"Crystal Judgment" by Michael Sweeney [ Return to Teaser through Act II ] begin act three the Crystalline Entity sweeps past viewer Voyager bridge Janeway: Shields up. Mr. Paris, take us out of the system. Prepare to go to warp. Paris: -looks upset- Aye, Captain. -show voyager moving away from moon- bridge - Kim's Ops station lights up again- Kim: Captain, I'm, I think I'm picking up a warp signature. Janeway: From the capsule? Tuvok? Tuvok: It does appear to be a warp signature. However, it does not appear stable, nor is it being generated at propulsion levels. Chakotay: Could it be part of the systems failure? Kim: The sensor buoy doesn't have enough bandwidth for a proper sensor scan. Paris: The Crystal thing is closing awfully fast. Chakotay: If this civilization has discovered warp, we're permitted to make first contact. Janeway: I don't know. Even if we do make contact, we can't help them. We'd have to destroy the Crystalline Entity to save their world. Can you justify saving one life by destroying another? Tuvok: The Crystalline Entity has altered course and increased speed. It is heading straight for the capsule. Kim: Captain, I think I know what they're doing! It's not a propulsion system. They're building up a harmonic warp bubble and generating a coherent graviton stream. Chakotay: To do what? Kim: The reconstructed logs say the Enterpise-D tried gravitons as a communications medium. The may be trying to communicate with the Entity. -ops board beeps- No, their systems are failing! Tuvok: Captain, may I suggest a course of action? Janeway: Spit it out. Tuvok: I think that we should beam the Ioan capsule abroad. We can beam it straight into a holodeck and recreate the space environment. That way we "buy more time" without needing to risk first contact. Janeway: Excellent! Mr. Paris, move us out of sensor shadow. Mr. Kim, get a lock on that capsule and notify the transporter room. Tuvok: The Crystalline Entity is closing to 1000 kilometers. Paris: We are out of sensor shadow. Janeway: Lower shields. -space shot of alien capsule and the rapidly approaching CE- CE outer "limbs" charge with static and energy.- a beam shoots out at capsule, just as capsule disappears into swirling sparkle pattern- Kim: We got ëem. Capsule has been directed to Holodeck three. Janeway: Get those shields up. Notify sickbay of our new guests. Tuvok: The Crystalline Entity has changed course again. Janeway: Mr. Paris, get us out of here. Tuvok: The Crystalline Entity is charging up its outer extremities. -Voyager fleeing- beam of energy leaps out of CE- -Bridge rocks Paris: I don't think it's to happy with us! Janeway: Go to warp as soon a possible! -ship rocks again- Tuvok: The Entity is physically ramming our shields now. -ship rocks- Kim: We have damage in the shuttle bay! Paris: Going to warp, Captain. -outside, Voyager warping away as CE follows- -bridge- Janeway: Mr. Paris, keep us ahead of the Entity. -looks up at Tuvok- Tuvok: It appears this civilization has gotten its "breathing room". Janeway: Tuvok, work with Kim and find a way to communicate with this Entity. Use every trick in the book. -turns to Chakotay- You have the bridge, I'm going to visit our new guests. Janeway to Torres. Torres: Torres here. Janeway: -moving into the Turbolift- Meet me outside holodeck three. end act three begin act four Voyager rushes past the viewer. The CE rushes after it scene- outside holodeck three Torres: -runs down the hall, is in civilian clothes- has tricorder and sensor pack- Sorry, Captain, I just came off duty. Janeway: I hope you don't mind. Torres: (smiles) Wouldn't miss it! Janeway: Computer, alter simulation so that Lieutenant Torres and myself are not visible to the Ioan visitors. Computer: Simulation altered. Janeway: Open the bulkhead. -doors open- Janeway and Torres enter- the Ioan capsule hangs gracefully in o the middle of the nowhere. space reaches out forever- Torres: I just hope this doesn't make me sick. Janeway: Just be glad be glad we don't feel weightless. Torres: That would make me sick. Doctors voice: Ah, Captain. I've done a preliminary scan of Ioans. I can't be certain, but I believe the transport has rendered them unconscious. Janeway: Unconscious? Has there been any damage done? -looks around- Where are you? Doctor: -phases into sight- I'm sorry, I forgot. I made my self transparent for a closer examination of the Ioans. -looks at Torres- Lieutenant, you appear distressed. Torres: