Finding More

[Taeli Raaf]

Iego System

It was a curious system that Taeli Raaf had sent them to, the Iego system. Forty-two moons, a large debris field with an old CIS security system with in it, stranded spacers on the surface that didn’t age or feel hunger. Siren like beings and burrowing demons, it was not exactly a hotspot of activity and that was exactly why Jylik and his team were here.

As part of Project Galvani, he and his team had begun establishing a new research station in the debris field to continue their work on the Sianium and whether it could be created through other organic matter. They had several breakthroughs on Togoria, and he hoped to have equal success here. If they could create the substance out of plant matter, things would be so much easier and humane than going through the leftovers of whatever species had been obliterated by genocide.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

“Jylik, the transport carrying the Sianium and the other organic matter we were going to test just arrived in system … but it attracted some unwanted attention,” a researcher said. “Diathim have swarmed the ship and we think the pilots might have gone mesmerized.”

“Typical,” he grumbled. No one stuck to the science, and while they had also attracted Diathim on their arrival, their devotion to their work had stopped them from getting drawn in by the Angels of Iego. “Set off a frequency on their communications system, get them over here. We have work to do.”

They had found that a way to break any mesmerizing effect by the Diathim was setting off a high pitched frequency. The pitch would shatter whatever effects the brain was under, mainly from the feedback sound and pain caused by such. Watching from the observation deck of the Nightshade research station, he couldn’t stop a smug smile forming as the ship seemed to lurch back to life and fire off a few warning shots at the Diathim to scatter them.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

“Sorry, Chief Jylik, we didn’t think about the Diathim when we entered the system,” the captain of the freighter said, scratching the back of his head.

“Remember that for next time,” Jylik simply stated, looking over the manifest. They had all the equipment they needed now and plenty of material to work with and compare to the original Sianium. “Just offload what we need.”

He had ordered several different plants and animals for testing from all across the galaxy to see what would work best. He wasn’t too excited about the animal tests, but it needed to be done to explore all routes for the project. As the men from the freighter unloaded the containers and cages, Jylik went back to reviewing his notes on the Sianium he had previously worked with. Reports were still good from Togoria that plenty of viable being generated Sianium was there, but he had something to prove now to Miss Raaf and Jaxson.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

“Test Ax-01, Trindellan Oak,” Jylik said into the recorder as the team of scientists started powering up the flare burst machine that would simulate the effects of a turbolaser strike on a subject. The chamber the oak was in was also prepared to pump high levels of radiation into it immediately upon the oak being hit with the burst.

“Hypothesis: As the oak’s bark is as strong as iron, it can be theorized it can survive the burst process and leave enough viable material to be converted into Sianium,” he continued saying. “Test to commence in three … two … one …”

A burst of light later, a hissing sound from the radiation being injected into the chamber, Jylik waited patiently. Eventually, a klaxon went off that the room was cleared to be entered once the radiation was pumped out of the room. Just to be cautious though, scientists were in anti-radiation gear to enter the chamber.

“Readings indicate that 45% of the material remaining is viable enough to be enriched into Sianium,” a scientist reported over his helmet comm. “The remainder was completely vaporized.”

“Hmm, I had hoped more would survive, but then again it is a lot for bark,” Jylik said. “Prepare the next subject.”

 

[Taeli Raaf]

“Test Ax-08, Galidraan Pine,” Jylik said into his recorder. They had tried several different more trees and their barks, each one producing about 30 to 50 percent of material. Now Galidraan pine would be readily available as the facility there was under construction and was a refinement post. He still had Togoria plants to test as well, but nothing from Taris or Melida/Daan. Not a lot of organic matter on those worlds left to use that wasn’t being based.

“Hypothesis: The pine bark will produce material ranging from 30 to 36 percent of viable material, the rest is vaporized and can’t be used. Testing in three … two … one …”

[SIZE=11pt]He always enjoyed when his hypothesis played out as he expected as his team found only 35% of the material was viable for use, but it would be a readily available source. The tress from Togoria only yielded 32% when they were put through the testing, but they would work even better.[/SIZE]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Still, things were looking up as it was producing material … just not as much as being based material. He had expected as much, but it was somewhat saddening. Just from that observation, he suspected the animal tests would yield something in between or even more. He also had a team working on using just carbon and other elements found in organics and creating synthetic Sianium in a different lab, but success wasn’t easy there.

[SIZE=11pt]As testing continued on the plant specimens, they had moved onto to flowers and grasses with minimal success because too much was being vaporized, he knew trees and larger planets would be the one where they yielded the most for plants.[/SIZE]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

“Testing on plant specimens complete,” he said, lounging in his office some time later. They had just finished the remaining plant tests, and he had received news that the first full Sianium power cell had been created. “Final report is that various trees yield roughly between 30 and 37 percent viable material, while other leafy plants only yield some 6 percent of material. Suggestion would be to focus on using the native trees on both Togoria and Galidraan as a plant based source for Sianium as other planets might give away locations of the project. Testing on animal subjects will begin shortly, expecting greater results than seen thus far. Will be making a request for cloning technology if found to be a viable method of creating material.”

