LtCmdr Jovenan – Covering all lines of investigation
Jovenan
((Holodeck 2, Deck 2, USS Artemis))
Jovenan crouched, trying to see what was happening inside the holographic recreation of the destroyed Grunden vehicle she and her team had seen in the battlefield down on the planet. However, as soon as she did so, she was greeted by the sight of biological matter, the original shape of which she preferred not to begin guessing. Doctor Bancroft’s decision to don an isolation suit investigating the wreckage despite its simulated nature became even more apparent to her – despite her experiences in Starfleet, she hadn’t yet become accustomed to gore and death, not even as much as a junior medical officer might have. Instead, she allowed the Doctor to carry on with the investigation and called out to the two engineers to join them in pondering the Doctor’s discovery.
Jovenan: Tho’Bi, did you happen to take any scans of vehicles like this while you were with the Grunden? There’s a hot spot in the floor. It might not be anything, but I want to check it.
The Andorian Ensign appeared to have been so engaged in the conversation with Ensign Imril or into their project that he took a moment to respond to the question.
Tho’Bi: (beat) Yes. Scans ::looks to one side:: (beat) ::looks at Jovenan:: Yes (best) ::to the computer:: Computer (beat) Extrapolate Grunden Grunt design based on Engineering Tricorder scans (beat) Tho'Bi (beat) Ensign.
The holodeck matrix diodes recreated a simulated copy of another land vehicle. To Jovenan, it bore only a vague resemblance to the wreckage, although she figured it was merely due to her inability to imagine which bent beam and which dented plate corresponded to which intact part of Ensign Tho’Bi’s grunt. She was far from an expert in wheeled road vehicles, only having been on one a handful of times in the past. In her defence, even with some effort, there appeared to be some discrepancies between the two holographic vehicles.
Jovenan: Is it possible this grunt is of different design? Maybe there’s something added or removed to the ones you saw.
Tho'Bi: ::to the computer:: Computer (beat) allowing for the relative condition of the two Grunts (beat) identify any anomalies in construction, design, or constitute part.
Computer: Unable to comply. Insufficient basis for reliable comparison due to extensive damage of one Grunt.
Jovenan tilted her head to the side momentarily and raised her eyebrows. “Insufficient data” was perhaps one of the most frequently used and most hated words a scientist had to use. No matter which statistical methods one used, a scientist couldn’t turn insufficient data into anything meaningful by maths alone.
Imril: ::Looking from Jovenan’s grunt to Tho’Bi’s:: The two of them barely even look like they are the same class of vehicle.
At least someone shared Jovenan’s point of view to the vehicles. While the CSO and the two engineers were studying the grunts from outside, Doctor Bancroft ducked back inside.
Bancroft: Computer, what is the source of the heat bleeding through the deck plating immediately in front of me?
Computer: Unknown.
The Doctor’s sigh was very audible, despite the isolation suit and the former grunt’s body muffling other sounds efficiently. Jovenan wasn’t yet to the similar level of frustration as he was, but even she could sense some annoyance to the ever-increasing difficulty of their task.
Bancroft: Computer, remove the section of deck plating directly in front of me.
Computer: Unable to comply.
Ensign Imril turned their head away quickly. Jovenan followed their gaze, realising they were checking something at the door. It took her a moment before she could figure out the cause of their reaction: the computer had little reason to reject the command, and it could imply a malfunction. She wasn’t sure if she should share their concern, as some engineers were known to be overtly cautious even of familiar devices making unfamiliar noises.
Bancroft: ::under his breath:: Could you be any more worthless?
Computer: Please restate your query.
Ensign Tho’Bi turned to Ensign Imril and grinned. Jovenan didn’t bother herself in trying to understand engineering humour, instead trying to see what Doctor Bancroft was doing inside the wrecked vehicle.
Bancroft: ::holding out his right hand, palm upward, like a surgeon awaiting a tool:: Computer, plasma torch.
