Exeter Symposium (Part 2)

Posted on 23 Feb 2016 @ 12:18am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant Jared Nicholas & Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy & Lieutenant JG Manuel Lucero & Lieutenant Wilhelm Von Haeften & Petty Officer 1st Class Rebecca Williams & Petty Officer 2nd Class Eva Kovalev & Petty Officer 3rd Class Veri RN
Edited on on 23 Feb 2016 @ 12:22am

3,849 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: Jupiter Station - Deck 75, Auditorium 4
Timeline: MD 82 - 1000 hrs

Previously, on Exeter Symposium (Part 1)...

Lady Olenna entered wearing a fabulous Charcoal pant suit. Miyna followed her as they searched for a seat. It had been some time since Olenna had attended such an event. They reminded her of her time with the Senate, all the symposiums, and conferences. Most would find them boring, but not Olenna. she was a sponge when it came to knowledge.

Markum Quinn entered into the massive auditorium and stopped, stopped to take in the presence of so much knowledge and experience that has come to this one place. He moved towards the back of the room, finding a seat that the CoB could sit in and listen.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Backstage

It was 1000 hours and Lirha stood backstage with her vessel's blue-collared Science and Medical crew who were all on the list to present at different time slots throughout the day. PADD in her green hand, she paced back and forth to both recite her opening speech in her head and also look over the schedule to make sure everything was in order. She looked up and took a big breath before motioning everyone over, and did a quick head count to make sure each person was present and accounted for.

"We are scheduled to begin in..." she looked down at her chronometer, "fifteen minutes," she addressed the team. "Per the instructions on your PADDs, each of you is allotted twenty minutes to present and you will have both audio and visual assistants should you require them." That was perhaps an understatement. The massive 200-foot LCARS screen atop the stage and the 55 surround-sound speakers embedded throughout the auditorium meant that every pixel and whisper of the presenter's materials would be distributed to everyone.

"Does anyone have any questions before we begin? The symposium director will introduce our vessel and our crew, and then I believe Mister Lucero and Mister Xanth will be the first two to present...followed by Mister Mott, Von Haeften, then Warraquim. Then, we will have a brief recess before our next five presenters, and repeat the same process until all of us are finished."

"Will there be a host to do introductions or do we introduce ourselves and then the next presenter?" Allyndra asked.

"Yes, the symposium director is a Denobulan by the name of Doctor Yelen. I will give a short opening speech, then she will be introducing each of you in turn when your time comes," answered the Orion. Lirha felt a bit jittery -- not because she would be presenting, but because she wanted her crew to be on their very best behavior.

"And if I may add...you are all a reflection of both Galileo and the Federation. Not only are the smartest members of the scientific community present, but there are also Academy students, Starfleet flag officers, and many other captains here to observe us." No pressure at all..."

"Oh goody..." Wilhelm Von Haeften said sarcastically. "For a minute there, I was really nervous. Thanks Admiral for calming us down."

Lucero chuckled softly at Von Haeften's jab to the Admiral. Needless to say, he was a bit nervous himself, being the first to present. It would only be a matter of time before-- The lieutenant just took a deep breath.

There was roughly a three hour time frame between the present time and when Jared was supposed to present. He'd practiced his speech several times, had notes and felt prepared. At the same time, he knew there would be questions, some of those he could anticipate, some he knew he could not. And it was those unexpected questions that gave him just the slightest hint of apprehension.

Von Haeften tapped his fellow scientist on the shoulder.

"You ok Luke?" the German asked his friend and colleague. The nicknamee had become something of an in-joke between them, as when they first started working together, Wilhelm could not for the life of him get the pronunciation of Lucero's name correctly, instead resorting to the more Germanic hard 'K', turning the first part of his name into "Luke-a row". Turned out that Manny did not mind the nickname, and so Wil kept using it.

Lucero looked at the CSO.

"Yeah. I just hope that I don't forget anything." He said looking into the distance.

"Consider yourselves lucky gentlemen," Allyndra looked at the list. "I have just before lunch which means most of the audience will be thinking about their stomachs rather then anything I have to say."

"And i have right after," Jared said, "I think we're about even."

Von Haeften spoke to the Akkadian doctor first. "With your beauty Your Worshipfulness? They'll be lucky to even remember what food is."

Allyndra looked at the man. "Three quarters will be bored to death, out of the remaining bunch, I would expect fifty percent of those will be wondering what is on the menu, maybe ten percent will actually be interested and the rest not quit grasp anything. It is the way these things go."

Next, Jared.

"Jared...just don't mention food...or chewing. In fact just do twenty minutes of stand up comedy." the CSO joked.

