"Um, well, uh," stammers Mr. Kimble, "I'm interested in getting involved in it for diplomatic missions. Protecting ambassadors and other state figures. I'm hoping to serve aboard the Vigilant for its five year mission, and it's an honor and a pleasure to work with you, sir...but in the future...well...I'd like to work in something a little less dangerous."

OOC:

Don't worry, Kimble is still your Red Shirt. I just have to give him a goal before he gets obliterated by some alien mass invertron annihilator. :-p

Sorvok looked over at the doctor and replied in a cold, rational tone, "You overstep your authority Dr. Kler'ik.  This is still an Away Mission and everyone present is still a vital and essential member of the Away Team.

I defer to your judgment in this matter only so far as it pertains to the safety and health of the alien patient, in other words matters strictly pertaining to medical decisions.  However, the life and death and health of the alien patient is still only one part of our overall Away Mission here.  All other elements of this Away Mission are still under the purview of the commanding officer of this Away Team, which Captain Tabin specifically designated to be me.

Doctor, please confine your "orders" to areas of medical expertise until such time as the Captain authorizes you to wield greater authority.  Additionally you may also wish to consider, under the unusual circumstances involving your patient, whether you may need the expertise of those you would send away."


Sorvok turned to look at T'Enya and said in a calm but unwavering tone, "In fact I do have an objection Lt. T'Enya.  This matter is far too complex and far too important to provide only one view.

While you may be able to provide an Intelligence viewpoint on these issues, you lack the training and expertise to provide the Medical viewpoint of Dr. Kler'ik, the Engineering viewpoint of Lt. Nevi, the Security viewpoint of Lt. Carson, the Communications viewpoint of Lt. Orlow, and the Science viewpoint of myself.

The Captain will require all those viewpoints and perhaps additional ones before making a fully informed decision regarding this situation and before deciding what is to be done about the data collected and the technology discovered."

Sorvok gestured towards the "medical team" as he continued, "Clearly Dr. Kler'ik, Lt. Nevi, and Lt. Orlow are not free at the moment to pursue this matter with the Captain or present their points of view.  Lt. Carson is also required here in case the attempts to revive the alien patient result in a Security situation and Lt. de Silva is required in case an emergency liftoff in the shuttlecraft is needed.

For that matter, I am not finished with my own Scientific analysis.

Are you certain Lt. T'Enya that you have exhausted your Intelligence analysis of this technology, of the data collected, and of the entire situation as a whole?

In any case, until the entirety of this Away Mission is completed and we are all prepared to return to the Vigilant, every member of the Away Team should remain here just in case their expertise is required.  Once our mission is accomplished, there will be time enough later to consult with the Captain regarding a final decision on this technology and collected data."

Agitated Lt. Orlow turns to attempt to utilize a similar translation system he used on the console to the strange transporter device's interface.  Regardless what they do it will probably be vital they understand as much as they can of this component.

He begins cross referencing his information gathered from the hologram's colloquial speech patterns, his research from the console prior and the universal translators algorithmic adjustments from his first translation.  Provided context queues with the transporter system he hopes that he's gathered enough data to make this easy.

08:36, Today: Adam P. Orlow rolled 33 using 1d20+13. Translate the Transporter Device Thingy Int+Com+spec.

OOC: Oh lookie here a tutorial... "How to mutilate energy patterns for dummies".
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 16:33, Mon 10 Mar 2014.

Kler'ik bit her lip between her fangs, pushing the emotionless Vulcan's words to the back of her mind for now. "Lieutenant Orlow, I'm not entirely convinced this being's body is capable of surviving another energy transfer. If the device is powered, I'm hoping it will sustain him until we can find a solution. Mr. Sorvok, if you're done flashing your frill, I'm sure your scientific expertise would be of great use. I'll monitor the patient as well as I can."

"Of course Dr. Kler'ik. That said, all knowledge about this device could be useful for deducing how to reverse it's effects, powering it for whatever we choose to do, or even disabling it (should that be our goal) will probably be bolstered by being able to discern the readouts and controls. I anticipate we WILL be using this device in the near future. For something, I'm sure that Sorvok and T'Enya will not be interested in risking the well being of the Vigilant for the sake of one creature when alternatives are present."

