ST:TTV213 | "Deep in Tribble"

Stardate 94379.9

The Valley Forge is waylaid from her diplomatic escort mission by a call for help from a Federation colony world with a not-so-small problem...

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Ashley@siskofan1991 approaches the captain's chair and stands a little straighter "Captains, Cadet Terik, reporting." Cecilia@hawkecosse#4702 approachs the Captains with a slight grin and nod to Fi as she does so "Captains, Cadet Skye reporting." Keelah@crystyll looks over, "Cadet...s, both squeezing in some extra field time before your end of year?" Ashley@siskofan1991 nods "Yes ma'am. I graduate in two days and i'm doing a final scouting of assignments before I select where I want to be transferred." Cecilia@hawkecosse#4702 nods lightly "Aye Captain, need the field experience to make up for my lack of years." Fiona@falconecoose nods lightly as she looks between the cadets "The MacAlpine is a big ship, can always do with another officer." as she grins slightly at the implied offer Keelah@crystyll smiles, "Then glad to have you aboard, Terik" she turns to Ceci, "And don't worry about the years Cadet, they'll soon fill up for you! Why don't you two pitch up together at tactical while you're Keelah@crystyll: here" Keelah@crystyll glances back to Fi with a smirk, "You know it's not a competition, Captain" she chuckles Keliaya@anncarise glances back with a chuckle at the competition. Fiona@falconecoose laughs softly "Oh is it not? I will need to talk to my instructors at the academy then, they always said it was." Keelah@crystyll: "Yes I recall how they like to play it all up!" she smiles, looking ahead Keelah@crystyll FX | Previously on TTV: VF diverted to ESD where they collected one Ambassador Vix who they now transport to the Alpha quadrant ahead of her visit to the new Orion colony, albeit very slowly... Ashley@siskofan1991 looks to Fiona "Thank you captain, but I believe my decision is almost made. My work here today should help make the decision final," she says before looking between Keelah and Ceci and back "Aye + Ashley@siskofan1991: captain." Keelah@crystyll FX | As the ambassodr insisted on low warp transit due to a 'distaste' for the feeling of travelling at high warp Keelah@crystyll FX | Their journey has brought the VF into the MA's patrol route and so the two proud ships now cruise side by side while they pass through the MA's route Keelah@crystyll looks back to the two cadets, "That is of course, unless either of you would prefer to get some time helping with one of the less familiar stations? A good appreciation of others' work is always Keelah@crystyll: invaluable on the command path, wouldn't you say Captain?" she turns to Fi Fiona@falconecoose nods lightly "Aye it is, I know from my time as a cadet and an Ensign I found my self getting basic training and experience in Ops and science, it does help in the long run." Keelah@crystyll: "Indeed. So the choice is yours, cadets. The duty staff will be happy to assist you wherever you'd like" she smiles Ashley@siskofan1991 looks from the 2 captains to Ceci and back. She looks slightly unsure "Uh well I did take secondary training in ops, captain, but my focus was in tactical systems." Cecilia@hawkecosse#4702 nods slightly "I have had basic field experience and training in both science and ops Captains." Keelah@crystyll: "I understand Cadet, just making the options available to you both is all. This isn't designated assignment work, so go with whatever you feel like" Ashley@siskofan1991 looks to Ceci and asks "What would you rather do?" Cecilia@hawkecosse#4702 shrugs lightly "I am happy doing anything, you are the one who is graduating soon so." Cecilia@hawkecosse#4702 nods lightly as she moves over to the console and starts to set it up "Thats me set up Captain." Keelah@crystyll looks back to Fi, "So, how's it been so far? No trouble on the current patrol I trust" Fiona@falconecoose shakes her head slightly "Not at the moment, heading back to DS13 shortly so my crew can get some leave been on a month long patrol and then got called out to deal with some raiders nearby." Keelah@crystyll: "Aah, a well deserved break then" she smiles, "You know, this current assignment is starting to feel like a break in itself" Fiona@falconecoose raises her eyebrow slightly "Aye? Those patrols are not too bad are they." Keliaya@anncarise FX | Aaaand just as Keelah says that a general distress call comes in to both ships. Keelah@crystyll: "Oh, not a patrol this time; our escort assignment. Honestly, just passing across the sector at low warp... makes it feel like a pleasure cruise!" Cecilia@hawkecosse#4702: "Captain, I'm picking up a distress call. Attempt to narrow down on the location it is coming from." Keelah@crystyll sighs softly with a distinct air of 'spoke too soon...' "Let's hear it" Eunha@turtles#8407 moves on to the bridge pretending she's not late at all Cecilia@hawkecosse#4702 nods as she presses the com button to start the distress call playing "Aye Captain." Keliaya@anncarise | A general pre-recorded message plays: "Request for Starfleet assistance from Federation colony Jericho III currently experiencing severe environmental problems." Keliaya@anncarise | The message repeats in its monotone mechanical voice. Keelah@crystyll quirks a brow and looks to Eunha, "What have we got on file for Jericho III?" Keelah@crystyll turns back to Fi, "I do not like vague automated distress calls..." Eunha@turtles#8407 Types on her console to check the files Fiona@falconecoose shakes her head slightly as she glances at her Tac PADD "No they are never a good thing..." Keelah@crystyll: "Silvestrie; adjust course and increase to warp 7... and tell the ambassador to hold on to her symbiont's stomach..." Eunha@turtles#8407: "It's a small colony. About 9000 inhabitants." she nods "Want some more is it that enough?" Keelah@crystyll | Silvestrie nods with a smirk and soon the stars on screen swerve to one side as the ship banks and accelerates Eunha@turtles#8407: or is that enough*) Keelah@crystyll: "9000..." she muses, looking over, "Is there anything on file to indicate a likely cause of this 'environmental' emergency?" Fiona@falconecoose FX | The MacAlpine banks and follows maintaining speed with the VF Eunha@turtles#8407: "None that I can see. It's quite nice really." Keelah@crystyll | Kazra glances over her shoulder, at the colony count and quickly turns back, setting triage plans in place Keelah@crystyll hrms, "Alright, I guess we'll have to find out the hard way..." she looks forward, "ETA?" Keliaya@anncarise: "What's the MacAlpine's evac capacity? Valley Forge can fit in two thousand and five hundred if need be, but that's the absolute maximum." Eunha@turtles#8407: "I'm going to go with a giant alien is eatting everything." she nods she seems rather weird today Keelah@crystyll doubletakes at Eunha as T'Quila slooowly turns to her with a quirked brow, shaking her head lightly as she looks back to her work Fiona@falconecoose: "The MacAlpine can take up to 10,000, it's rather tight and we can't launch fighters but we can do it." Eunha@turtles#8407: "Or perhaps there is some disease outbreak." Keliaya@anncarise: "If we take two thousand off you we should be able to evac the colony if we have to." Keelah@crystyll: "Then we have it well covered between us, Captain. Kazra can liaise direct with your crew if needed. Though I hope it won't come to such measures" Keliaya@anncarise: "Diseases will complicate things...that'll mean we need quarantine... Fiona@falconecoose nods lightly "Sounds good, and aye that is always problamatic." Eunha@turtles#8407: "That's enough speculating for me...my imagination has been quite active today." Keliaya@anncarise | Silvestrie: "We'll be approaching the system in 2 minutes." Keliaya@anncarise taps her console, "Cargo transporters are calibrated for emergency personnel transport and standing by if we need to evac." Keelah@crystyll: "Alright, Eunha; see if you can get anything from the colony on comms" Eunha@turtles#8407 Moves over to Ops to do taht Keelah@crystyll: "We want a full sensor sweep as soon as we're in range as well" Eunha@turtles#8407: "I can only get the the distress message still nothing else." Keelah@crystyll: "Alright, it was worth a try. Do what you can... even just your own read on things would be a help" she smiles Keliaya@anncarise | Silvestrie: "We're entering the system. Should be good for short range scans soon." Keliaya@anncarise FX | Valley Forge drops out of warp. Eunha@turtles#8407: "I'll put on the brain sensors." she chuckles Keelah@crystyll: "Acknowledged. Put the colony on screen and magnify" Cecilia@hawkecosse#4702 taps away on her console as she brings the colony up on screen "Aye Captain." Eunha@turtles#8407: "Hmmm, strange." Keelah@crystyll FX | Image appears on screen https://i.imgur.com/ASQelMP.png Keelah@crystyll looks to Eunha, "You sense something?" