"Without any time reference," Argent speaks up, "isn't it possible that Gamma Two was once also in ice but that the ice melted? Or maybe Gamma One was once in water, too, but the water froze?"

"So we don't know how extensive these structures might be below the surface, right? If all electronics cut out, is that because of a duonetic field? 'Cause if that's the case, all our instruments will be useless as well."

The OPs officer replies, "Although all power was lost in a cascade sequence allowing the ship to land rather than crash, perhaps indicating that it wasn't an actual hostile attack but some sort of safety measure, all ancillary equipment such as tricorders and communicators remained active and were useable within the structure. Does that allay your fears, Mr. Merawdr, even though it does raise other questions about the stations security features?"

Atek continues, "To answer you broader question, Argent, we have no idea as to whether the climate in any given area is constant or whether it undergoes some sort of seasonal cycle. We have observed in some vegetated areas a seasonal cycle which may be local in order to facilitate the life cycle of flora and/or fauna. One more mystery to be solved. If you will note on your PADDs, basic deck plans of Gamma One are available. We are assuming that the layout of Gamma Two is similar if perhaps not identical."

http://www.coldnorth.com/owen/...e/gamma/gamma01a.gif
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http://www.coldnorth.com/owen/...e/gamma/gamma02a.gif
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This message was last edited by the player at 12:14, Thu 20 July 2017.

Upon Atek's approval, Gian flashes Shione a smile. Now, if they could finish this briefing, they could get started on finding a way to keep the more capable runabouts on the mission.

Since one of these places had already been investigated, that left a lot of questions still unanswered. If they'd been going in blind, then they would have had to answer all those questions themselves.

"Do we know what the frictional coefficient of the material is? I ask because if we need to climb, we need to know if ropes will slip easily no matter how tightly we tie them, or if adhesives will stick to the surface," he added.

"And that brings up another question: has there been any detection of vertical movement of these things? Does the whole thing raise or lower? Is there any signs that it ever has? And what about the spheres? Are they absolutely stationary, or do they move up and down... or even pivot around the central column? Can they rotate on their own axis?"

These all seemed like logical questions to him. If they went inside, and suddenly the whole thing sunk beneath the water... what would they do then?

"As I understand it, there's some sort of valve/airlock on the underside of each sphere. Is that correct?"

"Then what if we go underwater to enter? It would just require some non-electronic scuba gear. Of course, that begs another question: is there anything dangerous in the water?"

In reply to Argent Merawdr (msg # 19):

"Thank you Argent.I have a couple of concerns about that myself."Shione pipes up
"How hot would the metal at the threshold be after we cut the opening and if it is,could we replicate a mat of some sort to lay over it so I don't get burned when I reach to haul myself up.?
Also could I get a pair of climbing gloves made that would keep their grip even if it's wet and would also protect my hands and forearms in case I need to climb up before we place the mat across the opening"

Hightopp looks at Argent with interest. "All excellent questions, Argent. The surface has approximately the same surface characteristics as a duranium starship hull. Suction cups and adhesives, both temporary and permanent will hold, and the surface is non-magnetic. It can be breached using a phaser II. A phaser I will not generate enough power to penetrate. The material is incredibly tough, and it will take 20 minutes to cut a 1 metre hole, using the equivalent of 10 shots on setting 16 (1,000 charges) draining the phaser's power cell. The shots may be distributed between a number of phasers, so that none is fully drained. since it is smooth and the surface of Globe number 4 is wet, it would be extremely difficult to secure a rope around the upper surface or to climb unaided. The hatchway on the underside of Globe number 3 has a basic locking mechanism and ladder rungs of the hull material. A phaser will make easy work of the locking mechanism. The entrance is to a simple Jefferies Tube style maintenance tunnel in Gamma One—no airlock. Since Gamma One was ice-bound, we do not know how the subsurface hatches, if any, are configured. It is believed that the central shaft is too tough to be breached as it is structural. The tower does not, to our knowledge, elevate or rotate and the globes appear to be immobile. Shione, the material will, of course be white hot, as is any molten metal, although this appears to be a metal/ceramic composite. If you're cutting through the lock, you can hold onto the rungs with standard heavy duty non-slip insulated gloves and use protective glasses. A simple coolant spray as used to cool gamme-welded joints will cool the cut alloy enough for safety and comfort. Anything further?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:30, Fri 26 Aug 2016.

