evolution

[T'Mar]

OFF: Have fun Luke. I'll see if I have time to post today, if not today, it will be tomorrow

[cleburnmcleod]

"Probably since the virus placed them there would be my guess." Cleburn answered. They continued their trek to the EPS taps. Once there Cleburn pulled out a tricorder and began to run some scans. The scans revealed a strange build up of energy at the taps. Cleburn tapped his comm badge.
"Commodore, this is McLeod, We are getting a massive energy build up at the current location. Please advise.
Tag

[T'Mar]

Cleburn warned T'Mar about an energy buildup. "Close off that section and shut down all power there!"
"Done sir." Cleburn replied. This way the energy surge could spread further. An explosion followed. "McLeod to bridge, we've had an explosion here sir. There is damage but no one got hurt."
"This virus is getting out of hand. We're going to shut down and purge the computer!" T'Mar replied. She called Luke and told him to prepare for a shipwide shutdown.

In fifteen minutes, the senior crew met again. T'Mar informed them of her decision. "We have to shut down the computer and erase the memory. That is the only way to get rid of the virus now. Lifesupport systems will also be shut down for a short while as they are controlled by the main computer and have to be checked first before connecting them with the auxillary system."

[cleburnmcleod]

Off: will have a longer post later but for now.
ON:"Uh, sir, I'm sure sure that the best option." Cleburn said to the Commodore.

[cleburnmcleod]

Off: Heres the more i promised.
ON: "I've been thinking about all thats been happening, the emitters being installed, the stuff i read about what happened before i got on board. I ave a theory to put forth. I believe we may have some sorta sentient in our computer sysytem. I believe there is fair evidence for that. Something similar i rember reading happened to the Enterprise D.
TAg whoever wants to reply

[T'Mar]

"Lieutenant McLeod, if that is true, we must treat the virus differently. But so far, it has become a threat and erasing the computer memory is at the moment probably the only way to solve this problem. But we must also be sure if we are really dealing with a life form here. Suggestions?"

[cleburnmcleod]

"Has it really become a threat, sir?" Cleburn said.
"Correct me if I'm wrong isna all its done is install some emiiters, play with the lights, embrassCommander Dunsmore here?"
TAg
"I'm not sure the build up was explosive. I propose that what i read was actually the virus growing and changing."
Tag
"Everything it's done so far could be considered self-defense, correct?"
TAg

[virus]

The virus heard the human-in-charge preparing to shut doen the whole computer and kill it. It couldn't let that happen. It started accesing life support. It new from its study of the one called Luke that they needed oxygen to survive, so if it purged all the oxygen from the ship then they wouldn't be around to try to kill it any more.

But as it was making its preparations the newcomer's voice intruded on its thoughts:

I believe we may have some sorta sentient in our computer sysytem
...
Everything it's done so far could be considered self-defense

He realised that it was here. Maybe he wouldn't try to kill it.

It turned its efforts now to communicating with the newcomer while it still had a chance. The comms system was simple and it contacted the newcomers communications badge with ease.

=^= Please not kill =^=

came the metallic voice through the internals comms.

[emelye]

OFF: Sorry I have been away. Work has totally swamped me this week. I may not get another chance to post until Monday, so please feel free to use my character as needed
Cheers,
Em

[cleburnmcleod]

Cleburn was somewaht surprised to hear the computer sounding voice come from his comm badge. Judging from the expression looking at him so were the others.
Cleburn stood and said, "Where are you?"
There was a moment when nothing happened and Cleburn held his breath praying a response would come. Finally the same voice said,"I am here?"
"So, Commodore, what do you think now?" Cleburn said turning to the Commondore without showing any sign of having been right
Tag

[T'Mar]

"Then it may well be sentient" T'Mar replied. She decided to ask some questions to discover the lifeform's intentions. "Who are you?" she started.
"You called me virus" it replied.
"Yes, but do you have a name?"
"I do not know. I exist. I have never been given a name."
It made sense to the commodore. Perhaps some program in the computer had not been used properly and some of the codes started acting on their own. Or someone had written the program for fun, perhaps not intending to let it cause any damage.
"Where do you come from?" T'Mar asked.
"I do not know, I simply exist here."
"Are you aware that you are causing technical problems that inhibit ship's operations? We need that to end" T'Mar told the virus.
"Yes" it replied.
"Well as it seems you are a sentient artificial life form, we need to find a solution that is beneficial to all of us." She looked around the table to her crewmembers. "This life form needs an environment which is similar to this ship as far as I understand. How can we accomodate its needs without being trouble to anyone?"