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Well normally I thought I would be sensing panic from the planet but i'm just getting frustration." Keelah@crystyll 's brow quirks, "That does seem a little... off" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Incoming hail." Keliaya@anncarise: "Scans account for all 9000 inhabitants, but there's something..." Keliaya@anncarise looks over her shoulder as Eunha announces the hail. Keelah@crystyll: "Let's hear it" Eunha@turtles#8407 Presses play Keliaya@anncarise FX | The viewscreen displays only pitch darkness... Keliaya@anncarise FX | Suddenly a voice sounds through the speakers, "Where's the bloody cam...oh gerroff that!" Eunha@turtles#8407 Does her best not to laugh Keelah@crystyll: "Umm... ok then..." clears her throat, "This is Captain Se'Lai of the Valley Forge, and Captain Skye of the MacAlpine responding to a distress signal" Keliaya@anncarise FX | The video feed rumbles before displaying a control room...completely filled with furry balls. Keelah@crystyll squints as the image comes into focus, "Oh stars..." she mutters under her breath Eunha@turtles#8407 Eyes goes wide and she turns to Keelah and mouths "we should run." Keliaya@anncarise FX | The face of an elderly man with a short white beard appears on the screen a few moments later. Keliaya@anncarise FX | Old Man: "Thank goodness, Starfleet's here!" Keliaya@anncarise | Old Man: "Tell me you can fix this?" Keelah@crystyll: "Those are what I think they are then...?" Keliaya@anncarise | The old man nods, "The worst pests in the whole damn galaxy!" Cecilia@hawkecosse#4702 puts her hand over her mouth as she attempts to stiffle her giggles Keliaya@anncarise | Old Man: "I'm Acting Mayor Davis of the Jericho III colony, by the way." Keelah@crystyll: "Acting...?" Keliaya@anncarise | Davis: "Yeah. I'm usually the deputy, but Lee slipped on one of those furballs and cracked his ribs. Not coming to work for the weekend, so now I got to deal with this mess." Keliaya@anncarise | Davis: "Between us I think he fell on purpose." Fiona@falconecoose shakes her head slightly as she rubs the bridge of her nose Keelah@crystyll: "Right... well we will need some time to formulate a solution. Why don't you send us whatever data you have on the current population so we can get to work" Keliaya@anncarise | Davis: "Completely bloody overrun is what the situation is!" he grumbles as he tears another tribble off a console and tosses it away before typing. "Transmitting everything we've got." Keelah@crystyll purses her lips, stifling a smirk at the picture on screen, "Alright, we'll be in touch again shortly. Valley Forge out" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Well looks like they are spreading all over the planet from this data." she snorts Keelah@crystyll: "Then time is very much of the essence. With their exponential birth rate they could easily consume the entire planet's surface within a matter of hours" Eunha@turtles#8407: "We could blow up the planet." Keelah@crystyll: "I have a feeling the colonists were hoping for an alternative that left their homes intact..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Yeah..." Keliaya@anncarise: "If we just evac them the tribbles will eventually stop spreading when all the food is gone." Keliaya@anncarise: "No need to destroy the planet, but the ecology will be pretty much ruined at that point anyways." Fiona@falconecoose nods lightly "Though do we really have any other option..." Keelah@crystyll checks the received data on her armrest, "If my calculations are correct... the colony will be completely overrun within 1 hour. We have that time to determine and execute a strategy" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Yeah from the file I read earlier most of the plants are ediable." Keelah@crystyll: (realtime countdown kicking in from that emote btw!) Keelah@crystyll: "If we can't figure something by then, we'll have to evacuate" Keelah@crystyll looks around the bridge crew, "So now is not the time