That We Might See (Part 7 of 8)

Posted on 22 Feb 2019 @ 6:29pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lamar Darius & Lieutenant Amaranai Franklin & Lieutenant Lake ir-Llantrisant & Lieutenant JG Tris Shizn & Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri & Ensign Mimi & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Alexander & Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater
Edited on on 22 Feb 2019 @ 7:10pm

2,181 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A, Latari System
Timeline: MD 01, 0320 hrs

Previously, on That We Might See (Part 6)...

"No questions; mission and orders understood," Blake confirmed firmly, nodding to Lirha as she met her eyes. It was a grim and complex task ahead. The timeframe only increased the pressure. One thing was certain, if there was any chance at all that someone was alive down there, they'd get them home.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Deck 4 - Torpedo/Probe Launching System & Magazine

Hurrying from Deck 07 multi-purpose lab II, Matt briskly exited the turbolift on to Deck 04. He was heading into the forward torpedo launching system. He passed by the Waverider docking port but the door was closed. He knew that his friends and co-workers were just on the other side of that door and probably already buckled in for what was most likely a hazardous away-mission. He was determined to do all he could to get the best probe for the job.

Stepping inside the room he looked to his right for what standard probes were ready to go. There were only two. Type I and Type II. “Those won’t work,” he said aloud. He stepped over to the LCARS display and logged into the terminal and requested an inventory of the probes onboard the ship. His eyes settled on a Type VI probe that would work well in any orbit and even could descend into that atmosphere and still work well. It was well powered, well protected and should anybody try and take a shot at it, it had a few tricks up its sleeve like a fast engine. It could remain in orbit for a long time and was also able to track specific targets. He accessed the torpedo load system and attempted to load a Type VI probe and was met with: “ACCESS DENIED”.

“Dammit! Computer?! I need a Type VI probe transferred to the forward torpedo launching system,” he asked somewhat irritated.

The machine beeped back at him, =A= Access denied. Invalid authorization code. =A=

“Explain that!” he said.

=A= Access to armaments or Type Three and above probes is restricted. =A=

“Restricted. Restricted to whom?” he asked with a face like, ‘Don’t you know who I am?"

=A= Probe inventory is limited to Operations personnel or the Chief Science Officer, Executive Officer or Commanding Officer. Torpedo transfer system is limited to Tactical officers and Operations personnel, the Executive Officer and the Commanding Officer. =A=

Frustrated, he tapped his comm badge, =A= Plumeri to Bridge? =A=

=A= I need someone from OPS to help me get a Type VI sensor probe loaded into the forward torpedo bay. I need some help configuring it. Is Ensign Mimi available? Could you send her here to Deck 04? =A=

"I am already here lieutenant," Mimi announced as she came through the door. Her sharp hearing had picked up Matthew talking as she was walking over to the torpedo room. "Where do you need me?"

=A= Ops, never mind. Ensign Mimi just walked through the door. Thank you. =A=

Glad to see her he answered, "I need your help Ensign. I was trying to get a Type VI probe out of inventory and get it configured for immediate deployment but the computer needs your authorization as a member of OPS. I could also use a hand in the general configuration as I'm unfamiliar with RF band emissions and how to set that up as a backup in case regular subspace comms fail. I was hoping you could lend a hand?"

"The probe should be able to handle the distance easily but all this radiation could interfere with the signal a little." She turned to the torpedo racks. "Computer bring a class six probe to arming station. Authorisation Mimi seven five four beta three."

The racks containing the unarmed torpedoes trundled around till a class six probe reached the loading rail and was pushed forward to the arming station.

"Now we're getting somewhere!" he said with a delightful grin. "Just need to know the right person to ask." On the blunt end of the arming station was an inline toolbox that was closed. Matt opened it up and got out two hand-held, manual bolt tools. Handing one to Mimi he said, "If we work together, we can cut this job in half-the time. Let's get the access cover off." He started to unscrew the two access cover bolts on his side. As he unscrewed the first bolt he asked, "You know how to configure the RF bands yeah?"

"I can do it." Mimi replied taking the tool and starting to unfasten the bolts on her side. "Should not take long, we should add a EM shielding package in as well, we can take out the extra fuel cell to make room, should help against the radiation."

Setting the bolts down on his side he waited for Mimi to finish before helping her remove the cover. Inside was a maze of ODN circuitry and data rods. Matthew took a hold of the fuel cell and pulled it out and went to the replicator. Setting the fuel cell inside he typed in the probe model number and the desired component. The fuel cell dissolved in a swirl of light and energy and an EM shielding generator appeared in its place. Handing her the device he said, "Here you go. I'll start calibrating the sub-space antenna and the low-range spectrum filter. I think we should boost the sub-space antenna and isolate the comm system for the Vincenzo in the sub-space transceiver array. We're not going to use this baby for atmospheric data collecting anyway. But it will need that extra EM shielding." He worked quickly.

"This class of probe is not designed for too much EM, it should certainly help." Grabbing some tools Mimi began to fit the more extensive EM shielding package.

