Device Analysis

Freelancer materialised in the transporter room of their vessel, USS Freedom. Feeling sick at having to eliminate the Vulcan, they walked across the room and placed the device on a table before sitting down and taking a deep breath. Killing someone was not one of Freelancer’s most pleasant duties and had they had time to prepare, they could have avoided the kill.

Freelancer had various methods at their disposal for erasing people’s memories, but that took time. Protecting their identity was Freelancer’s prime objective and overrode all other objectives.

Having regained some composure, Freelancer picked up the device and headed down a narrow corridor towards the rear of their vessel. Entering the Engineering section, Freelancer walked over to a large table, which housed a console. Placing the device on the central analysis pad, Freelancer activated the console and started to scan and probe the device.

“Computer, run a full analysis on the device please.” Freelancer requested.

[Analysis will take two hours seventeen minutes.] The male voice of the Freedom’s computer system announced. [You should get some rest, you’ve been through a lot the past few days.]

“Thanks for the concern, but I’m fine.” Freelancer protested.

[My analysis of your vital signs say otherwise.] The computer replied. [Your blood sugar levels are severely low and I’m detecting raised blood pressure and your body is showing signs of fatigue.]

“Ok, OK.” Freelancer stated. “I’ll get something to eat if it will make you happy.”

[That will be a start.] The computer said. [However, you need at least six hours of undisturbed sleep.]

"When the analysis is done.” Freelancer said. “Let me know when the analysis is complete.”

With that Freelancer headed out of the door and headed for the command deck.

Entering the Command deck, Freelancer activated the replicator on the back wall and ordered some food and a protein drink. Moving to a small table they placed their meal down and started to eat.

Half an hour later, having eaten and started to feel better, Freelancer walked over to the main console and activated the displays. In front of them, all the data coming into the ship from the computer cores on the station flashed past. Normally all the data coming in would swamp a normal computer system, but the computer system onboard Freedom was more advanced. As well as keeping the ship fully operational and running the analysis on the device, the station data was being filtered, downloaded and analysed.

As Freelancer continued to watch the data being filtered, something caught her eye. Running their hands across the console, they brought up the data that had so alarmed them.

“Computer analysis on the vessel approaching Mulluran space.” Freelancer requested.

[The vessel appears to be a Axeline cruiser.] The computer reported. [Class two.]

“What is it’s projected course ?” Freelancer enquired.

[The vessel’s current course is on a direct route to the Mulluran homeworld.] The computer stated. [A squadron of Mulluran patrol vessels have been launched, time to intercept three hours.]

“Have we picked up any transmissions between the Axeline’s and the Mullurans ?” Freelancer enquired.

[Negative.] The computer replied. [The Axeline vessel will reach the Mulluran border is one hour. Projected analysis using current data is that the vessel will be destroyed by the Mulluran patrol vessel.]

“Then everything is happening just as predicted.” Freelancer commented. [Let’s just hope the G’Kar are more friendly to the Axeline than the Mulluran.”

[Current data would suggest that the G’Kar will provide the Axeline’s with the necessary access to the Federation.] The computer stated. [A second Axeline cruiser entered G’Kar space thirteen minutes ago, time to reach the G’Kar homeworld two days.]

“Maybe I will get that rest.” Freelancer said, admitting that knowing what was about to occur caused them pain. “We’ll go over the device analysis tomorrow after my shift ends. Keep an eye on those Axeline vessels.”

[All assigned tasks are operating.] The computer announced. [Goodnight.]

With that Freelancer headed back to the transporter room and transported off the vessel and back onto the station undetected. Heading for their quarters, they showered and went to bed.

Freelancer awoke next day to find that nothing had changed. After quickly checking the overnight sensor logs, the analysis of the device was complete, the Mulluran patrol vessel had destroyed the Axeline cruiser without mercy and the second cruiser was still on course for the G’Kar homeworld.

Heading out of their quarters on Starbase 901, they went to the mess, eat and chatted to several colleagues before heading for their shift. Eight hours later, shift over Freelancer headed back to the Freedom.

Arriving in the Engineering section, the first thing Freelancer did was check the analysis of the device themselves. The computer could have provided Freelancer with all the information they requested, but Freelancer wanted to see for themselves whether the device was what they had been searching for.

“So this is the device.” Freelancer finally stated.

[Analysis shows that the device confirms to the parameters provide by Starfleet Command.] The computer reported.

“Is the memory core intact ?” Freelancer enquired.

[The core is intact.] The computer confirmed.

“Start a complete download of the memory core and run a full analysis of the data.” Freelancer ordered. “We need to know what happened.”

[Download is underway, time to completion three hours.] The computer reported. [Time for analysis is undetermined.]

“What about the device itself, is it intact ?” Freelancer asked.

[The device is complete and has suffered not visible or detectable damage.] The computer replied. [Analysis of the device has highlighted a potential problem.]

“What sort of problem ?” Freelancer said, their voice having a note of concern.

[The device would appear to require an activation key.] The computer reported. [That key is not present in the device. Analysis would suggest that the key has become separated for the device over time.]

“Can you locate the key ?” Freelancer enquired.

[An analysis is already underway.] The computer reported. [Seventeen possible leads have been identified.]

“Can you narrow the leads down ?” Freelancer asked.

[Using current data and projection analysis the number of leads will be reduced.] The computer reported. [With time.]

“Let me know the second you have a solid lead.” Freelancer ordered.

[Understood.] The computer confirmed.

Freelancer picked up the device and headed out of the Engineering section and headed back to the station. Installing the device on the station would take time and every second that Freelancer waited, the threat to the station and the Federation grew closer and closer.