Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper: Cutting The Mustard (Part 2)
Robin Hopper
((Uwezo Warp Development Facility))
Since running into Vaarig Greeta, Robin and her fellow undercover “Uwezo Security Experts” had been balancing on a bit of a tightrope – it felt as though one end of the rope was tied to keeping up appearances and the other end was tied to getting information about the warp program… and below them was a long drop into breaking the Prime Directive.
Fortunately, every time they had begun to tip one way or the other, they’d managed to find their way back to center – but it was obvious that the longer they pushed their luck, the more likely they were to fall this way or that. For the moment, at least, Greeta seemed nervous – but not so much moreso than one might expect from the Program Lead of an entire planets’ first warp engine (especially given the mixed response it seemed to be getting from the public).
As they walked along, Robin glanced casually over her shoulder at the rest of her team. Niev and Saavei both seemed concerned, though precisely what had them worried wasn’t yet clear. Maybe it was Robin’s glance, or maybe they just happened to be a on wavelength, but something seemed to trigger Niev to look up from their furtive scanning and request an aside.
Galanis: Aide Sa’vay, Senior Minister Rob’Ynne. A moment please?
Hopper: ::Eyebrows slightly raised:: Of course. ::To Greeta, reassuringly:: I was expecting an update from the Prime Minister’s office about this time. We’ll just drop back a few paces to go over that. ::To Lael:: Lae’Selle, I’m sure given your interest in the project you won’t mind continuing to discuss its development with the Program Lead?
It was a reasonable enough excuse to leave someone who’d proven themself capable of maintaining the ruse with Greeta, keeping the Program Lead focused on the project, rather than on whatever it was lighting a fire under Niev and Saavei. While Robin hadn’t known Lael long, she was glad to have someone with her experience and evident calm under pressure to give that responsibility to.
Rosek-Skyfire: I would be interested to hear more about your path, Program Lead. There are the records, of course. But, what led you to root yourself in this project?
Greeta: Response
While those two kept conversing, Robin gestured to Saavei and Galanis to drop back a few meters. She pursed her lips, hoping that she was in fact reading the situation correctly and that whatever this update was going to be was worth the little bit of social awkwardness it required.
Hopper: Alright, what’s got you two all tied up in knots?
Galanis: ::quietly:: Confirmed again. Nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen… though there’s an oddity showing up on more thorough scans. Not unlike a pollen, but its molecular structure is almost pure dinitrogen pentoxide. Saturation isn’t high enough to be a danger yet, but…
The Science Officer looked up, their eyes flitting from Robin to Saavei. Hopper’s brow furrowed as she tried to read between the lines. Dinitrogen pentoxide was an unstable nitrating agent – explored experimentally on Earth as a sustainable fertilizer generated from atmospheric nitrogen using plasma technology… but that use case was obscure and had long ago been abandoned in favour of more reliable techniques. No doubt these people had reached similar conclusions.
So what would it be doing in an experimental warp tech laboratory?
Hopper: Could they be using it as an oxidizer in their rocket fuel? ::Shaking her head:: Surely they’d be using tetroxide. It’s far more stable. Hmm. We haven’t had a chance to look in-depth at their propulsion systems yet…
((Up Ahead))
Rosek-Skyfire: That’s a bright journey, Program Lead. It’s clear why you were selected for this honor.
Greeta: Response?
Saavei: Yet. ::to Galanis and Hopper quietly, in agreement:: We shall have to keep our eyes open.
Robin could almost swear she detected a hint of worry in Saavei’s manner – which was, itself, slightly disconcerting given the Engineer’s Vulcan heritage. The fact that Niev also seemed unnerved had Robin wondering what she was missing.
Galanis: ::quietly, to Robin and Saavei:: There’s still too little information to say for sure what it is. There’s no present and immediate danger of a reaction. But I do agree - we should all be monitoring atmospherics in addition to our other scans.
Then it clicked. It may not be present in concentrations to present an immediate danger, but the reagent itself was out of place here. These Uwezo scientists would know better than to use such a powerful and unstable chemical in such a sensitive project, which meant its very presence was a red flag. Someone was deliberately fiddling with risky nitration/oxidation chemistry, which was exactly how one might go about converting ordinary organic substances into nitro- or nitrate-bearing compounds storing tremendous amounts of chemical energy… in other words, homemade chemical bombs.
Suddenly, Saavei and Niev’s restrained concerns seemed like an underreaction. Robin had to tell herself that she was probably jumping to conclusions they had already considered and ruled out, if the “no present and immediate danger” assessment evidenced. Still, it definitely warranted further investigation.
