Photographs

Posted on Fri Feb 18th, 2022 @ 12:25pm by Commander William Gerhard & Ensign Nuna Lepine

Mission: Mission 5 - Babel
Location: Unknown Planet
Timeline: Day 274 13:00
1149 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Nuna had encountered scientists who, for some reason or other, resented any security personnel assigned to their endeavors, no matter how obvious the need was. Nuna had never been that foolish, even in tamer climes. She was certainly not going to forgo the security Lieutenant Gerhard represented. The normally stoic Nuna could even be mistaken as being "chatty" in the present situation.

As the pair hiked to where Nuna had established a makeshift observation post, she asked the chief armoury officer, "I understand you had an encounter with a troop of primates tentatively designated as Madison monkeys?"

William nodded as the hiked. While Nuna had a reputation as not being very open, he had found her more chatty than normal on their hike. "We did, initially there was just one, but apparently he brough back some of his friends. I made a tactical decision to vacate their territory to show them we meant no harm," he said. William and the MACO on the team had volunteered to lead Nuna back to the area so she could document the find. It was William's understanding that she would just take photographs of the monkeys, he hoped there would be no fruit involved.

"We called them 'Madison Monkeys' since Warrant Officer Walker is the one who sighted them first. We felt they at least deserved some name," he said.

"If we had not encountered another species," Nuna added as the pair arrived at her observation post, "Madison's monkey would have been my first choice of study. Granted, I only have a relatively cursory knowledge of primatology," Nuna continued, as she made adjustments to some of the instruments at her observation post, "But one can usually learn the most about an ecosystem in the quickest amount of time by studying the apex animal. Madison's monkey is not the apex animal on this planet, however." When Nuna turned to face William, she asked, "You have a small, benign insect on your left shoulder. Would you mind if I collect it?"

He looked over to his shoulder and saw a fairly large insect staring back at him. While most people would've flinched at the sight of the bug, William was pretty calm and collected. He nodded back at her as she moved to collect the insect from his shoulder. He relaxed some as he looked around at the observation post she had set up. "And what is the apex predator on this planet," he inquired as he found a moss covered stump and sat.

"I would not say predator," Nuna answered as she placed the insect in question in a collection case. "The designation lends itself to certain preconceptions where behavior patterns are concerned. But as to the apex animal on the planet, I believe it is him." Nuna gestured to what looked like a huge gray squirrel, the size of a bobcat, crawling out of a large trench.

William looked over at the creature she pointed too. He raised an eyebrow in surprise as the animal did not appear that it was the top of the food chain. He looked back over at Nuna, "I'd be the first to tell you I'm no scientist, but what makes you think that is the apex animal on this planet? Those monkeys we saw where way bigger than that, and they exhibited some rudimentary intelligence."

"Normally I would agree with you, Lieutenant," Nuna answered. "These 'squirrels,' however, have demonstrated complex social behaviors, more so than any other animal on the planet. In addition, readings indicate the presence of chemical markers normally seen in sapient beings with telepathic abilities. Note that I am not saying this species is sapient," Nuna added, gesturing toward the squirrel. The squirrel watched with keen interest, as if it somehow knew it was the subject of discussion. "But if these squirrels do possess this theorized ability, it would give them a significant collective evolutionary edge on everything else on the planet. Everything so far indicate the 'squirrels,' and only the 'squirrels,' possess this edge."

Nuna began taking pictures of the squirrel as she continued her observation. "I wouldn't mind returning to this planet as part of a research team to do a more in depth study of the animals. For example, what sort of adaptations are present in other animals in the ecosystem to deal with the abilities of the 'squirrels' to act collectively? Or are there adaptations of any sort?" Nuna gave William a rare, if wan, smile. "Apologies, Lieutenant. There are a myriad of questions I wouldn't mind committing time and resources to find the answers to."

William looked at the animal with renewed interest. The thought of animals communicating telepathically was interesting. "So your saying that those animals can read our minds," he asked trying to inject alittle humor into the moment, "Unfortunately, the journey alone to this planet would take far too long to return, so I would recommend getting as much data as you can. I know the captain was wanting to depart in a few more days."

"I'm theorizing that they can telepathically communicate with each other," Nuna corrected. "I don't know if they are sapient, which I assume would be a prerequisite of reading another sapient being's mind. Perhaps they're empaths," she pondered thoughtfully. She studied the giant squirrel, who gave her a thoughtful look back.

"I've named him Eugene," Nuna told the armory officer. "After Robert Eugene Megginson, the first of the Lakota to earn a doctorate in mathematics. I'd like to come back and see how he and his colony are doing in thirty years' time. Perhaps warp technology will have advanced to the point that such a trip will be possible." Nuna shrugged. "But you are correct. At present, the only option is to collect as much data on him and his colony as possible."

William nodded again as he looked over at the squirrel. He didn't particularly understand most of her theories on the creature, science wasn't exactly his forte. As he sat on the stump and watched her take photos of the creature, he cleared his throat before speaking, "Well, would you like me to show you where we encountered the monkeys we saw? Perhaps you can gather some data and study them both?"

"Absolutely," Nuna answered. "She took a few more photos of Eugene before adding, "If you would lead the way, Lieutenant?"

He stood and pulled his hand scanner from his pocket and activated it. After calling up the saved position he had pinged, he gestured for her to follow, "It's actually not too far from here." As the walked he noticed her snapping photos almost constantly, "Are you going to have enough memory on your camera with all the photos you've been taking?"

"I have more than an adequate amount of non-volatile memory," Nuna assured the Lieutenant. "If you will lead the way sir?"