Post by magicmuggle01 on Oct 13, 2018 10:41:24 GMT
The Enterprise crew learns that a massive, planet-destroying cloud has entered Federation space.
Summary
"Captain's log, stardate 5371.3. A huge cosmic cloud has been reported moving into the outer fringe of our galaxy. Nothing like it has ever been seen before. Starfleet Command has sent the USS Enterprise to investigate, as we are the only vessel in the vicinity of the phenomenon. Our present position is in the Pallas 14 system, which contains Mantilles, the most remote inhabited planet in the entire Federation."
As the Enterprise nears the Pallas 14 system, the cloud engulfs planet Alondra, and the planet completely disappears from sensors. Lieutenant Uhura believes that the cloud may have blocked it from being scanned, but Spock reports that the cosmic cloud engulfed it, and broke it up into small pieces in seconds. Captain Kirk asks, "Spock, is it possible that the cloud consumes planets?" Spock answers in the affirmative. Suddenly and without warning, the cloud changes course, heading directly for Mantilles. Kirk orders Sulu have the speed increased to warp 8 in order to intercept the cloud more quickly.
"Captain's log, supplemental. At warp eight, we will intercept the cloud before it reaches the inhabited planet Mantilles, but we are uncertain what we can do to stop a matter-energy cloud which measures thousands of times more than our vessel."
The Enterprise maneuvers itself directly into the path of the cloud and the ship is engulfed. It is pulled into the cloud by streamers made of koinoenergy, an almost ambiplasma with an unusually attractive force. When Kirk gives the order to fire phasers, Spock reports that the cloud seems to be absorbing the phaser energy.
Since it is unknown if the entity has selective abilities, the Enterprise crew assumes that not only Mantilles, but all planets and star systems are in danger. The Enterprise decides to warn Bob Wesley, governor of Mantilles. But before it can do so, the ship is engulfed by the cloud, and unknown objects comprised of highly charged, gaseous antimatter swarm the vessel, causing a large power drain of the shields. An antimatter charge from the shield is successful in dissipating the objects.
"Captain's log, supplemental. The Enterprise has only 15 minutes left before her power is drained and we are left helpless."
Research by Spock indicates that the cloud is actually a living being, and that the objects act like enzymes, slowly breaking up the remnants of Alondra and the Enterprise. After more studying of the creature's anatomy, the Enterprise plots a course through the digestive system, with enormous power consumption. To regenerate the ship's rapidly declining antimatter reserves, Montgomery Scott cuts off a piece of the creature's villi, has Kyle beam it aboard, and uses it to create power regeneration of the ship's anti-matter reserves, with minutes to spare. Kirk sighs, "Scotty, you've just given the Enterprise, and Mantilles, a chance to live." Scott replies, "Thank you, sir." Spock then ascertains the being has a brain and, on hearing this, Kirk plans to use the Enterprise's complement of photon torpedoes to destroy the cloud's brain. When Spock begins to remind Kirk of the Starfleet regulations against the killing of intelligent creatures, Kirk stops him, noting that he is well aware of the regulations. But they don't yet know if the cloud is intelligent and it is a fact that every living thing on Mantilles will die, unless they stop the cloud, and so if Kirk is forced to make a choice, he chooses saving Mantilles.
"Captain's log, stardate 5372.0. Spock and Uhura are using our sensors to prepare a detailed chart, so we may determine targets for our photon torpedoes."
Feeling very unsure about his decision, Kirk asks, "Am I doing the right thing, Bones? Once I said that man rose above primitiveness by vowing, 'I will not kill, today.'" The ever-pragmatic Bones replies, "But you can't let this thing destroy eighty million lives, either." Spock tells them the brain is so vast that the Enterprise's entire complement of armaments may not guarantee its destruction. He determines that they would have to destroy the Enterprise itself and direct the explosion right at the cerebral cortex. Kirk orders Scott to prepare the ship for self-destruct and Spock to try to establish contact with the creature.
"Captain's log, stardate 5372.1. The cloud will reach Mantilles in seven minutes. Spock has been working on the mechanics of reaching the cloud's thoughts, but I doubt if there's any time left. And even if we do establish contact, can we communicate with it and persuade it not to kill?"
"Listen to me. Listen to me."
Spock uses a Vulcan mind meld to contact the creature and allows the creature to see glimpses of Human life for the first time. The creature comes to understand that its food, the planets, are inhabited by "many somethings, so small, but alive. Comprehend. Not desire to consume other beings." The creature allows the Enterprise to leave peacefully and agrees to depart the galaxy. Kirk asks, "Spock, what did you perceive?" The first officer replies, "The wonders of the universe, captain. Incredible, completely incredible."
Memorable quotes
"It's immense! Twice the diameters of Saturn, Jupiter and Neptune together!"
- Arex, on the size of the cosmic cloud
"Spock, is it possible the cloud consumes planets?"
- Kirk
"It is possible this cloud in which we are entrapped is a living thing. The cloud is alive."
- Spock
"Scotty, you've just given the Enterprise, and Mantilles, a chance to live."
"Thank you, sir."
- Kirk and Scott
"Am I doing the right thing, Bones? Once I said that man rose above primitiveness by vowing, 'I will not kill, today.'"
- Kirk
"Spock, what did you perceive?"
"The wonders of the universe, captain. Incredible. Completely incredible."
