The Time Capsule (Part One)

 Episode Name:  The Time Capsule (Part One)

   Written By:  Fortuane

         Cast:  Absyn, Alarcon, Cross, Fortunae, Havaris, Medes and Nilee.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Fortunae

     Aired On:  Mon Jul 28 19:42:03 2003

     Stardate:  53394.3

Time: Sun Jul 27 20:45:03 2003

Stardate: 53392.0

AX-83744 glides through space with a rotation so slight it remains unseen to the naked eye. The surface of this irregularly shaped rogue stellar object has a few pock marks denoting previous encounters with debris in open space, this in itself suggesting it has been travelling for quite some time at it's sublight, but still rather swift, speed of .82c.

Moving alongside in an elegant interecept trajectory course, the USS Amazon is dwarfed by the Asteroid that if in a steady obbit around a planetary body would likely be classified as a moonlet. The Runabout is a bright spec against the darkened surface, providing the only nearby light source beyond the faint reach of Starlight over light years. Within the Runabout window the husband and wife team of the Chief of Operations of S419 and his wife, the littlest engineer, can be seen clearly as the vessel completes it's approach to maintain an optimal range for the scientific instruments aboard. That the sensor package on the Amazon is far superior of those of the vessel that originally tracked this stellar object back in the 23rd century despite being only a sixth the size is an amusing note of attribute to the changes a century can make in the mission of exploration...

"Helm," Havaris notes aside to the missus, "keep us steady in adjusted orbit. Automate if you can, I may need your hands in a moment." Havaris eyes his own flight control terminal briefly before turning in his chair to call back to Tactical and Alarcon, "Isobel? We're in position now if you'd like to start your scans. I'd like a first-pass look at near-space. I don't want any surprises. Give me an all clear and we can turn our sensors at the rock." Havaris then glances back to Nilee, "Keep the sensors pumped, that's where we'll be pouring our power for the forseeable future." And that all said, Havaris turns back to poke at his terminal in a purely advisory capacity. Perhaps learning from Medes' flight path.

"Yes, sir," replies Medes, and with a few swift taps of her fingers -- all ten digits moving in smoth, practiced motions over the console -- she brings the shuttle into orbit around the massive asteroid with ease and grace; occasionally, she offers a glance aside at Havaris, as if to say, 'now, see, here is where I go like this... ' Teaching by doing, and all of that. "Now in adjusted orbit around AX-83744. Automating primary flight functions now, sir."

. o O Medes thinks "... primary..."

GAME: Alarcon spends a courage point.

Nilee does his best impression of an engineer well he sits at the station directly behind Medes. He taps at the controls occasionally, but mostly just watches the readouts. He looks over to Havaris as he speaks and nods, "Standing by to transfer the power, sir."

<CONTEST> Alarcon (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Alarcon (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Absyn sits in his seat out of the way of everything like a good little ensign for now and looked out the viewport at the object they have as their current curious object of note. Rubs his chin a little as he stares at the object doing little things in his mind in an examination of it as well, it nearly big enough to be considered apart of his normal work routine and not just an extra project he was put on.

With their approach to the asteroid, Cross turns to the senior officers on board. "With your permission, I'll go check in the mission specific compartment to make sure the added sensors and ready, Sir." He offers. His eyes taking a moment to look out the window and the large dark form that was close by.

Alarcon nods at Kusto, then Thea. "Thank you." For the moment, she has taken a seat at the science console, preps the sensors for the scans she needs, entering the data. "One look around, then all eyes on the rock..." The terminal makes muted bleepy noises as the runabout's sensors peer through the vacuum outside. "A lateral sensor sweep shows... no other ships within a light year of us, Havaris, nothing else at all out of the ordinary. Ensign Absyn, please observe." She beckons, waiting with her fingers poised over the console until he arrives to observe before proceeding. "I have set up a planetary deep resonance scan, my parameters are displayed on the screen. I thought perhaps they would be of interest to you, given your current position, assignment to the ongoing study of the asteroid and desire for ever-continuing training. Cross, that would be fine, we've about ten minutes until the results from the scan are complete."

"Nice work, Helm," Havaris notes appreciatively without a single tweak to the flight path, simply noting the fact. He catches Alarocn's report with a faint nod of the head, not entirely surprised at this turn of events. Similarly, Cross's request is deferred to Alarcon without concern, allowing her to herd her troops as she likes. For the most part, then, Havaris does what he did on his Cadet Cruise. He sits back and watches Science Officers study things with a phaser on his hip. "Steady on, then, Helm. And thank you, Tactical. Engineering, that juice would come in handy now, as you can."

<CONTEST> Nilee contests his Shipboard Systems (Engineering) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Nilee nods his head slowly as he begins to run his fingers over the controls a little more actively now, time to pay attention, lest he break the ship in front of Medes. The young Trill nods, "Transferring additional power to sensor systems now."

Cross nods his head and turns to head back through the rear arch and to the scientific compartment. With ten minutes, he walks casually through the corridor and into the small room before accessing a small diagnostic to make sure their is no malfunction in the systems and the systems are full operating. His eyes takes a glance at the scans to see what they are currently showing.

<CONTEST> Cross contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Medes doesn't even glance over her shoulder at Nilee; apparently she's got confidence in his SysEng capabilities. She sits back in her chair and monitors the ship's systems without commentary.

<CONTEST> Alarcon contests her Planetary Sciences (Planetology) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Absyn contests his Planetary Sciences (Planetology) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

The sciences terminal suddenly shows the waiting scientists the results of their exciting deep resonance scan. After a moment, Alarcon looks up at Absyn, presumably observing as requested (please correct me if I'm wrong on that, Absyn). "What do you make of that, Ensign?" she asks, rising to cede him the better perspective of the chair before the console proper.

