USS Cherokee 
Altrius, Part 1
11505.31

Starring_
Steve Weller as CO_Ayidee and Producer
Dawn Freeman as OPS_Cmdr_Nash
Topper Loghry as CTO_LT_Q`ten
Andrew Cotterly as CMO_LtCmdr_Talora 
Zach Farland as CNS_Ens_Daniels
Rob Bindels as FCO_Lt_Zdunovski
Absent
Jon Benson as CEO_Salor
Ship's Log, Stardate 11506.14, Captain Ayidee recording.  The ship is on its way to the Altrius system to investigate an unusual sample of seemingly manufactured material found deep within an asteroid mining sample.  We have been sent to try and figure out just where this came from.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Begin Session>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Host CO_Ayidee says:
::In Briefing room, waiting for everyone to be ready.::  All: Everyone ready to begin?

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
::in Briefing Room, waiting to hear more about this mission::

CTO_LT_Q`ten says:
::Takes his seat::

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
::Sitting and waiting::  CO: Yes, Sir.

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
:: Entering the briefing room on a very fast pace. As always on the last second. Looking for a free seat.::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: In a nut shell, the Altrius Mining Consortium was surveying potential mining sites when they discovered a bit of material that appears to be manufactured metal.  While this could be from any number of sources, the asteroid this was in was estimated to be old, even in astronomical terms.  If all the facts pan out, this would indicate that this bit of material, similar to the Tritanium our ship is built out of, was manufactured nearly  billion years ago.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO/CTO: Well, remember, the big bang that started us all has happened many times before.  The past is as infinite as the future.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: Lieutenant Artlock has been assigned to our Science department to help determine the actual age of the material based on the star system's place in its life cycle, and Ensign Grisleward is our Science department's stellar mineralogist.  They will be assigned to the Bridge for the run of this mission.

CTO_LT_Q`ten says:
CO: So the miners found an old piece of detritus left behind by some long forgotten civilization?

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: Must have been before they invented recycling.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
::Taps console and brings Altrius system map onto the monitor.::  All: Altrius is a White Dwarf system, a system that is believed to have been main sequence about 7 billion years ago and yes, that is one of the theories Lieutenant.

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
:: Thinks a bit.  They developed pretty fast. Half or Earth time.::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: We have been sent in because the Altrius system has a very small Starfleet presence, a JAG officer and an security officer, neither of which has the specialized knowledge or the equipment needed to properly determine just what we are dealing with here.

CTO_LT_Q`ten says:
CO: Why not send a science vessel?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: Starfleet chose to send the closest vessel available, and they made sure that we were equipped for the mission.  Our lab space was increased while at Starbase and crew rotated out to give us a bit more people trained to figure this out.

CTO_LT_Q`ten says:
Self: That explains quite a bit.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: Our mission pods are now set up with science pods.  Our adaptability is what has kept this class in service for such a long run, even with several potential "replacement" vessels already in operation.

CTO_LT_Q`ten says:
CO: If I may be presumptuous Captain, what has gone wrong?

OPS_Cmdr_Nash says:
CTO:  Way to go, put a jinx on this mission.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: This mission sounds like a punishment to me.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: So far nothing, unless you are talking from the perspective of the mining operation.  The potential archeological aspects of this mission have put a major dampener on their mining.   We are going to ensure there are no issues.

CTO_LT_Q`ten says:
CNS: Well do you think Starfleet would send an entire ship to investigate a piece of space scrap, unless there was something not right about it?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CNS: If I were to go along those lines I would say more that this is to give them time to decide what to do about last mission.  But for now I am not going there, exploration is Starfleet's primary mandate, is it not?

CTO_LT_Q`ten says:
CO: So we have to make sure that mining there will not cause some devastating blow to somebodies culture.  Aye sir, but we want to be prepared for anything.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: I suppose so but, unless they want a psychological assessment on a piece of old metal, I guess I can relax on this one.

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
::Frowns his eyebrows. ::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: Now isn't the time to try and find problems, we are there to see if this is part of a much larger collection of archeological samples or just a random piece that may not even be from this system.

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
:: Thinks -  This counselor talks about the same as the old one. Does that come because of his profession? ::

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CO: Not looking for problems sir, but they do have a history of sneaking up on us.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: We will start with Lieutenant Q'ten's issue, what problems do you see coming up?
CNS: And Ensign, your expertise will come up if this is not a random bit.  If we find the remains of a culture your experience could prove useful.

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CNS: You're gonna have to work like the rest of us after all.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: Thanks for making me feel needed, Sir.  ::Smiles::
CTO: At least we've had experience in mining.

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CO: Have the mining scans continued?

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
CO: Sorry to interrupt, but, did somebody do some arithmetic on the course of the scrap?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: The survey teams have moved to what would be simplest to call other orbits, the remains of other planets and so forth left over from the dying of the star.  They have also agreed to stop the intrusive tests, limiting themselves to sensor scans which are less efficient.

