Something Old

Posted on Sun Oct 20, 2019 @ 11:58am by Lieutenant Cassandra Kennings & Lieutenant Penelope Naroot & Lieutenant Nicole Anderson & Lieutenant JG Camille Lévesque PhD

1,162 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Nibiru
Location: Castel Science Labs
Timeline: During the Hiatus

Meesa stepped into the science lab and sat down at a station without looking at Camille, but gave a simple "hello". She pulled up the sensor data for two nearby sectors and sat back, turning to face her new lab partner. "Where do you suggest we begin?"

“Gravimetric distortion,” Camille replied. “I’ll be honest, I’m not sure exactly what this will look like, but it should begin with some effect on gravity that can’t be explained by stars or planets. Of course, there might be a few possible explanations for such effects, but if there’s the most minuscule chance that one is a transwarp conduit, we need to look into it.”

"All right, resetting the sensor array," Meesa said, turning back to her screen. She watched the readings begin coming in. "What's the human expression? Needle in a haystack? We're going to be looking for a wire in an electrical box."

“The one wire made of zinc, and they’re all insulated.” Camille paused to think a moment. “If you were in charge of laying conduits, you wouldn’t just lay them wherever. There would be some logic to them, non?”

"Absolutely," Meesa said. "You ensure they don't cross wires, they don't cause resistance to each other, and they avoid obstacles...like gravity wells," she said, realizing where Camille was going.

“Let’s limit results to those within fifty to seventy astronomical units from a star,” Camille concluded. “If we come up empty, we’ll widen the net."

"On it," Meesa said, setting the sensor range. She started the scan and sat back. "So.....how well do you know Nicole?"

Camille smiled as she skimmed the initial results. “I’m getting to know her more and more day by day,” she answered. “We’ve known each other for a few months now. She’s opened herself up to me, shown me her scars. I love her.”

Meesa nodded to herself. "Hm," she said to herself, looking over the sensor readings. "'Bout time."

“How long have you served with her?” Camille asked.

"Years," Meesa said. "Since her first assignment, although I was recruited first, technically."

Camille nodded as she kept skimming results. “I’m asking most crew members for an embarrassing story or two. Can you help me out?” She looked up from her screen and grinned.

Meesa thought for a moment. "Unfortunately, no. None of the stories I have on her are that humorous. Plus, with me in Engineering, and her in Sickbay, most of our interaction came on away missions, and it was all business there. I remember there was one crewman we had. He was a complete hypochondriac, or so he acted. She once scared him out of Sickbay by confirming he had a major disease, and she would have to operate, but she'd have to enter through his..." she paused looking for a polite word. "Exit. He ran so fast he almost stampeded over me as I was walking in."

Camille grinned as she worked. “That sounds about right.” Her smile faded when she noticed something on her console. “This one looks promising. Fifty-seven astronomical units from the Alaris System.” Her smile slowly returned. “And it looks like Alaris III was once visited by the Borg. There’s evidence of cities that were removed from the surface. Please focus the lateral sensor array on that gravimetric distortions we can get even better resolution.”

"Adjusting," Meesa said, looking over the readings. "Confirmed," she said, finally sounding excited. "Readings are consistent with Borg activity and consistent with transwarp conduits." She adjusted the sensors. "I think....we...have....it." The screen between them lit up and the system was highlighted with a crosshair appearing at the outer edge of the system.

"I think we have a place to start," Meesa said, smiling.

“It is just that though,” Camille replied. “A place to start. We don’t know where it goes yet. But I have a theory. Look at the other planets in the system. Alaris III is the only one that looks formerly inhabited, but I see large gauges taken out of several other planets and moons. I think the Borg were mining metals here, possibly for ship construction. Indeed, I think this might have been a staging area for a previous invasion attempt of...somewhere. We know the Borg attempted multiple invasions of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants; maybe one of those launched from here.”

"That'd make this corridor something old indeed," Meesa said. "It's worth a shot, though. If it puts us within a day of Earth it'll accomplish our goal." She tapped her combadge. "Etara to bridge: set course for the Alaris system, maximum warp."

"Acknowledged," Jasmine said. The ship vibrated gently as they dropped out of warp then leaped back in. A moment later, Jasmine said, "ETA is two-point-three hoursssss," then closed the channel.

“On an unrelated note, Meesa,” Camille said, changing the topic as they worked, “since you’re in Ops, and I assume handle the comm system at least some of the time...are you good with your tongue?”

Meesa's head turned slowly, her eyebrows rising up to her hairline.

The instant she said it, she realized how it sounded and put her hand over her mouth. She blushed a deep red. “I mean, are you good with languages?! Sorry! It’s the same word in French!”

Meesa cleared her throat. "Haven't had complaints either way," she said, giving a wry smile. "What is it you need translated?"

"Well, I've been working on a few phrases in Rigelian," Camille explained. "I wanted to do it myself, and I think I have it right, but I'd like for someone else to look at it. Can I send you a message later, just to check my work? I wouldn't want to accidentally say something completely wrong."

"I'll do my best," Meesa said. "I'd run them by Penny as well. Her translator is flawless." She looked at the sensor readouts. "I'd say once we're about ten minutes away we should begin scans and if things look favorable, we can try opening a corridor."

Camille nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

"I have diagnostics I need to run in Engineering," Meesa said. "I'll meet you on the bridge in....two hours?" she looked over at Camille.

“Two hours,” Camille agreed. “Et merci! For everything today. You’ve been helpful and you and all your crewmates have accepted me and been so welcoming."

Meesa's eyebrows bobbed. "We're famous for our hospitality," she said, an amused smile playing on her lips. "It's not often we get guests, so it's quite the occasion."

Camille let out a laugh. "No, I imagine you wouldn't get too many guests. But thank you all the same. See you on the bridge!" As Meesa left for engineering, Camille continued her work on the anomaly, aiming to learn as much as possible about it in the next two hours.

 

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