Absyn slips to his feet and moves forward, his face as unintreasted as ever as he looks over the figures quietly, examining them in search for anything of note a hand rubbing at his chin as he thought on the figures, "Yes Sir." Pauses a moment as he looks the figures over, "Now that is mildly intriguing. Sir, underneath the strata of the asteroid it becomes apparent that the entire things might very well be artificial. While it would be possiable to figure out more data with a more indepth scan.. prehaps a long strata resonance scan might finds a passage to the interior for first hand data."

With the systems showing green across the board, Cross considers for a moment for keeping the com unit to contact the foreward compartment. "Systems are reading green. Shall I attempt a gravimetric scan and see if anything comes up, Lieutenant?"

"Can't help by remember the last time I skimmed this close to an asteroid with you at the helm, Lieutenant," Havaris murmurs sotto voce aside to his pilot, "I also can't help but recall a fine bit of flying down a rather narrow tube. And. Some other things that I don't really want to remember. Still. Fine mission, that one." Kusto leans back up to tap at his terminal, biding his idle time with equally idle conversation. "Then there was that time the station got hit by an asteroid. That was less fun. Are asteroids bad omens?" He glances down at the massive black rock with a squint. "Or small planets."

Absyn says, "If I were to risk a guess this would be neither Sir." Looks up and over at Havaris, "I would say this is a ship in disguise."

"Deja vu," mutters Medes, rubbing a hand over her forehead and looking aside at Havaris; her shoulders tense up and she swallows once, hard. "Lieutenant, might I suggest forwarding our findings to the Station at once, in case of... unforseen events occuring?"

. o O Medes thinks "Like maybe we get tractored or blown up, then they'll know where to look for our bits?"

<CONTEST> Alarcon (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Havaris has the presence of mind to /look/ nonplussed, whatever the truth. Calm under pressure, and all that. "I will forward our findings to 419, Priority One." He taps at his terminal, doing just that, then notes back to Tactical, "Begin a scan for power and weapons systems. Then get me some life signs. I want to know if this ship has a crew or if we're the luckiest freetraders in the Alpha Quarant." A pause. "That was a joke. Helm? Maintain course and heading on orbital path."

<CONTEST> Absyn contests his Search skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Cross contests his Search skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Alarcon is frowning at the results, now, having taken the console back from Absyn. "I'm already running a bioscan, Kusto, sorry... the scans are going to happen with lifeforms first, but I can line up the weapon systems one to run immediately following. Would you prefer Cross continue with his checks, meantime?" She indicates the back of the ship, vaguely, waiting for the return of scan results.

"Yes, sir." This is all Medes replies, stubby little fingers tapping at her console as she checks her flight path. Tap.

<CONTEST> Alarcon (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

GAME: Nilee spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Search skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

GAME: Havaris spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Havaris (claiming advantage) contests his Search skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

GAME: Medes spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Search skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

"About one kilometer deep into the rock, I am detecting what appear to be Class M environmental conditions. The scan for weapons systems and power supply, that's running now. With a km of rock between us and whatever's inside, I can't get possible crew numbers. I'm going to queue up that long strata resonance scan Absyn suggested next, pending the results of the scan that's running, so perhaps we can indeed find a passage within." Alarcon's eyes are narrowed, and she is peering down at her console. Sekrit information, you do not stand a chance against Alarcon's Scans of Dooooooooooom! Or perhaps it just -looks- like that's what she's thinking.

Absyn stands their silently, looking at the console in that same stony manner of his as he does so.

Medes waits for scan results, idly eyeing the results of the scans as they come in.

Also, she checks her course. Idly.

Nilee continues monitoring power allocations. Though he does have the scan results scrolling in a secondary screen, he does his best to keep his attention on the engineering station, since that's his priority at the moment.

Havaris pauses after a moment and draws the sensor logs back up with a curious squint. It's the 'huh' squint of a man who has just uncovered something. Tilting his head all the more, Kusto eyes the readouts and promptly rises from his seat to circle back towards Tactical and lean in himself. He draws up the readout of the short resonance scan and taps a section of it, drawing it up under magnification. "Correct me if I'm wrong, gentlemen...?" Another tap to enlarge it more, showing a pair of verticle anomalies side by side in the resonance scan reaching from the limit of scan-depth up to the surface, as proven by his scrolling of the scan up to the abrupt end at zero depth. "But that looks like an access tunnel. About eight meters squared. Which should reach to class M depth?" A glance to both officers to verify his crazy hypothesis.

Cross looks to the com as he listens to Havaris speak up. His fingers move across the console to access his information and confirm, perhaps even improving the scan to find out more about the interior. He speaks up to be heard. "Perhaps an electron probing scan can see further into the interior." He offers.

Absyn blinks slightly and for a moment there is a slight look of annoyment at having missed that earlier and remains quiet for now, not having anything extra to truly add at this second as he watches the consoles that he can spot.

Medes pulls up her own copy of the aforementioned scans and raises her eyebrows. "Deja /vu,/" she mutters to herself, shaking her head; her shoulders tense up, and she rolls her head around on her neck. "Lieutenant, sir, should I relay this as well?"

<CONTEST> Cross contests his Computer (Programming) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

If heads could whip around fast enough to make a sort of 'shwiiiiik' noise in the air, Isobel's head would very probably have done so. Just now. When Havaris said that bit about the access tunnel. Shwiiiik. For a moment, the CSO looks as if she were trying to bilocate by sheer force of will, but remains in her seat after some brief craning to see what Kusto's talking about. The return of results from her next scan keep her in her seat, however. "Hmm. Okay, folks--we have several anti-matter reactors in this 'asteroid,' as well as... a profusion of systems that all seem to be on some variation of what I'm going to wager my most educated guess is, ah, standby. Basic conduit map, I've got, but it's the best we're going to get unless we go in. I can't get us an exact layout. What's really interesting is that whomever designed this whole thing didn't want us to see even that far. There's power scan shielding, but it's either really awful or, more probably, really old. I'm going to send this conduit map to your terminals... the power readings, as you can all see, aren't so strange, but the configuration's not one I've seen before."

