The info is out there

Posted on 15 Jun 2018 @ 7:18pm by Lieutenant JG Charles Carmichael & Lieutenant Commander Arjin Djinx & Master Warrant Officer Karyna Fordyce
Edited on on 18 Jun 2018 @ 4:59pm

1,800 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: The Search Begins
Location: Astrometrics Lab
Timeline: MD2 || 0830 hours

Following the staff meeting, Arjin had gathered a small group in Astrometrics to review the data they had retrieved since the sensors had been working again.
They would get new intell after the new probes and runs had been finished. But for now the main goal was to prepare some info for the away teams.

He walked over towards the main terminal, awaiting the arrival of the others.

The large doors of the Astrometrics lab whooshed open as Lt. Felix Langston strode in, still carrying a large thermos of coffee. The aroma had muted itself somewhat since the staff meeting, but still hung in the air and around Felix's head and shoulders. He saw the Trill Science Chief at the main terminal in the lab and walked up to him.

"Good day, Commander," Felix said as he approached the terminal. The large screen of the lab loomed in front of the main terminal, dwarfing it and the two officers with its readout of the Alpha Trios system. "Looks like that's gonna be fun for some shuttle pilots," he said, indicating the scrambled sensor pulses that played havoc with the Astrometric Lab's displays.

"Funny you say that," Lieutenant Carmichael remarked, trying to work with his console. "It was pretty hard getting the readings that we have when we viewed the system from afar. But now that we're here, our sensor pulses are being reflected off of everything. I can't get solid readings on anything, other than to tell you that objects with mass are out there. If you want details, we're gonna have to get up close and personal."

Arjin nodded back towards the Lieutenant. "Good day to you also. Still hooked on coffe I see.", he smiled.

Turning his attention towards Carmichael he added, "I do want details. Yes. They can mean the difference between taking a right or a wrong decision. Question is do we have a shuttle left to check things out ourselves?"

Charles looked to Lieutenant Langston, who as the Chief Flight Control Officer would know if any shuttles were available. If memory served correctly, only the two runabouts were taken, leaving a variety of shuttlecraft behind.

It's not that hard to check the shuttle inventory, Karyna thought. She hadn't spent much time with Commander Djinx yet, despite working for him.

"We absolutely have a shuttle left," Felix said, nodding almost instinctively. "It's not going to be easy flying in there. We can't plot a course if we can't see where we're going. We'll be going in almost blind."

Felix paused for a second, feeling a bit of reckless energy in his veins provided by the additional jolt of caffeine. "Like I said before though, it sounds like fun." He paused again. Sounds like fun? he thought. This isn't you! Snap out of it!

Charles raised an eyebrow. The Lieutenant certainly had a wild idea about fun. Then again, stellar cartography was Charles' speciality, and if it meant getting up close and personal, then that was acceptable, especially if it gave him a chance to learn more about these individuals. "Then what are we waiting for?" he asked.

"I suppose we do not have to wait for anything.", Arjin responded. "Let's do this. Mix work and pleasure.", he smiled. "I'll put in the paperwork and demand clearance from the Captain. Lieutenant Langston, you get us in and out in one piece."

"And the rest of us?" Charles asked, wondering if he and Fordyce would be accompanying the senior officers on this little venture.

Arjin raised an eyebrow when he turned towards the Lieutenant. "With we and us, I was talking about all of us here in this room Lieutenant. No need you should miss the fun. Besides all of our skills will be needed if we want to crack this puzzle."

Charles nodded. "Then let's get to it, shall we?"

After an "all clear" from the Captain, they headed over towards the Shuttle Bay where the shuttlecraft Doohan was waiting for them to board. Arjin entered and strapped into one of the seats. Ready to be heading to take a closer look.

Inside and sitting in the pilot seat was a female human Ensign. Arjin had expected Mr. Langston to be sitting over there. The surprise must have shown on his face as the Ensign started to explain. "Lieutenant Langston has been detained. He won't be able to join the away team and has asked me to fly you."

Arjin replied: "Thanks Ensign."

Lieutenant Carmichael boarded the shuttle immediately behind his superior officer. He took an auxiliary station, and started a level five diagnostic on the sensors. "Everything looks good," Charles stated.

Arjin nodded to the Lieutenants statement. "Ensign, will you please take us out and set course towards the astroid belt. Let us gather as much info as possible. But remember this might be enemy territory we are to explore. So keep a lookout for any ships."

The ensign nodded. "Aye Sir." She started with the shuttle's diagnostic. Her fingers darting over the console like it was a piano. Routine kicking in before taking off.

