Etaoin Shrdlu
From Obsidian Fleet Database
Name: Etaoin Shrdlu Nemesis Note: The name Etaoin Shrdlu is loosely interpreted to mean 'The Frequency of Twelve'.
Race: Unknown
Home Planet: Unknown, reside in sub space
Security Classification: Extreme Threat
Information classified Top Secret, Captain's Eyes Only
Contents |
[edit] Etaoin Shrdlu Nemesis
A race that has never been seen, they exist in a dimension of subspace that is beyond the reaches of Federation technology – or any technology known in all of the Milky Way Galaxy. The only proof that the Federation has of their existence is the unmistakable mark their presence leaves in our space.
Note: The name "Etaoin Shrdlu" means "frequency of twelve".
[edit] Introduction
If you were to learn that your grandchildren would no longer be able to enjoy the benefits of living in a civilized society, what would you do to protect their future? If your children had to live each day wondering if they would be the next target of a random terrorist aggression, what could you do to free them from that threat? What if it was you who was their threat; what would you do then?
It began on April of 2381 when marine fighter pilot James Whittier and his squad of fighters, assigned to the USS Enterprise, fell prey to a bluish radiation cloud that swallowed the squadron whole, save one – Whittier. He alone survived to tell the tale...but what he didn’t know then was that the tale was just beginning.
[edit] Background Information
Gregory Ben Tailor had just received his first command, the USS Courageous NCC-74290, a Defiant-class starship which had lain derelict among the junk heap of hundreds of broken starship hulls, abandoned by her previous crew after the engines gave out during the Battle of Chin’toka, a bloody battle which marked the beginning of the end for the Dominion War seven years prior. A scouting crew had located the derelict, surveyed it, and deemed the vessel salvageable.
Tailor had been sent to take command of the vessel, and he, along with his band of young officers and cadets, were to restore the ship to service -- a simple mission for his first command. But what Starfleet didn’t know was that the Courageous’ was a location for much more than just a heap of old vessels...it was the staging ground for the invasion of the Milky Way Galaxy by the Etaoin Shrdlu Nemesis!
Tailor and his crew, aided by the help of the SS Paragon, a civilian freighter that ferried supplies, personnel and tools, the Courageous crew soon uncovered the tale that had begun three years prior – a tale which would ultimately lead the Courageous crew to uncovering the future annihilation of all civilizations throughout the Milky Way Galaxy.
Upon discovering this information and confirming the reports of the Courageous officers, Starfleet has classified all knowledge and information of the Shrdlu threat as top secret in hopes of avoiding a mass panic.
[edit] Latest Events : Star Trek XI Tag
The war over the Reman cloak between the Romulan and Klingon empires was going badly for the Romulans...until recently. In the last 10 major encounters, the Klingon have lost dozens of ships while the Romulans have apepeared to be unscathed. Intelligence reports indicated that the Romulans had been employing a new kind of technology in their ships. While the crews of the USS Courageous and Langley Station engaged a Romulan warbird, Veratekk Kress, a Romulan traitor, was able to download the reason for the new Romulan strength -- Shrdlu technology. But even more startling was the uncovered fact that the Romulans were building an active bridge into the Shrdlu domain -- a bridge that would enable the Shrdlu to travel freely into our galaxy.
Requesting aid from the Klingons, the USS Courageous was equipped with a new Reman cloaking device and joined a combined Klingon/Federation task force to destroy the gate. The journey from Langley Station to the Romulan home world where the bridge is being built would take a month, precious time spent with not a minute to loose if the gate was to be destroyed successfully. However, two weeks into the journey, intelligence reports indicated infighting among the Romulus people. This infighting is believed to have been started by a man named Nero, a miner, who has been actively apposing the Romulan Senate's plans to join forces with the Shrdlu. This infighting may present a target of opportunity to destroy the bridge into Shrdlu subspace domain currently being built in orbit around Romulus.
Note: Out-of-character info: The destruction of the bridge is planned to cause the Romulan sun to destabilize resulting in the supernova of Star Trek XI that destroys Romulus. The introduction of Nero into the plot is an expansion of the ideas originated from the comics Star Trek Countdown.
[edit] The Future
The invasion begins at midnight, January 1, 2400, when the Shrdlu launch a massive attack to compromise individuals and turn them against their friends, their family, and their co-workers. No rhyme, no reason, just unchecked brutality! By the year 2413, only a handful of scattered civilizations still survive, soon to be lost as civilization in the Milky Way Galaxy completely crumbles by the year 2438. But intelligence reports had pointed to the year 2438 for the invasion...how could they have been so wrong? Or were they wrong?
