Cerulean Stars - Chapter 103

Chapter 103

Stardate 48423.2 - June 4, 2371 - 11:13:55

It hadn’t exactly been a surprise to Raine that Sisko would push for continuing exploration of the Gamma Quadrant despite the Dominion threat, they were Starfleet after all, and exploration would always be Starfleet’s favorite pastime.

That didn’t mean she liked it however, or well, she did, because seeking out new life and new civilizations was fun, but she didn’t like how it meant they had to be constantly on the lookout for the Dominion.

“I've confirmed the preliminary analysis of our sensor sweeps.” Bashir said as he looked up from the science station. “The second planet in the Kylata system is definitely M-class.”

“It would be nice if we could beam down to the surface and take a look.” Jadzia put forward with a somewhat pleading look over towards Raine from what seemed to be rapidly becoming her usual position at the con.

“Don't look at me.” Raine returned with a shake of her head. “I'm still trying to figure out why the Dominion is giving us so much space. However since they are, that sort of thing will continue to be up to the Commander.”

Technically it always was, but Sisko would at least consider her objections if there was an actual threat around.

“I don't see any–

Sisko was interrupted before he could say more by the sound of several alerts going off from the direction of the con.

Jadzia focused on her station as the rest of them rapidly switched back to full professional mode. “Sensors are picking up some very unusual gravimetric distortions originating from the Trialus system.”

That was very likely bad, they weren't exactly far from the system in question, but you only got suddenly appearing gravimetric distortions with intermittent anomalies or technological activities.

“Any idea what's causing them?” Sisko inquired as his brow furrowed in thought.”

“It's hard to tell at this range.” Jadzia admitted, and Raine began running a tactical check since it was very obvious what was coming next.

“Let's take a closer look then.” Sisko put forward, leaning forward slightly in his chair and grinning.

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“System's now in visual range.” Raine announced as she watched them pass the dotted line on her tactical display.

“On screen” Sisko ordered, and Jadzia all but instantly obliged by switching the main display to the requested focus point.

An empty spot of space roughly in the solar system's goldilocks zone appeared on screen, and Raine could just make out a somehow familiar chaotic gravitational lensing effect that seemed to be rapidly increasing in intensity and volume.

“The gravimetric distortions are increasing, but they don't seem to be coming from the star itself.” Jadzia relayed in a clearly intrigued tone.

“It's a brigadoon planet.” Raine said as it finally hit her. “The readings are almost identical to what my runabout picked up before crashing into one.”

“Dax?” Sisko inquired with a look towards the Trill woman who was now rapidly entering commands into her station.

“Confirmed.” Jadzia said after a moment. “I'm reading a ninety three point seven percent match to Ullon Four.”

As if in response to their words the undulating space on their viewscreen was filled with a round fog of bluish energy which rapidly solidified into a surprisingly normal looking planet.

“Amazing.” Bashir muttered in shock as he stared at the blue-green world now on the viewscreen.

Raine couldn't have kept the smile off her face if she wanted to. “We live in a universe of endless wonders Doctor.”

“The planet has settled into a stable orbit.” Jadzia announced as her hands danced over the controls. “And I'm reading a scanning beam from a settlement on the northern hemisphere. Looks like approximately thirty humanoids, and they seem to be the only one's detectable on the planet.”

Things were hitting enough of a point of familiarity that Raine wasn't too worried about some unknown threat presenting itself, though the fact she could only recall this event as 'Jadzia's romantic tragedy episode’ was slightly worrying for her friends future.

A light on Raine's console started blinking. “We're being hailed.” 

“Open a channel.” Sisko ordered as he sat up straight and pulled down the hem of his uniform to get out any creases that had formed over the past few hours.

“I'm Commander Benjamin Sisko of the Federation Starbase Deep Space Nine.” Sisko introduced himself as a middle aged humanoid woman appeared on screen.

“I am Seltin Rakal.” The woman returned with a smile. “Of Meridian.”

Sisko matched her smile with a grin of his own. “We were studying this star system when your planet appeared.”

“I expect it must have come as something of a surprise.” Seltin offered in amusement.

“It's certainly not the most common occurrence I'll admit.” Sisko agreed with a nod. “I take it this is a regular occurrence though?”

“That's somewhat complicated.” Seltin demurred. “I could explain our circumstances in more detail, if you're interested? We were just about to sit down for first meal. Why don't you join us?”

Sisko looked over to Raine, who gave a nod to show she didn't really have any objections to the idea. 

“We'd be happy to.” He agreed with the grin of a Starfleet captain who had just realized he was going to be at the forefront of a friendly first contact situation. “Assuming your planet is not going to disappear in the middle of dessert.”

