"When Worlds Collide"
[Previous post: 'Following One's Heart']
=/\=
Stardate: 60298.1330
Setting: Bridge, USS ANUBIS
Action... finally... for the Chief Engineering Officer because to him the mission had been dragging along slowly. His chore: To make the Hirogens think the Orions contacted them and vice versa without letting on that it was actually the ANUBIS who did so. David's massive hands danced across the console as Captain Simmons paced back and forth behind him.
"Progress Lieutenant" the ANUBIS' CO asked for the umpteenth time in the past 9 minutes.
"This would go a lot smoother if you *stopped* asking for progress reports every 2 minutes Captain." David said trying to keep the venom out of his voice. The captain nodded and returned to his seat.
David played around with some figues when he spoke out loud. "That doesn't make any sense."
"What doesn't?" Maya said from over his shoulder.
"The bandwidth...the computer says I should use a .1102 variance... but that would light the ANUBIS up like a Christmas tree... and I doubt the captain would like that."
"He would not" James said from his seat as he swiveled in the CEOs direction.
"David... couldn't you piggyback the signal off of normal comm traffic out there?" the CSciO asked.
"Off of what?" David asked, "there's nothing out there but us and them."
"I might have something for you Chief" Rawyvin said from tactical as he brought it up on the screen. The entire bridge crew watched as he zeroed in on some spacial debris.
"An asteroid." David said exasperated, "you expect me to use a asteroid?"
"Better than nothing." the Security chief said.
"David" the COO said from her station, "what about the extra communication systems we have? Couldn't you use that?"
"That would almost be as if you tried to shoot me with a phaser while the barrel is pointed at you..." and his voice trailed off.
The holographic image of the ANUBIS' ExO shimmered into existance and she looked at him.
=/\=UH-oh... I don't like that look=/\= she said as David tapped his badge.
"Computer, site to site transport..main deflector control" and before he disappeared he said to the Captain and Serrena, "give me 3 minutes then take the deflector offline."
"Why would I want..." was all James could ge tout before the CEO dematerialized in front of the bridge staff.
====
Stardate: 10298.1341
Setting: Main Deflector Control
=/\=Mr. Dawson, kindly explain to me what you're planning on?"=/\= James' voice said over the comm.
"I had a idea Captain... the deflector array is a charged ion dispenser, moving objects out of our way as we travel through space..."
=/\=I'm pretty sure that I haven't forgotten that Lieutenant... I was once a engineer. But that still doesn't explain why I should take the deflector offline.=/\=
"As a former engineer, it should be as plain as the nose on your face Captain. Maya's suggestion of piggybacking the signal off of comm traffic was a good one. In this case, we use the deflector to send the signal. One it techinacally 'pings' the Hirogens it'll bounce back and 'ping' the Orions, therefore making it look like they contacted each other."
=/\=So you're suggesting we use ourselves for the piggyback?=/\= James asked.
"Yes sir. After we send the signal, you can move the ANUBIS to another location. Just in case they try to sweep the area."
=/\=David... the object here is to stay hidden. Using the deflector for that would mean we'd have to drop the ablative armour.=/\= Serrena replied.
"Exactly" David said as he continued making modifications to the deflector controls, "but we *don't* have to de-cloak in order to do it either. All I need is about a minute and after that, the armour goes back up and the Hirogens and Orions wil be none the wiser."
=/\=How close are you to completing your modifications David?=/\= James asked.
"Another minute..." the CEO said as he punched the final command into the console, "we're ready Captain. Lock and load."
=/\=Acknowledged. I want you back up here Lieutenant.=/\=
"I'd rather stay down here in case I have to fly by the seat of my pants changes sir."
=/\=Just make sure my boot isn't attached if you drop the ball Mr. Dawson.=/\= the captain replied with a chuckle.
"Aye aye sir. David out" he said closing the connection. He checked, re checked and double checked his work and sent a message to Serrena on the bridge. 10 seconds after he sent the message, the armour dropped, the signal went out. Now all they had to do was wait.
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Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
Lieutenant David Dawson
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
"I'm a Starfleet officer. That's all I am and that's all I'll ever be."
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko, Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
