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Pop Goes The Weasel

Posted on Tue Mar 19th, 2019 @ 8:13am by Commander Rita Paris & Captain Enalia Telvan & Lieutenant Commander Thex sh'Zoarhi & Lieutenant Commander Mnhei'sahe Dox & Lieutenant Commander Sonak & Lieutenant Asa Dael & Lieutenant Samuel Clemens XV

Mission: Gaia Reborn
Location: USS Hera, Bridge and Main Engineering
Timeline: 2396, en intercept course with Gaia

" No that can't be right check it again." called the sapphire engineer from her station in her usual home. She could see the ships engine readouts and were wrong. Plasma flow was working as normal, but these levels were far to high. Even with the ship's engines running red hot from it many days on warp 9.4 the plasma seemed to be heating up to levels it shouldn't be reaching.

" Ma'am raw sample confirms it the plasma is reaching levels it shouldn't be...." The crew who had drawn a small cylinder of plasma from the plasma flow to examine, but much to her horror the cylinder exploded on the scanner. The small devices shields had stopped anyone from being hit, but the plasma was now burning through the scanner, table and floor.

" What the hell...." Thex thought as she looked at what was going on.

" Boss we have something. There's something in the plasma flow. " Came Ellena Jann one of the newly joined engineers.

The andorian was over to the human's workstation in the blink of an eye and her eyes stared at what was on the screen. Somehow a bacteria was in the warp cores plasma flow and it appeared to be heating up the warp plasma.

" Thex to the bridge we have a big problem here." She said as she tapped her combadge.

On the bridge of the USS Hera, Commander Paris was on duty, and she'd been dreading a call like this. She'd made the call to push the engines, and if something was going wrong with the engines, it would be her fault. Jaw clenching amongst other thing, Paris tabbed the comm on the command chair. "Bridge here. What's going on, Chief? Talk to me."

"Commander we have a serious problem here." Thex said into her commbadge as she began to try and work out how to fix the newly-developing situation. "Somehow a bacteria has gotten into the warp plasma flow. It's causing the warp plasma to heat up so much it's going to start damaging the warp core. Thing is, it looks like the bacteria needs to be kept at a certain flow, or it will cause the bacteria to explode."

"Route your findings through to Science, Sickbay and the Intel Pod. At the current rate of escalation, how long before we look like we're going to blow?" Uncovering the culprit would be in reviewing security footage from both the Hera and DS9. For now the problem at hand needed to be dealt with. Half-turning to Ensign SAG at Ops, Paris ordered, "Call the Captain to the bridge."

"Already done. If everything stays the same we have thirty minutes before the warp core goes boom," the andorian explained calmly as her eyes were fixed on the screen. Her men were beginning to input coolant into the flow. It might buy them a few more minutes that she'd not report, since the overheating might just overwhelm the coolant.

"Can we flush the system into an alternate system to maintain the flow rate in a contained loop?" Paris responded into the comms. "Meanwhile, let's see if we can identity the bacteria to find a way to combat it. Keep her steady and we'll work together to find a solution, Chief sh'Zoarhi." Flipping the tab on the direct line to Main Engineering that was still a standard of captain's chairs since the days of the NX, Paris began addressing the bridge. "Helm, keep us on course, project where we're liable to be in a worst case scenario in the next 40 minutes and see if we're going to be a hazard to shipping lanes or star systems that we need to warn. Science, we need an analysis of that bacteria, and please coordinate with Sickbay to find an effective antibacterial."

From the helm, Lieutenant Dox called back, "Aye Commander." while working feverishly on scanning their course ahead.

''There is no known organic lifeform of natural origin defined as bacterial that can sustain the temperatures of a plasma flow, let alone affect it,'' Sonak reported without moving his eyes from his sensors readout. ''There are therefore two possibilities: an artificial bacterial-sized system designed to exist and alter plasma, or one existing in a different domain and still able to affect material existence from there. I am modifying sensor calibration to look for metaphasic signature and non-organic composition and extending scanners to other subspace domains to look for a corresponding source.''

"Paris to Chief Clemens," the gold-clad commander called, sending a message to the Intel pod. "Someone has deliberately indirectly sabotaged us, Chief. I would very much like to know why. Check the report from Main Engineering, review footage and get to the bottom of this. You have the full resources of Security at hand. We want to know how, why, when, where and what, and we need to know now, because it might give us a chance for later."

The response was immediate- the angry drawl was tighter, and more clipped than his usual tone.

"Ah'm on it, ma'am. Pullin' every damned thing. Ah'll letcha know th'second somethin' matches up." He could be heard yelling at someone to grab somethingorother as the connection closed.

