[REPOST] Lieutenant Alira Venn: A Threat of Massive Proportions, part 2
Isara Aleron
oO And that, my good fellow, is exactly what I am here to find out. Oo
Tucker: I’d like to hear more from our Mission Specialists, what’s your thoughts on a possibly armed and maybe hostile entity?
The man who had spoken moved to his original spot, having gone over to the coffee table, and crossed his arms.
Raga: I refer to my previous comment about the Ronin being rugged. Including the Khitomer, we’re the most powerful starship that Starfleet has in the Isles at the moment. Which stands to reason that’s part of the reason we were sent on this mission. If we piss it off, I imagine the reasoning is that we have a better chance of surviving any violence it might unleash.
Kessler: I have a few tricks up my sleeve, Commander. The Ronin is ready defensively if needed.
Niac/Velis/Kel/Beck: Response
Tucker: So what do we know for sure?
Raga: The urgency of this, the secrecy, and the location. Is Command concerned this creature is endangered and in need of protection, or do they think it might not be natural?
Alira didn’t have that answer. That would be Velis. But endangerment was not on her list of priorities and she shook her head before looking over at the Trill astrobiologist.
Kessler: We know very little but when does that stop a Starfleet crew from completing their mission? ::looking at Niac:: My departments are ready for whatever you need Captain.
Niac/Velis/Kel/Beck: Response
Tucker: Well, the Engineering department is more than willing to lend a hand. I’m sure we could come up with something.
Raga: You voiced concern about whether it has planet killer capabilities. There was at least one other entity that was sentient but not entirely part of the natural order. Do you remember reading about Gomtuu at the Academy? Not a planet killer but it was alive, sentient, powerful, and artificial. ::to V squared:: We’re supposed to confirm if it’s artificial or not, yes? What are our orders if it turns out to be just a giant space whale? Go home? Or does the mission become one of conservation?
Those were all very good points, most of which she was planning to bring up herself if she could get to her own briefing on the situation. She was happy to sit back and let them conjecture, but at some point she was going to have to tell them the information she had.
Kessler: I remember that class well Commander. ::staring at their guests:: As I recall, the Romulans lost a D'Deridex warbird and her entire complement during that encounter.
She remembered that, too. It was in her briefing and just served to enhance her concerns.
Niac/Tucker/Velis/Kel/Beck: Responses
Raga: We don't know enough at this point. I think our first priority should be to get to the creature, at a safe distance and find out just how 'very large' it happens to be. Then go from there. Normally I'd recommend sending a shuttle to scout ahead, but with the uncertainty of its size and temperament I'm hesitant to send out what might be seen as food if it's big enough. How long until we arrive at its last known location?
Kessler: ::looking to the wall display:: ETA to intercept is three hours nineteen minutes Commander.
The Chief of Security looked at the First Officer, then turned to “V-squared.”
Kessler: Given your previous attempts at this failed, I am sure all related data will be made available to our mission? No redactions?
Venn: I cannot speak to the information Lieutenant Velis will be providing. However, as you’ve no doubt surmised, I was - until this operation - assigned to Starfleet Intelligence as an analyst. I’ve studied these cosmozoans, although I am sure my interest does not match that of the Doctor. I’ve prepared a full briefing of why I am here, if I may? No redactions. At least, none that I am aware of.
Niac/Tucker/Velis/Kel/Beck/Raga: Response
She nodded and rose to go to the main display, activating it and pulling up her briefing file.
Venn: First, just to give a perspective on the size, since there seems to be some conjecture, here’s what long-range scans have been able to deduce.
She flipped to the first image.
Venn: This image is not clear because our sensors were so far away that was the best resolution they could get. Given the impressive range of our sensors, that should help give you an indication of just how large this thing is. This is in addition to the fact that, as Lieutenant Veris has mentioned, it’s hard to get sensor readings in the first place.
She turned to fully face the assembled officers and began speaking again.
Venn: As I am sure the doctor can confirm, there have been a few different kinds of cosmozoans spotted over the years. One of the first was encountered by the USS Enterprise under the command of James T. Kirk.
Alira flipped the display to show a large single-celled organism.
Venn: In that incident, an entire crew of Vulcans was killed by a very large space amoeba. The crew of the Enterprise narrowly escaped, but only as a result of having to destroy the amoeba.
She paused to look at the people in the room.
Venn: Please note that Captain Kirk considered destroying the creature a viable option to preserving the life of his crew.
She didn’t give anyone a chance to object to that. Instead, she took a quick breath and switched to the next creature in her repertoire.
Venn: And then there is the planetkiller, as was already mentioned. Not necessarily a living organism that we can tell, but equally a threat. Please note that Captain Kirk and even Commodore Decker determined its destruction was necessary.
She paused at this point. Someone was surely bound to understand where she was going with this. But she wasn’t actually proposing that they kill the creature yet. She just wanted them to begin to accept that it might become a possibility.
Niac/Raga/Kessler/Tucker/Velis/Kel/Beck: Responses
Venn: I am only pointing these out, because as some have mentioned, towing this thing is going to be impossible. And if it truly is a threat, we may have no other option. Considering that one of the main purposes of Starfleet is to seek out new life, destroying it when we find it almost seems anathema to us. However, sometimes it just becomes necessary as the crew of the Enterprise found. Now,I have more examples where a less fatal option was found. Shall I continue?
Niac / Raga: Response
She nodded and switched to the next slide.
Venn: Gomtuu. Commander Raga has already mentioned this one as well, and as the Chief of Security has pointed out, it destroyed a Romulan Warbird.
She flipped the screen again. It showed sequential snapshots of the incident in which the Warbird had been destroyed as captured by the USS Enterprise-D.
Niac/Raga/Kessler/Tucker/Velis/Kel/Beck: Responses
Venn: It is true that this ended well for our people, but the Romulans didn’t fare so well. And that is a nice segue into the other possible threat here. The Lattice Alliance and the Consortium. Take the incident with Gomtuu. Why were the Romulans there in the first place? Because they saw the opportunity to secure a weapon. Oh, they claimed interest in First Contact, but have no doubt that they were seeking an edge against us. Do any of you have any doubts that the Lattice Alliance or the Consortium would see a similar opportunity here? There are a few more examples, like the Crystaline Entity, the Space Jellyfish encountered by the Cerritos, or even the creatures at Farpoint Station. I don’t think anyone here will argue that the Crystaline Entity was peaceful. The reality that this creature poses a risk exists, and if our enemies get ahold of it first, that risk increases exponentially. And that’s why I am here. Threat assessment. The final risk determination will be yours, of course, Captain Niac, but I’m tasked with bringing my expertise to advise on a course of action.
Niac/Raga/Kessler/Tucker/Velis/Kel/Beck: Responses
Lieutenant Alira Venn
Mission Specialist (Intelligence)
USS Ronin, NCC-34523
A239412S10