PNPC Chief Petty Officer Velina Frell - Snow Falling on Sensors (or; Children Shouldn't Play With Alcoholic Things)

[Justin Partridge]

((Interior. U.S.S. Arrow, Deck 1. Bridge.))

Velina had seen a lot of things in her career. Insane Iconians, theatrically Machiavellian (and obscenely attractive) pirates, and litigiously deadly Sheliak just to name a few.

But she had never seen anything like this. 

Light, fresh snow falling across the Bridge in a pastoral tableau right from humanity's Christmas/Winter Solstice Season. She wouldn't have even believed it was happening at all had not Ra packed a carefully constructed ball and hefted it toward her and Jones. Frell chirped a laugh despite the absurdity of the situation.

Had two children caused ALL of this?! And how even did they know how to manipulate their interior systems this well?! More and more questions piled into Velina's mind, much like the snow quietly piling around their ankles and across the Bridge's terminals. 

The lithe and still smiling Ra and a spinning out Roxy Wilde finally broke their stunned silence. Commander Jones just kept rubbing his chin in bewilderment and pacing through the snow as Roxy told them what they already knew.

Wilde: Now they're in the environmental controls!

Jones: Of course they are. :through slightly gritted teeth.::

Ra: I can confirm it appears to be snow.

As if on cue, a new voice, hushly supported by the quiet noise of the Turbolift door, joined them. LT. Manx of the INTEL Department. 

Manx: Looks like our intruder has a sense of humor.

Frell: Or at the very least, wanted a more "chill" climate?

Jones gave her a momentarily and cartoonish look of frustration. Causing Velina to blush slightly and Jones to crack further into one of those wryly boyish grins of his. But the whole exchange lasted less than a few seconds. He turned his attention back to Manx.

Roxy just snorted.

Wilde: Sure. Let's all have a big laugh.

Jones: Just...HOW? How could they have done this?

Manx seemed to shrug slightly.

Manx: I'm more curious how a Chalnoth child got aboard.

Ra: Indeed.

Jones: Okay, then. Options. Where could they have come from if they didn't arrive with Messoq?

Manx: If it's from the Saracen, it won't be much of an issue. But if it's from one of the enemy ships, that might complicate them.

Wilde: As if today wasn't complicated enough. We need to track them down and undo all the damage they're causing.

Jones nodded saliently at the report. The crossing and tapping a few controls on the Engineering console as well as palavering quietly with the Engineering Officer on duty at the moment. Frell couldn't hear them from her position, but she assumed that he was setting a team of Gold Coats on whatever trouble the children were trying to kick up.

Manx: Returning it would certainly be a gesture of goodwill.

Ra: I believe it would, though I doubt it is from one of the other vessels. We still seem to be invisible to them.

Frell: Them.

Manx: RESPONSE

Velina stepped up, crossing her hands nervously in front of her.

Frell: You said "it". It's "them". There are two of them. A boy and a girl. I think...

Roxy stormed up in the quiet.

Wilde: I'll start in engineering and try and track the source of the malfunctions. Obviously they're in the computer core somewhere.

Ra: You have a plan then?

Commander Jones stepped up now. Raising his hand slightly in a placating, but respectful gesture.

Jones: Now, hang on there. We need to get a handle on what's happening first. I can't have you storming down into the Engine Room only to get caught there. I might still need you up here, now.

Velina took a chance on a hunch and tried the Big Board. Wiping up and off a gout of snow to test its operational status. 

Frell: Systems also still be operational and responding for now. We may could even track them from here. Coordinating with Security, of course.

Manx: RESPONSE

Wilde: Well do we have any security personnel left on board? We can keep them in the brig.

Velina turned to her with wide, deep-set eyes. First there was Manx's impersonal language and now...the idea of putting a child behind a force-field. It sent a deep, horrid chill up Velina's spine.

Roxy seemed to acknowledge her faux-paw. Or was that fox paw? Velina still didn't have the best handle on terran idioms. 

Wilde: Ok, so maybe I'm not the best at dealing with kids. Anyone else have any suggestions?

Jones' eyes found Velina and she snapped to a slight attention in his gaze.

Jones: Start internal scans and Level 3 diagnostics. If we can lock down what they are affecting and where, we may be able to see where they are headed next.

Frell: Aye, Hen-...sir.

She blushed a deep purple and started to her work. Jones turned back to Manx.

Jones: Round up a few people and start checking bulkheads and access ducts. Stun conditions ONLY. We don't know if they are hostile and until we know for sure, we aren't taking any chances. These are kids. I will not have them harmed on my watch, clear?

Manx: RESPONSE

Jones nodded resolutely and turned to address someone else. Frell could only see the shadow falling over her as she worked once more between the Big Board and Science 1 (also now cleared of its snowy cover). But she could definitely hear the sound of more snow being packed and tossed.

As they talked, Aeryn stepped around the bridge and listened to the way the snow crunched under her boots. Gathering more, she made a bigger snow ball and threw it right at the engineer.

Ra: What if the children don't exist?

Wilde: RESPONSE

Jones: That seems...a little philosophical, Master Chief.

Velina cocked a shaped eyebrow and spied a look over her shoulder as her hands danced in a practiced movement across the terminal.

oO What's she playing with? Or...at? Around? Gah, Chief Collins is a terrible teacher...Oo

Ra: It's not melting. And it certainly isn't cold enough in here to keep it frozen. So is it snow? Or is it made to look like it? Feel like it? What if there are no children?

Wilde: RESPONSE

Jones: AND we just saw them! They trashed The Captain's office!

Frell: Could they be projections? ::she said, not turning around.:: Do the Chalnoth have holo capabilities? 

Manx: RESPONSE

The Master Chief didn't seem convinced by the discourse. 

Ra: I just have a gut feeling that if we chase children, we will miss the real problem. And its solution.

Wilde: RESPONSE

Commander Jones ran both hands through his sandy hair in frustration.

Jones: Oh my god, why did I ever take that Command exam? I belong in a museum.

Frell: Cheer up, Henry. We will get through this yet.

As if answering her plea, Science 1 started to chime.

Manx: RESPONSE

Frell: Oh! Oh! Yes, we have them! They are...oh, nertz. They seem to be heading toward the section of the ship Chief Serinus had requisitioned for our new lounge. 

Wilde/Ra/Manx: RESPONSE

Frell: What's worse...I think he's already started to stock it. 

Jones seemed to deflate. And enraged at the same time. It would have been funny any other moment.

Jones: Wonderful...

Wilde/Ra/Manx: RESPONSE

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TAG/TBC

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Chief Petty Officer

Velina Frell

Stellar Cartographer - Science Department

//as simmed by//

Lieutenant Commander 

Quentin Collins III

Chief Science Officer

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U.S.S. ARROW NCC-69829

ID: E239512QC0

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