A Covert Investigation (part 2)

Posted on Wed Sep 23rd, 2015 @ 12:18pm by Commodore Samantha York & Commander Jonathan Martin & Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Tate & Lieutenant Arnon Barak MD, PsyD & Lieutenant Illise Hale & Lieutenant JG Victoria Drani M.D. & 1st Lieutenant Leroy Mangalia & Lieutenant JG Teenah Spartacus
Edited on on Wed Sep 23rd, 2015 @ 12:28pm

1,295 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Of Gods and Men
Location: Conference Room

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

Illise took a sip of her coffee, then consulted one of the PADDs from the small stack in front of her. "We've continued to track the technological signature that was detected earlier. Unfortunately, we are still encountering interference with our scans." she reported. "Data collected on the planet confirms a pre-industrial, agrarian society. There are no indications that the civilization is capable of the type of technology required to produce the signature. It is definitely not native to the planet."

"Thank you," Sam said. It supported her own analysis. She didn't say as much, but it was nice to know that she was still reading the situation correctly.

[NEW]

Leroy perked up, putting his padd on the table. "If we've noticed any air units floating around I would keep shuttles and fighters in a tight orbit during daylight, much harder for budding astronomers to spot us. But we can have the two do flybys with active sensors and try to ping any advanced technology." Looking at everyone he shrugged. "We could also send Marines on an away team for a search mission."

"Going in with a marine detachment could be seen as hostile by the natives if caught or seen, especially if we are traversing around their planet covertly. That wouldn't look good," Jonathan said. "What kind of species are dealing with? Humanoid or not? Since they're not as advanced technologically as we are, we still need to take pre-cautions either way. We are looking for a technological signature so standard procedure would dictate us taking a small science based away team with just enough security for protection covertly if we don't want to reveal ourselves. That is if we choose the standard procedure route."

"I agree with the commander," Drani spoke. "An armed away team would be disastrous. Is it possible to get a visual scan of the natives? If so, I can cosmetically alter the away team to appear like the natives if they're humanoid."

Arnon touched his ears and winced.

"Who said anything about Marines armed for bear? Every Marine on this ship knows what a covert operation is and how to handle it," Leroy said looking at the Commander. "I'm not saying we do bombing runs or search and destroy missions but a group of Marines trained to stay hidden in any terrain is going to get closer to that signature without having to make themselves appear native much faster than a science team that's going to want to stop every ten seconds because they see something new and exciting."

Jonathan smiled and shook his head slightly at what he just heard. "I'm fully aware that the marines are capable of whatever job they are assigned," he looked at Leroy. "I wasn't questioning their ability nor did I say anything about bombings or search and destroy missions. As I suggested, the natives might think differently than us if we have a marine detachment deployed onto the surface if they were found out. I'm also confidant that if a science team were sent down they could do their job just as well. There are various approaches to this each with its drawbacks and advantages."

"We have some images of the people from a nearby village, outside the range of the interference." Illise said. Another image flashed up on the screen of a male and female inhabitant. "They are humanoid, similar in appearance, with the exception of significant markings on the skin and unusual eye color. At this range it is impossible to tell if the markings are a natural pigmentation, or cultural. Also," she looked at Arnon, amusement in her eyes, "their ears are slightly pointed ."

Arnon smiled back at Illise.

"The communications are clear, nothing to report outside our own subspace activity and no residual siganls to be detected." Munich reported. "The ship is not on high alert yte but all stations are manned and ready for action."

"From the initial scans that I have forwarded to me." Spartacus said with a grin. "Trace elements of the pre-Renaissance Era according to the reports. I have managed to get some more in depth scans of the areas and some close ups of the inhabitants from the laser optic scans and imaging." Spartacus gave her report. "The architecture has a lot of decorative stone Scriptures and artistic expressions throughout the inhabited areas. This hints that the arts are alive and I cannot assign any data for the advance sciences. As a note there is wide spread agriculture as the major purpose of the culture rather than industry." She continued. "There are signs of marketplaces in major inhabited areas. It would seem to majorly agricultural, it has the surprising hints of being set up for exporting as the size of the farming areas are vastly over-sized for dietary requirements for the populous." She looked up. "That is all that I can deduce from the first observations."

Having listened to the different point of views Jennifer felt it was time for her to lend her opinion. "You will want to send a small detachment of marines to conduct reconnaissance from the perimeter of the city and observe. It is what they do best and what they are trained for. Sending a science team into the fray with little to no information on these people is foolish. At least observe first before making initial contact. Since we lack any HUMINT assets closer observation is a risky if not impossible option without putting further risk to the crew and the populace. Once the marines have made a detailed observation, then would be your time to discuss further options with regards to an away team."

Jonathan looked down momentarily and shook his head in disbelief before looking at Drani and smiling. What kind of ship had he been assigned to he thought to himself. First, the Master Sergeant becomes very defensive and then proceeds to insult the science department and now the Lt. Cmdr. insults another officer's idea as "foolish." The sheer unprofessionalism and the tearing down of others in this briefing was astounding to him as in all his years of service he never encountered such behavior amongst a senior staff.

He looked over to the Commodore. "Your thoughts Sir?"

"Thank you for your reports and your opinions," she began. "First, I would like to remind you that I myself am a scientist. And Damon is a Marine. So I see both sides of this argument. Much as I appreciate the work of the Marines, we are not going to send down a recon team. We have a technological signature, but no signs of this being a hostile environment. As this planet is mostly agrarian, I would like to go in as merchants from a distant city. We'll go to the marketplace, trade goods, and spend the night. That will give us time to have a good look around and not bring any undo attention to ourselves."

Sam turned to Illise. "Look into those markings. If they represent where the people are from, find a village far enough away to be recognized but not familiar and copy their markings."

"We'll need a wagon and proper regional dress." Sam paused. "As an anthropologist and historian, I will lead the team. Lieutenants Hale and Drani, I would like you there as well. Teenah, you, too." She paused for a moment. "Lieutenant Barak, you're welcome as well." She looked around the table. "Any of you wish to be included?"

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant JG Illise Hale
Chief Science Officer

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer

Master Sergeant Leroy Mangalia
Flight Leader

Lieutenant Victoria Drani
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant Jonathan Martin
Mission Advisor

Lieutenant Arnon Barak
Chief Counselor

Ensign Teenah Spartacus
Counselor

Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Tate
Intelligence Officer

 

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