to be shy ideas" Eunha@turtles#8407: "We could group the tribbles into one area of the planet and block off that area with forcefields?" she shrugs Keliaya@anncarise: "That's going to require a lot of force fields..." Fiona@falconecoose: "That could work but there is that, aye." Eunha@turtles#8407: "Okay then we blow up the planet." Keliaya@anncarise: "If we're moving them we could just beam them into space, but that's going to take a lot of time." Keliaya@anncarise: "And at the current rate I'm not sure if we can do that quickly enough." Fiona@falconecoose nods lightly "That would be theoritcaly easier, you havn't seen the firepower of the MacAlpine." Eunha@turtles#8407: "Could we possibly trick the tribbles? Eunha@turtles#8407: " Keelah@crystyll: "Trick them?" Keliaya@anncarise looks to Eunha curiously." Cecilia@hawkecosse#4702 glances over with a raised eyebrow Eunha@turtles#8407: "We could try to make them think that the habitat is not hospitable for them so that they stop breeding?" Eunha@turtles#8407: "I'm just saying out loud every strange idea that comes to my mind." Keliaya@anncarise: "Sterilizing them somehow, permanently or temporarily is a good idea..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Though we'd probably need a method to do it that won't harm the local lifeforms or the colonists." Eunha@turtles#8407: "Definitley stopping them from breeding is key that way we have longer to think of a solution to remove them." Keliaya@anncarise nods, "We could introduce a chemical agent to just wipe them out, but I think that'll likely affect local life as well. A breeding check is probably safer." Keelah@crystyll: "Even that would likely require a atmospheric dispersal. We would have to be extremely careful that anything introduced to the local ecosystem would only affect the tribbles" Keelah@crystyll: https://www.nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Tribble-1.png Keliaya@anncarise nods, "Yeah..." Keliaya@anncarise: "I can send the request down to the lab to see if they can cook something up on the fly." Keelah@crystyll: "It's worth a look at least" she nods Keliaya@anncarise turns back and starts tapping on her console, "Chemicals is my best idea so far...anyone have anything else?" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Science isn't really my thing." Fiona@falconecoose shakes her head slightly "Sounds good to me." Keelah@crystyll: "I would say I'd beam my cat down there, she'd make short work of them... but not that many" Keliaya@anncarise chuckles, "Maybe a genetically engineered giant cosmozoan cat can take care of something like this..." Keelah@crystyll turns to Kelly, "Could such a thing even be engineered quickly enough?" seems to take the idea seriously Keliaya@anncarise: "Something like that will probably take months if not years to design. And even if it is possible, introducing other lifeforms to take care of a pest issue most often just leads to these becoming - Keliaya@anncarise: - new pests, so it's not an optimal solution." Keelah@crystyll: "Indeed..." Keliaya@anncarise turns back to the bridge centre, "Lab is getting on it, but they can't guarantee results in such a short timeframe." Keelah@crystyll: "We need something to just sweep through the colony in one foul swoop and address them en masse..." Keelah@crystyll: "Like the ship itself!" Eunha@turtles#8407: "We could fly throught and fire a torpedo at every single tribble...Sure there might be other casualties...." Keelah@crystyll: "Little bit too high on the collatoral damage front I think" she chuckles Keliaya@anncarise chuckles, "I don't even think we'll have the torpedo count to manage..." Keelah@crystyll: "No I'm thinking of a much more passive effect..." she looks to Fi, "You mentioned you previously worked bridge science before right?" Eunha@turtles#8407: "we're being hailed." Keelah@crystyll sighs, "On screen" Eunha@turtles#8407 presses play Keliaya@anncarise FX | Davis reappears on the screen. In the background, tribbles appear to be dropping down from an open window and a woman in a jumpsuit struggles to get it closed. Fiona@falconecoose nods lightly "I had aye, but nothing to this extent or level." Keelah@crystyll: "How are you with shield frequencies and resonant harmonics... in theory?" Keliaya@anncarise FX | On the screen Davis