Debris and Debriefing

Posted on Sun Jun 21st, 2020 @ 4:12am by Lieutenant Kalin Brennan-Griffin PhD & Captain Nycolas Temple & Commander Owen Nash & Cailus Griffin & Lieutenant Commander James Smith & Lieutenant Commander Janet Glyndar
Edited on on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 7:33am

Mission: New Moon Rising
Location: Captain's Ready Room

ON

Half an hour had passed since the Tzenkethi had called off their angry attacks, and the crew of the Pandora had only another half hour left to solve the problem before them. A Talarian Ambassador keeping secrets, a ship found lifeless and far off course, accusations of espionage against an already aggressive super power. It was proving to be quite the introduction to life in the Inconnu region.

For his part, Nyx was keen to find a solution and avoid all-out war between the Tzenkethi, Talarians, and the Federation. So he gathered together the senior crew in the Ready Room in the hopes of a resolution.

Cailus was the first to arrive, entering the Ready Room without any ceremony besides offering Nyx a curt "Captain" in greeting. With the Pandora still at alert and three heavily armed warships hovering just outside weapons range, half of Cailus' mind was still back at his console as he stood next to the door, both hands formally placed behind his back.

Nyx nodded to the Security Chief, "Thank you for your quick work today, Lieutenant."

"Of course, sir," Cailus acknowledged politely with a cursory bow of his head. "I just hope the Tzenkethi don't try for another fight. They came very close to destroying the shuttle before it docked."

Lieutenant Commander Glyndar was slightly displeased not having been the first to arrive. She was the Captain's right hand, but she was feeling sluggish recently. Being a single parent aboard a starship was getting to be difficult. She had already gone through a few childcare providers for while she was on duty because she just did not like how they were with her child. All of this was starting to affect her performance as First Officer. At least in her mind it was. She took a seat at the table and waited for others to arrive.

Smith arrived with many things on his mind, things weren't adding up and the sensor logs were just as confusing, Smith hardly looked up as he entered the ready room almost running into one of the chairs. Smith looked around, at those who were already there, looking over at the Captain he said, "well I think Brennan and I have noticed something in our findings."

Shae was on Smith's heels as they had both just come from Astrometrics, her expression was somewhat grim as she followed the Intel Officer to the briefing table and took her seat. "We definitely found something," she confirmed with a sigh.

"Let's make this quick," Nyx began, still standing, "What do you have Brennan and Smith?"

About the only time I want to here those words Janet thought to herself. She turned slightly in her seat to make eye contact with Brennan and Smith as they spoke. She wanted them to know she was listening to what they had to say. It was important to stay engaged.

"The probes, sir, they were definitely more advanced than anything else the Talarians have available, suggesting that any advancements in their level of technology was being put into these probes. Though one of them malfunctioned; we have readings of a Tzenkethi signal this probe began to pursue, using its stabilizing thrusters to move from its designated location to follow this signal. We don't know the significance of this signal the probe latched on to, but given that these probes weren't designed to function in this way, it's our belief that its location in Tzenkethi space was unintentional."

"Malfunctioned..." Nyx muttered, as it occurred to him for the first time that he hadn't considered this as a possibility. He had assumed Sevros, with all his charm and diplomacy, had been lying to them. "I can't help but feel stunned, that was not the outcome I expected."

Janet looked over at Nyx and nodded. "Nor I" she said with a slight sigh. "What else do you have for us, Dr. Brennan?" asked the First Officer as she nodded at the woman.

"The computer is still running tests and analysis on the probe data as well as the data we recovered from the ship to double check our findings; I can have more definitive causes for this malfunction as soon as I check on the results," Shae replied. "I was also able to get a better look at the ship's flight path that led it into Tzenkethi space; it's started as a circuitous search pattern where the probe was supposed to be, but then when they ventured further out... well, their navigational systems aren't as good as ours, I think they must have lost their bearings because they crossed over their own path many times, and that's what made tracking their trail so difficult."

The Captain frowned, "And it appears this malfunctioning probe has lured the Talarians to their untimely deaths." He took a moment before shaking his head. "Thank you for your diligent research, Brennan and Smith, you have shone a light into very murky waters, and in impressive time. Remind me to buy you both a drink when this is over."

