Ensnared
Posted on Tue Mar 18th, 2025 by Lieutenant Commander Freya Preston & Ensign Valencia Roma
1,056 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
M01 - The Hooke
Location: Ruins, Terra Nova
Timeline: Present
Emma led the two Starfleet officers into the chamber where the additional glyphs were, "We've not had much luck trying to discern the glyphs. Honestly, however, we were more focused on learning whatever we could about the artifact itself because we don't know it's full purpose." She told them after walking past the chamber with the artifact inside it.
Valencia entered the chamber behind Emma and began to look around in the hopes that she might find some evidence indicating how long ago the glyphs had been painted on the walls. She pulled out a tricorder after realizing these glyphs and markings were not nearly as eroded as the ones outside the chambers. "I might be able to scan them," She said.
Freya let the Ensign work and began to look at the glyphs themselves, "They tell a story." She said suddenly and began attempting to figure out what that story was or where that story had begun. "We may want to record these glyphs for further study." Freya added.
Emma had little experience in these matters, "What kind of story do you think it's telling?"
Freya shrugged, "I don't know," She admitted.
Valencia continued to look at the scan results while occasionally looking over the edge of her tricorder at the different glyphs. "I think the beginning is right over here sir," She replied to the Commander. She continued to walk through the room, "If I had to guess it's probably telling the story of their discovery of this place. It's definitely from before the Novan colonists which means someone else was here."
"They may have been the ones who originally set up the power source that Lieutenant Bancroft had noticed," Freya added. "Were you able to date the artifact after discovery?" She asked Emma.
"Um yes," Emma said, "The artifact itself is several millennia old."
Valencia closed the tricorder, "Then we have a problem," She said. "I just finished dating these glyphs and they're only about two maybe three thousand years old. The artifact is older than the glyphs, but you said the artifact is advanced technology there's no way someone drew these after that, these are from a much younger culture."
"Unless the culture that drew these found the artifact after it had been placed here?" Emma asked rhetorically. "Would you like to see it?"
"Not yet," Freya said, "I think I'm understanding the story, though I can't quite translate it. But, this section of the wall they found this chamber and began to catalog their story, then we move to this wall and it's talking about fire falling from the skies and their destruction."
Valencia found that rather odd indeed, "Do you think maybe they were wiped out by an asteroid much like the Novans were hit by one?"
Freya shrugged, "I don't know, maybe?" She shook her head, "Can you get images of these glyphs so we can analyze them on the ship?"
"Oh we already did that," Emma said. "I can have someone send them to the ship if you would like to analyze them." She started for the exit from the chamber they were in, "I'll show you the artifact now."
Freya grinned, "I would appreciate that yes, I think Ensign Roma would like to get a further analysis of them, we may even be able to translate it somehow." She followed Emma certain that Valencia wasn't far behind them and soon found herself standing in the chamber with the artifact. There were some glyphs though they were somewhat more faded than the ones in the other chamber. She looked around before noticing the artifact on a pedestal.
Valencia entered behind them and started looking at the artifact itself, "Did someone move it?" She asked Emma.
"Not that I know of," Emma began, "Why?"
Valencia paused, "Because the artifact has been moved at some point though I can't tell how recently that would have been. This wasn't where it had been originally," She notated the scarring on the pedestal which told her it had been shifted, possibly slid across the pedestal after it had been constructed. When Valencia went to study it further she brushed her hand across it by accident.
Valencia heard a soft whirring starting up and it startled her. She took a step backward, "I'm guessing it wasn't doing that before." She muttered.
"Nope," Emma answered then they heard a sudden burst of air and when Emma turned to look the door had sealed itself shut, "I didn't know it could do that either," She mentioned. "Do you have anyway to contact the ship or the other two?"
Freya nodded and hit her communicator, but it didn't make any noise beyond the sound of a dead chirp. "Something is interfering with our communications. It's most likely the artifact we need to find a way to shut it down." Freya began to look at the artifact and wondered if there was a way to do that in the first place. "The others may be trapped as well."
"Most likely," Emma answered. "There may be something on the artifact itself that will help shut it down."
Valencia was already working on that by taking a closer look at it, however, she didn't see anything that would indicate there was anyway to shut it off. "Well we're not in danger here," She said. "I wish we had one of the engineers with us though."
Freya nodded, "Let me have a look, maybe these glyphs will give us some clue."
"Good idea," Valencia said and took a step back. "I'll begin looking at the glyphs and see if I can figure out the instructions, assuming they exist in the first place." Valencia was able to quickly figure out what they may have been indicating and sighed with her shoulders down, "These glyphs, if I understand correctly, it seems that whatever this ancient culture was, they were worshiping the artifact."
"That's not very useful," Emma replied.
Freya shook her head, "Not useful at all," She answered. "Well I suppose we're going to have to try to figure this one out for ourselves." She sighed and began looking around the device to see if there was something she missed. So far it seemed like there wasn't an answer, or a solution for that matter.
Emma Logan
Written by: Freya Preston
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