Ensign Akani Xira - I Shouldn't Let Past Angst Dictate My Future Actions
Renaie Shortrith
((Briefing Room, Security Complex, Deck 11, USS Ronin))
Kessler: Agreed but at the same time we need to understand that we do not know the physiology of this creature ::beat:: yes, I am assuming it is biological and not man made. That said we need to ensure whatever counter measure we are discussing needs to be looked at also from how to prevent from doing this creature any damage. We have a duty to protect the ship but we also have a duty to protect new life.
Venn: I couldn’t agree more, Lieutenant.
T'Fearne: I prefer to think of heightened situational awareness as a significant advantage in ship security and preparedness. I don’t assume hostile intent, but neither can I assume it can identify us as non-hostile, or that it can even distinguish between incidental contact and a deliberate attack.
S’tek: We do need more than just conjecture… Sirs.
Venn: I couldn’t agree more, Ensign, but that’s all we have at the moment, and that’s why the Ronin is going there. To get more than just conjecture.
Akani: Would it be worth optimising shields just in case?
oO That's unless someone's already doing that. Oo
Kessler: Like I said, all ideas get put on the table. Optimising shields is a good start.
S’tek: I apologise if I’m going over ground already covered but where did… ::gestures to the screen:: …these images come from?
Akani: Honestly, I'm wondering the same thing.
Kessler: At this time Ensign, that information is on a need to know basis. We are working with the data Lieutenant Venn has provided.
oO Of course it is. Just like the room on the Rose. Oo
S’tek: Any puzzle starts with the edge pieces. For us, that’s the source of these images. If they were taken at range, we’re missing context. If they weren’t… then someone got close to this creature…
Xira noticed the other ensign glance towards Lieutenant T'Fearne, and took a deep breath.
S’tek: …or non-biological creation, and we need to know how, Sirs.
Venn: It’s not exactly a state secret, sir. These images came from our long-range sensors, as well as a few ships that have tried to get close to the creature. As I mentioned, getting sensor data has proven to be something of a challenge.
Akani: Forgive me if this has already been asked, but are we planning on making contact with this… ::trying to choose her words correctly:: entity?
Kessler: ::looking to everyone in turn:: I would be extremely disappointed if we came all this way just to take pictures and then be on our way. ::beat:: Yes, I would plan on making contact with this creature.
T’Fearne: ::a small smirk pulled at the corner of her lips:: We are explorers first. We take steps to mitigate a negative outcome for the encounter, but we always aim for a best case scenario.
oO Ah. Oo
Akani: ::bowing her head:: I understand. How long do we have before we make contact?
Kessler: Not as much time as we would like to have Ensign. We need to work fast, but smart.
S'tek: Responses
Akani: Apologies for my questions, Sirs, but just how big is this thing?
Venn: No worries. As I mentioned a few minutes ago, we’re not entirely sure due to the poor sensor data we’re getting, but it seems to be on the magnitude of kilometers. Very, very big.
T’Fearne: Mr. S’tek, you get a little bit of the tour speech early. I’ll abbreviate it. The Ronin is four-hundred-and-sixty-four meters in total length from bow to stern and includes the nacelles, the main hull extends to three-hundred-and-seventeen meters at its widest point and is eighty-seven meters in height. We are not even half a kilometer long. A Sovereign-class is at least seven-hundred meters long, and a Dreadnought-class, like a borg cube, can reach over three kilometers in every dimension.
S'tek: Responses
The room quieted slightly for a moment before Kessler brought them back to the tasks at hand.
Kessler: ::unfolding his arms and picking up his PADD:: Ok, here's the plan. Akani, I want all relevant data on any spaceborn lifeform Starfleet has encountered to date. How were they dealt with in a non-lethal encounter? S'tek, you specialized in Tactical systems at the academy. I want you working on options for the shields and how to best optimize them against an unknown energy output. T'Fearne, Venn; please coordinate any data from other ships in the area that have made any reports about this thing or any obscure mention of a biological encounter that might have been overlooked in subspace coms traffic. ::looking around:: There are workstations in here we can use so we do not need to leave the area, this will give us the best chances of finding some of Mister S'tek's puzzle pieces.