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CO: just wondering if they have ruled out the possibility that there may be more objects in the area.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: The asteroid in question is in orbit around the star.  The possibility that it was once from a rogue asteroid is just one theory about where it could have come from.  And has little evidence to support it.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: Do they think this... place holds some historical significance or is it just to be cautious and investigated?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: They are not equipped to handle the kind of careful extraction more samples would take.  That is what we are going there for.
CNS: At this point it's just a scrap of metal, again that is what we are going in to try and find out.

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
CO: You said it was 12 billion years old. Guess that is correct. But was that also the last use it? Or was it built 12 billion years ago and in use until a couple years ago? Might make a worlds difference.

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CO: Agreed

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: One of the labs set up during our layover is there to attempt to do a half life analysis to determine the age of the metal itself.  The age is of the asteroid based on data collected decades ago by a Starfleet survey.  So you are correct, the age of the metal is very important to determine, as well as it's origin and use if we can find it.

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
CO: I'd suggest to send a few probes. I'd like to know, if something is phoning home before entering the theater with our shiny ship. And have a rough detection of what we deal with. Starfleet is not sending us for eating yelli-pudding here.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
<Lt Artlock> FCO: What the Captain said is correct, the material surrounding the fragment is 12 billion years old.  I was part of the survey team that determined that.  Just wish we had more time to investigate the system at the time.  We had no idea from any of our samples that there was anything like this there.

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CO: What about the piece of scrap itself? Does it have a shape? How big is it? Are there any images of it?

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
Lt Artlock: I do not wish to capitulate you. I excuse myself. Had been running to long after some stubborn cows. And been to long with my nose in to many books. ::Grins::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: The mining operation has been in system for 2 years, so far they have seen no signs of unknown life forms until this object was found.
CTO: It is a slab, 1.4 meters long, .9 meters wide and about half a meter thick.  And yes, there are images.  ::Brings up the images in place of the star map, showing a bent, oddly shaped piece of metal.::

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
FCO: You chase cows?  Is that for fun or for profit?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CTO: It does not appear from these images to have been a complete object, more like a scrap of debris to my eyes.

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
CNS: Yes. :: Pauses:: , I had been working on my parents farm for the last 4-4,5 years. Milking cows, helping with the crop. And not to forget to help in my uncles Vodka factory.

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CO: Or a puzzle piece.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: You said it was a similar metal to our ship; I bet it's part of an old starship.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
CNS: Two ways to respond to that, "that is what Starfleet thinks" and "that is what Starfleet is nervous about".

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
FCO: Oh, the bottle of vodka I found in front of my door must have been from you.  Thanks, it's quite tasty.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: I'm sure the ship's inhabitants are long gone.  Not too much to eat on an asteroid.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: You better pack a lunch.

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
All: A yes. I took a box or something here, and shared with some old buddies, and the senior crew in general. And some milk for the captain.

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CNS: After 12 Billion years I doubt there would be much left of any inhabitants anyway.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: That's what I'm saying.  I don't expect to see a new species or anything.  You'll still be the oddest thing on the asteroid when we get there.

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CNS: Me? Odd?

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: Well, yeah, look at you.  Still wearing last year’s Klingon fashions.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: Any other questions or concerns before we break up here?

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
All: ::Frowns his eyebrows again and sighs.:: Still puzzled by the age. If it was from a starship or transport, I guess we should find something from conduits, electronic stuff, and maybe dead people or animals? We will see when we get there. Won't we?

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CNS: Starfleet uniforms were never Klingon fashions. Last year or any other year.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: Yes we will.  If it is a bit from a long destroyed ship, those parts may have been destroyed by the ravages of time.  Or they may be buried the same way this scrap was.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: I'm talking about your wardrobe in general.  Do you own anything that isn't black?

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
ALL: Of course we would be jumping to conclusions determining that it is a piece from a ship at this time.

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
CO: I shiver by the idea, that this might be our fate as well. Someday. I hope never.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: Yeah it could just be from a giant old can of beans, thrown out of a ship as garbage.

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CNS: chopwI' is tan colored with black markings.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: So, you want to match the cat?

Host CO_Ayidee says:
All: We are going in to investigate because those who found the object were not set up or honestly inclined to do so.  There are many questions still, it is up to us to find answers.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CO: Then that's what we'll do.

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
CO: I was just in the Shuttlebay. The shuttles are ready, in case you need one or more.

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CNS: I have a pair of Doq gloves, if that make you happy.

CNS_Ens_Daniels says:
CTO: You're funny.

CTO_LT_Q’ten says:
CO: We will do our best sir.

Host CO_Ayidee says:
FCO: I expect the shuttles will get a lot of use this mission.  Just remind the crews, now is not the time for any long term maintenance on them.

FCO_Lt_Zdunovski says:
CO: One is in maintenance, the others are ready.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Pause USS Cherokee: Altrius, Part 2>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Time Lapse: Twelve Days>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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