"To better detail -how- old this shielding might be," adds Alarcon, "Let me just say that last century, a similar scan might've been blocked."

Havaris straightens up from the terminal, looking precisely the opposite of proud. He looks annoyed. Annoyed to be right, yes. "Dammit." His eyes trail about the deck for a moment, brow knit in thought as his arms fold up, taking to pacing back into the cabin to work matters through in his head. "Thea, notify 419 we're looking at a habitable biosphere, here. Keep them updated on our current findings, yes. Sciences, excellent work. Helm, move us over that hole. If it's hollow clear down, we might be able to hail the interior. Keep our shields down for now. I didn't see anything alarming on the resonance scan." Havaris paces back into the cockpit to loom behind the stations, still thoughtful. "Thea, ask for Sector advisement regarding establishing contact. I'm not too interested in touching down for a closer look, but that's why we're here ostensibly." Only then does he peer down at a readout of the power grid, trying to make sense of it. It's either a good thing Havaris looks that thoughtful, or a very bad thing.

Nilee quirks his lips to the side as he listens to Havaris' revelation without turning his head. Keeping his eyes on the scrolling sensor data, he follows what Havaris finds and then begins to give his thoughts, "How well shielded is the interior against transporters? We could always beam a modified probe inside as far in as we can..."

<CONTEST> Havaris contests his History skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Alarcon contests her History skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

<CONTEST> Medes contests her History skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

<CONTEST> Nilee contests his History skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

<CONTEST> Absyn contests his History skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

<CONTEST> Cross contests his Systems Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

Back in the compartment, Cross looks up at the information as it is sent to him. He frowns and stops trying to readjusts the computer from creating a more sensitive scan and tries to access more details from the scans of the power systems, trying to find more information.

Havaris rubs a hand at the back of his neck for a long moment, shaking his head slightly as his thoughtful expression grows more intense. He toes a boot at the foot of a nearby terminal, waiting patiently for the science officers to see what he's seeing. He glances about the team for a long moment, waiting for them to do just that. But nobody's talking. So he sighs and notes somewhat mumbly, "Second Orion Imperium." A glance about the team once more, hopefully before he continues on. "This looks. A lot like a power grid they uncovered from a dig from the Second Orion Imperium. They uncovered a site in 2373, still operational. Looked like that. Similar layout, fluctuations, power originators." He concludes with a shrug and a pace back towards the cabin again, "Second Orion Imperium. Might want to look up that paper."

Medes quietly maneuvers the shuttle over the Hole In The Rock (tm) and then starts tapping at her console. The look aside she gives her husband is impressed, intensely so, even as she's sending off missives and trying to Get Her Books, Look Stuff Up (or something to that effect).

<CONTEST> Medes contests her Computer (Research) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Nilee contests his Computer (Research) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

"Good call, Kusto," replies Isobel, admiringly, after a long, hard look back at the specs. There's all manner of quick researchy tapping from other folks present, so she simply reviews the power grid for a moment, going carefully over the details of her scan results. "That's some impressive retention. And the probe idea is not a bad one, Nilee. Though before we start sending probes into their access tunnels, we should probably introduce ourselves first." There is not the slightest glimmer of innuendo in Isobel's deadpan expression. Proper scientists, after all, would never make a juvenile pun related to probes. They have, you know, standards. "I like the idea of your hail, Kusto," she clarifies, smoothly. "Thoughts?"

Absyn shakes his head a little as he strokes his chin for a moment before he speaks, "How sure are we those that are within inside are alive or even capable of recieving the hail?"

. o O Medes thinks "How're those nipples doing, Alarcon? Sheesh, what an innuendo."

"We aren't certain at all, Absyn, but bioscans won't penetrate more than about a kilometer, which in this case seems to be solid rock. Which is why I couldn't specify more than the apparent internal environment." Alarcon answers, plainly.

<CONTEST> Cross contests his Computer skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!

"That just makes a hail pointless, not deleterious," Havaris replies to Absyn, "whereas sending a probe down that hole requires opening the door and being down there to do so. I am not authorizing an away-team at this time. So unless Mister Nilee believes we can transport a probe into that tight a space without disrupting things too greatly? I am all for hailing. As far as that goes, a polite knock is far more polite than a hand up the skirt." Kusto, it seems, latches onto the inuendo like a leech and doesn't suffer loss of officerial dignity for it. "I say hail first. Isobel?" Second opinion?

Medes scratches her nose and peers. "Uh. Wow. I have some... interesting... information on the Second Orion Imperium. If it, uh. Turns out to be pertinent." Apparently she /can/ fly and research at... approximately the same time.

"Pff, Kusto, I already said I was behind a hail." A grin, now, from the Science chair, and Alarcon shakes her head. "Let's make that happen." It doesn't seem that she's exactly itching to hop down on the surface and start fiddling with access hatch doors and the like... at least, not yet. She turns her attention to Medes, now.

Nilee nods his head slowly as he hears Medes speak up about the Imperium, "I've got something here too... probably similar to what Lieutenant Medes has. It doesn't seem to relevant at this point though... probably best to keep the files nearby though."

Cross frowns as his console continues to whine a negative response back to him. He keys in the sequence again, making sure it wasn't him and the access code but the computer. He stops and turns to the com as Medes speaks up.

"Does it say anything about answering hails with weapons fire? That would be pertinent." Havaris notes this with his finger poised over the comm controls. "Bullet points, if you would?"

Absyn goes back to looking out the viewport and watching the thing before them silently, examining it as he considers a little bit and then speaks, "Sir, might I do a scan as to see what the asteroid is composed of, then with a bit of work we might be able to shift the scan a bit to ignore all things of that type and slip past it for further information in a bioscan."

Nilee quirks his lips to the side as he quickly skims more of the information, "Well... we're talking several thousand years ago, so we can't exactly isolate their tactics. Though I would suggest not using the word 'Federation' in your initial greeting. That apparently was their ancient enemy, and if there is anyone alive down there... well, they might think we're them."

