Episode 2.02: Rivulets of Copper, Eyes Aflame

[Nolmir]

OOC: Hmm ... I definitely want to spend that Momentum. And Chief Science Officer gives me a bonus Momentum for Obtain Information, so I could ask three questions without dipping into the pool. Here's what comes to mind:

1. What sort of recent repairs have been done to the blade?
2. Are there any foreign substances on it? (Blood, cleaning agent, etc.)

I'm open to suggestions on the third question, since nothing's leaping to mind.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: I'll answer the first two while you folks decide on a third:

1. With modern techniques in alloy maintenance and repair, it's very difficult to tell when something has been repaired after about a day or so. Looking about the chamber, Tobin recognizes modern hand tools mixed in with archaic ones, meaning the monks here have access to such techniques.

That said, Tobin identifies two places along the blade (not near an old nick) where the etching has been almost imperceptibly distorted. It's certainly not something that would be noticeable with the naked eye. These would be places of repair, but the tricorder can't determine their ages.

2. The tricorder detects traces of an alcohol-based cleaning agent and a fine coating of apian wax of Vulcan origin over the entire blade. And, at the inside point of the notch closest to the point, there's the most microscopic fleck of dried blood.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: One option for a third question would be a follow-up to 2, to glean information from the speck of blood.

Another option would be a follow-up to 1, to determine the nature of the repairs that resulted in the slight distortion to the etching.

[Nolmir]

OOC: Sorry, got distracted over the holiday weekend. I actually kinda want more information on both topics, so let's spend a point of Momentum to ask a follow-up to each: How old is the dried blood; and what sort of damage were the repairs fixing?

I imagine genomic sequencing of the blood is beyond the capabilities of a tricorder, but that would certainly be a priority if we can get it to a lab, to see if it matches any of our victims.

[Renny]

OOC: I agree with the Momentum spend. Worth it to get answers to those questions, I think.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Acknowledging the spending on 1 additional Momentum to ask another question.

Getting blood to the lab isn't necessary in the 23rd Century. Scanning the blood with the tricorder is sufficient to gain the necessary information to determine the owner's identity (within the limits of degradation of DNA over time...which is usually within four days of exsanguination); you only need to transmit the blood DNA data to the ship's lab for comparison to known individuals, or to relay the data to relevant local databases for comparison.

The dried blood is approximately eight days old (equates to Stardate 8862, two days before the first recorded death), by the tricorder's reckoning; the device is unable to detect any surviving DNA sequences that would allow for identification of the owner. It does identify the blood type, however, which is Vulcan-B-positive (about 13.5 percent of all Vulcans carry this blood type).

Based on the tricorder's detailed scans, the damage to the blade was likely from an impact against a solid object that has some give - wood, brick, stucco, densely-woven fibers (both natural and synthetic), advanced light composites, or dense muscle & bone. (Against something harder, the blade would be more severely deformed, possibly even broken, but there's no evidence of that.) Also, damage like this would likely induce chipping; new metal would have to be added to fill in the missing section, or it would be shaped into a notch to maintain material strength. Modern techniques, such as the ones that the monks use, would make such repairs extremely difficult to detect, even by scans.

Still, a repair point like this would likely be weaker than other areas, meaning it would be prone to repeated damage. The tricorder readings suggest the two repair points are like this; while the replacement metal has been seamlessly integrated into the rest of the blade (and, from the looks of it, the Vulcans may have a supply of billets of the same original alloy to perform such repairs...or they have the formulation so precise that the variance is nigh undetectable...the latter is less likely, given the legendary nature of S'harien's alleged mastery), the deformation of the etching indicates these sections of the blade have been repaired numerous times over the life of the weapon.

Current
Momentum 5
Threat 10

[Nolmir]

Looking up from the tricorder to Kavoran, Tobin says, "The alloy is certainly a match to our forensic evidence." He pauses for a moment, glancing in Cole's direction, then asks, "Has there been a training accident recently?"

