Lt. Cmdr Stros - Old and Analogue
Nathan Richards
((Shuttle Daintree, Barossa Nebula))
A fairly standard flight path on a seemingly standard distress signal investigation. Each of the trio busied themselves with work as they travelled, idle conversation reverberated off of the bulkheads from time to time but the trip was mostly silent work. Stros didn’t mind. While he didn’t mind a bit of lively conversation, sometimes it was nice to just focus on the work.
Hopper: Skipper, we’re nearing the point of origin for the signal - still receiving it on the lower-level subspace bands, but the drop off in bandwidth suggests whatever is sending it may be losing power…
Not a good sign for whoever, or whatever they were looking for.
Ukinix: Area’s still clear. ::To Stros:: Commander, let’s drop out of warp.
Stros: Yes, sir. Dropping out of warp and proceeding at one quarter impulse.
With a couple of taps at the helm console, the Daintree dropped out of warp. The streaking and bending lights of the stars around them returned to their normal, differently sized pinpoints of distant light attached to stars that may or may not even still exist. Even though it had been a hotly discussed topic for generations on which lights they could see within the void of space were still ‘alive’ or not, Stros still wanted to believe that they were all there. Supporting their own life. He was quickly brought out of his musings as Commander Hopper provided another update on the distress signal as they approached it.
Hopper: Based on its size and the lack of warp engines, I’d guess it’s an escape pod of some kind. ::Thinking:: Stros, can you increase magnification? Get us a clearer view of that thing’s hull?
A couple more taps of Stros’ console, and the view of the small vessel appeared. Could they really even call that a vessel? The design almost reminded Stros of an old cardboard box that Terrans used to use to carry and ship various items.
Ukinix: Interesting. ::Stroking beard:: Get a load of that design. Boxy. And plain brown. I think the designers must have been bored.
Stros: Bored or rather unimaginative. I suppose it serves its purpose well enough if it is an escape pod.
A few different tones sounded from Commander Hopper’s console as she ran scans on the box.
Hopper: I’m not reading any lifesigns. Whoever activated the distress call… They may not have survived – that or they don’t read as ‘alive’. ::Pause, pursing her lips:: I don’t know which option is creepier.
Ukinix: Yeah… ::slight grimace::... Well then Stros, me and you better get our EVs on. ::standing up:: We’re going over. Robin, we’ll keep a channel open, at the first sign of trouble, beam us out and-or congratulations on becoming CO of Amity Outpost.
The Commander’s “gallows humor” brought a smirk to Stros’ face. Being on the cusp of possible death always seemed to bring out an interesting side in humans.
Stros: Aye, sir. ::Looking towards Robin:: And at least we would know the Outpost was in good hands.
Hopper: Response
As Stros reached for his EV suit, he felt a nudge from Commander Ukinix.
Ukinix: I have to admit, this is more exciting than admin work behind my desk. ::small chuckle::
Stros: Certainly. We can’t always keep ourselves locked away and buried in PADDs. I feel that some excitement and adventure should be prescribed by medical.
Hopper: Response
((A few minutes later, Unidentified vessel))
Stros simply stood in the center of the…room. One could call it a room. There were no obvious consoles attached to the walls. No chairs, no…nothing really. Just flat, gray surfaces with low ambient lighting filtering in from…somewhere. The vertical space was somewhat limited, leaving Stros and Commander Ukinix to duck slightly to move within the area.
According to their tricorders, the atmosphere was thin, but breathable. Certainly not a comfortable place to be without their EV suits.
Ukinix: =/\= Anything? =/\=
Stros ran his hand along one of the walls, the temperature being blocked by the gloves of his EV suit. Based on the reading from his tricorder, he would not have wanted to be touching the surface with his bare hands.
Stros: =/\= This compartment appears to have some sort of environmental controls. Obviously it has atmosphere, but the temperature is cold. Much warmer than the vacuum outside, but much colder than would be comfortably sustainable without protection. =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
A trill came over the commlink. It appeared Commander Ukinix’s tricorder had found something.
Ukinix: =/\= These bulkheads are the source of the energy readings. =/\=
Taking a few steps closer to one of the bulkheads, Stros scanned it with his own tricorder.
Stros: =/\= Based on the size of this vessel’s hull and the overall volume of this interior space, there should be more here. Is this energy reading some kind of force field? =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
Commander Ukinix looked around the room again before tapping on his tricorder again.
Ukinix: =/\= It’s blocking our tricorder readings. Hang on… =/\=
A few more taps, and another trill came over the coms.
Ukinix: =/\= ::Looking at tricorder:: They aren’t bulkheads. ::Looking up at Stros:: They’re stasis pods, with shielding to stop anyone detecting life signs. =/\=
Stros: =/\= ::Eyebrow raised:: Fascinating. =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
With his own tricorder, Stros scanned the bulkhead as well. Sure enough, stasis equipment was found within the confines of the ‘bulkheads’. But lifesign readings were still inconclusive. There had to be some kind of interface for the systems somewhere. He reached his hand out and placed it on the stasis pod…chamber…thing.
Stros: =/\= I can feel a vibration within the bulkhead. The machinery appears to still be running. Whatever is being held inside is most likely still alive. =/\=
Ukinix/Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
Running his hand along the surface as he walked its length, Stros stopped when he felt a groove. The smallest touch of resistance against his gloved hand. Stepping closer, he examined the small groove and let out a sharp breath.
Stros: =/\= Commander Hopper, is there any way to extrapolate how old this ‘stasis ship’ is? =/\=
Ukinix/Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
Leveling his tricorder with the groove, there was a series of trills that emanated from the device. With a soft hiss, a small panel slid out of the wall about 3 centimeters before sliding to the side. Behind the panel was what appeared to be some kind of control interface. A screen of green symbols, and what appeared to be an analogue key interface just below it.
Stros: =/\= Do we know of any species that would still be using analogue interfaces for their equipment? =/\=
Ukinix/Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
TAGS/TBC…
Lieutenant Commander Stros
Chief of Operations/Second Officer (For the Moment)
Amity Outpost
A239905NR1