by Quinn Calhoun
Synopsis:
You have been assigned to conduct a routine planetary survey of Brannon II, located in the Igo sector, and determine if it is suitable for colonization. Initial scans of Brannon II were taken by the U.S.S. Yosemite thirty years ago and showed it to be an unremarkable, but promising planet. The Yosemite did not conduct a complete planetary survey thirty years ago because it detected a plasma streamer and rushed to investigate. (OOC: This mission is not necessarily linked to the TNG episode ”Realm of Fear” but if the RP crew wants to find a way too incorporate it that could be interesting.)
Arriving in orbit your initial scans show very little has changed on Brannon II since the Yosemite’s visit. However, as the intensity of the scans increase several mysterious results begin to stack up. Chief among them is a strange energy signature, which suddenly appeared approximately 30 meters below the surface. This energy signal did not register on the Yosemite’s initial scans.
Further scans of the area reveal that the energy signature is located in the center of a large cavity. Intrigued, a landing party is beamed down to the cavity and materializes in a large stone chamber. In the center of the chamber is an eight-sided stand of unknown material, standing 13 meters in height and tipped with a large octahedral crystal. The crystal is internally lit by a pulsating weak purple hue and is the source of the energy signal. Activated by the landing party’s presence, the light emitted from the crystal increases and the room is filled with holographic images depicting the life and death of an alien race (see Zircons below).
Due to some misperceived action the crystal separates the landing party and transports them to different locations in a maze. When this occurs the landing party’s life signs suddenly disappear from the ship’s sensors.
Brannon II:
Brannon II is a Class L planet with no animal life and only scattered pockets of flora. Scans of the surface show numerous geological inconstancies that cannot be explained by any known environmental or atmospheric phenomena.
Chamber:
The chamber is 19.5 meters in height and shaped like an inverted top. There are four entry points into the chamber that are sealed either from age, seismic activity, or some long forgotten security protocol. The floor is littered with centuries worth of dust and debris. While the stone walls are cracked and weathered, remains of a once intricate and ornate design is barely visible.
Maze:
While in the maze electronic devices will not work and the ship cannot detect the landing party. The maze is littered with physical, mental, and emotional “obstacles” that need to be over come to exit the maze.
Zircons:
- Appearance:
- Species: Humanoid with aquiline hints in their facial features.
- Height: Ranges from 1.22 – 1.52 meters.
- Weight: Ranges from 31.09 - 48.53 kg.
- Color: Ranges from dark blue to green with various markings.
- Civilization:
The Zircons were once the natural inhabitants of Brannon II before their decline and extinction in 250 A.D. A peaceful and highly advanced race, the Zircons spent most of their resources on inner exploration through meditation. To know oneself completely physically, mentally, and emotionally was considered the ultimate goal in Zircon society. Unfortunately striving to reach this goal made the Zircons too content and complacent, causing birth rates to drop and leading to their eventual extinction. Hoping to save other civilizations the same fate, the last of the Zircons built the chamber to warn others of the road to their demise.
By spending most of their resources on inner exploration the Zircons never made it off of Brannon II. However they did have contact with other civilizations who considered the Zircons a wise advisor race. Allusion to the Zircons appear in the mythos of surrounding civilizations.
