Taking a Closer Look at the Sensor Logs

Posted on Thu Dec 2nd, 2010 @ 6:52pm by Lieutenant Commander Dylan Blake

776 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Lost Friends
Timeline: After the Ranger enters orbit around Overton

[ON]

Briefing Room, Deck 1

"You see...right...there" said Zhukov as he pointed to the blip on the screen in the main conference room. "It's only there for, maybe a second or two, but then...Archimedes drops out of warp and falls off the screen too. I mean, the two have to be connected, don't you think?" he asked Lieutenant Dylan Blake who sat at the table and looked up at the screen.

The lieutenant in question pursed him lips together with thought. "Perhaps," he answered. "Play it back." He moved closer, standing beside the screen. "Curious... I think you maybe right."

Zhukov nodded and touched a few buttons to play the sensor log readings back again on the large screen. As it played back he hit the freeze frame button and a small blip appeared near where the sensors say the Archimedes was. "Right there." Zhukov said placing his finger on the screen next to the "blip".

"The problem is...do they have it on their sensors long enough to pick up any kind of meaningful readings? I mean, a warp signature would be nice." Vladimir said to Dylan.

Blake gave him a sideways look. "That would be lovely I know, but I seriously doubt we'll be able to find enough data here to ID one."

"You know...even without a warp signature...maybe we can get a spectral scan if we cross these readings with the long range flight plan data from Deep Space Five." Zhukov said as he tried to pull data from unlikely sources.

It took the computer a few minutes to analyze all the information that Zhukov had asked it to run. The results were disappointing.

"Not enough data to come to a conclusion. It figures." said Zhukov as he looked at the screen.

While Zhukov result came back as fruitless Dylan continued to mull over the puzzle. "How about another approach, something a little wider."
"Computer, extrapolate a theory of what other unidentified readings our based on the limited information available."

While the computer worked upon his request Blake gave Zhukov a shurg, "It's worth a try."

"Process complete," the cold voice of the ships computer said. "Three possible matches found based on the data available: Romulan, Orion and QAR"

Blake's eyes widened with horror. "Oh that's not good," he breathed.

Zhukov took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Alright," he said as he tapped another button, "let's use process of elimination here, shall we?" Vladamir's heart began to beat slightly faster as he exhaled.

"First off, the Orions. Number one, this is way beyond their normal borders, and two we probably would have heard something about this in the back channels by now. Also, I'm not sure the Orion syndicate has the technology to face off against even a Starfleet Science ship." Zhukov said to Blake as they stood in front of the display.

"That leaves two options, neither of them good." said the Chief Flight Control Officer. "There are arguments for both sides here. Both of them would be very interested in whatever the Archimedes was carrying. But I don't know if the QAR has the resources to take on a starship head to head. The Romulans certainly do, but this would be the deepest penetration I've ever heard of for a Romulan, or even a Tal Shiar ship into Federation space. I wonder if there is any chatter on the Intelligence channels." he said out loud knowing it would give him another chance to work with T'mpest.

Lieutenant Blake nodded as Zhukov talked through his explanation. The possibilities were troubling: "Defiantly not good in any case. Do we have enough evidence to alert the Captain?"

Vladimir nodded. "I think she has already gone down to the planet, but I'll send her and the XO the information. Should probably send it to Commander Michaels too to see if she can add anything." Zhukov said.

"Yes I think Commander Michaels should be kept in the loop. Its possible some of this may have leaked out enough for her to catch a whiff of something." Blake nodded.

"Well, I think we have raised more questions here then we answered, but we've done the best we could." Zhukov said to Blake. "Thank you for your help, Lieutenant." Vladimir said to him as they both left the conference room and headed back towards the bridge.

[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Vladimir Zhukov,
Chief Flight Control Officer

&
Lieutenant Dylan Blake,
Chief Operations Officer

 

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