Log:Convergence: Whither Will We Go - Part 1
The members of Convergence arrive at Taanab to research the cause for their crop loss.
OOC Date: August 18, 2020
Location: Taanab
Participants: Atrel Katah as gm, Convergence, Mandl, Nerys Arda, Fyrris
Taanab. The green jewel of the galaxy and the planet with one of the highest yields of food stock as well is currently experiencing some technical difficulties. Not really technical but the planet is experiencing some sort of crop loss or maybe its a blight but their current botanists are at a loss as to what they can do. They have done everything and thus they have taken on the independent contract of several off planet organizations in hopes that something will be caught they they are missing. Convergence is one of those and as they are let out into the field, Atrel in a soft blue body suit and jacket does her best to wend her way upon the uneven broken ground where a field of some form of beans has withered and rotted. The botanist with them is motioning about. "We have run tests but this looks nothing like the usual rot we have to contend with. It looks worse and it is not responding to our treatments. Perhaps you can get your own look."
The field in question is acres really with them near one of the treatment buildings that pumps whatever they need into the irrigation system. Atrel then nods. "We will need a bit to assess your facility and the ground surrounding."
Mandl busies themselves minutely examining the soil, as a... person... of rare earths and copious mineralogical and metallurgical expertises. Datapads out! Science go! "Hnh. Iron concentrations below what is considered normal-- it leaches to the lower levels and merely-- sits. Not enough to do this kind of damage, however..."
Nerys was in her armor. Nerys was always in her armor. She never went anywhere without it. It had both a: far too many useful widgets attached or integrated into it, and b: a climate control system that meant she could work for longer without feeling discomfort. Once they had the go ahead to begin their analysis, Nerys did just that. She requested whatever mapping they had done of the affected areas and overlaid them with topographical maps of the landscape. As she worked, she reviewed historical records, attempting to see if she could find any instances of similar infestations on similar worlds which she could use for reference.
Nerys looked up from where she was working, looking over to the team that Convergence was working with, "How old is the well that feeds this field? This is certainly the epicenter of the infestation, possibly fed from something within the water table here. It would see that the further the crops and flora are from this central point, the lower the rate of infection. And aside from the flora, have you noticed any problems with the fauna that feed here?"
One claw tipped finger running the length of the human woman's jaw 'by accident' while Fyrris has two arms out, palms to the wall as he leans on one side, "Of course, this is extremely important - you look gorgeous by the way; those eyes MUST be yours, naturally... I mean... OH! I'm sorry, yes the water and observation portion would be perfect for us. After all, how do we check on pre-soil PH levels, or contaminants that might have been leached to less perceptible but no less harmful levels?" putty in the Codru's hat as he hovers just this side of creep-o close while talking to the brunette. Making a clicking sound with the corner of his mouth as one hand slips into his pocket and the one teasing the lady gives her shoulder a pat.
"By the way you best tell that guy you said was poking around that you'd love to see him, but make sure to use one of these restaurants." a flimsy card pressed into one of her tunic pockets. "The more expensive the more he just wants into that skirt. Kay? Kay. Thank's gorgeous." a simple air kiss and Fyrris is on the move, indicating to others via comms the new location he has gained them access too.
Atrel stands by, watching them all work as she has her datapad out to gather the information they are gathering. Mandl's observations about the soil are noted in a section and then three is Nerys with her focus on the locations. The Arkanian merely nod as Fyrris is over here flirting with their escort who is just oozing at his charm. She mmmmmphs but does not otherwise respond to the display as her posture remains completely straight backed. "Thus this indicates it is from the water source. Have you been overwatering and causing the soil to leech?" This is asked of the woman who is just watching Fyrris before walking back over towards the group at the center of the field. "Ahhh we have had some heavy rains recently." She expresses. "But no problems. We tend to try to keep them out of the area. There are natural preserves between the fields for them in areas so that they are less inclined to feast on the livelihood of our planet. But I admit that I saw a bird the other day dead. In fact I think Farley said he found several dead."
She furrows her brows. "We figure it something to do with the rot. But tests have yet to come back."
