Examining the Cameras (part 2)
Posted on Tue Jan 24th, 2017 @ 5:43pm by Commodore Samantha York & Lieutenant T'Pral & Lieutenant Illise Hale
930 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Shadow Dance
Location: Calypso, Science
[CONTINUED]
[OLD]
T'Pral nodded in agreement, "A logical procedure." She retrieved the same scanner and proceeded to replicate her scans of the control camera. "If you would perform the bio-molecular scan?" she queried.
[NEW]
Rroden didn't understand the terms the women used. He understood something about the machine checking to see who had touched the camera. How long back would the machine check? And what of those back on Jenefra who had also touched the machine? "There are several members of the security force, as well as the Vizier, who work with the cameras. The security, whose job it is to check the cameras and make sure they function properly, and the Vizier, who oversees security procedures. Would you need to identify them as well?"
Illise nodded. "The machine will identify all traces on the camera, however it will also be able to tell us how old those traces are." She crossed to a console a few feet away and began the bio-molecular scan on the control camera. "We are looking for something relatively new, perhaps in the last few days." She looked back over at the table as the surface illuminated below the camera, indicating that the scan was underway. "The largest obstacle will be finding a match. Do your people have a database containing the genetic profiles of those working in the palace?" She asked Rroden.
Rroden shook his head. "What is a genetic database?"
T'Pral eyed the Jenefran for a moment. "It is a computer file system comprising of bio-metrics. Identifying biological markers for each individual. DNA, fingerprints, blood samples, among others; species-dependent. Typically comprising government and military personnel to ensure security."
Rroden understood most of that. He bowed to T'Pral. "Thank you, Lieutenant. That makes it much clearer."
"Do you have such a database?" Illise asked him. Beside them, the computer continued it's scan of the control camera. Illise entered a command into the console to also preform the same series on the other camera once the first was complete.
"We have finger and retina prints," he said. "And machines that read body heat. Anyone who works in the Palace is on file. We keep both electronic files and printed files. But we do not have need of more as we have a very low occurrence of crime on Jenefra," he said. "Or we did until the Federation arrived."
"It is most unfortunate that our presence has coincided with these tragedies. It is not the Federation's intent to be disruptive." Illise said calmly. The fact that they had not database would make thing difficult. One problem at a time.
The computer completed it's bio-molecular scan of the cameras and displayed the results on a screen nearby. Before she began reviewing the data, Illise turned back to the diagnostic table. "Computer begin internal scan of the cameras and display a holographic structure for analysis." A mechanical arm descended from the ceiling above the table and started scanning the control camera. A three-dimensional holographic image of the camera appeared in an open space a few feet away. "Lieutenant?" Illise gestured to T'Pral.
The Vulcan walked around the holographic representation, eyeing the components critically. The external casing was represented by a wire frame, making the internal workings easily discernible. "Simple yet efficient design. Convex focusing lens coupled to a high resolution digital capture semiconductor and processing microcontroller to feed the data to the recorder." She pointed at the microcontroller, "This is where I detected the anomalous EM signature."
"EM signature?" Rroden asked. He was slowly getting more comfortable asking questions.
T'Pral looked towards Rroden for a moment before turning back to the hologram, her hands returning to a neat clasp at her back. "Electromagnetic signature. I am referring to the signal I detected that indicated external tampering."
"Ah." He bowed to the Vulcan. "Thank you again. Can you use that to identify those who may have tampered with the camera?"
T'Pral replied in the negative. "Not unless the device used a unique emission signature. Most likely, the biometrics Lieutenant Hale is analyzing will reveal the answers we seek."
The computer competed is scan and displayed seven unique DNA traces on the camera. She quickly identified her own and T'Pral's DNA. She entered in the evidence log with the biological decay to show that it was too recent to be part of the investigation, but logging it all the same. One other biological sample was also very recent and likely Mr Rroden's. That left four other older traces that were unidentified.
Mr. Rroden," Illise picked up a small glass sample tube from a nearby table and stepped up to the Jenefran. "Since we have all handled the cameras we need to identify the most recent biological traces on the cameras and match them with our DNA in order to eliminate ourselves from the investigation. Lieutenant T'Pral's and my own biological data is already on file in our database. May I take a small cell sample to compare to the traces on the camera?" She then added, "A few skin cells or a hair will be sufficient."
"Of course," Rroden said. "I can get everyone who touches the camera to give you a sample." He took a notebook out of his pocket and wrote down five names. "These are the ones who have the maintenance and repair of the cameras. They should all be in the palace."
He paused for a minute. "As long as you show me to your transportation room again?"
____
OFF
Lieutenant T'Pral
Chief Engineer
Rroden
Jenefran Security
Lieutenant JG Illise Hale
Chief Science Officer
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