Silently he does not remark about what they would do if NO alternatives were present.

"Believe me, I am interested in the well being of this creature too and am interested in reaching a peaceful and mutually beneficial solution for all parties."

Nevi walked over to Kler'ik, he ignored Sorvok's admonishment since it was not aimed at him and there was work to do, "The fusion generator should be down here shortly.  My team is quite efficient.  Once we have it I will begin the connection sequence and then we will start with a low energy infusion."

T'Enya replaces her communicator and pauses for a moment. There were times she regretted joining Star Fleet, and this is one of them.

She makes no reply to Sorvok. Rather she turns to the Doctor.

"My apologies for the disruption."

She then makes her way to the Communications Officer and glances at the console.

"There are always means of escape in any prison, no matter how carefully constructed"  she says to Lt. Orlow, "it's just a matter of finding them ..."

<Orange>[Attacking the problem from a different angle: searching for flaws in the system that would be conducive to allowing and/or helping the entity to "escape its prison". Rolled a 20 -- barely.

21:47, Today: T'Enya rolled 20 using 1d20+10. Subterfuge + INT.]<Orange>

If the Doctor's snarky remark to Lt. Sorvok about "if you're done flashing your frill" was meant to provoke a reaction or elicit a response, it apparently failed as the Vulcan Science Officer appeared to take no notice of the comment or its tone but instead turned silently towards the stasis tube and the body inside it.  Instead of approaching the "problem" from a medical or engineering standpoint, Sorvok took a mental "step back" and contemplated the theoretical principles underlying the alien punishment-stasis process as well as the potential for reversing the prolonged aging effect caused by the stasis process.

As he does this, Lt. Sorvok inquired, "Doctor Kler'ik, Lt. Nevi... do you think there is a way to gain access to the alien's organic tissue, even if just a very minute patch, without exposing the entire body to the current atmosphere and/or having to pull the alien's body out of its current stasis mode?

Perhaps if we could get an organic tissue and/or blood sample, we would be able to discern more about the alien's biology... as well as allow our ship's library computer to run an analysis on the alien's DNA & overall genetic code.  With that information, we might be able to develop a means of revitalizing the cell structure.  Perhaps we can identify the senescent stem cells and reactivate them to replace or regenerate the irreparably damaged cells or even to aid our labs in regrowing whole organ structures.

Doctor, Lt. Nevi... do you think this stasis devise requires that the body or "organic vessel" that the energy being or energy sentience is "returned to" has to be the exact same body that was originally put in?  I wonder if it would be possible to scan this body as if for a transporter and then use the stored pattern to reverse the damage from the excessive aging?"

As Sorvok asked this, he carefully placed his hand upon the stasis tube.

Adam

As Orlow parses through the the alien script involving the device, he realizes something. His guesses about the language are completely on the mark, and he is able to accurately and thoroughly translate the different instructions on the device.

Furthermore, he is able to sync up his tricorder with the device as well, letting the away team use a completely translated interface rather than have the communications officer point out the name of each switch, dial, or button.

T'Enya

As T'Enya looks through the different ways to use the device, it becomes clear that its creators were insidiously ingenious in making sure that it could not be bypassed. Any attempt to return the creature's mind to the body would have be through the device or another emulating its function.

Sorvok

Sorvok remembers that there are several ways of putting someone in stasis. The most recent example brought to light involved the stasis tubes of the Eugenics War survivors led by the renegade warlord Khan Noonien Singh. Those tubes involved chemical injection and cryogenically freezing the person. However, other forms of stasis can be induced by steady chemical injection, genetic engineering, or the use of nanotechnology to restore DNA to a memorized template.

In this case, it appears that the aliens used chemical injections to induce stasis. The upside is that stasis can be maintained in normal temperature and atmosphere. The downside is that it is not as effective at slowing the aging process, as evidenced by Tienxu'Boa's current condition.

Based on those concepts, Sorvok surmises that it would be possible to obtain a tissue sample without harming the body.

