USS Cherokee 
SNW, by Steve Weller, Part 8
12012.06

Starring_
Steve Weller as CO_Ayidee, Morat, Col_Ariens and Producer
John Garrison as CEO_LtCmdr_Hull
Zach Farland as CNS_LtJg_Daniels
Pablo Delsoglio as CIV_Capt_Marek
Absent 
Mike as EO_Ens_Sanosuke
Leave of Absence
Topper Loghry as CTO_LT_Q`ten
Trish Yarborough as CMO-McIntyre
Ship's Log, Stardate 12012.06.  The crew are on their way to the Siernan military response center, the area where they coordinate their defenses against the raiders and other threats.

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CIV_Capt_Marek says:
::walking with the rest of the group, with his usual Vulcan poker face::

Host Morat says:
All: The facility entrance is just ahead.  A few quick things.  First, no recordings are to be made inside.  State secrets and all that, yes?  And second, if any of them ask anything of us, we need to comply immediately.  Rare to happen but there have been instances where guests got in the way of a response, does not sit well.

CNS_LtJg_Daniels says:
::With Morat and the others going to the next stop on the tour::

Host CO_Ayidee says:
Morat: Understood and agreed.

CIV_Capt_Marek says:
Morat: Totally understood.

CNS_LtJg_Daniels says:
Morat: Okay I'll try to stay out of everybody's way.

ACTION: The transport docks with the facility, a rather nondescript metal building with few external windows.

Host Morat says:
All: This is it.  Not much to look at on the outside, but since it all had to be built from scratch instead of using an underground cavern, they military decided to spare no cut corner.

CIV_Capt_Marek says:
All: Very spartan design on this building. I guess the shape follows the function.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
::Looking out the transport's windows.::

Host Morat says:
CIV: To a point, yes.  It required a lot of space and, from the processing, a lot of cooling.  The outer areas are all radiators to keep the internal  components working at maximum efficiency.

Host Morat says:
CIV: But the Spartan?  If the computer is translating correctly for that term, it was more a matter of not spending more than they needed to.  Why spend on decorations on a building no one gets close to when you can use those resources to greater purpose elsewhere?

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
ALL:  That makes sense, a facility like this is heavy on technology, which produces all sorts of heat.

CIV_Capt_Marek says:
Morat: Logical reasoning. ::raises an eyebrow::

Host Morat says:
CEO: It collects sensor information from satellites, ships, subspace relays, all sorts of areas.  A lot of data to process, yes.
::Finishes the connection to the airlock and opens the door.::  All: Right this way.

CNS_LtJg_Daniels says:
::Follows Morat and the others through the airlock passageway::

CIV_Capt_Marek says:
Morat: Wonder if this archives have collected information on the Uruk raiders?

Host Morat says:
CIV: They do, but not much of it is here.  There are data collection facilities scattered about. Would take up to much space here.

CIV_Capt_Marek says:
Morat: And could this data be shared with us?

Host Col_Ariens says:
 All: War Minister, crew of the Federation Starship Cherokee, welcome to the Military Response Control Center.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
::Follows the rest of the party into the facility::

Host Morat says:
CIV: Most of it is declassified, we can inquire about the rest.

CIV_Capt_Marek says:
::notices the Colonel and nods::

CNS_LtJg_Daniels says:
Ariens: Thank you.

CIV_Capt_Marek says:
Morat: Much appreciated.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Ariens:  Thank you Colonel!  Thank you for opening your facility to us.

Host Col_Ariens says:
CIV: Most of the data is available, yes.  We have what we collect sent to a processing center every 2 days where it is analyzed and processed for storage.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Col_Ariens:  Sir, how long has this control center been in operation?

Host Col_Ariens says:
CEO: It is an honor to meet those who serve their people from off world.  Most of my "contact" with off worlders involves sending ships to drive them off so this is a welcome pace.  This one is the latest one, built 10 years ago with space for expansion as needed.  It is hoped it will last another 20.  Those of us who know how it works are thinking more another 10 at most.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Col_Ariens:  Is that for redundancy, or for coverage?

Host Col_Ariens says:
CEO: Eventually our processing needs outpace the space we have available.  Not to mention the effect of the ocean on the materials used.  Limits some of our choices .

Host Col_Ariens says:
All: The corridor you are in now is one of four access points into the building.    There are access points along the walls to the actual cooling centers, but if you want to see them we'd need to get you some breathing gear.  It is all liquid cooled through the side passages.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Col_Ariens:  Hmmm, you know...I just had a thought, our old world warships, they were called submarines, they had intercontinental missiles onboard, and they could launch while submerged.  To get them to the surface, the entire missile was propelled upwards to the surface, but to keep the missile "dry" it was surrounded by a cloud of bubbles.  Perhaps something like that would deter corrosion.  