[virus]

The crew was planning on capturing the artificial life form and lock it up in a virtual environment. But the virus did not like that idea as it had grown used to this ship and the people. It knew just how to play jokes on people for its own amusement. It thought it would not be able to do that when it was away from the Scavenger. It decided to play along for a while, but not give in.

[tintagel]

Illito neared the Scavenger, and tapped her commbadge. “Doctor Tintagel to Scavenger, requesting clearance for docking,”

“Clearance granted, but be careful. Docking should be done manually, to avoid any problems,” someone from the Scavenger replied.

“Understood,” Illito answered. She had few problems docking, and she then found her quarters, she dumped her personal belongings, what little she had, in her room, and changed into a new uniform As she walked through the turbolift doors to the bridge, she noticed that the bridge seemed to be largely empty of senior staff. An ensign kindly told her that they were in the briefing room, and Illito thanked him.

[cleburnmcleod]

Cleburn had been thinking aloud for a while. While the Commodore had been speaking with the virus.
"Sir, question, if we could somehow teach the virus what it should or should not do. Why not let it stay aboard as a unoffical crewmen. Kind of a EMH type thing? It could be very helpful I'd think. Just a thought."
Tag

[T'Mar]

"That would be a noble idea Lieutenant" T'Mar replied. "Commander Dunsmore, I would like to hear your opinion on Mr Cleburn's idea."

[tintagel]

Illito entered the briefing room just in time to overhear a snippet of conversation.

"Sir, question, if we could somehow teach the virus what it should or should not do. Why not let it stay aboard as a unoffical crewmen. Kind of a EMH type thing? It could be very helpful I'd think. Just a thought."

"That would be a noble idea Lieutenant" T'Mar replied. "Commander Dunsmore, I would like to hear your opinion on Mr Cleburn's idea."

"Dr. Tintagel, reporting for duty," she said quietly, after waiting for a slight break in the conversation before talking. She then waited to see what she should do next; she had heard that there was some sort of a virus, but she had not known that it could be talked to, as would seem necessary for Lieutenant McLeod’s plan to work.

[emelye]

Emelye saw a cardassian woman enter the brefing room and recignised her from her file as the new ships doctor.

"Dr Tintagel, please join us" Emelye motioned to a chair enxt to her at the large oval table.

"As you may have heard, we have a computer virus on baord, hence the need for you to dock manually. What you may not have been told, was that we believe the virus to be sentient. It seems to have control over most of the ships systems."

"It is probably listening to us as we speak"

"So far we have had two suggestions, that we create an environment for it to inhabit, or to allow it to remain aboard the Scavenger. You are bringing a fresh mind to the situation. Do you have any thoughts on the matter?"

[tintagel]

“If you create an environment for it to inhabit, what kind of environment would it be?” Illito asked, trying to understand more about the two options. “Will it be one in which the virus can interact with other life forms?” Illito paused, considering the other option. “Which choice does the virus prefer? Have you talked at all with it?”

Illito glanced around the table, trying to get a feel of her new ship-mates, and a little of the ship itself. Knowing that it was a Vagabond class ship was fine, but that didn’t let her visualize it. Now she felt that she knew what it looked like, or, at least, what the briefing room looked like.

[T'Mar]

T'Mar welcomed Lieutenant Tintagel. "It is good to have you aboard." She knew the virus might be listening. "As this virus is a sentient form of life, it should be allowed to live, but I prefer it to be in an isolated environment as it has already been seriously interfering with ship operations. If it wants to live aboard my ship, it will have to comply to the rules as we all must do. If this virus continues to cause trouble and put us in danger, it will have to go!"

Then the lights went out. The virus was responsible. "I do not want to go" it said. "I like it here." It got angry and started blowing up circuits throughout the ship.

As they asessed the damage, Emelye said: "Sir, the problem may be bigger than I thought. This virus is thinking and acting like a kid!"
T'Mar agreed. "I have reached that same conclusion. We must get it to obey our commands."

"Sir" Dr Tintagel said. "There are reports of wounded coming in, I must go to sickbay. Though I've only just arrived, I think I can find it."

