FTL Research

Posted on 20 Apr 2012 @ 11:59am by Lieutenant JG Drusilla McCarthy & Tarishiana Barel & Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Petty Officer 3rd Class

4,009 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: Starbase 234, USS Galileo
Timeline: MD 02 - 1330 hrs

[ON]

Nexia walk out of the Sciences Lab and looked for the Chief Science Officer. She had seen an image of her in the ship's manifest, but never approached her before. The Selkie Oceanology Specialist thought that the best place to look for the Chief Science Officer would be her office.

Tarishiana couldn't help but feel a little in over her head. She had more years of experience then most of the scientist she had worked with in the past. She had always thought she would be better in the position of Chief Science Officer then the people she had worked on. So far she was faking it until she figured it out and hoping no one else noticed.

Looking up her eyes fell on a Petty Officer about to enter her open door. "What can I do for you Petty Officer?" Tarishiana asked easily.

The Selkie stopped cold in her tracks and stood at attention, her scales shimmering. "Oceanology Specialist Third Class Nexia Alona, ma'am. I have been assigned to your research group."

Dru drew her back up straighter as she stopped outside of the CSO's office, hearing voices inside and suddenly feeling very nervous. She wasn't very good at coming up with ideas so she hoped that the CSO would be able to come up with some work to assign her to work on. Research and such she would be much better at; all in all she hoped she would be useful. Dru placed a smile on her face and walked into the office. Seeing Tarishiana already speaking with someone, she waited to be addressed.

"Very good Petty Officer." Tarishiana started seriously as she looked over the amount of information that she was going to have to delegate. The presence of another person caught her attention. "Lieutenant McCarthy...I am glad you were able to come down to science...I assume you are available for an assignment or two?"

Dru smiled slightly as she nodded her head. Despite her nerves she couldn't suppress the feeling of excitement she was starting to feel to be involved in a project such as this. She understood the concept, breaking the current limitations of warp speed in order to get from one place to the other faster. Even though the scenario seemed improbable here was proof that it was within their grasps.

"Very good." Tarishiana nodded with a slightly grin. Tapping some information into her console she looked back up at the first two people that had arrived for assignments. "I am setting up a file for each person who is helping with this project. It contains the information that everyone will need for this project as well." Turning towards the counsellor, "I have set you up a temporary station in the main science lab where you can work if you feel comfortable with that."

"I am going to be spending the next hour handing out assignments." The science chief added from behind her desk as she rose to her feet. "Feel free to get started and I will check in with both of you then."

Dru smiled at Tarishiana before realising she seemed to have done nothing but smile and the science officer must think her crazy. "I am looking forward to working with you and your team Miss. Barel; I'll do my best to carry out my assignments to the best of my abilities. But please ensure, if you start finding me more of a hindrance then a help, don't be afraid to say something, my science skills are a little rusty."

"I am sure you will be fine." Tarishiana rose from her seat and moved around it slightly. "I don't need science skills...reading and summary skills are what I need and I have now doubt you possess those.

The Petty Officer smiled as she watched the senior department heads converse. "I must say that I never imagined I'd be allowed on such an important job. This is quite exciting."

Tarishiana couldn't help but laugh a little as the Petty Officer's enthusiasm. "Remember that when you have spent the last eighteen hours reading experiment summaries." She grinned as she moved to sit on the front of her desk. She waited a few more minutes as the remainder of the science department entered the lab.

"Ok...everyone has a console in the main and auxiliary science labs." Tarishiana started as she called over the group of people. "Everyone needs to take a section a read over the information. Use the computer for explanations and what not. We need to find out as much as we can. From how the device function, its potential effects to our ship. Pretty much anything that you might believe is relevant....Any questions?"

Nexia shook her head, "No Miss Barel. I am good. I am just nervous."

Tarishiana, how is the research going?

"Well in that case....let us get to work." Tarishiana responded as her mind felt Markum's. She gave a mile to the other in the room while she responded, If it were water I would be drowning...I am a linguist not a propulsion theorist. She let out a sigh as if she had actually said the statement out loud.

May I have a look. Passing by in a minute,

Tarishiana nodded, knowing that the message would pass to him anyways. She watched as the other scientist exited her office, letting out a sigh and sank into her chair. Her head found its way into her hands.

Markum walked into the office, Hi beautiful. "You look stressed," he said as he sat across from her, and offered a broad smile.

Tarishiana looked up at him, Hi hun. "Morning Chief." She said with a grin. She hoped he wouldn't mind the use of title but who she was on duty was different then who she was on her own time. "I am a little...overwhelmed actually."

