Post Number 18 " Science Fair "
Posted on Sun May 11th, 2025 @ 7:58pm by Commodore Cyndi Song & Lieutenant Sabbath & Lieutenant James Smithers & Crewman Jennifer Smithers
Edited on on Tue May 13th, 2025 @ 12:45am
Mission:
Are You Worthy?-2
Location: USS Amandora
Timeline: Concurrent
On
< Amandora >
Lt Sabbath returned to the Bridge and spotted two of his science department officers working hard for the mission at hand.
" Smithers and Jennifer what is your duty status?" Sabbath asked.
Smithers and Jennifer were looking at the Science monitor so intently that they jumped a little when Lt Sabbath addressed them. Smithers stood up from the chair and turned with Jennifer to address their boss.
Smithers remembering that the Chief Science officer was Vulcan, he stood at attention, and didn’t extend his hand. “Sorry Lt Sabbath for not introducing ourselves earlier. I’m Lt James Smithers and next to me is my daughter Crewman Jennifer Smithers. My friend and fellow Science Officer Lt Jg Troy Grainger is on the away team on the planet below. The three of us came aboard yesterday after docking my Runabout, USS Marquette on the ship.”
Addressing Lt Sabbath Jennifer spoke up, “Sir it was a long trip from Earth, and we were eager to help with Science Scans of the planet. To answer your question, we are not officially on duty. My Fathers specialty is Biology among other specialties and my specialty is Botany. We are ready to help you and the ship with anything that is needed.”
" Excellent. What have you found so far ?" Sabbath asked
Jennifer looked at her Dad first before replying and he nodded to go ahead, “I know that the Amandora did some initial scans of the Palal system and this planet that we are in orbit with. I’m sure sir that you did some scans too. Smithers did some initial scans just before docking with the Amandora. We haven’t had time yet to compare scans of the planet, so we are doing new and more in-depth scans.”
Jennifer continued, “I knew due to the Amandora sending an Away Team without special gear that this planet had a breathable atmosphere and a tolerable temperature range. With our first scans I was at first surprised at what little life was found. Smithers and I started looking deeper and found patches of grass like vegetation that you might find on a desert like on Earth or a desert-like planet. No trees of any note. We found on further scans that there is a variety of insect life. Too small for any details from here. One conclusion is to have even this little of life their has to be water somewhere. There are polar caps like on Mars back at home. Hearing that the away team was going to go into a cave I figured that there were likely to be other caves and water in them. Sure, enough with deeper scans we found other caves with water in them.”
Smithers took over at that point, “Chief, I noticed in many of the areas on the planet that there were remnants of lakes, rivers, and possibly an Ocean. Unfortunately, all were dried up again like Mars in my home system. One of my initial conclusions is that this planet is an M Class planet that has been in serious decline for 100’s or 1000’s of years. Also, I think that it used to be a more vibrant planet with a larger variety of plants and animal life. If there were an advanced civilization I can’t tell yet. Hopefully the landing party can tell us something.”
Looking more at ease he continued, “Sir giving you a heads up. On my Runabout there are a variety of plants and soil from Earth. One of the projects that Jennifer will be working on is setting up the plants in several spots in the Arboretum. As she will tell you, being around plants from home can be soothing. Also, the plants from Earth can be used in comparison to what we find in this sector. In addition, Lt Grainger has rock, crystal, and mineral samples also from earth for comparison as well. Also, he is quite attached to them. We have already gotten permission from the Commodore on this project. I made it clear to Jennifer that our science duties and responsibilities to the ship come first. The plants from Earth need to be placed in their new home soon because they were not meant to live on a Runabout for long. I leave it to you to let Jennifer know when she can have time to set up the plants in the Arboretum and for duty. If needed I can help her out to speed things along. As you can tell, we are eager to help the Science Department out.”
" First your speculations are very accurate, drawing comparisons to the Mars atmosphere. As for the setting up of the plants and minerals consider that an assignment to follow your own duty schedules. I look forward to the end results. I am all to familiar with ecology. I grew up on Earth actually among an indigenous people of South America, the Awa People. " Lt Sabbath replied.
Smithers saw Jennifers eyes light up when Lt Sabbath mention South America. Smithers commented, “Lt Sabbath I’ve heard of the Awa Natives living in Brazil along the Amazon River. I thought those people were supposed to be left alone. You must have a lot of stories to tell and have seen a lot of plants and animals that are still considered rare. Our plants come from San Francisco, California and from our home at Eagle Harbor, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We have gone to places all over the Earth, Mars, and the Centauri system looking for plants, and Rock, Mineral, and Crystal samples. Grainger has also done a lot of Mountain climbing and exploring caves.”
Jennifer then looked at Lt Sabbath, “Sir as you now know we have been doing a few scans of this planet that we are in orbit around. Do you know how the Away Team is doing? I know that Grainger was very eager to do something right away and is on the Away Team. One of his joys in life as my Dad just mentioned is exploring caves. I’m sure that he is putting that expertise into use for the mission right now. We haven’t been to the Science labs yet. Also, we are both curious as to what and when our official duties begin. If possible, could our duty schedule be around or at the same time. For now, we can continue to make scans of the planet. Thanks for making my plant project an official assignment.”
" You have intrigued my curiosity. I think we should take your runabout down to the planet and conduct a second away mission. Are you both interested in this? " Lt Sabbath replied. " On second thought we probably shouldn't . I will make contact with Lt Herculoid and get a report. There is however readings that show this planet has a moon. With the proper gear we could take a shuttle and do some digging there." Sabbath added.
Jennifer listened to Lt Sabbath and was a little confused. “Lt Sabbath I’m sure my Dad would back me up in saying that it’s not a good time to go down to the planet as a second away team. First, we haven’t had a chance yet to get my plants and soil samples off our Runabout. I plan on making use of the Cargo Transporter to move everything to Amanadora’s Cargo Bay. Also, I’m concerned about the 1st away team. I feel that we need to find out how they are doing.”
Smithers spoke up, “Sir once everything is moved from the Runabout’s cargo bay to the Amandora cargo bay we can certainly make use of my Runabout. On it we have plenty of gear for digging, excavating, climbing, and other items. Some of them are Grainger’s but I’m sure he would have no problem with us using it. I made note that this planet had a moon on my approach to this system. We didn’t do any scans on it yet.”
" science fairish I think I will ask the Commodore for a shuttle. So as not to mess any experiments up. When we return I will personally help you tranfer your items from the runabout." Lt Sabbath replied.
After thinking about it for a moment Smithers said to Lt Sabbath, “Sir you seem to be as curious about this planet as we are. We can certainly use one of Amandora’s shuttles. I’m fully qualified to pilot any type of shuttle. Of course, we would need the Commodores permission to use a shuttle and go on a second away team. It would only take a few minutes to move any equipment needed from my Runabout to another shuttle. Please let me know where on the planet that you want to check out.”
Jennifer was about to say something about the first away team but seeing the look in her eyes Smithers slightly gestured at her leaving it be. Jennifer spoke up, “Lt Sabbath thanks for offering help in moving our plants and soil from our Runabout to the Amandora’s Cargo Bay. In the Cargo Bay we will have more room to sort everything out before moving it to the Arboretum.”
" You are welcome. Once we are finished I will speak to the Commodore." Lt Sabbath replied.
The Moon was just 1/4 the size of the planet and its distance from it is 238,000 miles (383,500 km). Orbit around the planet was roughly 28 Earth days to revolve around the planet once.
Eerily there was signs of life once being there unlike Earth's moon. Giving ample reason for the trio to go and investagate.
Off