When Sorvok tries to establish the mind meld with the body, he finds nothing to meld with. Tienxu'Boa's mind is completely severed from his body.

All

In the distance, the away team can hear the brightly-pitched whine of the something transporting down to the planet surface. Moments later, each member's communicator begins to chirp.

OOC:

@ Adam: Excellent roll, consider everything translated and a lowered DC in using the device. Also, no one will need to roll to find out what the device does or how to operate it.

@ T'Enya: That's a decent roll, but it unfortunately doesn't hit the DC to escape using something like the device. No way to circumvent the process. If it makes you feel any better, it would really, really, really hard to restore him another way.

@ Sorvok: I think that should answer your questions about stasis. You can get a sample without worrying that exposure to air will rapidly age him. Unfortunately, you can't mind meld with him because there's no mind to meld with. :-(

@ All: Sorry for the short bump. I think some of you know that I'm teaching English in Japan. The term is almost over, so my school is trying to jam me into every class they can before it ends---which is fun, but it's busy. I made things worse by taking an online class along with my Japanese course, so that has come around to bite me in the ass. Fortunately, it's almost over. Just bear with me if my posting goes a little hot and cold.

Let me know if there's something I missed. Also, you've got an incoming call. :-p

Lt. Orlow reflexively responds to the communicator.
He responds to the incoming message with a plain, "Lt. Orlow."

Lt. Sorvok was still pondering the science behind the method of stasis preservation of the alien when his communicator chirped and he answered it, ::: Lt. Sorvok reporting, please proceed with your message. :::

When each away team member answers their communicator, they notice that all of them are linked together.

"Tabin to away team. We've beamed down the generator Lt. Nevi requested. I'm calling for a status report. The entity has reached out to the Vigilant again. We're keeping it apprised of the situation, but I need to know if you've found a way to release it."

Lt. Orlow bites his tongue as he is about to propose an idea that just came to mind.  Rather than speaking up and interrupting the captain he proceeds to the devices console and begins exploring the options looking to see if the device has 'pre-sets' for each kind of punishment.

Perhaps if the patterns manipulations could be compared and more than one punishment type was used the key differences could be isolated.  This would allow a punishmentless manipulation allowing for a stable energy creature rather than relying on the body.  This of course assumes energy manipulation was used for more than a single punishment.  Sloth and Envy were both examples in the news database so perhaps they are identifiable.  Or perhaps there is a history on the device that could be correlated with previous data gathered.

While energy patterns and transporters are out of his depth, he only hopes to identify key information for the person to actually perform the transport.

08:51, Today: Adam P. Orlow rolled 26 using 1d20+11. Know + Int to assist.
...In talking with the computer.  Told ya I'd do that.

With Sorvok's suggestions, Nevi starts to give an affirmative to the question of getting an actual tissue sample.  When the Captain says the generator is outside he holds his tongue and nods to Kler'ik, "I will be back as soon as possible.  The cables should reach the device."

He turns and walks away quickly towards the entrance...

Spid'Dar

The generator is beamed down close to the area where the transporter team beamed down. It is placed on an anti-grav sled and small in size so that it can be pushed into the antechamber without problems. It also has various cables and attachments to allow it to connect with a variety of different hardware.

Nevi grabs the sled and begins to pull it back to the chamber...

Daniel turned to Sorvok and cleared his throat: "Permission to beam up sir... frankly I think I'd be more use up there than down here."

Sorvok replied in a matter-of-fact tone, ::: Captain, after disabling some automatic defenses, we have gained access to what appears to be a detention and/or punishment area akin to a "prison", though the term is inadequate to entirely describe the location.  It appears that the alien race of this planet may no longer be an active, living civilization as we have found no trace of live aliens, merely recordings.

As to the alien energy entity, it appears based on our research, scientific theories, and the translation efforts of Lt. Orlow, that the alien energy entity is actually the "essence" or perhaps "spirit" of one of the incarcerated prisoners.  This alien society, their race name apparently was "Zhulhwei", appears to have a form of punishment where they attempt to make the punishment fit the crime.  In this case, the alien's name is or was "Tienxu'Boa" and his crime was Theft of Food for which he was punished for the Sin of Gluttony via the Retribution of Hunger.  Apparently Tienxu'Boa stole food to feed his starving son.  The Zhulhwei appear to have a very strict and unyielding interpretation of "law & order" with any breech of the law being severely punished, at least by typical Federation standards... inhumane would perhaps be one way to describe the severity of their legal system enforcement.