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: For ease of reading, I've removed Renny's responses & Nolmir's clarification.

Neither Vulcan reacts to Tobin's confirmation, but Kavoran's eyebrow shoots up in response to the apparent non-sequitur, before the monk recognizes the gist of his question. He holds up his left thumb, which shows a thin incision about a centimeter or so long along its length. "Not training, but maintenance. Since a few of us do occasionally practice with these weapons as part of our meditations, misplaced or accidental strikes are a risk," he says. "I completed repairs to a small nick eight days ago -" he points to one of the areas Tobin identified as "repaired" in his scans "- in this area. My hand slipped while manipulating the blade, and I incised my thumb on the preserved notch here." He indicates the spot where Tobin found the blood speck.

"Minor injuries during maintenance are an uncommon occurrence, but not rare," Sikor adds. "One of our number was a physician before she turned to a life of contemplation. She serves as our healer, and can attest to the incident."

[Nolmir]

"I see," Tobin nods. "I would like to speak with her to verify the accident. And of course we would like to see any security records you have that can confirm the sword has not left the monastery grounds."

He turns to Cole. "Do you have any further questions for these gentlemen, Lieutenant?"

[Davy, aka GM]

"I see," Tobin nods. "I would like to speak with her to verify the accident. And of course we would like to see any security records you have that can confirm the sword has not left the monastery grounds."

Sikor nods his assent to the Trill's request to speak with the healer. When Tobin asks to see security records, he responds, "We are neither a government entity, nor a corporation with obligations to its owners and shareholders. We are accountable only to ourselves in a place set aside for us by the founder of our movement. This monastery is purely a place of introspection and contemplation of the mysteries of logic through emotion. We keep no logs, and we have no security facilities beyond the loyal temple guards who are an intimate part of our sacred community."

He turns to Cole. "Do you have any further questions for these gentlemen, Lieutenant?"

[Renny]

Cole considered for a moment. Sikor's comments would seem to indicate that determining who could have had access to the blade would be virtually impossible.

"Not at this time, sir, no"

[Davy, aka GM]

"Thank you, Brother Kavoran," Sikor says, and he leads them back up to the main level. They leave the building and return the way they came, stopping three doors down from the display room. The monk raps on the door, then enters, and a female Vulcan in similar robes looks up from a small spartan desk along the front wall.

"Sikor. Is someone in need of assistance?" she says, her tone...kind, which is a strange thing to say of a Vulcan. Even for Tobin.

The guide bows slightly and steps aside to introduce the newcomers. "T'Laang. This is Lt. Commander Tobin Les of USS Drake, and his colleague, Lieutenant Cole. They have questions for you regarding Kavoran's incident eight days ago."

T'Laang raises an inquisitive eyebrow and stands to meet the officers. "Peace and long life to you, gentlemen. Please, ask your questions. I will answer within the limits of my oath."

[Nolmir]

"Live long and prosper, T'Laang," Tobin replies. "Please forgive the intrusion -- we don't intend to take too much of your time. Could you confirm for us the nature of Kavoran's injury that day?"

[Davy, aka GM]

"Yes, Kavoran entered here 26 minutes prior to evening meditation," she begins.

Sikor explains, "Evening meditation occurs daily at sundown."

T'Laang nods and continues, "He presented a clean incision on the distal phalanx of his left thumb, approximately 11.3 millimeters in length and 7.4 millimeters at its deepest, consistent with a finely-sharpened blade edge. I cleaned the wound, scanned the area to ensure there was no damage to the bone or anything that could hamper digital movement, and then applied a basic dermal suture."

[Davy, aka GM]

Sorak & T'Kiri
T'Kiri notes, "I will direct Ayhan and T'Ara to uncover more information about this Kavoran," T'Kiri says to her mate. "In the meantime, I would be very interested in hearing Professor Sanak's assessment of the discussion and his opponent. Do you agree?"