Star Trek: Starbase 777

"Lieutenant Commander Vara'l, can you hear me?"

"I can hear you Lieutenant, you're coming through clearly."

"Ah, good. The fact that the comms are working is reassuring. For now, at least. Keep us updated on your end, yes? We will try and see if there is anything notable around and try and reunite with the rest of you."

"Aye." A pause. "We'll keep you updated, we've just entered a mess hall area and are proceeding, we'll keep in regular contact."

"We have discovered an engineering hub. We will see what it holds... if anything."

"Lieutenant Commander tr'Hara to Lieutenant tr'Lareth." Pause. "We've encountered more of the flesh as expected and well, a officer's proposed a brief test using the replicators to attempt to gather information on how the viscera reacts to organic matter or well, food to gather some information on its nature" A pause. "Wanted to get your input on it, Lieutenant, given our respective departments."

"Ohhh-kay... Basically you want to see if the substance react to sustenance. If it is my input you need - I think it is a viable thing to try, because that just might give us some context to how this thing has spread. If it does do something with the offering... we, ah, might have to reclassify our viscera into an actual cell organism, or a colony of such. I cautiously offer my support to the idea, however please, please make sure it is a small amount you are testing, and if you can, ensure that the testing ground is somehow isolated to the maximum. We do not need accidents - the messages we've heard in the communications hub should serve as a warning."

2

"Understood, I'll relay everything you've said and ensure its a small amount they test."

"Lieutenant Commander tr'Hara to Lieutenant tr'Lareth, we've done as you instructed as best we could and are commencing the test now."

"Good luck and godspeed."

5

"Lieutenant Commander tr'Hara to Lieutenant tr'Lareth, test concluded, it ate the replicated meat." A pause. "More specifically, tendrils pulled the meat under the surface and there is now a bump."

"How splendid. Meanwhile, I've just heard my own voice echoing down the hall, deeper in the building. Proceed with utmost caution."

"Indeed." A pause. "Understood, will relay that now."

"Lieutenant Commander tr'Hara to Lieutenant tr'Lareth, we've progressed to a crew quarters area." A pause followed "We've encountered signs of struggle and signs of the flesh having enveloped a desk, we're investigating."

"Got that, thank you. We have found some information in the engineering hub that is of interest, which we will also investigate further. In the meantime, we've moved on to the sickbay, which... is unfortunate. I will keep you updated."

"Enarrain Xuan tr'Khnialmnæ to Lieutenant Saren, have you found anything of note? We have found a log from one of the crew, it seems like this was some sort of disease."

"I-- sorry, yes, gods. My apologies, I have not reached out to you immediately. We've just witnessed an... overgrown officer. Their body was covered in the same substance that you see all around you, formed in growths. They got buried under the debree, and we are currently figuring out how to get out of the sickbay. I, ah... ask of you to be extremely careful, and in the case you do run into something similar... try to aim for it's head. We're speculating that it's where the cells controlling the... bodies, are concentrated. Again, my apologies..."

4

"That is surprising, thank you for the update, we will be careful."

"Saith to Saren — everything looks okay here if you wanna head over, just, um, be careful. Because of the fleshy bits everywhere."

"Okay, thank you Saith. Expect us soon."

"Eventide to Away team. You guys okay?"

5

"This is Lt. Cdr. Zhi'rev tr'Lareth, may I confirm who is speaking please? We've had some... trouble... down here. We will elaborate more once we confirm your identity."

The pilot rattled off her name and badge number with practiced ease. "You sound a little rattled, Commander."

"We've had a lot of weird stuff happen down here. Do not under any circumstances send someone down here to help us. We should be able to handle ourselves. May I ask why the sudden contact? I must admit that you spooked us a bit."

"Oh. I see." She hesitated, sounding a little confused. "I just figured you could use our help, seeing as the outpost sent out a distress signal without a message attached."

7

"That wasn't us. Any distress signal sent wasn't us. There is something on here mimicking officers... so please. Do not believe any distress signals that don't have a badge number attached."