What did you find

Posted on Sun Sep 14th, 2025 @ 10:06am by Captain Xavier Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels & Lieutenant Commander Etan tar-Lexros & Lieutenant JG Larissa Milton

Mission: Those who are left behind
Location: ready room
Timeline: Current

It had been a while since they had heard from the update from the computer download and information gathering, he had heard they were getting close to finding something of value so he called them both up, as well as Commander Stoffels.

Etan walked in before Larissa, his intent at least partly to shield her due to the delays. Her enthusiasm was excellent, and her skill was incomparable. His own focus was on hardware (though worked well enough with data), but Ensign Milton had a natural understanding of software and datamining. He straightened his shoulders and looked at Xavier. "Captain, Ensign Milton will be here shortly. We've been making excellent success with the Cardassian computer core. It may be possible for those on ships facing Cardassians to remotely interfere with the enemy ships via software."

Why Larissa had been called to see her Chief and the Command Chain; aside from her husband as someone had to Command the Bridge and as 2nd Officer Are-Jay was the 3rd in command. Captain and XO in a meeting; he was on the bridge. THat did make it a little easier as she made her way towards the meeting.

She smoothed her skirted uniform for a second before entering, clutching her PADD closely almost like a shield.

What she had come up with as a concept depend upon certain factor falling in line; more accurately things not happening to hinder the concept. SHe had studied past practices and while she had played with the Borg programming to a small degree for the adaptive aspects, it was due to the War with Borg that Larissa had gone down this 'Bunny Trail.'

She walk to the group and with a polite bow she spoke.

"Ensign Larissa Milton reporting as requested." She announced, luckily the Captain and XO were friends so her tone remained professional despite nerves.

The Command team had always referred to her by rank or Larissa as Commander 'Doc' Milton is her husband and a bit confusing when she and her husband in the same place together.

Toni came in then trying to look normal and not preoccupied and haunted. "Sorry I am a bit late everyone." She said with a smile.

Hi Toni..." Larissa greet before she realized this is official. "I-I mean Commander. I only just arrived myself."

Toni waved the rank thing away. "Don't worry about it. We are not too formal around here."

"Oh good, I am not used to talking to Command above my Chief usually." She admitted. "Seems since marrying Are-Jay I am doing it more often."

"We are all friends here, when we are on the bridge its a different story, ranks to be used."

"Then Toni; do you know why I am here?" Larissa asked. "Not even the Doc knows my little project?"

"Not really." Toni admitted. "I have been a bit preoccupied with other things."

"Talking with the enemy." She giggled a bit. "Coaxing some bits of usable information from a Dominion Core and seeing what makes it tick."

"you have been busy." Toni said. "Sounds like a good job."

"It is not a friendly computer like ours." Larissa admit. "But it has similar weaknesses and susceptibilities."

Etan nodded at the two women and gestured to Larissa. He was trying to be encouraging - the success of that effort remained to be seen. At least everyone here knew he meant well. "While I wouldn't normally personify the Cardassian core as 'unfriendly', I will state that Ensign Milton has been excellent in regards to her decryption and data exfiltration efforts." He looked at Xavier. "I've recommended a commendation on her file, sir. It's not an exaggeration that I believe the Ensign's abilities are among the highest deciles of Starfleet Operations, regardless of her rank."

That was certainly high praise from the Ops chief. Etan was one of those Ops chiefs who recognized he couldn't do everything, and relied on his team to support not only his own efforts but the whole ship. He was no glory-hog, and made sure that his staff got credited fairly with their work. Saying that one of his crew was at the top of Starfleet as a whole was something he'd reserved only for those occasions when he had reason to believe it was true. "And, sir, given the sensitive nature of the information we're working with, I request that the Ensign be brevetted to J-Grade for the remainder of this project and that we both be given Intelligence clearances. It might be possible to pull more data from the machine, and I would rather that it stay within the purview Operations for as long as possible. Frankly, I don't feel that the Intelligence department has anyone on par with Ensign Milton."

Larissa tried not to blush slightly.

"Captain Picard gave a way for the Enterprise to defeat a Borg Cube." Larissa stated. "It is not a stretch to use some of that knowledge here; however, I am having trouble accessing some of the more classified data that could help with causing harm to the enemy by reaching out to them in a manner of speaking... Sirs."

Looking to both officers, then to Toni, and then back to the two. "Commander Stoffels, what do you think of the Lts recommendation to add a hollow pip onto the ensigns collar."

"I think that is an excellent idea, sir. As to the science I will gladly leave that to these two, it's a bit over my head." She smiled.

"The idea is to transmit a small command when challenging or answering an enemy communications, a tapeworm that will be as simple as "Compute ''Pi to the final digit using all resources to this simple task."

Larissa giggled a little.

Unless the Dominion stop the command the computer will use all the ships computer resources to computer to the final digit infinite number of digits. The the computer is busy thinking of a 'number' and not on the proper use of computer systems forcing manual controls to be activated and used. " She explained. "It is a slow process that will take several minutes to complete but that slow accumulation of resources away from combat systems will hinder the enemy perhaps?"

"Any hindering of the enemy will be good, and perhaps we can build on it." Xavier replied as he turned to the cabinet beside him. Took two boxes out, and placed them on the table. They were small, and although they weren't exactly glamourous, they did signify something important.

Toni had no idea what was in the boxes either so she looked on curiously.


Larissa had done her bit so she just waited to see what the Captain is doing?

Opening up the two boxes facing him, he turned them showing the two exactly what was in them. "Since your arrival onboard the Resolution, your work has been exemplary, and its an honour to give you the ranks to Lt junior grade, and Lt Commander."

Larissa's eyes did not bulge but her breath caught a gasp from escaping.

"T-Thank you Sir..." She did manage to not squeak in the statement.

"Congratulations you both." Toni said. "Greatly deserved." She went over to pump Etan's hand first.

"Are-Jay is going to be surprised." Larissa chuckled to herself. "He better give pampering as a reward."

"Now Lt Commander and Lt, you have the resources of the ship, and whatever else you may need to accomplish whatever you guys need. Congratulations, you have earned it." He turned to his ops chief. "I know you were hesitant, but I know this is something you can handle."

Etan swallowed hard, speechless at the pip sitting in the box in front of him. He knew that the captain had requisitioned two new rank pips, obviously. The ship lacked a titled quartermaster, so it usually fell to his management. He'd never have guessed that they were due for members of the Ops department, least of all for himself. There was a smile that spread slowly across his face, a genuine one that was free of his usual awkwardness. He shook first Toni's hand, and then Xavier's. He even made eye contact with them - a rarity for him in private meetings. "Thank you, sirs. I assure you, we'll both do our best to live up to our new ranks and responsibilities."

He turned to Larissa and extended his own hand to her. "Lieutenant, I'm grateful for you as a member of my team. You've absolutely earned this promotion, and the commendation I listed for you."

"You are kind." Was all Larissa could mutter to her commanding Officer as she accepted his handshake.

The Efrosian quickly affixed the pip to his own collar, feeling it fall into place. One small step up the ladder, one giant leap toward his future. He touched it gently, hardly believing it was there even though he'd just put it on. "I believe the appropriate thing for me to say at this time is to suggest that the Lieutenant and I have more work to do."

Toni smiled. "Off you go. I know you are happiest in your lab, Lt commander."

"I do have a core to make conversation with." Larisa bowed in a lady-like fashion. "I will not let you all down."

"Then I think we are all dimissed, good job both of you." Xavier replied with a smile.