Tienxu'Boa has his "essence" stripped from his physical body, which has remained here in chemically induced & imperfectly preserved stasis.  His essence was flung towards the sun to feed off the solar energy without ever feeling full or satiated... essentially leaving the essence perpetually "hungry".  This correlates to our earlier observations of the alien energy entity.

Apparently Tienxu'Boa, or "Prisoner 6283513", repeated failed to show sufficient remorse and/or contrition for his crime and his sentence kept being extended by hundreds if not thousands of years each time he is up for "parole" as it were.  During all that time, the imperfections of the chemically induced stasis state has led to a very retarded degradation of the physical body's organic tissues and likely cellular breakdown.  The physical body registers no brain activity leading us to believe that the alien Tienxu'Boa's sentience and consciousness are contained solely within the energy form we initially encountered.

It is not clear yet whether we can successfully return the essence to the physical body and even if we can it is not clear that the alien Tienxu'Boa will survive the process as his physical body is badly deteriorated.  We are still working on theories as to how we can "free" the essence of Tienxu'Boa without causing his death in the process of returning the essence to a physical form. :::


Sorvok sighed slightly as he raised an eyebrow in reaction to Daniel's request.  Sorvok thought he had made it clear why the Away Team needed to stay together.  Sorvok found it illogical that after explaining this and denying T'Enya's request to return prematurely to the ship without the rest of the Away Team that Carson would then proceed to ask almost the same thing.

Sorvok looked at Carson and said in a neutral tone, "Lt. Carson, as the head of Security for this Away Team, are you prepared to certify that there are absolutely no further risks to the safety and security of the Away Team and that no future dangers will arise to threaten the members of the Away Team?

Is there something specific that you feel needs to be done aboard the Vigilant that cannot be done here on the planet's surface with the rest of the Away Team?  If so, what is it?

Because without a clearer idea of whether there are in fact no further dangers or threats to the Away Team and without further explanation as to just how you feel you would be of more use aboard the Vigilant, I am not inclined to grant permission for you to abandon the Away Team."

Sorvok paused and gestured towards the communicators as he continued, "Of course, Captain Tabin is currently on the line for this joint conference Communicator call.  As such, seeing as the Captain is senior to me and already a part of this conversation, if you wish you may make your request directly to Captain Tabin and see what the Captain has to say."

Sorvok looked around at the rest of the Away Team, including T'Enya, as he added, "That goes for anyone else who wishes to request an aborted stay on the planet's surface and a premature departure from the Away Team.  While I am not in favor of having the Away Team split up without very good cause, perhaps Captain Tabin is of a different mind and since she is on the line we might as well get the Captain's input on such matters."

Sorvok did not give voice to his true "feelings" (thoughts?) regarding the wisdom or efficacy of such a course of action but he was disinclined to keep fielding individual requests for people to leave the Away Mission before it was completed.  Perhaps the Captain could clear up the issue because in Sorvok's experience, when officers were specifically selected for an Away Team, they all remained with the Away Team until the completion of the Away Mission at which point the entire team would be beamed back to the ship.  That had been Standard Operating Procedure during Sorvok's prior Starfleet postings (and had been part of the standard training for Away Missions at the Academy), but perhaps different Captains and different starships handled Away Teams and Away Missions differently from how Sorvok had been trained?

Nevi only half listened as he brought the sled in with the generator.  He had a task that involved saving a life so he didn't concern himself with the re-establishment of order.

Moving it in line with the machine's energy ports, he began to link the machine to the generator.

(OOC: 24 to hook it up properly.)
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Sat 15 Mar 2014.

Daniel looked chastened, or maybe defeated but sighed and nodded. "Consider my request withdrawn Lt. Sorvok."

