Action Plan (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on 25 Aug 2016 @ 11:31pm by Lieutenant Commander Ryan Alexander & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Langdale Wiggins & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Commander Luke Wyatt & Lieutenant Benice Gyce Ph.D. & Lieutenant JG Natalya Kirilova & Lieutenant JG Braxton MacKenzie & Ensign Miraj Derani
Edited on on 25 Aug 2016 @ 11:54pm

2,207 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 12 - Recluse
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 1, Conference Room
Timeline: MD 01 - 1145 hrs

Previously, on Action Plan (Part 1)...

Ryan brought a visual of the best locations depending upon the damage. There were 3 likely scenarios that were displayed. With one entry through the hanger, one through one of the cargo holds, and another through the airlock aft. "If we are able to use the transporter, the most likely places that would have structural integrity would be the cargo holds and the bridge. Usually that would be engineering, however, the distress call indicated warp core damage, so it might not be the best location, however I am sure Lieutenant Kirilova might have some better ideas. We can also cut our way through, essentially create our own airlock, through an area located here." He said pointing at a section near the bridge. "We can easily set up a temporary airlock there, which should hold against the nebula gases for several hours. I was apart of an operation that did that a few years ago, and it worked very well. However, I would recommend that as the last option as that would mean we would have to evacuate the ship, and we would most likely have to go EVA in order to do it." He said pausing for another moment, replaying the various places that he recommended for boarding. He looked over his notes, wondering if he had anything. "Since we are the closest ship, we are legally obligated to help them. I can answer any questions or concerns." Ryan said, before sitting down, hoping that he hadn't just made a fool of himself. He was fairly certain that his ideas would be ripped apart.

And Now, the Conclusion...

[ON]

"Before we even consider entry I would be more comfortable to ensure there are living beings on board and this is not some odd automated. Also, the amount of radiation in the neubla would have probably precluded survival and if they have I am most curious as to how they did it. While a rescue is of course important I think caution before boarding is in order. Something is just not quite right to my way of thinking and even if it is we should ensure our personnel are protected adequetly." Allyndra made a nod toward Lieutenant Wyatt showing she agreed with him.

While Lirha listened to her bridge crew debate, she couldn't help but notice that she, too, had many of the same reservations that had been expressed. She also recognized the duty they were all bound by to answer and investigate this distress signal.

Clipping her PADD back to her belt momentarily, she clasped her hands behind her back and turned to face those who'd spoken. "Your concerns are all noted. I would be lying if I did not share many of them with you," she began. "The IFF transponder encoded in the signal does match that of SS Recluse, and it is very unlikely there are survivors. Our archival data shows that the freighter had twelve crew and two children aboard at the time it disappeared. Even with replicator systems and life support fully functional...the vessel would have run out of food and water stores at least twenty years ago. But that is assuming all of the original crew were still alive and present." She sighed and rubbed her forehead briefly before continuing.

"We do not know what happened. Perhaps there was an accident and lives lost, and the food stores and power reserves were able to be extended? We can only speculate," she added before taking a breath and straightening up a bit, albeit with a slight bulge of her pregnant belly when she arched her back straight. "Ensigns Derani and Alexander are correct: we are the closest starship in range and capable of responding. We must alter course. And while it has been many...many years since the starship disappeared, Galileo does have the most advanced sensors in the fleet. We detected the distress signal on an extremely low-frequency band that perhaps other starships' sensors were not calibrated to detect. And the Paulson Nebula is a very unforgiving place to become lost in...perhaps over the years, nebulous activity slowly pushed the freighter towards the outskirts and we are now just detecting the transmission?"

In truth, Lirha had no idea what was transpiring aboard Recluse. She didn't hope to try and convince her crew of her theories, but rather to try and explain that there were multiple possibilities and scenarios for what they might encounter.

Luke nodded "We should start work on the away teams, first priority should be securing the ship, then restoring systems, we should also have medics on standbye and a quartined zone set up in the infirmary. I also highly suggest being at yellow alert throughout the exchange until the ship can be moved out of the nebula where our sensors are fully operational and finally we should send a message to the USS Tycho and ask them to assist. We used a lot of resources whilst helping the colony they can take over the rescue and recovery operation"

"A good course of action, but let me remind you just in case, all personnel that go are to be quarantined on return. We must presume the worse." Allyndra added.

Miraj had been thinking through how to phyiscally get there. "I really need more information on the inside before I make any definite plans. but to be honest, i still think going in on a glide is probably the best. Turning off the main engines should give the sensors less noise to cancel out, and then just use thrusters to stop when we need. From what I've seen, the biggest danger from the helm's point of view is just not being able to see. There's not supposed to be any debris in there. Beyond the ship of course."