Xira nodded and headed straight for the computer terminal to begin research.
T’Fearne: Ensign Akani. Here, ::transferring access to the reports:: I already had a search going through the Ronin’s previous mission files for similar encounters with stellar-mega-fauna or vessels classified as equivalent to Dreadnought-class and larger. I’m not sure you will find anything, but it is a place for you to start, but widen your search at your discretion.
oO Oh thank the Prophets you are amazing you just made my job a lot easier. Oo
Akani: Thank you, Lieutenant.
As she researched, she took note on some of species that Starfleet had either encountered or were aware of. Thus far, all she'd found was the Gormagander and the Gomtuu.
S'tek: Responses
Kessler: Use your PADDs to add your findings. Even the smallest puzzle piece left out can leave a gaping hole in the overall scheme. Let's get to work and do not hold any questions back.
Venn: Yes, sir.
T’Fearne: Understood.
Akani: Yes, Sir.
The officers in the room shifted into motion as they dispersed towards nearby workstations.
Xira noticed Kessler approach T'Fearne, but she deliberately chose not to pay attention, just in case it was personal.
((OOC: Cutting out Venn/T'Fearne dialogue so it doesn't get too long.))
She was so focused she didn't realise that Lieutenants Venn & T'Fearne were having a conversation until the tail end.
T’Fearne: Agreed. ::brows rising:: If the entity needs our protection from those other Alpha Isles factions, I am confident the Ronin is ready for that. If it’s a case of moving the creature, leaving it be or in the worse case…destroying it. I would be more comfortable if we had any other details to go on to prepare us for what we will face.
oO Please don't destroy it. Oo
Venn: Well, maybe you can find something I can’t. I’ve been staring at this data for so long, I am sure I’m not going to find anything new. A fresh set of eyes couldn’t hurt.
T’Fearne: It seems like you have had this information for some time. I doubt I’ll see something you haven’t, but we will all take a look. Honestly my latinum is on the Science department to update us with something actionable before anyone else.
Akani: ::Quietly:: You're not wrong.
Kessler/S'tek: Response
Venn: No bet, Lieutenant. Serin Velis has data on the creature, and I trust your Science department is more than up to the task. They’ll have something for us.
T’Fearne: This interference pattern is interesting. There is variation, but the interference itself seems to be repeating. I see that it’s been noted already by Starfleet’s data analysts. Maybe we could modify our tactical sensors to counter this frequency. ::glancing at Venn:: You mentioned the need for tactical sensor calibrations earlier. I think it’s time to pull in Ops for this.
Didn't Xira know someone from the Rose who worked in Ops? Wasn't Zellu in ops before she got infected?
… She couldn't remember.
oO Stupid sad brain. Oo
T’Fearne: =/\= T’Fearne to Evinrude. Are you free to assist with modifying our tactical sensors? =/\=
Evinrude: =/\= Response =/\=
((Time Skip - An Hour Later, USS Ronin approaching the entity))
Xira silently cursed, with not much coming up in her search. She'd been at this for at least an hour, but hadn't found much.
Kessler: Response
Akani: I'm sending over what I have now, but I can't guarantee it'll be helpful.
S'tek: Response
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 (optional): Response
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.
Xira said nothing, but nodded.
Kessler: Response
S'tek: Response
She listened carefully to the others reports, thinking on what the implications could mean for their defensive measures. They had torpedoes, phasers, the ability to create a gravimetric pulse and several other options.
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 (optional): Response
((OOC: Following Jim's lead and not pushing too far as well.))
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.
oO But I don't want to wait. Especially if this thing is coming up quickly. Oo
Kessler/T’Fearne: Response
Akani: What would work while we wait? It feels wrong, just standing here and waiting.
oO That's what got people killed on the Rose. I can't let it happen again. Oo
S'tek: Response
Her grip tightened on the consol in front of her, hands trying not to shake.
Akani: I… oO Shut up shut up shut up don't let sad brain get a hold. Oo If waiting is the only option, any idea how long we'll be waiting?
Kessler/T'Fearne/S'tek/Venn: Response
[Tags/TBC]
Tactical Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
They/Them (Player) She/Her (Character)
A240204RS3