""Commander..." Dox called back over her shoulder. "At our current speed and course, we will be at coordinates 4357 point 8167. That puts us in intersection with the Elon system. A warp core breach there would create a sub-space shockwave that would destabilize the orbits of three satellites of the Elon star, including Elon 4 which has a Federation colony on it with 15,000 residents on it."

Running the numbers, Dox continued. "We can change course, but we're also going to be passing through a series of high traffic shipping lanes, which limits our safe options."

Sonak turned towards the command dais.

''There is another option; plot a course perpendicular to the galaxy's ecliptic.''

As he spoke, he projected a schematics of the entire galaxy on the main viewer and his proposed course plotting as he explained.

''Although the Milky Way is roughly sixty-one thousand parsecs in diameter, it is however no more than six hundred parsecs in thickness. Of course, even at warp 9, we will come nowhere near the edge, even following this trajectory; it would take us approximately fifty-nine years to reach the Great Galactic Barrier, even following this flight angle. Moreover, at such a sustained high speed, it would burn out our engines, beyond our capability to repair them, long before we would get there. But at least, following this path, it would quickly clear us away from any star system.''

The expression on the face of the First Officer was that of surprise, as she hadn't considered the simple logic. But her pride was not wounded nor was she surprised that the brilliant Chief Science Officer had pointed out the facts seemingly so casually, yet so effectively.

Such was life with Sonak.

"Miss Dox, following Mr. Sonak's recommended course change, what's the worst case scenario of time lost on our intercept course with Gaia assuming we survive the next 26 minutes?" Paris redirected to the helm.

From the helm, Dox was adjusting the ships course according to Sonak's direction, pulling the Hera away from potentially devastating a populated system. "Course corrected, Commander. Calculating... Worst case scenario is approximately an additional 6 hours to get back on course if we eat all 26 minutes at this course and velocity."

That was when Captain Telvan strode out onto the bridge and headed for her occupied chair, a PaDD in hand. "Status report!"

"An as yet unknown agent was introduced to our plasma stream by parties and methods unknown," Paris explained as she stood up, relinquishing the command chair to the Captain. "The effect is that the plasma system is overheating, which is complicated by the plasma's tendency to explode when the flow rate is reduced. We have about 24 more minutes give or take til the warp core goes critical. Mister Sonak has plotted a course that should keep up clear of inhabited systems, Miss Dox has estimated that changing course to accommodate might lose us six hours at worst assuming we're still intact to change course when the crisis is averted."

"Science is analyzing the agent now which may be an artificial bacterial-sized system designed to exist and alter plasma, or one existing in a different domain and still able to affect material existence from there. I am modifying sensor calibration to look for metaphasic signature and non-organic composition and extending scanners to other subspace domains to look for a corresponding source." The last part was a direct quote from Sonak a moment ago, and halfway through the explanation Rita looks startled that it was still coming out of her flawlessly, but that too was life with Sonak.

"Intel is looking into how this happened and Security is on alert. Order,s Captain?" The gold-clad commander went over the facts in her head, trying to insure that she'd left nothing out.

Enalia took her seat in the command chair and looked rather dour. After a moment she began issuing orders. "Evacuate all non-essential personnel to either the saucer section or the pod and prepare for high warp emergency separation procedures as a last resort."

"As for the warp plasma, run a simulation on what would happen if we flushed it all out the nacelle vents and ejected the warp core." Enalia had a feeling it was a bad idea but sometimes bad ideas led to good ideas.

"I believe Engineering is working on that as we speak ma'am, or some variant thereof. I'll relay the orders," Rita had stepped over to her tactical station to the left of the Captain's where she was logging into her console to begin implementing the orders given. "Got to yellow alert or just move the personnel, Captain?"

"Right, let's do yellow alert and make sure everyone is awake." Enalia replied with a hint of a smirk.

"Well, to be fair, they might blow up in 23 minutes," Rita quipped back as the yellow alert klaxon sounded and the alert symbol flashed on non-dedicated monitor space. "Ordering nonessential personnel out of the stardrive section and preparing for saucer separation- wait, the saucer can separate?!?"

The spotted captain looked down at her chair consoles to check the ship's status. "In the event of an emergency, yes. The tolerances against the pod pylon are about a meter and a half though. Mona was able to pull it off, but we were stationary. That's why we'll be ejecting the pod too if we have to."

"Then let's make sure it doesn't come to that," Rita Paris offered in her determined tone, then she called belowdecks. "Engineering, how's that coolant plan coming along, any progress on buying us some time?"

