New Frontiers
Posted on 17 Jun 2020 @ 2:50pm by Captain Gabriel Barron M.D. & Lieutenant Commander Magdalena "Maggie" Doyl & Lieutenant Sarah Graesyn & Petty Officer 1st Class Lia McCarthy & PALLAS
2,860 words; about a 14 minute read
Mission:
Empty Creche
Location: Ten Forward
Timeline: ED 6 1330
Sarah walked into Ten Forward, taking a seat near one of the large windows where she could see into the void of space. She got herself a large container of Earl Gray Tea and returned to her table, pulling out a PADD and working on it while she absentmindedly alternated her glances between the void and individual people in Ten Forward.
She worked for a few hours in relative silence and peace, a look of frustration growing on her face slowly. She pulled up the crew manifest on the PADD and perused through it to see what resources she had at her disposal on the Redemption. After a few minutes of reading she tapped her comm badge.
"PALLAS, can you please find me a location of Petty Officer Lia McCarthy?"
While she waited for PALLAS' answer she also wrote a quick communicae to Lia.
Petty Officer, we have not been introduced as of yet but I am the new Assistant Chief Engineer on board the ship and I am also the head of the R&D department. I have a job that your skill set matches well if you can find some time to spare for me
Lia glanced at the notification and dismissed it for now. She wanted to focus on the hack and it was going to take everything she had.
Sarah finished her tea after awhile and headed to the R&D labs, transferring data from her PADD to the consoles and refitting the small room attached to the labs into a small holodeck. She loaded up the VI that she had created back on the Odyssey and queried PALLAS.
"PALLAS, I am initializing a VI assistant to be used in the R&D labs, I am going to need you to authorize it to have access to any and all computational power and information that is authorized for the R&D department. I would also like you to put in a secure request to Starfleet Intelligence and Starfleet Engineering and R&D for any and all information concerning the Borg, Dominion and Ee."
"I will, of course, Commander compile all availiable data regarding those species and forward them to your PADD." PALLAS said with a slight smile under her helmet.
Lia chirped her communicator. "Graesyn, its McCarthy. What all did you need? We are kind of in the middle of a mission, so unless it's directly related id suggest dping it later."
Responding to the communicator chirp as she was working on specifications for a new module that she wanted to run simulations with. "Ah, wonderful to hear from you Petty Officer. It may very well be directly related, I am trying to get R&D set up so I can analyze and develop new weaponry and tools for us to use on our mission... thing is while I can navigate a computer I want everything R&D related to be heavily encrypted to protect our secrets. I was hoping that you might be able to help me come up with an encryption algorithm toward that end."
Lia gathered her things and headed towards Graeson's office. "On my way."
Sarah nodded "Acknowledged, I'm down in the R&D lab but you can reach it via main engineering. See you when you arrive"
Lia made her way to the lab and the door chirped as she entered. "What do you have?" She didn't want to be rude, but time dictated that she needed to be direct.
Sarah looked up at the entrance and nodded. "Loki, give Petty Officer McCarthy access to everything she needs in order to develop an encryption algorithm"
she turned to look at Lia as the console flashed a few times and information came across. "Alright McCarthy, Only just getting things running here but everything we've got is displayed here for you"
Lia settled into the chair and started up her PADD. "You know , they have a pretty recent upgrade here, plus compatibility" Lia ran her onion program and began peeling back Sarah's system.
PALLAS watched Lia's work and her grin got wider and more mischievous as she traced the paths Lia was taking. She thought for .03 seconds about reminding the Petty Officer that what she was doing would activate the security systems but decided against it. This would serve as a second test and be entertaining to boot.
Simultaneously, an alert crossed her screen and everything went black.
Sarah and Lia materialized in the brig, each in their own cell.
---Turbolift 3
Barron jumped slightly and his right hand drifted to the small of his back as PALLAS appeared in the turbolift.
"Captain I think you should join Commander Doyle in the brig. I'm rerouting the lift to take you there now."
He blinked "It's that bad that your rerouting the lift without my permission?" his voice was a gravely baritone.
"Yes sir, it has to do with the upgraded security systems Admiral Ashcart had Commander Doyle work on. They and I were concerned with just how easily the Sara hybrid could take over the Redemption. The security systems were activated and two of your officers are..." she paused raised an eyebrow and then nodded "cooling their heels in the 'clink.'"
He grunted and nodded, as the lift doors opened he stepped out and made his way to the brig to follow behind Commander Doyle as she entered the room.
Lia began to sing "Jailhouse Rock."
