Lieutenant JG Renaie Shortrith - When You Expect the Unexpected, Is The Unexpected *Really* The Unexpected?
Renaie Shortrith
((Xenobiology Lab, Sickbay Complex, Deck 10, USS Ronin))
Beck: Frankly, I'm not sure there's going to be a better place than right here to do what I have in mind - most of this lab is fairly isolated, running off a series of batteries that aren't connected to anything else, and multiple gateways are protecting any data transfer going either direction from the consoles here. The only better place would be… maybe the holodeck or Astrometrics, but if I'm going to cripple anything, it should be this lab.
Renaie nodded. He had a point.
Shortrith: Is there any way we can do it without risking overload?
Beck: I mean, sure, we could run some simulations and work with the computer to determine the best time and place to handle the project, but that's going to add hours upon hours of discussion alongside the review. We don't have the luxury of that kind of time.
Shortrith: In that case, here seems to be the best place with the time constraints.
oO There never seems to be enough time. Oo
Beck: You are more than welcome to file a complaint, Doctor Shortrith. If you've got a better suggestion, I'm all ears.
Shortrith: What we've got is what we've got.
Beck: Trust me on this, Renaie. My gut is telling me this is the way to go, and my gut is usually right.
Shortrith: Okie dokie.
((3 hours later))
Renaie had mostly been trying to offer assistance as Quentin worked, handing the occasional tool over to him and helping test work in progress.
It was a good call noting the amount of available replacement gelpacks, as extras were needed for additional energy.
The klingon noticed one of Kel's assistants entered the room, and stayed. They gave a friendly nod to her in greeting.
Beck: Welcome to the Xenobiology lab, Lieutenant. Please, come in and make yourself comfortable. I am just about through with my preparations here, and we can run a test.
Wells: I’m glad you invited me in. I can’t cross the threshold unless someone gives me permission. ::she joked, casting a wink at the Klingon:: Doctor Beck I know by reputation and you also Doctor Shortbread, Doctor de la Croix was singing your praises last mission. It’s Lieutenant J.G. Wells, but you may call me Rhodium.
Shortrith: ::Shaking her hand:: Welcome, Rhodium. And, my apologies, it's Doctor Shortrith. Feel free to call me Renaie.
In a way, that was to both Rhodium and Quentin.
Renaie focused on the work, but didn't miss the glance they received from Doctor Beck.
Beck: Can you double-check the feed from the sensors for me before I turn this on? I want to make sure we've got the most up-to-date files before I have the holomatrix start analyzing.
Shortrith: Sure.
Stepping closer to the terminal, they gave the sensors a check, before nodding, signifying that the information was up-to-date.
Wells: Terrible heating control in here.
oO What do you mean? Oo
Their head tilted slightly but they said nothing.
Beck: Hold on to your butts.
Wells: ::ducking down:: I prefer the much more practical and safer option of taking cover!
Shortrith: Holding.
Renaie silently cheered as something appeared to connect - and didn't explode!
Beck: So far, so good. Once it's finished with the next round of tests, it should start processing the data from the computer.
Renaie nodded, words escaping them for a second.
Something… seemed to work. A nebula (that definitely wasn't the Barossa Nebula in the Delta Quadrant) displayed itself on the screen, unflickering.
Beck: Well, I'll be damned - this might actually work. Okay, Renaie, let's see–
Before he could finish the suggestion, the image above the table changed. The fluid in the gel packs swirled and bubbled as they processed the data from Kel's use of passive sensors, and after only a few moments, the outline of a massive thing began to form.
Kel: =/\= Kel to Beck. Let me know if you getting anything through the gel packs. =/\=
Beck shot a look at Rhodium and Renaie, doing his best not to smirk. The counsellor struggled to not smirk back.
Beck: =/\= We definitely, definitely are, Commander. Right now it's still mostly just the outline, but give us some more time and some deeper readings, and I think this will clear up quickly. =/\=
Wells: We can see it forming, it’s registering on the electromagnetic scale, but we have yet to pick up anything that we can translate into a form of communication or visual impressions. I wonder what sort of mind it possesses.
Renaie stayed silent and tensed.
Something wasn't right.
Why was there a big - and incredibly detailed - eye?
And why was it focusing on the Ronin????
The gel packs, as if on command by the eye's focus, began to burst. The dark bluey-violet colour shifted into a dark red, and Renaie's jaw dropped as some gel hit Beck smack-bang in the middle of his torso.
oO That's gotta hurt! Oo
The Klingon noticed the El-Aurian have the reflexes to avoid flying gel by ducking behind them, but their own hand wasn't as lucky as Rhodium had been.
Calling out in surprise, they quickly shook their hand vigorously to get the burning gel off the back of it, trying to ignore the burning sensation.
Beck: Hell's bells, we need to start replacing the gel packs that are busting.
Wells: Mm, that tingles. ::smile sharpening:: Also how rude, where are its manners?
Shortrith: Doctor, are you okay? You took a hit to the chest.
Renaie didn't get a response as Kel came through over comms.
