Whale Watching

Posted on Mon Jun 26th, 2023 @ 7:03am by Captain Charlotte Rhodes & Lieutenant Steven Edgeware

1,205 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 1S: Shore Leave
Location: Lana'i III, Starfleet Installation
Timeline: During Shore Leave

The rain poured down, almost creating a physical barrier just outside the canopy that covered the observation loft. Captain Rhodes stood, just inside the rain line, letting the cool mist and the strong winds swirl around her. She stood casually as if there was no tempest outside, a mission jacket worn on top of her gold uniform, hands comfortably resting in the pockets. Hundreds of feet below, the sound of the massive waves crashing against the rocky shore made their way up, the only sounds piercing through the all encompassing deluge.

Under different circumstances, one of these near hurricane force storms might have been a cause for concern. But here, safe in the scientific installation, it was something else entirely. It was a front row seat to the magnificent power of nature. Sometimes, up on a climate controlled starship, it was easy to forget the sheer force that nature was capable of. Tonight was a good reminder.

She closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of the ocean. Thunder had always felt strangely comforting to her. Growing up in the desert, it was a welcome change of pace. The quick, violent thunderstorms marking the beginning of the end of the sweltering summer heat. Here, it felt like a reset. A storm like this felt natural and normal compared to the Ion Storm they'd spent several days within.

Steven had grown up a stones throw from the Irish Sea. So whenever he visited anywhere on shore leave. He always seemed drawn to its oceans. That was if it had any. So when he heard of the installation he made a bee line for it. Closing his eyes he smelt the familiar scent of the ocean.

“The smell of home sweet home.” He said aloud before realising he was not alone.

Charlotte opened her eyes and peaked over at the source of the voice, before issuing a smile. "I grew up in the middle of a desert. So less home and more Starfleet Academy for me," she replied before pausing. "Then again, maybe those two things are sort of the same thing for me."

"Glad to see you getting off the ship and taking some down time." She finally roused herself from her pseudo-meditative calm, turning fully to face him. "Did you come down for the storm or for the whales?"

“To be honest both. As a kid because of what happened to my father. My mother barred me from going anywhere near the Irish Sea. So I went to the beach anyway. Once saw this pod of Orcas just off the coast. Which was very unusual because the Irish Sea is not their usual hunting ground. I completely forgot about my mothers ban. Ran home to tell her what I saw and got a clip round the ear. No supper and sent to bed after a full hours telling off.” Steven said

"As a child, I was always afraid of the sea. I never really gained much appreciation for it until I was a little older. I became quite the swimmer in Secondary Ed and found out that I actually loved the water. I spent a good amount of time at the beach, swimming or surfing. But I found out I really loved sailing. I'd requisition a small sailing boat and go up and down the coast when I could," Charlotte added, with a smile. "Turns out that love of sailing was a good indicator of where I'd end up. The freedom of the open waves is too hard to ignore."

As they stood there a strange sound came from beneath the surface. Steven knew that sound almost immediately. A big smile crossed his lips as he said. “Captain, there be whales here!”

The extended tonations filled the air, somehow managing to cut through the sound of the storm. As sea mist filled the air from the crashing waves upon the shore, a different shape began to appear above the tide. Long flippers, a massive tail, and a few sets of ridges. Just as the science team had predicted, the 'whales' of Lana'i III had arrived. Charlotte couldn't resist the look of wonder that spread across face.

These majestic creatures were much like the ones that had once filled the oceans on Earth. Though there were differences for sure. The megafauna of the third Lana'i world didn't stick so strictly to Earth's animal kingdoms. The mighty sea creatures had some mammalian traits, some more reptilian, and a few wholly alien to Earth. Their usage of a strange respiratory propulsion technique to aid their swimming speed was one of these interesting traits. The more obvious and enchanting one happened a few moments later, when the massive creatures suddenly illuminated with bioluminescence. The scientific expedition had not yet learned why they did this, though it was theorized to be part of the complex communication system the 'whales' used.

Rhodes had stepped forward for a better look, ignoring the fact that she was now being hit by a lot more mist and splashing rainwater. "They're incredible."

A tear came to Steven’s eye.

“You know it’s a bad thing we don’t have whales on Earth anymore. To think they were wiped out for what could be harvested from their dead bodies. I remember once hearing a lecture by a renowned scientist. Who believed the whales may of come from another world and their whale song was a their way of communicating with their homeworld. He was laughed out of the lecture hall. The Dean of the university had him quietly retired. The scientist was never heard of again or his theory.” Steven said

"Who's to say he was wrong? We've seen stranger things out here among the stars," Charlotte replied, not taking her eyes off the glowing scene before them. "There's an odd tendency among sentient beings to just assume we're the smartest in the room at all times. Humans, in particular, have a long history of this. I'm not sure what it is about intelligence in ourselves that so often blinds us to its presence in others."

“ I think it is because we are the only dominant species on Earth. However there is a planet near where Vulcan used to be before Nero blew it up. That actually has two dominant species humanoids and aquatic. Did you know that there is a theory among some Earth scientists. That Dolphins could be more intelligent than humans. But hide there this due to what our species did to the whales. They consider us too barbaric to speak to. I know it sounds crazy but looking at these magnificent beings. They could be correct,” Steven said

"I'd like to think we're getting to the point they might actually want to talk to us. Hopefully the conservation work we've done on so many other worlds like this one helps atone for the damage we did to our own," Charlotte said, with a hint of sadnees. "In the meantime, I think I'm content to enjoy the show they've chosen to put on for us."

Steven nodded.

In the waves beyond the coast, the gentle cries of whale sounds filled the air once more, only briefly interrupted by the crash of thunder.

 

RSS Feed