Technical Matters

Posted on Mon Jul 11th, 2022 @ 1:04am by Commodore Jacob Kane & Lieutenant Commander Finnley Keating VII & Lieutenant Myra Sh'rillil & Lieutenant Alexis Ryan & Lieutenant Commander P’rel M.D & Lieutenant Xavier Leiko

Mission: Scylla and Charybdis
Location: USS Athena - Conference Room
Timeline: MD-03
995 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

Kane had gathered just a small group of officers for this 'briefing' section of their journey to the Titania system. Of the small group that he had pulled together, outside of himself and Commander Zora, they were the only ones whom he had trusted with the technical data provided to him regarding the USS Avalon and its prototype systems.

As he looked around the faces, he suspected there were some questions already waiting for him. Some of them he'd be able to answer, some of them he was hoping that they could shed some light on themselves.

"Hopefully you've all had enough time to process the specs from Command. We don't know the full circumstances we're running into, but it goes without saying that there is a need for discretion. Most of the crew won't know the technical readouts of these new sensor systems, and it must remain that way," he began by explaining. "With that said, this is a space you can discuss your thoughts and theories openly." He looked to his new Science Officer. "Lieutenant Ryan, I'd like you and Lt Sh'rillil to collaborate on downloading whatever data we can from the Avalon once we find her."

"Already working on the encrypted retrieval program," Ryan replied, spinning the PADD in her hand to indicate why her head was down. Kane hadn't elaborated on why he required a 'virtual titanium casing' around the impending information download when he'd first contacted her but the lack of context hadn't impeded the Science Chief's preliminary coding. "It'll be ready by the time we get there. Between this and what I will already assume is an inbuilt data security protocol a mile long, any attempt at interception is just going to result in an indecipherable mess."

Myra nodded and smiled, antennae leaning towards the Lieutenant as she glanced in her direction. “I’ll do everything I can to help Lieutenant Ryan.” She kept her hands under the table to best hide her anxiety. This would be her first actual mission duty, and she didn’t want to screw it up.

"Keating and Leiko will take responsibility for the physical technology," Kane continued. "We either return the ship to port, rip out the technology, or scuttle it. Assuming we can rescue the crew."

"I can't wait to get my hands on this," Xavier said, struggling to keep the excitement out of his voice. He was studying the vague schematic on his PADD, though not as detailed for security reasons, but it was still enough to get him excited. "Out of curiosity, if the Romulans or Kzinti have their hands on our people, is the priority the tech or the crew?"

Finn just nodded as Kane finished his command, having taken a more quiet approach to things lately. She looked to Xavier when he spoke and hoped the response he received would indicate that the crew was the top priority. She wasn't sure she could leave people to die. Not again.

"A fair question," Kane nodded. Under normal Starfleet protocols, they were to recover the crew first. However, a code magenta operation represented technology or data that could be severely damaging to the entire Federation. Captain V'Lonn would have known that his crew potentially came secondary to that. "We're to do our best to recover both. However..." he continued with the next part a little reluctantly. "Our standing orders are that no data or technology falls into the hands of any foreign agency. Exceeding all priorities."

Finn's heart sank as Kane made it clear that if push came to shove, the crew would not be the top priority. 'Was the uniform worth it?'. The question plagued her mind as it often did since she had returned. Would it be worth all of those deaths? She wondered and said a silent prayer that it wouldn't come to that.

Myra frowned at the Captain’s words and looked down at the table. This was unusual for Starfleet, at least so far as she had seen and heard since she’d joined the ranks. Emphasis was always placed on lives first. This had to be a really straining situation.

Xavier nodded solemnly, he didn't like the answer but the tactical advantage of this sensor array was too high of a price to fall into enemy hands, so he understood it. "We'll save both Sir," he said a little optimistically, "we've got this."

It was a nice sentiment. Not necessarily one the Lieutenant could follow-through with for sure at this stage. Nodding, Kane looked at his recently returned Intelligence officer."Lt P'rel, operational security is your forte. We're operating in an area where the new Romulan state and the Kzinti might be looking at us. I need you to stay on top of anything that could suggest they're tracking us or the Avalon."

Staring off through the window into space, P'rel was suddenly aware that her thoughts had been on Silnan. Her discipline had wandered and she had not been mentally present, having not heard the Captain. "Hm?" she asked.

That was unlike her, Kane noted. Had she lost her edge somewhere? A distracted Vulcan was virtually unheard of. "Operational security," he repeated. "I need you to pay attention, Lieutenant, we're counting on not being caught with our proverbial pants down."

P'rel glared at Kane momentarily, the painkillers were wearing off and her side began to sharply wince again, niggling at her ability to restrain frustration. "Aye sir" she replied, make a mental note that she needed to go and catch up on sector reports and long range scans.

"Good. Time will be a factor here. Titania is a trinary system with some unusual spacial distortions. It's a good place to hide, not easy to navigate. The Avalon could be in need of our help. Let's go make sure they get it from us, and not a Tal Shiar kill squad." Kane motioned to the group. "Dismissed."