Conversation with #ST_MissionRoom1

(6:18:27 PM) XO_Cdr_Kuari: BEGIN SIM
(6:18:28 PM) XO_Cdr_Kuari: BEGIN SIM
(6:18:28 PM) XO_Cdr_Kuari: BEGIN SIM
(6:20:25 PM) CTO_Maj_Wolfe: :: is floating in the small, natural pool, next to which he has slung a hammock between a couple trees. He looks up a the sky a moment before closing his eyes and simply... relaxing... letting the water carry him where it will, the sound of the waterfall that flows into the pool almost overpowering, but ultimately the greatest source of his relaxation. ::
(6:25:41 PM) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: ::Is sat silently at his station, muddling through the maintenance assignment lists, knowing how many of the engineering staff will be taking their chance at some down time on Gencodia.::
(6:26:26 PM) TAC_LCdr_TLira: :: has remained at the tactical console, and is looking over readouts ::
(6:27:22 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: looks agog at Dr. Johnson, then at Kate, then at the sphere, then back to Dr. Johnson :: Johnson: ???
(6:28:13 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: Johnson: I have... so many questions.
(6:29:17 PM) Dr_Johnson: CSO: :: grins :: So do I! What will happen when we plug this thing in, or however it interfaces? Will it react at all, even?
(6:30:22 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: Johnson: I was thinking... how do you know it's a receptacle for this? Where is it? What have you learned about it? Why is there a receptacle for an object that we found drifting in the center of the galaxy?!
(6:31:50 PM) CMO_LtJG_Tailor: ::just listening quietly to the conversation in the room, staring at the object from time to time, speculating on what its purpose is..::
(6:32:30 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: Harper> :: nods in thoughtful agreement with Wright's questions ::
(6:34:21 PM) MED_Ens_Acacia: :: stands behind the CMO, hands folded behind her back as she looks around. Her tricorder sits in her jacket pocket ::
(6:34:32 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: lifts a finger, then moves to a console and points that finger to something informative on the panel :: CSO: The same metal is used on what we assumed was some sort of interface. It's in the ancient ruins nearby, if you remember from your first expedition, in the spherical chamber. We've studied it for some time, and the concave measurements exactly match that of the outer surface of this sphere.
(6:35:03 PM) Dr_Johnson: CMO: As to your last question? I have no idea.
(6:35:58 PM) CMO_LtJG_Tailor: <CSO?>
(6:39:45 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: Johnson: Have... have you been able to decipher any of the writing? Otherwise, for all we know, putting it in the receptacle could start a sequence that ends in an extremely energetic exothermic reaction on a planetary scale. Or perhaps something on a smaller scale of catastrophe.
(6:39:57 PM) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: ::Gets up, slowly approaching the replicator.:: Comp: Mareuvian tea. TAC: Would you like anything Commander?
(6:40:57 PM) TAC_LCdr_TLira: :: glances over :: ENG: No, thank you, Lieutenant.
(6:42:20 PM) SCI_Ens_Jude: :: fiddles with her uniform, sitting at the science console, while humming 1812 overture ::
(6:43:30 PM) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: ::Nods, take his drink as it materilised.:: SCI: Ensign?
(6:44:54 PM) SCI_Ens_Jude: ENG: If I were not on duty, I would ask for some gin, but alas... Thanks anyway.
(6:46:06 PM) Dr_Johnson: CSO: :: frowns, as if this thought hadn't occurred to her :: We can tell the panel we can interact with carries power to and from the receptacle. It always reads as "empty" though. We don't know more than that, and I imagine we won't unless we connect it. Do you think it wise to avoid doing so? :: darts her eyes to and from Harper and Wright ::
(6:47:03 PM) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: SCI: Perhaps something more suitable for on duty? ::Chuckles.:: I am surprised you did not go down to the planet.
(6:48:48 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: frowns :: Harper/Johnson: I'm torn between the risks of doing this without more information and the possible treasure-trove of knowledge we could gain... :: presses fingers to her forehead and gently rubs, thinking ::
(6:49:50 PM) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: TAC: And you. Young women such as yourselves... passing up an opportunity of adventure and discovery. ::Tschs jokingly.::
(6:50:13 PM) TAC_LCdr_TLira: :: lifts an eyebrow ::
(6:50:19 PM) MED_Ens_Acacia: CSO: Do we have any evidence either object has any destructive capabilities?
(6:51:12 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: nods to herself, as if sobering to the fact that discovery may have to wait. CSO: It's your device, as much as I would like to take ownership of it as it seems to have come from my site. MED: None that I can find, but your crew has had more time to study it than I.
