Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Right Under Their Noses

[Addison MacKenzie]

(( Bridge - Deck 01 - USS Artemis-A ))

The crew assigned to man the bridge of the Artemis were now knee-deep in a plan: two shuttles had been dispatched to substantiate two warp trails while the Luna-class flagship investigated the third - complicated by the fact the path suggested it was headed for Nasciak space. Now, to complicate matters, they were faced with some kind of probe transmitting an undetermined repeating signal.

MacKenzie: Do you suppose it's a signal of some kind?

Jovenan: Maybe, if its purpose is just to let the recipient know that the sender is still functional.

Storm: What do you think would happen if it weren’t still functional?

Jetripar: I shudder to think.

Munro: Response

The corner of her lips pulled to one side as she impatiently tapped her index finger on the armrest of the chair again. If they didn't have a way to determine exactly what it was or what its function was, maybe they could interrupt its process.

MacKenzie: Is there a way we can disrupt the signal? Cut off... whatever it is and whatever it's sending?

Jovenan: We can intercept the signal and either block or bend it so that it doesn’t reach the relay… or we could just destroy the object. However, there’s a possibility that something happening to the object is the message the Afalqi is looking for.

Storm:  But that might be exactly what we need.  The likelihood that it would start a reaction might be beneficial.  If that’s what the Afalqi is waiting for, we have two shuttles that are pursuing the other trails.  One of us is likely to pick up on something.

Jetripar: Springing a trap can be beneficial if you're aware the trap is there.

MacKenzie: ::rocking her head from side to side until turning to Munro:: What do you think?

Munro: Response

Before she could offer a definitive order one way or another, they were interrupted by the chief scientist with important news.

Jovenan: Captain, the signal has ceased. Neither the object nor the relay are transmitting any more.

MacKenzie's eyes narrowed slightly as she could hear Storm's fingers flying across the console working to confirm the reading.

Storm:  I can confirm.

Jetripar: ::nervously:: What does that mean?

MacKenzie: It means that it likely did whatever it is it was supposed to... Analysis?

Munro: Response

Jovenan: Caught the object in sensors. Scanning for the internal composition. ::pause:: Um, it seems the probe is dead. I’m not sure if it suddenly broke down or if something initiated the self-destruct.

Storm:  The internal mechanisms may not be functioning, but it is intact.  

Jetripar/Munro/MacKenzie: Response

Storm:  My biggest concern is that if we bring it aboard, we could be bringing on a Trojan Horse.

Jetripar: This seems very convenient that it would break down right now...

The commanding officer's blue eyes once again narrowed as she once again found herself tapping her index finger on the armrest of her chair, weighing the possibilities. If the Romulans really were involved in some way, they had rightly gained a reputation for being a devious people when they wanted to be. It was entirely possible that bringing the probe aboard could be a trap deliberately set for them. Or, it could also be built as a warning: when the probe stopped transmitting, whoever set it up would be notified that Starfleet was in hot pursuit.

MacKenzie: I'm inclined to agree... Suggestions?

Munro: Response

Storm: If we look at this situation from a tactical perspective, Havun wants to get away, but he wants to do so stealthily.  The easiest way to do that is to stay still.

MacKenzie: I'm a doctor, not a tactician. Someone help me here.

Jetripar/Munro/Jovenan: Response

Storm: If we pass him and our focus is out in front of us, he can sneak back in behind us and get away easily.

MacKenzie started to nod slowly.

MacKenzie: You think they're here? Or closeby?

Jetripar/Munro/Storm/Jovenan: Response Her lips once again pulled to the side. MacKenzie: So how can we figure out where he is? And, more importantly, can we flush them out? Jetripar/Munro/Storm/Jovenan: Response MacKenzie shrugged. They were between a rock and a hard place - the shuttles were investigating the other two warp trails and were likely to report back with their findings any minute. Now, the bridge crew had a choice: should they proceed on course to try to intercept the Afalqi before they reached Nasciak territory, or investigate what caused the signal to cease and whether they might actually be right under their noses? MacKenzie: How long do you think it will take? Jetripar/Munro/Storm/Jovenan: Response Her tongue poked against the side of her cheek as she quickly mulled it over. MacKenzie: Proceed. Jetripar/Munro/Storm/Jovenan: Response

Tag, and TBC!

---

Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A

Executive Council Member

V239601AM0

[Addison MacKenzie]

(OOC: I got interrupted by a work call when I was in the middle of writing and neglected to include the end of Jetripar's sim. This one includes everything from their sim and stitches it together with mine. Sorry about that!)

Jetripar: I'm not sure what that is, but it sounds bad. Can you examine it from here?

Munro/Jovenan: Response

Storm: If we look at this situation from a tactical perspective, Havun wants to get away, but he wants to do so stealthily.  The easiest way to do that is to stay still.

Jetripar: I'm not sure I understand. He gets nowhere that way.

MacKenzie: I'm a doctor, not a tactician. Someone help me here.

Munro/Jovenan: Response

Storm: If we pass him and our focus is out in front of us, he can sneak back in behind us and get away easily.

MacKenzie started to nod slowly.

Jetripar: Wouldn't that leave him in unfriendly territory, and in the path of a returning hunt? MacKenzie: You think they're here? Or closeby? Munro/Jovenan: Response Jetripar: Let's assume that he stopped here and is somehow cloaked. How long could he maintain the cloak?

Munro/Jovenan/Storm: Response

Jetripar: Well, we must do something. What was causing the sensor echo to pick up on this in the first place. Is that something we can magnify?

MacKenzie: Mr. Secretary, it would be helpful if we knew what to look for - are you able to give us access to the internal data you have for the Afalqi's scientific capabilities? It might help us narrow our search parameters. Munro/Jovenan/Storm: Response 

Jetripar: Yes, I can do that. Finally, something I can help with.

Jetripar was up and over to the console in a hustle. It was the quickest the commanding officer had seen him move all day.

Jetripar: There. You should have access, as much as I can provide.

Her lips once again pulled to the side. MacKenzie: So how can we figure out where he is? And, more importantly, can we flush them out? Jetripar/Munro/Storm/Jovenan: Response

MacKenzie shrugged. They were between a rock and a hard place - the shuttles were investigating the other two warp trails and were likely to report back with their findings any minute. Now, the bridge crew had a choice: should they proceed on course to try to intercept the Afalqi before they reached Nasciak territory, or investigate what caused the signal to cease and whether they might actually be right under their noses? MacKenzie: How long do you think it will take? Jetripar/Munro/Storm/Jovenan: Response Her tongue poked against the side of her cheek as she quickly mulled it over. MacKenzie: Proceed. Jetripar/Munro/Storm/Jovenan: Response