Now that shouldn't be there... yet...

Posted on Mon Jan 14, 2013 @ 11:15pm by Fleet Captain Rhea Kennit & Lieutenant Samantha Raylen & Lieutenant Commander Miguel Torres & Lieutenant JG Markus Davenport

2,842 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Refit and Reorganization
Location: U.S.S. Victory
Timeline: 62495.044 {Mon, 19 Nov 2384 12:38}

Bridge

After the Captain and XO had left, Lt. Raylen remained at her station where she was working on a few tweaks to the ship's sensors trying to get a higher resolution scan of the DGC Alpha 25466 system which might explain the odd readings they were picking up. If it was an inaccurate reading caused by the coronal mass ejection as she half suspected, the adjustments should allow them to filter out the interference and get a clean reading.

It took a little longer than she expected, but once the engineering side of things had been recalibrated and checked she was ready to take another look. What she saw on the display when the readings came in was .. unexpected to say the least!

"Lt. Nix.." Sam said aloud. "I just ran another long-range sweep of DGC Alpha 25466 after completing some additional calibration on the system.. I think we need to run a confirmation check.. because I'm seeing orbital weapons platforms around the 3rd world, it's moons.. and what looks like indications of radiation in the atmosphere of the 5th planet in the system consistent with having been targeted and fired on from one of those weapons platforms.. The platforms are using a primitive anti-matter core as it's explosive component.. but at last check this civilization was estimated to be 50 years from developing anti-matter technology of this order.."

"Curious," the Ferengi murmured in thought and tapped a finger against his PADD.

"We're detecting energy readings consistent with residual energy from a phase-modulated directed energy cannon consistent with weapons used in the late 22nd Century just before the first ship mounted phaser weapons were put into service. These people don't have warp capability however, they shouldn't have developed energy weapons of this type .."

"Adjust sensor bandwidth from Resonance to Multiphasic and conduct another sweep. That should give us a more precise reading on the nature and origin of the radiation you have detected, while still leaving us safe from detection. Assuming their sensors are as primitive as their defenses, of course." He tapped the glass face of his PADD one last time and arched his cranial ridge towards the engineer. "If your information is correct, and the native inhabitants are incapable of such a minor technological feat, that leaves only two likely options -- they were either sold the technology, or they seized it. What warp-capable species are known to operate in this system?" he asked Raylen before tapping his comm badge. "Ensign Scott to the bridge."

“On my way sir.” Scott’s voice replied over the com badge a few seconds after the initial call.

From her station, Raylen answered "Aye sir.. Adjusting sensor bandwidth from Resonance to Multiphasic .. Initiating sensor sweep now.."

Ensign Scott stepped through the sliding doors onto the bridge a short time after her initial com reply, giving her uniform a last, slight adjustment. “Ensign Scott, reporting.” She said after a moment’s hesitation to make sure as to not interrupt any ongoing conversations.

"Please prepare a geological scan of this system's tertiary planet to be conducted as soon as we are within effective range. Specifically, we are looking for evidence of extra-terrestrial spacecraft; possibly crashed upon the surface. Signs of Igel Metals, Duranian, Ditanium and the like that shouldn't be native to the planet, as well as trace signatures of Dilithium hydroxyl, Plasma radiation, or other signs of warp cores or FTL wake patterns." Nix Instructed.

Scott offered a nod “Yes, sir.” She replied as she took a moment to locate the appropriate work station before moving to busy herself behind it as she began making the appropriate adjustments.

"We're receiving the initial telemetry now.. Picking up the same readings.. the energy signatures are consistent with orbital and system level weapons platforms utilizing phase-modulated directed energy cannons .. this sort of technology shouldn't be there. Scans of the planet and colony on the moon are long-range but.. the technological level of what we're picking up doesn't match.. Still too far out to try and pick up on any communication transmissions.. but," she added. "We could launch a sensor drone and slip it into a stationary orbital course through the system's oort cloud .. it would be safe from detection at that range and still close enough to get better readings.."

"Make it so,"Nix replied.

Interrupting him, Raylen called out "Lieutenant! We're picking up multiple energy spikes consistent with weapons fire from three of the orbital platforms, they're firing on a section of the colony located on the moon surface..."

"What is our ETA to communications range?" Nix asked Raylen. "And what have you found regarding warp-capable species known to operation in this sector?" he followed-up on his earlier question.

"ETA at our current speed is 18 hours. The nearest warp capable civilization is 19 light years distant, a species known as the Nh'uro. But these readings, they're not consistent with Nh'uro technology. Closest match is.. early Federation era.. 2100's technology.." Raylen answered.