"On the contrary, Ensign, I have a feeling this is probably /very/ relevant," Medes replies. "What we've stumbled upon is an archaeological find. If there's anyone in there at all, they're probably leaching off of this archaeological find and/or exploiting it and raiding it, so chances of answering hails with weapons fire? I'd not discount them." She taps at her console a few times. "In 2373, there was a find regarding the Second Orion Impergium, which collapsed approximately 3500 years ago, if I'm reading correctly... Ensigns, do you mind?"

"It's not a matter of filtration, Absyn, so no, don't tie up system resources with another heavy-duty scan at the moment. It's a matter of the sensor's signal penetrating the kilometer of rock between us and the interior. Not a bad idea, but ultimately untenable." Pointedly, Alarcon returns her attention to Medes.

Medes clears her throat and looks back down at her console. "As I was saying. In 2373, there was a find in the Alpha Quadrant; it was believed to be an abandoned forward tactical outpost; most of the quote-enquote important items were taken but what was left behind was very historically

Havaris lifts his hand away from the comm as though it might burn him, settling back with folded arms to listen to the little engineer relate the news. Weighing it, no doubt, against his good sense.

Medes clears her throat and looks back down at her console. "As I was saying. In 2373, there was a find in the Alpha Quadrant; it was believed to be an abandoned forward tactical outpost; most of the quote-enquote important items were taken but what was left behind was very historically significant and set off a /very/ bitter struggle for proprietary control over the archaeological items left behind. The Daystrom Institute, the Vulcan Science Academy, the Ullian Psychometric Historian Association and Starfleet Science were fighting over it... if you want to name names." She pauses here, to let this all sink in for a second. "The Dominion War forced exploration to halt and the Dominion raided that /particular/ facility and destroyed it; the loss to the archaeological community is still mourned. So. One. If what we have is legitimately from the Second Orion Imperium, it's massively archaeologically important, naturally, and two, it's probably very expensive to people who like to pay things for very archaeologically important items. So. If anyone /is/ down there, and we don't already /know/ they're there, chances are they're not going to /want/ us to know we're there. At least. That's what I'd guess."

Absyn moves to return to his seat for now as he looks out the viewport, as always he was his normal self, which meant being fairly quiet and thinking on what to do next.

A frustrated growl comes from Cross as his console whines more time before finally a low murmur. "..About bloody time." He turns to the science console and looks. "Be nice and we will get along, just fine." Of course, with the com open, everyone heard everything.

Havaris nods crisply at Medes' report, glancing aside at Tactical with a simple instruction. "Drop a claim buoy on the surface. Several, if it can be managed. We didn't detect any coming in, and if the rock is occupied by claim jumpers, they just lost the right to by the law." Havaris glances back to Medes with a tight lipped expression. "Any word from Sector on our orders to proceed? If not, I defer to the Science Officer on this one." A glance back to Isobel. "If you want to take your team down there to have a closer look and verify the safety of the find, I will back up that call with my rifle. You know archaeological SOP far better than I do, it's hardly my specialty. If you prefer to wait for word from Sector, I'll be happy to hold position here."

Nilee quirks his lips to the side as he listens to Medes speak, "It wouldn't be terribly difficult to scan the surface near the access tunnels to see if anyone's opened them in the recent past. That way atleast we'd have an idea if anyone's gone in or out recently." He looks to Alarcon, "Permission to proceed once there's some resources free on the system?"

Alarcon presses her lips together, considering. "Well. Of all the things I, for one, expected we were likely to find, this... isn't shaping up to be one of those. I think, given the risk, we should go the conservative route and wait for Sector to advise before we go down to the surface. Believe me, it's no confidence issue--if I'm going to hop down, there's no one's rifle I'd rather have covering me than yours, Kusto." A slight smile to Havaris and Medes both, since they're conveniently placed so near to one another, and then a brisk nod at Nilee. "Go ahead with the surface scan. We can give Sector those findings, then, as well. It's not like we haven't done several other, more invasive scans."

. o O Alarcon thinks "Of COURSE it's not just an asteroid. It's NEVER not just an asteroid."

. o O Alarcon thinks "Of COURSE it's not just an asteroid. It's NEVER just an asteroid."

Absyn sighs as he sits there quietly, sitting back a little in his chair as he waits for something to do, slipping out his PADD and fiddling with it.

GAME: Nilee spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Nilee nods his head quickly and immediately starts switching over his engineering controls to the sensor systems and running the scan, as the results come up he reads them off, "The level of sediment on the tops of the access hatches is consistant with the rest of the area. Though... by the way their laid out, it looks more like they were used for construction purposes rather than actual transportation routes, except in emergencies. Someone could have beamed in and out."

Hearing Nilee's comment. "Couldn't we simply then beam in a remote probe?" He taps the console to look at the information, considering.

Hearing Nilee's comment. "Couldn't we simply then beam in a remote probe?" Cross asks as he taps the console to look at the information, considering.

Fittingly, the comm terminal chirps with an incoming message. He steps back to the Ops terminal and pokes alive the message, noting to the team in general, "Sector is referring us to Akeen for guidance. If he wants us down there, we go down it looks like." Havaris shakes his head and opens a hail to the station. "USS Amazon to Station 419 Upsilon Operations. Over."

A small message comes up on the operations station from relay station DS-121 indicating that the Amazon's transmission has been transferred to S419 as it is closer to the action taking place and in better position to lend assistance should such be necessary. A moment later the image on the screen of S419 communications picking up the signal appears.

Medes's eyebrows shoot up, and she sits up straight in her chair. If she were a puppy, her tail would wag. Hey! Boss! Hey! We're gonna talk to the Boss! Hey! Hero worship with a side of idolization, anyone?

. o O Medes thinks "Eeeep!"

Ghorev has his overtunic off, looking like he's preparing for bed, in fact. There's a thin mist in his quarters, as if incense of some kind has just been snuffed. "Operations says you need an emergency consultation, Amazon. What's the situation?"

