[O3-D3] Captain Roshanara Rahman: The Seed

[richyulin]

((Outpost 3 - Deck 4))

Core: Captain, I imagine you can work your way around the outpost without too much hassle? Decks one and two aren't ready for any living being to actually work their way up there as of yet, but assuming you're brave and have some breathers, you can head to deck three or past the forcefields of this deck. We've done most of our repairs so far on five and six already, but I've got a report on how much we actually had to do, if you'd like.

::The captain was still glancing over at the PADD Tristam had handed to Tuk, her curiosity piqued. Could it be so simple as a message left hidden somewhere on that device?::

::She refocused her attention back to the components engineering expert.::

Rahman: I would. Perhaps we can go over it later tonight?

::It was probably the only hint she'd allow that hinted at anything more than a professional relationship between the two of them whilst they continued their investigation.::

Tuk: I have my breather, so that shouldn’t be an issue.

Sepek: RESPONSE

::Tristam seemed pleased with her proposal and nodded once before looking over at the other engineer she'd brought with her.::

Core: Lieutenant, if you'd follow me please.

Rosek: ::nods:: Of course, sir.

::As the two engineers left, Lieutenant Tuk got to work quickly bringing the PADD back to life.::

Tuk: Captain? I managed to open up this PADD. ::beat:: At first glance, it all seems to make zero sense. Perhaps you can make out what it’s telling me?

::She took the device from the Bolian and began skimming the contents. She'd hope for anything, really. Inventory reports, maintenance requests, duty roster schedules. But instead it was indeed something that seemed quite nonsensical. Perhaps she should have hoped for anything *useful*.::

Rahman: ::reading aloud::

"Once in a golden hour

    I cast to earth a seed.

Up there came a flower,

    The people said, a weed."

 

Rahman: ...it's a poem.

::The writing continued for several more stanzas.::

Sepek: RESPONSE

Tuk: Incredible! The thing now, is to determine who had this PaDD and subsequently jammed it behind the bulkhead.

Rahman: And why? It seems odd to hide poetry. There might be something more to these words--a code perhaps? Or maybe even another message encrypted within.

Tuk: That would require someone with a deeper knowledge of computer software and systems, which I don’t have a lot of.

Sepek: RESPONSE

::She handed the PADD to the Vulcanoid.::

Rahman: Lieutenant, take this for now. You can analyze it later back on the ship. ::She raised her eyebrow and gave a half smile of amusement.:: Maybe at least identify the poem.

::She glanced between the both of them.::

Rahman: Let's go check out some more of this station and see what we can learn about this attack that happened a few months ago.

Sepek: RESPONSE

Tuk: RESPONSE

::The three began making their way up to the next deck.::

((Outpost 3 - Deck 3))

::Roshanara and the other two officers now were all donning rebreathers to cope with the lack of full life support. Though a completely breathable atmosphere had yet to be restored, there was at least artificial gravity and the supposed assurance they weren't going to be sucked out into the vacuum of space.::

::The air that was here though remained icy cold, and the Kriosian was beginning to regret not bringing at least a pair of gloves and a thicker field jacket. They had to use their handheld flashlights in this section of the outpost, which otherwise remained in complete darkness. Tuk and Sepek were examining some containers and other pieces of equipment as Roshanara made her way to a console. Toggling a few of the switches failed to activate it, but after connecting a portable power supply they'd obtained from one of the civilian engineers who had led them to the upper section, the console finally came to life, colored lights suddenly glowing in the abyss.::

Rahman: ::shaking her head:: I'm pretty sure this thing was already out of date when it was installed.

Sepek: RESPONSE

Tuk: RESPONSE

Rahman: Well, we've got at least a year's worth of Mother Road tetryon conditions recorded here in the databanks. Most of the data looks badly corrupted though. The actual computer core itself looks like it took major damage during the attack.

Sepek: RESPONSE

Tuk: RESPONSE

::She gestured for the science officer to take over the controls.::

Rahman: See if there's any surviving sensor data from the time of the attack.

Sepek: RESPONSE

::She looked to Tuk next.::

Rahman: What were you able to learn from the reports by the survivors of the attack about what happened?

Tuk: RESPONSE

TAG! TBC...

Capt. Roshanara Rahman

Commanding Officer, USS Veritas

I238705TZ0