Lieutenant JG Ragh-Ring the Bell

[Ryan Augustyn]

OOC: One of my weaknesses is spaceship and mechanical technobabble so please bare with me. I'm a doctor, Jim, not an engineer!

[[Holodeck]]

(( Main Bridge, USS Buffett ))

Imagine if you will a comet, but this comet it not an ordinary comet. No, this comet has a barely discernible computer chip hidden within. Why? How? Those were the questions running through Ragh's head as he contemplated this new development. Their current goal was to determine if this was a regular comet that had someone been modified, or was it a wholly man-made structure. When hit with phasers, something quite unexpected had happened-

Ragh: It has shields???

Bakk: It has shields. Let us instead approach this like a Romulan. (beat) I picked up some sort of communications blip from the comet earlier. We may be able to pursue a non-physical inspection.

Rouiancet: How so?

Ragh: Communications blip? Interesting.. Go on, Ensign, the floor is open.

Nis: Responses

Bakk: Understood. I have some suggestions on how to approach this. One way we could address this is figure out its comms protocol, break the encryption, and seize control through the comet's computer or mechanical system.

Rouiancet: Sure, that sounds reasonable. But I'd advise caution. Whatever is over there, our sensors certainly did not see a shield generator. We don't know what we're dealing with.

Ragh: I have to agree. This is some pretty hidden tech and we don't want to upset those who made the effort to hide it. At least not yet.

They couldn't say for sure it was the Romulans but it did match up with the reports of their recent activity in the area. But Ragh reminded himself he couldn't race to conclusions. It very well could be a coincidence or a third party.

Nis: Response

Bakk: An alternative would be to track down another one of these comets, pull one into proximity of another, and see if we can eavesdrop on comet to comet communication, making a guess that the comets can do that, and understanding the communications protocol that way. This may or may not work if they don't communicate.

Rouiancet: But they may, and that's concerning. 

Nis: Response

Ragh: That is plausible.. But risky. If we had the guarantee of time, but with too many unknowns I don't think that's a pursuable path yet. Any other thoughts?

Bakk: The last idea (beats) is to slowly peel the shield apart with increasing levels of phaser fire, but that risks damaging the comet, the minerals, useful information, and bringing upon us the wrath of a border-hopping Romulan ship.

Rouiancet: (slight smile) Maybe not that one yet. (turning back to Ragh) I suggest we try to establish that these are Romulan devices, or ships, or probes. For all we know, this could be some third party spying on both the Federation and the Romulan Free State.

oO The Captain has a similar thought as I. But if not the Romulans, who would be interested in their activities in this area of space? Oo

Ragh/Nis/Bakk: Responses 

Rouiancet: I'd prefer to establish what we're dealing with. The sensors say that it's a comet, except for the half-centimeter device. That's some very powerful trickery.

A good captain knows both his and his crews strengths and weaknesses, and knows when to utilize each member. In this situation, Ragh was feeling way out of his depth. He knew how to get a confident leader, sure, but computer chips in comets that might be communicating with who knows what? These are the moments you lean on your crew.

 

Ragh: ::to Rouiancet:: I agree, we need to determine who's handy work these 'comets' are.

Nis/Bakk: Responses 

Ragh: Well let's lay out the facts: We know the Romulans were making frequent visits to this area and we know that there were similar comets at those times. Now is that enough to start a confrontation, probably not, but I would say that it's more than a pretty good hunch.

Nis/Rouiancet/Bekk: Response 

He heard his crew talking but hime was currently distracted; at that moment, a very simple but bold idea came to Ragh. 

Ragh: ::said suddenly:: If you want to know if someone is there, give them a call.

He could feel his crew staring at him like he was speaking Klingon. He had a good feeling about his though.

Ragh: Open hailing channel: =/\= This is the USS Buffet of the Federation, to any and all nearby vessels, we come in good faith and seek open dialogue. =/\=

This might be the dumbest decision he made but he just felt he had to try. His instinct with the Romulans was to assume the worst, but what if the answer could be found with a simple hello. He waited.

Minutes passed with no response.

Nis/Rouiancet/Bekk: Response 

Ragh frowned. It was worth a shot.

Ragh: Okay, change of-

Unknown: =/\= USS Buffet, we heard your message. What we do here is our own concern. (A pause) But we are.. open, to further conversation. Give us thirty minutes and await our hail. =/\=

Nis/Rouiancet/Bekk: Response 

Tags/TBC!

_______________________________

Lieutenant Junior Grade Ragh

Medical Officer 

USS Octavia E. Butler 

O240212R13