"Making A Breakthrough Discovery Is Not Always A Good Thing"
(Previous Post: "Lost In Thoughts")
---
Stardate: 60341.0445
Compared to finding out a way to safely reconstitute a
body comprised of billions of dispersed atoms which
have been scattered in the ionized atmosphere of an
alien world under the jurisdiction of an enemy of the
Federation, the task of clearing up the images that
had been sent by the HATHOR had been a piece of cake.
In order to make the process as simple as possible,
the Shillian scientist had stopped the relayed
communication on the one frame which showed the
unknown alien the most clearly, which had not been all
that clear given the amount of static and distortion
present. Without any modifications having been made
to the image the Chief Science Officer could barely
confirm that the being in question had been humanoid,
the only certainty at this point having been that the
weapon used had been some kind of energy weapon.
With the hopes of discovering the source of some of the degradation of the signal, the Shillian scientist had set-up camp in the Astrometrics Lab of the USS ANUBIS, one of the many areas of the ship where she felt most at ease in. Her duties and responsibilities has Executive Officer had forced the Chief Science Officer to spend a great deal of time away from her 'natural habitat', but the specifications of their mission to retrieve Lieutenant Commander Enaii and the investigation about the intercepted signal had made it possible for the Shillian to be back where she belonged.
Although she had been hard at work with the signal
retransmitted by the HATOR, the Shillian scientist had
also been analysing several methods that might prove
useful once the ANUBIS reached SURIAL III, a planet
whose name would become known in the analogy of
science in one way or another after this mission. The
Shillian woman had just been about to call up on a
secondary monitor some additional information about a
plan she had been working on when a soft repeating
signal drew her attention to the main screen of the
laboratory she had been working in. The mouth of the
Shillian woman remained ajar as she moved closer to
the screen, her eyes fixated on the now much clearer
image of the being which had been seen in the
background.
The quality of the image had not been perfect, but the
process used by the Shillian scientist to remove the
interference and static had proven to be more than
sufficient to reveal the identity of the problem which
now plagued the Cardassian Union. "Computer, isolate
and enhance section A-3 and run a comparative scan
against the Exobiology databanks. Is the race seen in
that section of the image an Imperian?"
The computer processed the request with its usual
beeps and chimes until the final comparison was
completed and the results were ready to be divulged to
the Chief Science Officer. =/\= Affirmative, =/\= the
monotone voice of the computer replied which cause an
uncomfortable lump to form in the throat of the
Shillian woman. =/\= There is a 88% chance that the
displayed image is that of an Imperian, as per the
data contained within the Exobiology databanks of
Starfleet Science and NEW ALEXANDRIA. =/\=
Although she had never actually met any member of this
unique race, the Shillian scientist had heard
countless stories going back to her first year at
Starfleet Academy, and if only half of what she had
heard and read would prove to be accurate, the Chief
Science Officer knew that things would get much, much
worse very soon.
---
"Good morning everyone," Captain Rikar said to the gathered Senior Officers of the ANUBIS as well as those of the HATHOR who had been made to join this meeting via a secured channel. "Time is of the essence so I will get right to the point, thanks to the work of Lieutenant Commander Maya we now know the identity of the enemy which the Cardassian have been fighting against."
[/\] Why do I have the feeling that this is not all that much of a good news? [/\] Ensign Stormwind, the Flight Control Officer of the HATHOR commented from his seat at the front of the command deck of the other ship.
"We have confirmed that the image of the humanoid at
the back of the bridge of the Cardassian ship was that
of an Imperian," the Chief Science Officer said after
having received the go ahead signal from her captain.
"There is actually little known about this race other
than they are exceptionally dangerous," the Shillian
woman continued seeing on the faces of those gathered
a mixture of fear and confusion.
"Please forgive my ignorance," Ensign Halliwell said from her seat at the table, "but who are the Imperians? I guess I must have missed them when we were covering all of the other races back at the Academy."
"There is no need to apologise Ensign," Captain Rikar
said in a tone that was oddly sounded like that of her
late wife. "The Imperians are not one of the standard
races covered in Exobiology classes, which will
explain why many of you have not heard about them."
