Acrylos was in the Geo-Thermal Distribution Center when he noticed the core beginning to fluxuate rapidly. Acrylos identified the incident as Omega Fluxuation and began to compensate. He however was having increasing difficulties finding a distribution grid match up for the fluxuations. The Omega Molecule, Particle 010 is unstable in nature but very predictable in pattern. This was something other. This was a weird problem.
Acrylos and his staff dealt with the problem for about 20 hours before contacting the Commodore. Commodore Vincent Viceroy came down to look at the readings. He spent a lot of time going over the equations before speaking to Laaker Teero. The Damage Control Specialist also confirmed that the fluxuations were not Omega related. Something else was wrong.
Vincent contacted Dr. Rochester Powers, the Antican Professor who came to look at the equations. Powers could not offer any plausible reason for the continual fluxuating. Vincent was upset and frustrated.
Vincent next contacted Dr. Ro Anora at Boston. She too had been dealing with the problems. The archeological dig is a large power draw. Anora however could not provide any explanation but put the Commodore on to Dr. Wendy Smith. Wendy had spent a lot of time in the core of the planet and with the planets geological and physical history.
Wendy came to Omega Prime and met with Vincent and Acrylos. She told wild stories about the planet and its history. Wendy knew a good deal about Admiral Tim Veltkamp and his renegade days as Captain. Nearly all great captains, from Pike to Picard had a renegade streak. Veltkamp was nearly Kirkian in his pursuit of the rights to Outpost 294. Veltkamp knew the planet was special and has been almost single handedly responsible for the Omega growth and the geo-thermal development of the modern Phoenix Colony. Wendy spoke of Veltkamp's revelations in his logs in describing the planet as special and magical.
Most researchers saw the logs as a tribute to the Omega Core but Wendy, knowing Veltkamp as a caring and special leader proposed the theory that Veltkamp knew more about the legendary Omega Planet than was let on. Why else would the Continuum suddenly be showing attention in New Netherlands, above?
Why else would the Borg leave the so-called "God Planet" of Particle 010 without incident? The planet is special. Wendy was almost revelant as she spoke of the glowing logs of Captain Tim Veltkamp. The planet is not only special, the planet is alive!!
Wendy showed Acrylos that the Omega Molecule's regular pulsating planet served as a virtual heart beat for an entire planet. The rythmic pulse was amazingly similar to the heart rate of an adult. Wendy then demonstrated that the Geo-thermal center was effectively serving as a pacemaker maintaining the integrity of the Omega Heart. The problem is somehow the fluxuations are now irregular. The planet's heart, its very core was now experiencing pulpatations. Effectively, the planet was suffering from irrythmia.
Wendy told Acrylos that he did not need a physicist or geologist. He needed a doctor. The zealots who backed Dr. Greene saw this as a great opportunity. They would have their candidate rescue the planet. She would swept up in the ground swell of support and become governor of Territory Omega.
Skye and Justice, her constant companion and the face of her conversation and the face of damage control over her alleged crush on Vice Admiral Nicole Branson, arrived at the Geo-Thermal Center. Dr. Greene was shown the pattern demonstrated by the planet. She was almost immediately sent into a state of shock.
She went over to a console and printed out the heart rhythm from a victim of the Phoenix Plague. THEY WERE THE SAME!!
Skye was in further shock. The virus had effectively made the planet sick. She was mortified and embarrassed. She immediately gave the revelation to Vice Admiral Nicole Branson and Commodore Vincent Viceroy. Soon they were all speaking of possible solutions. They were all working together. Nicole soon summoned Dr. Orchid Coren. Orchid was reluctant to be with Nicole after spending a lot of time with Justice in discussions of what it means to be a real person.
Vice Admiral Branson actually had to order the Director of the Yang Liwei Viral Research Facility to come to Omega Prime and the Geo-thermal facility. Soon the problem itself was driving all conversation. The 4 ladies were not about their relationships, their history or the bitter election, they were about saving the planet.
Soon Orchid and Skye were working side by side to try to develop a functional synthesis of the USS Yang Liwei supplied anti-virus. The Liwei remains the angelic hero from above after driving out the Romulans.
Nicole also made another call; to Commander T'Ros of the Romulan Colony of Vorta'Rome. Unlike the major cities, Vorta'Rome never halted its Omega experimentation. Soon the Romulan was also in the Geothermal core. This was amongst the most bizarre scenes ever. Nicole was totally open with Federation fact files with the known enemy. This was a first since the Romulan arrived nearly a year ago.
The ladies and the guest worked well into their third day awake. Concocting a physical creation of viral syrum is not as easy as it sounds. All parties were working together. Their fatigue also brought down their intentions.
Orchid looked at Nicole, "I have missed you, Nikki."
Nicole's mouth quivered. Fatigued had made her hypersensitive.
"I have missed you, too, Flower.", Nicole smiled, licking the salty tears from her cheeks.
Skye looked at the pair with a real jealousy. She looked at Nicole, "I would never have openly criticized your lifestyle. The campaign has made me do it."
Nicole smiled, placing her hand on Skye's, "I know it, Skye. I know it now more than ever as we work together to save our home."
Skye smiled as she looked deeply into the eyes of Nicole. Justice walked forward and looked at the three women, "I have never seen such affection. I am envious."
Skye looked at Justice and smiled, "You could be one with us."
Justice jumped back. She was shocked by the revelation. She stood back against the wall, a billion things running through her mind. Orchid looked over at her half sister. She looked down at the console, "Oh my god, that's it."
Skye, Nicole, Acrylos and Vincent all leaned over the console and looked in. Orchid explained that the synthesis could be created as a polymer reaction and then attached to the continually heating molten core. The warmth would serve as a mother hen heating her eggs, germenating them into a chick. The colony would be regulated by this new molten hormone. Acrylos took the equations and set to work.
Within an hour, they were prepared to "infect" the geothermal core. Acrylos looked at the four ladies and smiled, "Here we go."
Orchid wrapped her arm inside Nicole's. Everyone was tired and filled with worry. Orchid laid her head on Nicole's and looked out. Skye stood there behind the pair. She was visibly moved when Justice reached in behind and grabbed her hand. She held her hands very tight and not as a supportive counsellor, but as something other.
Laaker Teero informed the four ladies that the first polymer had been injected into the soil here. Commander T'Ros will soon be adding the polymer at Vorta'Rome and Dr. Ro Anora at Boston. The process had begun.
Commodore Vincent Viceroy and Commander Acrylos Teero watched as the polymer reaction began and then with the beautiful warming of the planet, the reaction began to increase exponentially. It had worked perfectly. Acrylos turned to Dr. Orchid Coren, "This is a great thing you have done."
Orchid looked at the four ladies, the four Queens and smiled, "What we have done."
Posted by:
Vice Admiral Nicole Branson
Candidate - Governor
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
Commodore Vincent Viceroy
Omega Prime Mayor
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
Commander Acrylos Teero
Omega Prime Public Works Commissioner
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Fleet
