(( Holodeck 3 ))

::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 regarded the Vulcan officer as Ehlanii spoke. She'd always
regarded one of her biggest challenges in life was to make a Vulcan
laugh - they'd be less stuffy if they had a good giggle once in a
while. But perhaps this wasn't the right time... :: 

Che'tara: ::apologetically:: I had to guess a lot of the figures so
it could do with a second opinion.

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: Ha! You're not kidding! ::remembering herself:: Er, I mean
I agree, Ma'am.

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: ::trying to sound hopeful:: Well, they've probably moved
away by now, anyway. Right?

::The Vulcan returned her gaze to her console.::

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: Thanks, Ma'am. It's a nice little place you've got here.

:: For a few moments there was silence in the room as the four women
concentrated on their work. Che felt at a bit of a loss - she'd
already done pretty much all she could but she hadn't been dismissed
yet, and walking out without her boss's permission probably wouldn't
do her promotion prospects much good. Instead, she busied herself
transferring data from cartography to the holodeck so she could keep
an eye on the ever-changing detritus filling the system, adjusting
her screens to view the star from various different angles. After a
while the Counsellor's voice cut through her concentration. ::

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.

:: Che frowned and adjusted her own systems for a better look.
Clearly the Commander was doing the same. ::

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.

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. =/\=
 
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. =/\=
 
:: The doors opened to admit two more officers. Che was begining to
feel a little overwhelmed and conspicuous by all the pips on
display, like a Cardassian Vole in a litter of Targs. ::
 
Kolk: And Kolk in... Hello. ::smiling at Cara::
 
Maria: ((Response?) )
 
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.

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

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...

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.

Che'tara: I wouldn't recommend warping anywhere near the sun if it
can be avoided, there's a helluva lot of junk and the shields won't
catch it all. And at lightspeed, it only takes one little stone...
But heading round the system and throwing a message in to the
Calippus should be safe enough.

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.

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. Che turned
her attention back to the screens in front of her. She was quite
excited - it looked as though she'd be able to sit in with the big
brass for this mission. After the Counsellor hurried out after
Commander Walker, Valis spoke up. ::

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.

Che'tara: They're moving closer?! I thought they were a science
vessel, haven't they seen the danger?
 
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))

Che'tara: The closer they get to the sun, the closer our fighter
will have to be to get a message across to them.

Maria/Valis: responses

Che'tara: Aye, Ma'am.

:: The tall hybrid swung herself back to face her consoles, golden
hair flying around her shoulders. Her fingers flew over the controls
focussing in on the area of space between tham and the Calippus.
Pretty soon, a red line appeared on the holographic display. ::

Che'tara: Currently, that's the quickest and safest route for the
flight to take. If the Calippus keeps moving in, though, that's
going to change. I can feed detailed telemetry from her to Flight
Ops if it'll help?

Maria/Valis: repsonse

tbc!

P.O. Che'tara
Steller Cartography
USS Ronin

as simmed by

Lt. Commander Jhen Thelev
Chief of Operations
USS Ronin