Numbers beyond what you can dial
Posted on Wed Aug 7th, 2024 @ 8:52am by Lieutenant Atna & Lieutenant Commander Alex Flynn & Lieutenant T'Vath & Lieutenant JG Frak & Lieutenant JG Grace Douglas & Ensign Irik Sul & Ensign Masdri Meche & Petty Officer 2nd Class Airu & Centurion D'Dora Mirok
Edited on on Wed Aug 7th, 2024 @ 8:54am
1,344 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Startup Sequence [0]
Location: Bridge, USS Faraday - Outer Dreizhen system
Timeline: 1500 Hours - MD23
Alex liked being an XO. It suited her like few other tasks. Even as a Chief of Security there were parts of the job that chafed her. She was always better at telling people what they should be doing instead of doing it herself. And if she didn’t have to decide what it was they were doing, all the better. The Captain had to do the decision making, she just had to get everyone doing what was required to make the decision a reality.
Now, a week into her posting as the acting Captain of the Faraday, she still felt ill-at-ease commanding a vessel herself. Some would say derisively that it was only a 200+ year old reissue that barely had the necessary tactical capacity to deal with a light plasma storm, but the responsibility weighed on her.
She hadn’t had much to do but take in the incredible sight of low-orbit over each of the fascinating worlds, often from the observation lounge. Sometimes she'd have a smoke or replicate a snack someone had suggested when she had the room to herself, which was often. She deferred to Atna for any of the scouting operation parameters.
Now she sat among the bridge crew in the Captain's chair, having each of them choose a song for them to listen to so long as their duties remained light. T’Vath at tactical had chosen a 28-minute oneness chant that wasn’t particularly interesting, but was inexplicably soothing. The Romulan Centurion Mirok at the helm chose a Romulan band that sounded like 20th century Earth Hair Metal with woodwinds and heavy drums instead of strings.
It wasn’t really the bridge vibe the others seemed to be going for, but it was catchy enough to get stuck in Alex’s head for the rest of the day. Her Yeoman Slar had been given a supporting role in operations, and chose as his selection a song called once upon a time in the west, apparently from an Earth film, and while it was also a bit weepy for the bridge, it’s beauty made Alex appreciate just how cultured her Gorn yeoman really was.
“Atna to Flynn. We are prepared to present our findings.” Atna told the XO.
“I’ll be right with you.” Alex said, tapping her combadge. “Frak, the bridge is yours. Get us back to port.” Alex told the young Ferengi officer who’d been working one of the auxiliary terminals.
Alex entered the observation lounge, where almost all of DS13’s senior scientists were assembled.
“Welcome, commander. Shall we begin?”
“Please.” Alex said, taking a seat. She could feel the attention of Douglas, Sul, Meche and Airu upon her.
“The Dreizhen system is truly remarkable, ranking in the upper first percentile of potential habitability. While the first planet is a lifeless class-B geomorteus planetoid and the second is a class-Y Demon world, both the third and fourth fall within the lifezone.” Atna explained, cycling through the holographic projections of each world, the blackened husk of Drezhen I, then the scarred volcanic landscape of II. Dreizhen III was a brown, baked desert with tiny blue oceans under each ice cap. Dreizhen IV was a bounteous 10/10 M-class paradise, covered in archepelagos and vast continental shelves." Atna began, clearly and with appropriate volume.
“Dreizhen Five is J-type gas-giant, notable for its Romulan deuterium refinery in the lower exosphere, the only permanent settlement in the system other than DS13. Fifteen of its moons are habitable or could be made so with minor geoforming.” The orange sphere and its glittering moons danced above the table-top, until Dreizhen Six appeared, a ringed purple sphere with only a dozen moons.
“The Sixth planet is an N-class gas giant, five of its moons are habitable or near-habitable. Its rings are composed of metals that are difficult to scan through its intense magnetosphere, further survey is recommended.” Atna changed the display, and the ringed purple gas-giant became the vibrant blue supergiant Dreizhen Seven.
“Seven is a class-I supergiant with some internal qualities that I believe merit further survey. There are more than thirty-eight moons, none are currently habitable except by extremophilic species, but three have geoforming potential.” Atna explained. “Do you have any questions, Commander?”
“Where would you recommend we put our focus first?” Alex asked.
“Please give your opinions if you have them.” Atna told the team.
“The makeup of Dreizhen VII could present the greatest opportunity for discovery. The conditions in the inner layers are likely to be home to naturally occurring exotic particles.” The Exogeologist Airu said. "Of course that's a purely selfish suggestion." She added with a smile.
“The possibilities of the seventh planet are fascinating it’s true, but we already have partial data on most of Dreizhen five’s moons. We could have them surveyed and approved for colonisation within a month.” Ensign Meche argued.
“I agree with Ensign Meche.” Lieutenant Douglas said in her distinctive Aotearoa accent with a nod. “We could also probably do the same with the third planet in about six weeks.”
“Me too.” Ensign Sul echoed the sentiment.
“Sounds like Dreizhen five is the winner of our very first in-depth survey.” Alex responded.
“I concur.” Atna said with a glance to Ensign Meche that only those who knew Atna would interpret as praise.
Out the forward window, DS13 was growing larger. The upper dock hangar doors parted, and soon the Faraday was back inside the station. Lieutenant Frak declared blue alert, and Alex dismissed the scientists.
"I have a question, Commander, if you will indulge me." Atna asked once the other scientists were gone.
"Hit me." Alex said turning in her seat to Atna, lighting a cigarette she'd kept next to her filtration drone, which she activated a moment later. She knew from their time together that Atna had no objection to it.
"This system is an extraordinarily valuable asset, not to mention the station. I find it difficult to believe the Romulans abandoned it simply because of the administrative inconveniences. Certainly their tactical situation against the Imperialists is grave, but they could house millions of settlers who have waited for optimum-condition homes since the fall. Aside from that, this station is more defense than most other Romulan citizens live under in the Free State. Does Starfleet genuinely believe this is an act of friendship? Do you?"
"Let me answer your question with a question. What do you think is going on?" Alex asked her casually, flicking ash off the end of her smoke. The focused tractor beams from the drone caught and consumed the ashes.
"As I see it, there are two options. I believe it is equally likely that there is something very dangerous here or nearby that the Romulans think outweighs the value of the system." Atna said, folding her arms behind her back, taking a moment to stretch her shoulders, comfortable as she was in the XO's presence to be anything but expertly poised.
"Sounds reasonable. What's the other option?" Alex asked.
"The Romulans haven't abandoned it, and they are simply waiting for us to do something before they reclaim it." Atna theorised.
"Also disturbingly reasonable." Alex said with relaxed enthusiasm. "So what do we do?"
"What we can, and what discovery demands, until more evidence presents itself." Atna said simply, returning to her usual still position.
"Hmm." Alex made a thinking noise, and spun around in her chair for a moment. "I think you're making a lot of sense. I'd like you to start joining us for the weekly command security briefing. Me, Rovak, Kovar and Singh. Slar will get you more details."
"I will do so, Commander. Thank you for your time." Atna said, turning on the spot and leaving.
Alex always wondered if she could balance a book on Atna's head without it falling, so straight was her walk. She stayed in the lounge until she'd finished, and was the last one to leave the Faraday. She said hello to the deck crew as they entered to begin their maintenance.
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