Atrel moves to pull a container from her belt and takes a sample of a pot with a quick clip. She closes it up and stands up straight. <"We will meet you shortly, Fyrris. I think we have more questions."> She looks to Mandl and Nerys.
Scoundral-ey canid that he is.
Mandl *beckons* Nerys over. "These grew between waterings-- derived nutrients from only the rains, thinks Mandl from the mineral profile." Rather than beans, they are small green weeds. "... perhaps we need data on the weather?" They look skyward?
Nerys nodded, at the word about the dead birds. "We will need to analyze the remains. I would also like to retrieve a clean sample of the water from the well. And if you have catches anywhere else where we might be able to get a sample of the rainwater, that would be appreciated. We need to determine if the water is the source, and if so, if it is water leeching up from the earth, or something that leeched into the land from the rainfall." She paused in her requests as Mandl beckoned her over. "Yes, I was thinking something similar, Dr. B'Rot." Perhaps that was not surprising. They had worked together before, and that allowed a certain synergy of thought to grow between like minds. "If I can have access to the meteorological data, we can determine if the infected area fits the boundaries of the weather phenomenon." Nerys' mind was already working, clearly, and she was working on at least one theory which Mandl seemed to share. "What can you tell me about how fertile this land was before this last sowing? Is this land that you have been working to reclaim? Or has it been consistently producing?" She glanced to Mandl, "If something was seeded into the rain to increase productivity..." She glanced back to Mandl, taking a knee as she studied the green shoots he indicated, "Weeds, growing after the crops were already blighted. But if the irrigation system was shut down, as these records indicate, then the rain was severe enough to leech nutrients from the soil, pushing everything closer to the layer beneath. Including any chemicals used to keep weeds and unwanted growth at bay."
Standing there while all the science talk is going on... Fyrris is clearly out of his depth. He's flirted their way in, he has not else they need from him... yet. So he does what he always down.
"So... Atrel... if I said that this was an excellent chance for some field work, would you experiment on me?" brow waggle. Waggle waggle. Yeah. Smooooooooth.
Atrel steps closer to take note of the weed and begins to hand out sample containers. This is what she is here for. Samples and retention of information. Giving one to each she watches and pushes her foot at one of the weeds, getting a blue boot dirty. She shakes it off and sinks a little into the ground with how wet it is. She glances up at their escort who is trying to answer the questions and be of help as Atrel will take back the samples as Mandl and Nerys handle them. "We can make the weather patterns available to you this growing season of course. I will have them sent to your datapad." Waiting for the ident and name to send to that is quickly handled before she answers further questions.
"The land is rotation. This is the first year back into the replenishment phase. We do two years of beans which require far less nutrients than other crops so they end up giving mroe as half the crop is mulched and tilled back into the soil. So nutrients are presently low, it is now we do heavy fertilizing which we have shipped in from another continent that deals with our livestock here on Taanab." She expresses.
"The rain itself is natural, the irrigation however runs through that building and the water is mixed with a liquid fertilizer so we can help amend the soil.
She looks between them. "Do you think you know what happened?"
Atrel sighs. "Fyrris wants us to join him. I suggests we take samples and go check the well no? Before he waggles his butt at me or takes off his pants. And no. I will not experiment on you. Only when you are dead. That is in your contract."
Mandl *waddles* toward the well with their findings, shaking a datapad! Power-waddle!
Mandl says, "Shut the fertilizer valve-- we'll need isolated samples of that mixture entirely apart from the well-water. See here!"
"Thank you," Nerys offered, as Atrel handed her a container into which she placed the sample before she would hand it back. "Alright, I'd like to sample the water myself, so that I know we have a clean collection." She glanced to the woman who was working as their intermediary, "I do believe the water might be the culprit, but I do not know yet if it was water which came from the existing system or something that came with the rains in this area. We will know more once we have been able to obtain and analyze a few more samples." And then she was off, seeming to pay no attention to Fyrris and his antics, most of her attention focused on the work and what wasn't there reviewing data from her systems that she brought up as she mentally paged through theories. "What can you tell us about the group or family that are working the land in this cycle? Are they new to the area or have they worked this land for some time? And this fertilizer, is it one you use routinely in other areas?" Nerys talked as she worked, maneuvering around the team to catch the samples they needed.
