The crew of the smaller Kraxxos vessel did warn us that terrible things have happened to the crews of other trapped ships in the past, although, they didn’t elaborate on what those “terrible things” were. It is disturbing, therefore, to note that many individuals aboard the Enterprise have also reported physical challenges after leaving the nebula. Most of these reports pertain to lingering headaches (migraines, in the case of a few crew members), unusual arthritis flareups (in personnel not previously afflicted by arthritis), and a loss of short-term memories. A small handful of individuals have reported more serious concerns, such as the sudden acquisition of a random new ability (like the ability to sing or speak in another language), a sudden change in accent, unusual changes in hair color, and symptoms that appear to be similar to Capgras Delusion – the belief that friends and family have been replaced by impostors.
None of the reported conditions are life-threatening, and many of them can be treated and cured. Still, it is hard to overlook the possibility that the Kraxxos warning might, in fact, be true. It would seem that there is, indeed, more to “The Shadows” than its stunning (yet ominous) beauty, and its ability to snare wayward starships.
-Lieutenant Sam Archer
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December 19, 2364 -- (Original Devron Timeline)