Event Horizon

[Chirakis 1]

Event Horizon

A Joint Log by Ambassador Joy Two and Commander Chirakis

Were Ambassador Joy Two not an android her statement may have been tossed aside or lost amid the hubbub of activity and rush of communication in the Control Tower. Within a matter of minutes activity had shot from normal operations to dealing with a call for emergency aid from the colony on TKR-117. A medical emergency, Administrator McDowell had said, possible radiation poisoning. While Operations Chief Porter shifted into high gear coordinating and dispatching supplies, personnel, and runabouts, Dr. Lepage, Ambassador Drankum, and Kirel had conferred in the center.

 

Joy, on the other hand, had remained at a free comm console, calmly offering assistance from the Mudd ship that was currently docked at Kobheeria, suggesting options, and, as was her habit, politely awaiting a request from the biological beings her processors were programmed to serve.

 

After some time there came a break of a few seconds wherein everyone's thoughts paused, their voices stilled, and the comms silenced. At that precise instant Kirel noticed Joy standing before them and realized that the timing might have been precisely calculated for maximum effect. Such had been the habit of Joy's sister, Ten, with whom Kirel had served for several years. It followed that the same Asimov processing had occurred here.

 

"Ambassador," she had said as she addressed the commanding officer, a look of grave concern clouding a normally polite and graceful expression. "I am a bit concerned that Doctor McDowell's team was doing archeology, but she would not say what she was excavating. I don't believe a colonial survey would have missed a planet wide radiation problem. It seems likely that the radiation is related to Hannah's dig. If so, they might not wish to stay near the dig. The problem could be associated with ancient alien technology."

 

Kirel knew Joy's expression well, and given the message to Ambassador Drankum she realized that one of Joy's three dominant Priorities must have been violated.

 

Priority one was the Prime Directive: cultures ought to be able to choose how they develop, and should not be forced or coerced. Priority two pertained to Asimov's First Law of Robotics. Sentient life is sacred. All steps should be taken to prevent loss of life, which implies all steps should be taken to prevent war. Priority three was to preserve, protect and defend the Federation Constitution.

 

After a few quick calculations of her own, Kirel surmised that Priority two had come into play. Because of a supposed excavation, sentient life – the lives of the colonists – was in danger. Furthermore, if the excavation revealed the presence of an ancient culture and/or technology, there could be the possibility that whatever they had found or could find might lead to conflict, which could eventually lead to war.

 

That, however, was not Kirel's immediate concern. She knew Joy Two well enough to recognize from her posture and mannerisms that one of those three issues was in play, and that failure to figure out which one was the problem and resolve the concern was apt to result in an intensely stubborn and emotional android who happened to be in the Control Tower. Having a Mudd android going into emotion chip overload in the Control Tower during a crisis was, indeed, something to be avoided. She had witnessed such in Joy Ten. A stubborn and emotional android was not a pretty sight.

 

After a glance at Ambassador Drankum then back to Joy, Kirel was on the comm. to Dr. Lepage, Lt Feretti, and Lt Dabi with an update, emphasizing that the information was hearsay, with conjecture on the part of Dr. McDowell. She tossed in another due diligence and an all caution for good measure, then shifted her attention back to Joy to see if her Priority had been satisfied. If so, Joy could relax, and a CT event of emotionally catastrophic proportions avoided.

 

Joy seemed satisfied. All was well in the universe.

[Joy 0]

Subject : The Alistair Flu

From : Ambassador Joy Two, Aegis

To : Ambassador Joy Eight, MMS Mudd

CC : Ambassador Joy Seven, Earth

Ambassador Drankum, Aegis

Commander Chirakis, Aegis

Classification : Confidential

Precedence : Immediate

Encryption Joy0208 : A732F855

 

There is a health problem on Alastair (TKR 117) described as caused by radiation and having flu like symptoms. Several runabouts from Aegis will be able to reach Alastair significantly ahead of the Mudd. They will have medical personnel, while the Mudd will not. Thus, there will be little aid the Mudd will be able to provide that Starfleet won't be able to handle as well. The two exceptions might be to provide a faster medevac to the full medical capabilities of Aegis, and to provide some radiation resistant workers should there be a need to contain some radiation breech.

 

There seems a disconnect between the flu like symptoms and radiation as the alleged source of the problem. Flu symptoms are normally caused by airborne virus, and attack the respiratory system. Radiation normally attacks the entire body. One might be concerned about radioactive dust. Dust, gathering in the lungs and nose, might account for the flu like symptoms.

 

I am also concerned that the Alastair project is involved in an Archeological dig. I would think a planet wide radiation problem should have been detected by the pre colonial surveys. Thus, the contamination hopefully should be localized. It is possible (though by no means certain) that the archeological site might be the source of the contamination. The presence of radiation implies the possibility of ancient technology.

 

All this is, of course, conjecture.

 

Eight, I would recommend that you offer your services as a fast transport, but unless there is a time critical need, the Mudd might not be required at Alastair. If not, you might visit Aegis for consultations. It is time we shared news, and Crystal seems to think she has nothing to wear. One may not indefinitely keep a Rhee from a promised increase in her wardrobe.

 

Seven, I am beginning have suspicions that there have been irregularities in the process of authorizing the colony. It is too soon to investigate. There is considerable secrecy about the nature of the dig. There may be a valid need for the secrecy. Thus, it doesn't seem time for a hue and cry. You might make a few quiet inquiries, but let's see what comes out of this flu incident.

 

 

Ambassador Joy Two