 

[Taeli Raaf]

There was a general feeling among the scientists, that of unease about what sorts of tests they were beginning, but science and the project demanded it. If this was found to be practical, cloning centers could be used to either make brain dead specimens for use or just the hide. They would be testing both here after all.

“Test Bx-01, Tatooine Bantha, male,” Jylik said into his recorder. The bantha had been sedated and wouldn’t feel a thing once the procedure hit it. Small things, but it made the process just a little more humane for delicate sensibilities.

“Are we sure about this?” one female scientist asked. “Miss Raaf would be perfectly happy with the plant results from the previous experiments.”

“We were asked to be thorough, and that is what we shall do,” Jylik replied curtly. “Begin testing.”

 

[Taeli Raaf]

There were no further protests, spoke aloud anyways, as the testing began on the bantha. Science over distastefulness was Jylik’s motto, and this was no exception. To him, this was no different than breeding bantha or nerfs for slaughter to provide meat for the galaxy.

A flash of light later, and the bantha was nothing left but residue in a chamber as radiation was then released to bind with the residue and create the Sianium. Once the radiation levels lowered, the team went in to examine how much viable material had been developed.

“Sir, we’re estimating the creation of about 55% viable material from the bantha,” the team leader said over his helmet comm. “Significantly more is here than with any plant sample.”

“As we hypothesized,” Jylik said. “Bring in the next subject and log the results.”

 

[Taeli Raaf]

A small ronto was dragged into the chamber, and the same female scientist frowned. She had been a member of an animal rights group in her youth, but she thought going into the technology industry meant she would never see animal testing. This was abhorrent to her.

“Test Bx-02, Tatooine ronto, male,” Jylik stated, his voice neutral. “Begin testing.”

And so it went, the teams bringing in a menagerie of different creatures to be subjected to the Sianium creation process, and the same female scientist was growing increasingly angry at just the uncaring way that Jylik and the other scientists were acting towards the creatures that were being reduced to nothing but organic residue for them to test.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Jylik, aware of the colleague was growing increasingly upset, would deal with the situation as he could, but he first needed to finish the series of tests. The yield from the larger beasts were of course larger percentage wise on what created viable material, some reaching into the low 60s. He was quite pleased by those results, quite pleased indeed. He knew that both avenues of Sianium creation were now workable options for the company. Pity that the creating it from scratch with carbon wasn’t going so well. There were always disappointments, he mused.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Finally, the last animal trial was done and he was logging his report with Taeli and Jaxson.

“Testing on animal specimens are complete,” he said. “Yields were roughly double the amount of viable material as plant specimens, as hypothesized. Larger creatures, such as banthas and rontos create the most as was also theorized. The experiments into using carbon have been less than successful, but we will continue with analyzing that route of creation. However, it is my recommendation that Aurora pursues both options, making use of cloning technology to create the animal specimens.”

[SIZE=11pt]He left off mention of the disgruntled employee as he felt he need not bother Taeli or Jaxson about it. The rest of his team were like him, science came before anything else. He had carefully been asking around their opinions on the animal testing during the last few days and he was certain only the one was against using the method. Miss Taeli might be against it, but then again she also loved science.[/SIZE]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

“Sir, we have an unauthorized breach in the creation chamber,” a security droid said.

“I expected as much,” Jylik stated, bringing up the cameras to see his protestor in the chamber with a bag of tools. ‘It would seem we have a saboteur…”

[SIZE=11pt]No need ever know about his next action, and he would chalk it up to both a failed sabotage and mechanical glitch in his official incident report to Taeli and Jaxson and Aurora security forces. Pressing a button on his desk, the creation chamber activated and vaporized his headache. For the greater good of the project and science.[/SIZE]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

"Miss Kugry was unfortunately a saboteur as she was attempting to damage the Sianium creation machine," Jylik was saying to the blue forms of both Taeli Raaf and Ary Jaxson. He was being very careful to not actually lie as he knew the boss would sense it and then he would be in hotter water than he was. "While she was in there, the machine activated and she was vaporized."

"How was the machine activated?" Taeli asked, watching Jylik for any signs of deception. She was naturally suspicious of the incident, she knew Jylik was not above many actions to preserve the project and have his precious science degraded in any way.

"We are still investigating that, Miss Raaf," Jylik responded. "We suspect it was simply when she was fiddling with the wires, she had a mistake and turned it on by accident. No damage was done luckily."

"Were there any signs of disgruntlement or of her true nature beforehand?" Jaxson asked.

"None beyond a remark about the animal testing, but I didn't think much of it," Jylik answered. "Speaking of which, has a decision been made on my recommendation?"

"Your recommendation was logged and we are still reviewing the data," Taeli stated. "A decision will be made in the coming weeks if we want to pursue use of cloned animals to create Sianium. Jylik, consider yourself under watch as I do not want to hear about anymore such incidents coming the Iego facility. Clear?"

"Crystal, ma'am."