- , Mission #

"Azure-Te"

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<CSO_Lt_Wright>

:: impatiently waiting for the grapplers to be loaded ::

:: leaning on the arm of the big chair, waiting uncomfortably ::

<CSO_Lt_Wright>

CO: Admiral, shall we have the final two miners rescued at this time?

CSO: It will really be their call, but when the crush cans go down to attach the balloons, we'll see what they want to ride up.

:: has been watching his team in Sickbay long enough and decides to take a trip to a place where he might be more useful. ::

MED: Doctor Nolan, I am heading out. Sickbay is yours.

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

::Is getting physical with the grappler assembly, locking it into position on the balloon:: Grappler: You think you were being tricky, but I will suss you.

<SCI_Cdt_TLira>

:: uses engineering console to upload activation codes and sensor readings to the grappler units during attachment to the pods::

<SCI_Cdt_TLira>

ENG: I do not believe it is trying to be "tricky" it is a simple machine.

<NAV_Cdr_Harper>

:: triple checking the crush can she's now flown into the depths twice, having become slightly attached to it ::

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

McKnight>

::Steps off the turbolift onto the bridge, PADD in hand, and wordlessly crosses over in front of Blackthorne's chair to hand it to him. :: Here's my report on the detainee situation, sir. It can wait, but you may want to look it over before we make our report to the League. I think you'll find it an interesting read.

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

::Looks at T'Lira as he wipes his brow:: SCI: Have you ever heard of the expression; The Ghosts In The Machine

:: leaves Sickbay and boards the nearest Turbolift :: COMPUTER: Bridge.

<SCI_Cdt_TLira>

ENG: I do not believe so.

<XO_Cdr_TKirr>

:: acknowledges Quinn from next to Blackthorne ::

:: glad to see the report :: TAC: Thank you, Colonel. :: looks at the front page with interest ::

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

Cliffnotes version, somebody's trying to use us as a patsy. Again.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

(^McKnight. Obviously.)

:: looks back up at him :: TAC: Whose plan was to pin this on us?

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

::Clicks the grappler into place, and finishes securing it:: SCI: Issac Assimov. It refers to machines have a spark of a soul.

:: The Turbolift doors open and Tav steps out, taking position at the Medical station ::

<SCI_Cdt_TLira>

ENG: How is that possible? :: finishes final coding uploads :: Machines are inanimate, they... Ah, I see. Human "humor", I take it?

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

Oh, it's way better than that, sir. We're not the bad guys. Just the hapless, well-meaning idiots who couldn't keep our toys AWAY from the bad guys.

:: narrows his eyebrows, things clicking into place :: The Red Sun.

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

::Looks plainly at T'Lira:: SCI: From his time period and social circumstance, I believe it was a metaphor for seeing the humanity in other things. An abstract piece of science fiction for his time; but no less striking in our modern lifestyle.

<NAV_Cdr_Harper>

:: idly chats with the miner she and Wright drank with, whom she rescued on the second flight, as she waits ::

<SCI_Cdt_TLira>

ENG: I shall have to research his works later. They sound rather fascinating. :: double checks coding ::

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

SCI: That, and I like to believe there is a little bit of sentience in every atom of reality. As such, I always talk to people, and ships, and even simple machines. Some psychology of the universe if you will.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

Chemical analysis shows the explosive devices used to be Red Sun technology. Except the Red Sun aren't supposed to have any means to make trouble out this far. The "obvious" solution is that we inadvertently gave them the means. I convinced our guest it was smarter talking to us than taking his chances out there, knowing he was sitting on an alternate

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

explanation.

What's his motive? He's not Red Sun, obviously, so is he working for them, or is he working for a faction in the League that doesn't want us here?

<SCI_Cdt_TLira>

ENG: Perhaps so. Sentience is a very vague term with little "real" definition. That particular subject could reveal much if researched properly.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

His motive? Potent combination of money, and hating his job. He's working for a faction that's been pushing for open war against the Red Sun, and saw an opportunity to use our arrival here as a pretext.

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

SCI: Its always handy just in case, what with all these, higher-planar trans-dimensional multi-phasic entities out in the universe.... You never quite know when being nice to the computer might be a good thing.

:: shakes his head :: Bloody hell. Nicely done, Colonel.

<SCI_Cdt_TLira>

ENG: True enough. There was the case of Morgan Primus becoming the computer of the Excalibur in an... unfortunate accident.

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

::Smiles as he moves on to the next grapple assembly:: SCI: Hmhm, Oh, I remember that....

<SCI_Cdt_TLira>

:: Muses over Asimov as she continues programming an emergency release sequence for the grapplers ::

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

McKnight>

::Offers a smile and a shrug:: Hell, I wouldn't have passed up a chance to play detective one last time. But on to other things...I've been following the grappler plan as best I could. Sounds like it'll take precise deployment under less than ideal conditions. Thought I might take a look at the targeting software they came up with.

I believe they would welcome the assistance with that.

<XO_Cdr_TKirr>

:: appreciates McKnight's work, but characteristically doesn't say so ::

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

::Nods and looks over to science.:: Lieutenant Wright, mind forwarding the specs to tactical?

<CSO_Lt_Wright>

:: already tapping at her console :: McKnight: Not at all, sir. Your expertise in this is appreciated.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

Actually Quinn>

::Steps out of the worker bee pod, back in its bay now, and pulls off his EV suit helmet, having just returned from giving the outer hull a proper once over. :: +ENG+ Quinn to Ilaihr. Come in, please.

