Cmdr. Clifton / New threat / no tags

[Steve Bruin]

   *** USS Odyssey / Engineering ***

:: V'lenn was studiously working on the inert robot inside the makeshift jail cell that Security had set up in Engineering.  The forcefield door buzzed quietly and the presence of an armed guard gave her a better sense of personal safety, even though she had no clue as to what made the robot kill the crewman.  From everything she was learning, it looked as if activating the robot was impossible.  There was no C.P.U. and nothing was capable of processing any command whatsoever, it was as if the robot suddenly developed a consciousness of its own and went on a killing spree. ::

:: Of course such a thing was impossible, but it did open the door to a new line of investigation.  There was no way, theory or extrapolation of theory that could explain how this robot by itself was capable to doing what it had obviously done.  Given that fact, she had to consider any possible way the robot could have been assisted or controlled by something undetectable.  There were certain possibilities, but how did she locate something undetectable? ::

:: If there were some undetectable power that had connected itself to the robot, then possibly she could initiate a response.  Over the next few moments she set up closer scanning devices in order to closely record any reaction (if any) that the robot might exhibit once she changed the environment a bit. ::

V'Lenn: Computer encase worktable in a level three forcefield, completely surround it on every side including the deck beneath.

Computer =/\= Initiating level three forcefield.  =/\=

:: The forcefield appeared on all sides of the bench where the lifeless robot was located.

V'Lenn considered how best to begin. ::

V'Lenn: Computer increase radiation level inside the field.

Computer: Increasing radiation levels inside the field.

:: For the next few moments V'lenn tried various things to see if there were any reaction, to her dismay there was none.  All that suddenly changed when she sent a powerful electrical charge through the robot!  A sudden sphere of white light roughly a few centimeters in diameter silently floated from the metal body of the robot and without seeming effort moved through the forcefield and vanished into a nearby bulkhead. ::

:: The security guard tensed, moved his phaser rifle into firing position, but by the time he could do anything the ball of light was gone. ::

V'Lenn: Computer, what was that? Identify sphere of light which just passed through the forcefield.

Computer: =/\=Unable to identify.  =/\=

:: V'Lenn was surprised, a computer with all the combined knowledge of the Federation stored in its memory banks and it said it could not identify an energy form? ::

V'Lenn: Computer, run standard analysis.  Relay findings to this terminal. 

:: She went to a nearby computer station and activated it.  What came through from the main computer was literally nothing (or next to it).  The energy form was unlike anything in Starfleet data banks, it merely read as uncoordinated energy and in a form that was never before recorded. ::

V'Lenn: whispering to herself : Fascinating.

:: With little to report in one manner, but knowing this development must be forwarded to her superiors, she opened a comm channel. 

V'Lenn:  V'Lenn to Commander Clifton, come in. 

Clifton:  =/\= Clifton here, go ahead, Lieutenant.  =/\=

V'Lenn:  Sir, I was examining to robot in the secured area of Engineering when something happened.

Clifton:  =/\= Okay, don't keep me in suspense.  What happened?  =/\=

V'Lenn:  Something emerged from the robot, some form of energy unlike anything I've seen before.  A spherical ball of energy just emerged from the robot and then left the area.

Clifton:  =/\= Why wasn't the forcefield barrier active, as I ordered?  =/\=

V'Lenn:  It was.  The ... whatever it was ... just floated right through a containment field as f it weren't there.

Clifton:  =/\=Where did it go?  =/\=

V'Lenn:  I'm uncertain, it just vanished into a bulkhead.

Clifton:  I see, well I'll inform the Captain and initiate ship wide Intruder Alert.

V'Lenn:  Understood, sir.

Clifton:  See if you can learn any more from the robot, and keep alert for any more of these ... whatever they are.

V'Lenn:  Understood, sir.  V'Lenn out.

::Within the next few moments, Clifon informed Captain MacLaren of the new situation and got her approval for security measures.  He immediately signaled a red alert, condition 4* throughout the ship, this specific type of red alert was also known as Intruder Alert, which was what he suspected they had.  Whatever this form of energy, it may have well been what had controlled the robot and killed a crewman, it was therefore hostile and Clifton wanted to take no chances.  It was possible that this particular .. whatever it was ... wasn't alone and there could well be others hidden aboard the ship.

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* Condition 4 can only be implemented by the XO or CO. This condition is also known by the term “Intruder Alert”. All Security Interlocks throughout the ship are activated, preventing any unauthorized movement between decks or among corridors.

Security personnel will assume command and control authority over all personnel within the isolated spaces where they may find themselves. Immediate steps are to be taken to positively identify all personnel in their area of control through the use of palm print, voice, retina scan or blood screening. Security personnel are to set phasers on KILL. The use of deadly force is automatically authorized during Condition 4, unless over-ridden by the officer implementing the condition.

Condition 4 can be rescinded only by the XO (if originated by that officer) or the CO (Whether originated by that officer or not)

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Cmdr. Clifton

XO

USS Odyssey

Lt. V'Lenn (SPC)

Chief Engineer

USS Odyssey