[V-CB2] LtCmdr. Roshanara Rahman: Space Race

[richyulin]

((Cargo Bay 2, USS Veritas))

Rahman: =/\= Rahman to Delano. =/\=

Delano: =/\ Delano here. =/\=

Rahman: =/\= The chamber is operational. =/\=

Delano: =/\= Good work. I take it that means there were no problems? =/\=

::She monitored the chambers energy readings as she continued speaking.::

Rahman: =/\= We’ve constructed the device to the specifications in the protocols. However, I cannot stress enough that this is delicate equipment. Much more fragile than our usual antimatter containment systems. Please try to avoid any further starship combat or other… excitement. =/\=

Delano: =/\= I’ll do my best, Cap- Commander.  :: He bit his lip for a moment, embarrassed by the mistake. :: You should know that we may have less time than we thought. Please make sure you’re prepared to use the chamber when the time comes. Delano, out. =/\=

::The line closed, and Alentonis spoke up.::

Alentonis: So...remind me what we're using this for?

Core: Excellent question! What *are* we using this for?

::Tristam looked over at her, but she finished fine-tuning the chamber’s settings. They couldn’t afford to be off by even one micron.::

Rahman: ::bluntly:: A science experiment.

::She didn’t look to see his expression, but she could feel his annoyance.::

Alentonis: Right. Call it absent mindedness, I guess. I take "absent minded professor" to the next level. I attribute it to being cooped up in a library for the last 2 decades. 

Rahman: ::still working:: More specifically, we’re collecting highly volatile molecules.

Alentonis: So, what do we do now?

Core: Now we catch some molecules. Presumably they can be transported directly into the chamber, depending on their stability.

Alentonis: Response

::The Rodulan moved closer to her—intimately so—as he whispered to her.::

Core: I don't suppose if I bat my eyelids and ask nicely, you'll tell me what's going on?

Rahman: You think I made chief by being a pushover?

::She rolled her eyes.::

Rahman: Besides, *commander*, I think I’ve dropped enough hints for you to figure it out.

Core: Specifications? Avoiding ship battles? 

::He took in a deep breath, looking disturbed.::

Core: I can't do that.

Rahman: Do what?

Core: I'm not sure I'd be *comfortable* with reading your mind. ::with a cheeky smile:: Besides, Artist knows what you're thinking about me behind my back. 

::She turned to him and furrowed her brow.::

Rahman: Yes, you’d be right to stay out of my head.

::She shot him an intense stare.::

Rahman: …besides, what you might find might scare you.

Alentonis: Response

Core: Are we *expecting* something to explode?

Rahman: Better to be prepared than not, I’d say.

::He nodded.::

Core: Alright. I'll get damage control at the ready. 

Alentonis: Response

::As she fired up the collection scanners, though, a new alert began ringing on the console.::

Rahman: That can’t be right…

Core: Response

Alentonis: Response

Rahman: According to this, omega is already here… on the ship.

Core: Response

Alentonis: Response

::She pulled a deeper scan for the source, and her eyes widened.::

Rahman: =/\= Rahman to Delano! =/\=

((Meanwhile, on the bridge))

Macedon: Uh . . . Lieutenant? 

::The Risian sat at her helm station, although she was also the officer on deck.::

Maravosh: Yes, what is it?

Macedon: The probe just completed another scan of the surface surrounding the away team. My terminal isn't locked out, but I'm picking up something called an Omega molecule on the surface with them.

Maravosh: Verify.

::After a second check, Macedon looked back and nodded.::

Macedon: Confirmed. ::beat:: What's an Omega molecule?

::But Maravosh didn’t answer, instead calling Delano.::

((Cargo Bay 2))

Rahman: =/\= Sir, internal scans show that there are omega molecules already aboard the ship. =/\=

Delano: =/\= Response =/\=

Rahman: =/\= I’m not sure, but it looks like while we’ve been busy, the Borg have constructed their own harmonic resonance chamber on deck 11. =/\=

::She didnt know how they managed to do that so quickly--and to have obtained the molecules themselves.::

Delano: =/\= Response =/\=

::Another voice cut into the channel from the bridge on priority.::

Maravosh: =/\= Commander Delano, sorry to interrupt. =/\=

Delano: =/\= Response =/\=

Maravosh: =/\= Sensors are detecting the omega molecule on the surface of the planet near the away team. =/\=

Delano: =/\= Response =/\=

::Omega molecules on the surface? And now on Veritas? There must have been a connection. Roshanara replayed the events of the battle.::

Rahman: =/\= The Borg ship… of course! =/\=

Delano: =/\= Response =/\=

Rahman: =/\= The Borg ship must have found a way to harvest the omega molecules through time. We could have ambushed them in the middle of their collection. When we both feel through time to this era, it’s possible they transported their chamber from their ship to Veritas before the ship crashed to the surface. =/\=

::That's how they managed to get it done so quickly! But that also meant they needed Veritas now to get back home, either back to the 24th century or to the Borg of this century.::

Delano: =/\= Response =/\=

Rahman: =/\= My guess is that they’ve found a way to shield our sensors from detecting the molecules at first, but now that we have our own harmonic resonance chamber calibrated to detect and contain the molecules, we’ve lit them up on our sensor board like fireworks. =/\=

Delano: =/\= Response =/\=

TAG! TBC...

Lt. Commander Roshanara Rahman

Chief Engineer, USS Mercury

I238705TZ0