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

*CEO*: Ilaihr here sir.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

McKnight>

::Nods his thanks, and assumed tactical, silently looking over the subroutines with a practiced eye. He never did like leaving the shooting, or anything else to a computer. He'll make damn sure it's at least a competent computer. ::

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

*ENG* Just got back from the EV inspection. Looks like the actual work will have to wait a bit. Should be simple enough, though. What's the progress on the grappler assemblies?

:: turns to T'Kirr :: XO>

I'll not be used as an excuse for war.

<XO_Cdr_TKirr>

I would think not.

Especially not if they're on the verge of revolution back in the Red Sun.

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

::Is twiddling with another grappler assembly playing hard to mount, chittering to himself:: Grappler: What do you want from me? You will attatch damn you! You have an important mission. CEO: The grapplers themselves are complete, We are currently attaching them to the balloons.

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

<*CEO*>

XO: Though just once, I'd like to arrive somewhere, meet some new people, and have nothing interesting at all happening in their society. Just have a couple of drinks.

<XO_Cdr_TKirr>

:: simply raises an eyebrow ::

<SCI_Cdt_TLira>

:: installs final sequencing program in the last grappling system ::

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

*CEO*: I'd say we're almost done down here sir.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

*ENG* Ah. Well done. Well, then I'll stay out of your hair for the last few tweaks. Nothing worse than somebody new throwing off the rhythm. Remind me to get you that drink later, though. There's...some stuff we should probably talk about.

There must be someone out here like that...

<XO_Cdr_TKirr>

:: blinked in thought :: CO: There are many species that are peaceful, several of which have joined the Federation. It seems only likely that it's only a matter of time before we meet a similar culture out here as well.

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

*CEO*: Not at all lieutenant, this is your engineering; you're always welcome and needed down here sir. And that drink sounds like a fine plan by the way.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

*ENG* Right. Well, I need to make my report to the Admiral. After that, I'll come give the finished product a quick once over, and we can get things started. Quinn out.

I'm sure. Perhaps we'll find them right when their sun is above to go nova.

*about

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

::Smiles and continues on with the work:: Self: I wonder what things he wanted to talk about? ::Gets more of a crunch sound from this grappler as he secures it into places:: Grappler: Just being difficulkt were you? SCI: She was playing hard to get this one.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

*Blackthorne* Quinn to bridge?

*Quinn* Blackthorne here.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

*Blackthorne* I just got back from the preliminary EV inspection, sir. It's, um...a bit of a good news, bad news sort of thing. Mostly slants toward the good, though, I think!

*Quinn* Good news, I like that.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

*Blackthorne* Well, then there's technically nothing wrong with the slipstream drive. I looked over the deflector dish, and while we should obviously run some stress testing, it should be up to generating the slipspace corridor. The thing preventing us from actually using it is a built in safety subroutine. Basically, damage to the sensor dish prevents the

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

precision necessary to send the minute geometric corrections to deflector control...you know, so we don't wind up in a star, or spread out from here to Aldeberan.

*Quinn* That IS good news, especially for the technology overall.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

*Blackthorne* Uh...sure, that too! But the good news I was thinking of is that I can fix that. It'd just require taking sensors completely offline for a couple of hours. And we're sort of using them.

*Quinn* Right, well, the crisis will hopefully be over soon and we can spare the sensors.

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

::Moves off to another grappler, but claps his hands to get the attention of the engineering staff:: ENG: Ladies and Gentleman, we need to get all the grappler modules that have been completed prepped and ready to go near the door, all ready for the Cheif to come down and give them a thorough last glance before we attach them to the cans. Lets get things moving people. ::Nods at the staff as he starts on another grappler assemb

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

*Blackthorne* Yeah. Apparently, we're nearly ready to do something about that as well. I'm on my way down there now to sign off on it. Don't anticipate any surprises. These folks haven't let me down yet.

*Quinn* Understood. Get those grapplers out the door quickly.

<XO_Cdr_TKirr>

:: glances from Blackthorne to Wright before returning her attention to the latest reports on her monitor ::

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

McKnight>

::Nods:: Okay, just about done over here. Not too shabby. But I managed to tighten up a few things, account for the wind a little better. Uploading the revised targeting specs now.

<CSO_Lt_Wright>

:: taps it up on her console and looks it over ::

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

::This module is alot easier going, and is secured without much fuss:: Self: Now, if only they could all be like that.

:: leans back and waits ::

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

:: Steps through the shuttlebay doors, and nods to the engineers looking his way, before smiling and running his hand over one of the loaded grappler assemblies.:: Wow. I mean, I know I built the virtual model. And old tech's always sort of been a specialty of mine. But to actually see one, real and ready for use...pretty cool.

<ENG_Ens_Ilaihr>

CEO: I hope they're to your liking sir. We've been having fun down here.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

:: Looks our over the assembled crowd. :: You'll all put your name to this work? Stand by the results?

<NAV_Cdr_Harper>

:: notes Quinn's arrival, hoping it means they're flying again soon, but continues chatting with OtherMiner ::

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

:: Opens up a panel, looking at the spooled cabling, then glances at the launcher turret and so on. :: Well. Then so will I.

<CEO_Lt_Quinn>

*Blackthorne* Quinn to bridge. Phase 2 is ready for launch, at your order.

<XO_Cdr_TKirr>

:: perks up ::

*Quinn* Understood, lieutenant. Make it happen.

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