=^=Sickbay to Bridge- Doctor Dael here. Captain, I’m getting reading consistent with solanagon-based bacteria, which seem to have been engineered to survive in a warp core instead of subspace. Running extraction program now to formulate an antibiotic. Estimated time to completion is 5 minutes. =^=

"Excellent new, Doctor, keep us posted. I'm very curious as to how this could have happened. Does... ah, this is going to sound silly, but does the ship take on plasma or exchange it during docking?" The throwback thot asked plainly. This was one of those moments of gaps in her knowledge, and she honestly had to ask. But she did so, because the answer was needed, and she had only a small bit of pride to wound when she didn't know. In the future, what she did know was vastly outweighed by what she didn't know she didn't know.

Enalia felt informed enough to answer that question. "We normally generate enough under normal operations to maintain our own supply, plus a small surplus. However, I think Yeoman Dedjoy mentioned we took on some plasma intercoolers and injectors and some of our spare parts were stored with the refugees. I believe our warp plasma overflow is stored on the same deck as our deuterium fuel slugs as well, so we'd best check those for tampering too."

Tapping away as the Captain spoke, Paris texted out an orders across the HERAnet.

SECURITY TEAM 2/6/7: PARIS, R CDR: Scan recently replaced plasma intercoolers and injectors taken on at DS9. Inspect and scan the spare parts that were stored with the refugees. Warp plasma overflow stored on same deck as deuterium fuel slugs, check those for tampering too.

LT CLEMENS, S: PARIS, R CDR: Cap'n says we took on some plasma intercoolers and injectors at DS9. Spare parts were stored with the refugees. Warp plasma overflow stored on same deck as deuterium fuel slugs, check those for tampering too. Security investigating, coordinate the troops. Figure out whodunnit, Mr, Clemens.

As the Executive Officer pressed SEND, another message rolled in, in reply from the original sent to Chief Clemens:

PARIS, R CDR, S: CLEMENS, S LT: Commander- The infection must have come in during a parts swap, using parts from off-ship. Based on the readings, the bugs aren't any older than our visit to DS9, so it's got to be one of the one of the plasma system parts that we just replaced during or after our departure. We've got to assume it's all infected, either live, or dormant. I've got a team going through the entire area with tricorders set to scan for both types. I've got another team searching for infection vectors. I'm betting they'll be found someplace our 'guests' had access to. They had to have some way of tricking our systems into ignoring the bugs when they were introduced, so that's going to be a hack of a minor system with a forced elevation of privileges, maybe an overflow method. When we find it, it'll likely tag whoever did it. Don't worry, Boss. we'll dig up the dirt and get it back to shiny.

The truly weird part wasn't the timing.

It was being able to understand every word he'd sent.

Which wasn't that weird in text, really. if he wrote like he spoke he'd never have graduated Starfleet Academy.

Tapping her antique Starfleet delta comm badge Rita called out. "Bridge to Engineering- how's us not blowing up coming along, Chief? Looks like twenty minutes give or take. Sickbay may have an antidote soon, Intel and Security are figuring out how we picked them up, and Science is still analyzing. We're on a course to prevent tragedy in a worst case scenario, so tell me you have some good news, Lieutenant Commander?"

" We have a plan commander." The andorian said as she hurried around her bay. " We're trying to set up a chain in the warp core so we can reverse the plasma flow and sent it into one of the emergency vent funnels. The only problem is it could damage the warp core as well as blow out a section of the hull. It would be no were near the damage if this goes pop in engineering. "

''I may have a safer, alternative solution,'' Sonak then chimmed in; ''the transporter system biofilters.''

He sent his data to the command dais chair monitors as he explained.

''When matter is beamed, the transporter system filters automatically any foreign substance or agent intermingled with the target. It is our first, best barrier against contamination or illicit entry. With the data we have on this virus, I could program one of the personnel transporter system to do exactly that with plasma; beam it and filter out anything that is not actual plasma. Once separated on the subatomic level, we could isolate it and either beam it separately in a safe containment field for study, or simply destroy it.''

=^=Doctor Dael to the bridge. We have an antibiotic prepared. It will need to be injected directly into the affected area, and will then take approximately 2 hours to take full effect, partial effects begin immediately. However, this is untested, so I can’t be 100% sure on the efficacy. This is a highly unusual bacteria, showing signs of genetic engineering. More research will be required to determine its origins =^=

"Then let's go with a combination of the two ideas." Enalia kept the doctor on the comms to hear her idea. "Doctor, since you've got a profile on this bacteria, I want you to come up with a bio-containment and disposal unit with that antibiotic. Lieutenant Sonak, I want you to use the transporter systems to sweep through the plasma systems and selectively filter out the contaminant using that bacterial profile." She then tapped a dedicated control on her chair that hailed her Yeoman. "Yeoman Dedjoy, have you kept apprised of the situation?"

