Lieutenant J.G. Valis - "Don't Shoot the Messenger"
((Holodeck 3, Deck 3, USS Ronin))
 
Ehlanii: Ah, Lt. Valis. It's good to have you here.
 
::Valis stood stiffly just inside the door. Aside from the large and unique-sounding holodeck doors, Cmdr. Maria's holodeck program could've been a new science lab module installed on the ship during repairs. Working to stay placid-looking, Valis adressed both women in teal turtlenecks.::

Valis: Was there something specific you needed my skills for?

Maria: We'd like you to keep tracks of the information coming from the fighters and starting to put it together into files we can access later. However there's also a simulation that you might want to look into. Lieutenant, do you want to explain?

::Valis chose a workstation between the Haliian and the Trill-Caitian. She sat, waiting to began preparations for recieving sensor telemetry from the fighters, and turned to listen to their explanation of the simulation::

Ehlanii: Petty Officer Che'tara has come up with a simulation that predicts the destruction of the Calippus by a solar flare. We'd like you to take a look at the simulation and help us refine it, to make sure it's accurate.
 

Che'tara: ((Response))

Valis: Intriguing. I suppose you are hoping I can find a flaw in your calculations that might lessen the danger to the other ship.

Maria: The aim is to get it more precise, but a lessening of the danger would be a pleasant change.

Che'tara: ((Response))

Valis: It is possible, but I should point out that it is equally plausible that my examination will prove the problem to be more grave than you already suspect.

Maria: As I said, we are primarily aiming to make our knowledge more accurate, if it's worse than we think we need to know, we are not the type of people to hear only what we want to hear.

 

Valis: I would expect nothing less from Starfleet officers. I merely wished to remind you so that you might be prepared for that eventuality.

Che'tara: ((Response))

::The Vulcan returned her gaze to her console and began tying in the fighters' sensors to her console. Soon she found that Lt. Ehlanii had sent her the data regarding the simulation.::

Ehlanii: There you go, Lt. Have at it.

Valis: Thank you, Lt. I shall endeavor to serve.

Maria: Thank you. Please feel free, all of you, to rearrange the screens as you wish, I only found this file in the database and altered it to hold more people.

Che'tara: Response?

::Valis quickly decided on the arrangement that seemed most efficient to her. In one corner of her right-hand screen, she split the screen between the coding of the simulation and the best available sensor data of the protostar-system. Next, she typed in a request for the computer to replace her left-hand screen with a 2 meter by 2 meter holoprojector from which to display Petty Officer Che'tara's simulation visually. She began breaking down the calculations one at a time. It would take some time, but it was a soothing exercise to clear up the minute miscalculations that the P.O. had made. Nothing worth faulting the Caitian for, but enough to give Valis a feeling of effectiveness. Some might call it OCD or anal-retentiveness - at least they would have centuries ago on Earth - but to Valis is was plain, simple efficiency.::

Ehlanii: Commander, the sensors are picking up an... object... that has entered the area. I think it might be a ship in trouble, although I'm not entirely sure. The readings that I'm getting aren't really focused in that direction.

::The counselor's pronouncement was interesting, but did not pertain to what the two woman had asked her to do. Therefore, she continued correcting the minute mathematical errors in the program.::

Maria: It's a ship, but not a working one. At first glance it looks like a simple malfunction, but look at this.

::She indicated the fine hole to Ehlanii.::

Maria: By the residue on the back end it looks like it was shot, if we hadn't upgraded our sensors we wouldn't have noticed it at all. Someone wants us to not notice it was attacked.

Ehlanii: I'm sure the bridge knows about it, since their systems are focused on a broader picture, but...

Maria: They might not know about the residue due to weapons? Commander Walker did say this mission would make us a prime target.

Ehlanii: Exactly.
 

::While she continued to interpret her orders as requiring her to continue computing, she felt it prudent to suggest that the other officers take action rather than simply speculate amongst themselves.::

Valis: Perhaps it would be wise to advise those in command.

