Lt A.Dewitt- Infinite Possibilities In Infinite Combinations
Emma Banin
((Deck 1, Conference Room, USS Khitomer))
Whatever Captain Shayne was about to say Ayemet had an intuition that it would not be good news. It wasn’t anything to do with her El Aurian abilities. The answer was far simpler; it was the mission briefing.
Shayne: We’re going back.
R. Matthews: Back to?
Zerva: Where else? The one place we don’t want to go back to, again.
‘Going back’ could refer to any number of missions; the midnight planet or Odyssey station sprang to mind but something told Ayemet that it was neither of these locations, that Iit was in fact something far more recent.
Dewitt: Why?
o0 Because we had such fun last time? 0o
Shayne: DS33’s deep space telescopes have detected trace emissions of Sencha radiation from the Lagoon Nebula. I have assured the admiralty that the probe that was launched was disabled thoroughly- ::he cast a wandering eye towards El’Heem:: -so the conclusion they’ve drawn is that it must be a new source, and given our experiences with the Lattice Alliance, it’s been made our top priority.
Shayne: I will refrain from putting too fine a point on it, but anyone aboard for the last mission has more experience with the perils of this nebula than I do. I will be relying on each of you for your expertise. Mr. Korras, you’ll set a course for the Lagoon Nebula, Warp 9.
Korras: ::nodding:: Yes sir.
Ayemet looked at the Klingon. He was tall, a full foot and a half taller than herself she reckoned, and like most Klingons she knew had an air of gravitas about him. She had read his service record and noted that he had received a purple heart medal for his part in the defence of Deep Space 33. It hadn’t shocked or even surprised her, but she did wonder why he chose the Federation. Perhaps she would ask him at some point, if he could see her from his lofty heights.
Shayne: What progress have you made on insulating our gel packs from the phenomenon? And I know we just got off shore leave, so if the answer is “none”, I understand.
R. Matthews: So, about that. :: Richard glanced between Semara and Ras before turning back to the captain :: We actually found that the reason our gel packs were so susceptible to the radiation was because of foreign DNA introduced to them during production.
A note of surprise and intrigue caught Nolen’s attention in the assembly of officers, distinct from the low-key level of dread that emanated from most of it. He wasn’t able to pinpoint which one it was—presumably, not from one of the other science officers who already knew about it—and a visual scan didn’t help. Whoever it was, they were keeping their outward expressions tamped down, professionally.
El’Heem: ::clearing his throat:: We’re still looking into it, but it seems to be that the entire generation of packs we had implemented at our last refit were affected.
El’Heem seemed to be fitting in to his new role. Some many in the crew had faced trauma if some sort, perhaps him more than most, and yet it appeared, at least on the surface, to be something he was coping with.
Semara: But that discovery ain't led to useful protection. Yet.
R. Matthews: Due to the nature of gel packs and how difficult they are to make. We had the full supply of the original packs still in storage. We’ve taken them out and used them to replace the damaged packs. And are currently working with the packs we saved and the new packs Starfleet provided us. There are problems with this, of course.
El’Heem: Indeed. Everything will still work as it always has; we just won’t have those sub 4 planck-cycles of computational time shaved off that Ops has been so fond of. We’re working on a longer-term solution to make up for it.
She felt a pang of jealousy as the officers discussed the various scientific approaches they would be taking. No doubt she would be given a task but she couldn’t help but think about the days when she and Quentin were enveloped in the comforting embrace of the science lab.
Semara: We don't know yet how different gel pack models react to Sencha, only hypotheses.
Shayne: Very well. I insisted on a,
frankly, vast surplus of gel packs, so experimentation is authorized. And speaking of insulating-
Shaune turned to the medical division next.
Shayne: Most of the ship has been inoculated- would a double dose be beneficial in any way? Or should Mr. Korras and myself make our way to Sickbay for a hypo?
Ohnari: ::rubbing forehead in agitation:: I will need to get back to you Sir, the vast amounts we've already had exposure to and the effects of continued inoculation is going to take some time...but I will have an answer for you before we're in range.
Harford: I have already compiled a list of crew members who are newly on board, myself included, Sir. Once Doctor Ohnari has outlined a plan for the Medical team, we will make sure everyone is adequately protected against exposure.
Next came engineering and her husband. She knew he would carry out his duties with practised professionalism, they all would, but she wondered if others would feel the sense of completion of duty that he no doubt would.
Shayne: Commander Dewitt, Lieutenant Michaels, Ensign Banks, I want this ship ready for anything. Sencha, fighting, hell, the Big Bang. I want to be able to get out of any situation we find ourselves in with speed, durability, and an embarrassing amount of firepower.
Dewitt: Understood. We’ll begin a full diagnostic sweep of the propulsion systems immediately. We’ll also cycle through the secondary power matrix so we can standby for an emergency shield modulation if things go sideways. Engineering will be ready by the time we hit that nebula.
