Capt. Lia Rouiancet: Swiss Army Comet

[Tony Colella]

[[Holodeck]]

(( Main Bridge, USS Buffett ))

Lia took a moment to take stock. The Buffett was almost face-to-face with a comet that, in all likelihood, wasn't a comet at all. But whatever it was, it had recently crossed from the Romulan Neutral Zone into Federation space.

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.

Even if it had its flaws, since Lia was quite sure that they shouldn't have been able to see or detect the device.

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

Bakk: We could approach that from trying to determine unique mineralogy patterns, seeing where the comets share patterns with. Or we could analyze the systems on the comet, which have their own unique signatures and behaviors we were not expecting.

Nis: The comet itself may be incidental. Besides that technology altering its chemistry, it seems fairly normal. 

That was what Lia's sensors showed, too, and why she was so impressed by whatever they were dealing with -- because it really did seem to be a comet. They had only a few incidental readings and some circumstantial evidence to suggest otherwise. That meant that they had to consider the possibility that it was simply a comet.

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.

Bakk: Are you proposing there may be a third party involved?

Rouiancet: Perhaps. We can't know for sure without more information.

Which went for nearly everything they knew, or thought they knew, about the comet and its circumstances.

Nis: The problem is, how? We need to be cautious if it’s some sort of spy craft. It could have defenses—

Ragh: (sudden) If you want to know if someone is there, give them a call. (beat) 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. =/\=

Lia had opened the channel as ordered and broadcast Ragh's message broadly. If there was someone out there who could not only hear them but was open to responding, then the door was open.

Lia hid a small smile. What Ragh had just done was not all that dissimilar from what she'd done during their previous mission, in the magnetar system. Both the Butler and the Buffett knew that there was at least one other object or vessel present (and in the case of the magnetar system, several others) and had taken a chance on a hail. It was, even if Lia was flattering herself a bit, a very Starfleet approach: Try to figure out what's going on and, if there's someone to talk to, try and talk to them.

Nis: (eyes wide) Are you hailing a comet? 

Rouiancet: The real question is whether the comet will talk back.

But as seconds stretched into long moments, and those into minutes, there was no reply. There was also no meaningful change in readings, nor in the comet's course -- but, then, if it was a natural comet, or was masquerading as one, then there wouldn't be. 

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. =/\=

As soon as the channel had picked up the callback, Lia had tried to track the signal. She worked as the others spoke.

Bakk: From a security standpoint, I have concerns about this course of action. A Romulan or potential third party wants us to wait for thirty minutes. They could be assembling reinforcements.

Nis: We think he’s right. 

Bakk: We could assemble our own reinforcements, but the timing window is not large. Also it would be viewed as aggressive, and we are already tending away from that sort of approach.

Nis: Reinforcements are off the table for now. We’re too close to the border. 

Ah! There. Not a definite fix, but enough that Lia could rule out some sources for the signal. But first.

Rouiancet: I concur. Waiting is dangerous.

That risk might be warranted, but not solely on the say-so of an interlocutor who, for the moment at least, preferred to remain anonymous. Even if Lia did know more about their whereabouts now. Well, a little more.

Ragh: Response

Nis: There are other ways we can prepare. (turning to console)

Rouiancet: Yes, and I have a preliminary report on the source of the signal. I'm having the computer continue to track it.

She didn't want to say more until she had seen the analysis for herself and concurred with what the computer had to say.

Ragh: Response

Nis: We’re keeping an eye out for enemy ships, but the region still seems deserted. Ensign Bakk, anything interesting in the most recent probes? 

Ragh/Bakk: Response

Nis: So you’re saying that comet … has a gun? 

Rouiancet: (looking around) What?

That was unexpected, especially since...

Rouiancet: To what end? The comet doesn't even have comms.

Oh, right. She was still waiting for the greater analysis, but the preliminaries were out there.

Ragh/Nis/Bakk: Responses

Rouiancet: Wherever the speaker is, they're not on the comet. The signal's point of origin is far distant, probably even beyond any of the other comets.

Ragh/Nis/Bakk: Responses

And, as though she'd summoned the speaker, the comms display indicated an incoming call. Metadata for the comm was identical to the first response.

Rouiancet: Call coming in, Captain. Receive?

Ragh/Nis/Bakk: Responses

Unknown: =/\= Response =/\=

Tags! and TBC!

--

Captain Lia Rouiancet

Commanding Officer 

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0
she/her/hers (this character)