Anomalous Readings

Posted on Sat Dec 9th, 2023 @ 5:41pm by Commander Kevin Lance

Mission: CSI: Chuck Norris
Location: USS Chuck Norris
Timeline: Current

on:
{Officers' Quarters}

The Captain had the ship on yellow alert since departing Vulcan, meaning that everyone was on duty unless they were sleeping. But on a ship as compact as the USS Chuck Norris, the traditional duty areas for crew not on watch were minimal. Flight Control, Tactical, and Ship’s Operations shared the same administrative area and crew members were packed in much like sardines in a can. On joint agreement of the division heads, normally off duty crew members were permitted to work elsewhere.

Which suited Kevin just fine as it allow him the privacy to work on the investigation from his quarters. The security software was not as effective as Admiral Desai has indicated as the computer tech had been able to detect an increased usage of memory but hadn’t traced it back to him. Still, the increase in capacity was much more than it should have been. The protocols duplicated only those ship’s systems and databases that Kevin was actively using and should have only increase computer core usage by a small fraction. But the core was running at double capacity.

It was as if someone else was making additional demands on the computer core.

Kevin’s analysis of the anomalous energy signals had started to bear fruit. Through they could not be associated with any of the ship’s systems, they were innocuous enough to not warrant additional investigation. Deeper analysis, however, showed a common thread through six of them. Kevin wasn’t adept in the sciences but they all bore trace similarities to transporter effects but were more stable and much longer in duration. Less like dematerializing an object or a person and more like a door or a portal.

The six anomalies had appeared in the Gazerite delegate’s quarters, shuttle bay, in the medical bay twice, the mess hall, and the Captain’s Ready Room. Kevin noted the times on his PADD. The anomaly in the delegate’s quarters had occurred before the discovery of the body and the rest after. One of the anomalies in the medical bay was recent nearly coinciding with Kronnelti’s encounter with the intruder.

The how was starting to become apparent but not the who or the why. Kevin considered sending his findings to Admiral Desai but the content wasn’t worth the risk in trying to bypass the Captain’s communication lock-down. No, he would have to wait until he had something more substantial to report.

In the meanwhile, he program a subroutine to highlight to his PADD if any additional anomalies fitting the profile occurred. He also included a protocol to send security and intruder alert.

There was a chime from the door. Kevin closed the security program from the quarter’s computer and stowed his PADD before unlocking the door. His quarter’s mate, a Lieutenant Junior Grade from the Engineering Division, stood outside. “Why was the door locked?”

“I took a shower,” Kevin confessed, “I forgot to unlock the door when I was done.”

“You took a shower?” the engineering officer asked incredulously, “During a yellow alert?”

“We have been on alert since departing Vulcan,” Kevin explained, “One must keep up appearances.”

His quarter’s mate was aware of Kevin’s fastidiousness regarding personal hygiene and uniform. “Well you better not let the XO know,” and he let the matter drop.

“I will let you have the room,” Kevin announced, “I am due on the bridge in a hour anyways.”

:off

Lieutenant Kevin Lance
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Chuck Norris