[/\] Unless you have had some dealings with Intel prior to now, [/\] Lieutenant Commander Serenna, Commanding Officer of the HATHOR and Intel buff pointed out hinting through her words that the information concerning the race had a certain level of secrecy.
"A secret race?" The Enaran Marine questioned,
glancing in the direction of the standing Shillian
woman who had been filling in the role of Executive
Officer onboard the ANUBIS.
"Not secret as much so as rarely spoken of," the
captain said. "The Imperians are a race of beings who
are, as far as we can tell, bent on the destruction of
all biological life forms in the galaxy," Rikar said
causing several sets of eyes of suddenly open to their
widest.
[/\] That is worse than the Borg, [/\] the Hirogen
Chief of Security onboard the HATHOR pointed out,
never having expected to hear what he had just heard.
"If I may be permitted, I have a question," the
Oltharian said, the giant appearing very confused
about the entire situation. "If the Imperians seek to
destroy all *biological* life in the galaxy, wouldn't
this directive include them as well as every other
living organism thus leading to them wanting to
destroy themselves?"
The Shillian scientist felt a knot form in the pit of
her stomach as she glanced over the the Commanding
Officer of the USS ANUBIS, the crimson haired woman
knowing the answer and the probable effect that it
would have on the crew. "The Imperians are not
*living*, at least not in a biological sense."
[/\] Robots? We are facing war against a race of
soulless mechanical exterminators? [/\] The former
Chief Engineering Officer of the ANUBIS, now Executive
Officer of the HATHOR let out stunned and disgusted by
the idea that any machine could be as described by
Captain Rikar.
"The limited Intel that we have on this race does
point to them being highly sophisticated and extremely
dangerous machines that have only one goal, to destroy
whatever gets in their way. There is a silver lining
to all this, although this aspect has not yet been
confirmed. According to what deep space encounters
with the race have provided, it appears that they may
have very limited space traveling capabilities in that
they are unable to travel at warp speed," Captain
Rikar announced trying as much as possible to sound
positive about this aspect of their newest problem.
[/\] So how do we explain them having made it this far
inside Cardassian space? [/\] Ensign Kea, the Chief of
Operations for the USS HATHOR commented, the
description of the race and their current presence
inside Cardassian space seemingly not matching.
"That, we have yet to discover," the Commanding
Officer of the ANUBIS replied, "but this does not
affect our current mission. All that this means is
that we will need to be extra cautious and head back
into Federation space as soon as we are through on
SURIAL III. Whatever Intel we gather during our stay
in Cardassian space will be turned over to Admiral
Koneki, but our primary and only objective remains the
same, to reach SURIAL III and bring ENAII back. Are
there any questions?"
[/\] Given the severity of the situation concerning
the Cardassian, are we not going to lend a hand if the
opportunity should arise? [/\] The Chief Medical
Officer of the HATHOR, Lieutenant Summers asked,
obviously motivated by her vow to render medical
assistance to any and all who require it.
"We will not," the captain of the ANUBIS replied
without even as much as blinking an eye. "Once the
objective of this mission is met, we will head back to
NEW ALEXANDRIA at best possible speed without as much
as glancing over our shoulders once. The Cardassians
are on their own, at least for the time being."
[/\] If the Imperians have found a way to travel at
speeds faster than light, [/\] Ensign Mei began,
coming across as the voice of reason, [/\] the problem
currently facing the Cardassians will have to be dealt
with by every other race in this part of the Galaxy,
including us. [/\]
"Both ships are to maintain *red alert* status for as
long as we are inside Cardassian space," Captain Rikar
said as if having ignored the comment made by the
Counsellor of the HATHOR. "We will be reaching SURIAL
III in just over twelve hours, so get whatever rest
you can now because once we arrive there won't be any
turning back."
---
"To see the world in a grain of sand, 2006 post #038
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Deck 12, Astrometrics Lab
Stardate: 60341.0515
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Deck 1, Conference Lounge
Jessica Solarik { maya_992003@yahoo.com }
Lieutenant Commander Maya
Executive Officer and Chief Science Officer
USS ANUBIS
and a heaven in a wild flower.
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
and eternity in an hour."
- William Blake (British, 1757-1827)
