Anthony Meeks Posted June 1, 2011 Posted June 1, 2011 ((Embassy Ground, Marine CIC))::Both Marine and Engineer had been working for a few hours on the implant. Progress was being made, but as Jaxon had thought, the micro power source was proving tricky. The tiny shield that separated the two alloys wasn’t breaking down fast enough; it was taking too much time to generate enough power::Mc Ghee: ::lowering a tool:: Okay, we’ve got it down to 8.4 seconds between activation and enough power being generated for your communication.::Lex let slip a frustrated sigh.::Menar: It's playing hard to get. 8.4 is too long. We can do better, we just have to persuade it. What if we change the orientation of the power cell... like this? That might increase pressure on the division slightly.Mc Ghee: You’re right and I was thinking, if we place the break fault line between the separating layers here instead…::They changed a few parameters to simulate their new suggestions. Looking at the screen they watched the newest simulation unfold and the how the energy levels rose far more rapidly.::Mc Ghee: A good idea. 6.2 seconds. I think with our time limit this is the best we can get for now. Still, it means you need be left alone for almost a minute near this communication terminal. ::sounding casual:: I’m guessing here that others won’t be present.::Lex's joy at watching the simulation run more smoothly was once again replaced with apprehension as Mc Ghee's natural curiosity took hold.::Menar: ::Shrugging theatrically:: Who knows. It depends on exactly where and why it gets used.Mc Ghee: oO Not giving an inch are you. Oo::Before Mc Ghee could answer, the doors to the room opened and Isaac walked in. Jaxon nodded a greeting and turned back to his work. Lex's eyes rose from the screen of the PADD and lingered a while.::Green: ::Smiling:: Don’t let me interrupt. I was just checking on your progress and the condition of that cup of raktajino.Mc Ghee: ::lost in thoughts:: I don’t drink coffee, IsaacMenar: ::Reaching for her cup.:: Well, I do, and the last one I had ran out...::She was aware that she had been using Isaac as a glorified waiter for the whole time that she had been working on this project, but it seemed that he didn't mind. Still, she would have to make sure that she made it up to him some time in the near future.::Green: Well, let me get you another. Jaxon, can I get you anything?Mc Ghee: I cup of black tea would be great Isaac.Green: ::With a wink:: I’ll be right back then.::Green left, lights flickering on as he walked towards the dark offices. Now they had tested and simulated the power source sufficiently on a computer screen, Mc Ghee thought it was time to begin assembly. Jaxon began to place all the individual parts they already had on an anti-static cloth before him. He wasn’t sure whether this Romulan work station was automatically shielded against such a charge and thought it best not to take chances. Looking at the blueprint on the screen he frowned.::Mc Ghee: ::thoughtfully:: Lex, you’ve got a micro data chip listed here. What do you need that for? oO With a high end upload port. Oo::After enduring several attempts to glean information about the mission, and feeling that she was getting to know Mc Ghee a little through working with him on this project, Lex decided that the best way to handle the confidentiality issue would be to take the bull by the horns and resort to her usual smoke and mirrors tactics.::Menar: ::Smiling disarmingly:: I've heard a good magician doesn't give away her secrets.Mc Ghee: Are you sure you need it?::She nodded, confidently.::Menar: Completely. Are you worried that I don't know what I'm doing?::Her tone was pleasant, almost nonchalant.::Mc Ghee: I’m only asking because I didn’t know. I was running the simulations without knowing a data point was drawing energy. No wonder it took so much time to build up enough power. oO Pretty strange data storage at that. OoMenar: Trust me, it's staying put. I think we've done well to get the response time on the device down as low as we have, and it should be fast enough now for the data chip not to become an issue.:: The was a sound behind them and Isaac arrived carrying steaming mugs. The Marine wordlessly placed them on the table and left. Lex couldn't help but feel a little bad for him; she was deep into the realms of her specialism and on a tight timescale. Had she not been, she would have asked him to stay, and explained what she was doing, step by step. Mc Ghee took up the note of coffee mixed with black tea though he refrained from taking his mug. Now it came to the construction he decided to take all the fun for himself. ::Mc Ghee: I’ll begin assembly now. Please ready the bio matter for the casing. ::Jaxon slipped an ocular over one eye and began work. The tiny device had a minute internal skeleton to hold the individual components. Now they had to be installed onto this frame one by one. He heard Lex working beside him, no doubt getting the casing ready. Lex allowed him to work, but casually disregarded his request about the casing. After all, the device wasn't for her use, and she had no intention of revealing the identity of its intended owner. The bio-casing would have to be prepared later.::Menar: ::Attempting to divert the engineer:: How long do you think