Absyn continues working on a few calculations on his PADD as he sat in his seat occasionally glancing out the viewport as he did so, quite a personable fellow wasnt he.

Cross takes a moment or two to survey the information that was given by the library computer as they wait for further instruction. He takes a moment to look at the Asteroid from a nearby monitor.

Absyn blinks suddenly as an idea hits him and he speaks, "Sit, may I run a senson scan on that entrance to cross match with a few of those pockmarks from the asterioid's collision with space debris in order to possiably find out how old this thing is or at least the last time that entrance was used."

"Sorry for the wake up call or sleep delay, Sir. We do." Havaris leans over his terminal, trying to decide how best to put this. "This asteroid that we came across? Would you believe it's a 35,000 year old Second Orion Imperium flying M-Class biosphere? And, apparently, unclaimed by any government or group for purposes of science or salvage? I have ordered the dropping of claim beacons, and we're holding over an entrance shaft that we're debating sending a probe down, possibly a hail. Possibly ourselves. Our sensors can only penetrate to a depth of a thousand meters so we have no real accurate idea of what's down there, lifesigns, any of that. However, there is power, and atmosphere, and a means of entry. If you want us to hold for another ship, we will. If you want us to head down and verify the claim, we can do that, too and save sector a liberty ship. Just asking for your call, Sir. This is a rather enormous find, and one that -- if the inside has claim jumpers in it -- is being plundered to the considerable detriment of archaeology."

"If you find no recognized claims in the existing datafiles, yes, by all means. You have the go-ahead to proceed as deeply as necessary to ascertain for certain whether any explorers or claim-jumpers are currently within. If there are, proceed with the usual filing of their prior claim rights, open emergency negotiations for immediate study privileges, and get everyone back here for a claim hearing." But he doesn't really sound like he *likes* that option. "If not, remain on-scene while I contact Sector Command and have a larger vessel sent for large-scale towing and exploration. All future communications on this on encrypted channels only until we have the biosphere secure, Amazon."

Ghorev responds, "If you find no recognized claims in the existing datafiles, yes, by all means. You have the go-ahead to proceed as deeply as necessary to ascertain for certain whether any explorers or claim-jumpers are currently within. If there are, proceed with the usual filing of their prior claim rights, open emergency negotiations for immediate study privileges, and get everyone back here for a claim hearing." But he doesn't really sound like he *likes* that option. "If not, remain on-scene while I contact Sector Command and have a larger vessel sent for large-scale towing and exploration. All future communications on this on encrypted channels only until we have the biosphere secure, Amazon."

"Understood, Sir. Inform 419 Mission Ops we're hitting air at these coordinates. Proceeding down on your advisement. Amazon out." Havaris closes his channel and straightens up. Absyn receives a nod, "If Lt. Alarcon feels that wise, proceed." To all and Sundry he notes, "Anyone not on a project, open up your archives and check for claims. If nothing shows, we prep a mission team, land the Amazon, and proceed down that shaft. EVA suits and standard equipment plus whatever our Away Team Commander, Lieutenant Alarcon, requires. Understood?"

Alarcon rises from her terminal, walks over to Absyn, holding up one finger until the conversation at hand is complete, lips pressed tightly together, paying her attention where it is most immediately due.

Absyn nods slightly, had just had the idea pop in his head and didnt want to lose it was all before he could mention it.

Cross turns and listens to the comm for the Commander comes in over the transmission. He proceeds out of the comparment and makes his way to the front section to see what is going on himself.

After some time intensely checking for claims, there are none found in the Federation Database administered by the FIS, who typically track such things. In fact, other than the occassional note of the object being seen in passing and the initial survey report from the previous century, there is very little consequential mention of the object at all in Federation databases.

"Ensign, if you think you might forget? Make yourself a note of it. Otherwise, please don't interrupt important subspace transmissions relating to how our mission must proceed unless there is a deeply pressing need to do so." It's not said unkindly, and Isobel is being politely quiet about the whole thing... not that lowering one's voice has a huge effect in such a confined space. The effort, however, is made. "I appreciate your eagerness. I would recommend a spectrographic analysis of radiation levels at different strata--radioactive decay rates are a more constant factor, I would think, than analyses of collision markings would be. But this would be so much easier for us to do from within. Even with a more precise dating method, the surface has been subjected to space travel at high speeds. I suggest we wait until we have sent an away mission to the surface to worry about that."

The Bajoran waits for Alarcon to finish speaking to finally speak up again. "Generally," Havaris observes, "the question 'Understood?' is followed by 'Aye, Sir' or 'No, Sir'. Are my orders clear, gentlemen?" Havaris glances about the cabin in general, officer to officer to officer to wife to officer. "Assuming you reply in the affirmative? Helm, take us down. Land as near to the entry area as you can. The rest of you, get suited up in your EVA suits and check your sidearms from the armory. I will assist the helm. Understood?" Order issuance, take two.

"Aye, Sir." Alarcon heads for her EVA suit, then.

Cross moves up to stop behind the tactical stand. "Aye, Sir." He responds to Havaris. He looks momentarily to Alarcon as she suits up.

Absyn looks at her quietly for a moment before he nods, his face remaining ever smooth and even his eyes remained perfectly calm, showing no reaction to her words. At the last bit he speaks, "Aye, Sir." He then rose to his feet and got ready to put his own EVA suit on.

Nilee remains at his station until all three of the others are up in moving, scrolling through the data he received prior in regards to the Second Imperium. Finally, tearing away from the monitor, he looks up to see all three of the other science officers suiting up, then looks towards Havaris, "Yes, sir." He says, quite belatedly.

