next to the First Officer. Anthi's Andorian antennae bowed as she nodded then started the meeting.

"It's obvious the Away Team's brief exposure on board the Kol'Dagnar has affected them psychologically. We need to figure out how and what to do about it."

Helmsman Lieutenant Ian KcKinnon leaned forward and sternly replied, "I suggest we destroy the ship."

Anthi raised an eyebrow. "Well, I don't want to remove options, but I was hoping that would be lower on the list." She turned to Doctor Kramer, "how is the team holding up?"

The Doctor sighed. "They are all under sedation. Whatever the cause, S'Rel and Romas were affected more than the others, relatively speaking."

There was a moment of silence before Omazei spoke next. "Hmm, of the team members, they are more psychologically sensitive."

Annika added, "S'Rel is Vulcan, Romas is Betazoid. Of the two, based on my observations, S'Rel condition is more critical."

"That suggests there a connection to S'Rel and the ship." Anthi placed a hand to her chin in thought. "The only one I can think of is that ship was crewed by Vulcans."

Another few seconds passed before Chief Engineer Thel responded. "We need to expand our scans of the ship. Or send another Team." His Andorian antennae swayed to each side with each suggestion.

"I disagree," replied Ian. "Five top officers were brought low within seconds being on board that ship. I don't need a hypothesis to test for causality. Although more scans may reveal why they were effected, does it matter? The fact is the first team was the test and sending more teams will endanger them. Solaris should blow that ship out of existence."

Omazei was quick to respond, "it does matter. Knowing what happened will help us determine how to help the Away -."

A notification beep interrupted. "Doctor Kramer, you wanted to be notified if there were any further reports of anomalous behaviors. Over the last ten minutes, five crew have reported strong headache-like pains. None incapacitated but treatment requested."

"Thank you. Rhonda, what species are the affected crew?"

There was a pause before the nurse's response. "All Vulcan."

"Thank you again". The officers in the room looked at each other.

Omazei pressed her case. "I'd still like to know the cause."

A notification beep interrupted again. "Doctor Kramer, another seven crew members have reported varying degrees of sudden mental stress. From Human to Xindi, there is no pattern."

Annika bit her upper lip. "Thank you Rhonda. I'm on my way." She turned to the assembled officers. "Something is happening and it has to do with that ship." She stood to leave the room until Anthi raised a hand.

"Doctor, I need an analysis of the recent accounts as soon as possible. We have a duty to the Captain and crew to get more information before further action is taken." Anthi stood as a sign the meeting was over.

The officers walked onto the bridge. As they reached their relative stations, Anthi held her head from a sudden and powerful headache. Her brother, Thel, turned to a wall and punched it, howling in pain from broken bones in his hand. Omazei fell from her chair as she envisioned a Trill symbiote tearing open her stomach, splashing blood and intestine to her feet. She screamed.

Ian's fingers danced across his helm console. The ship lurched to port for a few seconds. He wiped sweat from his forehead and blinked the mental vision of the bridge viewscreen cracking and venting atmosphere. He looked around and nothing was damaged.

Omazei stopped scooping air toward her stomach. "Wha ... what was that?"

Thel held his left hand close to his chest and quickly walked to the main science station. After tapping a few keys one-handed, he stood. "Lieutenant McKinnon has moved the ship two kilometers further from the Kol'Dagnar We are stationed eight point three kilometers away."

"Everyone okay?" Anthi was rubbing her temples. She slapped her badge. "Doctor Kramer, have you received any more reports of aberrant behavior from the crew?"

Annika was breathing heavy as her voice carried across the bridge. "In a word, yes."

+++

Later, in sick bay ...

"Wake him." Anthi stood over Karl Melango laying on the bed.

Annika placed a hypospray to Karl's neck. Seconds later he shifted slightly but the restraining field held him in place. He blinked his eyes open and looked around the room before settling on the Andorian's concerned stare.

"Anthi? Why am I in sick bay?"

The First Officer looked surprised. "You don't remember?"

Karl concentrated for a moment, then shut his eyes as if in pain. "Oh ... it was terrible what happened to the crew! They didn't suffer for long. I've never seen anything like it."

Annika stepped up to Anthi. "This is the same with the rest of the crew."

"Pardon?"  Karl looked to the two officers.

Anthi replied, "Technically, you didn't 'see' anything. The Team experienced extreme psychologically-induced shock. So far we have determined something aboard the ship is causing various effects from headaches to violent hallucinations causing harm to self and others depending on the vision and proximity to the ship itself. During the most recent episode, Ian moved Solaris away from the Vulcan ship and the effects stopped.

Karl looked down at himself and brushed a hand against the shielding. Golden light shimmered in photonic waves from the touch. "Is everyone safe then?"

"As far as we can tell, yes."

+++

Later, on the bridge ...

Omazei pointed to the ship. "Sensor analysis confirms the Kol'Dagnar is emanating a powerful psionic field. Embedded within the wave signature is telepathic information, the terminus is roughly five point seven kilometers from the ship itself.

Kathryn didn't take her eyes off the viewscreen. "Telepathic information ..."

S'Rel stated flatly, "it's the death cries of the crew infused within the hull itself. Whatever happened to them, it must have been ... extraordinary. That ship is a tomb."

The bridge crew was silent for several minutes. Only the steady hum from the Solaris' engines and the occasional beep from a console could be heard.

Kathryn turned to S'Rel. "Lieutenant Commander, do you have any recommendations?"

The Vulcan recalled the image of blistered and punctured skin, erupting organs and blood washing the walls of the ship, then shivered slightly. "There is no logical way to determine what happened to the crew, or how the ship came to rest here. It's a clear and present danger. Although we should catalog the anomaly and our experiences, I recommend pushing the Kol'Dagnar into the sun."

Captain Beringer nodded and looked to the rest of her officers. They looked down as if to agree.

"Mr. McKinnon, maintain this respectable distance and position Solaris accordingly. Omazei, prepare the tractor beam to repulse the Kol'Dagnar.

Both officers responded in unison, "Aye, Captain."

---

Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
Anthi Ythysi - Katheryn Winnick
Karl Melango - Jeremy Renner
Thel Ythysi - Kevin Sorbo
Ian McKinnon - Ben Browder
Omazei - Gemma Arterton
S'Rel - Morena Baccarin
Romas Verthir - Idris Elba
Bur'ar - David Ramsey
Annika Kramer - Abbie Cornish
Nurse Rhonda (heard, not seen) - voice of Meg Ryan