Investigation Part I
Posted on Thu Feb 22nd, 2024 @ 10:11pm by Chief Petty Officer Xeres & Lieutenant Paul Michael & Captain Edmund Merrick & Lieutenant Fathom Fellini & Lieutenant JG Mira Jayna & Sergeant Miranda Schultz
Edited on on Thu Feb 22nd, 2024 @ 10:27pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 15 - The Evil That Lies Beneath
Location: Shuttle Maintenance Bay - Deck 10 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD004 1100 hrs
It was truly bugging Edmund, after having that conversation with Vura, Edmund felt that there was something that he was missing. And it was really grinding on his nerves. He needed some help and he wanted to get eyes on examining all the data that had been recorded. He also needed to check on those who had been on that mission.
First off though, he needed a scientist, and he went to the science department to find someone who he could get help from.
"Uh hi, I am Captain Merrick, is there anyone that can help me on an investigation?
Fathom looked up from a PADD, one eyebrow raised. "That all depends on what sort of investigation you're doing. We probably have a specialist to meet your needs." She smiled. "I'm Fathom. If you let me know what you're investigating, I can probably find someone to help."
"Well, one thing that I am needing help on is to take a closer look at the Serenity, the shuttle we used on our last mission. I've got recordings I need to go through on that mission, and I want to find out if something had somehow made its way to the Pioneer. Or for that matter, if anyone of us brought something with us. Sure, we did go through decontamination but... did it get everything?"
"A very good question." Fathom thought for a moment. "I was part of the science team that first explored the beach, but it was a regular shuttle." Then she remembered that the SFMC had a liaison from intelligence. "There's a woman in intelligence who was on the Serenity. I don't recall her name, but she might have done something. If you need help, I could check for any contaminants in the water that may have transferred to the crew or the ship."
"That would be Lieutenant Jayna, and there was one other person who might be helpful as well with this, that would be Sergeant Schultz. She was on that mission too. Shall we form that team and go look at the Serenity?" Edmund asked. "In shuttle bay I believe would be a good place to start."
"Sure." She closed the PADD and put it in a drawer, then left a message for the next shift that she was helping Captain Merrick and stood. "I'm ready to go."
As they walked towards the shuttle bay where the Serenity was housed, Edmund tapped on his combadge. "This is Captain Merrick, Lieutenant Jayna, Sergeant Schultz would you meet myself and Lieutenant Fellini at the shuttle bay on Deck Ten please. " stepping into the turbolift to head to deck ten, Edmund giving the order to the computer.
"On my way," Jayna said. She saved her work and logged out of her computer. She mentally reviewed what she knew was on deck ten. Was he interested in the Serenity? Was there anything else of interest in the shuttle bay? She'd looked over the shuttle's data and made copies so she could do further research, but she wasn't sure she'd sent any information to the captain. She was also curious to see if she could find anything new.
Miranda was in the communication center. She was surprised by the summons from the captain, but she wasn't going to question it. "Yes, sir." She reported to her superior and moved aside for her replacement. Then she headed for the door.
After arriving to Deck Ten, Edmund took a look at Fathom, "Well, here we go." then stepped out of the turbolift and headed towards the shuttle bay entrance. He stepped inside, and his eyebrows raised seeing Lieutenant Paul Michael and Chief Xeres. What a happy happenstance, he had Paul on his list of next in line to check on, as he had been the one flying the Serenity.
"Hi, good to see you, Lieutenant Michael and Chief Xeres. Been meaning to check in on you." he remarked to Paul and Xeres. "So, I'm working on an investigation where the Serenity is concerned and also checking on the people who were on that mission to that underwater laboratory. Mind if we take a look at it?" Merrick asked. He also glanced behind hearing the entrance of the other people he had called.
Xeres had just set the Serenity's computer into diagnostic mode as he and Lieutenant Michael had discussed when he heard the voice of the newcomers. He popped his head out from the ship and saw everyone. The Bolian's eyes widened briefly at the sight of all the high ranked crew. "Sirs I can see word travels fast. The Lieutenant and I were just discussing that."
