Posted by Ensign Demil Lis (Scientist) in Side-Sim - Science Labs - What In the DNA?

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade V’alura Belmont (Chief Science Officer) in Side-Sim - Science Labs - What In the DNA?

Posted by Ensign Demil Lis (Scientist) in Side-Sim - Science Labs - What In the DNA?
[snip]

Goodness! A telepathic super soldier. And someone on this ship was experimenting with the possibility. She took a look at the first and third chromosomes, and her frown deepened. Their mad scientist knew what they were doing that’s for sure. She returned to their list and pointed out their likely candidates. “This isn’t the work of some experimenting mad scientist. This is someone who knows what they are doing. Dr. Singh oversees the exobiology lab and he has a background in genetics. He’s been in and out of the labs all day.” Including one visit between Demil’s discovery and their arrival to the lab.

“But look here.” V’alura pointed towards another name. “Dr. Velkal has made three visits to the lab over the past week. She’s in planetary science, so why is she making so many visits in exobiology? She does have a background in biology, specifically planetary ecosystems. She’s an experienced and accomplished scientist.” Then there was the last name that stood out. “Dr. Quloxia, civilian scientist, and married to one of the engineers I think. He’s trained in a wide variety of scientific fields and usually fills in for other scientists or to shore up numbers for the harder projects.” Both Dr. Quloxia and Dr. Velkal were also in since Demil’s last visit.

Lt. Jg. Belmont (CSO)

“Velkal seems the most likely of the three, as the other 2 have reasons to be here. We still should investigate all of them,” Demil said. “Should we let Commodore Andone, Commander Dirida, or security know?” A sudden idea struck him right after he asked the question, and he inquired “Do we have any tiny hidden cameras?”

Ens. Lis

V’alura tapped her thumb against the side of the PaDD. She snorted softly at that last part, “There’s no need to hide cameras, but they would be worth examining. I’ll make a report to the XO but this is my department and I will find the one responsible for this experiment.” Preferably as soon as possible and before this experiment can go any further. V’alura examined the sample one last time before setting it back into it’s proper place. Let their perp think their experiment remains undetected for now.

“Let’s review cameras. See if that gives us any more insight. “V’alura moved to access a separate console, and brought up the footage in a 360 holo-display. The exobiology lab shown in miniature complete with two properly scaled figures of V’alura and Demil. “This is the current feed.” V’alura raised her hand and waved it around, half a second later her mini-holo-self did the same. “Let’s recall the footage since you’ve discovered the altered sample.” V’alura began the recording at the moment Demil left the labs to go find her.

Lt. Jg. Belmont (CSO)

As the video feed played, all three of the named scientists, along with a few others, entered the lab staggered from each other. They retrieved several samples, including the tampered-with one, and took them over to a machine to bombard them with radiation. This was officially documented and approved, V’alura remembered the request briefly crossing her desk. They experimented for several minutes. While this was going on, one of the scientists, whose facial features were obscured but could be any of the suspects, surreptitiously did something to one of the samples.

“That’s it,” Demil told V’alura. “That’s the most recent tampering.”

Suddenly, in the video, something caused the scientists to quickly stop their experiment. They hastily replaced the samples in storage and rushed out the door. Notably, the suspect exited to the left while everyone else went right.
“That was odd,” Demil said. “It looked like they were reacting to an emergency, but there aren’t any apparent signs of one.”

Ens. Lis

“That was very odd.” V’alura said, frowning at the empty lab portrayed in the holo-display. “If there was an emergency then the computer should have alerted me to the emergency and its nature.” She pressed several keys, bringing up the lab records. There were no emergencies logged into the official lab reports. She then checked Dr. Singh’s laboratory logs but found no mention of the apparent emergency. Suspicious, but no smoking gun of evidence. It may be no actual emergency took place, or perhaps Dr. Singh had not compiled his daily log yet.

“Computer, replay the recording from the start.” The computer wound back time within the holo-display. V’alura waited until their suspect picked up the sample. “Pause. Look at the slight distortion to the recording. Someone created a filter and either installed it to the recording program or activated it when they needed to access the sample. It’s not difficult to do, but it does take some technical know-how. It’s subtle enough that the casual observer wouldn’t notice the filter. If you look we can’t quite make out the faces of any one else in the room.”

Lt. Jg. Belmont (CSO)