User:Woozamagoo
"Blood Dilithium" is the term coined by the crew of the USS Merevek to describe strange formations of dilithium crystals found in the Gradin Belt after a massive subspace phase pulse passed through the region on October 14th, 2400. Although structurally identical to naturally occurring dilithium, Blood Dilithium has been seen to emit a crimson glow; perhaps the main reason why its nickname has stuck. The extreme speed with which blood dilithium grew on the surfaces of planets, moons and other celestial bodies has hitherto been thought impossible. Growth locations have thus far only been observed in areas within five lightyears of various subspace anomalies in the region. Starfleet Science has put out a call for further studies on blood dilithium, particularly regarding the numerous reports of a violent terror instilled in the minds of telepathic species in close proximity to it.
History
The earliest reports on the appearance of new dilithium fields in the Gradin Belt date from October 19th, 2400 following the detection of a subspace phase pulse in the region eleven days earlier. News of its appearance quickly spread throughout the galaxy, attracting government and private mining operations alike to the area in the hopes of exploiting the new resource. Rumours of the new dilithium's strange effects on telepaths quickly began to circulate.
On October 28th, 2400 the USS Merevek became the first Starfleet vessel to perform a detailed analysis of the new dilithium. Operating on a diplomatic liaison mission near Turei space, the Merevek quickly diverted upon detecting dilithium deposits within the accretion disc of a 10km wide neutron star. The Merevek closed to a distance of 35,000km of the collapsed star’s core to obtain adequate sensor readings. Their course took them within the accretion disc itself, at extremely close range to high concentrations of new dilithium growing upon the rocky remains of planets that once orbited the collapsed star. Captain Correth later noted in her log that as the ship inched further through the jagged rubble, all eleven telepathic members of the ship’s crew reported a slow-building sense of unease. On moving within 10,000km of the most concentrated dilithium veins, abject terror began to rip through their minds.
Chief Medical Officer's log, stardate 77824.9. Photon emission tomography scans indicate patient H, a Betazoid, is suffering hyperfusion in the lateral temporal cortex. Observations are consistent with visual and auditory hallucinations arising from severe schizoaffective disorders. Symptoms alleviated only when the Merevek moved away from the dilithium field. Remarkably, structured questioning shows patient H’s experience to be nearly identical to that of the other ten patients affected. Auditory hallucinations have taken the form of a single voice of indeterminate sex, speaking in a low snarl. Clear statements recorded include, “Smash them all,” and, “Spill the blood of those that sent us here.” ~Dr. Vashek, Chief Medical Officer, USS Merevek
Nature
Blood Dilithium has so far been found only within five light-year radii of subspace anomalies in the Gradin Belt. The crystals have the potential to appear on any solid surface in these areas of space, including asteroids, planets, moons and artificial structures. Blood Dilithium crystals share the same refinement and starship fuelling potential as ordinary dilithium. Crystal formations can at times be extremely dense, wreaking havoc with planetary ecosystems and civilisations. All formations have appeared after the subspace wave pulse detected in the Gradin Belt on October 14th, 2400.
The proximity of Blood Dilithium growths to spatial anomalies has led some Starfleet scientists to theorise that the subspace wave pulse has somehow weakened interdimensional spatial boundaries. While currently an extremely crude hypothesis, it is thought that the Blood Dilithium may be spreading from a realm of space outside our current knowledge.
Blood Dilithium's effects on telepathic species are poorly understood. From what has been observed, the greater a species' telepathic ability, the more severe the observed changes in an individual's behaviour. Reports have varied from a general sense of foreboding experienced by mildly telepathic species (e.g. Vulcans, Deltans) to an all-consuming psychotic terror in fully telepathic species (e.g. Betazoids, Ullians). In the most severe cases, reported symptoms have included unknown, disembodied voices fueling a sense of paranoia within the affected. Voices encourage individuals to commit acts of violence and destruction against both personnel and/or ship's systems in the vicinity. To these ends, the use of handheld anti-personnel weapons, nearby objects, and the individual's own hands and teeth has been observed.
Response
Reports of great upheaval in the Gradin Belt began to filter their way through to Starfleet Command by mid-October, 2400. The appearance of Blood Dilithium created "gold rush" into the Delta Quadrant, with mining operations from species across the galaxy racing to prospect new dilithium fields and capitalise on the strategic resource. There followed a huge spike in distress calls, placing great strain on Starfleet's limited resources deployed to the region as some of the only ships willing to attend. Undue confidence, poor preparation and unfamiliarity with the perils of the Delta Quadrant have contributed to this.
With no permanent bases and limited supply lines, Starfleet's Delta Quadrant presence found itself stretched to the breaking point as the displacement of populations by Blood Dilithium growth and mining operations threatened humanitarian disaster. The sudden aggressive expansion of the Devore Imperium led to several tense standoffs with the advanced telepath-hating empire, forcing Starfleet to commit yet more units to protect threatened populations.
Concerned by these developments in the Gradin Belt and increasingly puzzled by sudden appearance of the Blood Dilithium, Starfleet has directed the Fourth Fleet to bolster its presence in the region. As the Task Force most commonly relied on to operate far beyond Federation space, Task Force 17 was chosen to spearhead efforts. Fleet Captain Erill'Yun Mek and Captain Andreus Kohl were given temporary command of all Delta Quadrant operations from a temporary command post established at the Markonian Outpost. Vice Admiral Alexander Beckett coordinated wider Fourth Fleet resource deployment from Alpha and Beta Quadrants.
The Fourth Fleet's response was arranged in three protocols:
Locate
The Fourth Fleet was initially tasked with locating as many dilithium fields as possible. Starfleet Science considered it a key priority to gather all the data it could. It sought information on the types of spatial anomalies around which Blood Dilithium had grown, patterns in which it had formed, its interactions with subspace, and details of its effects on telepathic species.
Ships of the Fourth Fleet spread out across the Gradin Belt in search of spatial anomalies. Upon discovery, the local area was to be surveyed and scoured for any signs of Blood dilithium growth. Interactions between Blood Dilithium and local stellar phenomena, planetary (or interplanetary) ecosystems, particularly intelligent life, were to be observed.
Investigate
Upon locating a