LTJG Josh Herrick: Let's See What Happens!
Mark P
((Jefferies Junction 15-Charlie-2, Deck 15, USS Octavia E. Butler))
Josh normally enjoyed puzzles and brainteasers, particularly when they weren’t attached to a life-threatening countdown, but this latest one had almost cost him his life and he wanted to get to the bottom of it. What was wiping the transport logs, and what was causing these malfunctions.
Herrick: =/\= So, if we entertain this assumption, what’s our next steps? =/\=
Nilsen: =/\= Unless those two officers are moonlighting as 007, we can assume that they’re not intending to use the intelligence protocols, so we gotta ask ourselves, is this a freak accident, or is someone attempting to use those protocols? =/\=
The 007 reference was vaguely familiar to Josh, some sort of fictional clandestine spy agency where they went around shooting everyone and blowing up everything. Maybe Starfleet was heading in that direction, given how mysterious they’d been with the actual location of the department and the introduction of Commander Walker. He shook his head, stopping himself from daydreaming too much.
Paradi: =/\= It's either Intel being, well, Intel. Or... there's a leak.
Herrick: =/\= So… it’s either bad design or a malfunction. Hrmmm…. =/\=
Nilsen: =/\= If we’re certain it’s the intelligence protocols, we’ll have to involve Promontory. at some point, but I’d rather wait until we know for certain=/\=
Herrick: =/\= (nodding) We definitely need more data. =/\=
Paradi: =/\= It still leaves us with a possible transporter problem. =/\=
Nilsen: =/\= Julian, if you feel that we need to take all the transporters down, you have my blessing, I’ll deal with the fallout =/\=
There was a pause before the transporter officer responded, and when Josh turned to look at him, he could see the man's nerves getting to him. A drop of sweat reflecting from the conduit lighting.
Paradi: =/\= In my judgement, sirs. We ought to suspend all use of the transporter pads with immediate effect until we have a solid solution to what is going on... =/\=
Herrick: =/\= Rather than worry about the fallout, I think we’d rather have a bit of inconvenience than someone’s atoms scattered somewhere. ::leaning over to pat Paradi’s shoulder:: Safety first, that’s why we have backups upon backups — they just seem to be failing us at the moment. =/\=
It dawned on the engineer that he was technically the ranking officer in this situation, even though he and Nilsen held the same rank, he was a department chief. He’d have to get used to this.
Herrick: ::straightening his posture:: =/\= Nilsen, let’s fully stop use of the transporters and advise any one that’s off ship that they’ll need to return via the port or shuttles. We can do a few more tests and then bring our findings to the command team if we can’t nail it down. =/\=
Nilsen: =/\= Response =/\=
Paradi: =/\= I'd rather stay hidden in the tubes if it's all the same to you, Lieutenant... =/\=
Herrick: =/\= I’d rather you not become a tube dweller, ::hold up his hands:: no pressure, but I’d be more worried if they had any reaction other than genuine concern. =/\=
Nilsen/Paradi: =/\= Response =/\=
Now, it was time to get science-y and experiment.
Herrick: =/\= There are some diagnostic biomatter cylinders on… Deck 10 I think in the aft cargo bay. I’d like to route them through this junction to the ventral emitter and then perhaps to the OC where we can see the shape of it post-transport. What do you think?=/\=
Nilsen/Paradi: =/\= Response =/\=
Herrick: =/\= ::nervous chuckle:: Quite right, I suppose the two of us should get a bit of distance from the junction. No need for another scolding… I mean visit to Sickbay. We’ll leave the tricorder attached in case we get lucky on the logs. =/\=
Nilsen/Paradi: =/\= Response =/\=
Josh and Julien backed out of the junction, stepped through the doors onto Deck 15 and issued an order for the computer to establish a level 10 forcefield around the junction.
Herrick: =/\= Alright Nilsen, energize the site to site. =/\=
Tags/TBC
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Lieutenant JG Josh Herrick
Acting Chief Engineer
USS Octavia E. Butler
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)