Jovenan wasn’t entirely sure what it had been that the Doctor had requested, but just a few seconds later, she received some clues as to what he was intending to do. A bright light illuminated the interior of the craft, and a hissing sound was carried to the three officers outside. Jovenan blinked rapidly. Using a holographic plasma torch or some other similar equipment to go through holographic metal might have not been unexpected if they were following a holonovel or another similar adventure, but in this instance, she chose to leave it to the engineers to explain why that was happening. If it worked, she’d have to commend Doctor Bancroft of ingenuity.
Tho'Bi: ::quietly to Imril:: He's using a holographic plasma torch on holographic metal, right? (Beat) it's not just me that can hear that?
Imril: The torch I can hear. Half of whatever he’s saying to it… Not so much.
Tho'bi: ::nodding with relief:: okay (beat) Just wanted to make sure (beat) ::stares at the middle distance:: I climbed five kilometers up a tree today (beat) ::looks at Imril:: and then fell out (beat) Feeling a bit red pill ::nods::
Five kilometres of a tree? Was that one tree up and down for 5 km, several trees combined, or one very tall tree? Jovenan decided to look up the mission reports afterwards, as the plasma torch inside the grunt became silent, and Doctor Bancroft mumbled something.
Bancroft: ::dryly:: Well, hello there, suspicious little thing I’ll probably regret touching.
Bancroft: ::shouting slightly to be heard from inside the Grunt’s cabin:: Today’s episode of “One of These Things Is Not Like the Others” stars something under the deck plating that doesn’t look Grunden. Scanning now.
Tho'Bi: ::quietly to Imril:: He's scanning.
Imril: ::More to themself:: The computer may have made calculations based on the derived resonances of the metals he just cut through to better reconstruct the shape of... whatever it is.
Right. Maybe. The explanation sounded valid, although Jovenan couldn’t still figure out why the computer would do that. Regardless, she had more important issues to concentrate on: Doctor Bancroft had found something that didn’t belong to the grunt. It could be anything, but with the nature of the mission in mind, Jovenan began to wonder if it could be evidence of outside influence or interference into the Grunden technology as well.
Jovenan: Please report as soon as you get any reports.
Bancroft: ::muttering:: If this thing starts blinking ominously, I’m beaming straight to the bar.
Tho'Bi: ::nodding to Imril:: It's not a bad plan.
Jovenan nodded. It was all just a holodeck simulation, so there shouldn’t have been any danger to them, but the level of realism the holodeck could replicate and the slim yet ever-present risk of safety protocols failing made facing potential risks a nerve-racking experience.
Bancroft: ::squinting at the screen:: Right. So that’s either an incredibly sophisticated surveillance node… or the galaxy’s most over-built space heater.
A surveillance node? That was curious. Jovenan guessed it might be placed there by the Kobyar, as they had been shown to be in the habit of close surveillance of their own residents and in possession of rather advanced technology. On the other hand, the Grunden had easier access to their own grunts to install the device, which could very well be used for command and control purposes.
Tho'Bi: ::quietly to Imril:: I vote Space Heater
Imril: Nothing about this mission has been so friendly. Besides some of the people involved.
Bancroft: ::to the room:: Commander? I’ve found something. Some kind of long-range transponder – possibly a surveillance node. It’s not broadcasting on any Grunden or Kobyar frequencies. And it’s definitely overpowered – this thing could phone home well into the mid-reaches of this star system.
Huh. It seemed that Jovenan’s first guesses might not have been correct after all, but now she was out of ideas for the real purpose of the device. She turned to the engineers, hoping they might have some more specific information for what it could be used. Ensign Imril had already raised their tricorder.
Imril: The signal is only playing out as part of the simulation, looping what Commander Jovenan’s tricoder recorded. It isn’t actively interfering with our gear or the holodeck computer in any way beyond that. I’m not reading anything in the way of a virus or other malicious code.
