Let's Steal Fire From The Gods!

Posted on Sun Jun 27th, 2021 @ 10:42am by Ensign Elegy Nascimento & Lieutenant Darru

Mission: Mission 4 - Eden
Location: The Caelestis - Planetarium
Timeline: MD 164 - 10:20 hours
1364 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

From the starlight twinkling into the auditorium, Ensign Elegy Nascimento was inclined to assume this compartment was located somewhere along the hull of the alien starship. However, the away teams' extensive mapping of the ship would assure him that they were deep within the core of the vessel. As he strode in further, Elegy could see the auditorium was set up with comfortable chairs and sofas like many of the other areas of the ship designed for recorded or live entertainment. What made this one different was the massive domed ceiling and the constellations of light being projected upon it, likely with holograms.

"One of the other science teams found this room yesterday," Elegy said, acknowledging the efforts of the crew. Looking around him, he added, "We think it could be like a planetarium."

Darru looked up at the domed ceiling and nodded. The likelihood that it was a planetarium was high. It would be perfect for anyone who like that type of thing. It was not something that appealed to him but it did to other colleagues and scientists. “It is likely Ensign it is. It looks more for entertainment in this room. Have you shared with anyone else?” He wondered thinking this would be a good morale boost to some of the crew.

Nodding at Darru's question, Elegy replied, "Yes, Lieutenant. I reported the planetarium's location to Lieutenant Davis, in the hopes he could add it to the crew's recreation." Elegy's mouth tensed up, as if he'd just eaten a whole bag of lemons. Narrowing his eyes, Elegy remarked, "Aurelius... he doesn't get my humour. I think he warned the armoury to watch out for me stealing one of these sofas for my quarters."

Darru glanced up at the planetarium before he looked back at the human. “I believe that not many people get your humour, Ensign.” The Vulcan commented on. “I am not sure where you would put the sofa in your quarters though. There is not exactly the space for it.”

The only immediate reaction from Elegy was a momentary narrowing of his eyes. Otherwise, his expression remained even, almost deadpan. Responding to Darru's curiosity only obliquely, Elegy said, "I made a bad first impression on Aurelius. He thinks I'm a thief. That doesn't mean I'd steal a sofa." While he spoke, Elegy heard the other member of their away team admiring the compartment behind him. He turned to greet Ensign McArthur, all the while reading her face to guess at how much she had heard.

"ohh nice" Elf said from behind them. "I like this place."

"You're gonna like this place even more," Elegy replied eagerly, changing his tone completely. He cocked his head to the side and swept an arm at the nearest computer panel. Like everywhere else on the ship, the graphic interfaces were displayed on smooth black polymer panels. "I have to assume entertainment data has fewer security locks than operational data," Elegy said, hopefully. "Do you think we could gather enough intel to start to map new star charts of this region?"

“I am not an expert on star charts or navigating by them but someone with those skills would be more than adequate to create something.” The Vulcan was sure of it but did they have the skills of someone onboard still it was this another skill that someone would have to learn to keep them all alive.

Responding to Elegy's touch, the computer panel lit up with a spiderweb of blue text and contact points. Unlike some of the other interfaces he'd studied, this one appeared simpler to operate. There were fewer menu options and the contact points were much larger. Even without a grasp on the language, he'd started to guess at the functionality the last time he had explored this compartment. Perhaps the interface had been designed for more junior members of the crew. "How about you, Ensign?" Elegy asked of Elspeth. "Did you study any stellar cartography back on Earth?"

"Yes, I am a pilot," she said with a smile. "But have you considered asking the AI?" she moved to the console. She placed her hands on it, "So many options."

Darru could not decide whether asking the AI or as she referred to herself Emergency Disaster Engagement Network was a smart idea or not. "I believe we should ignore first before approaching E.D.E.N." Darru commented on looking at the blue text on the screen. "Have communication looked at this language to try and work it out?" With how many bright communication minds onboard especially with the Captain being one of them he could not imagine it would not have happened but sometimes a logical route was not always the correct way with humans.

"Yes, Lieutenant," Elegy replied with an enthusiastic nod. He didn't look away from the computer interface when he spoke, though. He tapped a couple of the menu options on the panel. "I believe they've commenced work on translating the written language," Elegy said, "but their attentions are better spent on the warning labels in engineering and the larder. My experiences of E.D.E.N. have been... mercurial. Her control over the ship systems appears to be... limited? Even without E.D.E.N., I think I've got this system well in hand." Elegy touched one more button and a holographic starscape coalesced overhead. The lights burned to life above them like a fireworks display at its zenith.

"She has some gaps in her programming, damage, or so she told me" Elf replied absently as she studied the starscape. "Hmmm..." her wordless musing was all they got as she studied it.

Darru blinked at the sudden lights above and winced for a moment before he adjusted to the change. “Limited is the correct term that I would use. Engineering should be looking at that.” He mused knowing it was not that simple.

"Can it show where we are in relation to this map?" Elf muttered and began to examine the console again.

“I am guessing we would need to know more of the language to work it better Ensign,” Darru commented looking up at the stars. Nothing seemed familiar about the pattern but nothing did about any of the star charts for 160 odd days.

Shrugging slightly, Elegy remarked, "We don't have to solve it today, but if we can get the data back to Atlantis' computer" --he waved his hand-scanner as it recorded the holographic images-- "It's analytical processors should point us in the right direction. Judging by this room, it looks to be designed for entertainment more than navigation. The focus of these star charts would be focused on their planet of origin or one of their destinations, I imagine."

Darru nodded it was a good point and likely the correct assumption from the sofas and the way it was laid out. “Maybe you should suggest it to the Captain,” Darru suggested. “Could be used to elevate some of the boredom you humans are feeling.” He had seen it with many of the crew recently - Arguments over stupid things, disinterest in duties among other things he had noticed recently.

"Hmm, lack of imagination" Elf muttered. She sat on the floor in front of the console and opened it up to look inside.

"I believe that is not true Ensign. The crew has exhausted anything to relieve their boredom after a year of being together. It hits any crew when they had prolonged exposure to each other." Darru found himself defending the crew and what they were feeling. It was one of the great studies that he had, had been developing since their forced time together, humans were a fascinating species.

Looking up at the smattering of holographic stars swirling above their heads, Elegy said glumly, "This is where we find ourselves." He tapped a finger on his hand-scanner, making certain it was continuing to record the positions of the stars. "It may not be fair, it may not be possible, it may not engage the deepest parts of our minds," Elegy said, his voice getting steely. "This is where we find ourselves."