<Stardate 2422.02 - 2422.04 - Six of Twelve - Begin Log>
The mission to recover a dead insect (designation: Species 10038) and the databanks from B217 was successful. Ensign Mallory has examined the Species 10038 corpse and determined a weakness in cold environments. The databanks from B217 showed the arrival of fifteen Chernov (Undesignated Species), including Lumi, one week before the Species 10038 infestation. Data from Lumi and later events suggest that the Chernov may have accidentally brought Species 10038 larvae to B217 which then grew and multiplied, causing the 10038 attack on the colony. Data from the Collective shows this was not the only colony the Chernov spread Species 10038 too. At least one other previously uninhabited colony was invested by them after several Chernov vessels escaped their homeworld. We still do not know how Species 10038 got to Sylva (the Chernov homeworld) in the first place. Ensign Mallory's DNA tests on Lumi have ruled out Species 10038 having evolved on Sylva.
Cromwell experienced a powercut two days after the events on B217. We now know that the power cut was caused by Species 10038. Their eggs had been in the blue substance that the away teams had brought back and had somehow survived decontamination procedures, likely due to the resilience of the substance which appears to survive even full baryon sweeps. Shortly before the power cut, Colonel Anara Lessa returned to Cromwell through a wormhole with a temporal delay of nine years. She experienced some kind of malfunction and attempted to destroy Cromwell by setting a self-destruct sequence. The sequence was deactivated by a code from Lessa Anara's son on Babylon Station, or by Commander Martis' override program, or by the power cut. We are not sure which. Commander Martis stabbed Lessa Anara in the chest, causing her to pass out. When she awoke, the malfunction appeared to have ceased. She explained that she had believed Cromwell was a Bajoran prison camp from the Cardassian occupation.
The power drain was being caused by Species 10038. They attach themselves to the power systems of vessels and drain their energy.
Arrain t'Khaell was able to stabalise Lessa Anara in Engineering but had to get her to sickbay to operate. She did this by moving her on a grav-sled. Commander Martis went to the Operation offices to gather all of the extra comm badges aboard Cromwell, meaning to use their energy to jump-start the warp core. Kit and DJ Greene travelled through the Jefferies tubes to Deck 12 where the power drain had started to clear away the Species 10038 residue.
Six of Twelve and Brinn found Species 10038 residue in one of the replicators in Ten Forward, which Ensign Th'Havevil and One of Six came to investigate. Colonel MarQ was stuck in a turbolift. Six of Twelve provided schematics to the bridge. He went to the bridge by climbing up the turbolift shaft.
Four of Seven and Lt Tas evacuated the children. They were attacked in the Aborteum by Species 10038 larvae and then again in the Jefferies tubes. Lt Tas was burned by the Species 10038 acid spit. Four of Seven and Neilson Greene were able to stabilise him but the shuttle bay doors were sealed shut as a result of the power cut. Sally Taylor had the idea of using the cargo transporters to transport the entire shuttle out, with Tas inside, who would then use the shuttle transporters to transport the rest of their group into the shuttle. This was successful. They left for Outpost Hope One.
On the bridge, Lumi used its power-generating abilities to provide a burst of energy for the intercom systems, allowing Captain Sesgaard to get a message to the rest of Cromwell. Colonel Reynolds sent the Rock Jumpers to Cromwell to assist who reported the presence of the RSE vessel S'Task in orbit of B217. Arrain N'Vek's vessel had been taken down by flying Species 10038 warriors on B217. Lt Petalosa had been about to recover the vessel but was called back as S'Task's pilots were to recover it instead.
One of Six suggested that Species 10038 may have a Queen, like the Borg. Lumi had also reported hive-like tendencies from them so when Red-2 and Red-3 arrived to assist, we went to Auxillary power as this was the only substantial energy left on Cromwell that the Queen could be draining. The hypothesis proved correct. Attached to the auxiliary systems was a large Species 10038 creature producing eggs and draining auxiliary power. Standard weapons proved ineffective against it. It was able to absorb energy and adapt quickly to anything we used against it.
