Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper: Possibilities
Robin Hopper
((Stellar Cartography, SRC – Amity Outpost))
After ‘catching’ Ensign Harrison Blackwood in her lab, and having questioned him to her satisfaction, Robin decided to change tack. Recalling that he had joined the crew under highly-unusual and potentially-traumatizing circumstances, she decided to go a little easier on him and see if it was possible to establish more of a rapport with the new Ensign.
Hopper thought back to her own first experiences stepping aboard the USS Wall Street, after graduating from the academy. The first few days had been a lonesome and challenging adjustment – but the warm and supportive welcome she received from her own department head had made a world of difference. Maybe she benefited from starting her Starfleet career as a Lieutenant JG… but she had the impression that Lt. Montgomery would have done the same for any new science officer.
Hopper: How have you been adjusting to your new placement? Making any friends? ::Thinking:: I hear Nath– Umm– Lieutenant Richards speaking about a somebody-or-other “Blackwood” a lot. Is that you?
Blackwood: You would have to ask the commander about that. I think the adjustment has gone smoothly, as much as is possible anyway. I’ve got a couple of friends, I suppose. I don’t think I would call Lieutenant Richards a friend, more of a superior, no? :arches a brow:
Hopper: ::Shrug:: Pips aren’t everything. The lines may wind up a little blurrier here on Amity than on some ships – or at the Academy – at least when it comes to off-duty time.
She crossed her arms and absent-mindedly ran her right hand gingerly along her upper left arm.
Hopper: Lieutenant Richards is a close friend, despite our difference in rank. ::Resolving to a point:: But I think I can speak for the senior staff in general when I say we try to be supportive and approachable.
She thought back to her early joke about being “Queen”, hoping the Ensign understood she was just messing around.
Blackwood: Why, what has the Lieutenant been saying about me?
Hmm. Robin tried to recall, her eyes briefly scouring the holographic stars surrounding her.
Hopper: ::Raising a finger:: Ah! Something about vehicle replication tech, I think.
Blackwood: Oh right.. Probably not me, then. But if he mentions getting put down another spot on the Winder Course, that was definitely me. :winks:
Robin nodded slowly, as she wrapped her head around all that. Nate was talking about a different somebody-or-other “Blackwood”? Or had she really been that distracted during their conversation? Either way – that line of thought was quickly sidelined by the mention of “ the winder” and the Ensign’s cheeky wink.
oO I guess the “rapport” thing is working. Oo She bit the inside of her cheek. oO Maybe too effectively. Oo
Blackwood: Sorry :cough: Ahem, so this Class-M. There’s a caveat as to why further investigations have yet to be performed. :He offered Hopper the PADD and continues: The preliminary data suggests the planet is suitable for humanoid life, diverse ecosystems etcetera, but the planet’s atmosphere contains elevated levels of radiation.
She took the PADD, happy to have the conversation swing back to ‘business’. The data was high-level, detailed scans not having been performed on this particular planet – but even at a glance she could confirm more-or-less what he was saying. She walked a small loop as she read, pacing it out absent-mindedly.
Class M, solid terrestrial crust, 65% coverage in liquid water, with a mean surface temperature of 18 C. Overall, the atmospheric gasses seemed promising as well – an agreeable mix of nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, and others that, to her, suggested some degree of photosynthesis was already taking place below the clouds.
Then there was the radiological report. She came to a stop.
Hopper: That’s… ::Eyes widening:: Yikes.
Blackwood: Any idea what could cause such high levels? I wouldn’t assume it to be a common occurrence in a Class-M planet’s atmosphere.
Hopper: Well, there’s no way to be completely sure – but with ionizing radiation like that, it could be the result of… maybe an asteroid or meteorite impact, depending on the composition of the rock or the planet’s crust.
She sighed.
Hopper: However, given the potential habitability of this planet, there’s also a slim chance it could represent an anthropological cataclysm. ::Looking up to Blackwood, eyebrows raised:: Widespread nuclear war, some sort of technological catastrophe… You get the picture.
Harrison nodded, arms crossing slowly as narrowing eyes examined the planet. She moved back over next to him, showing him the PADD and making a few adjustments to the figures displayed there.
Hopper: Either way, it’s been at least a few thousand years since it happened, given the uniform atmospheric dispersal and the decaying alpha waveform patterns at different intervals.
Blackwood: Wonder whether or not an away team is warranted. Once a more detailed report is established, of course, what do you think ma’am?
She scoffed – unsure if she was impressed or concerned.
Hopper: You hear “possible nuclear wasteland” and your first reaction is “when can I go?” ::Scowling:: Are you sure that you and Nate aren’t friends?
Blackwood: Response
Hopper: Well, my first reaction would be to send a probe – get a closer look. We’d also want to establish what, if any, life continues to survive on the planet’s surface. If it’s possible this is a sign of civilization, we’d need to keep the prime directive in mind. Even microorganisms could warrant further study, though.
She walked along the central platform, out to its very edge, leaning out towards the holographic representation of the planet in question – as if staring at it closer would somehow reveal all the answers.
Blackwood: Response
Hopper: There’s also the possibility that this isn’t the result of some catastrophic event. Maybe something else is going on down there. ::She shrugged:: The planet Idrustix, for example – ahh, the one in our universe, that is – has unusual surface level radiation on account of its proximity to the sun. The cosmos are full of possibilities.
Blackwood: Response