The doll faced woman's voice came across the comms instantly. "I believe so, Captain. I assume you're about to either give orders to sterilize the plasma or filter it through transporter buffers. Either way, I have boosted the resolution of the internal sensors in the associated areas of the ship in anticipation. I will be able to monitor the progress of whatever cleansing method you choose from the pod."

"One step ahead of me as usual. Thank you." The spotted woman then turned to Sonak. "As soon as you hav that containment unit and have the transporters ready, begin cleansing the warp plasma so Doctor Dael can dispose of the bacterium."

Acknowledged,'' the Vulcan responded.

“Affirmative, Captain,” Dael responded, “Feeding the specs for the containment boxes into the replicator now. A standard bio-containment unit enhanced with an artron shield will do the job. Sending the transporter signature to you now. Requesting to keep small sample in stasis for further study.”

"Acknowledged,'' repeated Sonak as his thin fingers flew over his console. After a moment, he raised his head but kept his eyes on his monitor. ''Transporter filtering program upgraded and calibrated. Recommend to create the containment area in cargo bay 2, secure, evacuate and seal it. In case of failure, we can then open the cargo bay and jettison everything in it into open space.''

Tabbing her console, Paris spoke clearly. “Attention all personnel, evacuate cargo bay 2 immediately, all personnel, cargo bay 2 is to be sealed and reinforced by forcefields. Security, insure this order is executed and inform the bridge.” A few seconds later, the confirmation code came through. On the Hera, when the call was made to evacuate and seal, the crew knew to move quickly because something dangerous was liable to be happening in the immediate future.

“Captain, Cargo Bay 2 is prepped and ready, on your order,” the first officer reported.

''Transporter room 2 is ready to effect transport,'' announced Sonak. ''Target locked on.''

" Engineering ready to go." Thex said as her fingers hovered over the controls that would start this operation.

Captain Telvan raised one hand and motioned towards the viewscreen. "Proceed."

Sonak tapped huis combadge.

''Transporter room; energize.''

In engineering, the plasma flow suddenly fluctuated as a portion of it was whisked out by the transporter beam. Then the filters kicked in, separating on a subatomic level anything from plasma that was not pure plasma before returning the half-matter, half energy content to it's point of origin. The alien content however was transferred to the specially prepared containment area in cargo bay 2 at the same instant.

''Transport successful. Virus isolated and contained,'' confirmed Sonak to his commanding officer.

“En route to obtain a sample prior to destruction of the material,” Asa intoned.

Enalia leaned back in the command chair, hoping this crisis was over. "Are we safe enough from this crisis then?"

"Containment units appear to be holding, Captain, and it looks like that cleansed the plasma flow- the temperatures dropped immediately. We can store or eject the explosive infection on your command?" Paris reported.

"Once Doctor Dael has a sample, dispose of the rest." Enalia punched the controls on her chair to stand down from alert status. "Resume normal operations and course. What's our new ETA to Gaia?"

Running the numbers from the helm, Dox called back quickly. "Original heading restored, and our detour only took one point eight hours off our travel time. Current ETA is fourteen thirty hours."

Enalia nodded thankfully. "We didn't lose too much time and we didn't have to use any contingency plans so I'd say we pulled that off pretty well."

"Still, let's hope we don't have any issues with Tal Shiar sabotage..."

''We should run a successive series of diagnostics on all systems while en route,'' Sonak suggested. '' Level 1 to 3 are done by computer alone so it should not take significant computer work if we do them in succession and deck by deck, starting with the bridge an engineering. The Engineering computer should be dedicated to this work while the main computer work in tandem with it. As level 1 takes a few seconds and level 2 but a few minutes, we should have a complete basic sweep of the entire ship in fifty-three minutes. Then, as soon as available, level 3 and 4 diagnostics should implemented simultaneously as level 3 is also automated and level 4 is done manually. This will take forty-seven point fifty-three hours. Of course, as Level 5 requires to physically dismantle a system to check it, we should keep this days long procedure in check unless it is proven required by the previous ones.''

An upraised blonde eyebrow was exchanged for a nod from the captain, and Paris spoke up. "We're only nine hours and change from our destination, Mr. Sonak, but your point is well made. Get it started and we'll run through them all as time and the universe allows. I'd rather not discover any more little secrets our guests may have left for us to find on their time. I'll have Security sweep the ship as well."

''Acknowledged,'' the Vulcan answered before turning to his station. ''Computer; implement shipwide diagnostics on all systems. Complete Level 1 diagnostics before implementing procedure again at level 2 and then repeat process at level 3.''

''Diagnostics program input; starting shipwide process,'' the disembodied feminine voice of the Hera's computer answered.

"So let's hope we don't have any more issues with Tal Shiar sabotage, at least for a while..." the spotted captain amended.

 

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