ZE/D09 - Holodecks

[Paul]

==

[Gath]

Gath had spent some time looking into what would be the safest environment to wake their guest in. He decided upon an outdoor situation. It would appear as if they were in the middle of a huge park. They should arrive in the center of a large grass clearing. The ground should be level and the nearest trees should seem distant enough that it would be too far to run for cover. The holodeck would have a high security containment field around it, though it would not be visible. He wanted to be safe, even if they somehow tried to escape it physically. Normal program matrix protocols would make it appear as if there was infinite space to run and explore, but the idea was to create a neutral environment that would facilitate communication.

He had a table and sturdy chairs appear. His next obvious thought was that if they became violent, the furniture would dematerialize if it were picked up more than a few inches. This was quickly followed by instructions for the computer to place a personal shield in front of any crew member in the program, but it could be negated by a simple verbal command.

Gath then brought up his scans and had the computer create a display of the scanned creature. Soon, a static image of the creature was standing in front of Gath, like a statue. A thought instantly came to him and he looked at the hands of it to see how many fingers or other appendages it had. I might aid them in figuring out what they number system was based on.

He continued to work on small things with the program to try and set things up with the goal of trying to keep everyone safe while they tried to establish a means of communicating. Gath hoped that none of his precautions would be necessary, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

== GM input: How many fingers do these creatures have? Any other details worth noting? ==

[Morad Ameen]

== GM-Broken Arrow ==

As the holodeck's optical processors rendered the 1:1 scale, static model of the alien, Lt Gath was granted his first clear, unhurried look at the species they had pulled from the ice.

Standing in the simulated, sunlit park, the creature's brutal efficiency was undeniable. Approaching the hands to investigate their number system, Gath would immediately notice a stark deviation from standard humanoid biology. The alien possessed six digits on each hand: four long, heavily knuckle-jointed central fingers, flanked by two opposable thumbs—one on the inside, and one on the outside of the palm.

This dual-thumb structure not only granted them an inescapable, vice-like physical grip—perfect for high-gravity environments or heavy combat—but it also strongly suggested that their society utilized a Base-12 mathematical system, which perfectly aligned with the highly complex, easily divisible fractal equations the Science team was currently decoding.

Stepping back to observe other details, the high-resolution projection revealed several other specialized biological traits. They possessed no external ears to be torn or damaged in combat; instead, they had flush, reinforced auditory slits on the sides of their thick skulls, likely designed to protect their inner ear from massive concussive shockwaves. Caught mid-blink by the Sickbay scanners, the projection also showed a thick, semi-translucent membrane—a secondary eyelid—retracting over the eye, providing built-in protection against debris or harsh atmospheric conditions. Finally, upon closer inspection of their uniform, Gath would note that the heavy, utilitarian jumpsuit had absolutely no visible seams, zippers, or fasteners. It appeared to have been woven or replicated directly onto the subject, made of a slick, friction-resistant synthetic polymer that integrated seamlessly with microscopic bio-monitors at the collar and wrists.

They were not just biologically engineered; they were perfectly adapted survival machines.

[Gath]

Gath gave a slow and heavy sigh as he looked upon the holographic image of the creature he had scanned. He really hoped he was wrong, but his instincts were telling him he was right to have been cautious. He took detailed notes and shook his head slowly as he continued to find more and more reasons to worry about waking these creatures up. He was well versed in the tools and art of combat. He did not worship carnage like some of his kin did, but he studied it and understood it. He had killed foes in battle, but his only pride was in his skills, which he considered an art of war. He took no joy in the death of another, only in the actions of saving a life in danger. You killed if it was necessary, but never without purpose. These creatures would be hard to kill. Their bone density alone was impressive, but combined with all of the other details...he would be hard pressed to take one down if they were trained fighters. He tried to look for vulnerable points, but there were few and they were hard to get to. Their circulatory system gave them a very efficient flow of blood to the body and appeared to have redundancies to help control blood loss.

When he had finally prepared his preliminary report, he tapped his comm badge and said, "Gath to Ameen. Sir, I've been preparing a holographic simulation to try and isolate our guests, should we elect to wake one. That was the easy part. I used our current scans of them to create a rendering of one to get a closer look at them outside of their pods and...well...Sir, I think we might have a problem. I highly recommend against waking any of them. I don't know that we can contain them securely on this ship. I've prepared a preliminary report, but I strongly suggest we make sure they are in a very secure location before we consider waking any of them."

======================
Preliminary Report
Chief of Security, Lt Gath, Initial Observations

Bone density and muscle structure built for increased gravity will make them very strong and durable.
Bones are laced with some traces of metallic components, making them not only reinforced, but conductive.
Eyes have extra lid to avoid particulates and possibly aid in more severe light conditions.
Skeletal structure and organ placement built to protect aggressive assault.
Possible redundancies in organ systems to help sustain excessive trauma and breathe in unfriendly atmosphere.
External tissue appears resistant to exposure and would likely be able to sustain more than brief exposure to harsh temperatures and even vacuum.
Hands are built for opposing pressure applied strength for a crushing grip and able to maintain it for long duration.
Ears are externally negligible and although might give less ability to detect direction, the sensitivity is unknown.

Additionally, the hands show a six digit construction with two opposable thumbs. This suggests their numbers might be based on six digits, but given the complexity of their limited technological resources, I would presume a 12 based system. This would easily fit into the same number systems independently developed by many cultures already known, thus making them capable of understanding a common math system to our own.

It appears this crew might be designed for the purpose of this mission, though that is my own speculation. Their garments are very durable and appear to have been made without the intention of them needing to come off, or they are a disposable garment intended to last a very long time. For more medical details, I refer you to the Medical staff. I'll let you know when I have more.

End Report
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== Tag to all ==