Problem solving

Posted on Tue Nov 26th, 2024 @ 12:33pm by Captain Xavier Carey & Lieutenant Talsi Carey & Lieutenant Etan tar-Lexros & Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & 1st Lieutenant Kayleigh London & Warrant Officer Goda Bhalet

Mission: Those who are left behind
Location: Deck 39, Cargo Bay 4
Timeline: Current

Tal walked into the cargo bay, was the only one left that wasn't converted over to a triage centre... With her were a few crates, requested by the Lt, for the away team. Looking around she found herself to be the only one there.

Etan gestured Tal over with the crates, pulling out his tools. "Talsi, I need your help with this. You know about unusual weapons better than anyone else on this ship. Well, you and Kay, maybe. But you know more about species who aren't part of the Federation." He opened the crate and pulled out a Jem'hadar rifle, handing it to her. "I'm confused by these things; they're nothing like phasers." He blushed slightly, a brownish color against his naturally tan skin. "Plus, they. uh, also don't have aim-assist like a phaser." He gestured to the far wall, where a target with sensors had been set up. And around it, the burn marks on the bulkhead from his (many) missed shots. The smaller weapon he'd been using was on a table, dismantled and powered down. He'd obviously been looking into the weapons technology for some time, but without much success.

Taking a look at the rifle, she checked the designs, "Aim assist isn't everything." Tal replied she looked down the sights. Clearly it wasn't meant for looking down. "Weapons like these Lt. They aren't meant for accuracy. They are meant to damage. From what I hear from the Jem Hadar, they go in shooting, they dont care about aiming, they can take out their own people, and still carry on about their way. Reports from Captain Sisko states, that they often kill their own for being disobedience." Looking down to the target, she raised the rifle, fired. Sure enough the target was missed. "If you need assistance with weapon tech, I can assist you when this is over." Handing the weapon back to him. "Looks like I need practice with the weapon as well."

Etan nodded, gingerly taking the weapon back, making sure that the business end was pointed away from both of them. "I've been... avoiding some of those reports, as much as possible. So much loss of life, so many good people hurt. And I don't just mean on our side either. I feel sorry for the people on the other side. I just don't understand why they want to hurt us."

He shrugged and carefully held the weapon, digging into the other crate and finding a rifle brace he'd had replicated. He set it up, pointing a laser from it at the target he'd set up. Talsi would see immediately that when the laser light hit the target, the sensors immediately started giving data, informing him of all data on the relatively weak laser. He set the weapon in the brace, hoping it would at least be able to strike the target this way. He gestured for Talsi as he moved aside and looked at a terminal. "Fire when ready, please."

Taking a look, at the rifle before getting full into firing position. "The data' that the sensor is reading, thats standard or is that of your design?" She asked as she steading her aim. Fired, taking a hit on the target.

Right then Kay walked in. her heart skipped a little beat at seeing Etan but outwardly it did not show. "Someone requested my presence here?"

Etan nodded with a smile as Kay walked in, waving her over. He turned to Talsi with the same smile. "All the parts are stock, but I did repackage them slightly. I pulled one of the subprobes from a Class IV probe and rearranged the energy sensors, since they're made to analyze EM spectrum emissions. The shielding is the main access hatch of a Class IX probe that I repainted. It should be able to identify what these weapons really are, and what we can do to realign our shields against them, since it's been proven that the same readings are common between the hand weapons and ship weapons."

He waved for Kay to approach the braced Jem'hadar rifle, and gestured at the target. "Well, uh, Kay, you know I'm rather a bad shot. Even Talsi has had a challenge aiming that weapon. I trust you two as weapon experts. I was hoping that one of you could aim the weapon from a distance and fire at the target downrange. Can you identify any reason from your experience why it would be so difficult to aim it accurately? And is there any way that fact could be used by the people at or near Deep Space 9?"

The efrosian referred to both of the women personally, rather than by rank - it was an important step for him, especially in settings like this (where it would have been entirely appropriate to use ranks). He'd have called anyone on the ship to help him as needed. But, when he could be among friends, especially when dealing with something relatively new to him like weapons testing and analysis, his preference was clear. He blushed a bit harder than before as he gestured at the multitude of burn marks on the bulkhead from where he'd missed, and the more recent mark from Talsi's much closer miss as well.

"Jem'hadar toys." Kay said as she took the weapon from him. "I have seen them before but I haven't ever fired one. These are mean bastards, they are meant to do as much damage as they can. They don't go in for aiming too much. But I am sure that if we get time to practice with them we would be able to figure out how to use them effectively. She carefully took aim and managed to knick the target's edges. "Damn, they kick back!"