- Kirk, after Spock's mind meld with the cloud (last lines)
Summary
"Captain's log, stardate 5371.3. A huge cosmic cloud has been reported moving into the outer fringe of our galaxy. Nothing like it has ever been seen before. Starfleet Command has sent the USS Enterprise to investigate, as we are the only vessel in the vicinity of the phenomenon. Our present position is in the Pallas 14 system, which contains Mantilles, the most remote inhabited planet in the entire Federation."
As the Enterprise nears the Pallas 14 system, the cloud engulfs planet Alondra, and the planet completely disappears from sensors. Lieutenant Uhura believes that the cloud may have blocked it from being scanned, but Spock reports that the cosmic cloud engulfed it, and broke it up into small pieces in seconds. Captain Kirk asks, "Spock, is it possible that the cloud consumes planets?" Spock answers in the affirmative. Suddenly and without warning, the cloud changes course, heading directly for Mantilles. Kirk orders Sulu have the speed increased to warp 8 in order to intercept the cloud more quickly.
"Captain's log, supplemental. At warp eight, we will intercept the cloud before it reaches the inhabited planet Mantilles, but we are uncertain what we can do to stop a matter-energy cloud which measures thousands of times more than our vessel."
The Enterprise maneuvers itself directly into the path of the cloud and the ship is engulfed. It is pulled into the cloud by streamers made of koinoenergy, an almost ambiplasma with an unusually attractive force. When Kirk gives the order to fire phasers, Spock reports that the cloud seems to be absorbing the phaser energy.
Since it is unknown if the entity has selective abilities, the Enterprise crew assumes that not only Mantilles, but all planets and star systems are in danger. The Enterprise decides to warn Bob Wesley, governor of Mantilles. But before it can do so, the ship is engulfed by the cloud, and unknown objects comprised of highly charged, gaseous antimatter swarm the vessel, causing a large power drain of the shields. An antimatter charge from the shield is successful in dissipating the objects.
"Captain's log, supplemental. The Enterprise has only 15 minutes left before her power is drained and we are left helpless."
Research by Spock indicates that the cloud is actually a living being, and that the objects act like enzymes, slowly breaking up the remnants of Alondra and the Enterprise. After more studying of the creature's anatomy, the Enterprise plots a course through the digestive system, with enormous power consumption. To regenerate the ship's rapidly declining antimatter reserves, Montgomery Scott cuts off a piece of the creature's villi, has Kyle beam it aboard, and uses it to create power regeneration of the ship's anti-matter reserves, with minutes to spare. Kirk sighs, "Scotty, you've just given the Enterprise, and Mantilles, a chance to live." Scott replies, "Thank you, sir." Spock then ascertains the being has a brain and, on hearing this, Kirk plans to use the Enterprise's complement of photon torpedoes to destroy the cloud's brain. When Spock begins to remind Kirk of the Starfleet regulations against the killing of intelligent creatures, Kirk stops him, noting that he is well aware of the regulations. But they don't yet know if the cloud is intelligent and it is a fact that every living thing on Mantilles will die, unless they stop the cloud, and so if Kirk is forced to make a choice, he chooses saving Mantilles.
"Captain's log, stardate 5372.0. Spock and Uhura are using our sensors to prepare a detailed chart, so we may determine targets for our photon torpedoes."
Feeling very unsure about his decision, Kirk asks, "Am I doing the right thing, Bones? Once I said that man rose above primitiveness by vowing, 'I will not kill, today.'" The ever-pragmatic Bones replies, "But you can't let this thing destroy eighty million lives, either." Spock tells them the brain is so vast that the Enterprise's entire complement of armaments may not guarantee its destruction. He determines that they would have to destroy the Enterprise itself and direct the explosion right at the cerebral cortex. Kirk orders Scott to prepare the ship for self-destruct and Spock to try to establish contact with the creature.
"Captain's log, stardate 5372.1. The cloud will reach Mantilles in seven minutes. Spock has been working on the mechanics of reaching the cloud's thoughts, but I doubt if there's any time left. And even if we do establish contact, can we communicate with it and persuade it not to kill?"
"Listen to me. Listen to me."
Spock uses a Vulcan mind meld to contact the creature and allows the creature to see glimpses of Human life for the first time. The creature comes to understand that its food, the planets, are inhabited by "many somethings, so small, but alive. Comprehend. Not desire to consume other beings." The creature allows the Enterprise to leave peacefully and agrees to depart the galaxy. Kirk asks, "Spock, what did you perceive?" The first officer replies, "The wonders of the universe, captain. Incredible, completely incredible."
Memorable quotes
"It's immense! Twice the diameters of Saturn, Jupiter and Neptune together!"
- Arex, on the size of the cosmic cloud
"Spock, is it possible the cloud consumes planets?"
- Kirk
"It is possible this cloud in which we are entrapped is a living thing. The cloud is alive."
- Spock
"Scotty, you've just given the Enterprise, and Mantilles, a chance to live."
"Thank you, sir."
- Kirk and Scott
"Am I doing the right thing, Bones? Once I said that man rose above primitiveness by vowing, 'I will not kill, today.'"
- Kirk
"Spock, what did you perceive?"
"The wonders of the universe, captain. Incredible. Completely incredible."
- Kirk, after Spock's mind meld with the cloud (last lines)
