[Act 1] Ensign Saavei - Continuing Investigations

[Tara W]

((Scout Ship Miombo - Edge of Trenvonn Space))

Saavei had been as perplexed as anyone else when a Starfleet distress signal had been detected, with none of (to her knowledge) Amity's vessels being out here. She was only an Ensign, and could hardly expect to know of every space flight, but they certainly would have been informed if it was one of their own missing. This seemed something different and her interest was piqued. She'd reported to the Miombo as ordered, feeling a sense of concern for Taelon in the process. The El-Aurian was very tall and shuttles, even the larger Talon-class scout, could be cramped.

There was a pilot already and Saavei was relieved it hadn't fallen to her. She could steer a ship, as needed, but it was not her expertise. She took her station and settled in to serve as another set of eyes on the sensors, tactical if needed, and/or whatever other duties her superior officers assigned. The Talon-class wasn't defenseless and distress signals, of an unknown origin, always carried inherent risks. Especially in the Delta Quadrant.

The sensor data kept coming in, even if visually there wasn't as much to see yet outside the cockpit windows. Saavei's expression was a mask of concentration, her concern for whoever had sent the distress signal building.

Jansen entered into the cockpit area of the ship and retook his seat at one of the rear consoles just as the course was being adjusted again.

Taelon: Adjust course - 82.45 by 13.56.

Pilot: Aye, sir. 82.45 by 13.56.

Saavei: Short-range sensors on proximity sweep; nothing anomalous, sir. No hazards detected. 

Saavei also knew very little of underspace. She wasn't entirely certain what to even be looking for.

Orrey: Like hunting for trapdoors.

The little scout ship carried a few of the new sensor probes, Saavei had some first-hand experience with them from Idrustix. As they narrowed in on the disturbance, Taelon stuck his head up from the console to look at Saavei.

Taelon: Ensign, let’s - um, launch probe number 1, course set for 26.33 by -11.05.

Saavei: Yes sir, preparing probe now. Launching.

Taelon hunched over his console again, renewing Saavei's sympathies, as she manipulated the LCARS display in front of her. The forward launcher had its micro-torpedo switched out for a probe, its flight trajectory inputed, then launched with a beeping of her console. The device streaked way from their ship with a blur of blue light trailing after it.

Taelon: Doctor, do you have any experience with this ‘Underspace’, by chance?

Orrey: Only in a theoretical sense. I was going to be posted here so I looked into the old logs. Have you encountered anything similar?

Taelon: I’m afraid I don’t. I admit the name is, um, curious. A strange sort of misnomer...

The sensors chimed loudly, Saavei's eyes scanning her display.

Taelon: What was - oh. Another tachyon wave. Um - adjust course, 82.75 by 13.01.

Pilot: Aye-aye, 82.75 by 13.01.

Taelon: Saavei, um, probe status?

Saavei: Probe is on course, nearing destination. All functions appear normal. I admit I am uncertain precisely what I am looking for, sir. 

Orrey: That depends given what we have heard so far.

Taelon: Whatever the breach is, it’s, um, pretty energetic. You can’t just…slip into or out of subspace without making a mark…

The Commander made a fair point. Penetrating subspace would require significant energy. She wasn't as familiar with Vaadwaur technology or of the other species which utilized it. After this mission, and during, she would make a point to rectify that as much as possible. The sensors gave a rapid beep and Saavei raised an eyebrow.

Taelon: Wh…Ensign Saavei, review the sensors. Um, using your instruments. Mine could be…

She did so while Taelon motioned for Orrey to also look. The data readout before her was concerning. There was no sign of erroneous input, or echoes, or misreadings.

Saavei: Sensors appear to be functioning correctly, sir.

Orrey: ::looking over the information:: That is the real shame then isn’t it?

Taelon: Trace amounts of oxygen, carbon, calcium, and phosphorus, all in a tiny cluster. That’s…usually flesh, isn’t it...?

Saavei: It appears to be biological in origin. Doctor, are you able to confirm?

Orrey: It is….four of the magical eleven anyway…

Saavei glanced to the readout once more. Biologicals were an even greater cause for concern and she began running their readings through the database. While that was going on;

Saavei: Commander, detecting trace particles of refined metallics, fibers, and compressed gasses with greater oxygen compression rates than normal for a vacuum. I believe they are artifical. Microscopic bits of debris.

Taelon: Can you check the configuration, Ensign? Is it…

Orrey: One of ours?

She shook her head in the negative.

Saavei: No sirs, configuration doesn't match Federation composites. Analyzing...

Taelon: Well, that’s…

Saavei: I am not detecting any known Federation debris. Computer analysis suggests the composites more closely align to Vaadwaur construction, based on data captured by the USS Voyager. Nowhere near enough debris for a ship to have been destroyed. Greatest concentration is at bearing forty-five, mark thirty. Accounting for their current velocity, constant acceleration, and dispersal pattern, likely origin point is in the vicinity of these coordinates.

Saavei projected the spatial map to Taelon's terminal. None of this explained why a Federation distress signal had been received, but evidence pointed strongly to some kind of Vaadwaur presence. If so, in what capacity?