Its just the atmosphere. -looks around- Or seeming lack there of. Doctor: No, I don't think there was any damage. The energy displacement simply knocked them out. Janeway: Lieutenant, scam the ship and give me a full systems report. Torres: -looking ill- Yes, Captain. -moves forward with tricorder and case- Janeway: Doctor, what can you tell us about the Ioans? Doctor: They are crystal based. The closet life form on record would be the Horta. They use a saline solution as nutrient fluid, akin to humanoid blood. I will require a more thorough examination to learn more about crystal cell replacement. Janeway: Crystal based? Do you think they could be related the Crystalline Entity? Doctor: You mean that thing chasing the ship? I wouldn't know. The sensor data I've been provided with is very sketchy. There is no way to ascertain a phylum connection without studying the Entity more closely. Janeway: In your opinion? Doctor: -looks toward capsule- There is the chance. Torres: Captain. Come look at this. Janeway: -moves around capsule to stand next to Torres- What is it? Torres: -points at some damage on capsule- This module is for the plasma induction. Its cracked and leaking. There's no danger to us or Voyager, the holodeck computer is redirecting it into our own plasma conduits. However, it means this capsule cannot reinitiate its warp core. Janeway: These Ioans must be incredible engineers, the whole warp assembly is so compact. Torres: Since its non-propulsion it can be. But its still impressive. The whole unit is incredibly clever. The graviton generators are single purpose, and only work with the warp bubble. Janeway: Could they repair it? Torres: I doubt it. It would require a space walk and some serious luck. Janeway: -looks at Torres- So their communications system has failed? Torres: Unless they have a back up I'm not finding. It cracked on launch. Janeway: I wish we knew what their plan was. Is this a real attempt to communicate, or random luck? I feel like we're so close to something. -ship rocks- Tuvok:filtered Bridge to Captain Janeway. Captain, the Entity is ramming the ship again. Janeway: Mr. Paris, increase speed. Try and stay ahead of it. Paris:filtered Captain, we're at Warp Eight point seven right now. That things hitting us like we're standing still! -ship rocks again- Janeway: Just go as fast as possible! I'm on my way up. -turns to Torres- Be'llana, stay here and monitor the Ioans. Doctor, inform me when they regain consciousness. We're going to need to make decisions soon. Doctor: Certainly, Captain. Torres: What do you want me to do if they attempt a space walk? Janeway: Just stay out of their way. -leaves holodeck- end act four begin act five bridge- Janeway walks on and the ship rocks again- Janeway: Damage report. Tuvok: Shields are holding. Several crew members with minor injuries. I don't believe the Entity can hit us much harder without damaging itself. -ship rocks even worse- lights flicker- Tuvok: -chagrined- Perhaps I was wrong. Janeway: -making it to her seat- Mr. Paris, can we stay ahead of it. Paris: We've just clear nine point three, and its still keeping up. Kim: Captain, the Enterprise logs say the other Entity easily out ran the Galaxy class starship. Chakotay: The Galaxy class was rated for nine point three. Janeway: The Enterprise was usually much faster than that. -ship rocks- Paris: Captain, we're at nine point five. The engines are starting to complain. I don't think we can keep this up. Computer Voice: Warning, warp reactor exceeding tolerances. Automatic shut down in one minute. Paris: As I was saying. Chakotay: Captain, I have a plan. -Janeway nods- Kim, how are you coming on that graviton beam set up. Kim: I'm still working on it. Chakotay: Paris, lay in a reciprocal course. Get ready to go evasive and drop warp on my command. -activates comm- All hands brace for impact. Now, Paris. outside shot- Voyager drops out of warp with shimmering cerekov radiation- CE blows past- Voyager spins like a top and jumps to warp again bridge- everybody hangs on as inertial dampeners strain to keep up with the ridiculous forces- Paris: On reciprocal course. Passing warp four. Tuvok: Captain, the Entity is turning to follow. Janeway: Good work, Commander. Now lets see how long we can keep our lead. Kim: Captain, the computer has finished reconstructing the computer damage. I think I have enough data to use the graviton beam. Janeway: Well, we can't use it at