That We Might See (Part 3 of 8)

Posted on 22 Feb 2019 @ 4:51pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lamar Darius & Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant Amaranai Franklin & Commander Marisa Wyatt & Lieutenant Lake ir-Llantrisant & Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Alexander & Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater & Commander Teegan Jones & Petty Officer 1st Class T'Lin
Edited on on 22 Feb 2019 @ 4:56pm

2,267 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A, Latari System
Timeline: MD 01, 0255 hrs

Previously, on That We Might See (Part 2)...

Allyndra heard the counselor and raided an eyebrow and added the Earth phrase, "Sic vis pacem, para bellum." She looked to Lirha after the reports of warp core signature and debris of Federation origin had come in. "Perhaps we should go to red alert captain? Something happened and while no Tholians detected, very seldom do Federation ships suddenly destroy themselves."

Saalm shook her head at the suggestion. "Tactical reports the system is clear," she replied, also knowing deep down that such preliminary scans were only temporary especially when compounded by sensor interference. "And we do not know for sure this debris field is composed entirely of Federation remains. We will have to get closer to investigate."

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Deck 7 - Astrometrics

"Mr. Plumeri, identify the source of the radiation," Marisa said as she worked on reconfiguring the sensors to get a better image and data stream.

"I'm on it" Matthew responded to the command. He whistled to himself, "Whew!" as the data from the teamed sensor arrays on the Galileo and the Trial formed what looked like a 'sensor net'. On the LCARS display was a grid-like array that was the basis of the teamed sensors. It extended out beyond both ships allowing the science officer to see a little more than he could with a single sensor suite. The data flowed in and the computer analyzed and relayed the data into a meaningful stream. Well - meaningful to an Astrometrics officer at least - and he smiled and nodded as he read and processed the information. Speaking loudly with his voice aimed at the central console Matthew said, "Large waves of high-energy protons are accelerating past us. The particles appear to be more energetic on the port-side of Galileo. That would be...bearing 030 and extending past the range of the sensors at current amplitude and range. I'm not detecting any...well...not really any highly electromagnetic disturbances." He spun around and faced the center console, "We're most likely witnessing the effects of a recent coronal mass ejection. When a solar flare or a coronal mass ejection occurs, the two often occur at the same time, but not always, large amounts of high-energy protons are released, really vomited out of the star, if you like. This can occur from any surface of the star. A photospheric shift algorithm would define from which star it came. Most likely not longer than thirty-minutes ago." He turned back to his screen and typed in a few more commands and nodded saying, "Confirmed, Trial is running a spectrum wave analysis. Looks like one of the stars Latari B, most likely, from bearing 030 and the passing proton waves leaving the system at right angles to the solar plane."

Marisa found a blown circuit and replaced it while she continued to call out instructions. "Ms. T'Lin, get me a full readout of the three suns. See if there are any changes from the last survey. I want to rule them out before we focus on other possibilities."

"Yes ma'am," T'Lin replied and started a comparison of data base from the current readings. "There is a 0.0005% dimming of Latari A. It would appear though to be something in front rather than a change in overall solar luminosity."

The holographic image and data stream came back online in a bright flash that immediately dimmed as the filters made automatic adjustments.

"Let's see if we can get a better look," Marisa said, adjusting the image. "That looks like a debris field," Marisa said, focusing in on the area.

Over the comm speakers in the observatory, the captain queried their status with a sense of urgency in her voice. "Astrometrics, bridge, report. We're experiencing heavy sensor interference but we've positively ID'd a Federation distress beacon. It's near a debris field in orbit of Latari B III. Can you confirm?" came the request.

"Sandoval here. Yes, ma'am, we identified a debris field." She glanced at the data scrolling beside the images. "It appears to be a Federation starship. We're detecting a warp core signature."

"And the interference source?" Saalm then asked. "What's out there that's so powerful our short-range sensors can't compensate?"

Blake had grown cold at the confirmation of the debris field's origin. She straightened up from the table stiffly, resting on her back foot as she kept her breath tight. "Large waves of high energy protons. Lieutenant Plumeri thinks that a coronal mass ejection could be responsible, likely from one of Latari B III's stars..." she glanced to Matthew, motioning for him to send his data through to the bridge.

"One moment Captain." Nodding, and turning back to his terminal, Matt quickly worked on summarizing the data for the captain. Captain Saalm was an excellent scientist as well as an excellent captain; but she was a captain and she had to make decisions. Matt's bridge officer training reminded him that short summaries that contained only relevant and actionable data points would be appreciated when you sat in the "big chair". To that end, he worked. First, he created a new visual report that contained the Galileo and the Trial teamed duplex sensors. He showed the high-energy protons streaming by and the faster and more energetic particles were on Galileo port side. Another data table opened up and he showed the energy of those protons. Demonstrating the fact that if living, organic tissue were exposed to this it would seriously harm living tissue. Lucky for them Galileo protected the crew from this kind of deadly radiation.

Next, he showed where the particles were most likely coming from based on the data that was running and extrapolated it back towards the star Latari B. Little wave guides showed the relative amplitude of the likely coronal mass ejection and the gravitational rarefaction analysis that Lieutenant Sandoval had ordered earlier now came into play. It clearly demonstrated the trajectory of the high-energy protons and projected out their likely path as they left the solar system. The whole process took him about thirty-seconds to complete. An eternity when a bridge officer needed it. Matt finished the report, sent the data to Captain Saalm's terminal and he sent a copy to the Astrometrics center console for Lieutenant Sandoval. "You should have the data now."