Naois was nervous; he never had been one for public speaking and considered teaching to be different from doing a presentation before a large audience. Obviously, being on light duty didn't give him the opportunity to bow out. So he stood watching the others from a slight distance away, clutching a PADD to his chest.

Eva knew Naois would be waiting backstage for his turn and while she was enjoying listening to the research presented by Galileo crew, much of it went over her head. Stepping up beside her husband, she placed her arm around him. "You doing okay Naois?"

Naois nodded. "Well enough," he told his wife, leaning briefly into the embrace. "You will watch, I hope?"

Smiling at her colleagues banter, Dru tried to not allow her nerves to get the better of her as she glanced from her PADD to their faces, "Least your not after lunch when everybody just wants a nap after a filling feast as such."

Veri kept pacing. So much was on her mind. She did not train well to give speeches. She was not an academic, all that much. Most of what she had to present, were things she used to hear her parents complain about at the dinner table.

And now Jynn was demoted. There were just too many distractions for her. But Veri did her best to clam down. She had to, or else she might start blabbing again, and that was what she believed got Jynn in so much trouble. Blabbing was a bad thing, yes.

"Then perhaps when it is my turn, everyone has fallen asleep," Naois commented dryly, "though I am scheduled before the second break so maybe everyone is in a hurry to get out to get food on time."

A few moments passed before Captain Holliday made his appearance. Smoothing out his uniform jacket he quickly took his seat at the rear of the auditorium, taking a moment to look over his shoulder before focusing back on the stage, and hoping that nobody would notice he had arrived almost a half hour later than expected.

Rebecca's eyes strayed away from the stage as she became aware of another presence she had learned to be acutely aware of. Her boss had been acting strange lately and this recent disappearing act hadn't helped all of that much.

Excusing herself from Greg's presence, she moved the short distance to take a seat by his side. "You make it look more obvious by distancing yourself from everybody instead of melding in with the crowd."

Holliday turned to eye who had approached him from elsewhere in the room. Relieved it was his yeoman rather than some errant academic, he breathed a sigh of relief before continuing.

"I...shan't be staying long, I have a...meeting elsewhere on Jupiter Station shortly. That being said I felt an appearance as a show of support would go down better than simply being absent from the entire event."

Rebecca raised an eyebrow at this news Rebecca sat back into her seat before crossing her legs at the knees and surveying the people taking seats around them. It wasn't like Holiday to be so evasive. "I see...and what shall I tell anyone who queries your absence?"

"Tell them I had to report in to Command. That should be sufficient detail for anyone who needs to know." Holliday replied, keeping it equally as simple yet as to the point as he could.

"I will be back aboard ship within the next few hours. If I am needed, I will make myself available."

Rebecca just nodded her head, if she'd learned one thing about her Boss it was that if he didn't want something known, he wasn't going to say.

The time had now come, and Lirha raised her hand to hush the small assembly of scientists gathered around her. "Well...I believe it is our turn," she said, hearing the final words of the director who was on stage. "Good luck," she smiled, giving each of them a reassuring gaze with her light green eyes.

Doctor Yelen's voice could now be heard as she mentioned their Nova-class vessel. "...Now, please welcome Rear Admiral Saalm of the USS Galileo..." the director said, which was followed by a loud applause as Lirha stepped out on to the stage.

A momentary panic set in when Lirha walked towards the podium. She couldn't help but look around at the massive number of people watching her, and while she had never been shy or minded public speaking, this was perhaps the most extreme version that she had ever encountered. Forcing a smile on her gold lips and waving to the crowd, she did her best to look as presentable as possible while standing in front of the assembly in her all-white dress uniform.

"Thank you...yes, thank you," she began as the crowed quieted. "It is quite a pleasure to be here, standing in front of all of you. Two years ago when I was assigned command of USS Galileo I remember first setting eyes on her at San Fransisco Fleet Yards. She was a small vessel -- perhaps no bigger than a luxury yacht -- and yet I knew she was the perfect instrument to further our dreams of exploration and scientific study." She paused to swallow the dryness in her throat before continuing.

"And yet, as with every instrument, it is only as useful as its user, and for Galileo to accomplish anything significant in her journeys, we needed a capable crew. Starfleet is no slouch when it comes to providing the best officers and NCOs, and we soon set off on our maiden voyages to realize our potential." Another short pause ensued while Lirha thought about their past missions together and the trials they had all overcome.

"During our short time in space, we have discovered new solar systems, surveyed habitable planets, observed ancient relics, made first contact with reclusive species, sampled new nebulae, and established relations with non-corporeal lifeforms. Never would I have imagined that this ship and its crew would have the honor of so many discoveries, and it is a testament to every crew member who serves aboard Galileo. Most importantly, it is also a tribute to those who never returned home with the rest of us...those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of science and exploration. For they are the true explorers and heroes who have made it possible for us to tell our story and share it with all of you."

