Analyzing Intel (Part 4)

Posted on Fri Aug 27th, 2021 @ 4:37pm by Commodore Samantha York & Lieutenant Mira Jayna & Lieutenant Aenar Torek & Lieutenant Rembrandt 'Remy' Batiste & Ensign Chevy Tuff & Logan & Spock The Monkey

1,449 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Eye of the Storm
Location: Science

[PREVIOUSLY]

'A second system?' Aenar echoed, interest piqued, 'It might be an uninhabited one, or beyond Federation space as we've only received the one report so far,' he said, thinking out loud. 'Would it be close by though?'

[CONTINUED]

She pulled up the system so Aenar could see it. "This one. It's not the same as the system we're in, but the information is in three different files. When we're done here, I'll give you the data. I don't want to access the main computer until I'm sure there are no hidden programs."

The screen displayed the data that had been decrypted. Code ran along one side of the screen in various colors. Along the other was a series of numbers. Jayna's eyes went from one list to the other, occasionally typing in a command. She preferred to type so she could mentally plan for her next steps, much like a Tri-D chess game.

At one point the code turned red. Jayna stopped the data while she entered in a series of numbers, letters, and symbols. She paused, watching the screen. For several seconds, nothing happened, then the three streams continued again. "Remy and Logan would have caught that if I didn't," she said. "They'll likely be checking to make sure there isn't a hidden worm trying to sneak out. That was far too easy."

'Yes, yes,' Aenar looked intently at the stream of data, nervously tugging at one ear as he watched it scroll past. 'There's a lot of information here. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few worms hidden in the coding somewhere.'

"Yes," Jayna said. "This data goes back years." The data stream paused as one of her programs worked on the encryption. "It looks like both Federation and Romulan--or Remen--technology. Plus, some odd coding I don't recognize. Remy might, though."

She turned. "Spock, nudge Remy to look at the data."

The Capuchin ran out the door to deliver the message.

Jayna isolated what looked like scientific data and turned to Aenar. "Does this look familiar?"

'A little. Some of the variables are different,' Aenar said carefully as he scrunched up his face and peered closer at the screen, 'those definitely look like similar patterns to the ion storm we're facing currently.'

Jayna made a note of that as she continued to monitor the data. Then she noticed something else odd. "Look at this." She highlighted the part she was looking at. "This is from the planet. So they're not working independently. There are messages back and forth from someone on the colony."

Making a few nods on his PADD for good measure, he cross-checked with the Caly's own records. 'Seems like some of the comm channels they would use from the surface.'

Aenar leaned forward. 'Look at this. They seem to originate in the vicinity of where our Away Team landed ...'

Jayna activated another program to isolate the data. She compared it with the activity from the away team. "Not just the vicinity, the same building."

He slumped back in his seat, troubled by the revelation. Aenar looked at the intelligence officer. 'We should probably let someone know, right?'

Jayna nodded slowly. "Right." She sent a message to York to have her join them.

'I wonder if we were quick enough,' Aenar said in a small voice as he contemplated that there was a hidden enemy in and amongst their comrades. 'And if we can warn the surface.'

"Perhaps." Jayna looked at the data for a long moment. "It depends on what the end goal is."

He nodded weakly, there were still many unknowns.

———————[Outer Room]———————

Logan approached the console where the Chief of Science instructed him. With a few taps he had it working. He looked to Remy, who gave him a nod, before tapping another sequence of keys and saying. "Logan to Horus shuttle. Access the terminal that I have logged into and sync with onboard Intel archive."

The screen on the terminal flickered slightly before the emblem of Starfleet Intelligence appeared before shifting to a database of some sort. The system itself was far different than the one previously shown. The menu and sorting of each item seemed even more peculiar while there was no indication it was even in Starfleet standard English.

"Access file for Quantum Beacon and bring up schematics. Exclude anything highlighting origin, source of schematics, and recorded uses." Logan said firmly.

"The file you wise to access requires secondary codes to unlock. Please provide them." The unfamiliar sound of a male computerized voice spoke from the terminal.

"Authorization: Logan, Mister. Assistance Chief Intelligence. Starfleet Intelligence. Code: Papa, Romeo, India, Delta, Echo. Passcode: Tabula Rasa."

Remy nodded his head slightly before saying. "Authorization: Batiste, Rembrandt, Lieutenant. Chief Intelligence Officer. Starfleet Intelligence. Code: Whiskey, India, Lima, Lima, Oscar, Whiskey. Code: Grey Dwarf."

"Voice and Authentication confirmed. Accessing requested file. Omitting requested information. Have a nice day." The computerized voice replied as the information appeared on the screen.

Logan brought up the schematic and plans. The device was labeled Quantum Beacon and any information regarding the date it was discovered, where it came from, and when it was placed into the database was all removed leaving several blanked-out spaces. What was there identified it as device that acted as a sensor that was positron based and two hundred gigawatts of output. The subassembly tolerances were isolated from the emitter algorithms, which was made possible by generating a stable flux between the positronic conductors and renormalizing the tertiary wave functions. It was listed as successful on several occasions, but those dates were no shown, but it also noted several attempts on modernized Romulan cloaking technology was unsuccessful. Which only emphasized why, earlier, Logan suggested modifying it would be the best option.

Ensign Tuff started looking at all the schematics and plans, trying to take everything that he could in, as fast as he could, hoping that his opinion would not be asked for until he digested the information.

Spock came out of the room Jayna was in and jumped onto Remy's shoulder to get his attention.

>>tag Remy (Spock was sent to get him to look at the data Jayna was decrypting)

Two minutes later, the others came out to join them. "I think it's time to contact the Captain," Jayna said.

"The Captain is here," Sam said, walking into the room. "What have you found?"

'Coordination between the surface and the lunar facility, Captain,' replied Aenar with little hesitancy before diving in to the facts that they had uncovered. 'Lieutenant Jayna helped dig it out,' he concluded at the end of his little speech.

"That is...disturbing." She wanted to know why anyone would cause an ion storm, and what they hoped to gain from it. But she wasn't sure if that information would best be found on the planet, or back on the moon.

"Mr. Batiste, I would like you and your team to find out what you can about the facility. Use what assets you have."

>>tag Remy

"Mr. Tuff, continue analyzing the data. I'd like a report on what you find in three hours."

"Three?" Tuff asked. "That may not be sufficient time to do a complete analysis. It has taken several hours thus far."

"Then report what you've found and keep looking," Sam said.

Chevy blinked once, then twice, as if integrating the information. Why are humans always in such a rush to do things with incomplete information? Nonetheless, he knew the correct response and reluctantly replied, "Aye, sir."

"Thank you," Sam replied humorously. She wouldn't let Chevy know how much he projected what he was thinking. Not just thinking. His face spoke volumes.

Finally, Sam turned to Aenar. "I would like you to go down to the planet. Second Lieutenant Melo says that Commander Munich found some sort of lightning rod. See if that has anything to do with the storm and see if you can find any additional information who is behind this."

'Aye Captain - I'll take a shuttle and head to the surface. Just give me a minute to collect some instruments. I'll rendezvous with Melo on the surface.'

"All right," Sam said. "Ask Ops to put more supplies on the shuttle," she said. "They'll need them on the surface."

Then, with another look around the room, Sam left.

____
OFF

Lieutenant Aenar Torek
Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant JG Mira Jayna
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

Lieutenant Remy Batiste
Chief Intelligence Officer

Logan
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer

Ensign Chevy Tuff
Computer Specialist

Spock the Monkey
Intelligence Chimp

Commodore Samantha York
Commanding Officer

 

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