warp. How long until the Entity catches us. Tuvok: The Crystalline Entity is traveling at warp nine point nine nine. It will intercept us in twenty minutes. Paris: How can that thing go so fast with out a warp drive? Chakotay: I guess its just in a hurry. Janeway: Kim, you have twenty minutes to fine tune the graviton system with the universal translator. -gets up- Meanwhile, I'm going to see about some other leads. -to Chakotay- Just keep the ship in one piece. Chakotay: -raises eyebrows- Don't I always? scene change- holodeck three- Torres is still going over the capsule- Torres: How are the patients, Doctor. Doctor's voice: -practically in her ear- The "patients" are the same. -Torres nearly jumps out of her skin- Still unconscious. Torres: Will you stop sneaking up on me like that? -looks around- And make yourself visible when I'm talking to you! Doctor: -appears- Is that better? Janeway: -coming into holodeck- Report. Torres: The damage is worse than I thought. There are micro fractures all over the place. From shoddy manufacture to launch stress. If they try and start this thing up again it will be a fireball. Janeway: That would be one way of getting someones attention. Doctor: A rather permanent way. Janeway: There has got to be something. Doctor's tricorder chirps Doctor: Captain, one of the Ioans is regaining consciousness. Torres: I guess we should just ask them and get it over with. Janeway: Damned if we do, damned if we don't. I hate catch 22's. Doctor: -thinking- Captain, I think I might have a suggestion. Janeway and Torres turn to the Doctor Doctor: Lately, I've been reading a few spy novels based on the late twentieth century. At the time interrogations method were quite harsh. Torres: Are you suggesting we get a bright lamp and shine it in their eyes, so they can't see us? Doctor: -irritated- While that was a method more often used, it was not the most effective. -Doctor walks back and forth, thinking- One method was to put the subject in a sensory deprivation environment and wait them out. Most subjects would crack under the strain and tell everything. Janeway: I don't think that's a very good impression for first contact, Doctor. Doctor: -continues walking back and forth- I could modify my program to resemble an Ioan. If we alter the holodeck program around the conscious patient, we could simulate a dream state environment. I could then interact with the Ioan and effectively gain all required information. When we change the state back the Ioan will think it was a hallucination and dismiss it. Janeway and Torres look at each other Torres: I need to read these books. Janeway: Okay, lets do it. Doctor: I believe Mr. Tuvok did a detail study of the Ioan culture and language. Torres: -at holodeck control- All the language files were based on radio programing. Just hope they speak a similar language. slowly the light level brightens and a haze fills the air Torres: Is this what you had in mind, Doctor? -turns to the Doctor- jumps back- Doctor: -looking like an Ioan- How do I look? Torres: Ridiculous. Janeway: Excellent, Doctor. Now if you don't mind? -motions toward the capsule- The doctor goes over to the capsule and sticks his head through the hull a surprised Ioan yells. Doctor: -speaks in Ioan- -subtitles- It is alright. You are dreaming. End act five. begin act six Torres: Let me get this straight. The Ioan think the Crystal Entity is their god? Doctor: Yes, that is what I gathered. Janeway: It makes sense. the Crystalline Entity has been part of this systems way of life for thousand of years. Its an unexplained phenomenon with intelligence. Doctor: The Ioans culture was based around the comings and goings of the Entity. Two mind sets formed, one of contacting the creature and the other of pure worship. They fought a war over it. Torres: A nuclear one. That's one method of getting your way. Doctor: Further, the Ioans believe the Entity gave them life. Janeway; Made in thy image. Doctor: Captain, I believe this is true. Janeway: Then they are related to the Entity. Doctor: It is possible that the Entity seeds worlds in its path. These seeds could grow and prosper into little Entities or in this case they mutated and evolved into something slightly differant. Janeway: Then they could communicate on a basic level. Doctor: Doubtful. It would be like trying to discuss physics with a bear. A hungry bear. -ship rocks- Chakotay: Captain, we're out of lead time. Janeway: Go to