Stardate: 2365.03.29 (Sunday - 42269.8 )
WaveRider Shuttle - Rho Puppis I Uppermost Atmosphere - 1140 Alpha Shift

"We're entering the area past Mister Siric's initial findings. Commander." Jenna glanced at the viewscreen. The clinging bits of atmosphere came and went, almost like... "Sir? If i didnt know better, I'd say that these things are... tasting us. Like a child with a lollipop."

Tasting us? Kurt's head tilted to the side. Now that was a fascinating thought. Up until this moment, Erik had been assuming that whatever it was that was draining the probes shields was some sort of hitherto unknown micro-organism. Something without any real thought or sense of sentience. 

Standing on his toes, Kurt tried to peer past his shipmates to get a look at the viewscreen. A slight shift of those in front of him granted him a brief view. The white strips of atmosphere did seem to ebb and flow, rather sporadically as though it was tasting. Or even testing the waters, as it were. 

Falling back onto his heels, Kurt blinked his magnified blue eyes and let a soft puff of breath escape him. Now this truly was fascinating. Possibly they were dealing with some sort of semi-sentient micro-organism located high in the atmosphere of Rho Puppis I that not only managed to interface with the deflector shield's energy field but seemed to feed on it. Or at least drain it. And, perhaps, it even favored certain... "flavors" of shields. 

"But vut vould make a flavourful shield?" Kurt pondered, half under his breath. Perhaps the frequency of the energy fields? Maybe the current, or the shape of the projection vectors. Would more powerful shields cause more distinct and vibrant flavors? What if one lowered power and brought the frequency just to within spec? Or even adjusted the waveform amplitude? Almost to a direct current form... But no, the shield wouldn't be able to sustain itself at that point. A synchronous phase and proper amplitude between the two shield emitters was essential to the distortion of the energy fields that made the shield, and if those were brought to low, then a catastrophic failure would be fairly probable. But what if, instead, he adjusted the shields in the opposite direction? Tried to make an unbearably "spicey" shield. 

But what would spicey be? Kurt stopped pacing without even realizing he had started. He began tapping his lips with the tip of his finger. If he wanted to taste the shield, what would spicy be like? Well, his gut told him that sporadic frequency changes and higher amplitudes sounded sharp and spicy. With, perhaps, 108% capacity charge? No, 109.5%. Yes, the generator could probably handle that for some period of time. 

"Vell, I've never been a good chef, but I tsink tsat I could vhip somtsing up..." Kurt decided. He turned to put his idea into action but paused when he found his XO staring at him in with his brow furrowed. 

"Ah, yes. Sir, I tsink tsat before we attempt dropping our shields tsat ve might try making it a little less appetizing. Are you a fan of spice? I'm not personnally, it tends to disagree vith my stomach. I am hoping tsat vhatever it is out tsere vill hafe tse same issues. It's just a few simple modifications, easily correctable, und if it proves ineffective tsen ve can procede forvard vith tse temporary lowering of tse shields." Having very clearly explained his plan, Kurt adjusted his thick lenses and awaited the XO's decision, his head slightly to the left.

Stardate: 2365.03.29 (Sunday - 42269.8 )
WaveRider Shuttle - Rho Puppis I Uppermost Atmosphere - 1140 Alpha Shift

"They taught me how to fly THIS, Mister Stark." Jenna replies. "I never said it was a good idea, It was just a thought based on the metaphors we've bandied about. The internal systems are sealed and only accessible from the inside, Commander. The only way in would be through the airlock, or through the engines. I wouldn't *anticipate* any access in short term, but this IS an unknown."

"If I may, Commander. I zink zat ze option has merit. Maybe ve drop the shields by a certain percentage, or do a rapid change of frequenzies zat will, what do you say? Ah, Zour ze milk."

"That *could* work, Commander." Uhnari said. "We never tried that with the probe, so..."

"We're entering the area past Mister Siric's initial findings. Commander." Jenna glanced at the viewscreen. The clinging bits of atmosphere came and went, almost like... "Sir? If I didn't know better, I'd say that these things are... tasting us. Like a child with a lollipop."