Maggie walked through the door. She raised an eyebrow at Lia's song choice. "What do you think you were doing?" she asked.
PALLAS shimmered into existence in the corner of the room and grinned mischievously, which had a small amount of scary malice given that she was the AI controlling great portions of the ship.
"It would appear that the Security Systems work, again, Commander." she said looking at Lia and grinning almost manically.
Maggie sighed. "So it appears. I wonder why neither of them chose to go through proper channels." She was not pleased to see either woman. "Ms. McCarthy, you know better as you tested the system. Why did you feel the need to once again break into the computer?"
"Proof of merit, Commander. Plus I was just following the lieutenant's instructions pending a security upgrade."
"What instructions and why was I not advised?" She looked from Lia to Sarah. "PALLAS and I spent weeks revamping the security protocols to keep people from gaining access to the ship and its computer." She turned to Sarah. "You have access to the engineering and R&D sections. The fact that you're here means you were trying to get into something you had no authorization for."
Then the security officer turned back to Lia. "Obeying an unlawful order does not excuse you from consequences." Maggie wasn't sure what angered her more, that Lia would try to hack into the computer after helping test the new system, or that the new engineer tried to alter what had been set up without even asking about security. Since Lia was here, the new officer was clearly trying to hack into or alter something. "What do you both have to say for yourselves?"
Barron stayed back and watched the exchanges but did take note if the fact that he was here because PALLAS didn't warn one of them and didn't remind the other of the upgrades.
Sarah, not new to mischievous Intelligences looked to PALLAS straight away.
"Well, I was under the impression that Captain Barron was the one to approve upgrades and such. The order I gave the Petty Officer was to build an encryption algorithm for the R&D systems but it seems as though I didn't receive the memo on any form of new security upgrades that had been installed and any documentation on them had been conveniently concealed from my access," the entire time she spoke, though she was speaking to Maggie she was looking directly at PALLAS; a sly smile gracing her lips.
"Yes, the captain does approve all upgrades and alterations," Maggie said. "You apparently didn't consult him, either. However, when it involves the security of this ship, I am to be consulted as well. As you found out, there have been a number of upgrades incorporated into the ship's functions." She was not at all impressed with the new officer so far.
Maggie turned to PALLAS and the captain. "IS there anything else I should be aware of?"
Lia turned to face PALLAS. "Thank you for your help with the demonstration, sir."
"Demonstration? You didn't tell her she couldn't do that and why?" Maggie asked.
"Of course i did, Commander. I had made mention of the recent upgrades, and since the Research and Development Chief wanted to take those upgrades into account for their outlook, i followed instructions. I wasn't aware brass was in the blind about it. But also thinking about it now, there were only two options. Either A, They knew about it and wanted the same showcase test I got. which in that event, I wasn't going to disappoint.
Or B, They had no idea and the lieutenant was possibly overreaching their station and in that case, you would want to make sure a clear message was sent, which meant triggering the system either way. Any thoughts?" She looked over to the Lieutenant with a flat look but inside was echoing maniacal laughter
Sarah looked to Maggie. "I believe I ran my plans for the upgrades past Captain Barron, though I will admit I didn't think to give you a heads up as I didn't consider that it may be something security needed to be alerted to. Only trying to ensure that the work done down here in R&D is protected by an extra layer of encryption and the Petty Officer seemed the best person to build that algorithm from what limited access to her files that I have. Nor was I aware that adding an encryption algorithm to a localized system would trigger any upgrades."
Maggie turned to Captain Barron for his response. He knew about the upgrades to security. She had a hard time believing he would approve Graeson's upgrades knowing they would trigger the new defensive systems.
Barron looked from the Lieutenant in the cell, to the Petty Officer, to PALLAS and then to the Commander and threw back his head and laughed, a deep echoing baritone explosion of sound. "I was aware of the upgrades." he looked at PALLAS who was still grinning wickedly "PALLAS who all was authorized to know about the security upgrades?"
"Captain, the list of authorized officers is quite small. Limited to the CO you, XO Major Afton, Chief Security/Tactical Officer Commander Doyle, Chief Engineering Officer Commander Kit'rin'e, CIO Commander Severide, and CPO McCarthy." PALLAS coughed softly "One of the reasons I didn't inform the Lieutenant was because she, not being on the authorized list, was not authorized to know about the system."
Maggie, too, began to laugh. "It would appear that we outsmarted ourselves. I didn't think anyone on the ship would try to alter the security parameters on her own." She turned to Sarah. "And now you see why we didn't think it necessary. We've had problems in the past with former crew gaining access to the ship and its data, so we set about making sure it wouldn't happen again. Your research does not need additional security. Only you, PALLAS, and the command team can see your files."