Deck 1 - Bridge

"Acknowledged," the captain replied to the astrometrics lab. She didn't dispute their analysis in the least, but a traditional CME shouldn't have blindsided them like this. Lirha looked to the bridge's forward science stations to gain more information. "Sofie, can you confirm this theory? Is there anything else out there?"

The ensign shook her head as she glanced through the report. "Nothing I can see here would contradict it." She said checking once again through the sensor results on her screen as a frown began to spread across her face. "That said I'm worried that with such a significant amount of radiation there should have been other signs of a solar event. Perhaps there was though and we just can't see it - with this interference I'm still not seeing much at all on the short range scans."

Amaranai checked her console again and verified the statement.

"Unfortunately, we are too far away to get more data."

"Ma'am, I am receiving an incoming hail from the Trial." Ryan said, directing his statement to Allydnra as he spent a few moments cleaning up the signal of interference.

Allydnra turned and said, "Acknowledge to the captain of the Trial. Inform them that Captain Saalm is on the bridge now."

The comm channel chirped to signal an open communique. The Miranda-class' female XO spoke to them directly through the bridge's overhead speakers. "Galileo this is Trial. We're, um...well, experiencing a sensor blackout for most of the inner systems. Our CSO is reporting abnormal solar radiation signatures, but he's also detected what he thinks is a debris field belonging to a Federation starship. Along with a distress beacon. Our scans show the signal source to be in the vicinity of Latari B III. What's your analysis?"

"Commander Allyndra here. We have been having the same, and have the same results. Possibly a CME event, but unknown for sure at this time. We have been trying to run an inferometry to parse out data but without success but if I may suggest, perhaps linking our two different sensor arrays will give us a better and wider baseline to conduct an interferometry analysis?" She looked over to Lirha. It was like the multiple arrays that were used. Each one adding to superimpose the data to allow extraction."

Several second passed with silence across the channel while the Trial's XO consulted with her captain. Finally her voice came back across the comm. "Confirmed Galileo, we're already linking your astrometrics data and will initiate full sensor system synchronization. But it will take some time, at least ten minutes. Orders from the captain are to proceed to the closest colony where the debris field is. We have operational authority so you'll take point and provide support for us."

From her chair, the Galileo captain exhaled a small breath of frustration but also remembered she and her crew were subject to operational authority. In a multi-vessel formation, the tactically-superior vessel was the senior command vessel, and despite the Nova II-class' new technological advancements, she was still a frigate outclassed by the larger and more powerful light cruiser. Lirha looked to Allyndra and gave her a reluctant nod to signal their acknowledgement.

Allyndra nodded to Lirha and then turned. "Communications, acknowledge to the Trial that the Galileo will follow as requested. Science begin link with our astrometrics and initiate with the Trial the interferometry link up." She probably was overstepping a bit but considering this ship was much better equipped for such a task and the Trial's XO had not indicated otherwise she added, "We will take lead on parsing out the data."

She gave a quick side look to the captain and smiled a little. The Trial might have lead being the bigger more armed ship but that did not mean the Galileo had to completely play second fiddle.

Looking around the new flurry of activity around the bridge, Lake ir-Llantrisant caught snippets of data about the radiation from the viewscreen and every other LCARS panel his gaze landed upon. Piecing that information together with what he knew of anatomy, Lake's first thought went to the Starfleet crews. The crews about Galileo, aboard Trial, and... the debris field. Speaking up, Lake asked the obvious question, on the assumption that he couldn't be the only one thinking it. "If there's something a Federation starship out there," he asked, "how effective would its escape pods' shielding be against this kind of radiation?"

"Minimal," Lirha replied with a cold and severe tone. "And if the radiation hadn't killed them first, the life pods only have enough life support for eighty-six days." She paused then looked into Lake's Romulan eyes. "It's already been over ninety."

Wincing at her words, Lake looked away, turning his gaze towards the viewscreen. He tried awfully hard not to imagine that Federation starship crew huddled aboard escape pods, trying hard not to imagine the Galileo crew huddled aboard escape pods... That's probably why Lake quipped, "I would recommend against approving any shore leave here..."

The captain looked from the counselor to the main viewscreen and the conn. There was little time to delay. "Helm, sync our vectors with Trial and assume formation Alpha-two. Engage."

Lamar listened to the order and immediately started to tap away at his console to input the correct coordinates and establish a friendly nav lock with the other starship. "Yes captain, plotting new course for Latari B III, coordinates linked. Taking point." The chief warrant officer added some juice to Galileo's impulse engines to boost their speed and assumed a forward position in front and above their escort. "Increasing impulse factor," he then called out.

In the depths of outer space within the distant colonies of Latari, the two Federation starships began to streak through the system at high velocity towards their new destination. From the bridge of Galileo, the various outer planets appeared to slowly pass by the vessel but their massive size gave a false sense of distance to the untrained eye. It was a thirty-second burn that ended up feeling like a minute.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-A

CWO3 Lamar Darius
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Saalm]

CMDR Allyndra Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer/2XO
USS Galileo-A

ENS Sofie Ullswater
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

LT Marisa Sandoval
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

PO2 T'Lin
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Warraquim]

LTJG Matthew Plumeri
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

LT Amaranai Franklin
Deputy Security Officer
USS Galileo-A

LT Lake ir-Llantrisant
Chief Counselor
USS Galileo-A

ENS Ryan Alexander
Operations Manager
USS Galileo-A

CDR Teegan Jones
First Officer
USS Trial
[PNPC Sandoval]

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