Tasting us? Kurt's head tilts to the side. Now that is a fascinating thought. Up until this moment, Erik has been assuming that whatever it is that’s draining the probes shields is some sort of hitherto unknown micro-organism. Something without any real thought or sense of sentience.

Standing on his toes, Kurt tries to peer past his shipmates to get a look at the viewscreen. A slight shift of those in front of him grants him a brief view. The white strips of atmosphere do seem to ebb and flow, rather sporadically as though it is tasting, or even testing the waters, as it were.

Falling back onto his heels, Kurt blinks his magnified blue eyes and lets a soft puff of breath escape him. Now this truly is fascinating. Possibly they are dealing with some sort of semi-sentient micro-organism located high in the atmosphere of Rho Puppis that not only managed to interface with the deflector shield's energy field but seemed to feed on it. Or at least drain it. And, perhaps, it even favors certain... "flavors" of shields.

"But vut vould make a flavourful shield?" Kurt ponders, half under his breath. Perhaps the frequency of the energy fields? Maybe the current, or the shape of the projection vectors. Would more powerful shields cause more distinct and vibrant flavors? What if one lowered power and brought the frequency just to within spec? Or even adjusted the waveform amplitude? Almost to a direct current form... But no, the shield wouldn't be able to sustain itself at that point. A synchronous phase and proper amplitude between the two shield emitters was essential to the distortion of the energy fields that made the shield, and if those were brought to low, then a catastrophic failure would be fairly probable. But what if, instead, he adjusted the shields in the opposite direction? Tried to make an unbearably "spicey" shield.

But what would spicey be? Kurt stops pacing without even realizing he had started. He begins tapping his lips with the tip of his finger. If he wanted to taste the shield, what would spicy be like? Well, his gut tells him that sporadic frequency changes and higher amplitudes sound sharp and spicy. With, perhaps, 108% capacity charge? No, 109.5%. Yes, the generator could probably handle that for some period of time.

"Vell, I've never been a good chef, but I tsink tsat I could vhip somtsing up..." Kurt decides. He turns to put his idea into action but pauses when he finds his XO staring at him with a furrowed brow.

"Ah, yes. Sir, I tsink tsat before we attempt dropping our shields tsat ve might try making it a little less appetizing. Are you a fan of spice? I'm not personally, it tends to disagree vith my stomach. I am hoping tsat vhatever it is out tsere vill hafe tse same issues. It's just a few simple modifications, easily correctable, und if it proves ineffective tsen ve can procede forvard vith tse temporary lowering of tse shields." Having very clearly explained his plan, Kurt adjusts his thick lenses and awaits the XO's decision, his head slightly to the left.

What an interesting guy, Max allows the fleeting thought to slip away as quickly as it emerges. “Good job, people,” the XO smiles and nods his head to Kurt while moving his hand from the back of Jenna’s chair to her shoulder briefly. “Mr. Wilhelm, spice things up. Mr. Falcone, be prepared to respond evasively should our CEO’s work cause whatever these things are to get aggressive.” Whatever evasive maneuvers look like when we’re in the midst of things...

Stardate: 2365.03.29 (Sunday - 42269.8 )
WaveRider Shuttle - Rho Puppis I Uppermost Atmosphere - 1143 Alpha Shift

Wait, tasting us!?!

"Sir," Stark said, looking at Wilhelm incredulously. "I still protest any action that involves dropping our shields." Were they really contemplating this?

"I can adjust the frequencies, Sir," Jenna said. "Perhaps, since we're going with the feeding and tasting analogy, perhaps the probe wasn't followed because the outer edge of the atmosphere is where the... mouth ends? Maybe the organisms only survive in the atmosphere?" The touch and go of the atmosphere touching the shield increased, but only minimally.

"I think that they're trying to determine if we taste good. Shield drop of point one five percent. Not as dramatic as the probe, but it is happening." Jenna couldn't stop thinking of food analogies, and her mouth quirked slightly.

"Your concern is noted, Mr. Stark," Cole replies evenly. "Lieutenant Wilhelm, begin your modifications. Mr. Falcone, keep the WaveRider on course but be ready to promptly respond to Mr. Wilhelm's instructions. Mr. Stark, keep a very close eye on the threat level. While we are moving forward with this experiment, I acknowledge the potential danger that it places this crew in. I'm relying on you and your experience to make sure Lieutenant Wilhelm's plan can be fully executed.

