Discussing Options (part 3)

Posted on Thu Feb 6th, 2020 @ 1:26am by Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn & Lieutenant JG Pippa Patterson & Lieutenant Remy Boudreau & Lieutenant JG Paris Deville & Lieutenant JG Tessa Nicoles

1,111 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Caverns of the mind
Location: Conference Room

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

Amber addressed Paris’ comment first. "We do not know what precautions were taken by the science team. They were on the planet for long enough to feel they didn't need them. So, whatever they encountered is either from a specific location, or specific food, or it was introduced after they arrived and deemed the planet safe. A survey team before them felt it was safe enough to build the facility, so we may need to dig a little deeper for answers."

]NEW]

The First Officer turned to the doctor. "Do your scans and see if you can find out what is causing the increased activity," she said. "And monitor the away team for similar abnormalities.”

Finally, Amber turned to the new science officer. "I agree that we will need to go back to the planet at some point. There is only so much we can do from a distance. Since I've already been exposed, I'll be happy to go back down with you when you deem it necessary. All the data is available in main science."

Pippa walked in with a stack of PADDs and handed them around before taking a seat with the others.

Azusa sat there watching the conversation fire back and forth between the officers. She didn't really have much to input as this was mainly a Science and Medical situation. She had a few ideas of her own though, a few things she could do. She knew that the transporters bio filters could possibly be used to flush out and eliminate any virus's, plagues or bacteria.
"Erm..." she said raising a hand. "What about using the transporters bio-filters?" she asked hoping it wasn't a stupid suggestion.

"If it doesn't recognize whatever this is, it won't filter it," Amber said. "Unknown elements can get through until they're flagged. However, if whatever happened to the scientists is communicable, we've already been infected, and it's already aboard the ship."

"I would suggest that you keep the Away Team on the surface and we will have a Shuttle standing by on Ramp duty should the need arise." Ka'Tock had his plans. "Also could you tie the Ship sensors into the station sensors so we can keep better tabs on the team?"

"Someone would have to do that from the surface," Amber said. "But they don't extend to the caves."

"You know," Pippa chimed in. "There's a small transporter pad in the reserach facility. We might be able to link to it and beam people down. Not all at once, but maybe a couple at a time. I'll have to look at the specs. It would allow us to use the transporter buffers to see if we can find the source. The atmospheric interference is still problematic."

"We can try." Amber turned to the new science chief. "What do you think?"

He nodded, 'worth a try. Anything that breaks through that atmospheric interference would be a big help, logistically and practically. We may even be able to set up a chain of buffers and see if we can't extend the sensor range to hit the caves.' Boudreau looked over at Pippa and Azusa, 'we'll probably need Ops or Engineering crew to assist in optimising the equipment, if that's possible?'

Pippa nodded. "Sure. I think we can do that."

"Since I've been to the planet and am probably exposed to whatever it is already, I'll take a shuttle down and set up the transporter buffers in the research facility," Amber offered. "I will also see if I can set up a relay to the caves so you can get continual readings. As a scientist, I know the rists and I'm willing to take them. If necessary, I'll stay in the research facility to look into the computer."

"I was down there, too," Pippa said. "I'll go with you."

Without opening his eyes, Paris cleared his throat, and said allowed. “At the request of the Chief Flight Control Officer, no one but him shall be flying a shuttle down to the planet without him. Not that I don’t trust the lovely Executive Officer to fly a shuttle, it’s that, in the event of an emergency I am uniquely qualified to maneuver the shuttle on the atmospheric conditions and I have already memorized the best routes from our first trip.” He brought his mug up, keeping his eyes closed, as he took a sip before adding. “Despite my reluctance I still value this crews safety and I am the best choice. Feel free to argue among yourselves. I can wait.” He added a playful smirk and a quick wink to Amber, before closing his eyes again, to let her know he was joking about the last part and was only trying to get a laugh or smile from everyone else to ease the tension.

"Let the Chief Flight Control Officer know that, while he is the best choice to fly a shuttle down to the planet, I do not wish to force him to compromise his position about safety measures by ordering him to do so." Her tone was equally light. She caught the wink, and she really didn't want to make him fly the shuttle, but if he volunteered, she would gladly accept.

There was a slight pause as he brought the mug to his lips. His eyes remained closed as he took a drink before slowly removing it and placing it back down on his lap. He shrugged a bit before smirking, replying softly. "I'll pass on the message. No guarantees."

"Thank you." She smiled before addressing the others. "Mr. Boudreau, as I said, you will lead the investigation. I'll stay on the planet for a bit to continue looking through the research facility, if you have no objections. I want to see if there are more clues there to help us find out what happened. Pick a team to assist you."

Boudreau caught the interchange between the two officers and thought a moment, working through the options he knew in his head. Finally he looked at Quinn and said, 'If I imagine things working out the way the should ... perhaps, if Lieutenant Jansum, Doctor Nicoles and Lieutenant Patterson were to return with yourself to the planet, that might be the ideal team - you've all been exposed to whatever's affecting our crew, so it'll minimise exposing more of us.'

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn
Executive Officer

Lieutenant JG Pippa Parkinson
Assistant Chief Operations Officer

Lieutenant JG Tessa Nicoles
Medical Officer

Commander Ka'Tock
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Remy Boudreau
Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant JG Paris Deville
Chief Flight Control Officer

Lieutenant Azusa Nakano
Chief Engineer

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