Gaining Intel

Posted on Thu Apr 20th, 2023 @ 6:28pm by Lieutenant Commander Deanna Celes & Ensign T'Plana-hath

Mission: Unknown Colony
Location: USS Washington

Deanna entered the lab after meeting with the dignitaries. "How are the scans of the debris going?" she asked.

T’Plana-hath sat in the red gloom of the intelligence suite at her Intelligence console, the wording all in Vulcan as she directed the various sensors of the USS Washington at the debris in orbit. Several things were apparent. First there was only enough debris for a single ship. Second it was destroyed by Plasma based weapons, more specifically in line with known and current Romulan Plasma Array’s. There was Mitochondrial and Chloroplast DNA of an off shot of the Sivaoans and Eeiauoans, who in turn were off shot of Caitian’s most likely. She heard the pressurized airlock click open, she did not bother to look up as she knew it was Lieutenant Commander Celes entering. "How are the scans of the debris going?" she heard Commander Celes inquire. T’Plana-hath replied, “Three things I can definitely state as fact; There is only enough debris for one ship, it was destroyed within the last three to four years by a Plasma based Array weapon very similar to the Romulans weapon systems, and that it was most likely manned by an off shot of Sivaoans or Eeiauoans or Caitians as the Mitochondrial and Chloroplast DNA on the remains falls within the realm of those three species. Very similar to how humans and Alpha Centauran are similar.” She waited patiently for the commander to absorb the information.

"I had Shon look at the DNA. She was of the opinion that it is very much like Caitian, but we speculated it might be some sort of offshoot, similar to Proto-Vulcan that we have several various studies ongoing. The fact that this Kilrathi race has been to Earth and yet we have never seen or heard of them until now is puzzling. Our meeting with the colony leaders did confirm some of what we have speculated, in that the debris is from one ship, a Kilrathi vessel that attacked a few years ago, and that the colony uses plasma based weapons which is technology they adapted from the Kilrathi after they gained their freedom. I would however like to see if we can determine why it is so similar to century old Romulan weapons. I'd like to focus more scans on the planet as well. The crashed vessel near the colony is from the battle that took place only a few years ago and we may learn something from a more in depth analysis. I also think a more detailed study of the planet is in order. This planet would only require some minor terraforming to shift it into a class-M planet, and that seems odd. Additionally, they said they once had 3 colonies, but 2 were destroyed over the last century by the Kilrathi via orbital bombardment. I'd like to determine the validity of that as well as to see if we can learn anything more with an analysis of the ruins." Celes stopped and smiled. She was grateful to be working with T'Plana on this. It allowed for a more organized work effort.

T’Plana began running scans on the planets surface. She input data to the Torpedo/Probe Magazine department to prepare and launch a Class V medium-range reconnaissance probe, modified with a Starfleet Intelligence packet. It was to circumnavigate the planet from pole to pole with a standard longitude variance. She knew the probe would gather all the necessary data.

As they continued working, scanning the planet the red alert klaxon sounded. Deanna looked to T'Plana, "Perhaps we are getting our first look at these Kilrathi. I'll be on the bridge. See what you can gather, I'll be back after this incident is resolved.

T’Plana nodded at the Commander “Understood Sir” she replied as she pulled the restraint harness over her body. She began the process of setting the computer to identifying and sorting all relevant tactical and intelligence data. She then ensured it would be shared with the Tactical control systems on the bridge. Finally she sent an encoded message for the probe to self-destruct if any ship besides the Washington tried to intercept it or if it completed its circumnavigation and sent its data back. She was not going to allow anyone access to the intelligence gathered by the probe.