GAME: Medes spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

"Aye Sir," replies Medes, though truth be told, she appears a bit distracted /from/ answering for the fact that she's bringing the Amazon into position. The Littlest Engineer gracefully -- though not flawlessly, then darn close to it -- matches speeds with the asteroid's rotation, adjusts this a bit, tweaks that a bit, and sets the runabout down gently on the asteroid's surface. It's a textbook landing in all respects. "We are secure, Sir. Permission to set the Amazon to standby and leave my post? Additionally, should I attempt to crib together a recall before we leave?"

Havaris pulls the assist from the cockpit, but promptly abandons post as the Amazon begins to settle to the surface. "Nice landing helm. Negative. The distortion of the rock is too intense. If we can keep a PADD signal, we can transport safely enough. We can use that as a benchmark. Get suited up." Havaris proceeds to the back to remove his equipment and begin stepping into his own EVA suit. Legs, then torso, then helmet, then gloves. He checks his seal, then replaces his equipment onto his suit. Lastly, he moves to claim a rifle from the armory, checking the charge quickly before adjusting the sight slightly and without thought.

Nilee suits himself up immediately upon his arrival at the rear of the cockpit. Pulling the EVA suit on as swiftly as he can without looking awkward, making sure to place his Tricorder and PADD on the outside of the suit. Once he's got it on, he begins to run the diagnostic mode in preparation for departure.

Cross looks momentarily to the forward window as they approach the asteroid's hatch before heading back into get suited up himself. His movements are deliberate to make sure nothing is left out of place before moving to the final pieces of helmet and gloves. He poses and looks to Alarcon and Havaris, seeing if he should arm himself with a phaser.

Absyn finishes getting in his EVA and then getting one of those phaser things they were told to grab by the Havaris type person and then waits to head out with everyone else after getting everything situated properly.

"My thoughts exactly, sir, just covering my bases." Medes transfers all of the information so far obtained to her PADD and moves the runabout to standby before going to suit up; Legs, torso, helmet, gloves. She attaches her PADD to herself and gathers a standard engineering kit, strapping that across her body before she starts to run the EVA suit's diagnostic. "These were just checked eight days ago and haven't been touched since, same with the phasers; you should find everything's in order, but be sure to press the diagnostic button on your phaser and run the self-diagnosis on your EVA suit, please. Notify me if you come across any irregularities, I'll assist you and note that for when we return to the station." It almost sounds ominous when she says that, really.

GAME: Havaris spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Havaris (claiming advantage) contests his Security (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Nilee contests his Personal Equipment (Environmental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Medes contests her Personal Equipment (Environmental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Havaris contests his Personal Equipment (Environmental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Absyn contests his Personal Equipment (Enviromental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Cross contests his Personal Equipment (Enviromental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!

Nilee finding everything in order with his suit, the Trill looks around once more, spotting phasers in everyone's hands, he grimaces slightly and starts to move towards the weapons rack... hesitantly he picks up a type-II pistol and slides it into the holster on his side.

Alarcon checks and doublechecks her equipment. Not that, you know, she's overly concerned about EVA suit safety. Or, even, a little preoccupied with it. Her phaser is also checked, albeit briefly, and held conveniently in the hand not already fiddling with her tricorder. "Havaris. Doing this, did you want to take point? I can follow right behind you, then. Doing my science and such." She says this last without a touch of goofy humor--apparently this last geeky comment was entirely that--a perhaps unintentionally amusing geeky comment.

Cross' suit emits an angry alert chirp when he runs the diagnostic, indicating his seal is in fact not set properly.

<CONTEST> Alarcon contests her Personal Equipment (Environmental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Medes moves over to check Cross's suit rather automatically. Hey. It's not like she doesn't know these suits really well. They live on her babies, which sounds strange, really, but it is what it is.

<CONTEST> Medes contests her Personal Equipment (Environmental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Havaris glances aside at Cross as his suit argues with him, slamming his charge pack back into his rifle with a small frown. He taps his suit com and tries contacting Alarcon thusly. "Comcheck. Sure thing, Isobel. Wouldn't ask to be anywhere else. Thea, how's his seal?" Havaris clumps off to the airlock, preparing to enter, cycle, and hit the rock. Just like old times.

Cross frowns as he hears the chirp, moving to checking which seals are not fastened properly. His immediate concern drives away his attention. He looks to Medes as she comes over to assist him. "Thank you, Lieutenant." He offers.

"Hey! Bend down, here, lemme see that seal. What /is/ it with all the tall people on this station?" The five-foot-even Engineer reaches rather futilely up toward Cross's helmet, waggling her fingers inside the suit until he lowers himself so she can fix his helmet; once he does, it's accomplished with little difficulty at all. "Is it something they put in the water? His seal's fine. Everybody check your coms, please."

In case there were any other five-foot-tall Engineers around, that one was Medes.

Cross smiles to her, raising from kneeling down, letting her have access to his helmet. He nods slowly before keying his com. "Test."

Medes taps her own com. "Comcheck. I hear you, Kusto. Lt. Cross, got you, too, five by five. Everybody else?"

Absyn blinks a little and test his own com, "Test... heard the others who spoke as well."

Nilee speaks into his helmet briefly, "Nilee here, everyone hear me?"

Alarcon taps. "Fine, fine.

"

"Okay, everybody's five by five on that," Medes nods, then turns her eyes to Alarcon. "Your show, commander, I've got the equipment check all handled."

"Lamda Charlie on this end, Nilee, everyone. Suits are green, coms are clear, weapons set, and we are five-by-five. Lieutenant, your Mission." Havaris lays his rifle across his arm and waits, glancing aside at Medes to note, "No stealing my grunt lingo." He winks about it. Awh, married people.

Cross smiles and moves to grab his tricorder and a level II phaser, making sure that they are secure on his person before moving out to join the mission.

Absyn blinks a little bit and wonders if his coms are working right as he just listened to that entire things from someone and reliezed he barely understood any of it.

Alarcon grins. "Havaris, then me, followed by Nilee, Cross, Absyn and Medes, bringing up the tail of our procession, here. Stay alert, people." It's all she has to add, marching order.

