Camouflage

Posted on Sat Jan 2nd, 2010 @ 6:43pm by Lieutenant JG Yvette LaFaal

833 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Balowlli System
Location: Stellar Cartography
Timeline: Current

ON:

Kevin Larkin was sitting at the control panel of the Stellar Cartography lab, preparing for a survey of neutron star the Archimedes would soon be passing. This survey was routine, so there was neither a reason for Larkin to be doing it himself nor a reason to be utilizing the stellar cartography display, however the man's first scientific love had been astronomy, thus he never passed up an opportunity to use this system. The radiant white ball shown proudly on the large screen in front of him, and, as the survey was entirely automated from this point on, Larkin was simply enjoying the view.

The CSO was broken from his thoughts by the sound of the large doors opening behind him. Swiveling the chair around, he saw that ship's Chief Diplomatic Officer had entered the room. He had yet to speak with her, nor could he recall her name, but he recognized her from the mission briefing.

"Lieutenant Larkin?", she asked tentatively as she came down the small gangway into the Cartography lab. "Sorry to intrude, I'm Lieutenant Yvette LaFaal. I was hoping you might be able to assist me with some more topographical information about the star system that we are bound for at the moment".

Yvette couldn't get over the beauty in the room. The large expansive screen was displaying a large vista encompassing all the sights in the area. From nebula to Stella nursery. Each one a mass of colour and wonder. She could certainly see the appeal of the Stella sciences but she imagined that she would spend too much time admiring the beauty of the universe rather than unlocking all the secrets.

"Certainly," Larkin turned back to the control panel. He couldn't help smiling momentarily, as he realized that the Lieutenant reminded him of a women he'd known back at the Academy. It was mostly in her voice: the accent. He would never have admitted it, but he could have listen to either of them read something as boring as the Federation Charter and been completely engrossed.

After a few quick button presses and a whirl of stars, an image of the Balowlli System materialized in front of them. "What did you want to know?"

"Anything you can tell me. We have alot of Anthropological data about the Star System, but we need to know more about the Star Systems make up and any anomalies that may cause us any problems.

Larkin scanned the data in front of him, and began to rattle off properties, "G type star...not unlike Earth's Sun, but a little farther along its life cycle... Seven planet sized objects and a multitude of smaller ones. Looks like there's a collection of comets floating about a the edge of the system. There's another star only one and a half light-years from the system. Its gravity well might effect our course slightly, but Conn should have no trouble adjusting to that," Larkin fell silent as his eyes scanned through a few more lines of text. "Astronomically it's not all that unique of a star system. That's probably why it was selected for the mission in the first place."

The perspective of the stellar cartography display zoomed in slightly to show two planets in the center of the system. "These are the two inhabited worlds, and this," a small section of the map beyond the outer inhabited world became highlighted, "is the site of our tests." The CSO's eyes squinted at a few numbers being displayed next to the highlighted area. "The nearby planet...might...be able to see us if they're technology is advanced enough. I wouldn't be too worried about it, though. The chances are pretty slim; they'd have to be looking right at us."

"Is there anything else you can tell us, or does that cover it?" Yvette asked trying to squeeze out what little information she could. She didn't hold out any more hope for a thrilling breakthrough, but you never know.

"Well," Larkin's eyes narrowed again. "There is some sort of EM disturbance a couple of million kilometers away from our testing site. It could be just about anything; we'll be able to get a better idea once we get closer." He turned away from the console and frowned. "Sorry, I wish I could have been of more help."

"You have been more than helpful. Thank you Lieutenant", she smiled at the Science Officer allowing it to turn into a playful grin. "Now I won't keep you any longer. If you'll excuse me sir".
She nodded as she stared for the door, not wanting to keep the officer from his work any longer.

Larkin smiled and turned back to his console as the woman left the room. Already at work on the computer, he called back over his shoulder before his guest could make it through the door. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Lieutenant."

"And you Lieutenant. Until next time!", she added as she smiled and exited the room.

 

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