Hopper: Agreed. Watch for changes in atmospheric chemistry – spikes in nitrogen oxides, ozone, that sort of thing – anything that could indicate active nitration reactions. ::Pursing her lips:: I’d say we should look for anomalous energy signatures or shielded storage devices but… Well, that’d cover almost everything in this place.
Rosek-Skyfire: ::smiles:: The reports don’t do this place justice. ::to the others:: Have our questions regarding the branches been answered?
Robin turned back towards Vaarig and Lael, doing her best to appear carefree and unbothered by the implications of what she’d just been told. It was hard not to think that they could have just uncovered indications of potential sabotage – even if the evidence so far was inconclusive.
Saavei: Mine have for now, Senior Minister. Thank you.
Galanis: Yes. We are ready to move on.
Nodding and rejoining her ‘Humble Assistant’ and the Program Lead, Hopper tried to keep her demeanour positive.
Hopper: The update from the Prime Minister was brief. No news is good news, as they say.
She wasn’t sure if that was a saying on this planet or not, but hoped that it would be translated into something not incomprehensible.
Rosek-Skyfire: I see. Where shall we proceed to next?
Saavei: Pardon but I was still hoping we could see the ship itself more closely. It is... inspiring to be so near. Since I first read the reports about the project, I have followed it with great interest.
Galanis: Yes, there are many projects here, but the trunk of this facility is clear. All branches stem from the trunk. Our understanding of the growth would be incomplete without seeing it.
It was ultimately the entire reason for their visit to the facility, after all. Well, the ship and, more specifically, its warp engines. Greeta had to have expected this ask at some point. Whether or not he’d acquiesce or not was another matter.
Hopper: What do you say, Vaarig? I think it’s no secret that our purpose here is to ensure the continued safe operation of your experiment. Getting a closer look would help us confirm that all necessary measures are being taken.
Greeta: Response
((Shortly Thereafter, Warp Ship Assembly Platform))
After a cursory look over some of the upper labs, the group had wound their way back down the various levels of the domed building’s catwalks to the heart of the operation – the spacecraft. Despite the occasional tension and her newfound worries about possible indications of sabotage, Robin still found it hard not to stare at it with a little wonder in her eyes as they neared.
oO Nathan’s going to be cheesed that he missed this. Oo If only she could take some holo-images for him.
Saavei: It is... truly remarkable work, Program Lead.
Galanis: Yes… the science and engineering that must have gone into it is amazing.
Greeta: Response
Robin nodded idly, acting as though what was being discussed was lightyears ahead of what she comprehended – after all, she was posing as the Uwezo Senior Minister of Internal Security, not Doctor Robin Hopper with a PhD in Advanced Physics.
Hopper: Well, it certainly sounds impressive. I’ll have to defer to my technical experts’ opinions, of course.
She eyed her Engineer, Saavei, followed by Lael, confident that the Chief HCO would have plenty of interesting opinions as well… Now she just had to find a moment to get Rosek-Skyfire on her own and discuss the other matter at hand and what they were going to do about it. She was already feeling wedged between an ethical rock and a moral hard place. If the Uwezo warp project – which was so close to completion – really was at risk from the protestors, was it their place to intervene? The Prime Directive seemed clear. But they couldn’t just leave it uninvestigated either.
Robin held in an exasperated sigh, instead just pressing her lips together tightly.
Rosek-Skyfire: Response
As they got closer to the action – where the warp drive and spacecraft were being assembled – they suddenly found themselves amidst far more activity. A variety of scientists and engineers moved to and fro, some with parts in hand, others with documents and tablets.
Robin tried to get a look at them, see if anyone looked ‘out of place’, but that was impossible to determine. She didn’t even know yet what any of the various patches and logos they wore on their work coveralls meant, let alone have any clue what an ‘out of place’ Uwezo would look like in this context.
Saavei: ::as if to herself:: To be chosen as a pilot for this ship would be a great honor.
Galanis: Has the pilot been chosen at all yet?
Rosek-Skyfire/Greeta: Response
Hopper: Well, an announcement will surely need to be made soon. After all, by the looks of things you must be almost finished putting this thing together.
Saavei, having subtly taken a closer look at one of the terminals, raised an inquiry – a very specific inquiry.
Saavei: Would it be possible to view the most recent stress tests for the engine,. Program Lead? ::indicating her head towards the terminal:: I recall the project initially had a problem with the infusion stimulators? Your reports since then have been more than adequate but I was hoping you could show me how you and your team compensated for the power shifts. It seemed a creative solution.
