[SB-Artemis] Ensign Tho’Bi - Scant Comfort in Petty Revelations

[Tobi]

((Holodeck 2, Deck 2, USS Artemis))

The steady hum of holo-generated Engineering equipment filled the room.

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.

The more experienced of the two Engineers began working 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: Response

A display near the two Engineers spluttered into life, as data from the Medical Tricorder began to upload.

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?

The Andorian Engineer had already taken up station in front of the new data feed.  

Imril: If someone was just trying to get past Kobyar jammers, that does seem like a bit much.

Tho'Bi: ::to Computer:: Computer (beat) display command code and subroutines from new data feed.

A three dimensional patchwork of cascading electric green, crimson, and pale blue symbols flickered into existence.

Jovenan: Response

Bancroft holstered his tricorder.

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: Response

Imril: Computer, create a duplicate of the unknown transmitter. Put it beside the real Kobyar firewall device.

A duplicate rendering of the transmitter shuddered into existence. 

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.

With a fizz, the blue and green sphere of Galaris IV flickered into existence, floating in mid air.  The other planets of the system followed, then the moons, and finally, probes and satellites. Their own shuttle, Atlas, zipped through the space above Galaris IV.

Meanwhile, the blue of the Andorian’s hands sifted through the layers of tumbling symbols.  Bringing one layer, then another to the foreground. 

Tho’Bi: ::speaking to the room:: Same combination of code we saw on the Forest Drone.

Jovenan/Bancroft: Response

Ensign Imril remained silent, their attention fixed on the three dimensional representation of the Galaris System.

The system was noteworthy for the apparent absence of significant forays into space.  Abandoned modular pieces from rocket launches hung in orbit, and landing modules dotted the landscape of Galaris IV‘s Moon.  Probes drifted at the mercy of planetary gravitational forces, around Galaris II, III, and V, and around the ice moon of the gas giant, Galaris V.

Beyond Galaris IVs moon, at the Lagrange Point, sat a space telescope.  A cluster of small structures had been built upon the more sizeable asteroids in the belt

The Andorian’s attention returned to the cascading symbols of code.

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.

((OOC:  I ran this idea past Liv first as I didn’t want to step on the toes of the shuttle mission.  She advised it was okay to imply a blackmarket connection, so long as the Sim didn’t mention the legend that is Legend O’Connor.))

Jovenan/Bancroft: Response

At this point the two Engineers were working in parallel on their own areas of focus.

Imril: ::Pointing to the telescope and asteroid structures:: I wonder if those were used to observe the warp test?

Jovenan/Bancroft: Response

Tho'Bi: ::to Computer:: Computer (beat) Pull the subroutines of the forest drone.

Using his fingers, the Andorian enlarged the tiny segment of pale blue code in the bottom right hand corner. 

Tho’Bi: ::to Computer:: Now (beat) Augment the data feed with the transmitter (beat) Confirm?

Computer: Confirmed.

The Andorian pointed at the enlarged segment of pale blue code, symbols tumbling in mid-air before him. 

Tho’Bi: ::to Computer:: Identify code function.

Computer:  Unable to comply (beat) insufficient data.

Tho’Bi: ::quiet frustration:: Thullex! 

Jovenan/Bancroft/Imril: Responses?

((OOC:  ‘Thullex’ is an Andorian swear word I invented, extrapolated from the SB118Wiki Andorian Language Page.  I’ve already added it to the Wiki.))

//FLASHBACK//

The thick crisscross of barbed branches tore at his uniform and sliced into his skin.  The desperate pitter patter of Lieutenant Vailani boots, twig crunch, mud splat, close behind him.  Drones sped ahead of them, cutting expanding wakes through the hazy layers of mist, vectoring toward the township. 

((SMASH CUT)) 

Dust and debris surged toward them in a great wave of shifting greys and browns.  He turned.  Caught Lieutenant Vailani in his arms.  Chunks of earth, mortar, and structure, punched into his back, bruising muscle and battering ribs.  Gravel spat-scatter-shot, snatching at fabric and skin.

((SMASH CUT))

He sensed the approaching swell of air and matter, thick and chaotic.  The arching vibrations of drones, tearing through the air and smoke.  The flex and recoil of root and branch within the floor, walls, and ceiling of the ancient Grunden Kangew.  His body felt, as though suspended outside of time, frozen from his very veins.     

((OOC:  ‘Kangew’ is Grunden for ‘Church’.))

//FLASHBACK ENDS//

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.

The Andorian’s shoulders fell with a heavy sigh.

Tho’Bi: oO Did we cause the explosion? (beat)  Time to find out. Oo 

The Andorian stood up straight.

Tho’Bi: ::to Computer:: Computer (beat) Extrapolate Countdown initiation trigger and timing.

Moments passed.  Stretching outwards into protracted landscapes of doubt, only for the Andorian.

Jovenan/Bancroft/Imril: Responses?

Computer: Trigger (beat) Unable to comply (beat) Insufficient data.

Tho’Bi:  ::quiet growing frustration:: Zalexu

((OOC:  ‘Zalexu’ is another Andorian swear word I invented, extrapolated from the SB118Wiki Andorian Language Page.  I’ve already added it to the Wiki.))

Jovenan/Bancroft/Imril: Responses?

Computer: Timing (beat) Two Hours and fifty three minutes.  

//FLASHBACK//

The skies above the forest drew dark, choked by thousands of birds taking flight.  A cracking welled up from the deep.  Ripples became waves, contorting and warping the shifting layers of grey, damp mist.  Animal and insect rushed and scuttled, outward, acrossing the forest floor.

One last gasp of life.  Then silence for a fraction of a second.  Subharmonic rumble.  Dirt swelled.  Air chased thin.  Dry, blunt, smack.  Color shifted.  The world stained red.  And shuddered from the heat.

In a great expanding circle, trees collapsed outwards; branches splintering towards the edges of the forest.  The floor of moss and earth, churned up and slung at the sky.  A second circle of fire followed; blazing through bark and leaf, stalk and petal.  Sparks and smolder, washed through the dying woodland; consummating it lifeless.

//FLASHBACK ENDS//

  

It was, at least, not their fault; for whatever scant comfort could be found in that petty revelation.  

Jovenan/Bancroft/Imril: Responses

TAG/TBC

((OOC: With that, Tho’Bi resolves at least part of the personal fallout from the Away Mission.  His own sense of guilt that he and Vailani might have triggered the detonation and destruction of the forest.  Feel free to run your own character’s investigations in and around what Tho’Bi is doing - as is already the case, with Imril.

A note about the flashbacks, I’ve added to my sims.  I’ve attempted to format them in a manner that makes them easy to navigate.  As you might imagine, an Andorian’s first experience of battle is extremely formative for Tho’Bi and his character development - hence the parallel subplot, I’ve been running alongside this part of the mission.  I hope they have not been too off putting or intrusive.))

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Ensign Tho’Bi

Engineering

USS Artemis-A

A240203T11