Ensign Natasha Cole - Curiouser and Curiouser

[Natasha Schell]

(( Engineering, New Hope )) 

 

Natasha’s tricorder beeped that its Theta Radiation scan was done. Looking down she furrowed her brow. That was not something she was hoping to find, especially after the news of their new friends seeking Asylum.

 

Cole: It appears the Theta Radiation that our scan’s picked up ::beat:: are the result of sabotage. ::turning her tricorder towards Tho’Bi to confirm:: Comparing these, which I am presuming are their version of Theta-band Subspace Transceivers, one of them appears to be the source of the radiation.

 

Silveira raised an eyebrow as Dariell objected.

Dariell: Those results are faulty, Security Ensign. Not a single person aboard this ship would ever think of willingly sabotaging our journey to the stars. There would be another reason, a simple late failure in something that was undetected for one and damaged during the attack, perhaps?

Silveira turned their gaze towards Natasha before speaking.

Silveira: Care to elaborate, Ensign?

Cole: At first I thought it might be possible collateral damage from the attack, but that is unlikely since we’re not near the hull of the ship. ::directly to Silveira:: Sir, this doesn’t feel like system failure. If this were the Artemis, I’d be calling it sabotage. We should at least plan for that possibility.

Silveira: And we will be attentive to that. ::he turned to Dariell:: I hope you understand.

Dariell: How could your so-called saboteur even pull something like that off? Theta-Band Transceivers are closed systems—shielded and inaccessible from the inside of the ship.

Tho’Bi: ::to Silveira:: The Boraxians are using Theta-Band Transceivers to communicate via Subspace. 

Tho’Bi gestured towards the Master System Display, which illustrated the locations of Subspace Transceivers

Tho'Bi: ::to Silveira:: Damage to one of the Theta-Band Transceivers is causing radiation to leak back into the supply line. ::points at the sub chamber below the warp core:: And build up in the Warp Core Waste Storage Tanks. ::holds up Tricorder:: that is why we can register such low levels at this distance from the hull.

Silveira: OK, is there a way to fix it?

Dariell: You see, Ensign, simple explanation, no sabotage.

Tho'Bi: ::points at sub chamber:: The Warp Core Waste Storage Tanks must be purged ::points at Pylons:: and the Theta-Band Transceiver repaired.

Cole: Sir Might I suggest Tho’Bi oversees the repairs from here while we have an engineering team dispatched to do the work.

Dariell: Engineer Tho’Bi is welcomed to assist me and our engineers with the repairs. Storage tanks can be purged even now, from their monitoring subchamber from the deck below.

Tho'Bi: ::Nods at Dariell:: Agreed. The Warp Core Waste Storage Tanks can be purged from the sub chamber. ::looks at Silveira:: But the Transceiver will require EVA suits to make the repair.

The young Andorian Engineer did not speculate as to the possibilities of sabotage or Tactical ramifications of the damaged Transceiver. His job was to fix things. 

Silveira: I am not comfortable with us getting out for a walk like that, but let me think of something. ::He turned to Cole:: Ensign what is your assessment? Give me your opinion.

Cole: I don’t believe the sabotage was malicious. If they wanted to kill a ship, they would have gone after the engines, life support, or weapons. Going after the subspace relays, you’d do that when you don’t want them dead, but silent, lost, or confused. With Theta Radiation’s half life, I can’t help but wonder if the saboteur is attempting to leave a breadcrumb trail.

Dariell: This is nothing short of ridiculous, Security Ensign. Your engineer pinpointed the cause of the issue, a failure caused by the ship’s age and the damage our ship suffered. Despite this, you continue to assert your conclusion of unasserted accusations.

Cole: ::to Dariell:: Please understand I am not accusing you or any of your people of maliciously doing this. The course of action the individual in question chose to take clearly indicates they didn’t wish to directly harm anyone.

Dariell: Me understand that you’re genuinely concerned about security questions. I took no offense at your conclusions. Your experiences tend to make you see the worst in anyone and anything, as one would expect from someone of your training. But my people are creatures of stars. And our problems, these problems, are a question of engineering and minds unclouded.

Silveira: Then let's focus on the problem at hand for now.

Glancing back to her tricorder, her passive scan displayed results. Natasha sighed in relief, the scan indicated something interesting about the effects of the lights, and now Dariell’s remarks made more sense.

Cole: Sir, I have those other results for you as well.

She handed Silveira her tricorder. The scan on the display indicated the lighting was having an effect on them. It appeared that the lights regulated circadian rhythms while also preventing fatigue.

Silveira: Looks like you were right, Ensign Cole.

