Forgotten Fodder

[Solluk]

Starfleet astronomical research outposts have discovered a rogue asteroid approaching the Tellar system.  The asteroid's path will intersect with the Tellar sun, which normally wouldn't be much of a concern.  However, this asteroid shows signs of having been used as a toxic waste dump by some ancient civilization, and some of this waste (a million tons worth!) is highly volatile.  If the waste impacts the Tellar sun, it could force it into a dangerous period of instability, potentially even causing a stellar mass ejection that could engulf the Tellarite homeworld.  The asteroid is moving at half the speed of light, apparently having been accelerated to that speed long ago by engines installed within it.  With only days remaining before impact, there is no time to evacuate the Tellarite system.   Yourship is assigned to stop the asteroid somehow, or at least change its course so that it misses the Tellar sun.  Billions of Tellarites are counting on you!

Starting Point: Yourship is assigned to stop the asteroid somehow, or at least change its course so that it misses the Tellar sun.

End Goal: Yourship implements a plan (or multiple plans) that succeed in preventing a collision with the Tellar sun.

Story points that must be passed?:

I) Yourship is assigned to stop the asteroid somehow, or at least change its course so that it misses the Tellar sun.

II) Yourship's staff meet to discuss the problem, with each department proposing potential solutions.  The asteroid is too large to stop with conventional means, and too toxic to simply destroy with torpedoes.  Other solutions must be found.  Each department head should develop a proposal (or several.)

III) None of the individual proposals seem likely to succeed entirely on their own, but combined, they may have a chance to avert disaster.  Examples include: Using shuttles or runabouts with tractor beams to slow the asteroid, buying time.  Using the ship's own tractor beam to try to nudge the asteroid off course.  Using the ship's subspace warp field to change the asteroid's mass, making it easier to move.  Using carefully attenuated phaser beams to safely 'burn off' toxic material in precisely calibrated layers so that there is less of it on impact.  Using the bussard collectors to 'vacuum' toxic material, and then use the ship's replicators to re-process it into inert, non-toxic substances.  Deploying a genetically modified organism that can 'eat' the toxic material on the asteroid.  Placing metaphasic shield generators on the asteroid so that it can pass safely through the sun's corona and exit the other side.  Deploying engineering teams to the asteroid to find the ancient engine that initially put the asteroid into motion, and try to repair it and use it slow the asteroid down, or change its course.

IV) With round-the-clock work and multiple techniques employed, disaster is averted.

Departments: (To make sure everyone has something to do.)

- Flight: Shuttles and the ship itself might be used to nudge the asteroid or slow it down.

- Engineering: Multiple engineering techniques might be used to reduce the amount of toxic waste on the asteroid, move the asteroid, or make the asteroid easier to move.

- Operations: Power transfers from unimportant systems and intense power reserves may be necessary to get enough power to implement any number of plans from other departments.

- Security and tactical: Ships weapons might be used to burn off some of the toxic material on the asteroid, reducing its threat.

- Medical: There may be biological solutions to the toxic waste problem, or power overloads and minor disasters may cause injuries that need tending.

- Science: Various scientific theories may be proposed to either safely process the toxic waste, move the asteroid, protect the asteroid from contact with the sun, etc.

Note:  This is a short 'team effort' mission of a purely scientific/disaster relief nature.  Everyone gets to contribute something towards the solution.  This is a good follower to a combat mission, as it involves no conflict and get let the crew enjoy a more cerebral alternative for a time.