From abell@deakin.edu.au Thu Jun 11 22:42:27 1998 Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 01:23:23 -0600 From: Andrew Bell To: INDIGO FLEET List Serve Subject: [INDIGO] SB OMEGA - Who said thermometers were no use! ---OFFICIAL INDIGO FLEET TRANSMISSION--- Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 17:17:06 +1000 From: Andrew Bell Subject: [INDIGO] SB OMEGA - Who said thermometers were no use! <> Scene: SB OMEGA, Outside of the Dalriadan quarters. FMD 6.1030 "Dieje to Cmdr. Henderson." "I know you have been busy working with Finn and Hevall, but I need you to put some transmission security protocols in place. I want to know EVERY transmission that goes in or out of this Starbase. I am afraid that the Dalriada may send out something that could compromise our security. Use the backup computer systems if you have to, but I want even carrier waves investigated." "That's all I can ask for Commander. I would also like you to get updates from all our ships in the fleet for any unusual activity. Once we find the Dalriada, we will ease back on those orders." Dieje responded. <> Condor finally took a breath as the connection closed. Transmission security protocols on every transmission going out. That was going to take time, something they didn't appear to have a great deal of. There had been sketchy reports coming through of late, indicating Dalriada sightings in a couple of places, but nothing concrete had been reported. There was an uneasy silence, which had everyone on their toes. "OK everyone, we need to get security protocols in place on all transmission bands." "Even carrier wave?", came the query from one of the junior staff. "Even carrier wave. We've got a hostile force, or more than one force out there somewhere, and it's possible that they have people here on the base. We need to make communications secure, and I want to know about anything strange, different or out of place going out on any band. Understood?" The chorus of understood from those in the command centre was sharp, and followed by increased activity throughout. The communications team, which had just finished rectifying the communications problems with the Battle Bridge, had hoped to have a reasonable break, but that wasn't likely. It was only a few moments later that James Bennett, the head of the team, strolled in and looked at his recently arrived boss. "I take it that we're not getting that break you promised?" "Unfortunately you're going to have to hold off on it a bit. I need security protocols in place on all transmission frequencies!" "Nice easy job. And I suppose they were needed yesterday?" "That easy to guess?" "We'll get to it, but it's going to take some time. Unavoidable!" "As soon as you can get it done. The sooner the better, but no pressure at all!" "Sure. None whatsoever!" Unbeknownst to all of them, during the time that the protocols were being put into place, a message travelled out from the starbase, headed to Dalriada via an intricate route. The only sign of it's existance was an obscure log entry disguised amongst hundreds of standard entries. It would be quite some time before it was discovered! <> Fleet Mission Date: 6.2340 Scene: Captain's Office There was something going on that K'Bronn did not like, and he knew that he had to act quickly. "Do not breath a word of this to anyone. If word gets out, we could have serious problems." K'Bronn noticed Condor Henderson tense at first at the suggestion that he withhold information, but he nodded, recognising the importance of the situation. Siol's right-hand man interrupted the XO. Receiving the nod from K'Bronn, Siol replied. "Go ahead, Nick." Siol thought for a moment. "Place a squad outside the door and on all turbolifts in the area. Wait for further orders. Nuave out." K'Bronn nodded at the Security officer. "Good thinking." He turned to the Chief Engineer. "Ensign Finn, I want a detailed map of all access to the Situation Room, and all routes leading to it. I'd also like you to see if you can get us some way of seeing and hearing what is going on in there." As Simon began to move to the door, sensing K'Bronn's urgency, the XO called after him "And see if you can break that force field!" K'Bronn turned next to the new OPS officer, Condor Henderson, late of the Lexington. "Mr Henderson, Liaise with Mr Finn and Mr Nuave. I want the area around the Situation Room so secure that not even a glob fly could pass." "Mr Nuave, break out the rifles. Seal of the whole area around that room - seal off the whole floor if you have to!" If it were Admiral Phaser who was to blame, and he could not bring himself to believe it, then Starfleet security was at risk. <> Condor departed at almost a trot, knowing that this was about the last situation they needed at the moment. A hostage situation, involving every senior officer in the fleet, and all security and communications access shut down. And with the Dalriada close by. The day just continued to get better and better! He called James Bennett over, who'd returned to the Command Centre after a well deserved break. "OK, James, I want a communications dragnet put over the Situation Room. We have a situation there, no pun intended. Keep a lid on this. Also, there's a forcefield of some sort in place. Engineering are going to try and crack it, but see if you can find a back door or alternate route inside. We need to find some way to find out what's going on in there!" "I'll get on it!" "Good, OK, what's the current status of the fleet?", he asked, turning to another officer standing close by. "NOVA docked in the last half hour. A number of scattered reports are coming in about attacks and battles on the test range, but we still don't have anything concrete as yet. The NOVA insisted on urgent communications with the Fleet staff, so we patched them through. Things have been quiet from DANTE and ALIBIGHERI. In fact, there has been little, if anything. We are expecting a shuttle back from there inside the next hour." "Whatever is going on out there, that shuttle pilot can provide some details. Make sure he reports to the Commander upon arrival! How is the checking of our communications going?" "All communications since the protocols were put in place are clean. We're working progressively back through the 24 hours prior to implementation at the moment. Should be finished in about 3 hours time." "Let me know when you have something!" FMD: 7.0015 "Condor, I might have an idea on getting a feel for what is happening inside the situation room!", said James, coming over to where Condor monitored the goings on. "Go ahead." "Well, no matter what precautions whoever is holding them hostage is taking, he can't stop body heat signatures. Now, we wouldn't know identities, or what they were discussing, but if we dropped the temperature in the room by 5 degrees, we'd be able to use a filter to at least get a count on who is in there through heat signatures. I assume that the environmental controls are one lot he wouldn't have thought of. The only thing they control and detect is ambient room temperature." "How do they go about that again?" "They have built in sensors that detect temperature fluctuations and adjust things accordingly." "What basis do they work on?" "Standard detection of thermal waves, like all standard temperature....of course. If we configured the range at which the detectors were taking in information, we'd be able to..." "Use the temperature sensors to find out what was going on inside..." "And have an accurate picture of who was there, and what was happening." "We'd be limited to audio though. The sensors are too primitive to provide us with visual." "That would be enough." Condor tapped his comm badge. "Henderson to Finn and Nuave." [Go ahead Commander] "We may have a primitive way around our challenge. I'll come down and explain it personally! I'll be there momentarily!", he said, realising that whoever had masterminded this might just be listening. He closed the connection, then turned to James Bennett. "Good work James!" Respectfully Submitted Andrew Bell Lieutenant Commander Condor Henderson OPS, SB OMEGA SD: 100610 Email: abell@deakin.edu.au bellfam@ozramp.net.au <> FMD 6.1030 Transmission Security Protocols in place on Omega FMD 6.2340 Communications close down on Situation Room FMD 7.0015 Possible solution to sensor blackout All: The subject says it all. The ambient temperature sensors are the last thing anyone would think of, unless in a challenging situation! Jeff: Thought I'd make it challenging! And be a little inventive! OMEGA: So, is it a possible sollution, or at least partway there! ***This message sent by an official member of Indigo Fleet*** Are you also posting your message to the newsgroup?!!! ---END TRANSMISSION---