Lieutenant Is’Kah Xiron - Thermal Trappings

[Is'Kah Xiron]

((Bridge, Deck 1, USS Valkyrie))

Is’Kah: Captain, I still cannot cut through whatever interference is preventing us from detecting those cloaked ships. However, using the navigation sensors, I believe I have found a way to estimate a location.

Zha overlaid a portion of the view screen with a map of the solar system, ensuring it was transparent enough not to obscure information, then zoomed in on their location. There are also the symbols for the solar winds coming from the star.

T’Ama: At this rate we just need to point the ship in a direction and one will appear.

Aleron: So, they are trying to herd us, then.

Lennai: But where?

Is’Kah: Every star emits a a high speed stream of charged particles from its corona. Where this ends marks the boundary of a solar system. However, we can detect the charged electrons and protons, allowing us to detect where they do not behave in a straight line, much like the wake of an ocean-going vessel.

Zha expanded on an area of a few thousand kilometers a few seconds before the third ship appeared.

T’Ama: Right…

Lennai: Interesting, let me examine that.

Is’Kah: As you can see, the ionized electrons are not behaving in a straight line, mixing instead. If we add in the disturbances of the heavier ions, such as helium and oxygen, it appears to confirm my theory. If someone could please confirm my work, I’ve been known to make math errors lately.

T’Ama: Computer, please double check Lieutenant Is’Kah’s work.

Computer: Lieutenant Is’Kah’s work is theoretically sound.

T’Ama: Implement the solar wake algorithm on the sensors.

Aleron: Good work, Is’Kah. My only question is this. Are these readings being affected by whatever is affecting our sensors, or have you managed to compensate for the effect?

Is’Kah felt relief wash through zhen at the compliment.

Lennai: I will have that algorithm online in just a moment.

Is’Kah: Aye, Captain, I have. I’m looking well behind the possible sensor scattering. When the solar wind meets the galactic wind from Sagittarius A, it produces a bow shock. This is where we mark the edge of any solar system, where solar energy degrades to the point where it can’t overcome the ions blasting a system.

T’Ama: They do seem intent on blockading us from proceeding.

Aleron: Indeed, Number One. I suppose we should try hailing them and seeing if we can’t come to some sort of agreement.

Lennai: It would certainly help if they would communicate with us. Is there any way we can pry more information from them non-verbally?

That was a good question, one Is’Kah didn’t have a response to.

T’Ama: Perhaps we should do some maneuvers to see how responsive they are?

Lennai: I could do that, certainly.

There was a lot of risk to that, but it was the only way they could gather information.

Aleron: Agree, Number One. Ensign Lennai, exercise tactical maneuvers at your discretion. Is’Kah, monitor their responses and report.

Is’Kah: Roger that, Captain.

Lennai: Entering limited manual-assisted controls.

The hybrid focused on the zhen console, flagging potential hazards for Lennai to avoid. The orion’s flying skills impressed Is’Kah; she flew so much better than zha did. Then again, she probably didn’t have a fear of flying as zhen did.

Aleron: Number One, does it appear to you that they are blocking our progress deeper into the sector, but not toward Stillwater or the Par’tha Expanse?

Is’Kah confirmed the comment. They indeed were trying to keep them from going deeper.

T’Ama: Response

Lennai: Leaving manual controls, resuming previous course and making small adjustments to avoid collision with unidentified vessels.

That was the best course of action from Is’Kah’s point of view, but zha waited to hear what the captain thought.

Aleron: Recommendations?

T’Ama: Response

Is’Kah listened to T’Ama’s recommendation, and once she finished, zha opened zhen mouth to speak, but Ensign Lennai spoke up instead.

Lennai: Captain, if I may. The sensor readings on the new algorithm we implemented are showing additional datasets. ::Typing on console.:: If you look at this isolated scan I pulled up, you can clearly see that the energy runoff from the cloaking device they are using is using an incredible amount of energy. I don't think it's possible for them to stay in pursuit of us and stay cloaked for as long as they have been.

The hybrid brought up the scan Ensign Lennai mentioned. After a moment’s review, Is’Kah nodded to zhenself.

Is’Kah: Captain, it appears Ensign Lennai is correct.

Aleron/T'Ama: Responses

Lennai: Yes, of course. That is to say, I think it is right to assume that every ship we have seen up until this point has been a completely unique and different vessel. We already know we've been outnumbered, but to this extent is.. ::Trailing off.:: Intense.

The hybrid took a moment to confirm the findings in the data Lennai had.

Is’Kah: I concur with Ensign Lennai.

There was something else in the data, but Is’Kah wasn’t sure exactly what. Zha stared at the information while the Captain and XO spoke.

Aleron/T'Ama: Responses

Lennai: Understood. I will commit to that now.

Raising an eyebrow, Is’Kah figured out exactly what bothered zhen: the slight temperature variations in space.

Is’Kah: ::whispered:: Fascinating. ::Beat:: Captain, it is my belief that smaller vessels are unable to sustain cloaking for prolonged durations, whereas larger ships are capable of maintaining concealment for significantly longer periods. An analogy can be drawn to 20th-century Earth diesel submarines. Instead of expelling air, they must vent heat. Such thermal signatures would be detectable if heat were released while cloaked. I hypothesize that, ultimately, they will need to “surface,” so to speak.

Aleron/T'Ama: Responses

Is’Kah: It is conceivable to await the natural resolution of the situation and to monitor subsequent developments.

There were other ideas zha had, such as weaponizing the navigation deflector, but they were not exactly looking to blast their way deeper into the sector.

Aleron / T’Ama / Lennai: Response

Is’Kah: I wonder what they are trying to hide from us. There has to be a reason for the blockade.

Aleron / T’Ama / Lennai: Response

Is’Kah: Captain, is there a reason why we must traverse this system to go deeper into the sector? Space is vast, meaning we could just go around. We also have the Quantum Slipstream Drive, which can easily bypass this place. Regardless of whether we use distance or the QSD, it would be impossible to blockade the sector.

Aleron / T’Ama / Lennai: Response

Lieutenant Is’Kah Xiron

Chief of Tactical and Security

USS Valkyrie, NCC-76418-A

R240101I14

Pronouns:

She/Her (Player and Character)

Zha/Zhen (Character)