Lieutenant Commander Lael Rosek: What Harm Could It Do?
Lael Rosek
OOC: There’s quite a bit going on in this scene, so bear with me. Sorry if I miss any tags.
((Shuttle John Lewis, Near Eladar IV))
th’Koro: With the number of heavy metals, there could be a possibility of heavy metal poisoning. It might be a small chance but we should watch out.
They were all relevant considerations, though she wasn’t sure they would have that much time. There was a certain risk with every first contact. While it was reasonable to ask if the aliens’ homeworld was suffering from any major life-threatening illnesses circulating, they’d likely find that out on their own.
Her main focus was avoiding a diplomatic incident. She’d heard horror stories both from her Academy professors as well as from colleagues over the years. Hell. She’d been a part of one or two. Something that she had no desire to repeat.
Zarax: Well, let’s hope not, but if so, this crew has plenty of experience with that.
Levinson: Indeed. While we are here for discovery and diplomacy, we must consider our own safety as well.
Snow: That’s not a bad idea.
Rosek: ::nods:: All relevant concerns and suggestions. We’ll address them both as time allows and as circumstances permit.
James: Ah Planetary physics you have to love it.
th’Koro: We just want to appear as friendly and diplomatic as possible. No sudden gestures et cetera. Nothing that could appear hostile.
She inclined her head thoughtfully. Too many first contacts went wrong because of the simple things, like the human instinct to cover their mouth when they sneezed. Lord only knew what kind of taboos these people had.
Rosek: That’s the goal, yes. Just being careful what we say or do, observing non-verbal gestures, tone of voice...those sort of things. ::smiles wanly:: We don’t accidentally want to declare war before we’ve offered a proper hello.
It was a joke meant to lighten the mood, but she was half-serious. They didn’t want to give these people a bad taste so early on.
Levinson: Let us hope that is not the case, then.
Snow: Response
Zarax: Well, however important this mission is, Starfleet has plenty of experience in it, so we should be fine. I am sure things will go well.
James: Yes Sir.
th’Koro: Certainly. As Starfleet, we have a multitude of experience in first contact. Let us hope this one is routine.
A wry, unamused grin crossed her lips. Nothing about the former Atlantis crew’s missions had ever been routine and she didn’t expect that now. They’d likely hit a bump or two in the road that they needed to compensate for. But Thalas was right. They were Starfleet. There wasn’t a problem they couldn’t solve if they didn’t work together.
Levinson: ::Inclining her head:: We shall see about that soon, Lieutenant.
Snow: Response
Rosek: ::grins:: Whatever happens, we’ve got this.
Levinson: ::Nodding:: Indeed. We are Starfleet, after all.
th’Koro/Snow: Responses
As the others returned to whatever duties they were performing prior to the impromptu pep talk, she studied the PADD in her hand, brow furrowed thoughtfully. She’d pulled up the readings Thalas had been referring to and couldn’t help the feeling that she’d seen similar readings somewhere before. However, she couldn’t place where. It was going to bug her until she got to the bottom of it.
Rosek: ::to th’Koro and Levinson:: Lieutenants, are we within scanning range of the planet?
Levinson: We are, Commander.
th’Koro: Response
Rosek: Can we get more details on those metals you were talking about earlier? Looking at the scans, these readings seem familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it.
th’Koro: Response
Levinson: ::Nodding:: Indeed. Anything specific you are looking for?
Rosek: ::nods:: Whatever else we can get would be great. ::grimaces:: I’m not big on unsolved mysteries. I like knowing the answers.
Perhaps it was a bit vain. After all, she couldn’t know all of the answers. But this particular one...
Levinson: Understood, Commander. We will see what else we can get. ::Turning to th’Koro:: Right, Lieutenant?
th’Koro: Response
Snow: Response
She opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off by an incoming message from the Chin’toka. Her brow furrowed, hoping that it was the order to proceed. Patience definitely wasn’t her strong suit.