Markum gave a wink, and slid closer to the desk. "I have been wanting to get my dirty paws on this since the briefing. The schematics too. "Let's have a look at what you have, Miss Barel."

Tarishiana gave him a little grin as she tapped her access code into her console. Turing the display so that he could have access to it she activated the holo-emiters allowing them three dimensional interaction with the material. It was a device of her own design but something she couldn't live without. "Have at it Mister Quinn." she gave him a little wink.

Markum's heart raced a little when he started reviewing the schematics. This is magnificent, baby. "I don't believe what I'm looking at. I haven't seen one since my XRD days. That is a magnetic core drive. We tested them, oh....twenty years ago.?" No old jokes. How is the matrix dynamics holding open the hole to pass through?" Markum scratched his chin, never taking his eyes off of it.

Tarishiana looked though the information for a moment before finding the answer, "Here," she started as she magnified the schematics, "The core is implementing a Strouvean gravitational void matrix to prevent the fold density from crushing in around the ship." She responded as she pointed to what she was referring too.

Brilliant and beautiful. "I see what you mean. No other choice really. So, would you ride on a soliton wave to the destination...or....no." Markum looked at Tarish, then produced a PADD from one of his many pockets, and started recreating a quantum algorithm based upon extreme high warp propulsion. "So does the folding of space-time cause the transport, or must you enter the singularity in order for transport to happen?" Now this is fun stuff

Tarishiana shook her head as she pulled up the section of the schematics, "Here...it shows that the singularity is treated like a gateway." She pointed to the example, "Ooo...they haven't completely stabilized the singularity. According to this in simulations it was only stable 76% of the time the drive was established." Ok, this is kinda fun She gave Markum a knowing look.

"Hmm, that isn't a very good percentage. Look at the power requirements too. That would blow out the entire computer core, if it wasn't degaussed properly....." Markum quit and looked closer to the schematics, then back at Tarish, This is about to get a whole lot more fun. "I'll be damned. Ha! That's it..I mean..I think...I don't have enough of a science background to explain how to make it happen, but I know the theory well enough." You know how to make a man's day baby. "If somehow you can keep the drive, and the ship magnetized, but keep the computer core and navigational array degaussed, you could, in theory use the deflector as your road map to the desired destination. The science part is your field. I'm not smart enough for that, but that is the principle they are working on."

"It isn't about the magnetization." Tarishiana said with a shake of her head. She touched her finger to the table top and began to draw out the various symbols for the mathematics behind the drive theorem. "The singularity isn't stable because of the wave it itself creates when it engages." She turned the tablet towards Markum so he could see her math. I will have to keep that in mind. "Think of it like when a drop of water collides with a pool of water. Once it breaks the surface the force at which it dissipates across the surface as well as reflecting the drop with the same telemetry." she drew the new calculations on the tablet illustrating her point.

"Ah, I see." answered Markum as he reviewed the new algorithm. "Genius. That would work. Not sure it would work on this ship, but I'd love to try." Just wait and see.

"I don't know if it would actually work," Tarishiana said softly becoming a little bashful about her assertions. "I am just a linguist." she added as if that had anything to do with the conversation. "Thank you for your help." Will I still see you later?

"A linguist with a firm command of advanced algorithms." Markum replied with a grin. I hope so. Stop by my quarters after work. "You are very welcome. I have to meet my assistant to finish up on the refit to the sensor arrays."

See you later Tarishiana replied with a nod.

Dru settled herself into the station she had been assigned and looked around at the monitors. This stuff went way over her head, she knew the basics of science and engineering but this seemed to go to another level. Dru cautiously tapped a few buttons on the console in front of her, trying to bring up the schematics of the engine. According to the notes from Tarishiana, Dru needed to research the drive and find out exactly how it works. "Computer....um...what information have we got on the technology known as...." Dru tried to read it from her PADD, "Project Sienna?"

After a moment of accessing its rather extensive memory banks, the computer compiled the relevant information and condensed it as best it could. Several diagrams of the main device appeared on the screen in front of her, with some details appropriately censored based on clearance level. With the images fully realised on the screen, the calm feminine voice of the ship's computer added in its own commentary.

Project : Sienna - Experimental propulsion prototype. Developed by Doctors Rachel and Anthony Hardaway.

The diagram began to rotate on the screen highlighting several of the key components found within the device, and some basic mathematical information to explain its operation as simply as possible.

Magnetic Core Drive system designed to render existing FTL transport systems obsolete. The system is designed to generate a folding effect along the space/time continuum to allow almost instantaneous transport from point to point using a gravitational lattice technique. Prototype device is approaching testing stages - current testing schedule is classified - level 10 clearance and above.