Jovenan: That’s good to know. ::to Bancroft:: Please send your readings to us, Doctor. Can you tell anything more about the device, like who might have installed it there?
Bancroft: It’s interesting… I could certainly see the Grunden utilizing a tracking device for logistical purposes. But why wouldn’t it be similar to all of their other tech? And why would it need to be powerful enough to beam signals off-world?
Imril: If someone was just trying to get past Kobyar jammers, that does seem like a bit much.
The two engineers had already moved to the workstation where they were studying Doctor Bancroft’s data. Jovenan looked at the screen over Ensign Imril’s shoulder – not over Ensign Tho’Bi’s shoulder due to the rather obvious height difference – while also staying near the wreck so that she could keep hearing what Doctor Bancroft was saying.
Tho'Bi: ::to Computer:: Computer (beat) display command code and subroutines from new data feed.
Jovenan: Looks like we have everything we need of the device now. Thank you, Doctor, great work. We can continue studying it on the workstation, unless you think there’s something more in there.
Bancroft: Agreed. I’m going to get to work analyzing the biological material here. ::opening kit:: Let’s see if our dearly departed friends left behind anything besides viscera and unresolved plot threads.
Jovenan nodded, although the Doctor might not even see her from the wreckage. Although they were primarily looking for off-world technology, the remains of the people in possession of the said technology could reveal a lot: Were they specialists, or did the Grunden give such curious equipment to the average grunts? Did they die in an unusual way, or was it just an average, impersonal drone attack on the battlefield? Did the device affect their biology in some way? The medical officer would be more qualified to judging what he might find.
Jovenan: Very well. Call me if you find anything interesting, or join us when you’re ready.
Bancroft: Response
Imril: Computer, create a duplicate of the unknown transmitter. Put it beside the real Kobyar firewall device.
Stepping closer to the two engineers, Jovenan studied what they were working on. It appeared the device was advanced in relation to the Grunden and maybe the Kobyar. As far as she could tell, it displayed some of the same characteristics of the components they had discovered in the drones: older, easily acquirable yet powerful off-world hardware and software kitbashed together.
Imril: Computer, give us a model of the Galaris system. Three-dimensional. Combine the ships' archival data with the scans Artemis made recently. Remove any known artificial satellites or structures on or in orbit of Galaris IV, show all the others.
A holographic recreation of the system appeared between and above them. Jovenan smiled a little, as they were moving closer to her area of expertise. Had she chosen to gather the team in the astrometrics instead, she would have at this point enabled the null-gravity mode and floated up to join the planets. Instead of being allowed the joy that method of observation permitted, she was forced to concentrate while on the ground. She noted that Atlas had departed from the Artemis and was now near the planet. She figured it had something to do with the other team’s efforts to locate the origin of the signal – meaning that Vitor was likely there too, and both of their tasks were intertwined.
Tho’Bi: ::speaking to the room:: Same combination of code we saw on the Forest Drone.
Jovenan: The exact same? That’s suspicious… ::trails off, points at the holographic system:: There aren’t many artificial objects out of the immediate surroundings of Galaris IV. These satellites don’t appear able to transmit the signal over light-years, so the recipient is likely within the system.
Bancroft: Response
Jovenan felt unexpectedly sad looking at the display. Both the Grunden and the Kobyar were warp-capable, but there was relatively little evidence of their activities in their own local space. Even humans had created permanent or semi-permanent colonies or stations to the Sol system by this time of their relative timeframe of warp advancement. Yet, the two civilisations had merely sent some rovers to other planets or had abandoned whatever structures could be used for habitation. She didn’t need to spend much time pondering the cause. War was heck.
Tho’Bi: ::to the computer:: Computer (beat) compare the command protocol and subroutines with any known blackmarket use within twenty lightyears.
Computer: Limited data indicates possible correlation between sample data and blackmarket use within assigned parameters.
