Artifacts, Pt. 2

## Chronological Order

***Artifacts, Pt. 2*** is the second part of a two-part episode known as ***Artifacts***. According to an official press release published by Dark Horse Comics, "In his quest to discover a legendary fleet of starships from a lost civilization, Ed's old astro-archeology teacher has lead the Orville into grave danger. The professor has not been entirely forthright with Ed and the crew-a fact they must now overcome if any are to survive this perilous endeavor."

The episode was written by executive producer David A. Goodman, inked by David Cabeza, and colored by Michael Atiyeh. Lettering was done by Richard Starkings and Comicraft's Jimmy Betancourt. It is the eighth issue of Season 2.5.

*Artifacts, Pt. 2* was released on November 24, 2021. It was later released in the book The Orville Season 2.5: Digressions.

## Summary

In the middle of the Cruxis system, the USS *Orville* is adrift in space. The ship is badly damaged and its communications system is beyond repair, forcing the crew to board an ancient Zankon vessel. Professor Lamarche, imprisoned in the brig, claims he can operate it, but demands he and his assistant Chalmi get to personally board the craft. The senior staff question Lamarche's motives, but Captain Ed Mercer recognizes they have little choice if they are to survive.

Ed takes Helmsman Gordon Malloy, Lamarche, Isaac, Chief Security Officer Talla Keyali, and Chalmi by shuttle to the Zankon ship. As the shuttle nears the ship, the team realizes it still emanates power after millions of years. There is no docking port, but a hole in the ship's bow opens, inviting them in.

The team enters the large vessel and explores on foot. They find smaller Zankon ships inside which doubled as shuttles or fighters. As the team ventures deeper, they are taken by an energy force and teleported to the vessel bridge. The bridge has no control panels; in fact, the entire ship lacks control panels. Lamarche explains that in ancient times, Zankon ships were controlled by a Zankon's mind. He continues that ten years back, he genetically linked Chalmi's species to the Zankon. In other words, Chalmi is a remnant of the Zankon species and capable of piloting the ship.

Chalmi sits in the captain chair and turns on the engines. From the Orville, acting captain Kelly Grayson marvels at the Zankon ship springing to life. Lamarche orders Chalmi use the ship to destroy a large asteroid as a demonstration of its power.

Back on the Orville, Lamarche is calm and pleased, confident the Planetary Union will overlook his crime in return for the Zankon fleet and its impressive technology. Disgusted, Ed orders Lamarche confined to his quarters.

Later, Gordon enters Lamarche's room to find him showing Chalmi an ancient recording of two Zankons torturing a slave. Gordon tells Chalmi that Lamarche plans to use her and her people as tools to control the Zankon ships. Upset, Chalmi teleports herself to the Zankon vessel. On the bridge, the Orville receives a message from Chalmi, who apologizes that she must prevent Lamarche from enslaving her species and begins destroying the entire fleet until the only Zankon ship remaining is her own.

Chalmi tows the Orville out of the system, where the Union can safely rendezvous. She announces that she will depart - much to Lamarche's dismay - and return to her people.

## Trivia

### Timeline

* This issue takes place sometime in 2421.
* The Zankon fleet has lain dormant in the Cruxis system for 3.4 million years.
* About one hour passes between Professor Lamarche forcing the Orville into the system and Ed Mercer taking an away team into the Zankon ship.

### References

* When the shuttle enters the opening of the Zankon ship, Gordon says that he feels like they are in "that story from the Bible, about the whale and Pinocchio." The story of Pinocchio and his friends getting swallowed by Monstro, a giant sperm whale, is from the 1940 film *Pinocchio*.
	+ Obviously, Pinocchio and Monstro's story is not from the Bible, but the story *is* based on the biblical story of Jonah and the whale.

## Cast

### Main cast

* Ed Mercer
* Kelly Grayson
* Bortus
* John LaMarr
* Talla Keyali
* Claire Finn
* Gordon Malloy
* Isaac

### Recurring cast

* Lamarche
* Chalmi

## References

1. ↑ ORVILLE ARTIFACTS #2 (OF 2). *Previews World*. Last accessed Oct. 19, 2021.