Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Cut It Off
Addison MacKenzie
Storm: According to my numbers, if the Artemis slows down to warp 5 and we send out the Atlas and Prometheus at warp 7.5, and if the false trail or trails are lost within the first hour that the shuttles are out, we stand to put ourselves in the best position to catch the culprits, no matter which way they go.
That was good news. If the hijackers thought they would be able to throw off the scent by creating false warp trails, they'd sorely underestimated the ability of the Artemis to explore all possible paths.
Munro: :: nods :: A good approach, it could actually save us time if we go on the wrong trail.
Jovenan: Response
MacKenzie rested her left arm on the armrest of the captain's chair and propped her head up with her hand while the index finger of her right hand tapped the opposite armrest slowly as she considered the decision.
MacKenzie: Commander, mobilize the shuttle pilots and have them prepare the Atlas and the Prometheus for immediate launch.
Munro: Understood, captain. What destinations shall I instruct the pilots?
MacKenzie: The Atlas should proceed to the Barol system, and the Prometheus to ngeb Station. We'll head for Nasciak territory. I can't afford anyone but the Artemis to get caught near their territory - at least I'm confident in our ability to diffuse any situations that might come up.
Storm: I’ll concentrate my scans on the area ahead of us, then, but if they are under cloak…
Jetripar: I thank you for considering all of this as carefully. I am certain you will be successful.
Munro: With your permission Captain, I've instructed a security officer to accompany the pilots? As a precaution.
MacKenzie gave the first officer a subtle nod - it was a good suggestion and likely a necessary precaution.
Jovenan: Response
It wasn't long before Storm turned her head back, clearly addressing the commanding officer.
Storm: I’m unfamiliar with the Nasciak or their territory, and the information on the LCARS is spotty at best. Could you fill us in, Captain?
Jetripar moved back to the seat he had earlier vacated and listened carefully.
MacKenzie: The Nasciak are a militaristic, industrialist species. They are... not inclined toward compromise. While I'm not sure they'd be willing to help us, I don't think they're any more likely to help the Afalqi either.
Jovenan: Response
There was an emergent blip from Storm's screen.
Storm: Captain? I have….
MacKenzie lifted her head slightly, waiting for the tactical officer to get on with it.
Storm: I’m sorry. I had something, but either I lost it or I never really had anything to begin with.
Jetripar: Is it the Afalqi?
Munro: That would be an unlikely stroke of luck. Lieutenant, can you try a multiphasic scan? See if we can find it again?
Jovenan:
MacKenzie: ...any further insi-
Storm: Wait. I have it again, but it’s in a different location. It’s almost…
Another pause.
Storm: It’s almost like a … reflection. It’s the same signal, but displaced somehow.
The woman in the gold uniform shook her head, trying to make sense of what was showing up on her readings.
Storm: I’m not sure how to explain it better. Commander, Jovenan, I’m sending you my sensor data to see if you can figure out what to make of it.
Jetripar turned his attention to the others.
Jetripar: What could cause this?
Now, from her right, Munro's console weas beeping.
Munro: The Atlas and the Prometheus are launching now.
MacKenzie nodded her acknowledgment.
Jovenan: Response
Jetripar: Is it at least in the direction we're going?
Munro: These readings don't make any sense. It's not a cloaked vessel, at that size. It might be a probe?
MacKenzie: Something designed to throw us off? Or something else?
Jovenan/Storm: Response
From her left, Jetripar gestured emphatically.
Jetripar: Well speed up then! Catch it! If we can't tell what it is from here, we surely can get closer. If it's my ship, there's no time to waste.
Munro: It's definitely not your ship. Unless your ship is the size of the chair you're sitting on.
MacKenzie: Patience is a virtue, Mr. Secretary. Any other observations we can make out from here?
Jovenan/Storm: Response
Jetripar sat back in his chair, almost sulking. The man was certainly out of his element on the bridge of the ship and no doubt frustrated at recent events and the sluggish pace at which the investigation seemed to be progressing. But, progress, after all, was progress.
Jetripar: At the very least, can we try and see it with our own eyes, whatever it is?
Munro: We should intercept it in several minutes. The Atlas and the Prometheus are in a holding pattern, requesting to go to warp, Captain?
MacKenzie: ::waving a finger and nodding:: Tell them to get on with it. Helm, slow to warp 5.
Jovenan/Storm/Jetripar: Response
Munro: Secretary Jetripar, what do you know about Da'al surveillance probes?
Jovenan/Storm/Jetripar: Response
MacKenzie waited as the first officer worked.
Munro: It's sending a signal out :: sighs :: To a relay on Outer Seedea. The signal bounces from there.
MacKenzie: What kind of signal? Comms? Data?
Jovenan/Storm/Jetripar/Munro: Response
MacKenzie's brow furrowed. That certainly didn't make any sense.
MacKenzie: Do you suppose it's a signal of some kind?
Jovenan/Storm/Jetripar/Munro: Response
The corner of her lips pulled to one side as she impatiently tapped her index finger on the armrest of the chair again. If they didn't have a way to determine exactly what it was or what its function was, maybe they could interrupt its process.
MacKenzie: Is there a way we can disrupt the signal? Cut off... whatever it is and whatever it's sending?
Jovenan/Storm/Jetripar/Munro: Response
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A