Dariell: Lieutenant Commander, Engineer Tho’Bi, will you still assist with purging the tanks? My monitors confirmed they can handle it on their own, but I assume you’d like to oversee and assist, yes?

Silveira: We will, Ensign Tho’Bi are you ready?

Tho’Bi: ::to Silveira:: Aye, Aye, Sir.

Silveira: As for you Ensign, following your theory scan us and see if the lighting has any pernicious effect Human and Andorian physiology.

Cole: Yes Sir.

Natasha pulled her tricorder out and got preliminary scans of the three of them, and began running a comparison to what was considered a baseline for their respective species.  
Dariell: ::to Away Team:: We're good to go to the subchamber. My people are instructed, and the tanks will be disconnected in the sequence in which we will purge them.

Tho’Bi: ::to Silveira:: Purging the tanks is only half the job, Sir. If the Theta-Band Transceiver is not repaired, the Theta-Band Radiation will continue to leak back into the supply line.

Silveira: Request a DOT from the Artemis to help with the repairs. I don’t want to risk anyone on a space walk right now.

Tho'Bi: =/\= Lieutenant Minthar, Lieutenant Commander Silveira needs you to dispatch a DOT to repair a Theta-Band Subspace Transceiver at these coordinates ::taps PADD:: Route DOT command interface to my PADD ::beat:: Serial Number 101 303 314 23 ::beat:: So Engineer Dariell can oversee the repairs ::bows slightly toward Dariell::

Dariell: Response

It didn’t take long before Tho’Bi’s PADD chirped, likely making contact with the DOT. Tho’Bi held the PADD so Dariell could see it. As he did Natasha did a follow up scan on him, being sure to not obstruct Tho’Bi from his work.

Dariell: Response

Silveira: It’s like having an Engineer outside, it can be directed and instructed easily.

Cole: ::Scanning Silveria:: It’s considered safer as well. 

Tho'Bi: ::to the DOT via his PADD:: Initiate granular component scan of Transceiver 

Tho’bi turned to speak to the Boraxian Engineer but was interrupted by the DOT. 

Tho'Bi: ::to Dariell:: The DOT will ana-

DOT: ::via PADD:: On it like a comet! 

Tho'Bi: …analyse the Transceiv-

The DOT interrupted again.

DOT: ::via PADD:: Scan complete. Fault found.  

Natasha was only partially paying attention to the three-dimensional schematic that appeared, as she was scanning herself, though she did make mental note that part of it had been highlighted in red.

DOT: ::via PADD:: Four Theta-Band Accelerator Generators have failed. Replacement parts required to effect repairs.

Silveira: Get whatever is needed and finish the repairs.

Dariel: Response 

Cole: ::to herself:: This is curiouser and curiouser.

Tho'Bi:: ::to the DOT via his PADD:: Disconnect faulty components ::beat:: and secure them for transport to New Hope.

Tho'Bi: ::to Dariell:: Where is best?

Dariell: Response 

Natasha had stepped back to look over her various scans as the damaged units had been transported aboard in front of them to eventually investigate.

Silveira: Very well Ensign Tho’Bi, run a scan on this. I want a definitive answer if it was an accident or not.

Dariell: Response 

Natasha took one last scan of the three of them to extrapolate what the most likely effects are of the lights.

Tho’Bi/Dariell: Response
Natasha was deep in thought as she looked over the culmination of her scans. While she was trying to maintain a neutral demeanor but couldn’t help but let out a hmm at the results.
Silveira: Ensign Cole, any results regarding the lights?
Cole: Bear in mind I am not a medic. That being said, these results are interesting, but also concerning. We should definitely get checked out by Medical once we’re back on the Artimus.
Silveria took a deep breath.
Silveira: It never gets easier…
Cole: I should elaborate. ::pointing to Tho’Bi:: As an Andorian Tho’Bi appears to be showing elevated levels of dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate. Are you having any unusual feelings of feeling over stimulated, euphoria or irritability?

Tho’Bi/Silveira/Dariell: Response

Cole: ::gesturing towards herself:: I am showing elevated Beta and Gamma waves. This would explain my alertness, but this will likely result in insomnia, eye strain, and eventual neurological fatigue.

Tho’Bi/Silveira/Dariell: Response

Cole: ::looking at Silveria:: According to your scans, Sir. Yours are very similar to mine, however your levels are in the range that might trigger Migraines.

Tho’Bi/Silveira/Dariell: Response

TAG/TB

----- Ens. Natasha Cole Security Officer USS Artemis-A Writer ID A240205NC4