Pilot Episode, Act I

Zuto proceeds to turn this way and that in an effort to avoid the scanning of his backside. It's made even more awkward by the need to hold the mask to his face.

"Um, no, sir. Thanks, but you don't have to do that. I don't need a chair. No, sir, really. I can have one brought in if necessary."

When it seems that Oobadek has finally stopped trying to scan him, Zuto actually looks at the 3D display the Inphirian has pointed out, absently using both hands to just fasten the mask on his face. "That's pretty interesting. What does this view tell you about the Tangle?"

Oobadek immediately puts down the tricorder when Lt. Zuto grows anxious. Grateful for the question, he says, "The Inphirian Institute, of which I am an alumni, as you say, postulated that the Tangle was partially a subspace phenomenon, where so the universe was vibrating at the subnano scale, even down to the Plank scale. There are some raucous debates on that issue, I must say. But what you see here isn't that. No, it isn't that at all. I'm afraid that the advanced resolution of your Federation's marvelous sensors on the subspace field has rendered a vast body of scientific research irrelevant." He shakes his had sadly, almost as if blaming Zuto personally. "There isn't any unusual subspace vibrations, and even virtual particle production seems within norms."

Zuto looks both apologetic and slightly embarrassed. "I'm... very sorry, sir." He looks as though he wants to say more, then frowns slightly, as if trying to understand what he's actually apologizing for.

Oobadek stares at the lieutenant, the pregnant pause growing uncomfortably late.

Oobadek says, "Chief Engineer, the modifications that I suggested for the airlock, incorporating a minuscule transporter array to eliminate any inefficiencies caused by the filtration system, have not yet been enacted. However, I assure you, the quantities involved are insignifant." by way of acknowledgement and watches the engineer move everything around. Fortunately, it is mostly display screens, so the alien simply stays out of the way. He lifts his own tricorder, saving the data file scan he had just completed, and scans the officer's butt. He uses his PADD to bring up chair types on one display, and tries to find one that matches both his guests.

"Oh, careful with that, I've carefully calibrated- nevermind, it will be easier the second time."

Finding nothing significantly troublesome, Avery sighs and concludes her search. "Well people don't like dying from huffing methane, usually, so it's my belief such problems should be solved before we get too...invested. Luckily this was just a false alarm, so now I'll have to figure out whether my measurements are inaccurate or there's some kind of interference, or- Y'know what, it doesn't really matter." She crosses her arms, pondering some matter in her head as she remains oblivious to Oobadak's machinations.

Zuto clears his throat and speaks up. "Um, lieutenant? For what it's worth, the sensor Security installed on the door hasn't sounded an alarm once since the lab was filled with the methane mixture."

Oobadek wriggles his tendrils a bit more, and says, "I'm sorry. I could do without the methane in the atmosphere in this lab. I don't want to be the cause of anyone dying." His hands shake nervously. "Maybe a vacuum suit pressurized with 5% methane and I could wear it outside the hull. Twice a day should be fine. I'm sure that the symptoms would be barely noticeable."

Avery's eye twitches slightly, her mouth opening slightly for some remark. Whatever it was is lost as she regains her composure, pointing at Oobadak. "We aren't doing that for several reasons, and-" her finger turns to Zuto, and is lowered once more, perhaps out of respect. "-That...that is good news." She answers quietly, feeling called out.

Zuto is watching Avery's face as she processes his "news." The expression on his face can best be described as skeptical; he seems to have figured out that her pretext of investigating reports of a leak is just that - a pretext. He doesn't call her out on that, though, or press her for details on why she entered the lab.

"I'll run a diagnostic on the methane sensor, just as a precaution," he tells her. Turning to Oobadek, he adds, "Liaison, I'll be right outside running the test. If you need anything, please let me know."

And Zuto leaves the room. Before the sliding doors close behind him, we see him turn and start fiddling with a panel in the wall outside of the lab, presumably running the diagnostic of the sensor system.

