Lt. T’Fearne - Photo Negative
Teayl Thorn
((Briefing Room, Security Complex, Deck 11, USS Ronin))
The subtle fluctuations of the warp-field could be felt in the Security Complex as the Ronin continued to navigate its approached the entity. The Ronin’s inertial dampeners seemed to be working overtime to compensate, but T'Fearne's sensitive ears picked up changes more often the closer they approached the end of the countdown. She wondered if S’tek was registering the fluctuations as well.
Around the briefing room the various officers poured their focus into their assignments.
Akani sifted through reports on spaceborn megafauna while S’tek analyzed evolving shield harmonics. The officer Ops had sent to assist with sensors worked on pulling the data from the calibrated sensors. Fresh telemetry rolled across the display screens. Kessler stood in front of the main display, arms folded as he reviewed the latest of their compiled findings.
Kessler: Akani, what do you have for me?
Akani: I'm sending over what I have now, but I can't guarantee it'll be helpful.
T’Fearne folded her hands behind her back as she studied the pulsing data streams then gave her own report.
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: ::With an impressed look.:: You're thinking to shield us from its senses by blending in with its own emissions?
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: I like the thought process. Hide in plain sight.
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
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: ::Tone respectful.:: Do we have confirmed intel on that, sir? For all we know, it's a predator that uses gravimetric pulses to track its prey.
He turned to Venn to ask the question.
Evinrude: Has it responded to any particular stimuli?
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.
T’Fearne: ::to Tess:: No data on that. Unless you count being photo-shy as a response.
Kessler stood quiet for the moment, thinking and looking at the officers in the briefing room while he clearly evaluated the information they had gathered.
Akani: What would work while we wait? It feels wrong, just standing here and waiting.
The young Bajoran woman reminded T’Fearne a little of Delphina, young and somewhat green, eagerness and apprehension mixed together, but Xira was slowly starting to concern her, where Delphina was growing her confidence. The young woman's emotional aura flared with something dark and almost guilty. T’Fearne resolved to keep an eye on how she was faring through this mission.
Akani: I… If waiting is the only option, any idea how long we'll be waiting?
She didn’t miss the way the ensign gripped the console as though to crush the edge.
Evinrude: ::To Akani:: Ensign, if you'd like, you can help me finish a diagnostic on our main-hull torpedo battery. I just replaced one of the tractor micro-emitters in the torpedo conveyor system, and I want to see how the new part responds to a simulated load.
Akani: Response
A chirp from the PADD Jack was holding drew his attention.
Kessler: Lieutenant Venn, looks like we are needed on the bridge. ::turning to T'Fearne:: You have the lead on this assignment for now. Report directly to me if you find anything useful no matter how small it might be.
Venn: Yes, sir. On my way.
T'Fearne: Understood. I have this.
She gave a reassuring nod as the two senior officers swiftly headed for the bridge. Ensign S’tek was also required elsewhere which just left T’Fearne and Akani working on the tactical and security preparations and Evinrude as he worked with fine tuning the tactical sensor calibrations.
((Time skip - A few minutes later))
Not long after Kessler and Venn were recalled to the bridge, the Ronin exited warp. T’Fearne felt the change brought by dropping out of warp and her keen vulcanoid ears could always pick up a change in engine harmonics with the security complex so close to the warp core.
She stood with her hands casper behind her back, resisting the temptation to immediately engage the re-calibrated tactical sensors. The modifications Evinrude had made were hopefully ready, but the decision to go to active scans was commanded to initiate. For now, they relied on the various readings from passive ship’s sensors.
Someone on the bridge pushed a view of the main event display and she swiftly made that live footage the central display in the briefing room, minimising the old data clusters and passive scan telemetry they were picking up. Now they could all watch and analyze their first close up sight of the entity that had been the focus of all their planning and preparation.
T'Fearne: I have the bridge main screen relayed he….::trailing off::
Both her slanted brows winged up as the entity drifted into clearer view. Immense was an inadequate descriptor. The creature, T’Fearne was now more certain was a biological creature. It’s blue-black hull…skin illuminated by slow ripples of teal bio-fluorescence that rolled across its body from what she assumed was its nose to tail. Space itself seemed to bend subtly around it like swirls of displaced energy trailing in its wake.
T’Fearne forgot her duty and new responsibilities for a brief moment is sheer wonder. This was part of why she had joined Starfleet. Exploration and strange new encounters.
Evinrude/Akani: Response
She just watched, almost hypnotised. It was totally illogical. A living organism shouldn’t be so large and yet it seemed to continue to drift on its way, gracefully cutting through the midnight velvet of space.
Despite the possibly once in a thousand lifetimes sight, T’Fearne managed to turn back to her console as someone on the bridge activated an active scan and they watched as more detailed telemetry began streaming in. T’Fearne glanced at Tess as his calibrations on the tactical sensors would soon be put to the test.
T'Fearne: We are getting a much clearer look than the Jacksonville managed. It’s working. ::to Akani:: I think we can archive the non organic contingency plans and research. It looks like they were right about the biological classification, let's focus on that.
One of the rhythmic pulses from the creature seemed to flare brighter and this time it rippled out in their direction. T’Fearne saw the expanding energy spike register moments before the wave brushed over the Ronin like a giant hand stroking a domesticated feline, rocking the ship lightly beneath their feet..
She turned to check on the shields…and abruptly felt something immense brush against her senses.
T’Fearne spun around instinctively, heart pounding. No one in the room was paying her any particular attention. The others were busy with their own tasks or watching the entity on the screen. Then an awareness crashed against her paracortex like an imploding star. Emotion so vast that her vision, hearing and other sensory inputs shorted out. For a moment she was left in blankness tinged with glowing teal and only the capacity to feel a vast sleepy curiosity.
Just as suddenly, the focus dimmed, like an aperture closing. The briefing room of the Security Complex swam back into bleary focus and pulsing with crimson and white after images. T’Fearne realised she was kneeling on the carpeted deck, someone gripping her shoulders to keep her upright. Concerned faces peered down at her. She couldn't quite understand what they were saying.
Evinrude/Akani: Response
Her temples throbbed painfully as her other senses came back. She drew a deep breath back into her lungs, like she had forgotten what breathing was for a moment. Her hearing popped back. Scent returned, sharp electronics, and Akani and Tess’s personal scents. A copper taste in her mouth. She wiped the back of one hand beneath her nose. Dark green blood streaked across her skin.
She simply stared at it for a moment. Then, with visible effort, she straightened slightly, sitting up on her own and making eye contact. Though her head still throbbed.
T'Fearne: I’m alright. I think…I…::looking into Tess and Xira’s worried faces:: I believe the entity is aware of us.
Evinrude/Akani: Response
It felt like something impossibly ancient and massive had glanced briefly in her direction. It shook her more than she was willing to admit. Ignoring any protest from the others, she pushed off the deck and back to her feet, then had to quickly brace against the console as the room started slipping sideways.
oO Not too quickly. Oo She told herself, staring at the viewscreen and the creature as an anchor point to keep level.
[Tags / TBC]
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Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14