Lieutenant Drex - The plan
Drex Drex
((SOS Labs, Deck 10, USS Eagle ))
Commander Kettick joined the officers gathered in the SOS labs without delay. In Starfleet, the key to solving mysteries was always collaboration, and Drex was well aware of that. His instinct to isolate himself had been overshadowed by a more urgent need to understand what had happened. What had caused the crew of the Ifir, the officers of the Eagle, and even himself to lose control and succumb to the darker instincts that had turned him into a killer.
They possessed too little data to construct a reliable theory about the source of their aggressive behavior. The information was fragmented and inconsistent. Therefore, the first step in their action plan was clear: they needed to gather more data. Ideally, they could provoke a controlled reaction, something that would compel whatever presence resided within the nebula to respond to a specific stimulus and reveal itself, if it really existed.
Drex: The combined quantum fields might have acted as an amplifier for the frequencies. That could explain why we did not experience any anomalous effects until we reached a specific position within the nebula. :: He paused. :: However, since the Ifir was already present in that area, it does not rule out the other hypothesis either.
The Remmilian nodded.
Kettick: A combination of factors, then? An unknown source, possibly deeper into the nebula, or a weak regional effect, and... whatever the Romulans did that caused a quantum amplifier effect right on their position?
Lim: Response
Drex: A buoy stationed just outside the interference zone would allow us to monitor the nebula continuously without reentering the area. We could tune it to the ipersound frequencies, maybe even attempt controlled signal output and see if there is any response :: He hesitated, then added with a hint of skepticism:: But… if the buoy is outside the field, it might not pick up the deeper signal distortions. We could miss the most critical data entirely and if this is a form of communication it might not provoke anything at all.
Kettick: :: Serenely :: On the other hand, sending signals at random might provoke an hostile reaction from an unknown species because we accidentally insulted their whole lineage in a language we do not have a translation matrix for.
Lim: Response
Drex: ::Turning on his chair, he looked between Kettick and Lim .:: Well… it might be a safer first step. Worth testing before we escalate.
Kettick: :: Nodding :: A prudent decision. Passive scans it is.
Lim: Response
Drex: The shielding needs to be adaptive, not just reactive. And we need to stabilize the system without compromising sensitivity.
Kettick: I believe we can work around this problem.
The Engineer cleared the display of his PADD and held it out for Drex and Noemi to see. He then drew rough shapes with a finger on the nebula map as he spoke.
Kettick: We could install our buoy with the data collection and transmission equipment here, just outside the field, and then extend a completely passive sensor further in, at the end of a tether that would transmit the signal.
Lim: Response
Drex leaned in, eyes narrowing as he studied the improvised layout Kettick sketched across the nebula map.
Drex: I see… ::He murmured :: A passive sensor would be less likely to provoke a response. And with the buoy remaining outside the main field, we reduce the risk of full system failure or contamination.
The Remmilian nodded.
Kettick: Yes, of course, if the problem comes from the sound frequencies, transmitting them as is would only extend the effect to our probe. A piezoelectric transducer at the "microphone" end should do the trick. Unless the effect persists once converted, or inhibits the conversion into current, but that would be information in itself.
Lim: Response
The Denobulan nodded slowly, absorbing the engineer’s words, his eyes still fixed on the diagram.
Drex: Right. We won’t have the results we are looking for, but it will still tell us something useful.
Lim / Kettick : Response
Drex: Do you think it is possible to run a transmission test first? Maybe simulate what we expect to be the worst-case scenario... well, nearly the worst. We do not need to destroy one of our buoys. ::He added thoughtfully.::
Lim / Kettick : Response
The Denobulan’s fingers returned once again to the console, calling up the sensor specs for the Eagle’s run through the nebula. Somewhere in that noise was a pattern, he began to truly believe that now.
Drex: If it is alive and if it knows we are watching it may try to speak again. ::He paused, the memory of the voice echoing in his mind. It was not a message, but a command, cold and clear.::
Lim / Kettick : Response
Drex rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of the recent events pressing down on him. He knew he needed time to clear his mind, to prepare himself for the difficult conversations ahead. With a slow, deliberate breath, he straightened and turned from the console.
Drex: Let us hope this leads us somewhere. :: He remarked thoughtfully, then as he headed toward the exit, he added. :: I’ll view the updates as soon as the Head Counsellor releases me. See you later.
TAGS / END for Drex