Secrets of the Derelict

Posted on Tue Oct 21st, 2025 @ 8:32am by Lieutenant Aidan O'Connor & Commander Samantha Howard & Lieutenant JG James Phoenix

1,284 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Wild Wild West
Location: Planet

Aidan and Ash made their way through the corridors of the alien vessel, slowly moving ever closer to the engine room. They both had their tricorders out and were scanning as they walked. Sam had determined that much of the dust that seemed to cover ports of the ship was in fact the remains of the crew likely, indicating that the ship had likely been on automatic for some time. Aidan figured that it would take a long time to reduce a body to dust, but a security program could also do the trip in an instant. With Sam and Phoenix on the bridge fiddling with things there, it was time to see what secrets they might learn seeing the engine.

Arriving in Engineering, Aidan took a cursory look over the state of things. It looked as if everything was in order, no visible damage. The dust coated some of the consoles, but that was to be expected. The electrostatic from the consoles was a magnet for dust. He looked to Ash, "Let's take a look, see if we can get things up and going again."

Ash nodded as she scanned the area. "It seems the computer core is nearby. Want me to start there?"

"That's fine lass. I'm going to catalog the various components first before I try activating anything. You just be watchful when you start poking through those computer files. Don't activate any crazy security programs" Aidan replied with a wink and a smile. He began walking around the Engineering area with his tricorder, scanning everything, cataloguing it all, and getting a sense of how this particular vessel was designed to function.

Based on the warpcore design, along with the other things he was seeing, his thought that this ship had similar technology to the that of the Romulan's seemed to be coming to fruition. They definitely had similarities, though the differences where they existed were pronounced. As he stood in front of the control console and powered it up from its reserve, he could see this was about to get a bit more in depth than he had thought it would. "Gravimetric drive. Focused EM coils. The Romulans would marvel over this, then steal the secrets and say they invented it all" he mused aloud. "Deanna and Inara really need to take a look at this thing. The scientific and engineering principles that went into building this ship..." he shook his head is bewildered amusement. "How's it going in their Ash? You finding all sorts of interesting things, or is it just me?"

"We probably need to make sure the Romulans don't get their hands on the technology then" Ash smirked as she read the computer logs and called out to Aidan. "It appears their course had them investigating a spatial anomaly. I can't quite determine the origins" she trailed off.

Aidan made his way over to her, "Any indication how long this ship has been without crew? I think it safe to say this ship has been running on automatic for some time. Whoever built it definitely had certain advancements in automation that we lack. I think it safe to say this ship could run itself for at least several months." He looked at the console Ashlynn was using, "Maybe I can coax some information out of this record you are looking at."

"I'm still looking for anything concrete" she said honestly before moving slightly aside to let Aidan do his thing. "But I'd imagine that with the dust plus their advancements it is very well possible that it's been more than several months."


******

Phoenix and Sam remained on the bridge. Now that the internal sensors were operational again, she had confirmed that there were no life signs on board. She was tinkering with the computer system, trying to find some log entries about the situation in which the ship's crew had died.

"Hey, look at this, they were investigating a huge spatial anomaly" Sam powered up the main viewscreen and started to replay the last few log entries.

Phoenix turned his gaze away from the tactical console and towards the viewscreen as Sam requested. "Any idea where it originated from?"

"No idea" Sam mused as she listened to the humanoid on the viewscreen. They were bipedal from what she could see, yellow skin tones and golden eyes. Their uniforms were militaristic. Sam's tricorder took a few moments to catch on to the language before it started translating in real time.

"We are investigating. The origin is unknown; the Master will be pleased. If we can harness the energy, it will power our planet for several years...."

Phoenix remained silent as the log continued playing.

The log entry ended and the next began, the bridge cast in an angry orange glow and people were screaming. The ship's captain had blisters, uniform burnt and torn.

"We had no idea.... please send help, they’re eating us alive. Beings of no body that live in the energy nebula, they're angry. Please, help us!"

The log ended, the terrified screams of the bridge crew still ringing in her ears. Beings with no body...and now a ship with no bodies. Sam shuddered as her blood ran cold.

"Howard to away team, be warned we may have incorporeal brings on the ship that killed the crew. Watch yourselves."

=^=Doc, did you say incorporeal creatures? Like something out of a ghost story? =^= Aidan replied.

"The captain's last log entry referred to beings with no bodies killing the crew. They were terrified, I'm trying to find a way to referencing how long ago that log entry was made" Sam worked on the panel. "Have you found anything of note in Engineering?"

Aidan listened to what Sam was saying. =^=Phoenix, take a look into the subfile of the log entry. That should give you a date. Then all we have to do is compare that time index with our stardate. =^= He looked at Ash, "Head on a swivel lass. We may have ghosts and goblins running about this ship."

=^=Aye sir, checking now=^= Phoenix said over the comm as he returned his gaze to the console that he was working at.

Ashlynn turned to Aidan. "Having my head on a swivel is my specialty sir" she quipped before looking back at the console.

Phoenix found the file and opened it. He quickly scanned the date and moved on before he stopped dead and did a double take. =^=Sir I've found the date=^= he said before trailing off in disbelief. =^=It says that the year is 1885.=^=

Aidan stood at the console gobsmacked. "Jaysus" he muttered. "This ship was set on autopilot and just hung about. We got to locate the star charts and flight log." =^=Doc, I want to recommend you contact the captain, get Cmdr Celes down here if possible, and if not then Lt Senn. I think it important that that I have a full contingent of engineers and science officers down here for us to completely look over this ship, and a full security contingent as well. And not to step out of bounds, I don't think any of us should return to the Washington until you can be certain we are all medically safe and nothing dangerous is aboard this ship. =^=

"I'll see what I can rustle up for you" Sam replied, taking a few breathes to steady herself before contacting the ship. As before, the comm didn't work, something in the hull was blocking it. "I'll need to go outside; we had clear comms out there with the ships. Give me a minute" she unholstered her weapon and checked the charge. "If I'm not back in 10 minutes, bring a body bag."

TBC

 

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