Galanis: If it’s acceptable to you, I’d like a moment to discuss where we’ll begin with the Minister and her Assistant.
Hopper: As interesting as this topic is, I do feel far below the canopy on these subjects. Lae’Selle, if we can steal you away for a moment, we can review our checklists, make sure no leaf remains unturned?
Rosek-Skyfire: Response
With a pleasant nod, Robin gestured for Saavei and Greeta to continue their very technical conversation.
Hopper: You two have fun discussing – what was it? “Infusion stimulators”? Sounds fascinating.
Greeta/Saavei: Responses
Moving off again, a little ways away from the two engineering nerds, Robin cleared her throat and looked from Niev to Lael with nervous energy – grateful to have her back to Vaarig for a moment.
Galanis: It’s the same here as it was in the corridor. Steady, faint traces of that pollen-like substance in the air.
Hopper: ::Explaining to Lael:: A pollen-like substance that may well serve as a reactant in some sort of… explosive release of energy.
She let a suggestive raising of her eyebrows convey the rest. Surely, Rosek-Skyfire was more than familiar enough with advanced propulsion technologies to piece the rest together quicker even than Robin had been able to.
Rosek-Skyfire: Response
((Meanwhile, by the spacecraft))
Greeta/Saavei: Responses
Galanis: I can’t say for certain what it is. Only a potentially very high energy reaction, if concentrations of the dinitrogen pentoxide become high enough to act as a kind of solid-state oxidizer on the hydrogen. There’s no telling how quickly that may or may not happen until we know the source. Whether it’s some kind of recurring propellant leak or something more nefarious, like a thermobaric weapon, I will be blunt - it’s a potential threat to the entire facility.
Hopper: We need to tread carefully here. If the warp project scientists are using it in their work and this is some sort of accidental contamination, if we tip them off to it we could be significantly altering the trajectory of their technological and societal development. On the other hand, if this is coming in from some outside source, or indicative of tampering of some sort, we should look into it further.
Rosek-Skyfire: Response
((Meanwhile, by the spacecraft))
Greeta/Saavei: Responses
Galanis: Should we press Project Lead Greeta more directly on any suspicious activities? He does seem rather… on edge.
Hopper: Are you suggesting that Greeta might know more than he’s letting on, Niev? I don’t know. I think any of us would be on edge in his position… All these scientists have poured their all into this project. I don’t think any of them would do anything to endanger its success.
Still, Robin wasn’t above admitting that she could be wrong.
Hopper: What are your assessments?
Galanis/Rosek-Skyfire: Response
Nodding, Robin looked back towards Saavei and Greeta again, knowing that they shouldn’t leave their fresh-from-the-Academy Ensign on her own for too long in such a high-stakes situation, no matter how promising she seemed.
((Meanwhile, by the spacecraft))
Greeta/Saavei: Responses
Hopper: Alright, let’s keep an eye on him then. He’s a good person to stay in touch with here at the project, at least, helps to justify our presence here if we’re keeping in touch with him. But I think we need to consider other possible sources as well. ::To Lael:: I’ll see if I can raise Commander Stros, share what we’ve found, see if they’ve learned anything relevant.
Galanis/Rosek-Skyfire: Response?
She bit her lip.
Hopper: We also can’t rule out the possibility yet that there could be external involvement… We aren’t the only outsiders capable of determining the Uwezo are developing warp technology. ::Shrugging:: Something else to chew on. Okay, you two go rescue Saavei. I think it’s about time we made a polite exit and figured out our next steps.
Galanis/Rosek-Skyfire: Response
Saavei/Greeta: Response
While the others began to wrap up their unscheduled meeting with the handsome Uwezo Warp Program Lead, Robin pulled a rather old-fashioned communication device from her pocket and held it to her ear. It was more cumbersome than a combadge, no doubt, but such technologies were commonplace enough on Uwe II not to draw any attention.
Hopper: =/\= Hopper to Stros… You there? =/\=
Stros: =/\= Response =/\=
She hated to admit it, but it was actually reassuring to hear his voice on the other end. Not that she wouldn’t have far preferred to hear Nathan’s… or Ikaia’s. Or D’Cyra’s. Or Kaito’s. Really, anyone else. But still, she was glad they at least hadn’t found their way into an Uwezo jail cell yet.
Hopper: =/\= We’ve detected potentially concerning substance traces in the warp labs. Some sort of pollen rich in dinitrogen pentoxide… Have you learned anything that might link to that? =/\=
Stros: =/\= Response =/\=
TBC