talks, but there's no sound. He sighs and begins adjusting around the control room. Keliaya@anncarise: "Shield frequencies? We can use that for pest control?" Keelah@crystyll looks back to Kelly, "Maybe... if your recent deflector upgrades can manage a refined enough modulation - just a few nanohertz - I'm thinking we can setup a resonant feedback pulse that will polarize Keelah@crystyll: against our shields and disrupt the tribbles breeding capacity at an atomic level" Keelah@crystyll: "If the theory checks out; we need only make a slow and low pass over the colony to affect them all. But if we're off by even a little, it might affect every living thing down there..." Keliaya@anncarise nods, "We'll have to tune it very carefully..." Keelah@crystyll: "Could you do it?" Fiona@falconecoose shakes her head slightly "I don't belive I have enough experience my self to be able to do it." Keliaya@anncarise: "I'll try my best with the time we have." Keliaya@anncarise turns back to her console and types away. Keelah@crystyll: "Run the numbers, Kelly; give me a probability outcome as I'm not gambling with 9000 lives" Keelah@crystyll looks ahead to the viewscreen to see if Davis has sound yet Keliaya@anncarise: "We could beam the colonists up first, do our countermeasure and if anything goes wrong, at least we won't be harming them." Keelah@crystyll: "That is an option" she nods Keliaya@anncarise: "The planet's ruined if we leave it, but it's worth trying something to save it, and even if we don't succeed this way the colonists will be safe." Fiona@falconecoose: "Aye it is, the MacAlpine is standing by to beam them out if we go with that plan." Keliaya@anncarise FX | Meanwhile, Davis gets a compartment open and tribbles pour out. He reaches in and adjusts something, and sound comes through. Keelah@crystyll: "Guess we may be using that evac capacity after all Captain, even if just temporary..." Keliaya@anncarise | Davis: "Damn furballs...any luck yet captains?" Eunha@turtles#8407: "We don't want to accidentally beam up any maybe we should set up the beam to not them let come up some how? Keelah@crystyll: "We may have a solution for you. But it is too high risk to enact with your people down there. We are currently looking to evacuate you all to the MacAlpine while we attempt the fix" Keelah@crystyll: "If all goes well, we will be able to remove the entire population and promptly return you all home. But if not, there is a risk that the colony will be lost" Keliaya@anncarise | Davis: "It might as well be lost already so it's better than nothing." Keelah@crystyll nods, "Then inform your people to prepare for evacuation. We'll begin immediately" Keliaya@anncarise: "I think we should be able to filter out any tribbles that get caught in the beam. It's going to be a lot of work sorting through 9000 people though." Eunha@turtles#8407: "Beam them up in waves?" Keelah@crystyll turns to Fi, "Your up then Captain, the evac is your show" Keliaya@anncarise | Davis: "On it. Now if I can just find the announcement button..." Keliaya@anncarise: "We're going to have to anyways, but it'll be larger waves than usual away team transports if we want to get them out efficiently." Keelah@crystyll: "the pattern buffers should be able to filter accordingly. But have personnel standing by at all transport sites to manually remove any strays, just in case" Keliaya@anncarise | Davis curses as the feed goes dark, and a few seconds later the audio cuts as well as the channel completely closes. Fiona@falconecoose nods lightly as she taps her combadge "Orso, you are go for evacuation plan sigma-4 of the colonists. Energise when ready." Keliaya@anncarise turns back to the centre as Fiona directs the evac, "Alright, so the numbers came through, as did the lab." Keelah@crystyll turns to Kelly, "What's the verdict?" Keliaya@anncarise: "Science has a compound that we can introduce into the atmosphere, but they know for sure it's going to affect a few native animal species. However, it doesn't alter their genome or anything on that - Keliaya@anncarise: - level, just an agent that disrupts reproductive capabilities. Which means it will certainly harm the local wildlife but we may be able to make a cure in time." Keelah@crystyll: "And our theoretical alternative?" Keliaya@anncarise: "The feedback plan is as