Nix tapped his comm badge. "Captain? I have an update on DGC 25466. We have detected weapons fire presumably from orbital platforms and are holding course. ETA to comm range is 18 hours. We are preparing to launch a sensor drone and have prepared a geological survey as soon as we are within range."

After a brief pause, the Captain answered "Understood Mr. Nix. Maintain sensor surveillance, but maintain distance.. I don't want them to detect our presence...Cmdr. Hunter and I will be there momentarily. And send all the information you have at the moment on the situation to Lt. Devereaux, tell him I need his analysis of the situation as well as any additional information which Intel may be able to provide.."

The Captain arrived back on the bridge accompanied by the XO a few minutes later as expected, and as she exited the 'lift she questioned "What exactly have we picked up?"

Lt. Raylen answered, bringing up the latest sensor data to display on the main viewscreen. "We picked up unusual energy readings during a standard long range sensor scan of DGC Alpha 25466. The third world in the system, at last survey 2 years ago was technologically the equivalent of pre-warp Earth. They had developed some space travel abilities, but were limited to their own system by the limitations of their own drive systems. They'd established colonies on their moon, as well as the 5th world in the system but they did not possess warp drive nor had they developed even rudimentary energy weapons, they were using conventional mag-rail / projectile weapons and solid-fuel missile systems only. Now.. we're seeing orbital platforms utilizing phase-modulated directed energy cannons as well as low warp capable ships .. on a level with the first ships launched at Earth in the early 2100's. While studying a live scan, we detected weapons launching from the orbital platforms, and radiation signatures in the atmosphere of the 5th world consistent with having been attacked.. There's no way they could have developed this technology on their own, not at this level in just 2 years.."

Looking at the data on the viewscreen, the Captain said "Where is Lt. Devereaux? Get him up here. .and I want Lt. Cmdr. Torres as well.. I want his assessment on the technology we're seeing.."

A few moments later the turbolift doors open and the white-haired, black-uniformed Lt. Devereaux steps onto the bridge. "You rang?"

"I did.." Kennit answered as she turned towards him. "We have a problem.. it appears that the pre-warp civilization on DGC Alpha 25466 has developed early warp technology as well as what appears to be phase-modulated energy weapons in the span of 2-years, quite a jump as the last survey team to pay a visit to this area estimated this civilization to be roughly 75 years from reaching the necessary technological state to be able to accomplish such a feat.." She paused, nodding towards the data being displayed on the main viewscreen. "Seems a little suspicious I think.. considering that their energy signatures are a very close match to early warp signatures from Earth during the 22nd century.. don't you agree?"

"Are you asking if I have the receipt?" Devereaux joked with a rakish grin. "I looked into things at Nix's request, but didn't find anything noteworthy. Or un-noteworthy, actually. We don't seem to have much of anything on record regarding this system. But I can't say I'm too terribly surprised... any number of traders or pirates could have passed through here in the last two years and struck a deal with these people. And if that's the case, old tech makes the most sense. It'd be like selling a slugthrower to a caveman. He thinks it's a great deal because it makes him more powerful than he ever dreamed, while still leaving you completely safe -- a peashooter is a helluva improvement over a slingshot, but isn't going to be much good against our personal energy shields."

"We are approaching the system now and will take up position within the radiation belt where we can observe what's going without risking detection. Even with the sudden advancements we're seeing we shouldn't have to worry about someone picking us up unless we approach closer.. I want to know why their ships are coming up identified as possible NX-Class technology from Earth.. We're going to need a survey of the planet itself, look for technology corresponding on the surface to what we're seeing in orbit.."

"Lt. Nix," she said then, having had an additional thought. "Please ask Ens. Scott and Ens. Dylo to work together and review what information we have on this civilization and it's people so that once we're close enough to start monitoring planetary transmissions and get passive scans of the surface they can compare the legacy data we have with what is going on down there currently.."

Nix pivoted to face where Ensign Scott was seated at the science station. "I'll take over from here. Let me know if you and Dylo need further assistance."

“Aye, sir.” Scott replied as she stood and left the station to Nix before approaching Ensign Dylo and addressing him in a quieter voice so as to avoid interrupting the rest of the bridge officer’s conversation “Where should we start?” she asked, deferring to the Ensign’s specialization in such matters of civilization. Ensign Scott seemed a little on edge, to tell the truth. After all this sounded like it could be shaping up to be the first major event she'd experienced outside of a controlled environment.

(Tags Dylo?)

Miguel wondered what was going on, he wasn't one of those engineers that spent a lot of time on the bridge. He prefered to be where he was supposed to be and that was in engineering, the true heart of the ship. When the turbolift doors opened he stepped on to the bridge and walked up to where the Captain and XO were. "What's up?" he asked getting right to the point.

