Deep Space 102 Mission Transcript - 11004.02

"All that Glitters..."

Episode one - The Auric Cloud

Prologue
A cloud of superheated gold dust is drifting through the Argolis cluster.  Starfleet research has an interest in the clouds structure for obvious reasons, and has ordered the staff of DS102 to examine it.

Host Gerry says:
=/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\=Begin Mission=/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\=
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::currently in Main Operations overseeing the day watch::
SC_Capt_Marek says:
::reading the last Starfleet orders:: ::raises an eyebrow:: Self: Interesting...
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::in her office signing off on the reports of other counselors::
SC_Capt_Marek says:
*CO*: Captain, have you seen the latest Starfleet orders? I guess we are taking a little trip to the Argolis Cluster.
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::observes that there really isn't much happening on the station today, and enjoys the "quiet" knowing it won't last long - it never does::
CO_Yo`Ghi says:
SC: I had that with me a moment ago.... I guess I have misplaced it again
SC_Capt_Marek says:
*XO*: Please, see to inform to the Senior Staff about our new assignment. ::taps on his console:: I am sending you the file containing them. Seems like a routine assignment, if there is routine assignment for us.
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::shakes her head as she reads:: Self:  I'm going to have to have a word with my team about their reporting habits.
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
*SC*: Aye Skipper. Will we be meeting in the Briefing Room first?
SC_Capt_Marek says:
*XO*: Yes, please see to call for it, Commander.
SC_Capt_Marek says:
*XO*: Let's say in five minutes.
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
*SC*: Consider it done, Sir.  ::grabs PADD to review downloaded file the Station Commander sent::
SC_Capt_Marek says:
:.stretches his right leg, and tumbles down one pile of PADD under his desk:: Self: Oh, those procrastinated reports...
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::sends note out to Senior Staff to meet in the Main Briefing Room in five minutes - hoping somebody's not caught in a sonic shower or something::
SC_Capt_Marek says:
::stands up, tries to accommodate the PADDs the best way he can, and exits his Ready Room::
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::looks over to the officer currently manning the OPS station:: Lt. Masters: you have the Con.
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
<Masters> XO: Aye Sir.
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::heads out of Main Ops and on to the Briefing Room::
SC_Capt_Marek says:
::heads to the Briefing Room::
CO_Yo`Ghi says:
:: walks to the Briefing Room::
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::hears the beep signifying an incoming message and sighs:: Self: Interruptions...  ::reads the orders and gathers a PADD for notes and heads out::  Zoey: Find another counselor to take my next appointment, I'll be in the briefing room.
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::arrives Main Briefing Room and enters::
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell (Door Open & Close.wav)
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::makes her way up to the Briefing Room, enters, and finds a seat::
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::continues reading the file on the PADD he'd picked up on his way out of Main Ops::
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
CNS: Counselor, good to see you today. How are things with you?
SC_Capt_Marek says:
::enters the room and nods to the officers there, then take his usual seat::
CO_Yo`Ghi says:
:: finishes reading the last repair report of the Scorpius in the turbolift ::
CO_Yo`Ghi says:
:: enter the Briefing Room::
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
SC: Commander, your minions are gathered.... ::smiles::
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
CO: Captain, good day Sir.
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
XO:  Good to see you too, Commander, everything is well, and yourself?
CO_Yo`Ghi says:
XO: Commander! It seems like it's been a long time since I last saw you!
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
CNS: It's been a nice quiet day - so far. But, I think that's about to change.
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
CO: Aye Sir, seems so.
SC_Capt_Marek says:
All: Very well, thanks everyone for such a rapid response. ::smiles:: As you may already know, we have received new orders from Starfleet Command. I have sent a copy to Commander Mitchell, in order to distribute them.
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::nods in agreement:: XO: So it seems.  ::smiles::
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::notes that everyone has a PADD:: All: Sending you a cc of the files now
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::pushes some buttons on his PADD::
SC_Capt_Marek says:
All: Basically, they ask to investigate an auric entity that has been detected in the Argolis Cluster. In my opinion, 50% chances of a first contact situation, 50% chances of an interesting afternoon for our science department. Any suggestions?
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
SC: Gold Sir? Back a few hundred years ago, that would be cause for a "rush" by miners and land grabbers back on Earth, in the Sol system.
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
SC: Auric Sir? I'm not familiar with that term.
SC_Capt_Marek says:
XO: :smiles:: I agree, fortunately these times were left in the past
CO_Yo`Ghi says:
SC: Can we use the sensor array of the station or is it too far out of range for the type of scans they expect?
SC_Capt_Marek says:
XO: But basically you have understood its meaning. This, entity, is mainly composed of gold, according the Starfleet data.
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
All:  We may have fortune hunters to deal with as Commander Mitchell suggests.  We may not only be investigating this entity, but setting up measures to protect it as well.
CO_Yo`Ghi says:
SC: But what is Starfleet interest in it? Gold is not worth much anymore
SC_Capt_Marek says:
CNS: I agree with you, Counselor. I tend to think that is why SF has commissioned us to investigate it.
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::nods slightly::
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::is somewhat amused that there would still be those who would value gold, then thinks - Ferengi::
