The Evidence is What?
Posted on Sat Jul 6th, 2019 @ 7:31am by Lieutenant Commander Sofia Nikedoros & Captain Luka Mahone & Lieutenant Theodore Winslow & Lieutenant JG Lillian James & Graham
1,490 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Deep Freeze
Location: Haumea, Science Lab
Timeline: MD10 0400
Sofia entered the lab with Theo, who was carrying the samples taken from the wrecked generator. It was ridiculously early, but enough people had just had to scramble to find shelter from the cold that her sympathy for those getting sleep was running a bit low. Still, she was happy to only have to disturb a hologram.
"Scigram," she called. "We have something that requires analysis."
Lillian came in drinking a cup of coffee, "I'm here, just not functional yet sir." Wondering what was going on.
As the lights flickered on, so to did the static-y image of the scientific hologram. "Lieutenant Commander Nikedoros," he stated without hesitance, "And Lieutenant Winslow." As his gaze rested upon Lillian, his form flickered. "... I apologize, my systems are not working at capacity. Is there anything I can do for you all?"
"We've brought something for analysis that was found at the scene of a generator that had been..." Sofia paused, trying to think of the right word. She really needed some caffeine after so little sleep. "...vandalized, for want of a better word at the moment. It appears to be some sort of fur." She nodded toward Theo, who had the samples.
Theo held out the sample to the hologram. It wasn't often he saw a science hologram but it was really what was brilliant about all the progression that had happened in the last twenty years. "You really need a name. I don't like Scigram." The Security Officer said hating the fact it didn't have something proper, all the EMH's had a better name.
"Not trying to step on anyone's toes here, but what does the generator look like now? Is it possible that there is more evidence on what this is in it?" Lillian asked, her brain was starting to function, but still needed more coffee.
"We took some pictures," Sofia said, bringing those up on her PaDD. "The generator itself seems to be okay, but the pump was completely ripped out and the pipes where it was connected are just ...shredded."
"Whoa, that took some power, " Lillian replied, then added, "No pun intended." She looked to the hologram, "Dude, I agree with Chief here, you REALLY need a name. What do you know about the animal life here?" Lillian asked, it really looked like the Chief and the Commander desperately needed a caffeine boost.
The hologram flickered as he took a look at the sample presented to him, seemingly ignoring the critiques overhead. "I would have to agree with your hypothesis, Commander Nikedoros. This sample is fur that belongs to a species of creature. If I were to venture a guess, this creature is indigenous to the area. My databases are not familiar with whatever animal this belongs to." He took a look at the pictures on the PaDD. "... I would need more data, and more processing power at the moment, to construct a theoretical model, but there are multiple simulations I can run if you would like."
Finally, the science hologram looked to Lillian. "You are in my database Lieutenant. I do apologize. What do you think?"
"It's nice to know that your database is pretty current, I don't think we're ready for even a theoretical model yet. I have a lot of questions going through my head." Lillian said, then turning to Lt. Winslow, "Chief, perhaps we should post security in all important generator rooms, like the hospital, places that can't go without power. And I would also like to know what generator room this is, perhaps we can find a pattern to all of this." Lillian suggested, then she looked closely at the pictures on the PADD, "Since only the pump and the pipes were ripped out, perhaps the pumps and the liquid going through them resonate on some sort of frequency that we can't hear, much like a dog whistle."
"Lillian..." Theodore said slowly as a warning. "Good points and some of it is already in place from this afternoon." She was giving good suggestions and some of it was already in place after his discussion with Seshi Macae. The man didn't want to chew her out due to tiredness from being called out of bed only two hours after he stumbled into it. "Do we have a Chief Engineer now that can get you more processing power without comprising anything else?" The man wondered.
"I believe the new Chief Engineer should be arriving soon. Until then we do have an Acting Chief. I'm sure the Commander will authorize the power necessary for any simulations we should run," Sofia said. "But I think having security posted in the generator rooms is a good idea. Perhaps the housing complex didn't count as critical, but certainly no one was there to see whoever, or whatever, took our power out in the middle of the night."
Lillian got the warning loud and clear, "Sorry Chief, I didn't know that stuff was already in place. Who is the acting Chief Engineer?" Lillian asked, not knowing who it was.
Lillian had a thought pop in her head, "Chief, I just had a thought. Can we set up a room with a generator in it that doesn't supply power somewhere, set up cameras or something in it and try to bait this thing to make an appearance?"
"The acting Chief is currently-" Scigram's form cut out as he began to speak on the matter, and with his disappearance went the lights, bathing the group in darkness. Moments later, Scigram reappeared to illuminate the area, though his own re-appearance was choppy at best. "I believe there are issues within the power supply of the science labs themselves. I can start the back up generator supply, but that will take a few moments."
"I think it would be better for us to go check the generator," Sofia said, gesturing to the security officers as she headed for the door. "If we're lucky, we may be able to catch whatever-it-is red handed, or clawed, as the case may be."
"Hopefully." Theo murmured moving past the woman as the trio rushed to where the generator was that would power the Science areas.
Coming to the generator shed, Sofia was just a step behind the security officers. She could hear something - a sort of mewling purr accompanying an odd crunching/grinding noise coming from within. "Be careful," she whispered. "It sounds like something's in there."
"How do you want to handle this Chief," Lillian asked, her hand pulling her phaser, just in case this thing came charging at them.
"Quietly and carefully." Theo could already hear the sounds from within and made an shh gesture as tried to gauge whereabouts the noise was coming from inside. He held up three fingers to indicate that they would go in. Lillian would press the door release and Theodore would go in to confront the person followed by her.
Lillian took up her position with her phaser in her hand, with a nod of her head to the Cheif to let him know that she was ready when he was. Focusing on the sound inside she tried to pinpoint where the intruder was located.
For her part, Sophia stepped back to be out of the way.
The man turned into the generator room as the door was opened and stopped dead as he first saw nothing where he expected something to be then down. "What is the world?" He questioned looking at the tiny furry being that held a metal piece near to its mouth frozen like a deer in the headlights.
Lillian made sure that the door closed, and looked around to see how the fuzzy creature got in. Not seeing anything obvious, she spoke quietly as to not to frighten the creature, "Well, this is a first for me. Do we have like a net or something to try to catch this thing?"
"I'd suggest trying a low stun setting," Sofia put in, thinking that anything that chews metal wasn't likely to be held long by a net.
"Cheif, what do you want to do? I can't be certain that a low stun won't kill it." Lillian asked quietly, waiting for orders.
Theodore looked at both women and rolled his eyes. He looked at the little creature and aimed his rifle at it stunning it with the lowest setting. The creature let out a whimper but fell to the floor.
Sofia moved forward to check it, and seeing a gentle rise and fall of its sides, nodded. "It's fine," she said, more to reassure Lillian. She'd had little doubt since the lowest stun wouldn't causing any lasting harm to even a Mirullian mouse. "Let's get this to the science lab and secured in something it can't eat its way out of. I'll wake the Commander," she added with a regretful sigh for interrupting whatever sleep Luka might finally be getting. "He'll want to see this."
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