"Well, I was thinking of throwing a rope over the top of one of the sphere supports and then cinching the two ends together underneath to form a support mechanism," Argent asked. "Kind of like a saddle with stirrups. Someone might have to climb up to the top and secure the rope in place with adhesive, but that would enable us to rig up a rope ladder to climb up to the first under-hatch."

"I'm also noticing on these deck schematics that there does not appear to be any way to access the support tube, and therefore no way to access the central column."

"That would make each sphere completely isolated from the others. Presumably, though, power and life support come out of the central column along the support tubes."

"While using a phaser to weld is all well and good, wouldn't we be better served using an actual welding tool?"

Welding was not his thing, but draining a phaser seemed needlessly tedious.

"Or else we take more phasers."

In reply to Argent Merawdr (msg # 22):

"Argent I can climb up into the hole and perhaps rig a bar across the opening to secure a rope with suction cups,Or I can simply hold it.I'm doubtful of being able to climb to the top of the exterior with nothing to grip onto

I did request a phaser just for that purpose,BTW"

"Um, Argent? Putting a rope over the globe supports would be doable, but you'd have to swing fifteen metres over to reach the hatch. Shoine's original idea to climb up onto the top of the Runabout with gravity boots would place her in easy reach of the hatch. Hell, she could even use a grav belt, which would be even easier. No need to over-think the process, as Captain Scott would say. And, Shione, there is a ladder rung," Hightopp says gently, not wanting to dissuade the officers from contributing any ideas they might have. "Anyone else have any ideas? Cassiadora, Mac, Prashanthi, Tony, Sosal?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:46, Fri 26 Aug 2016.

"Are taking a runabout? I thought that was a Bad Idea?" Argent asked.

"Otherwise how do you plan on climbing 15 meters up into the 'hole' in mid air? The point of putting an adhesive on top of the support bar was to secure the rope, not anchor it. You'd have the rope to climb up and down with, but we could just as easily pull someone up with a second rope thrown over the top."

"As for swinging, well, that would be pretty stupid, wouldn't it? When we could just as easily pull someone over to the hatch access."

"Is this supposed to be some sort of test? You have one rope--build the Eiffel Tower!"

"We can replicate a thousand ropes if we need to, and build a fraggin' rope bridge up to the hatch!"

"Wait! I know! Let's just throw someone up to the hatch. If we throw him hard enough, maybe he'll just stick!"

He refrained from mentioning springboards, trampolines and floating towers as those would clearly have been too complicated.

It just seemed to him that they'd already ruled out all the 'easy' ways.

He thought Hightopp must have meant magnetic boots; if they had gravboots, they could just fly up to it.

In reply to Argent Merawdr (msg # 25):

"Argent.
Gian and I can make the runabout into a stable platform from which to access the hatch

We cut the hole,use the coolant,then I climb up either on my own,with the boots or Mac could even boost me up.We use whichever solution seems best once we're there

I did not plan to use Grav boots,but having them there does give me the option.
Once I'm up I hook up the rope ladder and provide cover while you all come up and move past me into the structure.

Unless Mac wishes otherwise I will take back spot,leaving room for the scientists to begin their examination.

Mac,Cassy ,how does that sound to you?"

Atek sighs, "I'm sorry, Argent, you're not following us here. The globes are held out by a lateral support, as seen in the diagrammes. The hatch is at the nadir of the thirty metre diametre globe, hence the need to swing fifteen metres to get to the hatch using your plan. The hatch is only six metres above water level. When floating using the runabout's grav systems for stability, that means that the hatch is two metres above the upper surface of the runabout. The hatchway has a ladder rung immediately below it, easily grasped by a humanoid standing on the runabout. A short rope ladder can be hung from this rung to allow access. The runabout will then move so that its hatch is even the bottom of the ladder and, to use a Human expression, 'Bob's your uncle!' The only danger is the Lieutenant Kurasa will slip, and with gravitic boots, that risk is extremely remote." He calls up an animated image on the screen to illustrate.


