[END ACT 1] Lieutenant JG Niev Galanis - We're Not Alone
Niev Galanis
((Babbage Science Center, “Whispering Wall” Colony – Planet Imza-4521-L))
Taking a deep breath, Niev tried to shake off the feeling of being in some kind of abandoned tomb. It reminded them of some of the ruins they’d explored on Velestus when they were much younger… though so much warmer. The scientist couldn’t help but wonder why things were running so hot down here. It wasn’t as though Starfleet was lacking in cooling technology. Even the panels of the servers lining the walls radiated a dull warmth.
Another mystery on the pile. The facility only seemed to get more mysterious as they uncovered details. Niev turned to look over their shoulder at the other two.
Galanis: …Are we to investigate further now, or regroup and share our findings?
Hopper: My gut tells me we’re close to having something tangible to bring back, Lieutenant. We know that Interlink has connected with the Indy – but we don’t yet understand how it’s maintaining that connection, or have any idea how to safely sever it. Now that we’re down here, I’m hoping to get a ‘look under the hood’.
Varati: Response?
Letting their flashlight sweep the area, Niev gave off a small frown. They would have at least packed a portable cooling unit if they knew they were going to be working in a place as warm as this. Sweat was already beading on their brow, which they quickly wiped away as they leaned in to take a closer look at once of the nearby panels and then shifted back toward Robin and D’Cyra.
Hopper: Work together to see if you can spoof it, get it thinking one of your PADDs is another ship or something. We can prompt it to make the connection then monitor and record how it does its thing…
Galanis: You’re suggesting we connect to it… on purpose?
Lips pressing thin, Niev’s worry over the idea was evident. But the Centauran swallowed it and nodded their head. There wasn’t time to take this slow.
Varati: Response
Turning away from Robin, Niev didn’t notice the way the First Officer hesitated, spotting something on the floor with her flashlight. They had pulled out their own PADD, already backing up and deleting sensitive data to prepare it for their little experiment.
Hopper: Keep me apprised of your progress – I’m just going to check this out.
There was something odd about Robin’s tone that made Niev pause as well, casting a quick glance over toward the woman as they spoke to D’Cyra.
Galanis: It should be simple enough. We just need to spoof a known transponder and pair it with the legitimate verification code. Interlink should process it as the actual ship identifier and make a connection. I don’t know how it will react to the different file structure once connected, though…
Varati: Response
While the scientists worked away on preparing the PADD for their experiment, Robin crept closer to the stairs. Niev furrowed their brow as they typed away. They were going to need to make sure Interlink spat out as much information about what it was doing as it could if they were going to find a way to deploy countermeasures.
But Niev’s thoughts and planning were rudely interrupted, their hands scrambling and catching the PADD they nearly dropped as Robin called out suddenly from by the stairs.
Hopper: Holy buckets– There’s someone down here! ::Rushing down the stairs, exchanging her phaser for a tricorder:: She’s been stabbed with something– her condition is critical, and she’s out cold…
Immediately abandoning plans to start interfacing the PADD, Niev hurried over to the top of the steps, their light catching the dark red stains at the top as they approached. Something heavy dropped into the pit of their stomach, their pace slowing as the First Officer and fallen stranger at the bottom of the steps came into view.
Hopper: She’s been stabbed with a Daqtagh!
Galanis: ::voice slightly shaken:: A what…? ::setting their jaw, shaking their head:: I’ll return to the lobby and make sure they don’t miss the hatch.
Varati: Response
Hopper: It’s definitely time to reconvene the team… Starting with– ::tapping her combadge:: =/\= Medical emergency! =/\=
Wasting no time, Niev began to head back to the ladder, trying to push back the sudden flurry of nervous speculation that this newest discovery threatened to unleash. Most were put to rest… but one above the rest began to haunt Niev. They almost would have felt better if the woman had been mysteriously caught by cables, or some other sort of technology gone wrong. The knife may have meant something so much worse...
They weren’t alone.
TAG!/END ACT for Galanis
