Ensign Lera Michaels - Sleepy Time

[steve...@yahoo.com]

((OOC - I hope I have blended the various lines together adequately. ))

((Proximity of the probe))

T’Dara: =/\= This is T’Dara. I will join Commander Dewitt momentarily. For now, locate the primary internal system hatch, and enter code 87734 on the computer interface directly to the right of it. =/\=

Dewitt: =/\= Monitor the energy flow and get back to the Runabout as soon as problems arise, Ensign. =/\=

Michaels: =/\= I am moving toward the left side of the probe... There is a large dish, similar in design to a deflector dish, which I assume is the principal projection device. It appears to be pointing directly at Khitomer. No obvious damage to that. There are five positioning thrusters, which appear to be in good condition. I see three modified Starfleet standard emitter/receiver pairs mounted at right angles on the probe. I assume there are more that I can not see. I am continuing my transit around the probe. Impressive. Your probe can reposition itself from any position to fire on Khitomer from almost any initial orientation. Moving toward the back side, opposite the projector dish. There is a trichannel antenna to maintain communications with Khitomer. Everything appears to be in good condition. The fact that the probe is maintaining its position and aiming at Khitomer implies that the onboard computer systems are functioning properly. And there is your hatch. I should be able to monitor the energy flow from there, Commander. =/\=

Lera powered her suit to within a few decimeters of the hatch. A few more shots from the suit's thrusters brought the hatch to face level. Hesitantly, she touched the handhold next to the hatch handles. The probe responded with its own positioning thrusters and corrected its position. Steadying herself, Lera opened the hatch, and there, as promised, was the computer interface.

Michaels: =/\= 8-7-7-3-4. :: She tapped the keys. :: The lights inside have changed their behaviour. =/\=

T’Dara: =/\= Inside you should see a pair of bioneural gel packs aligned against a small reactor, and below it you will find three rows of isolinear chips. Avoid the far left chip on any level; if we cannot be sure the probe will remain powerless, each will carry a plasma charge sufficient to vaporize your hand. =/\=

Michaels: =/\= Not touching the isolinear chips sounds like an exceptionally fine idea. =/\=

Lera twisted herself around so that she could see the interior of the probe better.

Michaels: =/\= The interior of the probe appears to be as pristine as it was when it left the laboratory. There are the bio-neural gel packs. Color can be deceiving in this lighting. My immediate reaction is that they appear to be light blue. =/\=

Lera furrowed her forehead as she continued to examine both the interior and the exterior of the probe.

El’Heem: =/\= Ouchita to Michaels. =/\=

Lera was vaguely annoyed at the distraction but shook her head. El'Heem and Prix had been out of contact for awhile. Their concern was understandable.

Michaels: =/\= Go ahead, Ras. =/\=

Prix: =/\= There’s an electric discharge about 5km to our starboard bow… You should not feel anything, but Tricorder data might be impacted. =/\=

El’Heem: =/\= I’m suiting up. If anything feels like it’s going to go south, I’ll be ready to get you back aboard as fast as possible. Keep us in the loop, ensign. =/\=

Prix: =/\= Sir, you’re in command of this little venture, I am not trained for command, but I am sure you’re not supposed to get into that storm. =/\=

Storm? The electric discharge is now a storm. Fine.

Michaels: =/\= Noted. ::Lera yawned, suddenly sleepier than she had expected.:: Thank you, Prix. Please keep me adivsed. =/\=

Prix: =/\= Alright… I’ll be watching you. Keep this channel open.=/\=

Michaels: =/\= Mr. El'Heem. I appreciate the concern, and I apologize for neglecting to keep you informed about my status. I will rectify that situation. The probe is in near-pristine condition, and there is no obvious reason why it should not be functioning as designed. I have established communication with Commander T'Dara. I am currently following her instructions to deactivate this puppy. =/\=

Puppy? Puppy? Fine way to refer to a weapon as powerful as this one.

Michaels: =/\= There are two hazards involved in this situation. If this weapon is not de-energized, there are internal contacts that, to use Commander T'Dara's words, are "sufficient to vaporize your hand." I estimate that I would survive approximately 29.7 seconds if my hand were to be vaporized while in space. My suspicion is that you could not return me to Ouchita in that amount of time. Accordingly, I am endeavoring to avoid having any of my body parts vaporized. =/\=

Lera opened the storage pocket on her suit and removed a tricorder. She released it long enough to reseal the storage pocket. When she reached for the tricorder, she found that it had drifted just over a meter away. Lera reached for it and grabbed it. The force of her movement had shifted the probe ever so slightly but the probe had already corrected for the movement. One more proof that the probe was acting as designed.

El'Heem: =/\= Response =/\=

Michaels: =/\= Another potential hazard is that the probe will discharge Sencha waves in my direction. Given the damage that may have been done to Khitomer, I am convinced that you would not be able to find any of me larger than sub-atomic particles. Finally, there is a finite and positive probability that my suit will suffer a malfunction or that I will drift beyond the range of my suit's thrusters. In that scenario, your assistance will be greatly appreciated. =/\=

Lera yawned again. It had been nearly thirty-six hours since the last time she had slept but she was Vulcan. Vulcans can go for days without sleep, she told herself.

Michaels: =/\= Michaels to El'Heem. On second thought, at your judgment, proceed with suiting up. I am feeling somewhat sleepier than expected and a bit light-headed. ::beat:: The relative safety of this operation might be enhanced if there were two of us out here. =/\=

El'Heem: =/\= Response=/\=

Lera turned on the tricorder and began to use it to study the interior of the probe. The energy readings were exceptionally high.

Michaels: =/\= Michaels to Dewitt and T'Dara. Everything appears to be as designed. There is a high probability that the probe is operating as intended. ::beat:: I must say I am surprised at how much power this reactor must generate to test Khitomer's new shield system. Imagine what it could do if connected to ... =/\=

T'Dara: =/\= Response =/\=

Michaels: =/\= I apologize. I was struck by a thought. What do you need when developing bulletproof armor? =/\=

T'Dara: =/\= Response =/\=

Michaels: =/\= You need a gun capable of firing the projectiles you are trying to stop. What do you need if you are going to test a shielding system's ability to resist a Sencha weapon's fire? You need a weapon robust enough to challenge the defense. This probe was not developed just for this test. The probe itself is a prototype, is it not? You mount a couple of these bad boys on a starship, power them with a warp core, and you have yourself one heluva weapon. With this instrumentation and slightly different programming, it would work as a mine as well. =/\=

T'Dara: =/\= Response =/\=

Lera was struggling to keep her eyes open. She allowed herself to drift back a meter from the probe as she checked the internal sensors of her suit. She shook her head. The carbon dioxide levels were higher than she had expected. What level of carbon dioxide could a Vulcan tolerate? For some reason, she could not remember.

Prix: =/\= Ensign, Lieutenant - A radiation flare… I’ll…=/\=

Michaels: =/\= Acknowledged. Carbon dioxide levels are getting... a little high... I believe I need to return to the... Ouchita. Ouchita. Funny name for a ...=/\=

Prix: =/\= Away team, are you alright? =/\=

Michaels: =/\= Just... need... some sleep. Sleep... =/\=

El’Heem: =/\= Response =/\=

Tag/TBC

Ensign Lera Michaels

Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2