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I just heard a scream. Better go check it out.

Supplemental

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Letter from Commander Sonya Gomez on Sarindar to the family of Kejahna on Nalor, tenth day of Sendrak, twenty-third year of Togh

Gentle beings:

You don’t know me, but my name is Sonya Gomez. I was recently put in charge of the Sarindar Project, for which Kejahna, the head of your household, was the foreperson.

I regret to inform you that Kejahna is dead.

I am sure you have heard the legends of the monster shii on Sarindar. We had believed those legends to be false. It turns out that—like many legends—these have a basis in fact. A creature that fits the description in your culture’s tales of the monster shii attacked the camp and killed three people last week. I had killed that creature myself, and thought that it was the last we’d seen of it.

However, yesterday, another creature attacked the camp. It is quite a bit larger than the animal that I killed. It went through our electrified fence like it was nothing and went after the nearest people.

Kejahna was very brave. He leapt into the monster’s path in order to save the life of another of the workers. He gave his life so that others would live. You would be very proud of how he died, though I know that it is small comfort to you right now.

We are about to go out to hunt the creature down, but I wanted to take the time to compose this letter in case I don’t make it back. I felt I owed it to Kejahna to tell you myself about what happened.

He was an excellent worker, and a good man. I will miss him, and I feel his loss deeply—though not, of course, as deeply as you. He spoke often of his family during evening meals, particularly how much he was looking forward to spending time with his son Revodro when this project ended.

I hope I get to convey my condolences in person, and again, I am very sorry for your loss.

Sincerely,

Commander Sonya Gomez

First officer’s log, Commander Sonya Gomez, planet Sarindar, Stardate 53283.1

There is a second “monster shii” on Sarindar. At 2342 hours, it broke through the electrified fence that surrounds the work camp. Unlike the previous shii that I killed, and which murdered several workers, this one suffered no appreciable injury. It immediately ripped into the nearest tent, which belonged to Kejahna, the foreperson, and three other Nalori: Erobnos, Caargenne, and Houarner. The creature definitely killed Kejahna—who leapt in front of an attack that would have decapitated Caargenne, and was disemboweled—and gravely injured the other three.

The shii then carried all four bodies out of the camp.

I witnessed most of this, having come to investigate when I first heard the screams of the Nalori being attacked.

While I record this log entry, my assistant Razka is organizing a second hunting party. I have composed a hasty condolence letter to be sent to Kejahna’s family. If Erobnos, Caargenne, and Houarner wind up killed, as I suspect will be the case, I will do the same for their families—assuming I survive. I fear that this creature will not be as easy to stop.

Razka is calling me. The party is ready to go.

Second officer’s log, Lt. Commander Kieran Duffy, U.S.S. da Vinci, Stardate 53288.1

I’m worried about Sonnie. And I’m worried about me, too.

The da Vinci’s still at yellow alert while we wait to find out what’s happening at Deep Space 9. There’s every possibility that another war with the Dominion is in the offing. If that’s true, we’re all in for a galaxy of trouble, especially since our first officer’s so far away.

Commander Sonya Gomez, first officer of the da Vinci, my immediate superior, and a woman I have grown very fond of over the years, is right now in the very distant Nalori Republic. That distance, combined with the Nalori’s lack of Federation relay stations, means that just a communication to her would take two days to arrive.

I’ve already sent her two messages, but haven’t heard anything back. I hope she’s okay. The