Reaching into the nearby tool box and removing a tricrorder, Matt opened it and scanned the internal system of the probe. "Extra shielding is good, sub-space bands available are 9,720 channels give or take a few if you believe Schroedinger. Power is good and constant. RF high band radio is good. Low band is...good." Looking up at her and complimenting her work he added, "Nice work Ensign! Internal sensor package checks out. Based on low-orbit conditions and current solar radiation levels this probe can remain in orbit for several months." He closed the tricorder. "Let's button it up and put a big ass yellow bow on it." Replacing the cover he began tightening the cover bolts.

"With any luck it will not need to be there that long, hopefully everything goes ok for the away team." Mimi helped fasten up the probes casing. When they'd finished she stepped back away from the arming table. "Computer begin loading sequence."


Deck 1 - Bridge

The port-side door to the command center hissed open to signal Saalm's return. The Orion stepped into the bridge to retake her station while observing an eerie quietness throughout the dimly-lit room. "Lake," she acknowledged as she approached. "The shuttle team's been prepped and briefed. How are we up here?"

"We're alone out here, captain," answered Lake ir-Llantrisant, as he settled back into the executive officer's seat, beside Saalm. The Romulan counselor supposed that remained the most pressing matter at present. Tilting his head in Saalm's direction, Lake added a couple of caveats, "Alone with the ghosts of the Franconia. The Trial hasn't exited our sensor range yet. Shields are holding off the solar radiation. No reports of adverse effects among the crew."

"Operations ready," Ryan sounded to the away team and the bridge.

Amaranai had been listening to the constant conversations going on around her. It was something that she had gotten used to - the many conversations on the bridge, especially during a Red Alert. She knew the shields would have to drop in order to launch and had her fingers on the command to be ready.

"Tactical ready to drop shields, captain," she said.

=A= Bridge, forward torpedo room. The fish is in the tube! =A= Crossing his arms with a satisfactory grin Matt said, "Well done Ensign."

"Thank you lieutenant, bridge now has control of the probe." Ensign Ullswater responded through the comms as she pulled up the probe's systems and controls onto her terminal. She nodded towards the captain "All ready here."

Saalm checked off all the preparation boxes on her PADD's list while the status reports were announced. She then handed off the small device to her acting XO to review, as protocol dictated. "Ops, are we ready for Waverider separation?"

"Yes, ma'am. All systems are reading within operational standards and tolerances. We are ready for separation." Ryan replied after quickly glancing down to review the data on last time.

"Ahh," Lake said softly. It was a private moment for himself and for Lirha. Considering preparation check list that the Captain had handed him, Lake kept his eyes on the down. "This is what it feels like to watch them go," he said with some small hint of realization. He tilted his head to look to Lirha, but only for a moment.

At the forward helm station, Darius methodically paced his fingers across the auxiliary LCARS controls to send final course and trajectory computations to the shuttlecraft's computer. He synced surface telemetry and flight parameters to ensure the away team had the most updated and accurate coordinates. "Support craft flight vectors updated, captain. We're now waiting on Vincenzo."

Over the bridge speakers Lt. Shizn’s voice was heard, “Bridge, the Vincenzo is secured and ready for launch. Updated flight data has been received and uploaded.”

Lirha immediately gave the order. "Drop shields and launch the away team."

Amaranai's fingers pressed the key command and the dorsal shields dropped.

"Shields down," she offered.

At the conn, Darius pressed a button on his console to release Vincenzo's docking clamps, and Galileo slightly jolted from the structural separation.


Vincenzo NCC-80010-A/05

Tris knew exactly what to expect, and wanted this to go ‘by the numbers’. He called out to those onboard, “Standby for launch.” The docking clamps released the Waverider and Shizn activated the thrusters, which jettisoned the vessel straight down. The next second, the impulse engines were activated. Watching out the forward viewscreen, as soon as the Vincenzo cleared the lower saucer and the stars and blackness filled the view, Shizn’s hands moved gracefully over the controls causing the runabout to pitch down and impulse drive brought to one quarter power. The runabout pulled away easily. Once beyond the vicinity of the Galileo's hull, the Vincenzo was brought to full impulse. The planet before them began to grow larger.


Deck 1 - Bridge

The captain looked to her senior-most science officer and gave the next command. "Launch the probe."

"Aye captain." responded Ullswater. She entered the command on her terminal to carry out the captain's order and an infinitesimal amount of time later, somewhere out of sight, a torpedo tube was opening up and from it depths the probe was launched.

Ullswater made some quick corrections to its course to bring it into orbit of the wounded planet. "Probe is now on course," she narrated back to the bridge and did a quick scan of the screen before allowing herself a little smile reporting "The communications link seems to be working as expected."

"We have a good datalink with the shuttle. For now," reported Darius at the helm. The more the craft descended into the atmosphere, however, the more likely it was to degrade.

With the shuttle away, Amaranai raised the dorsal shields once again.

"Shields up and at full power."

Amaranai returned her focus to the scanners and waited for her next orders.

Saalm tugged at the bottom of her uniform vest to adjust herself. "Hail Trial, let them know we launched our team and we're ready to proceed to the second colony site."

With a nod, Ryan entered in a series of commands which opened a channel to the Trial and sent a message to the vessel about the away team being dispatched to the colony site. "Message sent and acknowledge receipt confirmed ma'am," Ryan replied to Lirha.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-A

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

ENS Sofie Ullswater
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

LTJG Matthew Plumeri
Science 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

LTJG Tris Shizn
Senior Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A

ENS Mimi
Deputy Operations Manager
USS Galileo-A

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