Post Number 33 Brainstorming

Posted on Tue Feb 28th, 2023 @ 8:49pm by Rear Admiral Paul Sanderson & Major Jackson "JJ" Barnes {Meji} & Lieutenant JG Ainkara "Kara" {Meji}

Mission: Vanished
Location: Starbase OPS
Timeline: current

ON:

Ainkara and Jacobs returned to OPS to find Barnes out in the main area. "Chief, we got good news," said Jacobs with a smile.

Stepping forward Ainkara placed the bomb on a console. "The electromagnetic pulse bomb is neutralized. The computer core is now free for use, Chief."

Barnes gave a laugh and shook both their hands. "Good job, you two. Now, the Admiral can assign himself as acting CO. No bugs or algorithms in the system?"

"No, Chief," answered Jacobs. "Clean as a whistle except for that thing." He chinned towards the device.

"We still need to search for more, Mister Barnes," said Ainkara. "There are other systems that could crash with a device like that attached. Mainly, power allocation. I'll go back down to the secondary machinery and look around. Perhaps the children below have seen something similar."

"The children below? What children?" Asked Barnes.

"Yeah, what children," echoed Jacobs, just as curious.

Paul had been in the ready room looking over logs when he heard voices at ops. Getting up from the desk he walked out "Warrant Barnes, Jacbos and Ainkara, what is that thing and what's this talk about children? Are they okay?" Paul asked the concern clear in his voice.

Barnes looked at the Admiral, then motioned at the device. "That, Sir, is an electromagnetic pulse bomb, which was attached to the computer core. Cadet Ainkara and Jacobs disarmed and removed it. As for the children thing, this is the first I've heard of it."

Ainkara faced Paul. "Admiral, down in the bowels of the station, where all the secondary machinery systems are, I ran into five young people, all carrying weapons and hiding from whatever took the adults. They mentioned bug people that stood as tall as a man, and something about how their own parents, and others, began to act strangely. Acting too nice and too accommodating, and urging the young ones to come with them to wherever it is they were going. It scared the children so they hid away, with several Starfleet patrols sweeping through to find them. But, they used their natural camouflage to avoid detection. By the way they were talking the five are not the only ones down there, but I promised not to tell you about them until the time was right since they are still nervous about us being affected and becoming...creepy. As they put it."

Paul looked at the device "I hope that's the only one, but as for bugs, I found a visual from the base commander, a man I know but haven't seen in several years. Commodore Cloud. I'll replay the visual." Paul walked over to the security console and tapped a few commands the the replay of the large ant being appeared. It showed the commodore being taken. "When I saw that my blood ran cold and that explains the dust and dirt I found here. How old to you figure the children to be? I'd feel better if they'd see Doctor Long."

"As would I, Sir." Ainkara agreed with seeing the doctor. "The one I spoke with, and the one seemingly put in charge by the others, was thirteen. However, should we send an armed team down there they will scatter and hide once more."

"You said you were going to tell us at the right time, Cadet." Barnes cut in. "Why, all of a sudden, was this the right time?"

Ainkara gave him a straight forward gaze. "Self preservation, Chief."

Jack cocked his head. "Self preservation?"

"Absolutely." Said Ainkara. "I am a cadet working towards gaining my commission. Had I lied to the Admiral, or you, after your queries then I would have jeopardized that goal." By the way her eyes changed an idea had arisen. "If I may. Allow me to go down and bring them up. There is a trust between us, no matter how slight." She looked to the Admiral. "Please. I go as both a Starfleet member and a Meji."

"I'll go with her," Jacobs volunteered. "One more person is less intimidating than a group." He handed the Admiral a palm PADD. "That is all our data and scans on that thing, Sir." He chinned at the bomb. "And, how to deactivate it. I think each team on each ship needs that data and they need to check the computer cores for anything similar."

"If anyone goes with the Cadet, it'll be me," said Barnes. "You've been at it for hours, Kevin. Take a break and have a chair while keeping an eye on the Admiral. That's an order."

"I'm not that rusty," Paul commented "Barnes you go with her, keep me posted and I'll send this information over to the three ships as well as the Amandora. Let the children know Doctor Long is a friend and on her planet they join the military at thirteen. That might make them feel better. Jacobs take a seat and take a load off. Now that we know what those bugs the children spoke of look like."

Ainkara needed to make something clear before she left. "The children said that the bug people seemed friendly to the adults. That they were not attacked violently, and stood around with them talking from time to time, as the children spied on them. So, they were either abducted or coerced into complying with these insectoid beings. I did find a strange plant down there, as well, and something about it tickled my mind. I'll look into it when I get back, it may be important."

"I'll have Herculoid beamed over, she's assistant science chief as well as chief diplomatic officer we may need her. The base has several science labs. Your good to use what ever one you want. I don't need to tell either of you to be careful. Last thing I want to do is tell Cyndi someone has been hurt of killed. I'll have the two fighters head into the solar system and see what they can find as well," Paul said.

"Alright, let's get moving, Ainkara," said Barnes. "Admiral, we'll be back soon and may have a troupe of kids with us. I suggest that if we are going to see to their health examinations that Long also bring herself and some staff over."

"I'll tell her," Paul replied "Long is aboard with one of her nurses. I'll have her bring more staff over."

"We're set, then," stated Barnes. "Be back soon, Sir." Jack got Ainkara moving with him and they headed for the lift out of OPS.

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