Enthusiastic Research

Posted on Dec 08, 2016 @ 4:06pm by Ensign Sofia Andersson
Edited on on Dec 08, 2016 @ 4:06pm

Mission: Aftermath

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"Enthusiastic Research"
[previous post was "The game and new beginnings" by adventurous Alix]
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LOCATION: USS ANUBIS
SD [2.16] 1208.1424
SCENE: Exo-biology Lab

After her visit to Sickbay to check up on Ensign Stark and Lieutenant Paquette, the ExO / ILO had headed for the Exo-Biology lab which had been on the same deck. There, over the last 30 or so minutes, Commander Maya and Miss Andersson had been running a plethora of tests on the radiation absorbing ooze that had been discovered on the lowest level of the secret underground research facility.

Given the hour and the rather long day that they had all endured, Shar'El had expected the two women to be casually going about their work until they would call it a night. Instead the ExO / ILO found the scientist and medical officer working as if time itself was about to come to an end.

A total of nine samples had been brought back to the ANUBIS, yet as Shar'El entered the lab she could clearly identify over a dozen separate stations, each performing some sort of test on an individual sample. Cautiously the raven haired woman approached, trying to insure that she did not startle anyone or disturb any of the work that had clearly been in progress.

"You two having fun?" the ExO / ILO quietly asked, announcing her presence in so doing while trying to get an idea of just what sort of tests the green colored ooze had been subjected to.

"This ooze is amazing," Sofia exclaimed as she tossed another sample, this one contained inside a transparent cube, towards the surprised First Officer who rapidly grabbed hold of the small box in mid air.

"I'm guessing that you have found some interesting facts about this ooze," Shar'El stated as she carefully looked at the sample that had been unceremoniously sent her way, not seeing anything different from the samples she had seen before their return to the ANUBIS.

"As initially suspected," Commander Maya began, "The ooze appears to have a crystalline chemical structure which according to our analysis most probably originated deep within the borders of Tholian space. This is likely the basic explanation as to why the Thalaron radiation did not destroy it but instead caused it to mutate as it had the other creature. Our first tests confirmed that the ooze absorbs Thalaron radiation and actually needs a constant exposure to specific radiations to be able to survive. If placed in a radiation free environment the ooze eventually becomes inert and begins to lose molecular adhesion."

"Looks like you two have discovered a new toy," the ExO / ILO stated as she carefully placed the sample that she had received on the nearest available flat surface.

"This is no toy," Sofia followed up with, her voice filled with wonder. "There is so much to learn about this amazing substance."

"You have already mentioned how *amazing* it is," Shar'El pointed out finding the woman's overflowing enthusiasm a little over the top.

"Amazing is just the tip of the iceberg as the expression goes," Andersson continued, "It feels like we are discovering new properties every few minutes. The ooze needs constant exposure to certain radiations to survive, metabolizing these radiations as a living body would food, but the ooze is not *alive*, at least not by any definition we currently go by. The reactions, including its movements are pure and simple bio-chemical responses to external stimuli."

"As you may remember," Maya jumped in next, "we noticed that the ooze actually moved. At first we believed that it was consciously reacting to motion or sound but we discovered that it is actually responding to thermal radiation. The same way the mutated creature was attracted to higher thermal emissions, the ooze response in he same way to heat. We suspect that it is able to differentiate various heat sources by as much as a 1 degree difference."

"Along the same level, the ooze clearly dislikes the cold and shies away from it as best as it can," Sofia continued, the two woman appearing almost as if they had become a single entity working on this specific research. "So far it appears as if exposure to Thalaron radiation triggers the greatest growth ratio in the organism, causing it to double in volume inside of an hour as long as the radiation level remains constant, which of course it does not as the ooze absorbs it."

"At least that way we now know that the rest of the ooze that was left in that research facility on EARTH is not going anywhere since the Thalaron readings were at zero a full level above," Shar'El stated believing that this gave them more time to complete their research before informing the authorities of their findings.

"That may not be the case," Maya said as she passed a PADD on to the ExO / ILO. "The ooze appears able to absorb and metabolize certain radiations, including Thalaron, from a distance. We have observed a drastic reduction in the rate at which it does so as the distance increases, but we have yet to determine an exact final range. For the ooze still on EARTH, it is very likely that the process has not stopped but merely greatly slowed down."

"Even more amazing," Sofia continued using the word that was rapidly becoming an annoyance to the ExO / ILO, "is the ooze's ability to transfer absorbed radiation to other parts of itself as long as it is physically in contact, thus allowing it to somehow control its own growth."

"Wouldn't that imply that the ooze is alive in some way?" Shar'El quired, the confusion very apparent on her face.

"Again not by any definition we currently use, that's what's amazing," Sofia replied using once again the word that was making the Ullian twitch. "From what we can deduce from our observations, all of the responses are triggered by extremal thermal or radiation emissions. In short the ooze behaves in a way that best support its continued existence."

"Not bad for something that is not alive," Maya added, the Chief Science Officer clearly beyond thrilled with their work and discoveries.

"Yes," Shar'El said unable to share in the two women's excitement. "Truly amazing," she added before Sofia could voice the word once again. "May I suggest that you both take some rest. You can resume this research first thing tomorrow morning."

"I have to get back," Sofia said suddenly falling into a panic. "I am sure that I am overdue to return and I will be made to pay for not having followed instructions and not having returned with Angelo and Sheila."

"Relax," Shar'El promptly offered as she placed a calming hand on the blonde woman's shoulder. "Mr. Tannahill provided the authorities with enough information about what happened as well as your help and continued involvement in the current research to allow you to now be under the jurisdiction of Captain Morningstar, the Commanding Officer of this vessel. For as long as your assistance is considered necessary in the research of the ooze, you will be staying here on the ANUBIS and provided temporary quarters. Of course you will be escorted by security at all times and your access to this ship will be very limited."

"I fully understand," Sofia nodded, the blonde woman being more than thankful that she had been permitted to continue assisting with the research and be provided with quarters that would certainly be folds superior to what she had been using at the Versailles triage center, not to mention the possibility of having access to actual eatable replicated food instead of whatever rations she had been given before.

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NM:

Just wanted to flesh out the ooze, which actually sounds worse than it is, as well as make it somewhat reasonable for Sofia to be on the ANUBIS while being under judicial restrictions. I think that this also works along the lines to having her be a more acceptable candidate to be reinstated into Starfleet and join a crew at a later time.

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Tiffany Reeve

Ensign Sofia Andersson
Currently sentenced to the
VERSAILLES Triage Center