“Having a hunt through to see what’s good?” Sky offered a smile as she stepped into the cargo bay. She gazed at Talsi. “I know I’m supposed to still be on maternity leave, but I feel something of a spare wheel right now. The twins are at the nursery for an hour, so I have time to get stuck in.”

"Taking time when you have it, just what the doctor ordered right." Tal replied with a smile.

Xavier walked in, looking around. "Everyone ready to head over?"

WTF Kay was thinking. "Head over where?"

Sky was just as confused. “I second that, where’s everyone going?”

Goda Bhalet walked over, looking what the crew seemed to have gathered. With Commander Johnson on a recover mission, he was left in charge of the Department. "So, what do we have here," he inquired.

"Lt informed me, that at the moment, we have everything we can get from just looking. Away teams are next, to go over for the search for equipment."

"Where you planning on joining us, sir?" Kay managed to keep her face expressionless.

"We both know the answer to that Lt. My place is here." He replied calmly.

Kay exhaled. "Of course, sir. Silly of me to ask." She said. "I am good to go."

Etan tried to keep his head down as the discussion happened again, because even the glancing blow had given him a plethora of data. He leaned back, and his eyes went wide. If the data were accurate, then these weapons were something very special. "Yes, we can put together a set of Away teams, sir. I would suggest we take shuttlecraft due to the cargo hauling and the instability of some of the vessels and vessel parts." He looked up, quickly noting Bhalet's presence as well. But the data was more important. The Ops chief nodded at Sky to answer her question. "That's almost the case - but I found that there's a lack of data on these weapons. And since we have them in a controlled environment, testing seemed appropriate." That said, he turned back to Kay. "Excuse me, Lieutenant London. Fire another shot, please. Everyone else, please, stand clear of the weapon's firing arc."

"Of course, sir." Kay said and waited before everyone was clear before following the order and fired at the target for a second time. Again it was a very near miss.

“In that case I’ll see you all when you get back” Sky smiled warmly. “Be safe okay?”

Etan's eyes widened slightly as he looked through the data that was being output, overlooking Sky's comment. He started typing, and gestured over to the Warrant officer. "Officer Bhalet, come over here. I think I've just identified why the Dominion vessels have been reported as using polaron scans by both the Defiant and the data the Klingons provided!" There, on the screen, was clear spectroscopy of a phased polaron beam. He called up both shots that hit the sensor target, and looked at Bhalet. "This data would be valuable to other strategic and intelligence personnel. The polaron scans are likely 'painting' targets for both shipboard weapons or these handheld devices. By scanning them with oppositely-charged polaron particles and then firing these weapons, they don't need to worry as much about individual aiming, because the whole unit will be able to target any scanned enemy."

Bhalet looked over at Etan and stared to grin. Pulling out his tricorder, he scanned taking in the information. "Yes indeed this extremely valuable information. I believe you just save a lot of lives with this information."

Kay gave Etan a very proud look and then blushed and tried to hide it.

Etan nodded with a smile to Bhalet, and then he looked over to Kay and returned her smile - then back to the Warrant officer, "I hope so, Mr. Bhalet. If it saves a single life, it's important." He pulled out his tricorder, opening it and reconfiguring the scanning array. He ran a polaron scan on the target device, which left charged polarons on its surface. "First Lieutenant, would you confirm the theory with another shot, and pass the weapon to Lieutenant Carey just to confirm it's not your excellent marksmanship?

Etan looked over at Talsi with a slight smile. "Mind you, of course, Lieutenant Carey, I know your marksmanship is excellent as well. I just want to make sure it's not a fluke."

"Yes sir." Kay said and took another shot which just hit the target and then passed the rifle over to Talsi.

Taking the rifle once again, and knowing that the gun was off, by a margin, it was just a bit of calculation, before lifting the rifle, and shooting the target. This time, landing on target, a little to the right.

Etan watched the two shots, and then looked between Mr. Bhalet and the others. He couldn't help the wide grin on his face. "That's conclusive to me. If we can prevent our ships and officers from being marked with charged polarons, that absolutely will save lives." He looked at Kay and Talsi. "Thank you for your help. As Mr. Bhalet has said, we've saved lives today."

He turned back to the Captain, with a pleased expression. "I'll have those Away team schedules on your desk by 1800 hours, sir. If we can continue making strides like this, I believe we'll make a real impact on the Fleet and the effort against the Dominion."

"Thats what we all want to hear. Keep making strides like this Lt. There may be an extra pip coming your way." Xavier replied as he turned to the door. "You are in charge Lt. Keep me appraised."

Bhalet looked over the Lieutenant smiled in regard to the Captains comment. "Sounds like some good new will be coming your way soon enough."

Kay gave Etan a thumbs up signal while beaming from ear to ear.