Maria: Of course, I'll contact them now. =/\= Maria to Captain Morgan =/\=

Morgan: =/\= ((Response)) =/\=

Maria: =/\= There's a civilian freighter about a light year from the protostar dead in space. It looks like a malfunction but there's trace signs of recent fire on the back, enough to knock the ship's engines out but not enough that we'd pick it up with normal sensors. However there're no ships in the area we can see that would have attacked it and this looks incredibly suspicious.=/\=

Morgan: =/\= ((Response)) =/\=

((backsim as necessary))

::The Ronin, which had dropped out of warp shortly after the CSO had contacted the bridge regarding the Calippus, jumped back into warp for a few minutes. When they dropped out again, this time at the edge of the system, the Captain's voice echoed through the holodeck again.::

Morgan: =/\= Bridge to Commander Maria. We're in position... feel free to start up yahr observations at yahr convenience.

Maria: =/\= Yes sir, the quality will improve once the fighters take their positions. =/\=

::Indeed it did. As the Captain and CSO spoke, Valis noticed the acuracy of the simulation almost begin to increase on its own. She surmised that the fighters were being launched even now.::
 
Maria: =/\= Maria to Kolk. =/\=

Kolk: =/\= Kolk here. =/\=

Maria: =/\= Please can you move the fighters into position? But also... =/\=

Kolk: =/\= If we've arrived, they should be launching as we speak. What else can I do for you? =/\=

Maria: =/\= There's a freighter out there that was attacked in a way to make it look broken but we can't see any ships. Tell your men to be very careful and look out for anything that doesn't seem right. =/\=

Kolk: =/\= Attacked? I'll certainly warn them, but I wouldn't mind some more details. I'm actually coming to you right now. =/\=

Maria: =/\= Thank you. Maria out. =/\=
 
::Mere moments later, the CFO followed the First Officer in, and Valis glanced toward them before continuing on with her work.::

 
Kolk: And Kolk in... Hello. ::smiling at Cara::
 

Maria: ((Response?))
 
::Seeing Commander Walker, she was reminded of their strange interaction in the holodeck two days ago. After leaving the holodeck that day to change out of her soiled uniform, she had chosen to don her meditation robes and clear her head. During meditation, she had sought to understand why it had been so difficult to converse with the human, but she could find no answer. She did not think it prudent to attempt to work more closely with him as she had tried when she had encountered similar difficulties with then-Lt. Thelev, but she did feel it important to address the issue in some manner in the future. Not while on duty of course, and not in the presence of others. But she would address it with him.::
 
Kolk: ::turning to Ben:: If you can give me a second, Commander, there's an urgent message I need to pass along to Flight Ops.
 
::Walker seemed unwilling to acknowledge the other man's comment. Presumably aware of the need for efficiency, the Lt. moved to a corner of the holo-room and told Lt. Baranduin about the increasing probability of hostiles in the area. While he did, Cmdr. Maria restarted the simulated destruction of the USS Calippus on the far side of the protostar, which seemed to the highlight of every workstation in the room. Jack finished his conversation quickly and came over to where the two Cmdrs. were standing.::
 
Kolk: ::to Walker:: I can see why you called me down here, sir.
 
::Odd. Walker again seemed to ignore Lt. Kolk. And, according to what the CFO had just said, Walker had requested the other man's presence. Quite illogical. If she had to hypothesize, she would surmise that he was allowing his emotions to effect the manner in which he carried out his duties. In a Vulcan, she would have found such behaviour appauling, but in humans... The more she lived among them, the less she found emotions and emotional behaviour intrinsically distateful and the more she saught to understand it. She had not as yet tried to explain the reason for that particular curiousity to herself, but if she had, the explanation might be... disconcerting.::

Walker: Ok, so how big is the debris field around this protostar... and where is the Calippus?

::Valis attempted to gather the requested information, but she did not have it readily accessible so Lt. Ehlanii pronounced it before she was able..::

Ehlanii: The protoplanetary disk has a diameter of about .03 light years and a circumference of 0.094 light years.

Walker: Well, it seems to me that going around, someone could quickly warp to the other side and send the message. Unless you had any other ideas?

Kolk: Sounds like a plan to me...

::While considering the suggestion, Valis knew what the next question would be: Did they have enough time to warn the Calippus? Thus, she endeavored to finish resolving the imperfections in the simulated destruction of that ship to determine just that.::

Che'tara: ((Response))

Maria: It's more the fact that, with the abundance of matter in the area combined with the energy fluctuations, the flight would not be easy by any means.

