Bridge Training: Distress Call (Part V)

Posted on Thu Oct 19th, 2023 @ 12:22pm by Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver & Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani & Cadet Junior Grade Shafin Todenhöfer
Edited on on Tue Jan 30th, 2024 @ 1:46am

1,379 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Cadet Cruise
Location: Bridge

[PREVIOUSLY]

"I have a direction," Meghan said, putting it up on the viewscreen. "The signal is coming from this part of the nebula. I'm trying to filter out some of the ambient radiation to get a better look at what's in there." There were several things she could do to get a clearer signal. The question was, which, if any, would work in this case. "Did they say something about not being able to escape." she asked, trying to remember the exact words. "There's a very real chance we'll get stuck, too, if we go in there. I'll keep trying to get a read on the chemical components."

This was something Meghan knew well. She tried a number of filters until she found the combination that allowed her to get a decent scan of the nebula itself. Once she finally had that, she ran a comprehensive analysis and sent it through the computer. "I have it, but it's not good," she said, turning to Daniel.

[CONTINUED]

Shafin looked at Daniel before looking over to Meghan. "Define...not good" the dark haired cadet said in his temporary capacity as 'First Officer,' a role Daniel had given him to play. Shafin preferred things to be as specific as possible, and he had paid close attention to Meghan saying there was a 'real chance' they too would get stuck if they proceeded. Shafin did not ask for a mathematical calculation on that probability as he assessed her descriptive word choice as well over fifty percent in the direction he did not want to go.

"The nebula affects ship functions. If we go in, we have an 87% chance of getting stuck ourselves, and that goes up the longer we're there. Plus, transporters will likely not work, either. So, getting those people out will be tricky unless we find out how to work around the interference," she replied. "At the same time, we don't know how long that other ship has been there and how much time they have left."

Shafin approached Meghan. "87% is more than risky," he said looking at Daniel. Standing near Meghan, Shafin started to consider options, but he needed Meghan to help filter weak ones and refine any potential ones. "Would something smaller be as affected? Could say a probe be launched on a trajectory putting it deeper in?"

"What are you thinking? We use the probe as a relay to boost the transporter signal?" Daniel crossed his arms over his chest.

Shafin gave a nod. "If possible," he replied. "That or the casing of one or more of our torpedoes. We could theoretically place a pattern enhancer inside to boost our signal and help up secure a lock."

Daniel looked over to Meghan. "What do you think? Could it work?"

"I'm still running an analysis of the nebula. We'll need that data to know how to counter its effects," she began. "It probably won't nullify the effects, but if we can cut them in half, and daisy chain several probes, we could conceivably transport them aboard. I recommend that we beam them to the cargo bay and keep them there until we determine what sort of medical needs they'll have."

Meghan sighed and turned to give Daniel and Shafin her full attention. "Actually, I don't think that should be our first choice." She paused before continuing. "We know what the distress call said, but we can't be sure. I can scan the nebula, but I can't scan what's in the nebula--or who. I suggest we first use a chain of probes to see what's in there. Then decide if a chain of pattern buffers really is the best solution." She looked at Shafin. "And if this is a trap, we'll have a better indication of that, too."

Shafin nodded in agreement. "I still am suspicious and would like to be disproven that it is not a trap" he stated looking at Daniel. "Meghan makes a logical argument. We should try to ascertain what is inside the nebula."

Daniel was a bit conflicted. He knew that learning more about the nebula would provide them with more to work with and, in time, a better solution. However, time was another issue. He didn't know if time was a factor and, if the senior staff were so inclined, would alter the scenario because they thought they had enough time to work with. No doubt an attempt to teach them time will not always be something they would have.

"I... uh..." He hesitated in his response slightly. Daniel knew they were being watched, and his father was certainly taking notes at his every moment, so it was difficult to know what was right and what was wrong in this case. This is why Daniel knew he wasn't prepared for command. He wasn't good at thinking on the fly. Especially when others were counting on him or lives were on the line. "We need to save those people. That's our mission, isn't it? What do we know that we can use to our advantage?"

"We're not Bajoran and superior scientists and explorers" quipped Shafin. "We should have better sensors. We may still be affected as Meghan stated, but we have more 'tools' at our disposal."

"Tools that might work or make things worse." Daniel replied, seemingly irritated before walking away. He immediately turned back and shouted. "This could very well be a rigged game for all we know." As he raised his voice he looked around the bridge at all the other cadets. "There could be no good option here. This could be their tame version of the Kobayashi Maru." As he walked back he continued loudly. "How can we win a game that can easily be changed once we start making progress? What does your Vulcan logic say about that, First Officer?"

"That you are being too emotional," Shafin replied swiftly. "Captain," he said addressing Daniel. He looked at the fellow cadet. "You are thinking about this as a game, as an examination, a test. You need to forget that. You need to take command and make decisions as though this were not simulated" asserted Shafin.

Daniel looked at Shafin firmly. This was a test. It was simulated. It wasn't the real Avadora crew on the other side and the nebula didn't actually exist.... but... Shafin was right. No matter what they could throw at them, no matter how his father could alter the exercise, they needed to face it head on. Rigged or not... there might be a time where this wasn't a test and the stakes were real.

He walked back toward Shafin, his gaze never shifting, before coming to a stop by the Vulcan and science station. After a few seconds of his stare, he turned to Meghan. "Gather as much as you can about the nebula. Us the concept of using the probes as a chain for a base. If, along the way, you collect some information alters that idea into something that might prove better we'll work this one by ear. We focus on saving the people on the ship first and worry about the ship itself, and its knowledge, second." He paused in mid-thought. "Wait... maybe they can speed this along." He looked over to the Ops cadet. " How's the signal to their ship?"

"Choppy at best, Sir." The Ops cadet replied.

"See if you can improve it in anyway. At best, stable it enough so we can receive and maybe send data through." Daniel said firmly. As the Ops Cadet nodded his head, he turned to Meghan and Shafin. "We're neglecting our best resource. The Avadora. That ship has all the information we need because they were studying this nebula before we got here. Their information might have already picked up something that we might only catch much later." He focused on Meghan. "What do you think? If we can get their scans and data, how fast do you think you and/or the computer would take to comb through it for something useful?"

(To be continued...)

Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani
Science Cadet

Cadet Junior Grade Shafin Tödenhofer
Counseling Cadet

Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver
Command Cadet

 

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