"A Siren's call" added Lieutenant Commander Glyndar.

Shae simply nodded with a meek smile in response; she only wished they could have found the Talarians before the Tzenkethi...

"The problem is now convincing the Tzenkethi that the Talarians meant them no I'll will, and to prevent any more deaths. If all goes well further analysis of the probe will continue to show why and how the malfunctions happened." Smith looked up and smiled and the captain at his offer of a drink, "make mine what ever you have in your private stock."

Owen made his way into the Ready Room with his sensor readings on a PADD and a few theories of his own. Having heard the thoughts from both Brennan and Smith, he chimed in his own idea.

"Captain, this all seems incredibly dodgy if you ask me," he began. "That Talarian ship was caught out being in Tzenkethi space whilst trying to gather intelligence...the reaction of the Tzenkethi Captain to us investigating adds to that theory too..." he explained.

Owen put the sensor data of the Talarian ship on the Wall Monitor. "This ship was in pretty bad shape when we found it... Add in the Ambassador whose not speaking and the Tzenkethi reaction to us & the Talarian vessel in this sector and it feels like we've walked in on a right mess."

"I understand your skepticism, Mr. Nash," Nyx nodded, "And to be honest, I wouldn't put it past either party to have manufactured this malfunction just to draw one another into a war using the Pandora as leverage. I don't think we'll ever really find out what happened to that drone. But, thanks to the excellent investigative skills of Lieutenants Brennan and Smith, we have a finding that we can present to the Tzenkethi. I say we provide them with our evidence and assure them that Sevros' ship were acting alone. They may be satisfied with having already conquered the ship."

It was a cold response, Nyx realized after he had already said it, but the most practical. He couldn't turn back time and stop the Talarian probe from being detected, or bring back the Talarian lives unfortunately lost. But he had to find a way to prevent the conflict from escalating and, especially, allow the Pandora to safely continue through the Carnwennan Corridor.

Owen nodded to the Captains response and understood his thinking.

"Setting aside everything else," Cailus said grimly, "the Talarian wreck could be a thorny issue. It's basically a war grave, but I don't think the Tzenkethi are going to just let us tow it back to Talarian space. We outgun them for now, but if they have reinforcements nearby..."

"A good point," Nyx replied. "And it gives me an idea. Mr Nash, I believe the Major was able to restore some systems in order to retrieve the ship's logs. We should be able to scan for the Talarians now and beam their bodies to our Cargo Bay?"

Nash nodded in agreement with the Captain's plan. "Absolutely, I'll get to work on modifying the sensors based on the data retrieved... I can have it done inabout ten minutes and have the bodies beamed over," he offered.

"I'll have Medical on standing by to provide appropriate handling of the deceased." Nyx nodded.

"Mr Griffin," Nyx turned to the Security Chief, "Given the condition of the Talarian vessel, it shouldn't take too much for us to scuttle her. Can we use this to our advantage against the Tzenkethi? If we cannot convince them to stand down, it may provide a suitable tactical surprise."

With the slightest of smiles, Cailus nodded in satisfaction. "Yes sir, it'll definitely be a surprise. We can rig a couple of photon torpedoes onto the warp core to enhance blast yield and radius; the whole operation shouldn't take more than ten minutes. The real problem will be luring them into position without the Tzenkethi suspecting anything. That will require some very delicate piloting."

"I like it," Nyx nodded, "Let's subtly position us behind the Talarian ship, with the Tzenkethi on the other side, make it look natural. Get that ship rigged to go as soon as you can."

"Aye Captain," Cailus replied briskly, half-turning towards the door. "I'll beam over with a team immediately. The boys and girls in the armory are going to love you for giving this order. If you'll excuse me, sir, time is an issue."

"Good luck, Griffin," the Commander answered, a sly smile on his face as well. For the first time today, they were actually getting on the front foot of this situation. "If required, your operation code-name is 'Candles',"

"Alright, we have a plan. Let's get to work." Nyx said as he dismissed the crew.

Janet remained seated, wanting to wait until the others started to leave. She looked at Nyx and nodded, trying to show her support in how he was doing.

OFF