Taelon: Pilot - can we, um, intercept the debris as we close in on the origin point? A closer look at those would be - well, um, useful.

Pilot: Aye, sir, we can. Laying in a course.

Taelon turned his seat to face Orrey and Saavei, stretching his legs out from under the console.

Taelon: I’d like to, uh, retrieve what we can and bring them on board for further analysis. Do either of you have any objections or, well, concerns?

Saavei: None, sir. Further analysis may prove beneficial to investigating the cause of the debris.

It was certainly unusual to find potentially Vaadwaur debris, and she knew little enough of Underspace, but she didn't wish to jump to conclusions either. Ships sometimes suffered damage, the biological aspects were still unidentified, and many questions remained. The Starfleet distress signal was the more alarming aspect. 

The doctor nodded his head.

Orrey: That will give us the most information.

Taelon: Alright. The pieces - and, um, wreckage - are likely to be highly irradiated. You’ll want to beam them directly into the type-5 sealed containers, Ensign.

Saavei: Yes, sir. I will prepare the containers now.

Saavei rose from her station, walking back towards the rear of the Miombo to do so. It didn't take her very long, and given the small size of the scout ship, she was still in line of sight and hearing. Several containers were made ready, the seals double-checked for integrity. 

Orrey: If it is them we need to make sure the others are aware as soon as possible. That shouldn’t take a lot of study though depending on the size of the samples.

Taelon smiled briefly.

Taelon: Um, good. How long til-

Pilot: A minute, Commander, maybe  less.

Taelon: R-right. Make sure the organic matter is separate from the inorganic pieces, if you can…

Saavei: I will endeavor to do so. The organic and inorganic matter appears to already be separated.

Saavei returned to her station, pulling up the transporters controls on LCARS. The Vulcan concentrated, she was well aware of how transporters worked and could operate the system, but didn't want to make a bad showing in front of the Commander.

Saavei: Energizing.

Orrey: Drift rates are one thing but that still doesn’t make sense does it?

There was a familiar, high-pitched whine as the transporters activated. Out in the void, the energy beams grabbed the debris and organic particles, depositing them into their respective containers. The lights for the seals on top of each would turn from green to red, signifying they were occupied. A quiet radiation alert trilled on her console.

Taelon: Responses

Orrey: Are they holding?

Saavei: Seals are holding. Sensors indicate presence of radiation. Levels are not high enough to be of concern while seal integrity remains. Inorganic debris is in containers A, B, and C. Organic in container D. 

That task accomplished, Saavei allowed herself a sense of inner relief, then smoothed it over with a solid brick laying of Vulcan mental discipline. 

The doctor nodded and stood up moving toward the canisters and flipping open the tricorder.

Orrey: Let’s have a look.

Taelon: Responses

Saavei looked to her screen.

Saavei: Commander, the Daintree is moving to the prospective origin point of the debris. ::She did a quick scan of the first three containers on the Miombo:: Sir, the inorganic debris is certainly from a vessel. I am also detecting faint antiproton signatures; it could be indicative of disruptor fire near or on the material in question.

oO Which ruled against the environmental damage hypothesis she'd considered... it appeared there had been some shooting before that distress signal went out... Oo

Orrey: It still begs the question of how easy this will be when we get there.

Taelon: Responses

Orrey: This smells of combat. ::waving a hand at the debris:: If they didn’t close the rift they use, is it still open? Is that what we are picking up in those waves?

Jansen started to scan over the organic matter inside the canister. Luckily it was a closed container so no one would have to see the gathered mass.

Saavei: It could be related to combat. Given the small amount of residual antiprotons, small arms fire is more likely than ship-based weaponry, if so. 

As for the waves, Saavei thought Taelon seemed more knowledgeable about that aspect.

Taelon: Response?

Orrey: I will say this. Given the what Saavei said about the ship composite, and what the tricorder says now. ::indicating the container:: This used to be Vaadwaur. We should let the others know. And to be careful in case the door is still cracked open at the origin point.

Saavei: There could be additional Vaadwaur in the area or enroute to it. If we received a Starfleet distress signal, it is possible the Vaadwaur also sent one if a ship is damaged or disabled.

Taelon: Response?

Saavei did another scan of their immediate surroundings. Nothing but the Daintree popped on her sensors but if the Vaadwaur were in underspace, or cloaked, she'd be unlikely to detect them.

Saavei: No sign of additional Vaadwaur on sensors, sirs.

Taelon/Orrey: Responses?

The Vulcan looked to her two companions.

Saavei: If we have found an opening into underspace, perhaps either the Miombo or Daintree could get a probe inside? If there is more debris or a Vaadwaur threat, it may allow us to detect them.

Taelon/Orrey: Responses?

Saavei: Out of curiosity, doctor, given the small sample size... does the Vaadwaur tissue we recovered show any signs of artificial damage as opposed to vacuum exposure?

The Vulcan realized it as a, as humans said, 'long shot' but perhaps they could learn just a bit more. The idea of an entrance to underspace nearby fascinated her.

Taelon/Orrey: Responses?


TBC/TAGS

--

Ensign Saavei

Engineering Team

Amity Outpost

A240208S13