Meanwhile on the Pelican Part Two

Posted on Wed Jun 6th, 2012 @ 3:22pm by Captain Elsie Halliwell & Lieutenant Cedric Shepherd & Lieutenant JG T'Parn

1,089 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Bleeding it Dry
Location: USS Pelican
Timeline: Current

Zaragoza nodded. "Let's start with the purported warp device, then. Have you been able to determine the extent of native awareness of it? Was it a national or factional effort? And did they know that the device was the cause of the geological instability?"

"As far as we're aware," Elsie replied quietly, "the Taylforthians, on the whole, are unaware of what happened and why. The fractious nature of the planet, and what little we understand of them, makes this question very difficult to answer. I'm almost positive that the scientists working on the device would have known the cause but then that begs the questions as to why didn't they just turn the damned thing off. It was still running when we found it."

"I'll do you one better," Mikaela pressed assertively, having spotted an opportunity to ask something that bothered her. "Why was the thing 20,000 leagues under the sea of all places?" Her successive tone softened, but not so much that her next statement escaped the ears of the briefing room. "Worst subspace propulsion proving ground ever."

"At the bottom of the sea wasn't their original location, Lieutenant," Elsie quipped, raising an eyebrow but in understanding that not everyone had access to the mission notes provided by the mission. "It wasn't on the ocean floor at the time it was constructed. Due to the dilithium deposits within the crust and veining through the planet, a chaotic reaction caused the geological 'disaster'. It sank their own planet."

"Technicalities aside, Mikaela touches upon a worthwhile point," Tomas countered, seemingly right as his engineer's mouth went agape in imminent retort. "The activation of this device on or in close proximity to a planet constitutes a serious breach of basic, inalienable principles in FTL propulsion development and application. If the researchers possessed a viable understanding of the technology, they should've been aware of its destructive capacity and taken appropriate precautions. The ostensible lack of them suggests that irrespective of the extent of Romulan meddling, the Taylforthians weren't quite ready for us."

Jensar turned his head from side to side, watching the exchange between the two ship commanders as one would watch a tennis match. While he was intrigued at the ability of both to discuss this situation that was way above the technical prowess of Barim, he tried his hardest not to show it, and seem like he was out of place being there.

"That may be so," Elise replied, nodding and opening her face up to a less serious, excepting expression. "And I'm not one to freely admit when my own powers are insufficient, but I believe that this situation is bigger than the both of us." She leant in and gave Tomas a knowing glance, pregnant with familiarity. "We may need a specialised First Contact team brought in to deal with both sides of this tenuous situation."

Facetious disappointment crept into the Spaniard's otherwise level tone. "Immediately throwing in the towel is not the kind of leadership I advertised of you to Mister Barim, Elsie." He then leaned forward, the inklings of a smile lending assurance that he wasn't looking to offend. "Fortunately, your report lent me the impression that this situation has. . .complexities we might not be able to unravel while remaining within the letter of the Prime Directive. The Romulans, for example; I take it Ranger was unable to discover evidence of subversion?"

Elsie's only facial retort was that of a subconscious eyebrow that shot to the ceiling of the room as Tomas spoke. If her eyes could exclaim, they would have shouted out 'touch' but she allowed her features to settle before smiling a little more. She shook her head as she fixed her gaze on her contemporary. "Nothing concrete," she replied, maintaining eye contact. "And that is a factor as to why I'd like additional support from a specialised branch. Leadership has nothing to do with this. But if the Romulans are housed up here for sinister reasons, then I don't want the innocent Taylforthians getting caught between an intergalactic dispute."

Elsie paused for a moment and then realised that she hadn't fully answered the captain's question, and so took up the dialogue once again. "The gut feeling that I have points me to consider that the Romulan presence here is merely one of opportunity: They detected the source of dilithium and were not bound by the same ethos we are to assist a struggling civilisation, but dug down deep and plundered their resources. So the question really remains is who gets to hail them and who gets to call home to assist?"

Tomas shook his head. "If you've not already spoken to the miners, there's no reason to start now." Swift and measured, his response hinted at his expectation of this junction. "If anything, I'd prefer to touch basis with their embassy through Command. It'll bolster our good will, and I think the Empire, even if only to protect their self-image from dissection on the 18:00 news, will encourage its nationals to disband this operation."

Elsie broke from her own concentration as Tomas trailed off and snapped her attention back into the room. Her expression now was that of relief; of an unburdening of responsibility underscored with a wry and playful smile. "Then we're in agreement with that also," she uttered, shooting a look from officer to officer. "I didn't much cherish the thought of having to call them up myself." She smiled widely now and then returned her gaze back to Tomas. "I think that you should relay our rendezvous back to Admiral Singh and insist this is taken out of our hands. We can remain here on tactical alert until someone more... suited can join us."

"Muy bien." Peculiar as he thought Elsie's eagerness to wash her hands of this mission, Tomas yet again determined that his audience was wrong for a potentially deep-seated subject. "Unless there are any other concerns, I think this a sound point to adjourn. I'm apparently due for a follow-up with Admiral Singh," he resumed toward his peer with mock reluctance in the midst of rising. "Lieutenants Barim and T'Parn are free to join Ranger at their convenience since their orders are already confirmed, and Captain Halliwell and Lieutenant Strensrud have decisions to make about each other."

Elsie shot a look to Strensrud and raised an eyebrow in agreement. "Stay in touch, Captain," she then said, shooting Tomas back a look. "The sooner this is resolved for all parties the better."

 

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