Nerys wasn't a space nerd for nothing, and thank goodness for the suit, as she descended into the well, moving slowly and carefully so that she could study the walls and structure of the place as she moved. Rather than speaking to the group, she switched to the comm system that was only for the team once she got to the bottom and began with the heavy looking around, <From what I can see of the system, all of the ground water was drained out of this reservoir and only rain water was allowed to fill it. I can see the delivery pod for the fertilizer, but I also see that it is leaking. And whatever is inside of it is dripping onto the ground and all of the weeds we saw above ground that have grown up here are all dying. This may be the source of the blight.> Nerys pulled a pair of clean collection trays, one for the liquid coming from the pod and the other to pick up some of the soil and dying weeds.
A mock gasp, "I refuse to believe you have no interest in strapping me down and doing as you will. Playing doctor - that's you all over." waggling his rump at Atrel now before he leans in to her and whispers something to her, likely scandalous.
Then he is off! Heading to the bit of area they have been given access too. Putting some STANK on his walk, hips don't lie - and squats. Always remember squats when you're trying to impress the ladies with ones' assets. Heheh.
While wandering through the area, Fyrris stops, head lifting and nostrils twitching. "Well hell... " drifting towards a group of barrels, marked as 'Kane Fertilizer - Batch 1489-A Ammended" head tilting and turning back to the others, while also looking for potential outsiders, while he gets ready to speak.
"Should this be smelling like bad almonds? I don't think this should smell like bad almonds. It's really bitter..." looking to Atrel, "Bad almonds is poison right?"
As the group enters the well house the setup is clear. A deep well of rain water mostly and Nerys is wise getting a sample as the figure helping them is quick to move over and shut off the fertilizer. She looks confused. "They have been working this land for generations. We have recently switched fertilizers but its the same company. We suspected it was something from the previous crop," she admits but then watches them all curiously. Atrel for her part is handing out samples and clipping them back to her belt. Water is handled carefully, wiped on a cloth hanging from that same belt and then clipped into place. She is taking notes a well in short hand as she settles her gaze on Fyrris. "I have no comment." Simply put.
She offers a vial to Mandl for his sample gathering and will take Nerys when she is done. Juggling she glancs to Fyrris for help but notes him looking at something. "When you are done there I need your help." But his observation makes her pause and she narrows her gaze, her lips parting as she sniffs the air and can not catch it like he came. It is not her that answers but the other guide who steps over as samples are taken. She sniffs at the air and can not smell it. "If you are right then its a high level of potassium..which could cause necrosis in the plants."
Mandl secures the vial in their satchel, for later-testing. "Yes, let us retreat to the large instruments. Surely our assembled brainpower can come to the source of this devilish mystery..."
Nerys, who handed off everything she had collected to Atrel, came up and out of the well, making her way over towards where she could see the Codru-ji. She cracked the seal on her helmet, allowing herself access to the ambient air near the barrels, using the filtration system to purge her helmet as she moved from barrel to barrel. She pulled a marker of some kind from her pack, putting an X on each barrel where she smelled the scent. "This is certainly something we need to investigate. If these barrels have been purposefully contaminated, we also need to see if we can look at your shipping manifests to see what others orders your supplier fulfilled and when." She looked back to Atrel, "We will need to sample these as well."
Arms thrust for heavens, Fyrris gives a big toothy grin and turns in a slow circle while all four limbs wave hypnotically about him. Such joy! Such wonder of his talent and a ability as he crows. "I have successfully scienced!" twirling on one foot and extending the hands on one side towards Atrel,
"DOCTOR Vochar... SMD... MSD? SSD?" acronyms. Ha. They're fun. "Do I get a lab coat? Pencil skirt. I got the the hips for the skirt... No no... Slacks and wingtips." looking to Nerys "Hey Red! I science now!"
Atrel must be so proud...