Lirha's eyes dampened a bit while she recalled the names of each Galilean who was killed in action. "It has been the most humbling honor to serve with my crew and its officers, for they are the true manipulators of our scientific instrument. Without further delay, I hope you will all enjoy our findings, and it is my pleasure to begin our presentations with that of Lieutenant Manuel Lucero V, our assistant chief science officer," she concluded to a loud applause as stepped to the side and watched the young junior lieutenant come on stage.


1030 hrs: Lucero Presentation

“Hello everyone.” Lucero began.

“As it was said before I am a junior-grade Lieutenant and the assistant Chief Science Officer on the Galileo. I know that those of you who aren’t just here for the Federation sanctioned nap-time that we call The Symposium,” sections of the crowd let out a few fits of laughter. Lucero smiled. “Are most likely ecstatic at the opportunity to hear my department and our colleagues’ unabridged opinions, discoveries, postulates, and theories… Being a part of what are, incontrovertibly, the foremost science and medical departments in the fleet, I must say… You’re in for a whole lot more than you came for.”

The audience seemed to lean in with anticipation.

“You are all aware that our ship endured a rather interesting and indubitably rare cosmological event. Something that I never thought that I could possibly experience in the entirety of my career. The unintentional formation and traversal of an unstable, cross-dimensional singularity. An Einstein-Rosen Bridge.” He walked across the stage, looking into the eyes of what seemed to be thousands of sentient beings. From flag officers to sanitation crewmen.

This was why he pursued a career in the sciences. It was science and understanding that brought them all together, to discover what was beyond the limits of the universe; what was beyond their own limits as a species. The young lieutenant genuinely believed that it was science that would expand the federation through to all of those beings yet to be discovered who are in desperate need of it.

“A wormhole.” A young ensign’s voice rang clearly to the stage. Lucero looked towards him. The blue accents on his uniform were barely distinguishable in the sea of spectators.

“Precisely!” He gestured with his hands. “A wormhole enabling us not only to move between two points of multiversal space-time within human timescale to a universe that is inversely contrapositive to our own, but also something else. Something more…”

The Lieutenant swallowed.

“As it happened… I had made it to the bridge just minutes before we reached the event horizon: the point of no return. It’s an emergency that you really aren’t prepared for. No amount of drill or schooling can provide a procedure or mindset for what we experienced as a crew in those final moments. The fact that we are here now is a testament in itself.” Lucero realized that he was getting off-topic and needed to re-focus. “Despite that, the CSO was maintaining power and left me to take over our survey and sensor arrays. It was unbelievably hectic and we were technologically blinded. Of course, what else can be expected! Perhaps it was simply wishful thinking on our part. But nonetheless, it was worth a shot. I attempted to punch through the anomaly with long-range sensors. As expected, they all returned null values. To be honest, I panicked and in a moment of desperation, input parameters to slightly extend the sensor resolution beyond the triangular parallax of the anomaly to the ship from a randomized astrometric focal point within the anomaly itself, this way, the sensors were scanning from the peripheral, rather than directly at or through the anomaly. In this manner, the computer may have been able to simulate the space behind the anomaly, if not visually, then with data. It was a roll of the dice. But, we didn’t appear to have time for maybes, as it was too late.”

A couple of gasps seeped from the crowd. Lucero heard and realized that maybe he was being a bit dramatic. He didn’t have to be so serious. No one was sleeping yet, however. A good sign.

“Or was it?” Eyebrows raised in the audience and the Lieutenant smiled again.

“After looking through some data with one of our resident astrophysicists on the Galileo, Ensign Xanth, I had come across the null values from my initial scan of the anomaly. It hadn’t occurred to me to check the scans that I made after those moments prior to us falling into the anomaly. As it so happens they weren’t null at all.”
Lucero could feel the suspense in the air as the anticipation of the foot-tapping scientists within the spectators became physically evident.
“In fact they were terminating decimals.” A look of shock and open mouths took the crowd in a wave as they turned to the person behind and next to them to exchange whispers of bewilderment. But the Lieutenant hadn’t finished.

“Oh… And they were negative as well.”

The whole audience seemed to stand as there was an uproar of questions and discussion amongst each other. Hysteria made its way to even the sanitation crewman who tapped a yelling officer to ask what it meant. The sheer force of the voices below the stage area made the walls vibrate. Proctors along the sides of the seating areas began to attempt to calm the crowd. It took a good three minutes for the noise to settle completely. With only hushed whispers left, Lucero continued. His face became very serious.

