"The galaxy is full of mysteries.
While the knowledge of billions upon billions of beings over many centuries can be accessed by the Starfleet Library Computers, there is still so much we don't know. There are so many questions we have that, as of now, we have not found the answers to. Yet.
With all of that in mind, there are a number of mysteries that remain unsolved in the Sierra and Tango Super Sectors that are of interest to us and there is distinct possibility they are all connected."
The Ancients of Ectair
A common reference name given to the various lost civilizations of what the Romulans once called 'The Ectair Sector'. This region, which we call the Tango Super Sector today, contains a numbers of ruins and artifacts indicating no less than three highly advanced alien societies existed here in the distant past. All of these civilization are long gone, having disappeared between 3,000 and 5,000 years ago. While it is not clear what became of each of them, there may be clues to their fates based on what they've left behind. Furthermore, there is a theory that all their disappearances may be linked.
Rho Gruis III, The Ryton Nebula, and Yed Prior I
The following information was provided to Starfleet Command by Mister GLEE, a Civilian Special Advisor well versed in the Xenoanthropology of these [particular] ancient peoples.
Derelict Spacewreck of the Ryton Nebula
A 'Ghost Ship' of sorts, the Derelict of Ryton is a large starship of unknown origin that has been detected on and off over the years, drifting aimlessly through the Ryton System's rather unique Ryton Nebula. The moment a positive sensor lock is achieved, the vessel seems to vanish, disappearing off of scanners completely.
The Ryton Nebula is a relatively small astronomical body when compared to the vast expanses of stellar gas that are the Taurus Nebula or the far larger Typhon Expanse. Another unique aspect of this spatial phenomenon is that the nebula occupies that furtherest orbit of the red giant star at the center of the system. Like the small planetoids and gas giant spinning around with it, the Ryton Nebula is a part of the Ryton System.
With this in mind, there is more than one mystery here. What is the Derelict ship, why is there, where is it from, etc.? Additionally, how and why does it remain where it is? Why is it so hard to detect? Is it just the nebula's conditions or is it something else? How and why does the nebula itself orbit the Ryton star?
This one is very strange.
The Pillars of Rho Gruis III
The snowy surface of Rho Gruis III (Rho Gruis) is largely barren, rocky, and of course icy cold. Rather boring were it not for the 'Pillars of Thought', roughly 30.5 meter tall (on the average) hollow columns of an unusual marble-like material. When psychic phenomena manfiests in the vicinity of the pillars, it resonates with them and is enhanced to much greater levels. It is theorized that the original inhabitants of the planet were Psionic and a weak background alpha wave field permeates the columns for miles, even thousands of years after they perished.
What happened to these people is inconclusive but the planet has aspects that make it a potentially dangerous place to live. Throughout the planet's year, the orbit of Rho Gruis III passes through the extreme elliptical orbit of an asteroid belt in the system. The powerful magnetic field and strong gravity of the third planet pulls asteroids from the belt towards the world and as such, it is regularly pelted by meteors. It is possible this anomaly rained rocks down upon the cities of the original inhabitants and destroyed their civilization.
The Eastern 'Pillars on Thought' on Rho Gruis III
Giving their advanced construction techniques and psychic abilities, one has to ask, 'How did they not see a catastrophic meteor shower coming and why did they build an underground shelter or some other way of 'weathering the storm'. Did they? If so, where are they now?
Ruins of the Civilization of Yed Prior I
The civilization that lived on Yed Prior I (Yed Prior, Delta Ophiuchi) resembled a merger of the ancient Earth nations of Egypt and Roman. It is unclear if this is a coincidence or if any of these cultures actually influenced each other. It seems unlikely; though it is possible the society's artificially intelligent central computer altered the appearance of the ruins based on the information it obtained from ships and crews it capture to resemble things the Humans and Romulans it abducted might 'recognize'.
In addition to arenas and colossal statues, the lost civilization of Yed Prior had developed powerful AI computers and various robots to assist in the governing and maintaining of their city. The going theory is that a malfunction in the AI resulted in it developing psychotic behavior that eventually caused it and its robot minions to turn on the native inhabitants. Is it possible they were all wiped out in gladitorial combats?
Advanced Artificial Intelligence Super Computer within the Colossus of Yed.
One mystery that all these situations have in common is that there appears to be no sign of the civilizations that left these relics and edifices behind. Whatever became of them, it is as if they simply disappeared. Evidence abounds of them having existed but there is oddly little showing what the people themselves were like or what happened to them in the end.
Who is Mister GLEE?
Mr. GLEE is a character who was introduced into the campaign fairly recently, first appearing in the Season 8 Finale and Season 9 Opening Episodes, 'Enough to Plague a Saint', Parts 1 and 2 respectively. He does actually have a large part and is more of a background or supporting character but he shows up again later in Season 9 (the current season).
He is introduced as a specialist in the field of the lost civilizations of the Tango Super Sector , a Civilian Advisor who accompanies the Prosperity to Rho Gruis III to explain the nature of the planet and its ruins. The Captain has to arbitrate a dispute between by the Mazzulans and Romulans regarding a crashed Mazzulan ship and a holy relic it hopefully contains. At least the Mazzulans claim it is a holy relic, while the Romulans think it might be a weapon. Just before departing for the surface and the crash site, Mister GLEE reminds that Captain that no matter what happens, 'Never Forget 'Your Home'.
The cryptic message proves helpful when the artifact is activated and its psychic backlash sends the participants spinning through their own memories. Captain Fletcher views the Prosperity as home and reaches out to the others, particularly her crew, and connects them together so they can pull themselves and each other back to reality.
This is 'meta information' from me, the Gamemaster, as Ensign Shae would not be privy to the specifics of this mission and these events.
The mystery remains however...who is Mister GLEE?
"All right everyone. Let's take a quick break and I'll give you some information on important local organizations.
See you soon!"
AD
Barking Alien
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