"I'll keep an eye out for unwanted guests," Charles said. "Though with all of this interference, that might be a bit of a challenge."

"I'm sure you will do fine.", Arjin replied. He was enjoying the ride. Nothing gives a better feel of being in the enviroment than flying with a shulttle. Looking ahead he saw the scattered pieces of the astroid belt that once was a planet. He hoped the others also felt the beauty of being out here.

Charles also saw the beauty in what was out there, despite the fact that he had to think about what led to such a phenomenon.
His fingers continued to work the controls, running scan after scan. "I'm picking up unusual amounts of theta radiation," he observed.

Arjin turned his seat. "Bearing?", he replied.

"Zero-three-six by one-five-two," answered Charles.

"Ensign. Take us closer but far enough away so it won't be able to affect us.", Arjin ordered.

"Anything else Mr Carmichael? Fordyce?"

Charles shook his head. "I can't get anything conclusive. We're just going to have to get up close and personal."

Arjin waited till the Ensign had changed their headding and they were brought closer to the source of the radiation. It brought them closer to the astroid field also. The ride was a bit bumpy. How could it be any else? Luckily their pilot was more than capable.

Charles continued to manipulate the sensors, hoping for some sort of magical breakthrough. Unfortunately, it just didn't come. "The levels are strong despite the decay rate," he announced. "But these look artificial in origin. Possibly from a series of detonations a few hundred years ago."

Reviewing the data, Arjin agreed. "The question then is. Were these detonation accidental or done on purpose? The fact there were many could suggest the latter."

"We are talking something on a planetary scale," Charles mused. He gave the matter a moment of thought before adding, "It would take Starfleet several hundred ships and several gross of tricobalts per ship in order to tear a planet apart. I can't imagine something of this magnitude being accidental, but on purpose? That's a lot of firepower."

"True.", replied Arjin. "Or very concentrated. Directly impacting the core of the planet!"

Charles nodded, considering the matter for a while longer. "If we can follow the orbit of the asteroid belt, we should be able to gather enough data for the Black Hawk's computer to create a timeline of collapse, maybe even suggest a few causes."

"Lets. Ensign take a trajectory course alongside the astroid belt. But keep us in safe distance away from the radiation."

The shuttle slowly turned and took a paralel course of the belt. Arjin and Charles started their scans and recordings.

As Lieutenant Carmichael scanned, he found himself drawing more and more conclusions while the data was collected and collated. The asteroids had definitely been part of a planet at one point in time, something clearly evident by evidence of extinguished life that was still gripping the fragments that now orbited the star. As they got to the edge of the belt, Charles remarked, "Radiation levels are diminishing. Looks like the bulk of the asteroids are collecting the radiation, and now Alpha Trios's background radiation is taking over again. Starting to lose resolution once more."

Arjin looked at the readings the Lieutenant had reviewd. It did seem the radiation would have had something to do with the breaking of the planet.
"Let us take a look at Alpha Trios 2.", Arjin said. "I wonder if those pieces are going to tell us something also."

"I can't tell from this range," said Charles, trying to manipulate the sensors. "There's still too much interference. We're going to have to get closer."

Arjin gave the order and the Pilot maneuvered the craft with skill as to bring them close to what was left of the second planet in the system.

As the shuttle neared its destination, the sensors became clearer, allowing Charles to collect the data he desired. "I'm picking up practically similar concentrations of radiation. The highest amounts are consolidated near the planet's core, and they are certainly artificial." Looking up at Commander Djinx, he added, "Whatever happened here, it was intentional."

"Seems like someone had a grudge against the inhabitants of this system. Maybe the other teams have collected intell about who they where and why and if they pose a threath for us."
"I propose we take a look at the fouth planet that still holds an enclave. I want to scan the rest of the surface of that planet as well. After that we can go home and make out a rapport.",Arjin added.

"Ensign take us ther but keep us on the other side from the colony. Out of their sight."

The shuttle arrived in record time, allowing Charles to collect his scans. "Same type of radiation, but it looks like it's in smaller concentrations. Whatever happened here must have not been as powerful, or something different was used. I won't be able to tell without running some simulations though."

"Maybe they ran out of ammo.", Arjin replied. "Or it did not reach the core. Do you need more scans here?"

Charles shook his head as the last of the limited sensor palettes completed their work. "Looks like I've got everything I can get."

"Lets bring her in then Ensign"

The flight went smooth and without surprises. The Doohan could rest once more inside the belly of the big ship. Arjin thanked the pilot and followed Lieutenant Carmichael to work on the simulations until they could give the captain their best estimated info about what had happened here.

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