LT Gila Sadar - Beyond the Surface
LT Gila Sadar
((Conference Room of the Vahr’sto - Wallace Colony, Kahines II))
All in all, the conversation with the Klingon scientists wasn’t progressing too badly. Apart from the fact that none of the Klingons would even talk to her, let alone respond to her questions, there was precious little animosity, which - in Gila’s admittedly limited experience with Klingons - was a miracle in itself.
Sadar: Have you discovered anything that could identify the ruin yet?
Ebova: My team is going to be working in this section ::indicates an area of the ruin on the western edge:: and working our way inwards.
Gila could just stop asking questions - considering Administrator Baum’s increasingly frustrated expression, it would probably save him a big headache if she did - but even if they refused to acknowledge her presence, they might eventually answer some of her questions and pretend it was their own submission to the conversation if it was relevant enough.
Another aspect of debate that she’d gotten used to after leaving Mizabet.
Imril: Have you encountered any technical issues that may slow your work or endanger anything inside?
Ebova: Nothing that we cannot overcome. We are equipped with a ready supply of excavation gear.
Sadar: In that case, it makes sense to leave the heavier excavation to you.
The observation was unimportant to the Klingons, most likely, but a valid one to make. The Griffin would be able to replicate base digging tools, but not anything so sensitive as to be of use during heavier excavations. Until the team of archaeologists from Starfleet Historical Society could make it to Kahines II, Gila’s team would have to focus on the areas of the site that were already out in the open.
Imril: How did you determine the site to be a prison so quickly?
The Klingons’ environmental archaeologists rose to answer the question. Why did all Klingons have to look like soldiers, Gila wondered with an uncomfortable shuffling in her seat.
B’Equ: ::Pointing to a northern section of the ruin:: Observe these surviving tower foundations along the outer defensive wall here. One would expect such structures to use the wall itself as part of their shielding from attack. These towers were built against the wall’s outer side, facing inward. The tactical reasoning behind this placement is clear. Those who manned the towers were tasked to keep those inside of the facility from getting out. Not stand against an enemy laying siege from beyond.
B’Equ spoke directly to the Ensign, eyes target-locked with an impressive amount of focus. So unnaturally that it was clear the snub of Gila was entirely intentional. Gila marched onwards regardless. Her father would’ve been ashamed of her.
Sadar: That’s difficult to tell from foundations alone. Have you obtained any background information to collaborate on that theory?
The shift in B’Equ’s attitude was immediate, her sharp eyes turning on Gila with enough force that it felt like an actual slap. Gila went rigid in surprise, not having expected it in the least. Whereas Ebova and the rest of the Klingons had a disinterested approach to the Mizarian in their midst, B’Equ’s reason to ignore her was clearly more personal. Not that Gila understood why, at all.
B’Equ: Are you calling my work into question!?
Gila’s anxiety band started twisting beneath the rim of the table, as she scrambled for the calm that had been sucked out of her in one fell swoop.
Sadar: N-No, I-
Rescue came from an unlikely place. Trorin, son of Jact, was the historical archaeologist with the team, a fact which had immediately made him - unbeknownst to him - the most interesting person in the room to Gila. After all, that had once been her own job description, and as such, she had a personal interest in the kind of background work he’d accomplished prior to them making landfall on Kahines II.
Trorin: The Empire’s records show that this planetoid used to be on the outer edges of the First Empire. It was a penal facility aimed at the isolation and removal of politically sensitive prisoners.
Gila tried not to stare at the surprisingly forward answer, instead trying to get back into the flow of being ignored. B’Equ sent a stinkeye to Trorin that made it clear she didn’t appreciate his interruption, but the older-looking Klingon male seemed almost bored with her attitude.
Imril: Response
Sadar: Were you able to ascertain the approximate timeframe of its active service? The lifespan of the First Empire is too long to give an accurate description of the political situation at the time of the prison’s service.
Clearly wanting to avoid another confrontation with B’Equ - who was already gearing up for one - Administrator Baum stepped in.
Baum: Is that really important to this discussion?
The question almost felt like a direct attack, and every wrinkle on Gila’s face shuddered in practiced frustration. Oh, how often had she needed to have this precise conversation with the Board of Education back on Mizabet every time one of the digs took a bit too long for their liking, or she tried to push through a very significant alteration to the contents of current textbooks. Sure, ‘Kahl-One-To; A Basic Introduction to the Primers’ was already in it’s 25th edition by the time she submitted her proposal for a very significant alteration to the final two chapters, but they could’ve been more open-minded about it, is all she had to say on the topic.
Sadar: Step 3 of Archaeological Surveys: Gather background information. Similar to how Archaeologist B’Equ was able to theorize on the function of the towers based on their foundation’s placement in relation to the walls, so too must my team have basic knowledge of the prison and the political context of its time period if we’re to be able to make conjecture during our excavation.
Baum seemed ready to argue with her - and B’Equ most certainly was - but Chief Ebova called them all to quiet with a single raised hand.
Ebova: Trorin. ::brief pause:: Send the information you gathered to the Federation Team’s computers.
Trorin: Understood.
Imril: Response
It was a valid question. Gila was the only scientist on the Federation’s team, and while each of the Ensigns had undergone the same basic tricorder and survey training, they had very little specialized knowledge to call on. Attempting to determine whether any of the old First Empire technology had survived to this day was a valid task, and if it did, it would be a massive boon if it was still functional enough for Ensign Imril to access.
Sadar: I’d be surprised if any of the technology of the time survived to this day, but it seems worth a shot. ::to B’Equ:: Have you had time to conduct a subterranean echo survey? Or is the prison too eroded for that to be a valid option?
B’Equ growled, her arms crossed in defiance, causing her colleague to step in again.
Trorin: Not yet.
Ebova: Attempting it without a thorough analysis of the rock layers around the prison risks causing fractures that might damage the integrity of the ruins.
Gila would have to ask Petty Officer Filistrien for a background check on B’Equ, find out why she seemed so personally invested in icing out Gila (specifically) from this investigation, but for now, they needed to assist with the dig, with or without her approval.
Sadar: Ensign Imril, is that something we could do with the Griffin’s sensors?
Imril: Response
TAG/TBC
LT Gila Sadar
Medical Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240006GS1