Lt Cmdr Quentin Beck - Not Many Answers

[Quentin Beck]

((Xenobiology Lab, Sickbay Complex, Deck 10, USS Ronin))

Beck: We've got three hours to become experts, if that tells you anything.

Surprisingly, the Klingon did not appear excited by the prospect.

Shortrith: Is there a big space lifeform out there we don't know much about?

His head tipped in a nod and he tapped his nose.

Beck: Got it in one. There have been multiple attempts to gather data on the object - we're not entirely sure if it's actually alive - but so far, no one has really been able to get close enough to get a good reading. 

Shortrith: I take it that's what one of the specialists are there for?

Beck: Yeah. From my understanding, one is an Astrobiologist who should be able to help us understand this thing once we get a better idea what we're dealing with. The other is from SFI. You can guess what their interest in it will be. ::rubbing his jaw:: But this thing is big.

They paused for a moment, and Quentin could almost see the wheels turning in their head.

Shortrith: … Galaxy class size? Akira class size? Any idea how big we're talking?

He clucked his tongue against the back of his teeth.

Beck: 'Fraid not. That's part of the problem. I'll put it this way - it's so big that, even with our most high-powered sensors pointing at it, it's too blurry to make out any details. 

The look on their face mirrored the disappointment he felt that he couldn't provide much guidance. 

Shortrith: Do we have any information, or are we going in blind?

Quentin smiled grimly once more.

Beck: Not entirely blind. We know how long it'll take to reach it. And we know they want us to get to it before the Lattice Alliance or Consortium. So… y'know, only mostly blind.

Renaie frowned, glancing out at the viewport. It seemed to take a moment for their brain to register what Quentin had mentioned before regarding the lone scan of the creature.

Shortrith: Hold on- so the Ronin only has a blurry picture of the creature with no scale?

Beck: Yep. The image provided by our Intelligence officer, Lieutenant Alira Venn. 

The Klingon paused.

Shortrith: What if a picture was taken of something at the same scale, specifically an entity that we know the scale of, and use it as a reference point there? That may give us an idea of how big this thing is, and maybe use it as a biological reference point.

His brows lifted, and he let out a sigh, eyes rolling upward thoughtfully as he stroked his jaw.

Beck: I think that's a solid suggestion - the only caveat being, since we don't actually know the scale of the thing, it's difficult to make that reference. Still… probably worth mentioning to the others. Maybe it's passing close enough to a planet or nebula to give us an idea of the scale. Good idea.

Shortrith: Response

He glanced over at the doors, willing them to open for a moment and trying not to show his disappointment when no one else showed up. It had been a tall order, though, and he couldn't blame anyone for not volunteering.

Sighing, he turned his gaze back to Renaie before moving to one of the library consoles, pulling up the image that Venn had shared before.

Beck: This is what we've got to go on at the moment. It sort of vaguely resembles a whale, at least by my reckoning, but exponentially larger. Are you familiar with some of the other cosmozoan life that Starfleet has encountered before?

Shortrith: Response

Beck: My first suggestion would be to become intimately familiar with the historical record, if only so we can rule any of those out. But we'll also want to touch base with Commander Kel - he's leading the research team alongside the specialist from Starfleet Command, and we'll be offering them our support.

Shortrith: Response

Beck: Velis. Serin Velis.

Shortrith: Response

He nodded and tapped the comm on the library computer.

Beck: =/\= Beck to Kel. Just finished putting together my shortlist, and it's very short. Doctor Shortrith and I will be at your disposal. =/\=

Kel: =/\= Response =/\=

Beck: =/\= I intended to do some investigation and research here in the Xenobiology lab for the short term, but if you've got a better idea, I'm all ears. =/\=

Kel: =/\= Response =/\=

[Tags/TBC!]

Lieutenant Commander Quentin Beck, MD, FASFS

Chief Medical Officer

USS Ronin NCC-34523

A238810SA0