Ensign Jaran Jira - Lilliputian Lightnings
Jira Jaran
((Geology lab, Deck 9, USS Artemis))
Jovenan: Good, we’re just about ready to start smiting the rocks with lightnings! ::pulls out protective equipment, hands to Jaran:: Goggles.
Jira donned the proffered safety goggles and looked bright-eyed at the testing bay. After all, who didn't love some pyrotechnics?
Jaran: I'd be lying if I said this wasn't quite exciting.
Jira watched as the atmosphere inside the testing bay turned a shade of purple that they'd only seen once before, on the surface of Callis. Some feelings rose up in their gut, but they got pushed down as quickly as they arrived; those could wait. Jovenan raised her palm so that Jaran could see it. Slowly, she lowered each of her fingers, until only the index finger remained up, and she waved her hand. The test bay crackled with a lightning discharge in miniature.
Jovenan: Looks like we were successful! Or do you agree, was it like what you saw on the planet?
Jira was silent for a moment, then answered slowly.
Jaran: That was almost... too similar.
Jovenan: We got some great data too. It might help to explain why the rocks attract lightnings, but further exploration is needed for how they are formed and why haven’t they disappeared over time. ::pause, smile:: Do you think the locals associated the rocks with the divi–
Her sentence was cut off by a loud noise and a flash of light. Another lightning had hit the rock in its test chamber. Then another. And another. The repeated lightning became a din that the scientist had to raise her voice to be heard over.
Jovenan: Sorry! It shouldn’t do that! I think. ::looks around:: Please take this station, I might need to exhaust the chamber!
Jira took Jovenan's place at the console. Their knowledge in this arena wasn't vast, but they had enough to keep the cascade under the roughest sense of control.
Jaran: This is seeming far too familiar!
Jovenan: Response
While Jovenan made her adjustments, Jira scrambled to keep the scale model storm contained. The force field shimmered and sparked as the pressure inside built, and Jira jumped as a small fragment of the yellow rock hit the invisible barrier and caromed about the testing bay. The sound in the lab had grown to intolerable levels.
Jaran: ::nearly shouting:: Commander, we're reaching critical tolerances. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep that forcefield up.
Jovenan: Response
As if to punctuate her statement, the forcefield chose that moment to spark once and blink out of existence. Purple mist flowed freely, and a spear of lightning stabbed Jira's console. They jumped back.
Jaran: I hope you have a way to shut this down!
Jovenan: Response