S01E14 - Welfare Check

S01E14 - Welfare Check

Starfleet Mission Log – USS Heimdahl NCC-79852
Stardate: 81482.7
Grid: Delta-27 - to Grid 121-C
Mission: 05 – Starbase 471 – The Sæhrímnir Station
Commanding Officer: Captain Shris Sosalis
Additional Officers: Cmdr Aze (XO), Lt. Cmdr Sulok, Lt. Prazda Mirac (CSO), Lt. JG Razenka Zare (CSEC)
Support Crew: Shipwide AI Nyx

Mission Log

Stardate: 81427.0

Following a period of administrative recalibration and crew rotation, Lt. Cmdr Shris Sosalis was formally promoted to Captain under Starfleet Intelligence authority, concurrently inducted into the Corvus Network. With command transferred, the Heimdahl entered a scheduled month of downtime at Starbase 471 (Sæhrimnìr Station), during which the vessel received 50 new crew members and underwent full systems polishing, provisioning, and external hull refresh in preparation for deep-space deployment.

The crew spent a portion of their downtime engaging in cultural exchange simulations within the station’s holosuites—most notably partaking in a Klingon sport involving the herding and wrestling of wild boars, much to the amusement and bruising of junior officers.

Two new officers were appointed to Alpha staff:

• Lt. Prazda Mirac: A Reman-Cardassian hybrid, assigned as Chief Science Officer.
• Lt. JG Razenka Zare: A young Bajoran, appointed Chief of Security.

Both made memorable first impressions. Lt. Mirac nearly collided with the Captain during his first attempt to report in, while Lt. Zare bypassed proper protocol entirely, introducing herself to Commander Aze with a blunt demand for directions aboard the ship. The phrase “off to a flying start” was heard uttered by multiple crew members.

During a subsequent one-week test flight and supply run to Thorhall Station (“The Wound and the Weaver”) , Heimdahl returned both the “Thorne kids” and a cache of requisitioned supplies—some procured through creative interpretations of Starfleet inventory procedures.

Mission Briefing – Welfare Check

Assigned Objective: Locate and assess the status of Dr. Elias Vonn, a cyberneticist previously operating under Starfleet Intelligence.
Last Known Location: A remote cybernetics research outpost on a Class D moon orbiting an uninhabited system in the Delta-27 grid.

Dr. Vonn’s work includes:

• Theoretical and experimental augmentation of Starfleet personnel via regenerative and enhanced cybernetics.
• Proposals to integrate cybernetically modified animal lifeforms into Starfleet operations as reconnaissance and hazard assessment assets.
• Published theories on biomechanical limb enhancement—citing increased strength, enhanced sensory input (infrared, subharmonic sound, etc.), and improved stamina through mechanical augmentation inspired in part by recovered Borg research.

While regenerative medicine is well-established in Federation medical science, Vonn’s work seeks to push beyond baseline human capability, raising ethical concerns among Federation bioethicists.

Addendum – Planetfall

Stardate: 81482.7

After a 20-day warp traversal, Heimdahl arrived at the designated coordinates. Long-range scans revealed a barren Class D moon with no atmosphere, 0.2G surface gravity, and a small science facility. Preliminary tricorder sweeps detected minor bio-signs—along with residual Borg energy signatures, triggering immediate red alert protocols. Crew equipped with full EVA suits and heavy armament (phaser rifles, Vulcan lirpas, Klingon bat’leths, pulse grenades) prepared for deployment.

Upon arrival in the moon facility's transporter room—limited to three pads as opposed to Heimdahl's standard six—initial recon secured the perimeter. A terminal interface revealed several corrupted logs, a damaged message buffer, and an automated distress signal:

“Mayday, mayday… kzztt… Dr. Vonn… I’m being assaulted and taken ho— kzztt…”

Further logs captured grainy visual footage of unknown individuals commandeering a Runabout, deploying ground vehicles, and deploying several ground-based drones.

Facility Survey – Laboratory Recon

Rodent Lab

The team first encountered a small animal lab in disarray. Rats and guinea pigs, many dead or loose, displayed signs of cybernetic enhancement detectable via tricorder. Augments included ocular implants, neural spines, and limb reinforcement—Borg-adjacent in signature.

Lt. Zare’s wide-band stun sweep incidentally caught Commander Aze in the field—an error noted but not repeated. Once scans were complete, the team opted to fully neutralize the remaining augmented fauna to prevent contamination or resurgence.

Primate Lab & Hog Encounter

The next chamber contained primates and a genetically-modified hog. Upon entry, the hog immediately charged. The team sealed the door, but not before the impact compromised its hinges. Once subdued and terminated, the hog was revealed to be augmented with dermal plating and neural accelerators.

Anomalous Object – Tennis Ball

As the crew approached another lab, a mechanical object resembling a slightly oversized tennis ball was lobbed from within, bounced against the far wall, and rolled toward the team. Scans revealed the object was entirely synthetic and semiautonomous.

Upon closer inspection and attempted retrieval by Lt. Zare, the object retreated—demonstrating basic reactive intelligence. Commander Aze initiated basic verbal interaction. The object responded with simplistic, singular words.

Canine Encounter – Subject: “Fenrir”

Inside the lab, the team discovered a heavily augmented wolfdog—identified as a crossbreed of Malamute, Husky, and German Shepherd, weighing approximately 60–65 kg and standing 90 cm at the shoulder. Subject demonstrated high intelligence, obedience, and comprehension of spoken Standard.

After some interaction, including biometric scans and a temporary deactivation procedure (not detailed in the log but possibly a failsafe or neutering protocol), the subject was released. The canine identified itself as “Fenrir,” and utilized a built-in vocabulator to communicate words such as “friend,” “happy,” “free,” and “play.”

After brief celebration at its release, Fenrir became agitated, barking “Dad!” before bolting across the facility. A few seconds later, the same call was heard from the opposite direction, suggesting multiple sensory input sources or mimicry from another augmented subject.

Recovered surveillance footage showed several intruders systematically ransacking the labs and extracting equipment and subjects.

Final Encounter – Subject: “Gorky”

Fenrir eventually rejoined the team and communicated the word “Gorky.” The crew discovered the subject shortly thereafter—a 200 kg augmented gorilla, seated in what appeared to be an indoor botanical enclosure. Details of the engagement with Gorky are pending debrief.

Initial Analysis

Dr. Vonn’s research demonstrates a significant escalation in applied cybernetics, including the use of Borg-derived technologies on non-sentient and sentient subjects alike. The presence of autonomous drones, self-directed mechanical units, and bio-augmented life forms suggests the station was either conducting black-level experimentation or had become a rogue operation.

The presence of Borg signatures raises the possibility that containment protocols were breached—or that Borg technology was purposefully reactivated.

Further investigation is ongoing.