Barron looked at PALLAS and then to the Lieutenant, "Perhaps you should set up a self contained tertiary computer core to run only your R&D research. Keep it isolated from the main computer. Your going to be fiddlin' with crazy tech and I don't want any of it introduced into the main computer." he looked to PALLAS "Can you assist her with setting up a secondary AI to manage the unconnected core?"
Sarah laughed at this. "Well, its not exactly an AI but PALLAS can help me fully integrate Loki into a tertiary core. He isn't a full AI but he will do the job quite well and I have worked alongside him for years now Captain." Her gaze slid to Maggie and she smiled. "If this is amenable to you that is Commander."
"As long as it's separate from the main computer, I have no problem with it," Maggie said. "Science has its own setup as well. As long as you talk to me before introducing anything into the ship's systems."
Gabe grunted "Given that Commander, could you see it clear to releasing my Chief Engineer and our Cyber Security specialist?"
"I don't know, captain," Maggie said, clearly still amused. "A night in the brig might do them some good."
He eyed the two behind the forcefield and mused a moment. "Considering what were going into Commander I would think we will need the good Lieutenant's services sooner rather than later."
Sarah nodded quietly, her eyes lit up with amusement. After a moment she looked to PALLAS with a peal of laughter. "You and Loki are going to get along well PALLAS, just behave yourself with my assistant will you? Don't want to have to clean any.... stray code out of the computer core"
After the tease to PALLAS she looked back to Maggie. "As I assume that PALLAS beamed my PADD somewhere down here in the Brigg I would like that back as well as it has several programs loaded onto it to assist me in going through the specifications and projects I have going on."
PALLAS raised an eyebrow "As long as Loki remembers that his scope is small I see no conflicts with us working together. His kingdom can be R&D mine will be the rest of the ship. Though I will want a way for you to transfer R&D files to the main computer when requested. There is precious little I can do when data is outside of my reach..." she pondered for a moment "Perhaps while we are setting up Loki I can create a sub mind of sorts to be loaded into the R&D computer to monitor and compile the relevant data for transfer to me when needed. It would be an interesting exercise."
"It would indeed." Maggie liked the idea of a part of PALLAS working in R&D. "If you can also have a quick look at that PADD to be sure it complies with current protocols, the lieutenant can have it back once she's released." With PALLAS' responsibilities on the Redemption, she would need to know what R&D was working on anyway, along with the captain.
Sarah grinned at the response from PALLAS, growing slightly more fond of the AI with its ability to joke and then nodded. "As long as you can remember to leave the running of R&D projects to Loki's oversight PALLAS I am more than happy to have you create a submind. In fact Loki may very well be able to aid you in those efforts. As for my PADD it may not meet shipboard security protocols as it is one that I brought on board with me though I assure you that it is thoroughly encrypted and secure. If you bring it to me I will input my passcodes so that PALLAS is granted access to it."
Maggie doubted PALLAS would need the access codes if she really wanted to get into the PADD, but it was up to the AI if she wanted to inform the engineer of this or not.
PALLAS nodded and looked to Maggie "By your leave Commander." she said in a musical tone.
Maggie nodded. "Of course."
"Your codes, if you please, Lieutenant."
Sarah input the access codes quickly and then stepped back.
PALLAS extended her right hand and closed her fist over the PADD then pulled her hand back a soft blue light flashed over her hand.
"Thank you Lieutenant, I have the data now. I will review it and get back with you when your on duty again."
She tilted her head after a moment turning her gaze to Captain Barron. "Pardon me Captain, did I just hear you correctly? You did refer to me as your Chief Engineer right?"
Barron shook his head "Courtesy Lieutenant while I'm sure you'll be Chief some day it's not today."
With a nod Sarah smiled slightly and rubbed at a spot on her wrist, anxious to get back to work and being tired of standing in the cell.
"Thank you, captain," Maggie said. "This has been...educational." She couldn't help smiling. "And thank you, PALLAS." She would go over the data and have a chat with the AI later about some possible upgrades to keep this from happening again.
With that Barron nodded to all gathered and headed off to the bridge.
OFF:
Gabriel Barron
Captain
Commanding Officer
USS Redemption
&
Lieutenant Commander Magdalena "Maggie" Doyl
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Redemption
&
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Lia R. McCarthy
Cyber-Warfare / Encryption Specialist
USS Redemption
&
Lieutenant Sarah Graeson
Assistant Chief Engineer
USS Redemption
&
PALLAS (NPC)
AI Interface
USS Redemption
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