LtCmdr Kettick: Probing questions

[Darwin Awkward]

((Arboretum,  Khhe’le))

Khhe’le.

A name that made him glad he did not have vocal chords.

Still, when Tanner had mentioned an arboretum, Kettick had immediately pieced togehter a few things.

First, he reasoned, the whole station was located on a barren lump of rock, and entirely under dome (or even underground for some areas), which meant people would be craving greenery. 

Second, it was mainly a science outpost, and in his experience, scientists placed in this kind of situation tended to be, ah, creative. Not that he had much room to talk, but he remembered a genetically modified strain of firebushes on Denali that required actual fire extinguishers in close proximity.

And lastly, it was a joint Federation/Romulan outpost, which meant that both teams of scientists would be bent on one-upping each other.

Yep, he had known right then that he had to see that place, and it did not disappoint. His PADD was already full of pictures and notes, ideas about things he could do and ways to adapt some of the plants to a shipboard environement, where space and culture conditions were even more restricted than under the domes.

Drex: =/\= Drex to Commander Kettick. We’re working with a developing hypothesis that may require a specialized probe configuration. Are you available to join us at the SOS lab? =/\=

Ah. The sweet call of duty.

The Remmilian tapped his commbadge twice, his voice perfectly even as he cast a last, already nostalgic look to the lush greenhouse-dome.

Kettick: =/\= On my way. =/\=

((SOS Labs, Deck 10, USS Eagle ))

Kettick had made good time on his way back to the clean confines of the ship. The trick was to go through the decontamination airlock - the cycle did not take that long, and had the welcome  side effect of drying your chitin. Otherwise, the Remmilian would have had to spend tedious minutes getting condensation out of under his plates after a trip to the otherwise pleasant climate of the greenhouse.

Striding through the door to the SOS lab, he found Drex in the company of doctor Lim, and greeted both with a nod.

Kettick: Lieutenant, Ensign. What can Engineering do for you today?

Drex/Lim: Response

The Remmilian listened intently, head cocked sideways.

Kettick: Adaptive configuration of the probe aside, we would have to make sure that it does not lose power and shut down as soon as it reaches the edge of the nebula.

Drex/Lim: Response

Kettick: What about something like a modified listening buoy? Have it send signals towards the heart of the nebula from a distance, and see what comes back?

Tags/TBC

--

Lieutenant-Commander Kettick

Chief of Engineering

USS Eagle

G239107LR0

Your Engineering department kindly reminds you that you are supposed to read the flakking manual.