Episode Four: "Janus"

Started by Serris, March 29, 2015, 03:55:54 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

How would you rate "Janus?" Please leave feedback with your vote.

1 - Barely enjoyable. In dire need of improvement.
1 (14.3%)
2 - Somewhat good. Rough, but it showed promise.
1 (14.3%)
3 - Competent. The plot was vague, but it worked.
4 (57.1%)
4 - Coherent. Despite a few minor bouts of confusion, the plot was understandable.
1 (14.3%)
5 - Excellent. Little to no problems, very engaging.
0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 7

Voting closed: April 12, 2015, 03:23:28 PM

Serris

Sunday, April 5th, 2015 @ 1:00 PM EDT / 6:00 PM BST

Captain He knew she had a few loose ends to tie up before the ship arrived at the Janus system. She would need every able-bodied officer at their post in such a potentially dangerous situation. Thus, she had Ensign Ozuwara released from confinement, with the provision that he would need to report to medical for sobriety tests twice a day.

Upon dropping out of warp, the Phoenix encountered an unusual, funnel-shaped disturbance in space that deflected all scans. The captain ordered a probe launch to study it in further detail, but once the probe crossed the event horizon, it vanished without a trace. The only readings they were able to gather were duranium composite signatures in the event horizon. Meanwhile, the dilithium crystals in the warp core's reactor chamber began reverberating at a quantum level.

Many of the staff were thoroughly exhausted from their long trip from K-7, so the captain officially transferred duties to gamma shift, and most of the officers retired to their quarters. In the hours that followed, acting captain Tyvas and Lieutenant Cameron determined that the only way to gather any data on the anomaly would be to scan it from a closer distance. By getting closer, the ship was more susceptible to the anomaly's gravitational pull, eventually falling into the event horizon. The quantum disruption that occurred during the transition caused the dilithium crystals in the reactor to explode violently, completely disabling main power.

Miraculously, the ship was still intact. Had Ensign T'Lona not had the sense to erect a precautionary containment field, it's likely the entire ship would have been flooded with radiation. Without power to the sensors, the ship was effectively flying blind. Thinking quickly, Captain He had Lieutenant Cameron ping the probe from earlier and order it to relay its telemetry. What they found was astounding: hundreds of Excelsior and Constellation-class ships. A sea of Geronimos and Phoenixes, all sharing the same transponder codes. This was the confirmation Captain He needed to set aside her skepticism; the anomaly was most definitely trans-universal in nature.

One of the Geronimos managed to establish contact, but before the crews could form a plan of action, another Geronimo entered the anomaly on a collision course with the Phoenix. A last-ditch effort to blow out the shuttle bay to avert danger was unsuccessful, and there may not be time for a second attempt.

What will happen next week?


LCARS Database references for this episode:
     •     Anomaly: Janus Prime Vortex
     •     Landmark: Janus System