(6:51:27 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: MED: Well, aboard the ship, our scanners couldn't penetrate the metal shell, so I have no idea what's inside. Johnson: Do yours penetrate any further than ours did?
(6:51:29 PM) CMO_LtJG_Tailor: CSO: I would think, if it had a receptacle in a place where people are able to observe it without protection, then it wouldn't be destructive..
(6:52:22 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: CMO: The people of this world chose to undergo a process they believed would allow them to transcend their physical bodies, so I'm not sure how much we can take from that, but you make a fair point.
(6:52:44 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: shakes her head :: CSO: No, and we haven't been able to penetrate anything made of Gencodium. We haven't yet attempted to destroy any of it to get around this limitation.
(6:52:50 PM) CMO_LtJG_Tailor: CSO: Ah, I wasn't aware of that.
(6:55:15 PM) MED_Ens_Acacia: :: rubs her chin, shaking her head. She thinks it over, but is also glad she doesn't have to decide ::
(6:55:29 PM) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: ::Plods back to his console, sipping his tea.::
(6:57:06 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: CO> :: considering, knowing that Lexy always worries more than is probably necessary :: I think that it is unlikely that there will be a negative outcome, but perhaps it would be wise to take some sensible precautions first. What do you think of clearing the area of non-essential personnel for 200 meters and transporter locks on anyone within that radius?
(6:58:02 PM) CTO_Maj_Wolfe: :: opens his eyes when he feels his feet make contact with the soft soil that lines the water. He lifts his head out, and looks around, and pushes off toward the waterfall ::
(6:59:22 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: smiles slowly, straightening :: CO: Those are wise precautions. Your input has been been valuable. I'm ashamed to say I never thought to do so. Do you have a background in Security? :: winks ::
(7:03:27 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: looks to Wright for agreement ::
(7:04:59 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: thinks and then nods :: CO/Johnson: The only thing safer than that would be to pre-emptively evacuate the whole planet, which I admit may be a... trifle extreme.
(7:06:27 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: grins widely :: Then it's settled. Let's go to the ruins!
(7:11:01 PM) Dr_Johnson: ACTION> The away team moves to the Ancient Ruins site. Johnson, Harper and Wright are in the lead through the corridors, while Tailor and Acacia take up the rear, having been instructed to monitor the spherical object on a hovercart between them. In the interests of having fewer people with a transporter lock on them, no other personnel are with them.
(7:12:17 PM) MED_Ens_Acacia: :: follows the party, tricorder in one hand, the other hovering near the cart as if she could actually catch it. ::
(7:12:58 PM) CTO_Maj_Wolfe: :: climbs out of the water and settles on a warm rock to dry off for a while ::
(7:13:26 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: chattering incessantly to Dr. Johnson ::
(7:13:37 PM) CMO_LtJG_Tailor: ::has created an uplink to Atlantis and is sending a continuous feed to the science station on Atlantis also::
(7:18:25 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: holding a PADD, gesturing to it vaguely as she talks with Wright :: CSO: The spherical chamber is a cornerstone of our research, and we keep the pathway open at all times. This way. :: takes the right path as the corridor forks ::
(7:22:10 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: Johnson: It must've been quite the moment when you realized that the shape of the object fit perfectly to the receptacle. When did you figure it out? Right away?
(7:23:35 PM) Dr_Johnson: CSO: Once we went over the dimensional and compositional specs of your scans. I knew the numbers were familiar.
(7:25:38 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: nods :: Johnson: This must be even more exciting for you and your team, then.
(7:26:26 PM) Dr_Johnson: ACTION> The away team enters a spherical chamber, as the name suggests. Familiar equipment standard to a Federation Science vessel lines the curved walls, facing the center where a lone console stands.
(7:30:05 PM) CMO_LtJG_Tailor: Self: Huh.. ::raises her eyebrows in surprise at the decorating scheme::
(7:30:54 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: quickly walks to console in the center, clearly familiar with the place, and extends a hand towards the approaching sphere :: CMO/MED: Here, hold it here in the center of the platform. Keep it on the cart for now. We'll just barely fit around it.
(7:32:04 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: is filled with equal parts worry an excitement ::
(7:32:23 PM) MED_Ens_Acacia: ::presses a button on her side of the cart, allowing the cart to follow the prescribed path ::
(7:34:39 PM) CMO_LtJG_Tailor: ::nods at Johnson:: Dr: Understood.. ::does likewise with her side; the sphere is held where the doctor requested::
(7:35:07 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: once the cart is hovering in the center of the platform as instructed, quickly presses her hands into the two three-digit depressions in the panel. There is a deep groaning of stone moving. Railings rise to surround the party, and the platform as a whole begins to rise off the floor to the vertical center of the spherical chamber ::
(7:36:48 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: CO_Capt_Harper> CSO: Instruct the Atlantis to monitor the situation here and acquire transporter locks on anyone in the vicinity, with orders to pull us out if things do not go as expected.