Nodding her head towards the main viewscreen, Katrijn answered "Have a look.. what do you make of that?"

"Prewarp world has warp capability some 75 years before it should." Alec told the chief engineer. "They got an early Christmas gift.

"That's a heck of a Christmas gift." Miguel stated as he looked at the data that was on the main screen. He then walked over to the engineering station so that he could get a better view of the information that was being collected by the ship's sensors and being piggy backed by the probe. "There's no chance that they could have developed this level of technology on their own?" he asked not knowing if they had ruled that out yet or not.

"Not in two years time they didn't.." the Admiral answered. "And even if they had, that doesn't explain why our sensors are identifying their vessels and weapons as early 2100's era Starfleet design.. There are some minor differences but at first look.. it's too close to be just a coincidence.."

"Sensors of that time were also fairly easy to fool. It wouldn't take much of a modification to our shields to make their sensors go around us. But if they have any good commanders it won't take them long to figure out that something is wrong. Of course that's assuming that your going to want a closer look." he told her.

The doorway of the lift slid open, Ensign Khar entered, his shift would begin in the next five minutes and Stelendos has been working to maintain a good impression on his first assignment. Saluting after he took a few steps onto the bridge, "Ensign Khar reporting for my assigned shift." He waited for a moment waiting for an acknowledgement from the captain or one of the senior officers before making his way to the station. Though an archaic and classic military ritual he continued to do such things unless told otherwise, his professors in his academy used his etiquette as an example of behavior to everyone else in his assigned training unit. Though serving on the ship for the past two months this was the first time it seemed that something was about to happen while he was manning tacticals.

Alec heard the lift doors hiss open and he looked up in time to see an ensign saluting. "Very good Ensign, right on time, take your station."

"Yes sir," Stelendos responded to in his military neutral voice Alec. Making his way to the station he began to go through the normal motions one did when starting a shift and then looked up on standby for further orders. It took a good amount of self discipline and will to push aside the young Romulan's excitement, in the two months he had been on the ship this is the closest it has been to anything actually happening. His heart began to race, but he made sure to keep his focus on the bridge, making sure to respond quickly to any situation that warranted his attention.

"Mr. Davenport," Kennit ordered the helmsman. "Take us in and get me a good holding position within the radiation belt of the large ringed gas giant. The size of the planet itself combined with the asteroid belts between it and the inhabited world will give us ample room to evade being detected while letting us get a much closer look.."

Davenport nodded, "Aye Captain.."

Katrijn turned to look at her XO, her expression thoughtful. "In fact.. I think we should consider taking a smaller ship and move in for an even closer look.. the Valkryie's have stealth capabilities.. I'm confident we could send a small flight of two to three Valkryies in without fear of detection.. Do you agree?"

Alec had to struggle to contain the grin that threatened to explode across his features as Rhea mentioned taking out the new Valkryie fighters the Victory had on board. "Couldn't agree more Captain. Now is the perfect situation to test their capabilities." He said diplomatically, while thinking he couldn't wait to get in the cockpit of the fighter and see just what it could do. "One fighter might even be better Captain.... in case anything goes wrong. It keeps our presence to a minimum."

"Perhaps," she answered in a non-committal tone. "There's a lot of territory to cover within the system.. 2 or 3 ships each flying a specific grid area would cover the region faster and get back in less time, also minimizing exposure risk.."

"True." Alec replied "But one pilot can do it Captain.Set sensors for a broad sweep and go in closer only if they show something unusual. And as far as keeping our presence to a minimum, I remind you the Valkryies have stealth capabilities." his own face not revealing anything though he always enjoyed bantering with Rhea.

"I helped design them.." she pointed out. "I'm very well aware of the full capability of the Valkryie Class.." she answered smoothly. "I want a flight plan worked out and ready for approval .. we need to get a comprehensive idea of what's going on out there and I want the system scanned for residual warp energy signatures that do not match the ships which the inhabitants of this system are using.. if someone else has been poking around in this system I want to know it.."

"Thank you for pointing that out Captain." He answered smoothly, he was well aware that Rhea had helped design them just as she was aware of what he was going to say next. "I'm sure your also aware that I was one of the test pilots for the Valkryies. "I'll have a flight plan on your desk in the next hour."

"Don't be late.." was her only response as she turned and began walking towards the ready room. "One hour!"

He watched her walk away, her hips gently swaying back and forth. He shook his head from side to side, he was on duty, there would be time later for such dreams. "Late? Perish the thought Captain. See you in one hour."

TBC...

 

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