LTJG Jamie MacNemar - What to Plan For
mikori
(( Bridge, USS Resolution ))
Nicholotti: Lieutenant MacNemar, you can launch that probe when you are ready.
A few taps of her fingers on the engineering console sent signals down to the probe bay. In moments, crewmember-aided loading systems had the high-warp probe loaded. With a tap, she pressed the button that’d send it firing out of the Resolution, and monitored it for the seconds the probe took to enter warp and begin sending back data.
MacNemar: Yes Captain. Probe’s away, and… telemetry’s looking good. At warp nine, she should arrive at least half a day ahead of us.
Nicholotti: Ensign zh'Vranni, you can go ahead and change any time.
zh'Vranni: Response?
Kali nodded.
Nicholotti: We likely won't arrive till the morning. Yes, we need to get ready, but you've got time to dress the part.
zh'Vranni: Response?
Jamie was just grateful that it wasn’t her being called out. Tapping a few more buttons, she set the probe to an automated and regular data transmission, then straightened up so she could turn toward the others.
Zanti: This data doesn’t seem to have been updated since six years ago.
MacKenzie: That sounds about right – our intelligence could be outdated. We might need to see if Commander Romjin has access to data we don’t. It’s likely that they’ve expanded colonial efforts since then.
MacNemar: They developed warp drive a little over a hundred years ago. Their fastest scout ships, accordin’ to this info, max out at just under warp three. Laser weapons, and no defensive shielding. Polarized hull plating only. They wouldn’t stand a chance against the Klingons.
MacKenzie: That’s the fear. Though I have to say, a Nova-class vessel isn’t exactly a match for the Klingons, either… Hopefully it won’t come to that.
Leaning over toward the Trill, Jamie peeked at the screen on his side.
MacNemar: What’s the science database say about their biology and culture?
Mirkl pressed a few buttons on the console in front of him, quickly skimming through what little material there was.
Zanti: Not much. They’ve made it a point to stay as isolated as possible. ::Not unlike Trill prior to the last century.:: What little contact there’s been has been brief and often over audio channels only. We do know that they fit well within the typical range of humanoid species. Their most distinctive feature seems to be their skin, which ranges in color from light to dark grey, often with reddish or purplish undertones. Their hair and eyes can also be a variety of colors not often seen in other humanoid species.
Jamie rubbed a few fingers thoughtfully over her chin. She liked meeting new alien races. She just hoped this meeting would go smoothly, assuming she had the opportunity to dig herself out of the engine room long enough to make it happen.
MacKenzie crossed her arms, her brow furrowed.
MacKenzie: This doesn’t make sense. Why would the Klingons be interested in potentially annexing this system?
Zanti: Perhaps they believe it holds some kind of strategic worth to the defense of their borders? Or, perhaps they’ve detected valuable resources?
Mirkl looked over his shoulder at Commander MacKenzie and then over at Lieutenant MacNemar. The commander’s question was definitely out of his area of expertise.
MacNemar: Yeah, it’s a good question. There’s nothin’ noteworthy in the files. No dilithium or anything, but then, the first contact team’s logs note that due to the Da’al preference for less rather than more contact, they left ahead of schedule without performin’ a full survey of the system.
MacKenzie: Well, let’s think about it. What could possibly have set off the Klingons? I’m sure that talks with the Klingons went just as well with us – the Da’al seem insistent on remaining independent… I’m sure the Klingons wouldn’t have liked that.
Zanti: The Empire hasn’t been actively expansionist for almost a century. The only glaring exception is when they invaded the Romulan Star Empire eight years ago, following the Hobus supernova. Perhaps this is another step in their return to traditional imperial policy?
Jamie vaguely remembered hearing about that when she was at the Academy. When she was a freshman, it’d just recently happened.
MacKenzie: Okay. Let’s say that’s not it. Why else would the Klingons make a move like this? Are there resources on the planet that the Klingons would need? Or is it possible that the system itself holds an advantage?
Zanti: No Federation vessel has taken detailed scans of the system. Nothing approaching a typical survey. Just cursory readings from long-range telescopes, and what little active scanning was done during initial contact.
MacKenzie: Responses
Zanti: It’s a fairly standard system. F-type yellow-white dwarf. Six planets. Nothing out of the ordinary. The only somewhat strange thing are the rings around their home planet.
MacKenzie: Responses
Zanti: No, they do not.
MacNemar: Engineering logs here note that they didn’t pick up anything unusual in a cursory scan of the rings. Buuuut, they weren’t there long, either. I dunno, Commander. My gut says that the Klingons have information we don’t, yet.
MacKenzie / Zanti / Any: Responses
MacNemar: If Commander Romjin can give us a heads up on any Klingon vessels in the area… like, for example, if they’ve got a bunch of ore miners, or a bunch of cruisers, we’ll be in a better position to know what we’re in for - and then plan for it.
MacKenzie / Zanti / Any: Responses
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Lieutenant JG Jamie MacNemar
Junior Engineer
USS Resolution, NCC-78145
As simmed by:
Aaron / Jamie MacNemar / Captain Mei’konda Delano
M239002M10