you said very high risk. It should work, but if anything is off, well...you know what happens. And I'm not sure the damage will be reversable. But if it works as expected - Keliaya@anncarise: - then we have a one-time solution with the only additional work require being removing the tribbles slowly from the surface." Keliaya@anncarise: "So we've got one plan that we know will cause collatoral, but collatoral we have hope of fixing." Keliaya@anncarise: "And a high risk plan that has a chance of either causing no collatoral or severe collatoral." Keelah@crystyll hrms, "How likely is it that the known collatoral from the chemical solution will be treatable?" Keliaya@anncarise: "Lab says over 90% likely it will be treatable. But if it is, developing a treatment may take time and maybe even tailoring to the different affected species." Keliaya@anncarise: "It's possible that some native species, especially ones with shorter lifespan, will go extinct before a cure is made." Keelah@crystyll shakes her head, clearly not liking the odds Keliaya@anncarise: "The colony will still be inhabitable as it won't affect plant life, including crops." Keelah@crystyll: "So our safe method will almost guarantee to - at best - cause long term suffering to the local ecosystem" Keliaya@anncarise: "But even the smallest disturbances in the ecosystem could lead to unprecendented issues in the future." Keliaya@anncarise nods, "Indeed." Keliaya@anncarise: "Every solution has risks." Keelah@crystyll: "Then I think we have to try the alternative. The risk of loss may be greater, but if we do fail; at least there won't be as much extended suffering involved..." Keelah@crystyll looks to Fi, "How goes the evacuation? We will proceed as soon as you give the all clear" Keliaya@anncarise: "I agree. Either way it's better than not doing anything, which is guaranteed failure." Keelah@crystyll: "I trust those piloting skills are at their sharpest today, Eunha" Eunha@turtles#8407 Laughs Keliaya@anncarise types away again for a minute, "The feedback pulse is ready for deployment." Keelah@crystyll smiles softly, "I'll take that as an affirmative" Eunha@turtles#8407 Pretends to be a good pilot Keelah@crystyll returns to her seat once they have the all clear from the evac Keelah@crystyll: "Alright... take us down to 100km from the colony. Altitude... 3km" Keliaya@anncarise: "Engaging pulse in three..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Two..." Keliaya@anncarise: "One..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Confirm altitude lock?" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Yes." Keliaya@anncarise: "Firing pulse." Keelah@crystyll: "Reduce to manouvering thrusters only as we pass the colony" Eunha@turtles#8407: "Done." Keelah@crystyll FX | After sweeping down through the atmosphere and slowing to an elegant crawl, VF skims the colony rooftops - occassional tall structure passing through the shield bubble which ripples with the Keelah@crystyll: subtle resonance of the feedback pulse Keliaya@anncarise: "Scan results are coming back from the initial impact areas..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Looks like we have success!" Keliaya@anncarise: "Not reading collatoral at the moment...at least not from our sensor sweeps." Keliaya@anncarise: "Probably want to do an in-depth examination of the local wildlife after this, but I think it worked well!" Keelah@crystyll turns on Kelly, "Verify. I want a full ecosystem analysis before we report success to the colonists" Keelah@crystyll: "And good steady job there Eunha. Take us back alongside the MacAlpine" Keliaya@anncarise nods, "On it, captain." Eunha@turtles#8407 Flie back up Keelah@crystyll turns to T'Quila, "Began site to site transport of all identifyable tribble masses and group them away from the colony for disposal. We can at least give them a head start" Keliaya@anncarise FX | As the VF returns back to the MacAlpine's side, Kelly turns to Keelah with a smile, "Yup, we're looking good! Full analysis is reporting no abnormalities with any lifeforms except tribbles." Keelah@crystyll: "Very good - all of you! We'll report this to the colonists and let the MacAlpine know they can commence repopulation. We'll have to provide the colonists data to monitor the situation moving forwards Keelah@crystyll: too"