Sometime later after the crew debarked and the exterior exit bay doors have been security bypassed, cycled and closed again after everyone has passed due to Havaris' efforts...

Lances of light pierce the ancient darkness as echoes of footfalls and the occassional trill of a tricorder sound in the space that is the long flight tunnel from the exterior to the class M environment far below the surface of the rogue body. They play across an ancient door of mammoth proporitions, the interior lock. Designs of what was aesthetic to Orions 35 millenia past, including samples of the ancient script of the time, grace the edges of the door which reflects a golden hue as lights play upon it. They have arrived at the last gate seperating them from history...

Havaris has very little to say during their march, allowing the science officers to perform their tricorder sweeps and speak as they like about the meanings of the objects and words he cannot fathom and has no real interest in ever fathoming. He simply keeps his rifle on the move, watching his line of fire and keeping himself a good ten meters ahead of the procession. His attentive march, normal for a veteran of combat, changes subtle the deeper they reach. Gone from simply aware to paranoid, as though he expected the walls to open up and swallow him hole into a firey demise. When they finally reach the door, he leans back to send his helmet floods skimming up the massive door to the chamber, leaning back forward again to take a few steps away from the door. His voice crackles over the com, deadpan calm. "Sir, I have a bad feeling about this."

GAME: Alarcon spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Alarcon (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Cross contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Absyn contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

GAME: Medes spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

"I'm reading a... hmm. Stable Class M environment beyond that door. 1.03 G, 22 degrees Celsius... atmospheric pressure 98 atmos. Humidity a slightly muggy 73 percent. No life signs. And I don't like it any more than you do, Havaris. Despite the readings, let's keep those suits sealed, people." Squinting behind her helmet, she peers at the lock. "Well. We've come this far. I'll wait for your scans, folks, so if you have anything that needs to be said, say it. If there's no reason not to? Havaris, I'm sure you'll have no more trouble bypassing this lock than you did the one on the surface."

Medes's tricorder is a point of focus for her throughout; when that bad feeling comes creeping up the back of her head and over the top of her bald scalp, she simply bites her lip and focuses on readouts. Hello, little readouts. Will you be my friend? She turns and looks behind herself several times, taking in short sharp gulps of air as she tries to steady herself. Over the com, she speaks in words the translators easily catch. She says in Bajoran, "Fear is the brother to Wisdom."

Medes switches back to Federation Standard, then. "The doors and systems have power. They're a... photonic network seems to be the most consistant application of this." She shakes her head incredulously. "Most of the systems /seem/ to be in a low-power-usage standby sort of mode." A long pause. "Wow. That's. Damn impressive, sirs. Either someone's been maintaining these things, or they've been running for thirty-five thousand years on their own." To say the little Engineer is awed by this idea is an understatement, indeed.

Cross's eyes looks about the tunnel, the lights from his helmet and the others illuminating. He looks down at his tricorder, currently keeping it having on MET for scanning of energy sources. As they approach the ancient door, He raises the tricorder to it before switching it to GEO, getting a scan of its structure and thinkness. He looks at the old writing and looks curiously if the universal translator can read it. He turns his head slightly in the helmet to the Alarcon before speaking up himself. "I've got that power signiture too. Definitely, a photonic network of sorts."

Nilee takes a step off to the side of the group as they pause at the final door. He pulls his phaser off his side and thumbs it to a very low setting, he uses the phaser to skim off a small sample of the wall, he uses almost surgical precision careful not to disturb any of the surrounding inscriptions and such. He runs his tricorder over the sample and then nods slowly, "The insides of the tunnel matches our earlier findings. This is definetly from the same era as the Second Orion Imperium." He promptly pulls a small container off his belt and lets the sample fall inside. Before shutting it, and putting the phaser back away. What do you know, these phaser things CAN be useful.

Absyn shakes his head at his tricorder for a moment and sighs as he listens, thinking to himself as he stands there quietly for now. He looked up after a little while to look at the others and waited for them to continue.

The shadows born of young star powers play across the leavings of the all but forgotten.

Kusto answers in Bajoran over the coms, "And what is your Fear telling you, Alethea?" Havaris turns slightly to eye the little Engineer for a moment before looking back to the door and proceeding to take two more steps backwards, nearly bumping into Alarcon in the process, only to crabstep away quickly. Unnerved? Just a little. He reaches up a hand to mute his suit com, lips beginning to move in silence behind the glass as he stares up at the massive doors before him. As he does it? He takes another step backwards until he's /beside/ Alarcon. He gathers up the slack of his rifle strap around his wrist and resettles it against the breastplate of his suit, finally tapping off the mute to his com. "Was that an order, Sir?"

"Absyn," asks Alarcon of the sighing ensign, "Did you perform the spectrographic analysis we'd talked about? If so, your results would be an appreciated contribution." This is clipped short as she is nearly bumped into, and she stands next to Kusto, after his slight backwards shuffle. There's a slight pause, and she replies. "Yes, Lieutenant. If no one presents anything from their own scans that causes me to believe there is a concrete danger in doing so, we'll proceed as mentioned, with you bypassing the lock." After another brief pause, she adds, "Provided the massive door opens smoothly, you and I will go in shoulder-to-shoulder, followed by the rest of the team as is." Going on to respond to Thea, now, nary a hitch, Isobel sounds as impressed as The Littlest Engineer. "That is indeed something. Keep an eye on that as the door is opened. Last thing we need is some defensive system leaping to life--and as that is as likely a possibility as any, let's remain sharp and prepared for it."

<CONTEST> Havaris (claiming advantage) contests his Security (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

"Aye, Sir. And no, Sir. I'll take point." Havaris raises up his body to its full and unimpressive height and steps forward one step after the other to the security relays. He does the job one handed, keeping his rifle ready to be raised. Poking. Poking. And with a final tap, the locks roll over. Kusto steps back into profile and brings his weapon up, its own stock mounted flood illuminating the line of fire as he waits for the doors to open.

