Do Not Forget Us (USS Essex)

Posted on Sat Oct 11th, 2014 @ 5:08pm by Captain L'Verrem & Commander Jonathan Coleman

1,119 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Mission 86 - Discovery
Location: Science Lab 1
Timeline: MD 3, 2200hrs (Following 'Recovery and Discovery')

Coleman had given the information to Admirals Bremer and T'Lar about the possibility of the Neyel being in the Federation. The Neyel were an offshoot of the Human race from some of the earliest colonies that humanity ever tried to build in the 21st century. The colonies had a catastrophic failure onboard the colony, which led its people to be moved hundreds of thousands of light-years away in the Small Magnetic Cloud.

That's where they Humans made their home and were left undisturbed for a little over two centuries, when the USS Excelsior came through after their own engine failures. The crew met the Neyel and collected valuable data on them. It was another century before the Federation would make contact with them, after the USS Titan, under the command of Captain William Riker, came through a rift in Romulan space to the region where Neyel called home. This time, the Small Magnetic Cloud was appearing to 'wake up.' The Titan and her crew helped to put the cloud back to its natural state and save the Neyel from harm.

Coleman had sent out a priority one communique to the USS Excelsior, USS Titan, and Starfleet Command. He knew Admiral Akkar would want to be apprised on this information, as well as would be an invaluable source of information. Coleman had also requested Captain L'Verrem's assistance in helping make sure his findings were correct.

Meanwhile, L'Verrem made his way to Science Lab 1, fresh from his meeting with Admiral T'Lar and expecting to find Commander Coleman there.

Coleman looked over his shoulder as the Caitian walked into the room. He turned around and greeted the captain and said, "Thanks for coming on such short notice. I know you just got back from the mission not long ago, but I could really use a second opinion in making sure I don't look like a ditz."

L'Verrem politely bowed his head and said "Peace be between us, Commander Johnathan Coleman," as was the traditional first greeting for Caitians.
He then raised his head, his ears and whiskers now pointed directly at Coleman, and said "I am eager to discover the identity of the beings that left the tetryon source on the planet below. Admiral T'Lar said you had a working theory."
The Caitian's expression then turned to one of perplexity.
"I would be happy make sure you do not look like a ditz, but I am unsure how, or why, you would change your appearance into a Pacifican deep sea predator," L'Verrem said quizzically.

Coleman chuckled before replying, "I look like this because I took the device straight here and haven't had the chance to get out of the attire for the planet. I haven't had a chance to have the dear doctors take away the cosmetic surgery because I wanted to make sure the device was settled in first."

Coleman then pointed to the device and led L'Verrem to it. He crouched by it again and pointed to the language on the device. "When we got back onboard and while I was making sure the device was secure, I ran the language through the computer's database, to see if there was any base for the language and apparently, it quickly found the closest language. The language was apparently Neyel, which are an offshoot of the Human race. Know anything about them?"

L'Verrem shook his head.
"I have not heard of them," he replied with a soft purr in his r's. L'Verrem commanded the computer to display a Neyel on the screen and then beside it, an image from his tricorder log of his excursion into the derelict. The two images appeared and he studied them carefully, his whiskers pointing forward slightly in intense interest.
"I see similarities, but the remains of the beings on the derelict were much taller and thinner, and did not possess a tail. It is possible they are an offshoot of the Neyel, or that they encountered them and traded for their technology," L'Verrem replied.
"Computer. Compare DNA scan from my tricorder to those of the Neyel," L'Verrem then ordered the computer.
It chirped in obedience, the said flatly "Analysis complete. seventy six percent match."
The Caitian cocked his head and trilled at the response, then turned to Coleman.
"They are related. Intersting. Perhaps they are a genetically modified branch of Neyel? Modified for living in low gravity conditions? It would explain the similarity of the language on the tetryon power source to Neyel."

Coleman looked at the information scrolling across the screen. "I remember the reports of them having to be modified to living in low G environments. But, I don't remember the reports saying anything about them having tails. Anything could have happened since the Starship Titan re-encountered them in 2379. I talked to Captain Riker and the crew of the Titan before you got down here. They're going to send their information once they can get to the nearest Comm Relay in the Beta Quadrant."

Coleman scratched his head before continuing. "The interesting part is why the tail? Why genetic remodeling such as that?"

"Genetic modification can be used for rapid adaptation to new environments or introduction of superior traits. However, it is so powerful, there must be a solid moral code to guide its use. It is widely used in the Federation to correct birth defects early in pregnancy. In contrast, there are several historical examples of its misuse. In the case of these...Neyel and this offshoot, it seems they used it for adaptation and, perhaps, survival. The use of a tail would provide superior balance and even the ability to use it as an additional appendage for gripping. I will have to study the Neyel more to be certain," L'Verrem explained.

"Alright, just let me know what else you find out about them. I actually included this in my senior thesis at the academy, when I studied xenobiology and exobiology. I've always found them a little bit interesting. Thank you though for coming down and taking a look at it. Its always good to get a second opinion." Coleman stood up and looked at the device once more before securing it in the corner of the science lab.

L'Verrem bowed his head politely, then turned to leave to return to his office. His curiosity was now piqued. Who were these beings and how did they come to be an offshoot of the Neyel, if his theory was correct? Why did they feel the need to further genetically modify themselves? Why was their distress beacon never heard or, worse, why were they never rescued? Questions filled his mind as he padded along the corridor to the turbolift and purred quietly in contemplation.

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