A handful of Starfleet officers uncovered the tale of the Shrdlu invasion while on a peaceful mission to restore the USS Courageous. Now, these officers alone are Starfleet's first defense against the Shrdlu. The Courageous has taken the lead to develop offensive and defensive strategies, and to create technologies to that will permit Starfleet's forces to take the battle to the enemy! But is it possible to change the future? But a more pressing question...is it possible to defeat an enemy now who has already defeated you in the future?
[edit] Shrdlu Tactics
There are three distinct ways that the Shrdlu wage their warfare and effect people and things in the Milky Way Galaxy; slave races, radiation clouds, and the ability to compromise the individual person.
Slave Races
Four distinct slave races make up the Shrdlu’s primary hands-on warfare techniques. These races resemble Earth insects of the following types; arachnid, hornet, centipede, and African fire ant. Each species stands between seven and eight feet tall, and each have a dedicated role within the Shrdlu framework. The arachnids make an excellent army, their eight legs and naturally thick hide make them super-quick at land travel and immune to energy weapons. Hornets serve as an air force with a maneuverability and agility unmatched by any Federation craft. Engineers with a hundred arms are the role of the centipedes, and these skillful and ingenious creatures are capable of construction and repair at speeds more than 20 times that of a humanoid. The role of the fire ants has yet to be determined, nor for that matter has one been seen; however, if their exoskeleton is anything like the ants on Earth, it is rumored that these creatures would make a superb special tactics force.
Radiation Clouds
There are five types of radiation clouds, each bearing a unique color; yellowish-brown, bluish, reddish, green, and a fifth unknown color. Each cloud gives off a unique type of radiation, described in detail in the engineering data section. The color indicates the purpose of the cloud to some extent, however only the purposes of three colors have been identified. The yellowish-brown serves as a two-way temporal doorway in our own universe. The blue is believed to be a nourishment collector, a one way door into the subspace realm where the Shrdlu exist. The green acts as a direct door No other information on the radiation clouds exist.
Individual Compromise
The Shrdlu's greatest strength is their ability to "compromise" an individual. The exact process of how an individual is compromised is unknown, however, the effect is well known. A compromised individual appears normal in all aspects; medical, physical, psychological. However, the compromised individual will instantly "snap" and become a raging terrorist when confronted with the stimuli that had angered him/her the most in their past. It is unpredictable, highly personal, and unknown.
[edit] Engineering Data
The yellowish-brown radiation cloud is the only one that has been studied in depth. In the study performed by Paul Norbek it was discovered that any attempt to analyze the individual components of the cloud is impossible; the cloud is comprised primarily of two types of particles, the first a previously unknown temporal radiation and the second an unknown isotope in constant state of phase flux – the two particles act upon each other to prevent in-depth scans of the other. The temporal radiation has been named ‘Norbek Radiation’ after the first individual who discovered its existence. Portions of a cloud can be siphoned off using an inverted graviton beam coupled with a low-grade tractor beam used along the anomaly’s perimeter; however, this technique only works to gather a small portion of a cloud as containment consumes 2.5 x 10^5 terajoules of energy per cubic centimeter of cloud particles. Preventing the development of clouds in normal space can be obtained through the destruction of sub-space at the desired location. This tactic, however, results in the simultaneous destruction of warp drive capabilities through that area of space.
[edit] Medical Data
Analysis of known Etaoin Shrdlu slave races by Dr. Dhuro Lanis (2413)
The first species we encountered was an arachnid species. It has a total of eight arm/leg appendages. The lower pair seems to be mainly used for walking as they are bigger and more pronounced. The upper three pair can be used as either arms or legs. All eight legs have special hairs that help the creature cling onto walls or ceilings.
The creature has a total of five eyes, with one being the "central" eye. The central eye is at least double the size of the other eyes. Eye color ranges from red to green, it is not known whether this represents a special rank, or is genetic. Studies indicate that the eyes are chemically enhanced, hence the speculation.
The creature's body is broken into three parts: the large head, the body, and small cephalothoraxes that seems to be a hold-over from evolution. It is unknown whether the cephalothoraxes was used for producing a silk-like substance or holding a stinger, and it is also unknown if it is still used for these purposes. The head has a mouth with two pincer-like protrusions that seem to help hold onto food while eating. The entire body is covered with a hard exoskeleton which is phaser-resistant; however, a knife can penetrate the exoskeleton. The material that makes these creatures impervious to phaser fire is thought to be the same compound that shields their lifeform readings from sensors.