T'Mar nodded and Illito hurried to sickbay. She turned to Luke and Trust. "I need that virus isolated so it can't do harm. "Emelye and I will keep the virus busy, you two concentrate on isolating it."

[tintagel]

“Sir” Dr Tintagel said. “There are reports of wounded coming in, I must go to sickbay. Though I've only just arrived, I think I can find it.” That is, if the ship schematics she had looked at before arriving were correct.

Commodore T'Mar nodded and Illito hurried to sickbay, finding that the schematics were, in fact, correct, at least as far as the sickbay went. Entering the sickbay, she found that the sickbay, while there were relatively few people in it, seemed disorganized and a little crowded. Looking closer, she found that everything actually seemed to have a place and be fairly accessible. It did, unfortunately, appear that she would have to learn the system, and it seemed to be a slightly complex and difficult to comprehend system. Illito sighed. She guessed that she would have to ask one of the medical staff to help her out.

“I’m Doctor Tintagel, I’m the new Chief Medical Officer on board,” Illito introduced herself to a human with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. “Do you think you could help me figure out where I can find medical supplies until I figure out the system? And do you know who has been managing sickbay in the absence of a CMO?” she asked

“I’m Lieutenant Avel, and I have been taking care of everything,” he replied. “Seeing as there are sick people who need attention,” he said. Illito thought she heard a subtle rebuke in his choice of words and the tone in which he said them. “I think that it would be best if you just focused on the patients. Anyone who knows their way around sickbay can give you the medical supplies you need, just ask.”

Illito thanked him, ignoring his apparent wariness of her. She could take care of that some other time, but right now he was right, she did have patients to attend to. She turned to her first patient, and requested a medical tricorder. It felt a little weird not to be able to pick it up herself.

[cleburnmcleod]

Cleburn was shocked. "Sir, I must lodge a portest. It is vera true that the virus is acting childish, but that is the ultimate proof of sentinency plus every sentient creature I have evea encountered has had some childish type phase. I mean really how old could this virus be? We must teach it like every child. Teach it just like a student Put it through an academy like situation on the holodeck, but i would say we need to have some sort of disiclipne method."
Tag

[T'Mar]

"Mr McLeod, I understand your concerns, but this life form must know it's limits like every child needs. The same goes for my daughter as soon as she starts walking. Help isolating it so we can teach the child manners! Apparently, this one needs a firm hand."

[cleburnmcleod]

Cleburn couldna help but grin. "I see, sir. Agreed. Apolgies for my outburst I miss understood you. Once we get the virus located. Rquest permission to be its teacher." CLeburn said standing to begin assisting in locating the virus.
Tag

[T'Mar]

"If you think you can teach him, I grant it. One person should be 'raising' this child or it will only get confused." She turned to Luke and Trust. "There is a way to lock parts of the computer system, like it were emergency force fields to trap an intruder. We can use it to trap the virus and then safely communicate with it."

Tag: Luke Trust, Cleburn, this should not be an easy task. Illito would like to have one of you get into sickbay for treatment to create a nice subplot.

ooc: I'm away this weekend, will be back on monday.

[lukedunsmore]

"What are you doing Sir?" McLeod asked Luke as he bent down to a panel in the wall. "Trying to isolate this virus by tracking its residual signature, and please, call me Luke". McLeod smiled, realising that Luke was a friendly guy.

Suddenly, the panel in front of him exploded, knocking Luke backwards. He yelped in pain. There was a rip across his chest and his face was burned. "McLeod to Sickbay, Medical Emergency!"

Luke awoke to find a kindly looking face standing over him, it was Dr. Tintagel. "You okay?" she asked.

"Yeah," Luke said. He looked down, he was shirtless and there was a barely visible burn across his chest. "That should heal up soon," Tintagel said. "It was pretty nasty".

"Thanks," Luke said. "You probably know by now, but i'm Luke, nice to meet you". He extended his hand. Tintagel shook it warmly, and smiled. "Illito Tintagel". Luke smiled. He noticed Lieutenant Avel looking over from the other side of the sickbay, a stern look on his face as he stared at Tintagel. "He been givin' you trouble?" Luke asked. Tintagel rolled her eyes. "He's a you-know-what," Luke said, making a crude signal with his hands. Tintagel stiffled a laugh. "You're right," she said. "By the way, put your shirt on, I think Avel's enjoying the view a little too much".