After looking for an "escape plan" and being unsuccessful, T'Enya stepped back and started punching up various pieces of data on her pad. At some length, she discovered that she would need to send for a bit more data from the Vigilant and had just submitted the request when the Captain called for a status report. She dutifully opened her com link and listened as Sorvok submitted the report. When he asked if she wished to talk to the Captain, she raised an eyebrow and got a bit stiffer than usual.

"I do not bypass the chain of command. Whether I agree with your decisions or not is irrelevant -- you were given the authority to make them, not I."

Disciplinarian. It wasn't just a reputation.

"However I do suggest* that you ask for a clarification regarding the Prime Directive. If it does indeed apply, as others have suggested, then we would not be permitted to save the prisoner in any event."

She turned to Kler'ik for a moment.

"Doctor, I have found information on several degenerative tortures used by the Romulans and Orions as well as their 'cures'. Perhaps this information would be of some use in strengthening the body?"

[* This is not a barb. It's an actual inquiry, which her background demands. Sorry, can't get more specific at this point ...

Aid Another: Trying to help Kler'ik, without interfering with Kler'ik ...

15:19, Today: T'Enya rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Assist Another: Use Subterfuge.]

::: How...sickening, ::: Tabin says in response to Sorvok's description of the entity's plight.

::: I believe I can clarify how the Prime Directive applies here. With respect to the entity---this Tienxu'Boa---it stopped applying the moment he made contact with us and attacked the DeGrasse. As for how it applies to the rest of the Zhulhwei and their legacy, I believe that is a question for Tienxu'Boa to answer. He is the last surviving member of that people, and I would see our interference be kept to a minimum.

::: I need everyone onsite until we have a course of action. I also believe that the Tienxu'Boa needs to hear this. Whatever actions we take will directly affect him. I am patching him through the communicators so that we can talk directly. :::

Moments later, the familiar voice of the universal translator begins speaking.

::: What have you found? Can you grant me my release? :::

Spid'Dar

One of the attachments fits into the device. The generator panel shows all energy readouts at normal levels.

OOC:

@ Spid'Dar: That connects the generator to the device.

EDIT:

@ T'Enya: Sorry, that won't hit the aid another DC. However, you didn't fail by 5, no bad stuff^TM
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:44, Mon 17 Mar 2014.

"I'm not in complete disagreement with you, T'Enya. I simply believe your timing was off. Your help in saving Tienxu'Boa first would be appreciated, though."



"It certainly strikes me as odd that such a punishment that could last millennia would be placed upon a being with the intent of rehabilitation without a way to make them a useful member of society again. Perhaps there's a buffer of sorts in this machine as there is in our transporter. If not, I would imagine that any 'empty' vessel could potentially be used."



Kler'ik looked up at the sound of the voice and smiled, almost sadly. "Greetings, my friend. My name is Kler'ik, and I can assure you we are doing the best we can despite the differences in language and technology. I'm aware that your time here has been... poor, but any assistance you are able to give us would be greatly appreciated. If we transfer you back into your body immediately, I don't believe you'll survive the process."

Lt.  Orlow mutes his comm to be unheard and speaks up, "what if we use existing pattern protocols to create a proper energy pattern without punishment?  Perhaps it could stabilize the form and reduce the hunger?  I've already been searching for presets and histories of previous punishments..."


Did my check yield and results on that front?

The entity responds, its emotionally charged words made dull through the flat voice of the universal translator

::: I know nothing more than I have already said. I have slaked my thirst upon this star for ages now forgotten to me, so long that even my name is lost to time. What do you mean that I will not survive? What is wrong? :::

Adam

Based on the prior translation, Adam confirms that it is possible to use the device to reinstate Tienxu'Boa into his body and remove the hunger element. However, it does not appear that the device was ever designed with the intention of removing the punishment from someone in their "energy" form.

Different punishments involved different concepts. For "Sloth", there is a "Fatigue" setting that would force the disembodied spirit to move at full speed and feel as if it is about to die from exhaustion. For "Envy", there is a "Longing" setting that appears to be more mental anguish than physical sensation.

OOC:

@ Adam: Thanks for reminding me. ^_^ That will add +2 to rolls used to use the device to return Tienxu'Boa to his body.