View AAR

SUBMITTED: Stardate 94379.9 FILED BY: CAPT K Se'Lai SECURITY: Level 1 - Open

LOCATION: Jericho III Colony

MISSION: Response to distress signal from the colony.

OUTCOME: Reported environmental disaster averted.

KEY PERSONNEL:

CAPT Se'Lai (USS Valley Forge) CAPT Skye (USS MacAlpine) LCDR Eunbi LCDR Keliaya CDT Skye CDT Terik

NARRATIVE: The Valley Forge was cruising alongside the MacAlpine, since our journey conveying Ambassador Vix to the Alpha quadrant brought us through her patrol route; when we received an automated distress signal from the colony at Jericho III. The message was unfortunately vague and spoke only of 'severe environmental problems', so both vessels diverted to the colony at high warp whilst making suitable preparations for the worst.

Upon arrival we eventually managed to establish contact with the colony - at which time the problem became all too clear - as the colony ops. control centre was overrun by Tribbles. Acting Mayor Davis informed us of the rapidly escalating situation across the colony and we set to work on determining a solution while the colony prepared for evacuation. Once verifying that between the 2500 evac. capacity of the Valley forge, and the generous 10k capacity of the MacAlpine that we would be able to evacuate the colony if required - plans were set in motion for the MacAlpine to front said evacuation should the requirement present. Our teams also calculated a very narrow window of opportunity in which we could act due to the exponential multiplication rate of the Tribbles.

With a short window to work in our options were severely limited with only two viable solutions presenting; the first being being a chemical solution introduced to the atmosphere that would cull the population, the second being a theoretical harmonic resonance interruption at an atomic level; induced by a deflector feedback pulse fed through the ships shield emitters. Whilst the first (chemical) solution promised a greater guarantee of results, it also promised to affect the local ecosystem beyond the Tribbles and with lasting effects. It was theorized that any such impact would be reversible in time assuming any lower density population species survived, however it would still have caused knowing damage to the colony world. The second option was theorized to be more specifically target-able against just the Tribble population, however it had an unacceptably high margin of error due to the immensely refined calibrations required in order to successfully implement.

Following great deliberation, I took the decision to attempt the higher risk option - but only once the colony was fully evacuated. This decision was based on the premise that - comparing the two options' worst case results - this one would not result in long term suffering, and any potential damage would swift and painless. Whilst Valley forge teams prepared our systems for the unorthodox usage, the MacAlpine began the evacuation - with our capacity being partially filled in order to ease their burden from the 9000 strong population of the colony. With a confirmation from Captain Skye that the colony was fully evacuated, we made our descent and commenced a low altitude pass over the colony with the pulse active.

I am pleased to report that the operation was successful and the population was immediately culled. As the colonists were returned to commence the ongoing cleanup operation, both ships remained in orbit to assist with mass transport before resuming our respective journeys.

RECOMMENDATION: Though the method used in this instance was a success, I do not recommend it for future use given the remaining high risk level associated - at least within the confines of present technology. It is however recommended that continued scientific study in the principle and potential further applications may be worthwhile. Additionally, the colonists on Jericho III may benefit from increased security measures to prevent any inadvertent repeat of this incident.