From the holographic celestial objects, Jovenan turned her attention to Ensign Tho’Bi. She was supposed to be paying attention to all three separate lines of investigation the Ensigns were each working on. It was turning out to be rather taxing, making her wonder if she had ever made her seniors ever go through something like that when she was a junior officer.
Jovenan: Black market could imply the possible interferer is a non-governmental operator or something posing as one.
Bancroft: Response
Imril: ::Pointing to the telescope and asteroid structures:: I wonder if those were used to observe the warp test?
Jovenan: Possibly. They don’t appear to be of military nature to me, at least. They could be related to the warp experiments or maybe for astronomical observations, from the time the war hadn’t turned so total.
Bancroft: Response
Meanwhile, Ensign Tho’Bi had initiated a rather intense series of computer prompts.
Tho'Bi: ::to Computer:: Computer (beat) Pull the subroutines of the forest drone.
Tho’Bi: ::to Computer:: Now (beat) Augment the data feed with the transmitter (beat) Confirm?
Computer: Confirmed.
Tho’Bi: ::to Computer:: Identify code function.
Computer: Unable to comply (beat) insufficient data.
Tho’Bi: ::quiet frustration:: Thullex!
The Ensign appeared very invested into the investigation. Jovenan didn’t want to stop him, but she was wondering if there was more to the frustration than just the experience of perceived failure and professional pride. The mission had been rough to them all, especially to the junior officers who had not yet experienced what it was like in Starfleet’s service. She kept an eye on him, but turned to the other Ensigns and the problems they were solving.
Jovenan: ::to Imril:: See if any of the artificial objects could be used for receiving or transmitting signals using technology we’ve found in the Grunden and Kobyar matériel. ::to Bancroft:: Doctor, what’s your status?
Bancroft/Imril: Response
Tho’Bi: ::to Computer:: Computer (beat) Postulate (beat) Drone detention equals causal termination point (beat) Identify code function.
Computer: Within proposed parameters (beat) Probable code function (beat) countdown.
Tho’Bi: ::to Computer:: Computer (beat) Extrapolate Countdown initiation trigger and timing.
Bancroft/Imril: Response
Jovenan tried to follow each Ensign, but finding it difficult, she turned to Tho’Bi, who seemed to be at a verge of a discovery, although not having followed his work as closely as she should have in order to understand it, she didn’t know exactly what it was he expected to find.
Computer: Trigger (beat) Unable to comply (beat) Insufficient data.
Tho’Bi: ::quiet growing frustration:: Zalexu
Jovenan: Save that kind of language to the Engineering, Ensign. Would you explain what are you doing?
Bancroft/Imril: Response
Computer: Timing (beat) Two Hours and fifty three minutes.
Jovenan sighed. At least Ensign Tho’Bi had received an answer.
Jovenan: Is that what you were looking for, Ensign?
Bancroft/Imril/Tho’Bi: Response
((OOC: Next, I’m introducing the device brought over by Kexxin. This ties to the diplomatic scene, see Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Confessions of Treachery.))
The air was filled with a swooshing sound as the enforced holodeck doors opened. Jovenan turned to the entrance gate, finding a crewmember she didn’t recognise entering. For a moment, she thought she had overstayed her holodeck reservation, but the panic receded as she remembered that they weren’t merely having fun with a holonovel but instead on a ship’s official business with authorisation.
Jovenan: Yes?
Crewmember: The Captain wanted you to study this. ::hands over the device:: It’s from the Grunden General. He said he took it from his executive officer he killed after the executive officer tried to prevent him from entering the underground facility.
Jovenan: Thank you. ::turns around:: Ensigns?
Jovenan placed the small device on the table and waited for the Ensigns to gather around it.
Jovenan: Before we get to studying whatever this is, I want to try and combine as much as we can of what we’ve discovered so far. It all appears to relate to each other. Doctor Bancroft, please begin. What did you discover from the, um, biological data, or otherwise in the grunt?
Bancroft/Imril/Tho’Bi: Response
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Lieutenant Commander Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11