<CONTEST> Absyn contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

The Mammoth Doors slide open soundlessly, though a slight vibration hints at the activity if a visual representation is not enough.. the shuttle lock waits, almost hungrily if one's imagination is running full and open.

"... woah." Medes doesn't answer Havaris' question. "The doors. Were powered. The doors were powered by a battery... a capacitor system, and then it was just drained and recharged by an automatic system. It's... already fully charged again." She's busy marveling over the /thirty-five thousand year old technology./ "Uh. I don't. I don't see any booby traps."

"Looks like a shuttle bay, really. Fifteen meters wide by eighteen deep by twelve tall." Isobel is looking down at her tricorder, close enough to Kusto's elbow to almost be shoulder-to-shoulder... but not quite. Looks like there are more pressing issues at hand than changes to the single-file lineup.

Cross frowns at the words that he sees on the door, muttering low over his com channel. "Auxiliary Access Dock Final Menegerie." His gloved finger fit the BIO button, searching for life form readings. Luckly, his tricorder is in his right hand, so he doesn't reach for the phaser. The 25 meter range detects no life close besides theirs.

. o O Medes thinks "I'm in... an ancient... shuttle bay."

. o O Medes thinks "THIS IS SO COOL."

Nilee speaks at nearly the same time as Cross, apparently having had the same idea, atleast in regards to the translation. "Auxiliary Access Dock Final Menagerie." He briefly shoots a glance and a smirk over towards his superior officer before turning his attention back to the wall. He reaches out and carefully places his hand on it, moving it in a smooth arc along the surface slowly, well the superiors break into the camouflaged ship. He shifts his gaze, though, as soon as he feels the slight vibration caused by the door, turning towards it.

Absyn blinks at the words of his boss and he starts to work before he mutters a little under his breath, might even be a slight curse.. but then he actully makes it so the others can hear him as he speaks, "Having a slight bit of difficulty with my tricorder sir.. um.. sorry," was even a slight wince in his words, hated failing.

Havaris takes his fear and makes it his meal as Alarcon draws up to his elbow. Without further prompting, Kusto turns his torso to check his corners and edges out into the mouth of the bay, swinging his line of fire into the far corners and deeper shadows before checking the ceiling's far corners. He turns about slowly, turning his rifle straight up to keep it from ever pointing at another officer and slowly backs into the bay to bring his rifle back down at the corners of the ceiling directly above. He turns back around to pace deeper inside, then, favoring a right arm to left hip at rest hold on his rifle. "She's clear. Step in and I will cycle the airlock." The fingers of his left hand flex and unflex around the barrel grip of his rifle, silent in the void.

. o O Medes thinks "shuttle BAY... shuttle BAY THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND YEAR OLD SHUTTLE BAY OH MY GOD!"

<CONTEST> Alarcon (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Alarcon follows Kusto into the room, phaser in one hand, ready, and trusty tricorder in the other. "No problem, Absyn, it happens to us all. ...Final Menagerie. Hmm. Everybody in, ready for airlock cycle as Havaris has noted." Falling silent, staring down more at her tricorder than at anything she could actually be seeing with her own eyes, Alarcon adds, "Seems like the same atmosphere continues, inside. Medes, from how this looks you should be easily able to follow the power grid scan from above, like a map, plus whatever readings you can get now that we're here, and I'd like you to do that. Lead us to... well, the way this looks, lead us to Administrative Control. In lieu of a 'bridge.' Primary junction node."

Cross nods to Havaris and follows into the airlock. He pauses and switches hand with his tricorder, drawing his phaser. Just a precaution. He double checks to make sure its set for stun. The Tricorder is still set to scan for bio signs that might be beyond.

"... wow." Medes is still amazed, it would appear. "Uh. Yeah. I should be able to follow this. Everything's... lighting up. I mean, in the metaphorical sense, in the literal sense, most of the lights aren't working, but the environmental sensors are coming on full power, due to lots of... automated... sensors... " Can you just hear the uhoh in her voice? "Uh. Hm. Yeah. I should. Be able to follow it, sir."

GAME: Nilee spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Nilee (claiming advantage) contests his Systems Engineering (Engineering) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!

Nilee busily works at his tricorder tapping eagerly, not even watching where he's going as he nearly hits Alarcon in the back. He looks up just in time with a look of shock on his face, "Uhmm... sirs." He pauses, looking down at his tricorder again, "I think I've just isolated the frequency that the systems transmit directives to activate some of the minor systems here. With what I have, I could use the signal and transmit on it to turn certain things on and off with some adjustements of course. Basically, I have limited control over some of the minor systems. Very limited, but enough to possibly control the basic functions, like on and off." He rushes over his word, resulting in his repeating of some of the information, apparently, he's thoroughly surprised at what he's found.

Absyn moved along with everyone else for now, running a test real quick on his Tricorder and nodding to himself at the results but doesnt bother really saying anything for now as he looked around the place, thinking of other tests that needed doing.

"Prophets and Pagh-Wraiths... this thing breathes, Sir." Havaris notes this with perfect calm through the crackle of his com link, breath a little more heavy than is strictly necessary for the exertion expended in walking in an EVA suit. His channel remains open for a moment as though he'd add more, but promptly shuts down without further comment. He waits for the team to clear the bulkhead before poking at the cycling systems, stepping back to the center of the doors to once more square himself into a marksman's stance and ready his rifle. His fingers once more reaffirm their grip on the rifle. Waiting, as the doors begin to work.

The Ancient doors rumble and part after Havaris runs his bypass... faint light from the failing lumiscence systems filter in from the corridors beyond at a level not unlike star light. Warm, moist air is read on the suits systems... and within the once surely decorative walls seem to be over run with what is likely some sort of mold... but silence is the true ruler here ultimately. The silence of a tomb... which makes the Starfleet officers the ones to break it's intertial solitude.

The dim lit darkness, and the answers they seek both await beyond the threshold into the lost Second Imperium.