"Let's make this happen, people."

Stardate: 2365.03.29 (Sunday - 42269.8 )
WaveRider Shuttle - Rho Puppis I Uppermost Atmosphere - 1146 Alpha Shift

"Sir," Stark said, looking at Wilhelm incredulously. "I still protest any action that involves dropping our shields." Were they really contemplating this?

"I can adjust the frequencies, Sir," Jenna said. "Perhaps, since we're going with the feeding and tasting analogy, perhaps the probe wasn't followed because the outer edge of the atmosphere is where the... mouth ends? Maybe the organisms only survive in the atmosphere?" The touch and go of the atmosphere touching the shield increased, but only minimally.

"I think that they're trying to determine if we taste good. Shield drop of point one five percent. Not as dramatic as the probe, but it is happening." Jenna couldn't stop thinking of food analogies, and her mouth quirked slightly.

"Your concern is noted, Mr. Stark," Cole replies evenly. "Lieutenant Wilhelm, begin your modifications. Mr. Falcone, keep the WaveRider on course but be ready to promptly respond to Mr. Wilhelm's instructions. Mr. Stark, keep a very close eye on the threat level. While we are moving forward with this experiment, I acknowledge the potential danger that it places this crew in. I'm relying on you and your experience to make sure Lieutenant Wilhelm's plan can be fully executed.

"Let's make this happen, people."

"Aye, sir. Mr.... ah, uhm, Mr. Falcone. I vould like tse frequency changes from 120 Hz to 190 Hz at un infrequent interval ranging from 5 to 15 seconds. Begin vith a high frequency. I vould also like you to increase output power to 109.5% capacity, ja? Ve will begin vith the first spike on my mark." Kurt ordered, pushing his thick glasses back up to the bridge of his nose. "Mr. Stark, stand by. Does everybody understand?"

"Aye, sir."

"Yes, sir."

"Excellent. Tsen lets begin cooking, ja?" Watching the view screen carefully, Kurt watch the slight ebb of... of whatever it was licking the Waverunner. As he watched it wane slightly and then wax back on, Kurt nodded. What an astute observation that Mr. Falcone had made. 

At what Kurt felt to be the peak of the "lick", he quickly ordered, "Now, Mr. Falcone."

Stardate: 2365.03.29 (Sunday - 42269.8 )
WaveRider Shuttle - Rho Puppis I Uppermost Atmosphere - 1149 Alpha Shift

"If Mister Siric's readings are correct, and I have no reason to think that they are not, then we will breach the inner atmosphere in less than five minutes." She paused. "That is, if I understood correctly?" She returned her gaze to the control panels, taking comfort in something that she actually knew.

"You have not, Mister Falcone," Cole replies calmly, eyeing the panels in front of her from over her shoulder. "Takes us to the surface. We've at least figured out a way to temporarily reduce the effects of the power drain. I'll let the science teams on the Carver work their magic to figure out the rest. Good work, people."

Strangely, the closer to the surface that the shuttle progresses, the less dense the existence of the microbial creatures. By the time the WaveRider enters the Troposphere, there appears to be none at all. 

Peering through the viewport, Cmdr. Cole takes in the alien landscape with a set jaw and a slight frown on his face. The surface of Rho Puppis I is a jagged mess of cutting cliffs and sharp protrusions of crystal. Plantlife has flourished in a number of areas but everywhere there are pinnacles of knife-like minerals slicing through the sky and complicated canyons creating mazes of deep unknowns across the landscape.

"Water, flora, fauna..." Sari Uhnari reports, "It's all here. The air is breathable as well, though thin at this altitude. Gravity is a little lighter than we're used to. Unless we're spending months on the surface, we shouldn't expect any ill effects."

"Find a place to set down, Mister Falcone," Max orders. "I'd like as much room to move about as possible, please."

Stardate: 2365.03.29 (Sunday - 42269.8 )
WaveRider Shuttle - Rho Puppis I Uppermost Atmosphere - 1150 Alpha Shift

"Sir," Stark said, looking at Wilhelm incredulously. "I still protest any action that involves dropping our shields." Were they really contemplating this?

