Lieutenant Alira Venn: OMG that's HUGE, part 1
Isara Aleron
They had been working for over an hour, and Alira was finally starting to feel some measure of acceptance. Whether that was due to their shared tasks, or just her mere perceptions, she wasn’t sure, but it was getting easier at the very least. Their calculations for the modifications seemed to be going well, and the others seemed to be progressing in their assigned tasks as well. They had turned now to Lieutenant Kessler to provide their updates.
Kessler: Akani, what do you have for me?
Akani: I'm sending over what I have now, but I can't guarantee it'll be helpful.
T’Fearne: We sifted through the submitted pieces of data gathered from other vessels. Nothing particularly stands out to me other than that interference pattern. If the interference is just part of the entity’s biological function, then matching frequencies with the interference may allow the Ronin to approach closer without triggering a defensive response.
Evirude: ::With an impressed look.:: You're thinking to shield us from its senses by blending in with its own emissions?
Venn: It seems like it might work, sir. But I’m not making any guarantees. Until Science can provide us with more data, I wouldn’t know if it would be effective or not. But on the surface, I would say it could work. Worst case, we adjust some parameters once we have more data.
Kessler: I like the thought process. Hide in plain sight.
T’Fearne: One of the offensive options I’ve come up with should we need it is the equivalent of a flash bang. We have the ability to create a large gravimetric pulse. That should get its attention. A sufficiently powerful pulse may encourage it to withdraw.
Evirude: ::Tone respectful.:: Do we have confirmed intel on that, sir? For all we know, it's a predator that uses gravimetric pulses to track its prey.
Evinrude: Has it responded to any particular stimuli?
Venn: I have nothing else to add at this time, sir. There are a lot of good ideas here. We’ll just have to wait and see if any of them are necessary or useful.
The Lieutenant looked at each of them as they spoke, and while she couldn’t be sure, it seemed he was liking the options being presented.
T’Fearne: Response
Akani: What would work while we wait? It feels wrong, just standing here and waiting.
Akani: I… If waiting is the only option, any idea how long we'll be waiting?
Evinrude: ::To Akani:: Ensign, if you'd like, you can help me finish a diagnostic on our main-hull torpedo battery. I just replaced one of the tractor micro-emitters in the torpedo conveyor system, and I want to see how the new part responds to a simulated load.
Akani: Response
A tone emitted from the Security Chief’s data PADD and he lifted it to read it. A moment later, he looked over at her.
Kessler: Lieutenant Venn, looks like we are needed on the bridge. ::turning to T'Fearne:: You have the lead on this assignment for now. Report directly to me if you find anything useful no matter how small it might be.
Venn: Yes, sir. On my way.
She stepped away from the work table and nodded at T’Fearne before following Kessler out. She could only assume they were about to arrive at the coordinates of the creature and the Captain wanted her on the bridge to assist. In truth, she was just excited to see what it looked like.
((Bridge, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
The tension on the bridge was almost palpable to her and she was grateful she had her telepathic abilities locked down, or it might have overwhelmed her. Seating on a bridge, any bridge, was at a premium, reserved for officers whose official duties had them there. She had no official bridge duty, so she didn’t want to take a seat, not that she could find one anyway, but there was an auxiliary station that was unmanned at the moment, so she sat at that and brought up the console, studying the readouts being displayed there. She gave a polite nod to her fellow Mission Specialist and then studied the data they were getting. Which wasn’t much yet.
oO Come on, come on. Oo
Niac: Mr. Raga, once we drop out of warp I want you to relieve Lt. Nicolau at the helm before she falls over. I think she has done her bit to get us close, you can bring us the rest of the way in. Mr. Kel, start gathering what data you can from our passive sensor systems...no active scans until we're reasonably certain it won't provoke a response from the creature. Mr. Kessler...bring the ship to yellow alert but I want our shields and tactical systems powered down until I say so...I don't want to incite the response we're trying to avoid. Understood?
Raga: Yes, Captain.
Kessler: Yellow Alert, Shields and weapons offline. Aye Captain.
She watched as the lighting took on an amber glow as Lieutenant Kessler activated the Yellow Alert.
Kel: We're 500,000 km away sir. We'll need to get closer for our sensors to work.
Niac: Assuming we can make a successful close approach, I'm going to be looking for insights from the both of you...ideal places to scan, things to avoid, possible spots to send away teams if we get that far. If you've got anything else to tell us about this thing before we're up close and personal with it, now's the time.
Venn: :: trying to keep the irritation out of her voice :: As I’ve said before, Captain, I’ve told you everything I know.
And then the ship dropped out of warp.
Mission Specialist (Intelligence)
USS Ronin, NCC-34523
A239412S10