Shelling Out Strategy
Posted on Tue Jun 10th, 2025 @ 7:43am by Captain Min Seong & Lieutenant Jai & Lieutenant JG Elyssa Kala'myr & Rocoa Lotor
2,646 words; about a 13 minute read
Mission:
Terrorpin
Location: Evacuation Area #3
Timeline: MD 02, early AF
As the shimmer of transport dissipated from around Min, she stepped out of the way of the mother who was ready to catch her child from running off. The Captain took a pause to survey her surroundings, a slight smile curving on her lips. Knowing that people were here and safe put her mind at ease for the conversation ahead.
The smile fell upon sight of the Starfleet Officer hurrying towards her, trying to flag her down. "Ma'am? Ma'am, were we expecting you?"
"No, Ensign," came the curt reply, taking note of the young security officer's frantic gaze and risen shoulders. "But you can help me find Lieutenant Kala'myr. She and I need to chat."
It was not long before Min was being escorted through the crowd, towards a secluded hall that had been sectioned off for more private matters. In the hall were the gathered few she had called upon to meet her and discuss, including the aforementioned Science Lieutenant. Min's expression hardened as the Ensign dismissed himself back to his duties. "Thank you for meeting me here. I need to have some perspective of this before it gets out to the rest of our staff."
The Lieutenant had come to this meeting place after confirming that her team had all evacuated successfully, everyone had been accounted for, and that was a success, but several biological specimens could unfortunately not be moved and she had found it quite unnerving trying to comfort one of the junior staff who was worried about never seeing her charge again. The strength of her reaction confused the Lieutenant, these weren't pets, these were study specimens.
"Captain!" Elyssa said, snapping her focus to the incoming officer. She stood and approached, standing formally in front of her commander.
"Perspective.." she brought things up in her head. "Everyone in my department has been accounted for and it appears that the same can be said across several others.
"The creature is an entirely unknown species with an unusual structure. Its outer layer appears to be comprised of the same mineral that I have been studying which leads me to believe we might have been digging up discarded scutes."
She stopped, visually checking if the Captain knew that word.
"There are several planets with traditions relating to creatures such as this, for instance, the Earth Japanese Kaiju and the Florusian Macēhte. Typically rampaging, is virtually unstoppable and extremely destructive. But those are just stories, this is very real and my best prediction is complete material loss of the outpost."
She stopped talking and waited for the response of her commander. She could go into more detail about her studies, about the resonant weaknesses of the mineral, and even the fact that the locals might have been using its droppings as a building material for years.
"Animals do not expend energy without reason," the calm voice of the Tibetan doctor could be heard to remark, in his usual calm demeanor. "It is logical to assume it has been on this planet for some time. It is likely as unaware of its impact on our environment as we are to the reasons why it is choosing to expend its energy now."
Pausing there to give a bow toward the captain, Jai added, "Casualties have been relatively minor. The evacuation has proceeded calmly, so I thought that I might be of some use here."
"Your presence is appreciated," Sofia said with nod and smile. "And I concur with your observation about animals. However, I think it may be worth considering that our impact on its environment might be the cause."
"Yes," Abrams agreed. "I think we need to also consider that our impact may have done more than simply rouse it." The biologist lifted a PaDD showing a compilation of scans and field surveys. "There's been no prior indication of life forms of this size. Granted my last survey for the spot where it emerged was mid-winter, but even hibernating deep underground, it's hard to believe scans missed it. Moreover, the nutritional requirements for something that size should be immense, which means we should have seen other evidence from its last emergence." She frowned a moment at the data. "Unless it only emerges every hundred years so, or we really are dealing with some sort of Godzilla scenario where there's a whole ecosystem of them buried fathoms below the surface."
Rocky's ears perked at that last. "Does that mean I should get to building giant mechas to fight it?"
Min seemed to nod along with what everyone was saying, pausing only to give the small salesman an odd look. She was surprisingly calm. "I do not intend to blast our problems away. It could create new ones, and weapons do not always solve every issue - I believe we haven't met yet. Who are you?"