"I can adjust the frequencies, Sir," Jenna said. "Perhaps, since we're going with the feeding and tasting analogy, perhaps the probe wasn't followed because the outer edge of the atmosphere is where the... mouth ends? Maybe the organisms only survive in the atmosphere?" The touch and go of the atmosphere touching the shield increased, but only minimally.

"I think that they're trying to determine if we taste good. Shield drop of point one five percent. Not as dramatic as the probe, but it is happening." Jenna couldn't stop thinking of food analogies, and her mouth quirked slightly.

"Your concern is noted, Mr. Stark," Cole replies evenly. "Lieutenant Wilhelm, begin your modifications. Mr. Falcone, keep the WaveRider on course but be ready to promptly respond to Mr. Wilhelm's instructions. Mr. Stark, keep a very close eye on the threat level. While we are moving forward with this experiment, I acknowledge the potential danger that it places this crew in. I'm relying on you and your experience to make sure Lieutenant Wilhelm's plan can be fully executed.

"Let's make this happen, people."

"Aye, sir. Mr.... ah, uhm, Mr. Falcone. I vould like tse frequency changes from 120 Hz to 190 Hz at un infrequent interval ranging from 5 to 15 seconds. Begin vith a high frequency. I vould also like you to increase output power to 109.5% capacity, ja? Ve will begin vith the first spike on my mark." Kurt ordered, pushing his thick glasses back up to the bridge of his nose. "Mr. Stark, stand by. Does everybody understand?"

"Aye, sir."

"Yes, sir."

"Excellent. Tsen lets begin cooking, ja?" Watching the view screen carefully, Kurt watch the slight ebb of... of whatever it was licking the Waverunner. As he watched it wane slightly and then wax back on, Kurt nodded. What an astute observation that Mr. Falcone had made. 

At what Kurt felt to be the peak of the "lick", he quickly ordered, "Now, Mr. Falcone."

"Adjusting frequencies now, Lieutenant Wilhelm." Jenna made the proper adjustments. The power drain dropped to point zero five percent. " Guess whatever's out there didn't care for us...changing the taste. Power drain has lessened. Not enough to make it stop, but enough to make it... think?" The WaveRider shuddered slightly, and Jenna made the proper corrections. "Minor stabilization, sir. I think it decided to try a stronger lick." She shook her head, thinking about what she had just said.

"If Mister Siric's readings are correct, and I have no reason to think that they are not, then we will breach the inner atmosphere in less than five minutes." She paused. "That is, if I understood correctly?" She returned her gaze to the control panels, taking comfort in something that she actually knew.

There was a brief pause, then a shudder. "Exited the atmospheric disturbance, Sir." She glanced at the landscape, looking for a place to set the WaveRider down. She saw a flat area of land, and proceeded to bring the shuttle down towards it.

"Location spotted, Commander. Ready to initiate landing protocols at your command." The landscape was...interesting. There seemed to be plant life, both small and large, but nothing she'd ever seen before.

"Surface probes ready to deploy, as well as communication buoys." Jenna entered the commands on one of her control panels, then turne her attention back to the landing. There was a slight bump as the landing skids deployed, then a slightly bigger one as she touched the ground. She looked back with a sheepish smile.

"First time for everything, right?"

"Location spotted, Commander. Ready to initiate landing protocols at your command." The landscape was...interesting. There seemed to be plant life, both small and large, but nothing she'd ever seen before.

"Surface probes ready to deploy, as well as communication buoys." Jenna entered the commands on one of her control panels, then turns her attention back to the landing. There was a slight bump as the landing skids deployed, then a slightly bigger one as she touched the ground. She looked back with a sheepish smile.

"First time for everything, right?"

"Well done," Max states after the jolt. "Let's get this mission moving. Mr. Unhari, Mr. Falcone, please see to the surface probes. Mr. Siric, the communication buoys, if you will. Mr. Wilhelm, see to the shuttle and get me a report on the consequences of our entrance. Mr. Stark, you and your men are with me and Mr. Draci. No one moves out of sight of another member of the team and everyone stays in communication. Let's run a communications test for the comms at regular intervals and once we get those communication buoys up and running, let's expand that test to include the Carver."

