Meanwhile, outside of the Hippolyta...

A behemoth of gargantuan proportions ghosted by the Hippolyta. Delicate, opalescent, and many tendriled, the beast approached the vessel, and gently nudged it. Rai raised the ship to red alert as the vessel shook.

Tal'Ara jumped to her feet.

"Run a full scan on that thing and raise our shields," she said to an ensign at the helm.

She turned to the captain, "Have you seen anything like this before?"

Before Rai could respond, the beast opened a gaping maw ringed with rows of transparent teeth, and affixed itself, suctionlike, to the hull of the Hippolyta.
"Sir, it's draining our shields," said the bridge officer.

"It's too close for torpedoes. Charge disruptor banks and fire on my command," she ordered.