"Rocoa P. Lotor, contractor for Galactic Dynamics, currently assigned to the Bray Foundation," Rocky replied with an eager smile. "But at your service. We at GD pride ourselves on our relationship with Starfleet and are always willing to work in the most cooperative way possible." His ears perked forward. "I'll point out that mechas could be developed primarily as deterrent, but if that's off the table, GD has a number of trap-and-transport options that could be scaled up this kaiju." Okay, even the Hysperian dragon trap would need to be scaled Way Up, but large-scale high-priority projects carried equally high sales bonuses.
"I... See." Min turned to address the whole group. "Despite the armaments that we have currently and those that could be constructed in the future, I am in full agreement. An animal such as this does not appear to want to do more than exist right now. The only reason it did damage was because it was under the ground of the colony, not because we were perceived as a threat. My hope here is to gain perspective on our situation, before I bring it to the rest of the senior staff and see what decisions need making."
She gave pause, only to pull out a PaDD and a small projector, the latter of which she placed on the ground. With a few taps on the screen of the PaDD, a 3D model of the gargantuan turtle and a list of specifications appeared in the air. "The creature closely resembles an Earth turtle, at least in appearance. We have reason to believe that if it is a carnivore, it shows no interest in the other fauna in the forest, near where the Marine fighters have managed to detain it for now. It does also seem to radiate energy; nothing harmful for any life, but it does seem to closely resemble the energy source used to power much of the colony. Or it did. Luckily, the creature has decided to.... Rest? For the moment."
The image flickered to another, showing the turtle upright with its eyes closed and its back legs holding it upright as it stood in place. "I believe this to be resting. How much time this affords us is anyone's guess."
The Science head nodded along as she read her pad while paying attention to her commanders, she looked at the wave patterns of the energy that was coming off of the creature. Her fingers tapped away as she gave a little glance over to the tech salesman who was already plugging his wares, military or otherwise.
"My best estimates suggest this creature is burning energy at a rate of around 150 megajoules per hour, but it hasn't stopped to eat, why is that?" She asked to noone in particular.
"To sustain this activity my guess is that it is absorbing something in its environment, some form of radiation is interacting with the minerals in the shell producing usable energy and waste radiation that we see being emitted. If we can somehow reduce that intake.... hmmm. Perhaps we can reduce its available metabolic energy enough to render it dormant." This would not harm the creature, just make it docile and theoretically they could turn a dampening field up and down on command to balance the sedation with keeping the creature safe. She wrinkled her nose and scowled at her work, if only she had a couple of weeks to research this properly and test her theory.
"We'd need a way to deploy the field and have it maintain position relative to the target, and also monitor its vitals."
Abrams nodded. "Exactly. Given the metabolic needs for something that size, whether herbivore or omnivore, it would need to be devouring everything in sight to meet them. Which it is not. That suggests it's meeting its needs through an alternate method of energy absorption." She paused, checking the data accumulating on her PaDD. "It's been noted that that the energy signature it's emitting resembles an energy source typically used by colonists. Is it possible it found a generator near where it emerged and essentially gorged?"
Sofia's tipped a bit to the side. The kaiju she'd encountered before had been a case of weaponized genetic engineering gone wild, but it had fed off energy. What were the odds that experience might help here? For such a time as this... The old hymn came to mind unbidden and she took it as sign to speak even if she had no real expertise to offer. "I'm not a scientist, but if I may offer past experience. I was part of a mission responding to a distress call from Deorna that involved a kaiju that fed off energy, and hence was drawn to the smorgasbord of a major industrial center."
"It was, I sincerely hope, a different situation. That poor creature had been created through extremely unethical experimentation and was far more violent - driven mad by what it had been subjected to." She frowned, recalling the terrifying shrieks that they learned afterward had in fact been cries of pain and hunger. "But perhaps the same solution can be applied. We adapted what we knew of the Breen energy dampening device from the Dominion War to take it down."
Jai nodded his agreement. "Food, shelter, and defense tend to be what drives animals. Taking, as an assumption, that the creature is not sapient," the boy remarked pensively. "If we proceed from the notion that the creature has emerged from its shelter, then seeking food would be the normal course of action. Which also means, if we're correct, it would likely respond to a modulated pulse designed to mimic the energy signature as bait, to lead it away from populated areas."
