Lieutenant JG Amelia Semara - Get Out

[Max]

(( Bridge, Deck 1, USS Khitomer, the Lagoon Nebula ))

Amelia was trying to understand the anomaly, keep an eye on the Ouachita and her three-officer crew, and most importantly deliver on Hobart's demand for no surprises.

Ironic, given how many of them there had been today.  Tall order for her to predict the next one.

For now, making sure there weren't any more surprise gamma radiation bursts was maybe the best thing she could deliver.  But that meant a working radiation sensor.  One more adjustment, and she was fairly certain she had it.

Semara: Come again?  :: Climbing back out to see the console, a quizzical look on her face. :: Oh, you weren't kiddin'.  It looks like mama's spaghetti.  That's a lotta radiation flares.  :: A Pause, then to Hobart. :: Wait a moment - can Ouachita repeat last?  What was that 'bout hands gettin' vaporized?

But wait!  News was coming in hot and fast from Ensign Prix, who was piloting the Ouachita.  Apparently something had happened to or with Ensign Michaels.

Zerva: ::keeps eyes locked on the screen:: I just hope there are no further problems.

Amelia's steady gaze settled onto Zerva as she listened to the report.  His emotions seemed more primed for flight than a stressed-out housefly at a venus flytrap picnic.  The nerves were understandable, but there was hardly any point worrying about things they couldn't control.

Prix: Response

She stood up, and put a gentle hand on the Trill's shoulder.  It was the most she could offer short of projecting her own inner focus, and that wasn't even remotely appropriate.

Semara: Cap'n, with your permission, I got some questions for Ouachita.  :: to Zerva ::  Keep an eye out, Lieutenant?  Just any sudden changes.

She didn't like leaving the security officer alone and untrained at her station, but the runabout's crew had a considerably better view of what was around them than she did right now.  A view she needed to know about.

Hobart: Response

She nodded.  Of course she'd make it quick.  She knew Hobart valued speed even without his latest entreaties for haste.

Zerva: I’m seeing more flares whipping up out there. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they were caught in a radiation storm. We can guide them out from here using the sensors so they can avoid any more flares.

Amelia held up a single finger as if to ask him to wait.  She understood, but had to take things one at a time.

Semara: =/\= Ouachita, Lieutenant Semara here.  Can you get Michaels for me, please?  I'd like to know the exact condition of the probe. =/\=

Zerva: Right. Probe first.

Hobart / Prix / Michaels: Response

Amelia felt herself unwind inside a little at the sound of the engineer's Vulcan voice for the first time since they'd been working together down in engineering.  There was something relaxing about the evenness of it, and the fact it was still in good working order.

Semara: =/\= Good to hear your voice, Michaels.  Briefly, please - what exactly is the condition of the probe and its power levels? =/\=

Normally, Amelia would have valued Lera's thorough and detailed descriptions of technology and events, but time was precious and the limited reports were worrying her.

Hobart / Prix / Michaels: Response

Zerva: ::panics:: Lieutenant! ::motions her over:: What is that on the screen? Look here. There’s a color I haven’t seen yet. Right in the middle of the radiation on the screen not more than 200 meters from the runabout. What is that?! It’s not the Ouchita or the probe.

Amelia began turning to the console even before he spoke, sensing Zerva's emotions pull piano-wire tense, near to snapping.  She pranced over and allowed herself a second to examine the images pouring out onto the screen before straightening out into perfect posture giving Hobart a glance.  The new color wasn't good.

She understood it now.  This was no simulation, and she wasn't playing.  But the right piece of information could make all the difference in their odds of survival.  Whatever their personal differences up to now, she prayed Hobart could trust her professional judgement just a moment longer.  If ever there was a moment for him to tune into her emotions it was now.

Semara:  :: To Zerva :: Two hundred meters off... Just appeared there now?  Sounds like sensor misalignment...  The probe might look like that if...

She trailed off and turned back to the acting Captain.  She kept her gaze locked on Hobart's black eyes as she spoke to the shuttle crew, practically asking him to read her.

Semara: :: Back to comms :: =/\= Michaels, how would you describe the energy readin's in the probe?  And the radiation appeared after these readin's? =/\=

Hobart / Prix / Michaels / Zerva: Response

Amelia listened carefully to Lera's answer.  It was a good description, but all the more worrisome for its quality.

Semara: :: Muting comms :: Cap'n, everything we're seein' and everything Prix and Michaels are sayin' is all pointin' at the probe's pre-fire sequence.  I don't know how or why.  Our telemetry link's still down, so it ain't us.

Hobart / Zerva: Response

Amelia didn't want to theorize.  All she could do was present the observations she had at hand.  The probe was building up enormous power again.  The others could speculate if they wished, but she could feel Hobart's wisdom he'd shared over shore leave in her belly.  They needed to act.

The sensor image was terrible and so was her tired math, so she guessed conservatively how long they all had.

Semara: :: unmuting comms :: =/\= Still here, Ouachita.  Be advised we think we got readin's consistent with the emitter preppin' to fire.  I reckon' you got another ninety seconds or so to do whatever you're doin' and get out. =/\=

Worst case scenario, she was wrong, she'd look stupid, apologize, and they'd go back and finish dismantling the probe.  But if she was right...

Hopefully Hobart also remembered what she said about not disrupting the anomaly with any subspace anything.  Amelia gave a weird little grin to the acting CO as if to say, "Hey, I delivered on the no surprises thing.  You got a whopping ninety seconds of warning."

Hobart / Zerva / Prix / Michaels: Response

Tag / TBC...

Lieutenant Junior Grade Amelia Magnolia Semara
Science Officer
USS Khitomer - NCC-62400
A239710MA0