Raga: =/\= Chin’toka to Shuttle John Lewis. Be advised, we’re about to deploy class one probes throughout the system to assist with the exploratory survey. If you’d like to assist in the scans feel free to tap into their telemetry. =/\=
Zarax: =/\= Acknowledged, Commander. =/\=
Rosek: =/\= Good timing, Commander. We were just about to look a little further into a mystery. Hopefully this will give us another tool to solve it. =/\=
Not for the first time, she wished there was an efficient way to equip the shuttles with probes of their own. However, that came with its own set of problems. It just wasn’t practical so they’d have to rely on help from the Chin’toka.
James: :: Looking at the Piloting Orion:: Those probes will help us keep an eye on things.
Levinson: Precisely. This allows us to see if the distribution of metal across the system was an even one or not, for instance.
She nodded. If they did find something of interest and it wasn’t an isolated occurrence, more to their benefit. Everything was useful for something. And if it was something of value, it would be a solid stepping stone for relations with these people. After all, alliances had been founded on less.
th’Koro/Snow: =/\= Responses? =/\=
Raga: =/\= A complete survey will be good for our own records and might also give the Captain a diplomatic bargaining chip to offer as a good-faith measure for the First Contact. =/\=
Logan: =/\= Find enough of them and she'll have a good stash of chips should they enjoy a game of poker. =/\=
Rosek: =/\= My thoughts exactly, Commander.=/\=
th’Koro/Snow: =/\= Responses? =/\=
Raga: =/\= Understood. Chin’toka out. =/\=
As the channel cut, Lael’s gaze returned to the PADD in her hands bearing the initial readings that had caught her attention. Setting the PADD in her lap, she steeped her fingers together, her expression thoughtful. She wanted desperately to get a closer look, but Serala had given a direct order that she couldn’t disobey, especially to satiate her curiosity. She would just have to content herself with what they could ascertain from this distance for now.
Zarax: Should I link into the telemetry, ma’am?
The Orion speaking to her jarred Lael from her thoughts and she nodded.
Rosek: Make it so, Ensign.
Zarax: Aye, Aye, Commander.
The woman returned her attention to the console, working to enter the commands. At that moment, a thought occurred to her and she opened a file from her personal database. Staring her in the face were the initial readings from the Reskari box that the Veritas had discovered about the remains of the Romulan fleet near Pellecia. Was it possible?
James: :: Looking around the Shuttle:: Poker ?
Levinson: ::Neutrally, seemingly unimpressed:: It is an Earth game, Crewman.
th’Koro/Snow: Responses?
She ignored the banter, waiting for Levinson and Thalas’s report. Her heart thudded loudly against the inside of her chest. If her suspicions proved correct, this would prevent a longer-term, though not permanent, solution to their supply problem. At the very least it could buy them some time while they continued working at a way to replicate the original Reskari metal.
Levinson: It appears the highest concentration of the metals is on the planet, the rest of the system has them, but in lower amounts.
That certainly sounded promising. It was something worth mentioning to Serala when they had a chance to speak again, hopefully before they left the planet.
Rosek: ::nods:: Regardless, it’s helpful.
th’Koro/Snow: Responses
Levinson: I suppose so. As for the metals themselves, they seem to mostly consist of ones with high melting points - mostly Tungsten and Rhenium. Is this information of any assistance, Commander?
Admittedly, it hadn’t been what she’d hoped to hear. Though at the mention of metals with high melting points, she wondered if maybe there wasn’t something of interest that they just weren’t picking up at this distance, even with the probes. She paused and pulled up the readings that had caught her attention, offering the PADD to Levinson.
Rosek: I know we’re still quite a ways and that the sensors can only be pushed so far. But this is what caught my attention earlier.
Levinson: Response
th’Koro/Snow: Responses
Rosek: The composition, from what we’ve gotten, looks eerily similar to a metal that was discovered in the Shoals approximately three years ago. Studies since then have shown it might have value to the fleet in shielding from radiation.
Levinson: Response
th’Koro/Snow: Responses
Rosek: ::nods:: The thing is we’ve only found it on Pellecia. Doesn’t bode well for widespread use.
It probably bordered on taking advantage of the situation, but they were part of a scientific survey team and they were simply waiting for orders. Surely it couldn’t hurt to look into it.
Levinson: Response
th’Koro/Snow: Responses