Braxton had been silent until now. He'd sipped his coffee trying to feed his headache the substance that it needed to calm down. The Paulson Nebula; it brought back memories of what happened there. He shook his head and tried to focus on writing down information. He'd brought a pen and notebook and some of the looks he'd been given by some of those officers in the room told him that they were not impressed with their chief sci man bringing in medieval implements. Okay, so the Paulson Nebula, a Class B nebula. Hydrogen, magnesium, dilithium and the fact that this SS Recluse was a dilithium hauling ship did not make for good times. The lady called Natalya was right a small spark and … it would not be pretty. But then there was the fact that it was lost in 2340 ish and why did it take so long to report it, a year? What about those people? Then there is the fact that this investigation screamed trap. Others had picked up on it too. Luke had a point in what he’d said.

Braxton tried to take a swig of his coffee and found it empty. Well that was peachy. He needed more but he worried about getting up. The Admiral would probably not like it and he’d be interrupting…he made a note to bring a coffee pot next time. He would just drink from it and that would be that.

Getting back to the task at hand he reviewed his notes. This trip through the pinkish purple gaseous sea that is the Paulson Nebula would be bad for Navigation and sensors and engines but he liked Ryan’s idea of the small cube sats. He raised his hand, feeling like he was back in school. When the Admiral turned her light green eyes upon him he swore his heart threatened to jump out of his throat. It would be the first time he spoke, what if people thought him to be an idiot….he shoved his insecurity aside. He’d been good at his job, he knew what he was doing, and it was this crowd playing with his brain. He hated crowds. When he spoke his professionalism was slammed in place. “I love the idea of the small cube sats but maybe we can turn 30 cubes into 60. If we made the sats a bit bigger just a few inches to allow for a backup system. When the primary sensor systems stop the secondary kicks in. We can maybe rig up a protective temporary force field to keep them from being affected by their surroundings. This way a couple ours could turn into a couple more and we could get more data from them….” He tried off.

Ryan nodded. "A more sophisticated Cube Sat is probably more beneficial if we need the endurance. I can Double the size, increase the power generation capability and add another type of sensor, which should extend the life of the Sat out to a day or two. However, that does mean we will have less of them." Ryan said as he scribbled a few notes down of his PADD. "Depending on how much time we have, I should be able to code, design, and produce approximately 60-70 Type 1 Cube Sat's in 30 hours. Or I can make 30-40 of the Type 2's in the abut the same time. That is assuming we have zero issues with program, synchronization, and production. We might be able to do more if we cut some corners." Ryan said as he sent both designs to Braxton.

Braxton looked at both designs. "How about if you had an extra pair of hands?"

Ryan shrugged. "It would certainly help, however the main issue in making the Sats are the materials that can't be replicated, the parts that we will either have to manual create. But if I had a few pairs of extra hands, we might be able to crank out 5-10 more in the same amount of time for the type 2's, maybe double that for the type 1's." Ryan said as he looked down at his PADD updating some numbers, before looking up and back to Braxton.

"Well I'll help. I'm sure I can round up a few more from the science department." Braxton said. "I say 5-10 more is still good. Plus as we're assembling we can think on the fly."

Gyce was quiet for a while. Considering. Luke hit many of the points she had, before she had the chance to air them. But there was one suggestion not on the table she felt she should bring up.

"I agree we should fact-find before we board the ship," Gyce began. "We lack any tactical data of the ship's condition and the reason it's been missing. So I suggest getting the squints together to make some sort of recon AI to board first. It everything is deemed safe, then we plan from there how to board her."

Turning to Gyce, "If time wasn't an issue I couldn't agree more but the ship is already in danger just being in the Nebula, if and I so hope there is a miracle and their are lives aboard that ship we should proceed with caution but hastily. If safety is a concern I would suggest sending a security heavy away team in full EV gear first to secure the ship. Only once its clear and the security team have given the heads up then we can send in engineer teams. There is actually a specific method in sweeping through a ship quickly and securing injured and the dead, but I wont get into the finer details right now unless you wish to hear but I can have it all sent to you." Luke said puttng it out on the table turning to the Admiral and the Higher command staff who had been mostly quiet during the briefing.

Allyndra nodded. "I believe we have a reasonable plan of action Admiral, Commander," she nodded to each in turn. "I would like to be part of the first medical aboard though."

"Very well," Lirha answered. Part of her was hesitant to plan too far in advance for what they might possibly encounter. Another part of her also knew her officers were doing their prudent duty to prepare for all scenarios. Everyone in the room seemed to value moving with caution, which was a reassuring sign. "You may all begin your preparations," she added. "We have roughly thirty-nine hours until we arrive at the Paulson Nebula. Keep your department personnel informed and send your updates to Commander Wiggins. Is there anything else?" She looked around the room wondering if there was anyone who wanted to speak before they all went their separate ways.

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

LTJG Natalya Kirilova
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

LTJG Noah Khoroushi
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
USS Galileo

ENS Miraj Derani
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Luke Wyatt
Chief Strategic Operations Office
USS Galileo

Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical and Second Officer
USS Galileo

Commander Langdale Wiggins
First Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. JG Braxton MacKenzie
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Ensign Ryan Alexander
Operations
USS Galileo

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