The planet Alfa Sigma, a desert world with a small Federation colony just beyond the edge of Alliance territory, is the site of an archeological expedition. They have recently uncovered several small Precursor artifacts. A much larger, incredibly dense object is burried several meters below the current dig site. Meliar, after his run in with Kordivan, made his way to Alfa Sigma, where he was hired by the archeologists as an aide. Merlmer asked Vyncynt to investigate the D'nyarri military buildup. As Vyncynt has no contacts in D'nyarri space, this will take some time. The artifacts recovered by the archeologists are not of Tk'Mara manufacture. The crew believes them to be Melan. The crew has hired Meliar to arrange an embarrassing incident at one of Councilor Nichols' businesses. They hope thereby to compromise his powerbase. An alien of unknown origin, vaguely ursine in shape, was visiting Afla Sigma. He had been seen there twice before in the past. He calls himself 'Chuhu, Swam Vigorously Through Methane to Find Mate, Am Called Uhuna.' Meliar an Merlmer were the first people to actually speak with him. Uhuna claims to be of the Jou'roki. The Melan are also apparently of the Jou'roki. Uhuna was in contact with at least one Melan, owner of some of the artifacts found at the dig, during his visit. Merlmer detected a telepathic consciousness involving Uhuna. The streams of thought, of which Uhuna was part, was quite unlike anything Merlmer had ever sensed before (including the D'nyarri hive mind). Uhuna claims to live roughly 200 parsecs coreward of Alfa Sigma. He was just visiting to investigate the planet.
Finally arriving at Alfa Sigma, the crew try to keep a low
profile. Kress and Merlmer take the Klarg Star to a nearby colony as part
of a "routine" food delivery. Meanwhile, Ramirez and K'yrth are met by
Meliar, who has somehow affiliated himself with the local archeological
investigation of several Precursor artifacts discovered near the town.
Moreover, a strange, bear-like creature has been reported around the town.
When Kress and Merlmer return, "Merlmar" the friendly
Sparrial, takes them to the dig. As the great Duke of Klargia is
considering making a donation, he is shown around. The archeologists have
uncovered several small relics. The crew note that while they appear to
be Precursor artifacts, they were not made like the Tk'Mara artifacts they
had seen elsewhere. One of the archeologists points out that a small artifact
seems to be missing.
K'yrth has his ship fly over the desert, making sensor scans
through the sand. They reveal one large, dense object below the dig site.
The crew, unable to excavate it alone without calling attention to
themselves, points it out to the archeologists. They seem unimpressed,
and may follow it up.
Back at the Klarg Star, Kress and Merlmer actually hire Meliar to
perform a bit of industrial sabotage on Councilor Nichols. Given his
prominent status, Kress wants Meliar to investigate Nichols' assets, and
arrange several accidents to put them in a bad light. Lethal accidents are
to be avoided, but the more scandalous the better. After a bit of
bargaining and a bit more money, Meliar accepts the offer.
The next day, Merlmer and Meliar search for the mysterious
creature. Apparently, he has appeared off and on for several years, since
the colony was founded. The pair eventually find him in a park, taking in
the sights while slowly floating around. He is indeed large and bear-like,
but quite friendly. He greets the two, and introduces himself as "Chuhu,
Swam Vigorously Through Methane to Find Mate, am Called Uhuna." Chuhu
reveals that he is visiting from his home, very far coreward. He is of the
Jou'roki. Producing a small artifact, Meliar asks if it belongs to
him. Chuhu says that it looks like something a friend of his might have
left here a while ago. After pausing for a second, he confirms this and
asks to take it back to him. Merlmer asks if his friend is a Melan; Chuhu
says that he is Jou'roki, but Melan is what he would be called physically.
Merlmer tries to telepathically probe Uhuna. He senses several
"streams" of consciousness, vaguely audible, in him. It seems to be some
sort of communal though process, but quite unlike the D'nyarri hive mind.
The feeling is extremely bizarre, and Merlmer finds he can't quite block it
out any more.
Chuhu says that he must go for the day, and flies of over some
buildings. Meliar and Merlmer are quickly approached by several
scientists. Apparently Uhuna had never spoken to anyone on his previous
visits. The two tell the scientists Chuhu's name, but claim to know
nothing else. Merlmer can still sense the stream consciousness.
The next day, the crew buys several scones from a local shop,
and invites Chuhu to tea aboard the Klarg Star. Chuhu apologizes, saying
he must leave for home now. His friend thanks them for returning his tool,
however. He then flies off, and soon after Ramirez detects a small ship
leave the planet and head coreward at a phenomenal rate. The crew eat
the scones while pondering the large object below the dig site.
Continue to Episode 12, back to The Christmas Special, or return to the Main List.