Posted by Lieutenant Commander Maxwell Wynter (Chief Engineer / 2nd Officer) in Engineering Lab - The Artifact

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Kiama Naim ((A) Chief Science Officer) in Engineering Lab - The Artifact

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Kiama Naim ((A) Chief Science Officer) in Engineering Lab - The Artifact
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Max sat on a stool and stared at the case. Measuring a simple cubic foot in size the metal of the casing was clearly old. Centuries so. Covered in rust and tarnish there was little that could be identified at this point, but the metal was of a type that he could not identify and the case defied all attempts to scan the interior.

Inside it, was like nothing existed. It wasn’t as if the casing stopped scans, it didn’t. He could tell exactly how thick the case was, no more than 10mm of solid metal. After that, nothing. It was like nothing existed beyond the walls of the case. There was no power signature from within yet, Max was confused as to why nothing was coming back from his scans. He could lift it, sure. It wasn’t exactly heavy and yet there was a feeling that something was different about it. Max couldn’t explain the feeling and yet it was there inside him. Not on any of his screens or tools, but he would swear that the Box had something in it that gave him that feeling. He was an Engineer, and when the tools failed, he trusted his gut and instinct.

=/\= Lieutenant Naim, it’s Max. Listen, you know that archaeological dig that we stopped by recently and the artifact that we brought on board for study? I have something I need your help with. If you are free, I could use your thoughts in Engineering Lab 1 =/\=

Lt Cmdr Wynter, CE

Kiama was in the main science lab when Max contacted her. Her left elbow was propped up on the desk in front of her, her chin resting on her left hand and her right forearm was lying on the desk. Every now and then she tabbed her cheekbone subconsciously with her index finger while staring fixedly at the screen in front of her. To her fellow scientists it didn’t came as much of a surprise that she didn’t react at all to the call. They also knew by now that trying to talk to her would have little to no effect. So after a couple of moments had passed, NE Rel Ch’qarass got up from his seat and walked over to her. With his antennae twitching slightly, he placed his blue hand gently on her shoulder and said, “Lieutenant?”

Kiama jumped slightly in her seat and inhaled sharply as she felt someone touching her. Both officers looked apologetically at each other and Kiama was aware that - as always - her fellow scientists wondered how they could startle their Betazoid department head so easily. “I’m sorry, Lieutenant. I didn’t mean to startle you. But Commander Wynter called. Something about an artifact,” NE Ch’qarass said. Smiling warmly at him, she replied, “No need to apologize. And thank you for letting me know.”

As Ch’qarass walked back to his station, Kiama tapped her combadge and said, =/\= Naim here. I’m sorry for the delay, Commander. Could you repeat your question? I was focused on some readings and didn’t catch what you said. My apologies. =/\= One day you’ll get in serious trouble for this, she silently chastised herself while waiting for Max’s answer.

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO

=/\= Not a problem Kiama, I’m in Engineering Lab 1 with one of the artifacts we found on the archeological dig. I could use your help if you have a few moments, the artifact isn’t co-operating with my scans. =/\=

=/\= On my way, Sir, =/\= Kiama replied, feeling relieved that Max didn’t seem angry. With a nod and her smile at her fellow scientists, she headed out of the lab.

Leaning back, he looked at the case and rubbed his jaw. Absently he turned the case around slightly, as if looking at it from a different angle was going to bring a new idea to light.

Lt Cmdr Wynter, CE

It didn’t take her long till she arrived at the engineering lab. As she entered the lab she took everything in while heading straight towards Max. As always her hair was pulled back in an elaborate braid and her uniform and all seemed to to in perfect order. Though at a closer look he might notice a dark red streak on her left cheek and a stain of apparently the same colour on the inside of her left sleeve. Raising one eyebrow and smiling at him, she asked, “How can I help you, Commander?”

~Lt.jg. Naim, aCSO