Oobadek watches the lieutenant leave. "I appreciate the precautions your fellow officers are taking," he says obliquely too Avery. He gestures to the displays as if they are self explanatory, and continues, "I suppose that I'll be with your crew for the time being."

"...Yes, I suppose so." Avery feels her cool slipping, wondering how Oobadak can be so calm and collected under such circumstances. "I'd best be on my way." Deciding to take her chances she makes a quick escape, not bothering to wait for anything else Oobadak has to say. After the sliding doors rest between the two Avery lets out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding in, everything except for her out of focus.

The camera slowly moves back into focus, revealing Zuto who's giving her a very knowing look from his position a few feet away. He opens his mouth. "You-" Avery immediately holds a hand up, as if to say 'stop'. Avery closes her eyes for a second, seemingly recollecting herself. "I don't want to talk about it." With her piece said Avery walks out of frame, leaving Zuto alone to shake his head.

The camera cuts to the engineering section of the Hodgkin. Computer displays line the walls and numerous crew members are busily monitoring displays, involved in discussions, or moving equipment or otherwise walking around.

Blakeney and Captain McCurry enter the area. "As I mentioned, we have about twenty percent more engineering staff than a ship of this size would normally require. Keeping the uncertainty drive in proper working order is a round-the-clock endeavor. Hey, Thompson." A young ensign stops walking to give Blakeney his attention. "Where's Lieutenant Edison?"

"She said she had to check something out in one of the labs, sir."

Nodding, Blakeney smiles to send the ensign back to what he was doing. He slaps his comm badge. "Blakeney to Chief Engineer Edison." An unfamiliar whining sound replies and Blakeney sighs impatiently. "It's all the shielding for the uncertainty drive. It makes it harder for the comm signal to get through. I'll try calling her from the other room. Be right back, Captain."

He hurries off-camera, leaving McCurry to contemplate the strangest engine she's ever seen.

McCurry nods to Blakeney, but it's about as distracted as a nod can be. The captain's attention is drawn almost exclusively to the engine behind the shield wall. Transparent viewing panels allow a good view of the uncertainty drive, which is an almost incomprehensible mass of wires and machinery. Coolant pipes nearly surround a dark spherical mass about 5 meters in diameter that floats in space above liquid helium-cooled superconducting magnets, with sensors extending toward its surface from ten directions at once. The surface of the sphere swirls with pearlescent blue and silver, constantly moving and darting about in dancing motion that seems eerily alive.

Inside the drive chamber, lights blink, displays scroll an endless stream of data and diagnostics on the entire assembly. Comm systems relay the sounds from inside, the huff and hiss of pressurized air, engineering staff calling out sensor readings, an occasional warning bell.

A slow fascination dawns on McCurry's face. She takes a look around the room and spots an open closet of light, silvery suits and helmets like those the engineers inside the drive chamber wear. It's clear what she's thinking, and in a moment, she is pulling one of the suits on and fastening a helmet over her head. It leaves her face readily visible, but there's no visible indication of her rank or position underneath the suit. She moves to the outer airlock chamber and presses the button that will allow her access to the drive chamber while sealing off the entry chamber from any potential hazards.

Within moments, she's inside, and studying one of the displays. She touches a finger to the screen to stop the flow of data, and interacts with the display with some obvious familiarity as she searches for the diagnostics that interest her.

There's a flash of irritation across McCurry's face as she's spun around to face her new chief engineer, but it's quickly put down. Maybe the captain learned something from her mostly disastrous encounter with Admiral Hamilton earlier.

Still, she lets Edison's words flow over her, merely looking back at the engineer with calm features. "It is sensitive equipment. You're absolutely right. Which is why someone should've made sure that they checked the superfluidity of the fermion-helium mixture. The temperature's awfully close to going over 50 nanokelvins, and I'm sure you wouldn't want that, would you?" she replies, looking completely nonplussed by the epithets being tossed about so casually.

McCurry steps away from the display to allow Edison an opportunity to look at what she was studying. She clasps her hands behind her back almost as though standing at attention.