Michaels: I anticipate that we may need the Sencha Dispersion Array available. In addition, there were several devices, instruments and tools that were in short supply last time. I would recommend obtaining additional ones if we have time and opportunity.
It was immensely satisfying that the crew so easily fell into their roles, that regardless of the personal challenges that some of them faced, once given orders they followed them. She wondered if this might help Captain Shayne a little, to see the effect of his leadership, to be back with those that knew him and followed him not out of duty but out of trust.
Banks: ::nodding:: I’ll get Ops working on hardening our computing capability against the nebula’s conditions.
Shayne: Mr. Zerva, Mr. Matthews, preparations aside, there’s been little to nothing to suggest concentrated Alliance movements in the nebula. Still. Schedule tactical simulations and security drills on all shifts until we get to our destination.
Zerva: ::nodding to the Captain:: Yes sir. We have a plan between our two departments that was worked shopped on during shore leave. ::casting a glance at Lieutenant Matthews:: We’ll begin simulations on the Holodeck at once sir.
C.Matthews: Aye, Captain. ::pause:: We’ll be ready, Sir.
Then Shayne turned to her and Commander Hobart. She listened as he gave out his orders for them.
Shayne: Mr. Hobart, you and Lieutenant Dewitt will review mission logs, recent Alliance movements, any information that might shed some light on what we’re heading towards.
Hobart: Aye, Captain. We’ll put together a list of suspects, in descending order of likelihood.
There was a moment’s hesitation. She was brought back to her capture. That familiar feeling in the pit of her stomach but she took a deep breath and merely nodded.
A Dewitt: Aye Captain.
Shayne: We’ve got a fair few hours before we get there, even at Warp 9. Let’s make every second count. Dismissed.
As others began to file out of the conference room Hobart took a seat next to her.
Hobart: Lattice is the obvious one, but I dunno. The geography doesn’t really line up.
A Dewitt: It doesn’t feel right to me. Too much a coincidence for them to return to the area we were in, and if it is them why wait until we’ve gone? Why not take the opportunity to attack us?
Hobart: I mean the amount of Federation space they would have to cross in order to get there, and not be noticed along the way? Let’s meet in Stellar Cartography and take a look at the big picture. ::standing:: Fifteen minutes?
A Dewitt: Aye sir.
((Stellar Cartography, Science Lab, Deck 16, USS Khitomer, en route to Lagoon Nebula))
Ayemet entered the lab to see a large holographic map of the area displayed before her, Nolan standing in front of it, his back turned to her. She gave a polite cough so as not to startle him and walked to his side, a questioning look in her face.
Hobart: Alright! So, I’ve taken the liberty of mapping the nearest known Lattice Alliance activity to the Lagoon Nebula.
She watched in real time as the map flowed and changed, the advances the Lattice Alliance were making all too chillingly clear. To the untrained eye it might not have appeared so, but to anyone onboard the Khitomer, particularly those who had served on the Arrow, the steady incursions were obvious.
A Dewitt: They’re becoming bolder.
Hobart: They hit a supply convoy, but it's only a couple lightyears behind the line. It’s… theoretically possible?
A Dewitt: Yes, but it’s some way from where any credible base of operations could be. What about factions who have stations or worlds closer?
Hobart: Good thinking, Lieutenant. ::enters commands:: I think… the closest would be Romulans…?
She studied the map, with the topographical elements and information added it certainly was a logical choice of culprits.yet she was still unsure. Once again although entirely possible It would be a bold move by them to run such tests, and she had to ask herself why they would choose to do so in an area that had only recently had a Federation presence.
A Dewitt: I think the Romulans have other worries at the moment. It’s a possibility but something tells me they’re preoccupied by other matters.
Hobart: Pirates, maybe?
She hesitated for a moment scanning the map and the information Nolan had added to the map for any clues or possibilities. The trouble was there were almost too many. It was all conjecture. All guess work.
A Dewitt: What if we’re looking at it the wrong way?
Hobart: Response
A.Dewitt: Well it’s a heck of a coincidence isn’t it?
Hobart: Response
She turned away from the holographic map and towards him, resting one hand on the console. She knew that providing Nolan with a series of what ifs was of no use to him or to the ship, but image would not be doing her duty if not to point out; possibilities.
A.Dewitt: It seems to me that if it isn’t either the Sheliak or the Romulans, or pirates , then it could be a natural phenomenon, a result of what we did, :she paused for a moment the idea not sitting well with her and yet the idea that persisted in her mind: it’s someone or something that is unknown to us or the Federation data banks.
Hobart: Response
TAG/TBC
Lieutenant Ayemet Dewitt
Ship Counselor
USS Khitomer
NCC 62400
A239810JA2Q