Min's expression darkened at the idea of someone performing unethical experiments on something that was simply trying to live. "I would hope all denizens of this colony have a higher sense of morality than those who were responsible that first encounter of yours. Regardless, you do bring up a good point - Lieutenant Kala'myr, when we convene I want to make sure none of your staff are doing anything... Odd. Not that I believe they are, but I would rather look than assume."
Elyssa raised an eyebrow at the suggestion "Odd sir? I am confident that my team will follow protocol and my orders." Or was it her that the Captain didn't trust, she was still new and there was people who found her heritage a little disconcerting.
There was no hesitance as Min continued. "And the fact the lifeform shares similar energy signatures has not escaped our notice, which is why I am making sure we have checked all our options before we make a move, but I imagine food will be the next thing that it will pursue, as per your expertise, Lieutenant Jai. We will have to put potential Breen designs on the back burner, but I feel there is no harm in being prepared. Do you have the specifications for how that technology was adapted,Commander? We can send a copy to engineering and operations teams and see what they make of it."
"The specs should be in the mission file. I'll forward the link," Sofia replied. "If nothing else, setting the device up to project a field outward from here or the town should make us look like a food desert to a hungry creature."
"Perhaps if we can understand the energy a little we can make it look like we taste bad. Set the emitter up in a shuttle and see if it follows it, once we are confident we have the right frequency we can adjust things to see how it responds. Of course this is all experimental but we appear to have three options." She started counting on her fingers
"Destroy the creature
Abandon the outpost
Run a few non invasive tests."
"Abandoning the outpost is out of the question," Min pointed out. "Or an absolute last resort. I imagine most of the colony will want to cling to what we do have. Non-invasive tests may be our best bet for the moment. Determining what energy signatures are radiating from this thing will allow us to determine the best course of action." There was a small pause. "Destroying the creature could also prove to have unforeseen consequences. We have a plan for now. I am more concerned about keeping all of us intact while we work, so the barrier is the best option while we work on something more permanent."
"Agreed," Sofia said with a firm nod. "And I'd like to add that there is a fourth option: attempt to sedate the creature, either by draining it of energy or via more traditional methods."
Abrams looked over the data feed again, frowning. "There are sedatives we know are safe for native reptiles, but I'd hate to have to guess dosage for this... Even if we could get it right, delivery would be an issue. Those marine pilots may be good, but firing a giant pill into its mouth good? I doubt it." She shook her head. "Anesthetic gas would dissipate too quickly, and probably knock out everything downwind of it, unless we could hold a could around its head with a forcefield, but if its eating energy that's not likely to last and would just energize it more."
"There's enough factors to cause more questions," Min concluded, "But I do not want to rule the idea of sedation out. Lieutenant Kala'myr, please make sure we look into that avenue and give ah -" She paused, looking to Abrams. "... I'm sorry, I don't know your name."
"Lt. Dana Abrams," she supplied. Her uniform color identified her a Science, so she added specialty for further clarification on why she was part of the discussion. "Xenobiology and environmental sciences."
"Yes, please give -more words if needed- Abrams room to work on a sedative that may work, just in case we need to at the very least buy some time."
"Yes, sir," the science officer replied, and looked to Jai. "Dr. Jai, I understand you also had training as vet, so I'd appreciate your help."
Min straightened up, dismissing the hologram and returning the device to her pocket. "I believe that should give enough information. Keep your ears out for any other meetings I call on. I'll find us a location that is least likely to be targeted by our creature and-..." she trailed off, eyes falling on Rocky. "... Did you say Galactic Dynamics? You and I may have some discussing to do in the near future as well."
"Yes, indeed," Rocky replied with a sharp-toothed grin. "I'm at your disposal, Captain. GD is always happy to be of service."
"Good." Min gave pause at a chirrup of her badge. "I will not keep you all longer. Let me know if there's anything I can facilitate for emergency supplies." As her form shimmered away, she left them with one last thought. "Good luck, and may this end smoothly."
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