“The cause of this anomaly was undoubtedly related to one of our ships unique dual omnidirectional reflectors. My theory is that after being disabled it had begun pushing a persistent quantum-state upon entangled subspace. The singularity implies that quantum physics has been giving us a false positive when evaluating gravity with finite subtractions. The case may actually be that gravity is relative to quanta through subtraction to the degree of an integrated limit to infinity from zero to the sum of all of my ‘negative terminating decimals’.” Lucero made air quotes and signaled one of the proctors. A holographic projection of a complicated set of equation overlays and their corresponding graphics.

“This I affectionately have named, ‘The Lucero Oscillating Open-Timelike-Curve’ or LootC if you would like to be brief. Mathematically, Ladies and Gentlemen, the U.S.S Galileo and her crew have unintentionally completed the Lorentzian Manifold to the point where the current Grand Unified Theory has been expanded by this equation.” Another signal is given to the proctor and the jumble of numbers are combined and overlays consolidated to form a rather elegant multivariable differential in the terms of general uncertainty principles as an accomplished expression covers the Lieutenant’s face.

“My fellow sentients, I have kept this research under wraps until now. As of this Symposium I will release my proofs and conjectures immediately. But now, I leave you to think of this. With this information, as I am sure quite a few of you have gathered by now, we could, theoretically create pocket-bridges, capable of moderating the causation and stabilization of anomalies like the one my crew and I experienced to the degree by which one can not only traverse these holes, but affect the temporal superposition of gravitons as if they were propagating through time solely rather than just semi-Euclidean space as assumed prior to this point. In other words…”

Lucero took a deep breath.

“Travel will be unrestricted between universes.”

The talk in the audience began to pick up once again. Just before the talking got too loud to be heard over the vocal amplification system:

“Any questions?” The Lieutenant asked raising an eyebrow.

A tall human looking man stood up. "Commader William Harmon," he said in a deep baritone. "Not so much a question as an observation if I may. We know that spacetime in the absence of any significant gravitating mass, is a 4-dimensional Minkowskian manifold and the 3-dimensional Euclidean manifold with a time parameter is only an approximation for velocity much less than than the speed of light then then this itself is a way of finding out we're in a gravitational field because with no gravitational field, we can be only in a Minkowskian spacetime. In order for what you experienced and observed I would state that while you are correct in what happened that such an occurrence was most likely a statistical fluke. Mind you, it is still interesting enough to be studied but the idea would need a lot more research and work to see if it could be reduplicated with some regular success."

The Lieutenant looked thoughtful for a moment.

"A keen observation, Commander. However, you're implying that my subtractions are radicalized! While time is representative of a radicalized negative, or in other words an imaginary fourth spacetime coordinate, a Lorentz transformation can be regarded as a rotation of coordinates in a four-dimensional Euclidean space with three real coordinates representing space, and the imaginary being time. Through Ricci geometrization within a pseudo-Euclidean space, the rotation is a representation of a nondecagonal and hyperbolic oscillation. Therefore the Lorentz transformation does not apply to my findings, allowing us to recreate the event through simulation. Of course, 'how' exactly we do that is the question. I definitely agree with you to say that it will take plenty of time for us to research and disseminate these findings. And then plenty more to produce anything experimentally actionable or efficacious enough to be utilized in a more practical sense of the concept."

Hearing a couple more calls for inquiry, Lucero decided to move on.

"Thank you for helping me to clarify that, Commander. Any other questions? Or is that-," he received a gesture that could only have meant one thing. "It appears as though my time is up, ladies and gentlemen. I appreciate the attentive and... Well... Active participation in my mini-lecture up here. Thank you all for the opportunity! My crew and I are sincerely grateful."

And with that the Lieutenant gave a short bow as the applause began. He scurried off backstage before he could see whether anyone was standing up or not. An inflated ego was the last thing that he needed right now.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenat JG Drusilla McCarthy
Chief Counsellor
USS Galileo

Lieutenant JG Manuel Lucero V
Asst. Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

Petty Officer 2nd Class Rebecca Williams
Yeoman to the Commanding Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPC McCarthy]

LCmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
(and a few temp NPCs asking questions)
USS Galileo

Lieutenant j.g. Naois Mercy
Counsellor
USS Galileo
pnpc Tyrion

PO2 Rheneas Malacy
Archaeologist/engineer
USS Galileo
pnpc Tyrion

Cadet SO Wintrow Paragon
Support Craft Pilot
USS Galileo
pnpc Tyrion

PO3 Veri
Surgical Nurse
USS Galileo
[PNPC Gyce]

...and other assorted Galileans

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