Disturbing Ruins Can Lead to Ruination

Posted on Mon Jun 17th, 2024 @ 4:43pm by Lieutenant Commander Alexander Espersen

Mission: Ancient Civilizations
Location: USS Chimera
Timeline: Time jump: The day after the archaeological expedition returns to the Chimera

STARFLEET COMMAND DOCUMENT RETRIEVAL AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

LOGIN

**

Username: ESPERSENA39
Password: *****************

**

///New Document///

**

Report: Mission 2394-09411
Location: Unnamed Class M Planet (P2), Unnamed Star System, Spatial Coordinates 13902-81455

Background:
On the planet designated Trarim, CMDR Espersen obtained an artifact, as well as a map identifying the location on which the artifact was found. The artifact was mechanical in nature but had parts which were assessed as being attachment points for organic components. CMDR Espersen, on the basis of prior experienced, assessed that the artifact was Irol in origin.

Irol
The Irol (name translated by Masunda, Z, and Corby, R, 2261) were a civilization which existed until approx. 15,000 years before present. Evidence of Irol civilization has been found on 12 planets within or near Federation space. The Irol were believed to be insectoid (no bodies or body plan imagery has been found; conclusion was based on the layout of excavated chambers and control equipment) and used technology which had biological and mechanical components.

Planet
The map which showed the location the artifact was found did not include a name for the planet or system. The planet was Class M with a mostly desert climate. Previous archaeological digs had taken place.

Incident Report:
On Stardate 71845.4, Runabout Argo-01 (USS Chimera) was launched under the command of CMDR Espersen (Command; Engineering) and crewed by LT Valleroy (Security), MCAPT Markova (Marine Corps), LT Stanson (Exobiology), ENS Delacroix (Archaeology/Anthropology), and ENS Larson (Operations). Argo-01 traveled for two hours at Warp 3.5 to reach their unnamed destination.

Upon landing, the away team was divided in two, with CMDR Espersen, LT Valleroy, and LT Stanson taking the General Purpose Vehicle to explore a settlement (B Site), located 4.8km East of the landing site, while MCAPT Markova, ENS Delacroix, and ENS Larson began assembling excavation equipment and exploring near the landing area (A Site).

B Site identified equipment of Irol design which appeared functional. CMDR Espersen engaged the control, with the aim of observing how the mechanism worked, understanding that a 15,000 year old bio-mechanical system with its biological component having deteriorated should not function. However, the control activated a still-functional ventilation system, which opened multiple ventilation ducts across an area approx 15km by 10km, some of which were intact while others had eroded. One eroded duct opened near A Site, under the feet of the A Site Team, which brought them 100m underground and 450m East into some kind of receiving chamber.

The away team has concluded that the introduction of fresh air into the ventilation system caused several specimens of Irol to emerge from stasis (unclear if mechanical stasis chambers, some kind of biological torpor, or both; the area from whence the living Irol emerges was not visited).

Description:
All observed specimens ranged in size from 1.8 to 2.7m in length. Body plan was generally insectoid. Small head, triangular in shape, with varying sizes of mandibles. Thorax with between four and ten limbs, which was flexible, permitting the aliens to use their forelimbs as arms/hands. Abdomen variable in width and length. There were signs of coordination but no language detected; telepathy is suspected but not confirmed.

Three distinct forms of Irol were observed. The smallest two, with only four limbs appeared to be a worker class. Its forelimbs were specialized at clearing the rock/dirt/sand and their secretions served to reinforce the tunnels. The middle three were appeared to be a warrior class. They had six limbs, the first four of which were razor sharp, and enlarged mandibles. The largest one had ten limbs and seemed to act as a command/leadership caste. One warrior always remained by its side. It always kept further away from any interactions but was never out of sight of the others.
Description Ends

After assessing their situation, A Site Team began to look for a route back to the surface. Within minutes, however, the first Irol attack came. ENS Delacroix sustained minor injuries to her leg from exploratory contact from worker arms. ENS Larson however, was impaled through the chest and taken back into the tunnels by a warrior. MCAPT Markova damaged both Irol but not sufficiently to deter them. ENS Larson's lifesigns cut out seconds after the Irol retreated. No remains could be recovered.

After assessing the situation from the surface, the B Site Team slowly went after the A Site Team. Finding a safe access point and navigating it to reach the trapped team members took three-point-five hours.

The combined away team navigated the tunnels and fended off Irol attacks twice more before reaching the surface. LT Valleroy and MCAPT Markova inflicted considerable damage on worker and warrior units but they continued to function at high capacity.

Only 20m from surface access, an Irol warrior struck LT Stanson through the abdomen. CMDR Espersen helped him to the surface and into the runabout but he could not be saved.

The away team used Argo-01's phasers to close the opened access chute. No further Irol lifesigns were detected but it is possible that sensors were blocked by metals in the rock.

Conclusion: CMDR Espersen is assessed as having made an error in judgment in activating the control system at B Site. While it permitted the observation of life Irol individuals, it also led directly to the untimely and unnecessary deaths of LT Kenneth Stanson and ENS James Larson. CMDR Espersen requests to prepare the notification letters to their next of kin.

LT Valleroy and MCAPT Markova should be commended for keeping their cool under pressure. Both sustained minor/moderate injuries in their efforts to defend the rest of the away team. CMDR Espersen and ENS Delacroix received only trivial injuries. DR F'Arra has already treated all surviving away team members and has approved their return to active duty.

A warning buoy has been left at A Site, advising potential future visitors of the possibility of additional living Irol. We can only hope the warning is respected.

Tricorder data and field reporting of all discoveries will be transmitted to the Starfleet Department of Science, Archaeology and Exobiology branches.

Report Drafted: LTCMDR Espersen, Alexander
Report Approved: CAPT Skyie, Calypso (Approval Pending)