this will take to build?Mc Ghee: The assembly shouldn’t take long. Three or four minutes, 20 minutes altogether with the bio-casing. ::adjusting his eyepiece:: I still don’t get why this has to be such a secret. ::It was time once again for the direct approach.::Menar: It's not important that you do. Only that it is.::He couldn’t react to her answer right away, as he had to concentrate while connecting the components. Instead he let her continue, while he took up the tiny ‘nonspecific uplink terminal’ with a fine tweezer.::Menar: It would probably be best if you try to stem your curiosity for now...::Before he installed it he stopped his work and looked up, not to her, but to the screen before him. The tiny device hovered over the implant in a steady hand..::Mc Ghee: Lex my curiosity is normal and my annoyance is nothing personal. I don’t like shadowy, secret stuff when I’m not in on them.::She took a deep breath, and then sighed. She didn't want to be even more direct and bluntly tell him to stop asking; such a course of action would not have been outside the bounds of normal behaviour for her, but in this case it wouldn't really be conducive to the mission.::Menar: I've already told you that I can't give you any information. Why do you have such a problem with this?Mc Ghee: Because I don’t know what this is intended to do.::Lex's reply was accompanied by a resigned shake of the head. There was something about that last statement... something that sounded like Mc Ghee was questioning her motives. In a heartbeat, she stopped caring about his pride. She was following orders, and ultimately, they had to be the most important consideration.::Menar: ::Leaning back in her chair.:: That's the way things are going to stay. Trust me or not, I don't care. I'll finish the job from here if that's how it is.::There was a pause which the chief used to make some final connections. The room seemed a little colder. Jaxon had not intended to imply she would use the device illegally, after all she was a Marine and they had their own list of laws. He made the final connections and sealed the unusual battery.::Mc Ghee: ::getting up:: Well I’m done. ::absently ordering the tools before him:: Lex I truly hope you get whatever you are trying to get onto that terminal without you getting caught in the process.::His comment confirmed her suspicions that he would be able to work out what the device was designed to do. With her professional pride wounded, she made no attempts to sugar the pill as she effectively passed on her orders of confidentiality.::Menar: ::Frostily:: Look, Lieutenant, I'm sure I don't have to spell out that if I can't talk about the reason why this was built to anyone then you can't talk about the fact that it even exists? Or do you think you're onto something now because you worked out what we were building?::Mc Ghee considered this. It was obvious enough that he had to keep his mouth shut, but the question was easy to enough to answer.::Mc Ghee: Lieutenant, I doubt I could hand you weapon without you figuring out what it is and that ::pointing at the probe:: is just the same. An interface for computers isn’t necessarily needed to talk. Combined with a large data point and upload link and you’ve got a transmitting device that can send information. :: catching her look :: We’re both not fools and have been doing our jobs long enough. You only called me because you have no time; if you had, you would’ve solved the problem yourself.::She edged towards him, her eyes locked with his, and no hint of a smile on her face.::Menar: You didn't answer the question...::Mc Ghee suppressed a grin. She was right; he hadn’t answered her and her tone was serious with the hint of a threat. Things were afoot and he wasn’t going to find out what.::Mc Ghee: oO Always Alert. Oo Normally I would remind you of my oath to Starfleet and consider this enough. In this case however; I have no idea that this device exists, its intended purpose or who created it, you have my word. Does that suffice?::The Ktarian smiled like a jackal and took a few steps backward. The irony of the moment was delicious. His word was to be good enough, and yet hers wasn't?::Menar: The word of a Starfleet officer always suffices, Mr. Mc Ghee. For me, anyway.::The Chief left the work station and made for the door. Keying his code the doors parted and he paused::Mc Ghee: Lieutenant I unintentionally insulted you a few moments ago by inferring that you may be acting illegally. Please accept my apologies. I am aware you would do nothing dishonorable to the fleet or your unit. Goodnight.::Lex raised an eyebrow as the engineer pulled a rapid U-turn. Her scathing comment had apparently made him aware of how unreasonable she felt he was being. After all, the situation was difficult for her as well, and had she any option other than to request his help and drag him into a pit of mysteries, she would have taken it. She hesitated for a moment before answering him; it was just for long enough to let her irritation disperse.::Menar: Think nothing of it. Goodnight. TBCA JP byCommander Tallis RhulFirst OfficerFederation Embassy Duronis IIUSS Thunder NCC-70605andLt.(jg) Jaxon Mc GheeChief Engineering OfficerEmbassy Duronis II USS Thunder NCC 70605
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