Episode 112. The Tarantula
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Thursday, July 15, 1954 - 9:14 PM
- Location
-
- Beta Quadrant
- Solar System
- Near Earth
- USS Enterprise
- Bridge
- Timeline
- Prime Timeline
- Previously on Trek Outta Time
-
The Enterprise and Tal'Kyr have managed to travel back in time to July 15, 1954, near Earth. The crew is recovering with difficulty from the shock of temporal distortion while T'Met confirms the date: about thirty minutes remain before Schak'Irra's predicted destruction. Gomard and his flotilla of Class F shuttles deploy into the expected attack zone, while the Enterprise and Tal'Kyr take position to intercept the Tholian ship. From his shuttle, Gomard reports strange flashes in space. On the bridge, the sensors confirm a growing spatial distortion: the enemy's signature is about to appear.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank | Species | Original Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Eric Corda | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant Commander | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Emilie Flores | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Charlene Savea | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant | Human | Schak'Irra Timeline |
| Lingua | Starfleet / Temporal Division | N/A | Artificial Intelligence | Prime Timeline |
| Tholians / Aragthoneans | Tholian Assembly | N/A | Tholian | N/A |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | 1954, near Earth |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Artificial Intelligence | Lingua (Unofficial) |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical | Angie Chen |
| Science | Manu |
| Engineering | Gornok (Unofficial) |
| Advanced Weaponry | Eros Vitos |
| Security | Robert Gomard (Unofficial) |
| Sickbay |
|
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers |
|
| Detainees | Vladimir Joseph Putin and his bodyguards |
| Deployed Flotilla |
|
TL;DR
In front of the Enterprise, a huge distortion materializes, revealing the illusion of a gigantic Tarantula-class Tholian warship, three to four times larger than Agnes's ship. Lingua identifies a phenomenon close to the illusions of the Q continuum, without clearly identifying the entity behind this "image." Agnes still attempts contact, but receives only incomprehensible static before the Tarantula opens fire. The first shot pierces the shields and tears through the front of the saucer, forcing Lingua to urgently seal the affected sections. The Enterprise, Tal'Kyr, and the shuttles return fire; Eros prepares DXS and mines, but the Tholian shield holds. Worse: a swarm of small ships emerges from the Tarantula. Lingua identifies them as Meshweavers, the new predators of this foretold battle.
Story
On the main screen, the stars seem to twist and stretch as a distortion begins to form, creating ripples in space. Tiny flashes of energy crackle along the edges of the distortion, adding an eerie electric glow to it. The image suddenly becomes clearer, revealing a disturbing silhouette taking shape in front of the Enterprise. My heart tightens as an immense object appears. It is colossal, three to four times larger than the Enterprise, imposing and threatening.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda Pilot
Gulp! Look at the size of that thing, Captain!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Don't let it intimidate you, Mr. Corda.
Hold position.
Lingua, analyze the ship that just appeared.
Lingua
[beep] I detect no ship, Captain Rodriguez.
However, the spatial abnormality before us is identical to the one I first encountered when I was on Schak'Irra.
Analysis in progress...
Searching all Federation databases for matching anomalies...
One moment, please...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Keep me informed.
Lingua
[beep] Matches found, Captain Rodriguez.
The emissions are similar to illusions generated by certain entities of the Q continuum, but they are not quite identical.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Q!!!
I knew that guy was shady!
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
Who is Cue?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Some kind of religious oligarch dressed like he's from the 16th century. I'll explain later, Angie...
Continue your analysis, Lingua.
Lingua
[beep] Captain Rodriguez, do not draw hasty conclusions.
The phenomenon behind this illusion has specific features similar to those used by the Q continuum, but it is not Q.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
It does not matter who it is. How do we get rid of this illusion?
Lingua
[beep] Ideally, we would need more time to investigate, locate the being behind all this, and communicate with her, but I fear we do not have time.
Analysis in progress...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What are you still looking for, Lingua?
Lingua
[beep] Match found.
Based on the spatial fluctuations, the illusion in front of us is catalogued as a massive Tarantula-class Tholian warship. It is equipped with a tetryon beam network, torpedo launchers, and accompanied by a flotilla of Widow Fighters and Meshweavers.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you for the details, Lingua.
Ensign Flores, open a communication channel to that, uh, ghost ship...
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
Channel open, Captain. You may speak.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Unknown vessel, you are in Terran space!
We know your intentions are hostile!
Leave this space immediately or we will open fire!!!
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
We are receiving a response, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Audio, Flores.
Tholian / Aragthonean
...Skrrkk chlkkk tsssk zzzip sssschk...
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
Ouch... Their voices are still just as unpleasant to hear!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Lingua, can you translate?
Lingua
[beep] Unfortunately, no, Captain Rodriguez. I do not perceive this signal as a language.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You do not perceive it, or you do not understand it?
Lingua
[beep] Both, Captain. I'm applying every known filter, but none of them is producing a conclusive result.
Lt. Charlene Savea Operations
Captain! The Tholian ship is starting to emit a strong energy signature.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
It's about to fire on us!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Mr. Corda, evasive maneuvers!
Number One, prepare to return fire on my order!
Flores, inform Vitos, Tal'Kyr, and the shuttles that we are engaging!
Even though Mr. Corda reacts immediately, the Tarantula fires first with an energy beam of colossal power that pierces the Enterprise's shields with ease and goes straight through the front of the saucer, tearing open a gaping breach. The blast is so powerful that I can actually see the bridge's structural framework being torn apart. Lingua immediately activates the sealed bulkheads and force fields, but from the very start, we're already in serious trouble.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Fire at will!
As initially planned, the Enterprise, Tal'Kyr, and the shuttles coordinate to counter the enemy. Our beams slam into the Tholian shields, but they hold.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Savea, prepare the torpedoes.
Flores, tell Vitos he can go into action with the DXS and the mines.
Lt. Charlene Savea Operations
Torpedoes loaded and ready to launch, Captain!
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
Captain, Ensign Vitos is waiting for the target coordinates.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Lingua, send Vitos the coordinates of the Tarantula's vulnerable points.
Lingua
[beep] Coordinates sent, Captain Rodriguez.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda Pilot
Wait! Look! Dozens of objects are coming out of the ship and heading straight for us!!!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
That's their flotilla.
Mr. Corda, cut through them in a zigzag!
Lingua, what are the characteristics of those shuttles?
Lingua
[beep] Fluctuation analysis in progress...
Match established...
They are Meshweavers, Captain Rodriguez...
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