Host Col_Ariens says:
CEO: It would for a time, but we're talking decades of time here.  That is why most of our habitats and work areas are built in caverns.  Natural protection from the environment.  We just need too much cooling here to use either a natural or artificial cavern for this type of facility.  Or should I say it is more efficient for us to do it this way.  We could do it, but sometimes technology overthinks things, eh?

CIV_Capt_Marek2 says:
Morat: I imagine the power bills are enormous .. ::smiles::

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Col_Ariens:  Absolutely it does ::grins:: Could we ask for a walking tour of the facility?  We ::points to his shipmates and Captain:: are very interested.

Host Col_Ariens says:
CIV: That is, well, beyond my pay grade.  ::Grins.::  But for a stationary facility, yes, we draw a lot.

Host Col_Ariens says:
CEO: Of course, that is why you are here.  The hall has a bit of a story for interest but not enough to make a trip.  The main work center is straight ahead down this hall.  ::Turns and leads the others down to the end of the hall and through an open blast door.::

Host Col_Ariens says:
All: The facility can be sealed up in case of an emergency, but in my lifetime it has only done so in drills.  We just build it in in case the planet it self is ever attacked.

CNS_LtJg_Daniels says:
::Follows behind the others::

CIV_Capt_Marek2 says:
Colonel: Seems you have covered all the basis.

ACTION: As the crew steps through the door they step out onto a large raised area overlooking a work center.  The deck goes 30 meters before it reaches a staircase down to the lower deck.

Host Col_Ariens says:
CIV: We like to think so.  But as the old saying goes, you always have all the answers until you get the wrong question.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Col_Ariens:  So, so true, and always at the wrong time!

CIV_Capt_Marek2 says:
Colonel: Indeed. And then it is too late to look for a correct answer. Improvisation is key to survival.

CNS_LtJg_Daniels says:
::Looking out over the work center and is impressed by its size::

Host Col_Ariens says:
All: Directly below us are the offices for those not on the main floor.  Data processors, officer spaces, cafeteria, everything to support this center is in this space.  Down below the data that comes in is analyzed and threats are graded and prioritized.  We get dozens of reports of raids daily, but typically only 1 or 2 raids at the most actually pan out.

ACTION: In the center of the room is a 3-Dimensional hologram representing the Star System, and behind that another representing the surrounding systems.  Dozens of ships are represented in each in varying colors.  The Cherokee can be noted in green above Sierna.

CIV_Capt_Marek2 says:
::stares at the 3d hologram::

Host Col_Ariens says:
All: The displays allow us to track and categorize vessels we have on sensors.  There are currently...2 patrol vessels moving to investigate a vessel who's threat level is indeterminate.  The rest of the patrol fleet is on standard patrol.  They are the blue vessels.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
::Approaches the Hologram and views the Cherokee and its orbit above Sierna and the other plotted ships::

Host Col_Ariens says:
All: Green are identified vessels, declared to be no threat at current.  Yellow are minimal expected threat, vessels here on business but not ones we can look too closely at.  Orange are unidentified or unconfirmed.  Vessels that are showing signs they might be worthy of more investigation.  If a red pops up, then we have an issue.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Col_Ariens:  An excellent plot of your planet and approaches by vessels, very informative!

Host Col_Ariens says:
CEO: It is either this or have a patrol vessel investigate every ship coming in.  We don't have that kind of fleet to cover the traffic through system on a busy day.

Host Col_Ariens says:
All: If a red does get confirmed as a threat, it turns pink and the three nearest patrol vessels are dispatched to intercept.  Hopefully before they can choose a target, but typically they are hard to identify before that comes about.

CIV_Capt_Marek2 says:
Colonel: Quite a nice system. I wonder the range of your LRS ?

Host Col_Ariens says:
CIV: Planetary are a bit limited by the atmosphere, about half a light year.  Satellites can go out to about 1 and a half.  But we collect sensor information from ships in subspace range with us.  Many ships volunteer the information so we can make their trips safer.  So it is hard to give an exact answer to that.

CIV_Capt_Marek2 says:
Colonel: I see. Well, it also depends on the amount of time needed for an answer to the possible threat. Not an easy issue to deal with

ACTION: An orange vessel rapidly adjusts course when a patrol vessel alters course to investigate it.  The vessel immediately turns red.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Col_Ariens:  Sir, what is the facilities power source, are you on the planetary grid, or are these facilities self-sufficient? 

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
::Notices the change of color of a ship on the 3d holographic plot.::

Host Col_Ariens says:
CEO: We are on the power grid, but we also have a fusion reactor for emer...hold on.

Host Col_Ariens says:
All: It looks like you will get to see how we go about in action.  Just to warn you, I may be called away if the general requires my services.

CEO_LtCmdr_Hull says:
Col_Ariens:  Of course Colonel, we'll stay out of the way as well

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