Kel: =/\= Kel to Beck! Are you getting anything at all? I think we may have upset it. =/\=
Beck: =/\= You can say that again. I'm not a hundred percent sure exactly what just happened, but we are having a few technical difficulties and are working on clearing those out. The data is coming through, though, absolutely. =/\=
There seemed to be other comm chatter, but Renaie was too focused on a) attempting to replace the gel packs as quickly as they burst, and b) trying to find the time to get to Beck and try to avoid first-degree burns for both parties who'd been burnt.
Wells: Are you alright? It was very hot gel that exploded. Did you get burned?
Shortrith: ::bluntly, slightly stressed:: Back of my hand. I'll be fine.
This time, a different voice rang through the comm.
Velis: =/\= ::pauses:: The doctor or Commander Kel can likely confirm this, but I believe Commander Kel’s antennae might be functioning as a radio receiver. =/\=
oO Huh? Oo
Beck: =/\= A radio receiver, huh? That gives me an idea. =/\=
Niac: =/\= Make it quick Doctor, I don't want to expose any of the crew to this if there's a risk of long term damage. Steady as she goes Mr. Raga...but kept that escape course updated. =/\=
Wells: I’m going to lower the temperature in the lab. Not so much that it impede the gels function, just enough to compensate for the thermal transfer of during the electromagnetic pulses. That should preserve the ones we still have while we get replacements. It might get a bit chilly here.
Renaie involuntarily shivered a little as things got colder.
oO Klingons aren't supposed to be this cold. Oo
Renaie grew up in Australia, so despite them being more acclimatised to Melbourne's chaotic weather, they still got cold easily.
That was just Klingon physiology.
Shortrith: Thanks for the heads up.
Velis: =/\= I think if we can figure out the frequency, so to speak, we might be able to program the computers to simulate the creature’s “language” and enable us to communicate with it. =/\=
Niac: =/\= Very well, let's see if we can pin down the source of V'len's burning sensation. Mr. Kessler, is anything hitting the shields? Mr. Raga, Lieutenant Venn...can the probe tell us anything useful? I'd like to be able to politely ask this creature to stop shouting at us. =/\=
oO Please. Oo
Venn: =/\= I’m still unable to tell if it was communication or an attack. For all I know, at this point, Captain, it could be both. =/\=
Kel: =/\= If this was an attack I think we'd all know it. As it is, Beck is right. My antennae just happen to be able to sense something. =/\=
Raga: =/\= Telemetry from the probe does confirm the power surge in the creature and that it was focused on the Ronin. The probe detected EM, UV and RF radiation among the others it detected. To my knowledge, no weapons capable of causing any harm to us or the ship use either of those. =/\=
Kessler: =/\= Response =/\=
Velis: =/\= It won’t be perfect, but I think it’s the best we’ve got. =/\=
Beck: =/\= Perfect is the enemy of good. We are seeing some progress down here - instead of a vague black outline, it's a vague white outline that is starting to show some deeper details. =/\=
Niac: =/\= Well done Doctor, get as much data as you can. Mark any spots that strike you as particularly important and our guests will prioritize them for further inspection. =/\=
Renaie tried to maintain their own bodyheat while still working.
oO Stupid Klingon cold intolerance. Oo
They gratefully accepted the offered coat from Rhodium, immediately slipping their arms in and holding it tightly around themself.
Wells: Here, it’s too cold now. I know your people are known to be hot blooded.
Shortrith: Thanks. Klingons aren't as used to colder climates than other species, and our physiology shows that.
Beck: Response
Wells then turned to Beck.
Wells: And you…::shaking her head:: Put your jacket back on, and the lab coats. ::pointing to where the gel had hit:: Did you get burned when that exploded? Do we have any more gel packs? I know we can’t replicate more because of the living neural tissue, but surely you didn’t just use all the Ronin’s replacement stores?
oO I… Don't know. Oo
Shortrith: If you're burnt, Doc, please let me help you.
Beck: Response
Shortrith: My hand will be fine. I'll run something over it later. You've taken a hot hit to the chest.
Beck: Response
After the gelpacks had been replaced, the imagery changed to similar to some form of internal scan, similar to an X-ray or ultrasound.
Wells: What do you make of that? Internal structures. ::gesturing with slightly pale, shivering fingers:: Maybe a heart, a brain?
The trio's breaths were now visible mists in the cold.
Beck: Response
Shortrith: Indeed it does look like some form of internal structure and organs.
Wells/Beck: Response
Still shivering, Renaie tried to identify different biological parts in the imagery. they gasped in surprise as they noticed what looked to be blood vessels.
Shortrith: ::pointing at what they saw:: See the rivulets? I'm assuming they're some form of blood vessel. What do you two think?
Wells/Beck: Response
Shortrith: We definitely know it's organic, at least, and some sort of lifeform with bloodstreams, or at least, some form of internal system.
Wells/Beck: Response
[Tags/TBC]Lieutenant JG Renaie Shortrith, MD
Counsellor/Medical Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
They/Them (Player and character)
A240204RS3