The computer then waited patiently for further instructions.

Dru jotted down notes on her PADD in relation to the information the computer had just volunteered. Upon hearing the words level 10 clearance Dru groaned slightly. How the hell were they meant to research something when the information was hidden from them. Opening her mouth to ask the computer for more information, Dru jumped a mile when she heard a voice behind her.

Nexia was sitting close to Dru. She knew her to be the ships counsellor from the manifest she was given once aboard. She was nervous, and hopped maybe a conversation with the counsellor would kelp, plus, she thought maybe working in teams would be more efficient. She got up and walked over to Dru, "Excuse me, ma'am? May I sit with you? I thought maybe two heads working together, would be better than one working alone."

Clutching her hands by her side, Dru stared at Nexia, "Do you think next time you could give a poor girl more warning? Creeping up on people like that isn't nice." Trying to get her racing heart under control by taking breaths, Dru gave herself a few moments before groaning as she realised she had just given out to the petty officer. "I'm sorry. Please don't take in any of my frustration. People react weirdly when they lose 10 years off of their life." Smiling, Dru held out her hand to the petty officer, "I we are going to work together it needs to be Dru. I'm a counsellor, I'm not used to these ranks and such."

The Selkie Oceanography Specialist held out her webbed, scaled hand. "Nice to meet you Dru, my friends call me Nexi. I must say that I find this assignment exhilarating. I never thought an enlisted person as myself, would ever be assigned with Senior Officers."

Dru smiled as she found the scientist to be refreshingly nice. "Can I let you in on a secret? I haven't a notion of how most if this works. As far as I'm concerned, right now your more senior then myself." Dru smiled as she leaned back in the chair. "Have you managed to find out any information yet? According to our assignment from Miss. Barel, I believe we are to specifically concentrate on researching how exactly this new engine works."

Nexi took a seat next to Dru and held over the padd she had been working from for both to view. "I think so. It seems to operate on a ripple effect. Of course being amphibian I relate most all science problems to aquatic metaphors." She said as she crossed legs and moved in closer to Dru, holding up the PADD more. "It's very hard to believe that such a device can even exist."

Dru tried to figure out what in earth ripple effect related to. Looking through the notes she took from the computer, the young counsellor tried to get her head around it all. "But I thought the basis on it was to fold space between two points to almost make travel instantaneous? What does ripple effect have to do with that?"

"Ripple effect as in water on water. It's a very natural thing after all." She activated to simulation on her PADD. "See when the opening is activated, there is a ripple casting out from the centre? It looks like several waves extending out from the core. Now I'm not sure how it produces the opening, but I think we are close." She looked at the counsellor and smiled, almost shyly.

Dru was starting to feel very stupid as she tried to absorb the information. Seeing Nexia's shyness, Dru tried to focus on this as people she could deal with, technology was where the issue stood. Leaning in closer to Nexia, Dru established eye contact and smiled, "Bear with me while I figure this out. So we know what happens when a window is open, it's this ripple effect but the whole physics behind what then happens is still a theory?"

Nexi smiled at Dru while she spoke. The Pacifica native shrugged her shoulders. "I am not really sure. I'd imagine they know what is supposed to happen, but it's beyond my simple mind. To be honest, I'd rather be swimming. Do you like to swim Dru?"

Dru had been reading through her notes, still completely and utterly confused while trying to listen to Nexia. Suddenly the woman's question penetrated the fog in her brain. "Swimming?" Dru realised she was hopelessly lost now. "What does swimming have to do with the engine? But ye...I like swimming."

Nexi frowned when realized she interrupted Dru's concentration. "I'm sorry, Dru. Just being amphibious, sometimes I miss home. It has nothing to do with the engines."

Dru set aside the PADD, despite the headache she felt building and the work they had been assigned, she was becoming aware that Nexia seemed to be looking for someone to talk to. Her position as chief counsellor meant that being a counsellor took precedent over everything else. "How long have you been away from your home now?" Dru automatically relaxed her stance back in her chair.

"Six months. It doesn't seem like much to most." Nexi replied in a saddened tone. "I'm nearing the end of my amphibious cycle, and then I'll be completely restricted to living under water, or in a hydro-suit. Neither sound much fun." She looked at the PADD next to Dru, "Umm, counsel...Dru? Is that the schematics for the drive system on your PADD?"

Dru looked back down at the PADD in her hand as the subject was suddenly changed again. The young counsellor made an internal note to go see sickbay after this to try get some painkillers. Handing the PADD to Nexia with a smile, "Can you make out what these mean? It was part of the information the computer provided me with. Between trying to decipher the information, I haven't gotten to these yet."