Stepping into the bay, Cmdr. Cole double checks his belt to make sure his tricorder and phaser are secured. Looking to the small team he's taking exploring, Max turns and opens the door revealing the jagged crystalline countryside and admitting a vicious gust of cold wind that sends a shiver down his spine. While the temperature itself isn't cold enough to cause a need for coats at 18.33 degrees Celcius, those occasional gusts carry the chill from the mountaintops.

The first human being to set foot on this planet... shouldn't it feel a lot more austere? Max keeps from shaking his head in dismay as the soil crunches against the soles of his boots. Scanning the landscape, he spots a crevice in the face of the slick gray-white slabs of crystal some twenty meters away and to the South. A couple of additional steps onto the windy plateau and he can see around the sides of the WaveRider with enough clarity to register the edges of the landing site. Crevice it is.

"There," Cole points the path out to his companions. "That looks like the only way onto and off of this platform."

"Location spotted, Commander. Ready to initiate landing protocols at your command." The landscape was...interesting. There seemed to be plant life, both small and large, but nothing she'd ever seen before.

"Surface probes ready to deploy, as well as communication buoys." Jenna entered the commands on one of her control panels, then turns her attention back to the landing. There was a slight bump as the landing skids deployed, then a slightly bigger one as she touched the ground. She looked back with a sheepish smile.

"First time for everything, right?"

"Well done," Max states after the jolt. "Let's get this mission moving. Mr. Unhari, Mr. Falcone, please see to the surface probes. Mr. Siric, the communication buoys, if you will. Mr. Wilhelm, see to the shuttle and get me a report on the consequences of our entrance. Mr. Stark, you and your men are with me and Mr. Draci. No one moves out of sight of another member of the team and everyone stays in communication. Let's run a communications test for the comms at regular intervals and once we get those communication buoys up and running, let's expand that test to include the Carver."

"Aye, Sir." Jenna replied.

Stepping into the bay, Cmdr. Cole double checks his belt to make sure his tricorder and phaser are secured. Looking to the small team he's taking exploring, Max turns and opens the door revealing the jagged crystalline countryside and admitting a vicious gust of cold wind that sends a shiver down his spine. While the temperature itself isn't cold enough to cause a need for coats at 18.33 degrees Celcius, those occasional gusts carry the chill from the mountaintops.

Jenna caught the chill of the air as the Away Team opened the door. Air smells... dry, she shought. Not bad, just like, well, a desert after sunset. She looked back to the console that monitored the deployment of the probes. "We'll have information on both monitors, Mr. Unhari. You monitor the sensors, and I'll monitor the communications." She entered a couple of quick commands, then turned back to Uhnari. "That should do it." Jenna said.

Looking back to her own console, she entered the deployment sequence for the sensor buoys, and the comm buoy.

"Buoys deployed, Commander." Jenna said. "Awaiting optimal positioning of communications, but we should be good local, and I can filter out interference between the team and the WaveRider. Sensors should start providing information iminently."

Stardate: 2365.03.29 (Sunday - 42269.8 )
WaveRider Shuttle - Rho Puppis I Mountains - 1216 Alpha Shift

Heat is rising directly from the crystals, Max muses, feeling the warmth through the soles of his boots. At this altitude, we should be experiencing a much colder temperature. That's why the winds are cold but we're not. "Thermal activity beneath the surface needs to be confirmed and monitored," he relays to the Haliian science crewman back aboard the WaveRider. "I'd like to know the depth at which we've got lava flows or gas if you would, Crewman Uhnari."

=/\= Aye aye, sir. =/\=

Proceeding into the gap he had previously indicated, Max allows Stark to take the lead; standard operating procedure, after all. With Kessler bringing up the rear, the party makes their way single file into the thin cut in the crystalline walls with caution. To the Commander, the lack of shadows caused by the reflecting light from the many-faceted angles of the peaks is disconcerting. Descending through the narrow divide another fifty meters, the path drops off in an abrupt cliff. Thankfully, the drop is a mere four meters; easy enough to navigate. Investigating the face of the new obstacle, Max and the others confirm the existence of ridgelines and shelving that will allow them to ascend again so the commander gives the order to continue. 