“Don't worry.” Seltin reassured him. “We'll be here for a while.”

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Due to the intermittent nature of their existence Brigadoon type planets were something of a rarity, to the point where prior to this only three were known to exist.

The one Raine had crashed into had been at a roughly prehistoric era of evolutionary development. Meridian however might as well have been present day Earth for all the difference it had, something they Asari considered moderately disappointing given dinosaurs had been both fun to fight and tasty to eat.

The settlement itself was more than a little generic, a handful of somewhat artful grey buildings surrounded by a lush green forest that might as well have been California for all the uniqueness of it.

Upon beaming down they had been greeted by Seltin, and quickly escorted to a large horseshoe shaped table around which what had to be the entire colony was already gathered.

All in all a moderately depressing showing given there was no way population numbers that low were still viable without significantly more technology then it looked like those people had.

“It's good to be together again around this table after so long.” Seltin began once they were all seated. “What's more, we're fortunate to have visitors to share first meal with us.”

Pulling out her tricorder as everyone began eating, Raine took a moment to run it over the food.

“Is something wrong with the food?” One of the younger looking Meridian women asked her in concern. 

“No.” Raine admitted as she closed up the tricorder and put it back on her belt. “Just making sure I wouldn't have an unfortunate reaction to anything.”

“Is that… Common for your species?” The woman inquired in a curious tone as her eyes briefly flicked to the Asari's head fins.

“No.” Raine admitted in amusement as she popped a berry into her mouth. “But the last time it did I ended up pregnant, so since then I always make sure to check.”

Which had saved her from a few close calls over the years, and resulted in a couple things she'd eventually eaten anyways since Starfleet had a somewhat accepting policy on off duty psychedelics.

The woman held a fist up to her mouth to cover a giggle. “I suppose that would do it.”

“Everything good Brooks?” Sisko asked as he looked over to her.

“Should be.” Raine confirmed before an impish grin made its way onto her face and she pointed out a somewhat odd looking oblong puce fruit that looked to be part of the centerpiece. “Though you humans are probably going to want to avoid that one if you don’t want to watch dancing pink unicorns for a few hours.”

“We include the Tawa fruit for decorative purposes.” Seltin offered in amusement.

“Miss Rakal was just telling me about how their planet jumps between dimensions.” Sisko put forward with an acknowledging nod to the woman.

“I’m afraid I don’t know much of the technical details.” Seltin said in an apologetic tone as she looked over to the man Jadzia was in the middle of a conversation with. “Deral’s the one who’s been studying the phenomena.”

“What kind of dimension is it?” Raine asked in curiosity, knowing they could run the gamut from functionally no different from their own to places where the laws of physics were so radically different normal life couldn’t even survive there.

Seltin’s brow furrowed in consideration for a moment before she shook her head. “It’s hard to describe. It's without form. And we exist there as pure consciousness.”

“Sounds like one of the psionic energy planes.” Raine offered as she thought back over the various dimensions she knew about. “Probably one of the more distant one’s if you lose corporeal form while there. Are your people alone? Or have you encountered others?”

Sisko was giving her an odd look now, likely surprised at the direction the conversation had taken. But Raine hadn’t taken advanced psionic studies for nothing, even if it had turned out to be not nearly as useful as she’d hoped.

“I’m afraid I couldn’t say.” Seltin returned with an apologetic shake of her head. “Those of us here make it a point not to stray far from our point of appearance out of fear we will not be able to return when Meridian transitions back.”

That was interesting, and her wording raised several questions, most notable about those of them who were not here, but Sisko was shooting Raine the ‘don’t push it’ glare, so she let further questions on the subject lie.

“Then the planet exists in a form alongside you?” Sisko inquired, leaving Raine to pout slightly at the fact was apparently okay when he did it.

“It becomes non-corporeal as well.” Seltin admitted. “But when we return to this dimension, everything is just as we left it. The buildings, the trees, even our bodies.”

Which suggested they weren’t actually transitioning to that other dimension, only touching on it closely enough that their minds could exist there while their bodies were left in a decoherent state that was probably not unlike that of a transporter beam.

Letting a neutral expression settle onto her face Raine considered that for a moment. “How long does Meridian stay in the other dimension?”

“Our most recent lasted sixty years.” Seltin admitted with a grimace as Raine exchanged a slightly worried glance with Sisko.

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Author’s Notes: We begin Meridian.

Also, just a warning. Next week monday I’m having a wisdom tooth pulled so might not be in any state to write chapters for a couple days.