Travers MR 3707.15 Tithonus
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Tithonus System Mission Report
Aurora System, coordinates 2901
Ensign John Patrick Travers
SA 030 0782 TL • Star Fleet • 3707.15
Tithonus Life Forms Analysis
Aurora System, coordinates 2901
also present: Dr. Val Kostantin, Ensign Hruska
- Large clouds.gif
large clouds
- Bat forms.gif
bat forms that reacted to punctures in large clouds
- Ion column.gif
ion column schematic
In this ensign’s opinion, Dr. Kostantin was successful in finding life forms in the could layers of the gas giant Tithonus. Indeed, the energy budget and diversity of forms implies the possibility of a stable ecosystem.
Large Clouds
The large clouds appeared to be about fifteen times the size of the Penguin class fighter that we were in. As a Penguin is about 30 meters in length, these large clouds are typically about 500 meters in diameter. Several sensor probes were sent into several different clouds. In every case, the location of the probes entry created a “puncture” from which gases internal to the cloud would be expelled. This puncture would attract several “bat-form cloud-creatures” that would fly in and around the puncture. Moments later, the puncture would close. Dr. Kostantin requested that I fire a low energy phaser into a large cloud to see how the large cloud would react to that. Without knowing more about the nature of these potential life forms, I refused.
Bat Forms
There were smaller bat like forms that seemed to “fly” and respond to punctures in the Large Clouds. These Bat Forms were difficult to see and did not register as anything but gaseous eddies until I removed the cohesion filter from the bio-sensors. It was clear to me and all present that the Bat Forms were alive.
Ion Columns & Floaters
Ion columns would spontaneously form and seemed to connect the Large Clouds to something lower (and as yet unknown) in the atmosphere. There is significant energy associated with these ion columns. Contact with one charged our fighter to such a degree that it was impossible to raise shields. These are by far the most dangerous phenomena in the upper Tithonian cloud layers and I would recommend against further shuttle missions into the Tithonian atmosphere until a counter measure is developed. Once formed, the ion columns seemed stable. After only a few minutes, a 1 to 2 meter spherical from would descend from a Large Cloud along the ion column. As they descended it, the ion column would disappear behind them.
Hector Derelict Craft Analysis
Aurora System, coordinates 2901
also present: Dr. Val Kostantin, Ensign Hruska
- Hector.gif
Hector
- Buried artifact.gif
location of buried artifact
In this ensign’s opinion, the artifact buried in the ice on Hector is a derelict spacecraft. Possibly an old Kzinti warcraft left over from the Kzinti War fifteen years ago. 
Hector, location of buried artifact
During routine sensor scans of the five major Tithonian moons, an artificial structure was found buried under the ice on Hector.
Buried Artifact
A complete sensor scan was not performed. Once it became clear that the object was almost certainly alien in origin, we were recalled to Facility 2. Based on the sensor data taken, it can be confidently stated that an artificial object of about 250 meters in length is buried about a kilometer under the ice. It contains materials that are consistent with space faring technology.