Science Update

Posted on Mon Dec 6th, 2010 @ 4:00pm by Commodore Samantha York & Lieutenant JG Jerreck O'Connor & Lieutenant JG Ronnie Wolfe

816 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Peace, or Something Like It
Location: Main Science Lab
Timeline: Current

ON

Samantha wanted to find out what was going on with the neural implant and the device found on the surface. So she made her way to the main science lab to find Lieutenants O'Connor and Lancaster.

O'Connor's brush with feeling so completely out of sorts had left him far more determined to solve this problem. He had the entire team working alongside Engineering and Ops to figure out what the heck this thing was - and how they could scan for the presence of the things. Of course, that would be a challenge. He looked up at the captain and raised an eyebrow. "Captain. Here to look over our shoulders or to lend a hand?" If she focused the slightest bit, she'd notice that he was gaining a backbone and comfort with the ship and her crew. She'd also notice the kind of diligence that only came from being upset and hurt as he'd been when he landed on that planet and noticed his Betazoid abilities disappearing.

"I'm here to get an update on the testing. If you need a hand, I'm more than willing to help," Sam replied.

Jerry stood up to his full height and looked her in the eye. "Well, Captain, we haven't got too much to update you on. Basically, we'd have to get within 6 feet of every person on the planet to find them, since most sentient life-forms send out enough EM waves to mask the presence of the unit from a distance. However, the transmitter I literally tripped over has provided us with some answers. We've found that it has to be a subspace rebroadcast unit. Still haven't found the frequency that activates it remotely, though. But as soon as it activates, it sends out a wakeup signal to the implant, which could in theory be used to transmit commands that could seriously affect the nervous system of the person wearing it. For specifics on that, Lancaster has been working with the bio-team."

Just then Ronnie walked into the lab. "That's right," she said, hearing the last of the Chief's explanation. "It's some form of mind control, but it doesn't use Borg technology. I've been unable to find its like in any of the known databases."

"Have either of you looked through the science chatter? To see if any scientists are talking about mind control tech?" Sam asked. It was a long shot, but if any information had leaked out, there could be a hint of it in the subspace chatter.

"I have indeed, ma'am. Mostly, people in my field are talking about a new application of the soliton wave theory to drive starships. Of course, soliton theory has been used in communications for centuries - without that, even our basic ODN network would fall apart. The problem remains in identifying the waveform as one that can perpetuate itself in Turkana's atmosphere. Lancaster, have you seen anything else?" He turned to his assistant with a raised eyebrow, not very hopeful, but the Betazoid Captain would notice that he felt he was going out of his way to make a show of their cooperation - as though this might make her in some way happier with her Science team ("They can't find the broad side of a barn, but at least they work together!").

Ronnie shook her head. "Not really. I've been monitoring frequencies lately. I've narrowed it down significantly. Whatever they're using is altered and masked."

Sam nodded. "Make this your top priority. We need to know how to tap into the device and override its controls."

"We will, ma'am. But I think we'll need to build a frequency modulator and basically remodel the Communications lab to identify the transmission frequency. Of course, we always could set up a subspace field interruptor in a shielded environment and see what pings when we activate the transmitter unit - but that doesn't give us the incoming frequency that it's looking for."

"Do what you have to without drawing the attention of the people who implanted it," Sam said.

"I'm pretty sure I can do that, Captain." He was actually pretty sure of that, in spite of the fact that he was just about out of his field, lost, and not sure where exactly to go from here. Then again, he realized that Ronnie was probably in the same boat. Both her and Jackson were better off in the garden. He started to turn around and get back to work, then looked back. "Actually, Captain? Could you have Lieutenant Tovan send down a Communications Specialist? I think that's the one area of expertise we don't have in all this."

"I'll give him the word," Sam said. "Let me know if you need any other help." She nodded to Jerry and Ronnie and left the lab.

OFF

Commander Samantha York
Commanding Officer
USS Calypso

Lieutenant JG Jerreck O'Connor
Chief Science Officer
USS Calypso

 

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