A Really Big Rock
Posted on 03 Oct 2015 @ 12:24am by Commander Norvi Stace & Lieutenant Benice Gyce Ph.D. & Crewman Ezra Koenig
Edited on on 05 Oct 2015 @ 9:02pm
1,420 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 09 - Empires
Location: Asteroid 6/0983 Saalm - Mining Site
Timeline: MD 4: 0800 Hours
[On]
The shuttle bay forcefield released four individuals. One of which, Gyce, carried her type III rifle and scanned her targeting scope very carefully. EV suits running full throttle, there was no mistake that everyone was on an asteroid.
No natural oxygen to be had. And no signs of lifesigns on the tactical chief's scopes. Just the brown-black rock they landed on and the speckled starry space for a backdrop.
"Scans read clear, Commander Stace," Gyce pointed out with that eerie echo natural to space suits. Then the Bajoran looked at her O2 tanks. "I read six hours of air. So I suggest we scout no longer than four hours, to stay in a safe window."
"Agreed," the Trill replied as she looked about all four of them. "Check in," she then stated, even though her eyes told her that everyone was fine and dandy."
"Benice is all green," Gyce chimed in.
"Malachy all green," Rheneas reported, marveling at his view. This was an archaeologist's dream for sure, even though he couldn't quite get his hands dirty this time.
"Good to go--I mean, Koenig is green," Ezra cleared his throat and gave a nod to Gyce, then Stace.
"Let's try to move tightly," Gyce told the group.
Stace then also took out her own tricorder and read the small display. She knew from checking the varying sensor readings the Gally had managed to collate with its fluctuating power grid that they should probably head off at 236 degrees and so, validating that with her local scanner, she began the trek. "Let's keep open comm. links whilst we're 'on the ground' and head out."
They'd walked only about twenty minutes before the Trill's tricorder began to trill itself. "I think that we're happening upon something significant this way. Can you confirm?"
"Dense deposit of metallic rock formation," Gyce acknowledged. She was not a science officer, and thus could not be as specific as she would like.
"You're correct," Rheneas confirmed, peering at his tricorder, "but I can't tell yet what type and or whether it's pure in any form. We'll need to get closer and I'll need to take samples to be sure."
Stace then looked up from her readings to where roughly her implement told her the deposits were. She steeled herself with a deep intake and breath and began to walk closer. It was another five minutes before her tricorder sounded off again and she surveyed the ground around her.
"My tricorder can't cut through the interference caused by the deposits themselves," Stace then relayed back to the group. "But going by the formation, from what I know, it's most likely dilithium." She paused and then looked to her assembled crew. "Secure the area and let's start drilling down a little to get a sample to know more."
"A couple of us should do a five mile radius walk, while you're doing that. Cross off any signs of recent activity," Gyce suggested.
"Such as?" Rheneas queried curiously. "Let me get ready and I'll get samples wherever you point me to take them. I'll mark off where we've taken samples, and log site locations."
"Some of us should fan out and look for signs of any past drilling... Last thing we want is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere, in a turf war," Gyce pointed out more to Stace.
Ezra held his phaser rifle across the chest of his EVA suit casually. Though the extended finger offset from the trigger guard and the way he held the grip made it quite clear that he could wield the weapon within a moments notice. He issued a nod to Gyce and gave her a look that sort of confirmed silent orders between the two and began fanning out in a tactical formation from the group. He walked in a steady line, but made sure he kept everyone within a pace or two's reach.
Gyce signaled for the men to stay in sight of the sciencey folk taking samples as she too began to walk out and look very carefully around the areas for any signs of activity.
"This would not be a bad place to have Zero-G combat training," Gyce noted aloud as she took in the various rock formations. They made for perfect natural cover in fire fights. "...Assuming we have time, right Commander?"
"We don't, I'm afraid," Stace signaled back. "Let's concentrate on getting the deposits, get back to the ship and get back to the nearest Starbase." She paused and then added, "I don't know about the rest of you, but something doesn't feel right and I'm not entirely sure what it is." She bent down and took an extraction tool from her mission backpack. Holding it firmly against the rock, she shot it into the ground beneath her and harvested a sample. "It's dilithium, all right," she replied to the team. "And a high quality. That's why my tricorder can't get a clear reading of the stuff. Fan out a bit more and take another sample."
"Oh too bad," Rhen commented as he sauntered away. He would've loved to get down on hands and knees but in an EV suit it wasn't easy and he didn't want to damage his suit. "I've got something here too, readings are off the scale...but unclear on component."
Ezra looked back over his shoulder periodically to ensure PO Malachy was within his vector of sight. His head constantly swiveled between observing the terrain they were walking on, watching Gyce for signals, and keeping his vector cleared. He'd never walked on the surface of an asteroid outside of a holodeck before and the adrenaline pumping through his veins was keeping him quite alert.
"Let us know once you've gotten all the samples you need," Gyce commed back to Stace and Malachy. "Miss being a scientist, Commander?"
"I'll never stop being a scientist," Stace replied with a warm smile to herself as she picked up another sample and inspected it. "That's like asking me would I miss being Joined. It alters the way you view the world and something that you can never relinquish, at least in my view."
Shaking his head, Rheneas smiled to himself as he carefully moved off to find himself a second spot to take a few samples.
"I don't know what I'd do the moment they retire me for chronic arthritis and the like... Not many jobs in the PMC and PI sectors for folks like me," Gyce spoke with envy of her friend. "Seems like when scientists get older they get more lab assistants to help them."
Setting his case aside, Rheneas rummaged around in the dirt with his gloved hands. "What I wouldn't give to be able to take my gloves off," he reported as he flipped his tricorder open to take readings, then used one hand to clear more dirt to the side. "Just wish I'd get clearer readings, it's as if something is distorting them ma'am."
"We may even need to take the samples back to the ship so Commander Kohl can analyse them better." She paused, sighed and then sat back on her heels. "Best thing we can do is take samples from various parts of the asteroid. That way, hopefully, they can get a clearer map of the deposits beneath us and their worth. Let's spread out a bit and geotag your samples."
It felt good in Zero-G. No weight was pressed on any nerve. That meant no pain. And while Gyce did not like being out in space, she loved feeling normal with this group.
"Aye Ma'am," Gyce agreed and signaled for her folks to spread out a bit more. "I'm not reading any signs of recent activity on this rock. So can we assume it is safe to drill?"
"Perhaps. But it's where to drill that we need to ascertain," Stace replied. "We'll start on this section and then move a little further out before heading back. Gyce, Liaise with the other teams out here so we don't get too close to their own sampling."
"Yes Ma'am," Gyce agreed as she took one quick look at the space ahead of her before continuing on with her task.
[Off]
Lieutenant JG Benice Gyce
Chief of Security and Tactical
USS Galileo
PO2 Rheneas Malachy
engineer/archaeologist
USS Galileo
pnpc Tyrion
Commander Norvi Stace
First Officer
USS Galileo
Crewman Ezra Koeing
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPC By Ben]
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