| May 16th, 2155
| E-Deck, Main Engineering, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0730hrs
Tal was thrilled to finally have full cooperation on board. The MACO's trusted him, and he knew he could trust them on facts alone if not principle. He now had to get the Maco's investigation notes in his report along with the technical data. His meeting with Anziano would accomplish exactly this.
The doors to Engineering were already open, two MACO's on patrol were inspecting a repair teams investigation report of the plasma manifolds. Follow up investigation were largely a waste of time but in this regard the MACO's and Tal were the only ones above reproach. Though it pained Tal to think the people he could be working with were xenophobic terrorists, he knew extremism was common to violent races. He would have to hold Anziano in suspicion for now, but he still needed the man to do his assigned job.
"I am looking for the Chief, has anyone seen him recently?
One of the techs working with the MACO's pointed to the Engineers alcove above the Warp Reactor Dilithium port. She shot a dirty look at the MACO, continuing her lecture, "... like the report showed, the copper gradient hasn't dissolved to any appreciable measure. used parts are common even in a newer ship like Discovery..."
Tal entered the Main engineering room, the prone Warp core a daunting sight. This was not his place, in Andorian vessels the Engineers were sequestered with the engine for safety, leaving only to mingle and eat. They were the second masters and first loves of their ship, Engineers were the ones to go down with their ship in Andorian military culture. The separation became unofficially enforced over time while their technical high-speech and academic elitism ensured the mingling was seldom pleasant.
Anziano had very much resembled that kind of engineer, maintaining an around the clock vigil over matters in the engine room, but only because this mission necessitated all hands on deck. With some of his usual flare, Anziano caught up Tal and flashed a big smile, "A visitor, are you lost?"
Extending an unarmed and open hand for social truce and bridging was a Human custom Tal found saved immense time. He had spent half his time on the Docona counting the hidden blades of his fellow crew lest he run foul of them. No Andorian would approach so openly unless they were a friend. Pink-skins were a gregarious lot, but this was a quality Tal could appreciate.
"i am not lost if you are Chief Aanzeannnoo..." Tal found himself wishing he had practiced that out loud, it was far easier to say in his head. Andorian enunciation was not flattering to Italian nomenclature. Nonetheless he wishes to shake the man's hand and ask for his help, as a Human would.
"I am Anziano," he said breezily as he wiped his hands on his pants before shaking the Andorian's hand. "So have you have brought me a new project?"
"What remains of the device used to disable your systems and killed Commander Cayne. I wanted your assistance in investigating its original design and intended function." Tal set the small hard plastic case on the workstation bench next to them.
"Great," the engineer said, "lets have a look at it."
Tal unsnapped the clasps, setting out the bits and pieces in a grid for easy reference, the particulate matter he believed to be explosive material remained in the sealed canister, which he left in the hardened case. Tal had analyzed the pieces ad nauseam to no effect, Human technology was foreign to him.
"These are the external components I believe, that orange twisted bit in the containment cylinder was most likely "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)", there wasn't much in the first place, but even this amount is still lethal."
"Didn't quite catch that," Anziano said, flicking with his finger the universal translator Tal wore. "But I think I get the drift. Go on."
"As far as I can deduce from the facts at play, the explosive was meant to destroy the device and the proximity systems switchover relays. This would have left primary systems undamaged, but when disabled your first recourse would have been to switch to backup, which would have created the explosion. Commander Cayne was unfortunate enough to trip the anti-tamper mechanism on the device. Either somebody intended to sneak on, or sneak off, but given your level of technology I don't know how this would be possible."
"Pretty sophisticated. I don't think anyone on board is really qualified for this kind of investigation," Anziano said as he began picking up each piece in turn and eyeballing them. He was being a little modest in the statement insomuch that he had a real talent for figuring out how things ticked. The Andorian was right tho, that Andorian technology was time tested and mature compared to their own. "I wish Terran technology were up do to the task."
Tal chuckled, he hadn't meant any insult, "No sir, I didnt mean to offend, my pardon. If you can feed the "pk*^ -32 (UT failure)" into your scanner booth I'll show you how it was catalyzed. The saboteur had to use a Terran lubricant "tungsten disulphide" to prevent the bonds from forming prematurely. It would require a precise signal, and that signal was the same as isodine relay from the primary matrix."
"Let's take this to the engineering lab," Anziano said, taking out his tricorder to satisfy a growing hunch. "It's probably the best chance we have."
As soon as Anziano's tricorder hit an EM cycle there was an alarming spark, followed by a abrupt flash bang. Anziano felt himself pinball of the wall, or maybe the roof and the wall. As he came to rest he felt that he was on all fours against something hard. His vision went from all black to all red, and he could hear nothing but a deafening ringing in his ears.
Tal was fortunate to have been neighboring the console, the canister exploded, but it had only cause momentary flash blindness aside from startling him completely dumb for a moment. The significant blast had actually been from the console itself it appeared as he looked at the site of the explosion. As his senses returned he tried to find Anziano but Medical had already taken him. Sure enough he felt firm grips gently lift him onto a gurney and he realized he could not hear a word as they spoke to him. He was deaf, it had not recovered as his vision had.
| May 15th, 2155
| E-Deck, Sickbay, Discovery NX-04, Deep Space
| 0900
Tag (Dr. Maya, maybe more to summarize investigation?)
He cooperated with the medics, the journey was swift only a few decks, then the restraints kicked in. An automatic function to prevent him from falling off the narrow bed, he nonetheless bent the bars back to free his legs and began to fight, his deafness and injuries with on-setting shock creating a panic in unfamiliar surroundings.
Tag Maya/Anziano
"What happened?" Curtis asked as she strode into the room, the sickbay doors just barely opening quick enough for her to get through without having to sidestep through the opening.
Tag Maya/Anziano/Tal
[ooc: Just corrected some of the location tags - you still had it reading aboard the Docona
]