Lt. T’Fearne - Very Very Big (Part 1)
Teayl Thorn
((Briefing Room, Security Complex, Deck 11, USS Ronin))
Kessler: Ok, then we are starting at square one. ::beat:: options? Through them out no matter how crazy they sound. We'll weed through them one by one.
She took the offered PADD Jack handed to her, cued a search of the database letting it gather and sort with her parameters for prior Ronin mission encounters with mega space phenomena.
T'Fearne: ::glancing at Venn:: You mentioned it has not yet been confirmed that this is biological. What of the non-biological option. Synthetic, some sort of living machine, large scale photonic? What do you think ensign?
She turned to the new department officer, encouraging his input.
S'tek: A synthetic or a living machine is possible, Lieutenant. It wouldn’t be the first time that Starfleet has encountered something like that. ::pause:: A large-scale photonic construct? The power source needed to create a projection of that size… without coherence drift or field collapse… it would be enormous.
She could feel the sudden panic emanating off the ensign, but he again seemed to compose himself and respond. Though his answer made it clear he had mistaken her meaning. She had been asking for his thoughts on what the creature could be, not his estimation of the likelihood of her ideas.
oO Was I ever this nervous? Perhaps I was at times…He will be alright. Oo
Venn: I have no more data than I’ve shared, but considering that we’re tasked with tactical options, I think I’d personally like to start with something that let’s us get this thing away from the possible hands of the Consortium or the Lattice Alliance. Like, how do we move it?
T'Fearne: Agreed, the Consortium and the Alliance have both demonstrated a willingness to weaponise what they can. ::slight brow raise:: Move it the same way you control any crowd or a larger, stronger opponent. Attraction or repulsion through leverage.
She tried to figure out what that would look like in this scenario. Picturing larger opponents or enemy combatants she had gone up against. She had seen grenades of repellent used to force an enemy to run and sonic disruptions, but what could repel a creature that was of such a scale? She didn’t even want to contemplate the alternative. Attraction. The Ronin becoming bait and calling a behemoth towards her precious cargo of life that Kessler, T’Fearne, Akani and now S’tek were responsible for protecting.
S’tek: What is that old Human adage? ::pause, recollects:: Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.
Venn: It’s massive. We’re not even sure how massive yet, but early speculation is on the order of kilometers.
Her thoughts abruptly took a paranoid twist and she took a step back from assumptions.
T'Fearne: Do we have a way to verify that? The details about the size? It would be remiss of me not to bring up the possibility of an Alliance or Consortium scheme? Could we be heading towards a trick? False readings created to lure starfleet explorers?
Just then the doors to the briefing room opened and one of the junior tactical officers entered. T’Fearne recognised her after a brief moment. Ensign Akani, one of the recent transfers from the Compass Rose Plage Ship. It appeared the young Bajoran woman had been called in to join the briefing.
T'Fearne: ::in greeting:: Ensign Akani.
S’tek: Ensign.
Akani: ::In response:: Lieutenants, Ensign.
The young ensign gave a nod in response.
Kessler: Thank you for joining us Ensign. Did you get the briefing note I sent you about this? ::gesturing to the blurred image::
Akani joined them, as they all focused on the display.
T'Fearne: Given current uncertainties, I believe Security has several immediate objectives. I assume the Science department is attempting to determine what this entity is. What they uncover could help us understand more of its nature, tactical assessment is merely conjecture without more data. Regardless of what they uncover, it would be prudent to have a range of repellents and attractors.
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?
The chief gave a nod of approval.
Kessler: Like I said, all ideas get put on the table. Optimising shields is a good start.
Venn: One of the issues we’ve had was with getting sensor data. I’m not sure how involved this department is with tactical sensor calibrations, or if that would be Operations, but I think we should consider making some calibrations to offset those issues.
T’Fearne considered that. While engineering was working on keeping the Ronin’s legs free, and Science was determining more about what they were dealing with, Security systems could use an Ops officer to help with tactical sensor calibations…and there was one Tactical officer that she trusted implicitly with complex calibration. She didn’t often overlap with Tess in their duties but she always felt a steady warmth when she ran into him around the ship. Now it seemed like a good idea to pull him in if he wasn’t engaged in a vital task already.
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 seemed to be mentally chewing on something as he looked at the two Ensigns and then to Venn.
Kessler: At this time Ensign, that information is on a need to know basis. We are working with the data Lieutenant Venn has provided.
A complex hint of emotions shifted from him, but he had himself composed, all she could tell was that it was centered over Venn. She imagined that it must have something to do with a newcomer being interjected into his department…The woman had yet to make a strong impression either way apart from being professional and direct. T’Fearne wondered what the issue was or if there was even an issue.
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…
T’Fearne blinked and raised an eyebrow just a hair as the ensigns’ and oddly, Kessler and Venn seemed to pause to look at her as though for answers or input. In truth she had been more focused on reading with her empathic sense in the previous few moments than listening with her ears. She looked back impassively.
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.
Venn seemed a little fatiged…and perhaps exasperated. T’Fearne imagined the strained flight on the USS Goodall and the risky transfer at warp. The woman had risked much to be here, fulfilling her duty and was now feeling the strain of standing in front of a room of people who viewed her as more of a hindrance than an ally.
There was a faint sense of something…a wanting to belong, maybe. That had felt like a very private inner feeling. T’Fearne made a concerted effort to close her mind to the woman's emotions, not wishing to invade her privacy anymore than she already had.
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.
Akani: ::bowing her head:: I understand. How long do we have before we make contact?
A display held a countdown that ran backwards and occasionally jumped up or down. The ship seemed to be making a series of minute course corrections and adjustments. At the present time they had just two hours until their arrival at their destination.
Kessler: Not as much time as we would like to have Ensign. We need to work fast, but smart.
[No Tags / TBC in Part 2]
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Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14