Nexi placed a hand under Dru's and lifted both the hand and the PADD closer to her, and looked intently at the device. "Umm, I'm not sure Dru, but I think the algorithmic calculations in this do not include for natural subspace interference." She looked brightly to Dru, "We have to tell Chief Barel that you may have found the answer!" She said as she wrapped both hands around the counsellor's neck and gave her a hug.

Dru looked down at the PADD and back up at Nexia before being taken by surprise by the young woman's hug. Hesitating for a split second, the counsellor smiled and returned the hug before pulling back. "Ah now, Miss. Barel will be told the truth, by working together he figured it out. I will allow you the honours given she's your boss."

"Oh, thank-you Dru, but if you weren't the one with the PADD, I never would of seen the diagram." replied the Petty Officer. "Sorry for hugging you...on my world we are a little...umm..less restrained on physical touching...and stuff of that nature."

"Oh no, please don't apologise." Dru rubbed Nexia's arm gently. "It just took me by surprise but given my job involves a limited amount of physical contact, I'm just unused to haven it shown back to me." Dru laughed and pulled her hand away. "Give Miss. Barel a shout there and maybe we'll manage to put a smile on her face."

Nexia stood up and smiled to Dru, "Let's go tell her now." Nexia walked to the Science Chief's Office and peeked her head inside. "Excuse me? Chief Barel? I have something you may want to look at."

Markum has just left which didn't erase the goofy grin she had on her face. However the entrance of Lieutenant McCarthy and PO Alona hastened its disappearance, "Yes, Petty Officer what have you found?" She asked in her most Chiefly voice.

Nexia walked over to the desk and set a PADD down and slid it to her department head. "See that algorithm chief, right on the bottom, right side? That is the current algorithmic equation that the Sienna Drive operates on. So while I was missing home, and talking about swimming I suddenly had an idea. What would happen if we were to take into consideration the effects that subspace itself would have on the device once it's activated? I mean, I'm not mathematician, but in order for the Sienna Project to work, it waves out and disturbs subspace, so if you do not calculate for the responding waves that subspace will generate in response to the Sienna Drives, well...that's my..our theory anyway."

"I agree with you Petty Officer." Tarishiana said with a grin as she turned the tablet she had been working on with Markum. "As you said the current simulation isn't taking into account the wave distortion that drive is creating...but you make this little change." She adjusted the information before turning it over the pair. "Is this what you were thinking?"

Nexi looked over the tablet and smiled, her scales shimmering, "Yes. That is it exactly." she replied in wonderment.

Tarishiana grinned at the scientist and the counsellor as they stood by her desk. "I think we need to make extensive notes about our findings so that we can share them with the Captain." She tapped a few commands into her console before she spoke again, "Did either of you find any information on the effect the drive has on space time in regards to the personnel on board the vessel?"

Nexi shook her head, "No, I did not see anything in relation to that topic in any of the notes." Nexi looked to Dru

Dru frowned slightly, what Nexi was explaining went over her head so she had sat quietly just listening. This question though she could answer, "The brief you gave us indicated our sole focus was to be on how the drive itself operated and so in turn, understand the mechanical issues it was having with actually being used."

"Then I must be mistaken." Tarishiana said with a smile and a shake of her head. "I was sure I assigned the physiological effects to you Lieutenant McCarthy, but I must have gotten you mistaken with one of the other teams." She saved the information they had logged, "Good job to both of you...outstanding work." She had to admit it felt a little odd giving a superior officer a pep talk.

Nexi smiled at the compliment. "Thank-you Chief. I hope to get to work with more officers in the future."

"Would you like myself and Nexia to get a start on writing up the notes for you?" Dru smiled over at Tarish.

"You two have already done so much." Tarishiana started, "You are more then welcome to write them up if you would like but I can handle it if you need to return to your duties." She was impressed by the pair and couldn't wait to see what the other groups had discovered about the drive itself. "Thank you for your help." she grinned again.

Dru smiled across at Tarishiana, "I've got a few hours I can work out the notes in, I'll get what I can done in that time and leave the rest to Nexia if I have to leave."

Nexia smiled at the two, "Yeah, I can stay for a while. I don't have to wet my scales for a bit anyway."

[OFF]

--

Petty Officer 3rd Class Nexia Alona
Oceanography Specialist
USS Galileo
NPC'd by Quinn

LTJG Drusilla McCarthy
Chief Counselor
USS Galileo

MWO Tarishiana Barel
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

CWO Markum Quinn
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

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