Ehlanii: We were thinking that one of the fighters with the upgraded sensors and a really good pilot might be able to safely make the trip.

Kolk: We've upgraded the sensors on every fighter we have, but as far as speed, the Hammerheads are certainly the way to go. However, with the possible hostiles you told me about, Commander, ::He nodded to Maria:: I wouldn't want to send anyone alone.
 
Walker: So. Can we send someone around? Or do we not have enough time to do so?

Ehlanii: ::with a puzzled look:: To be honest, I'm not sure. ::She glanced around and caught Valis' attention.:: Do you know when the flare is likely to hit the Calippus?
 
Valis: I have refined the simulation according to the most recent sensor data, and I believe the Calippus will be engulfed in approximately 49 minutes 37 seconds given their plotted location. If we use the Hammerheads, as Lt. Kolk suggests, they should be able to circumvent the disc in roughly 17 minutes at their maximum speed of Warp 8.9 and reach the Calippus from the nearest entry point 12 minutes later, assuming they can maintain a velocity of Warp 5 within the cloud.

 

::Due to the urgency of the situation and the impatience of Cmdr. Walker, which was obvious even to Valis, she chose not to add that their time to intercept would increase by 2 minutes, 28 seconds per thousanth of a lightyear travelled if the Calippus had, for any reason, chosen to move in closer to the protostar. Additionally, the time until the Calippus was destroyed would decrease by roughly two minutes for the same distance, given that the projected speed of the stellar ejection was 263 times the speed of light.::

Maria: Then we have enough time for someone to get over there and back out of range of the flare.

Kolk: Thankfully, but I'd still better get the Hammerheads moving right away. If you'll excuse me...
 
Walker: Get on it, Mr. Kolk. Being late would be... ineffective. If you'll all excuse me.
 
::Without waiting, Walker turned to leave but was stopped by the Counselor. Lt. Kolk managed to make it out the doors, which made their customary Zzzz-Kush when they closed behind him.::

 

Ehlanii: Commander, can I have a word with you?
 
Walker: I am in a hurry, Counselor. We have a minor crisis as you are aware.
 

::Valis turned back to her workstation, refining the simulation further as the sensor telemetry came in. It lation was practically refining itself, however, so she was able to focus her efforts more on her other task: collating and organizing the data for future study once the event had happened and the information gathering stage was complete.::

Ehlanii: I'll walk with you, if necessary. I hope it won't take long.

Maria: Of course, feel free. Just be back here before the fighters are in position, we need all the eyes we can get.

Walker: Keep up then.
 
::Ben started off at a rapid pace, just shy of a full out jog and the petite counselor ran after him. Again the holodeck doors closed with a Zzzz-Kush, but Valis was so engrossed that she didn't even notice the sound. She spent several minutes dividing up the information based on various criteria until the small holoprojection on her desk flickered unexpectedly in the midst of one of its reccurring run-throughs. She looked closer, and an eyebrow raised. Finally, she looked at the screen on her right for confirmation. It was not good news.::

Valis: Commander, I believe the Calippus has changed position.

Maria: Really? Where on the simulation is it?

Valis: It appears to have moved .0015 lightyears closer to HH36.

 

Maria: ((Response))

 

Valis: That increases our time to intercept to 31 minutes, assuming the fighters launched immediately after Lt. Kolk departed 3 minutes ago. It also decreases the time to Calippus' destruction to 43 minutes 24 seconds.

 

Maria: ((Response))

 

::The simulation flickered again as one of the fighters' sensors picked up another tiny glimpse of the other starship.::

 

Valis: Correction. The Calippus is now .0016 lightyears closer than initially anticipated.

 

Maria: ((Response))
 
TBC/Tags...

 

((OOC: The speed of the ejection is roughly Warp 5.3 (5.320799 to be exact). I'm not sure solar winds can travel faster than the speed of light, but if they didn't, there's no way the Calippus would be in danger, so... I guess it's speed of plot for this thing too. Also, I've made the Calippus' prescribed position .01 lightyears from the protostar, which is presumably in the center of the disk and thus .015 lightyears from the edge. The Calippus is thus now .0084 lightyears from HH36 and .0066 lightyears from the edge.))

-----
 
Lieutenant J.G. Valis
Science Officer
USS Ronin