This message was last edited by the player at 00:57, Sat 27 Aug 2016.

"Sure, if we're using the runabout, that's fine," Argent concedes. "And, yes, I understand that there would be a 15 foot distance to traverse from hanging down off the pylon, but I was saying that you wouldn't have to 'swing' that distance. We could just pull the person over to the hatch... no swinging necessary."

"Anyway, doesn't the runabout have an emergency dorsal hatch? Can't we all just climb up that way? If it doesn't... well, what exactly are we going to be standing on to access the rope ladder?"

"That'll give us access to one sphere. What about the others?"
This message was last edited by the player at 07:04, Sun 28 Aug 2016.

In reply to Argent Merawdr (msg # 28):

"That's fifteen metres, not the old system of feet. More like fifty feet. It seems rather more complicated your way, if you don't mind my saying so."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:02, Sun 28 Aug 2016.

Cassy remained silent.  This was ultimately, despite being given a command by Starfleet, not her operation and having no further suggestions to add (beyond some further investigation in to the lock which she'd follow through with after the meeting) she waited for the engineers to finish their brainstorming.

Nodding back at Gian,certain that they had covered as much as could be done here

"Lt Hightopp.Your suggestion regarding the ODN Waveguide cable seems a sound one.

Can you supply us with one so we could set up a spot inside to transport anything that the Scientists want to bring back for study,rather than carrying it down the ladder.

That along with another Phaser,the coolant spray,grav boots and the pair of the gloves I mentioned would seem to be all Gian and I need to get started on preparing the Runabouts.

May we be excused Lt Atek"?

"All the equipment can be simply requistioned from Stores. Just give the computer a 'want list'. The runabouts have a full rack of Phaser IIs each, and have transport enhancers and ODN cables as standard equipment. If there are no further questions or observations, this O-session is concluded. May the Great Bird speed you on your way."

In reply to Lieutenant Teranin Atek (msg # 32):

Shione smiles content to have that session over and with a quick look at Atek she moves over to Gian,offering her hand,smiling warmly
"Hi Gian I prefer Shione(pronouced Shee-OWN) to Lt.Let's get our asses in gear and get these runabouts ready

Working together makes sense to me.Two minds do better at troubleshooting,don't you think?
Which ship do you want to start with?"

And with the briefing over, Cassy will head back to her rooms.

"Your idea, Shione, your bird," Gian says with a smile as he takes the proffered hand. "Do you want to work on the runabout first, or look at the Thames' logs?"

In reply to Gian Seingalt (msg # 35):

"The logs,Hmmn.How about we go and work on the Kitch' so we get an idea as to how long it will take us and then judge from there as to how much time we have.?

What are you looking to find from the logs Gian?"Shione asked as they headed for the Runabout's bay



OOC Shione has the Innovative advantage .Does Gian have that as well.?I think it will make this task easier

"I want to get a look at the nature of the signal the Thames encountered, and see if I can glean something useful out of it," he says as they walk. "I'm not big on leaving things at 'like nothing we ever encountered.' Systems may be different, and codes may be different, but functions are universal."

OOC: Yes, Gian has Innovative.

Gazzo sits back during the discussions, observing what each of his new crew mates bring to the table. Each individual have some pretty 'keen' ideas and he is looking forward to getting this mission started.

With the briefing over, Gazzo heads to his quarters to prepare.

In reply to Gian Seingalt (msg # 37):

Shione nods"That hadn't occurred to me,good idea"

Once they get to the Kitchissippi Gian and Shione are looking to create a program that can be implemented once the Runabout is in position

"So what do you think?My thought is that we link the maneuvering thrusters to the inertial
Dampeners and then tie in the sensors so the computer can read the swells and maintain as level an attitude as possible.

That sound like the way to proceed?"