evasive. -turns and starts to pace- What are we missing?! Torres: Maybe we should just stop and try the graviton beam. With the universal translator, maybe that's it. Suddenly the capsule behind them shudders. Janeway: What was that? Torres: -has tricorder out- I think they're trying to reactivate the warp reactor. Doctor: I thought you said it was, broken. Torres: It was! There was a crack it that the size of the San Andreas! Wait... Janeway: What is it? Torres: This is incredible! I'm reading what appears to be nanites! They're little crystal machines repairing the fractures! Incredible! Doctor: -with own tricorder- The micro creatures are derivative of the Ioans own structure. Most impressive. Grown, not manufactured. Janeway: Is it working? Torres: They'll have it repaired no time. No space walk needed. -ship rocks- Chakotay: Captain, we're approaching the Ioan system. And this game of Crystal and mouse is getting old! Janeway: -smiles- I hear you, Commander. Tell Mr. Kim to have that graviton beam ready, I think we've got our solution. Torres: Captain? Janeway: What these guys need is a universal translator. We happen to have one. We'll just route the graviton signal out though our own system and act as a shield while the two ancient relations get to know each other. Torres: We'll need to seal off this holodeck with force shields. Do you think it will work? Janeway: Its the best chance they've got. -ship rocks- Janeway: I'm going to the bridge. Just make sure the Ioans can talk through us! scene- bridge -ship rocks- Torres: filtered Its all set up down here! Janeway: Mr. Paris drop us out of warp and take us to the Ioans planet. -ship rocks- Paris: Hold on. -ship rocks hard- Janeway: Mr. Kim get that graviton beam ready and make sure the signal is synchronized with the Ioan capsule on the holodeck. Kim: Aye, Captain. Tuvok: Captain, the Crystal Entity is charging its outer extremities. Paris: We are at the Ioan world. Janeway: Okay, now its all up to the Ioans. Torres: filtered The Ioan capsule is powering up their warp drive and readying the graviton beam. -ship rocks hard- lights flicker- Tuvok: Captain, shields are at 87%. The Entity is recharging. Torres: filtered Okay that should be it! Kim: Initiating graviton pulse. outside- voyager emits white beam at CE- CE continues to ram ship ship shakes- bridge shakes- Tuvok: Shields are hold at 64%. Kim: Beams are in sync. Janeway: Come on! This is the chance! view screen- CE charging up again. white beam flares up and then dies down. CE starts to ram again- white beam pulsates- CE stops Tuvok: The Entity has stopped charging its outer limbs. Kim: The universal translator is working. I think we're getting through. Janeway: On speakers. Speakers emit bird like chirping and whining noise Chakotay: Could we get that in English? Kim: Sorry. Speakers: Please. We want to, talk. Can you talk to us? Please. We want to talk. Can you talk us. Janeway: Is the Entity responding? Kim: Not yet, Captain. Wait. yes. Chakotay: Lets hear it. Speaker: voice changes much deeper I - will - talk bridge breaks out in applause scene change- Voyager orbiting planet. CE off at distance harvesting planet Janeway's voice: Captains log: As fantastic as it seems, my ship and crew have managed to mediate between two species of ancient relation without actually having to be identified. The Ioans have saved their planet and actually struck a fair deal. The Entity will harvest the radiated portions of the planets surface, and leave the Ioans to rebuild. Perhaps this rebuilding will allow them to survive, and learn from their mistakes. Meanwhile, with the plasma from the local streamer, my ship has actually come out ahead in this adventure for once. Voyager turns away from planet bridge- Janeway: -stands- Energize. -view screen- the Ioan capsule appears floating in open space- Kim: The capsule is safely away. The Ioans are unconscious again. The Doctor expects they'll recover in thirty minutes. Janeway: Mr. Paris, take us out. Chakotay: Do you think the Ioans will survive after all this? Janeway: -turns to Chakotay- Given half a chance, life always pull through. Tuvok: Considering the incredible and often illogical amount of life in the regions we have explored, I would be forced to agree with. Kim: Even if you weren't the Captain. Chakotay: -laughs- Even so. outside, Voyager moving away from planet with CE harvesting in the background, pan away and watch Voyager go to warp. Fin