(7:37:11 PM) MED_Ens_Acacia: :: spins around, tricorder bleeping :: CMO: Woah! We're moving!
(7:37:15 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: CO: Aye. :: calls up the Bridge and passes along the instructions ::
(7:37:54 PM) CMO_LtJG_Tailor: ::holds onto the railing as the platform/lift begins to move::
(7:38:29 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: grips the railing and tries not to be alarmed as she conveys the instructions to the Bridge ::
(7:39:34 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: CO_Capt_Harper> :: looks around with interest as the room transforms ::
(7:42:38 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: holds her hands on the panel as the platform comes to a stop in the dead center of the sphere. A Science display fitted over the alien display beneath it shows information in standard language, so Harper no longer has to translate it :: CMO/MED: Okay, everyone carefully roll the sphere onto the floor below the hovercart. The depression is there.
(7:43:37 PM) MED_Ens_Acacia: ::punches the hovercart's buttons a few times, the cart beginning to tilt as she inputs angles bit by bit to take it slow ::
(7:45:04 PM) CMO_LtJG_Tailor: ::nods to Johnson, carefully synchronizing the tilting of the sphere with Acacia's inputs to lower the sphere into its receptacle::
(7:45:40 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: whips out her tricorder and starts taking readings ::
(7:45:45 PM) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: ::Sips his tea, sitting back in his chair and closing his eyes.::
(7:47:56 PM) Dr_Johnson: ACTION> Once the sphere settles into the receptacle, vibrations emanating from the sphere can be detected by tricorders. They are clearly fine-tuned, as if a form of communication. The display changes from EMPTY to PROBE RECEIVED...ANALYZING...
(7:48:02 PM) SCI_Ens_Jude: :: leaning over console, watching situation on the planet, fingers hovering over transport button, if needed ::
(7:48:41 PM) TAC_LCdr_TLira: :: noted the received message and is keeping a close eye on the readings on her board ::
(7:50:42 PM) MED_Ens_Acacia: :: pulls back out her tricorder, holding it at arm's length toward the sphere as if it might offer some defence, eyeing the readings with a puzzled look ::
(7:50:43 PM) CMO_LtJG_Tailor: ::watches the process with fascination, waiting to see what happens next..::
(7:56:32 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: turns her eyes to the display, which is pulsing faintly next to her :: Self: So... it is a probe after all. :: As she looks, the "ANALYZING" screen vanishes and a star chart pops up, with multiple nested star charts describing the area traversed by the probe from here to where it was recaptured at the center of the galaxy ::
(7:58:27 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: presses a faintly pulsing button to reveal access to the sphere's guidance system and power settings for the shell's photosensitivity :: All: Wow. Look at all of this. This little probe has documented everything it's seen for the past twenty-thousand years. Look at the start charts!
(7:59:03 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: leans over, clearly awed :: Self: Remarkable...
(7:59:20 PM) CMO_LtJG_Tailor: All: That's amazing..
(7:59:37 PM) MED_Ens_Acacia: :: blinks, her posture relaxing, she straightens up a bit :: Self: Twenty thousand..?
(8:00:06 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: CO_Capt_Harper> :: nods agreement :: Johnson: Remarkable, indeed. Wright: Can you tell how it is powered, to have been active for so long?
(8:01:00 PM) CTO_Maj_Wolfe: :: finally figures that he's dry enough and walks over to his clothes, looking at the cliff next to the waterfall, and thinking about the climb to the top. He puts his clothes on and then decides and moves toward the cliff. ::
(8:01:00 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: CO: Well, this button gives access to power settings, but I'm honestly not sure what kind of power supply is has. Do you have any ideas, Dr. Johnson?
(8:03:09 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: stares at the display :: CSO: Powered by the sun, I suspect? Its shell is photosensitive.
(8:03:26 PM) Dr_Johnson: :: her grin having faded but her eyes wide to make up for it, stares at Wright :: CSO: This may be one of the most remarkable finds of our lifetimes.
(8:03:30 PM) CSO_Cdr_Wright: Johnson: So, Gencodium is photosensitive? Amazing.
(8:03:33 PM) XO_Cdr_Kuari: PAUSE SIM
(8:03:33 PM) XO_Cdr_Kuari: PAUSE SIM
(8:03:34 PM) XO_Cdr_Kuari: PAUSE SIM