Brinn said we must try and assimilate it. At the time, we did not understand why but we do now. To kill a Species 10038 Queen you must provide it with alternating frequencies of energy to absorb (in this case, energy banks from Darkhorse brought over by the Rockjumpers and energy from the Warpcore generated by Commander Martis' commbades and redirected by DJ Greene) then inject it with assimilation nanoprobes. This overwhelms the Queen's ability to adapt and allows conventional weaponry to kill it. Once the Queen dies, the rest of her hive becomes disoriented and easy to kill and the larvae and riders die immediately from the severance.
After attempting to assimilate the Queen, Six of Twelve was thrown against a wall and knocked out. We awoke in our alcove later. Banor MarQ had put us there. Arrain t'Khaell repaired our broken leg. We were contacted by the Collective. They had sensed the partial assimilation of the Species 10038 Queen and required data on how its deactivation was achieved. Cromwell wished to negotiate with the Borg and threatened to destroy the data should any attempt be made to remove it by force. Given the need for efficiency, we accepted the proposal. A delegation of DFA units was sent to Probe 815 and Six of Twelve was chosen to speak for the Borg. Colonel MarQ spoke for the DFA. It was agreed that the DFA would use their data to produce a weapon for the Borg and test it. In exchange, the Borg would provide sufficient nanoprobes for the DFA to protect its space from Species 10038. A later exchange was made with 'Siril' for greater efficiency. The DFA produced the weapon the day after the Borg provided Siril. We tested it on S'Task. We encountered a new variant of Species 10038 aboard S'Task that shoots white blade-like appendages. The Queen aboard S'Task was of a far greater size than the one aboard Cromwell. It took the DFA projectile weapon, explosives and five drones worth of nanoprobes to kill. The DFA sent a buoy with the weapon schematics into Borg space. Probe 815 left to collect it. Six of Twelve was left on Cromwell to continue our experiment in determining why individuals resist. One of Six was also left on Cromwell as it claimed it was 'not ready' to return. We do not know what this means but as the Collective's agreement with Cromwell included not assimilating their units, it was allowed to stay. It was tasked with verifying a hypothesis for the Collective; that one of the reasons individuals resist assimilation is fear of the unknown. One of Six was tasked with explaining perfection to individuals it encounters and recording their responses.
With the Queen on S'Task dead, the RSE require no more help from Cromwell. Probe 815 has also left, having left Cromwell with six containers of nanoprobes. Tas, Four of Seven and the children have returned. A Liason from the RSE designated T'Alessa has arrived on Cromwell and is currently in sickbay with Siril who is being treated by Dr Clark.
Cromwell was en route to Babylon Station when we received a news broadcast. Colonel Anara had left early to meet with her child and had been arrested. Captain Sesgaard, Colonel MarQ, Commander Martis and Six of Twelve are going to Babylon now to get more information. Cromwell's crew will have at least three days 'R&R' (this stands for 'rest and relaxation') aboard Babylon.
<<End Log>>
Captain's log: In addition to more mundane details logged by the captain and crew of Cromwell-B there are three elements that remain to be addressed. The First is the Borg. Our attempts to implant feelings into the collective were highly unsuccessful. I feel it is the Drone that we utilized has been too heavily damaged to grasp any of the concepts we have been trying to implant. We have potential with the second drone, but I am not overly optimistic. I would terminate the program except we have been able to gather a large amount of intelligence in the process. Continued monitoring is warranted for the time being. The second, as you are aware, is the re-emergence of Anara Lessa. There are gaps in her knowledge, but these gaps can easily be filled as history lessons. Despite reluctance expressed by Command, I feel this could be a resource to draw upon for the DFA. In an effort to speed this along, our patrol route will take us closer to Babylon sooner, and I hope we can address the matter at that time. Lastly, S'Task has gone quiet after our coordinated work with her and the Borg in relation to the Bugs. The good news is The Borg and Romulans are currently ignoring us. We have several weaponized plans moving forward to eliminate the Bugs from anyplace we find them. B217 has been quarantined until operations commence. The Third is the recovery of Siril. I have not investigated as requested, but she is aboard Cromwell.
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