"Commander," Endrid Draci calls Cole back to where he has paused to investigate a plant growing across the smooth translucent face of the rock a few meters behind the expedition leader. Turning to look back, Max raises his eyebrows in question, looking both to Stark and the medical officer for an answer.

"This cleft in the rock," the Betazoid crouches and points to space beneath the lowest portion of the growth. "I don't think this is natural."

Walking back to their position, Commander Cole indicates that Kessler should remain where he is. Haunches to heels, he studies the mark that Lieutenant Draci is indicating.

"Where?"

"Here," Endrid gently pushes the bulbous leafy growth aside revealing the beginnings of a deep gouge. "And it extends all the way to here. There's also this lighter line that carries the carving through to here forming a type of bucket shape."

As the medical officer drew the lines out for him, the shape becomes more apparent to the commander. A "U" shape with a flat bottom is definitely visible to the naked eye. The edges of the allegedly engraved area are chipped away and smooth angular flats appear within the ridges. "What are the tricorder readings?"

"Nothing definitive, sir. I believe we would need to specifically alter the programming and the sensors of the tricorder to be able to determine anything useful about the mark." Endrid wrinkles his brow and presses his lips together in disappointment. "It would also be useful to have an archeologist look at it."

"Mark the coordinates and we'll see about getting Senior Chief Petty Officer Pate down here." Intensely studying the shape, Max narrows his eyes. Using the index finger of his right hand, he softly brushes the center of the U just above the bottom line. "There appears to be a circular indentation here. It isn't deep and I don't think the lack of shadows is helping, but see if you can spot it."

Draci follows suit and bushes his fingers over the same area. "Yes," he says after a moment. "I believe you're right. Perhaps a centimeter in diameter."

"Some sort of marker?" Max muses out loud.

Lieutenant Draci shrugs, "You've got me. I was never inclined towards archeological studies.

Tapping his comm-badge, Max initiates communication with the WaveRider, "Cole to Siric."

=/\= Siric here. =/\=

"How are communications with the Carver coming?"

=/\= The buoys are en route to their respective destinations, sir. Estimated time of full deployment is approximately five minutes, twenty-three seconds. =/\=

"Thank you. Please let me know the moment we have communication with the Carver. Cole, out."

"Thoughts, people?" Max turns back to Stark and Draci. "I'd hate for us to have stumbled across something important only to move on but I hate wasting daylight."

"We could use the tricorders to record the symbol, maybe even amplify the resolution to bring the ridges out more," Endrid concocts the idea as he relays it. "The medical tricorder has sufficient magnification capabilities... this would allow us to continue on our way and deliver the data to the Carver once we've established communications."

"Stark?" Cole turns to his chief of security.

Stardate: 2365.03.29 (Sunday - 42269.8 )
WaveRider Shuttle - Rho Puppis I Mountains - 1221 Alpha Shift

Tapping his comm-badge, Max initiates communication with the WaveRider, "Cole to Siric."

=/\= Siric here. =/\=

"How are communications with the Carver coming?"

=/\= The buoys are en route to their respective destinations, sir. Estimated time of full deployment is approximately five minutes, twenty-three seconds. =/\=

"Thank you. Please let me know the moment we have communication with the Carver. Cole, out."

Jenna monitored the communication screen. Mr. Siric's calculations were near perfection, as always. She opened the relays, and contcted the ship.

=/\= WaveRider to Carver. =/\=

=/\= Shuttle has arrived on the surface or Rho Puppis. Away team is investigating per protocol. Stand by. =/\= She frowned at a reading on her screen, made an adjustment, and resumed communication. =/\= Reading light interference, monitoring and analyzing currently. Stand by for Commander Cole. =/\=

She tapped her comm badge.  =/\= Falcone to Commander Cole. =/\=

(response)

=/\= Communications have been established with the Carver, sir. Awaiting your transmission now. =/\= She frowned at her console once more, making another adjustment. There was some sort of mild interference, nothing major, but it kept reoccurring, in spite of her filtering. She set about trying to find the source.