Internal organs, which are housed inside the body section, seem to indicate possible eugenic enhancements. This hypothesis is made because there appears to be a low degree of genetic variance among this species, combined with an equally low incidence of genetic and chromosomal error. These creatures are sturdy and supremely healthy.
It is possible that they continue to be the subjects of eugenics procedures. If that is the case, they could become an evolving threat, with changes occurring in their exoskeleton and intelligence when we least expect them. In addition, there should be great concern about blood-borne pathogens being transmitted through them. If a creature's great weakness is that it must be stabbed to kill it, and the blood is sticky, that leads to the obvious conclusion that the blood could be used as a disease vector, whether skin is broken or not.
This species seems to be the marine regiment. They are hostile, ruthless, and amoral. Joseph has begun to affectionately call them his “Big, Sticky Pincushions.” This is obviously a jibe at the fact that the only way to kill them is to stab them, and that their blood sticks to whatever touches it and is hard to remove. Work has begun on synthesizing an anticoagulant to assist with cleaning of spattered arachnid blood.
The second species encountered are flying insect-like creatures. They seem to resemble Terran hornets or wasps. They have six legs, three body segments, large and poisonous stinger. Stingers are deadly to everyone. Attempts to synthesize an antivenin have so far proved unsuccessful.
The heads have two large compound eyes that see in a 360-degree range. They dart around quickly but are susceptible to phaser fire.
We believe that colors indicate rank and range from yellow to blood-red to black.
Not much is known about their internal structures, as all that have been studied were shot, and the internal organs liquefy immediately. Wings are thin, large, transparent, and reinforced with veins and hollow bone-like structures. Every creature has a unique pattern in its wings. We believe that these are like fingerprints. We have been calling these "Warnets."
The third species are multi-legged creatures akin to Tholians. A body, head, and two pairs of arms sit atop several hundred short stubby legs. Estimates of legs are between two and five hundred. The creatures have large compound eyes, move quickly, and can change direction with out losing any speed. They are very adept at fixing things, and avoiding capture. None have been captured, and have only been observed from afar. These appear to be engineers, and we have been calling them as such.
Other reports from our allies indicate that two or three more races may exist, but our intelligence cannot confirm the existence of them.
End Report.
[edit] Tactical Data
The Omega Particle has been considered as a means of defense against the Shrdlu but is being held as a measure of last resort...for the moment. Aside the damage it would do to our own galaxy, there is no guarantee, yet, that it would effectively stop the Shrdlu.
The Shrdlu's abilities have not yet been fully scoped out yet. Concerns exist as to whether the Shrdlu reside in their subspace layer throughout the entire galaxy -- to corners the Federation can't even reach with the Omega Particle. And still, what about their presence in other galaxys and alternate dimentions?
These concerns seemed to be justified when the Courageous, while on a routine patrol mission near the Romulan DMZ, was pulled into the mirror universe to aid the alliance against the Shrdlu. While there the Courageous crew discovered that the Shrdlu slave races in the mirror universe are the same as those in our universe.
Based on these experiences and others, it was reasonably hypothesised that the Shrdlu have the ability to travel anywhere in our galaxy at a moment's notice, and to travel in that same fashion to any of an infinite number of alternate dimentions. It has even been speculated that the Shrdlu may indeed have the capability to travel between galaxies and they may even be equal, or superior, to that of the Q Continuum.
With this most recent data in mind, the Omega Particle is but a petty water gun when compared to the Shrdlu. But a weakness has been discovered; while the Shrdlu and their slave races have no counterparts in other dimentions, carbon-based lifeforms do. The Shrdlu and their slave races, while appearing infintely powerful, are finite in numbers. This fact, coupled with the knowledge of the Shrdlu's activities in other dimentions gives rise to a very important question -- is the Shrdlu's reach extending beyond their ability to grasp? And if so, how can we take advantage of this weakness?
[edit] Credits
The Etaoin Shrdlu Nemesis is copy write Jordan Jones, aka Gregory Ben Tailor, commanding officer, Langley Station SB-65. Special thanks to the USS Courageous Crew, specifically: Johnathon Moss, aka James Whitter; Chantal Whittington, aka Dhuro Lanis; and Kevin O'Grady, aka Thomas Joseph for their help in creating the Shrdlu. Also thanks to the commanding officers of Obsidian Fleet, specifically: Seylan of the USS Eagle, Justin Lee, David Alexander McClellan of the USS Andoria, Leonard Solomon of Starbase 47 for their help in providing a feedback on the foundational idea of the Shrdlu race. And lest we not forget, thanks to Mau, aka Intelligence Corps Director Allan Pinkerton, for his review of the initial Shrdlu write-up.