SC_Capt_Marek says:
All: According to the information, it is heading towards the Station. ETA, three days. What do you think? Should we wait it to arrive or we go to its encounter?
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::bursts out loud:: All: Ferengi
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
XO: Just the fact that it is something rare would be enough that some would want to acquire it.
SC_Capt_Marek says:
XO: Commander, that is something that I expect not to deal with... The only mention of the word Ferengi, makes me a little ... nervous
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
SC: and if it's something rare, it wouldn't just be the Ferengi, Sir..... I'm starting to see why Starfleet wants us to check it out
SC_Capt_Marek says:
XO/CNS: How do you feel to perform a science task? Why don't you both do a little search to see if you find something that could be useful on the matter?
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
SC: I can't speak for the Counselor here, but I'm game
SC_Capt_Marek says:
CO: And Captain, having in mind what we have previously said, it would be good to have the Scorpius at ready, you know, with this thing, I've learned to expect the unexpected.
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::shrugs:: SC: Science has never been one of my strong suits, however I'll do what I can.
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::was hoping to take a runabout out for a chance to pilot something::
SC_Capt_Marek says:
XO/CNS: Very well, that would be our first step. Now, considering one question that was answered, should we wait or we go to its encounter, probe, shuttle or whatever you think
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
SC: Couldn't hurt to send out a probe... assuming it's really non-sentient, not living, or anything along those lines
SC_Capt_Marek says:
XO: A probe it is then.
CO_Yo`Ghi says:
SC: The Scorpius is undergoing minor repairs but it can be launched on a few minutes notice
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
SC: Consider it done - that is, as soon as we adjourn here, Sir.
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
SC/XO: Agreed, a probe would give us and advance look at it and if we need a closer look we could have engineering prepare a shuttle with science equipment to further study it.
SC_Capt_Marek says:
All: Ok, I guess that will cover it. Remember, this will not as simple as it looks, I am sure about it. But this will be all for the moment.
SC_Capt_Marek says:
All: If you do not have anything to add, you are dismiss. I will inform to Starfleet Command of our intentions on the auric cloud. ::stands up::
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::stands and picks up her notes::
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
CNS: Okay, Counselor, time to go program that probe.
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
XO: Commander, I'll acquire a lab for us to use, maybe one of the astrometrics labs.
CO_Yo`Ghi says:
SC/XO: If that is all I'm going to tell the engineering team on the Scorpius to install all sensory equipment and test it, just in case we need it
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
CNS: That lab is as good a place as any to start
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
XO: Yes, sir.
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
CO: Captain, could you also get a team working on a shuttle for us to use once we actually intercept the cloud?
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::leaves with the XO to get started::
SC_Capt_Marek says:
CO: Please do, Captain. I will take care of asking Science to prepare and launch that probe.
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::heads to Astrometrics Labs with the Counselor::
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell (Door Open & Close.wav)
SC_Capt_Marek says:
::exits the Briefing Room and heads to Science Station in Main Operations::
CO_Yo`Ghi says:
:: walk to the main operations and send his orders to the Scorpius form an unused station ::
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::enters the lab and activates lights and the control consoles:: XO: This should be an interesting study
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
CNS: I've already got some ideas on how to program the probe. We'll have to work pretty fast once we've got the concept worked out. Most probes already have a good deal of programming to do this, so it'll only take some tweaking
SC_Capt_Marek says:
<Relief_SO>: ::notices the SC heading towards his Station:: thinks: Uh, oh... What did I do wrong now?
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::pulls up access to probe controls:: XO: We may be able to do most of the programming from here as well.
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
::begins outlining the PADD with ideas and shows it to the Counselor:: CNS: What do you think?
SC_Capt_Marek says:
Relief_SO: Ensign, prepare a scanning probe and have it launched towards these coordinates. ::hands a PADD:: There is a certain auric formation there that we need to scan before it reaches us in three days.
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::smiles:: XO: That should work.  
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
CNS: Anything you want to add or tweak?
SC_Capt_Marek says:
<Relief_SO> SC: Immediately, sir. ::begins working:: ::after a couple of seconds:: SC: ETA will be two days, sir, We will began receiving telemetry 3 minutes later.
SC_Capt_Marek says:
Relief_SO: Very well. Launch it as soon as the XO sends you the coding he wants to add.
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
XO: No, much of the data we want we'll get from the usual probe scans. These modifications should give us the additional information we need.  
XO_Cmdr_Mitchell says:
CNS: Okay then. ::sends probe programming to Probe Launch Control for them to download into the probe::
SC_Capt_Marek says:
<Relief_SO> ::receives the coding from the XO, enters some commands and then hits the button:: SC: Done sir. It is on its way to the assigned coordinates
CNS_LtCmdr_Rand says:
::accesses long range scans and attempts to pinpoint the entity:: XO: I'm trying to locate it on long range sensors so we can watch it's course this way as well.  Once we start receiving data from the probe, the real work will begin.
Host Gerry says:
=/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\=Pause Mission=/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\==/\=

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