"Feel free to look around, captain. Afterwards we can compare notes." Paul responded.
Jayna had come up behind the others in time to hear the last few comments. They wouldn't be able to do much on the shuttle if it was in diagnostic mode. It had also been cleaned after returning to the ship. The team and their gear were wet and dirty when they returned from the underwater facility. Had anyone considered taking samples? She hadn't. She was only interested in the sensor and computer data.
Mignon joined them a moment later and smiled at Jayna. She hadn't seen the intel officer since their return to the Pioneer. Then she turned her attention to Edmund. "Sergeant Schultz reporting as ordered, sir."
"Thank you for coming. Apparently Lieutenant Michael and Chief Xeres had the same idea. It looks like we've got a really good investigation team here. " Edmund responded.
"May I ask why this investigation was not conducted shortly after the Serenity returned?" Jayna asked. "Also, you'll need to look at the data on the computer once the diagnostic is completed. The scans are inconclusive, but they might be of some help in the overall investigation." The individual suits might hold more information. She would have to mention that to the captain later.
"It was only days after the Serenity returned that things began to happen. The computer didn't report any unusual readings from the ship when it landed." Michael responded.
"That makes sense," Jayna acknowledged.
"I asked Lieutenant Michael to take a look at the sensor logs for the Serenity. It seems that events that were in eye witness reports including the Lieutenant's do not match the sensor logs." Xeres added, the Bolian was nothing if not thorough.
"Did you mention that to Major Tremble or intelligence?" Jayna asked. "I have copies of the sensor logs from the Serenity, and some of the eyewitness statements." She had not, however, spoken to everyone on the away team. "But this is the first time I heard of this." She also wondered if the information she copied right after the shuttle returned and what was currently on the Serenity had somehow changed.
"My apologies Ma'am..." Xeres began with perfect formality, Bolians were always by the book. "...I just learned about it myself. Once I found it I told Lieutenant Michael. I believe he was about to investigate further when you arrived."
"Then Captain Merrick's timing is good." At least for this. She didn't know him well enough to comment on his timing in general. "Perhaps together we can find some answers."
"As far as I know the only way sensor logs, especially that amount of data, could be deleted without a trace would have to come from a Senior Officer's code. For example, neither myself, Lieutenant Jayna, or Sergeant Schultz would be able to do it. The order would have to come from a senior Lieutenant or higher." Xeres explained. His thoroughness as a Bolian is the reason that he had the job he did.
Jayna looked at him for a moment, thinking. It was GONE, not just altered? That information was troubling. Who would delete data from the shuttle and why? "Have you look at computer files to see if there's a record of who's been in the shuttle since it's return?" It should have her, as she'd copied the data. If not, that was another thing to look into.
Michael looked up. "From my initial scan of the ship, IF data was deleted, there was no trace of who might have done it."
"I might be able to find something," Jayna said. "I use programs that can find deleted files or trace who deleted them. It all depends on how the files were deleted and by whom." And if there was no trace, that might also help her limit the number of people who had both the access and the skill.
"Hence why I gathered those with me, also need to scour the Serenity for any sort of trace particles, even on a level of an atom. We didn't come back alone, and can a possible ghost have come back with us? I know that sounds a little bit insane but it has happened that an entity can latch upon someone and come onto the ship." Merrick stated.
"Yes." Jayna drew out the word. "I encountered the entity on the underwater station. It is not something I want following us back to the ship." But if it had, it could have been in any one of the team. It had been in Corporal Shy when he was rendered unconscious and Miranda had control of his suit. "I agree that we should do a thorough analysis to see if there's anything here."
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Fathom Fellini
Marine Biologist, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Mira Jayna
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Intelligence Liaison, The Cure
Sergeant Miranda Schultz
Communications Specialist HQ, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Chief Petty Officer Xeres
Shuttlebay Manager, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Paul Michael
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Pioneer
Captain Edmund Merrick
Executive Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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