[Vimyridge] SD940921.14 - Meeting of Minds Pt 3 - Vilqa, Blake, Saladin, Lox, Nix, Reed

[Kylana ~]

Kylee nodded, her eyes looking to the sandwich as Justin finished it off.
Add another thing to her to-do-list, get something to eat. She shook her
head, turning her attention to the captain. "Well.. latest theory is that
the asteroids are the source of the ferrous oxide, and someone is towing
them out to the sun, or at least towing them in the direction and letting
them go," she said. "The asteroids match the right composition of ferrous
oxide, and we did locate a ship of some kind near the sun, but that was
destroyed."

"The Crew module of the hauler was missing when we discovered it.  Most of
the cargo area was also missing by the time we detected the anti-matter
containment field." Justin added.

Nick had been running a little behind.  He had just finished the second to
last report he had on what he felt was a hazard, the security measures in
the holodeck... it was too easy for anyone with any sort of clearance to
remove, and that became a security issue unto itself.  That, and his mind
was still on the whole Cugino episode, and his request to the Captain.  It
wasn't like him to be anything but punctual, but with a little luck it
wasn't too noticeable.  He stepped into the science lab, pausing just long
enough to catch the murmur of conversation, making his way to the others.
"Reed reporting as requested, ma'am..." he said simply, leaving it at that.

"Mr. Reed thank you for coming." The captain had no annoyance or anger in
her tone or expression, "Lox and Nix have just begun explaining a theory
about a possible vessel tampering with an asteroid field as a highly
possible culprit to the flares that are occurring." Looking back to Lox she
nipped her lip a moment in thought, "Kamikaze maneuver do you think?" Her
eyes flashed toward Reed to see if he had also picked anything up or had
anything to share on the theory, she knew full well he may not but the floor
was open for this meeting for any and all to speak up.

"Not enough information to tell, Captain.  The crew module was already
missing by the time we detected it." Justin replied. "It is possible they
escaped and the rest of the craft was pulled into the sun.  It is also
possible it was deliberate.  And something I just thought of.. someone could
have been trying to stop the reaction.. and failed, miserably."

Kylee shrugged slightly. "I don't know.. As Cmdr Lox said, the crew module
was gone. It seems the more we discover, the more questions we keep raising.
Though.. what information did we get from the probes in the asteroid?" she
asked, looking over at Lox.

Nick's brow rose as he listened... "I'm not exactly a scientist," he said,
then frowned a bit, unsure if the incident would prove to be a security risk
to the Ridge.  "How bad are the flares?  Are they a danger?" he asked.  He
knew enough to worry about potential magnetic interferrence, shield
harmonics could suffer... and then there was the strategic risks... sensor
ghosts.  It'd hamper the Ridge if something happened, but it'd also hamper
any potential enemies.  Still a time of war... as security he had to
consider any possibility of a potential battle.

Marcus stood silently for a while, letting the others voice their theories
before finally speaking up. "I think that we still don't know enough for an
answer, but it seems highly illogical to continue avoiding contact with the
second planet. Quite clearly they will know more than we do. Contact needs
to be made, and if necessary, motives judged." He looked at Nick, "As for
the flares, we're safe for now, this transport vessel was considerably ill
equipped it would seem, by any standard." A look to the captain, "Does
Starfleet have any records that identify the kind of space worthy vessels
which these planets might have at their disposal?"

"They have access to the same any standard Federation planet would
Commander." K`y's fingers traced the ridges of her forehead, "We know the
secondary planet is more traditionalist and would rather hold steady to
their moral beliefs but that is simply theological, they are not hindered by
any way on technological devices," she paused, "as far as I have been made
aware." Her hands pressed to her hips, "Cho'lu is on the ground as we speak.
Assessing the caves." Her eyes diverted toward Reed, "Lieutenant what is
your comfort level in going to the surface of the second planet with me for
a little reconnaissance?" She then interjected quickly to hope to defuse any
sort of backlash of her question on her leaving the vessel, "Have probes
been issued in the trajectory of the secondary planet to monitor vessel
signatures in and out of orbit?" She couldn't trust simple scans and
observances due to the flares and their interferrance of ship's systems."

Marcus looked up sharply as K'y announced her intention to visit the planet.
"Excuse me captain, but are you not needed on the ship at this time?" His
eyes turned to K'ylana's as he awaited the others answers about the probes.


Toby cleared his throat, having remained quiet so far, "Captain, I must
protest your going to the planet. Regulations state it is I who should go do
the reconnaissance, while you stay safely aboard the vessel in unknown
situations, and this is that. Until we know for sure if those flares are
natural occurrences or the work of some form of sabotage, it is unsafe for
you to leave the ship."


Vilqa sucked in her inner lip before giving both Marcus and Toby a
distinctly familiar stare, "I am not going to win this battle am I?" She
almost cursed by her intonation itself.

Marcus looked silently at Toby and then back at the captain with a slight
shake of the head.

"Sorry Captain, gone are the days when you could intimidate me into
relenting with a look." Toby smiled his most charming smile, "The only way
you can win it, is proving to me that the only danger is natural and that
you won't be at risk from an outside source."
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