Lt. Robin Hopper: Gravity of the Situation
Robin Hopper
((CSO’s Office, Science & Research Center – Amity Outpost))
Robin leaned back in her chair, taking another sip of her ice cold coca-cola. With her team of experts (herself, Veers, and Kivik) assembled, and the initial pleasantries taken care of, it was time to set the group to work on the monumental task of determining how and why the benamite fields of the Nuriootpa Solar Nebula continued generating troublesome spatial anomalies – and, perhaps more importantly, what (if anything) could be done about them.
Hopper: Alright, now, let’s get down to business. Cara, would you mind providing a summary of the incidents we’ve experienced so far and point out any similarities – or noteworthy dissimilarities – between them? If you have any theories, I’d also love to hear them. Remember, at this point, we’re just spitballing – so no wrong answers.
Veers, whom Robin had begun to realize was an exceptionally motivated and efficient Science Officer, dove right into her summary. In order to supplement her presentation of the facts, Robin tapped the small control console embedded in her desk and brought up a holographic representation of the anomalies and their unique characteristics as the Ensign spoke.
Veers: So, as we know, the first anomaly that was experienced was the gravity well that had trapped the Independence, and thanks to the Kitty Hawk, they were rescued.
A simple graphical representation of the gravity well appeared, based on the data collected by Kivik during the Kitty Hawk’s rescue attempt – it demonstrated a converging gravitational waveform centralized around a subspace pocket, presumably formed from a reaction between the raw benamite and the subspace wake created by the Indy’s warp field.
Veers: Then there was the second one attempting to form where You ::gesturing to Hopper::, Lieutenant Flint, Miss McLaren, and myself were trying to survey. And we were lucky enough to get out of that and collapse it…
Robin nodded as the holographic display, hovering over one end of the desk, shifted to represent a newly-formed anomaly – not unlike the first in its underlying structure, but much smaller, only beginning to form. Unfortunately, they’d had little chance to study it in depth before it had begun to draw their little shuttle in, necessitating emergency measures and a warp core detonation.
oO Of course, I was unconscious for most of that particular experience… Oo thought Robin. It had only lasted a few minutes at most, but the reports from Veers and Flint had been quite thrilling (and somewhat terrifying) to read.
Veers: Then finally, our recent trip to Idustrix. A subspace anomaly, likely another gravity well that attained critical mass but didn’t turn into a black hole… shoved us into an alternate reality… also collapsed.
At the words “alternate reality”, Kivik tilted nir head and raised a finger to interject – but Robin held up a hand to stop nem, tightening her lips, furrowing her brow slightly, and nodding to indicate that questions could wait.
Veers: As for similarities… we have our obvious correlations, they’re all in the Benamite fields, and they’ve all been Federation starships. Could it be a resonant frequency between one of our systems setting these off? I’ve read similar types of incidents where a flash bulletin had to be put out to the fleet to remodulate something to avoid various incidents. Either way I’d like to go down to Cartography at some point and check the localizations of all of these events.
As Veers finished her summation, and the holographic projection disappeared, Kivik wove nir fingers together and leaned back in nir seat, slightly wide-eyed.
Kivik: I hadn’t realized the problem was quite so widespread or out of control. Clearly, left unchecked, this poses a significant risk factor for warp travel in the sector. I may need to advise Captain Rahman accordingly until we can determine for sure whether or not it is Federation warp signatures causing these issues… ::grimacing slightly:: Did you say something about an ‘alternate reality’?
Hopper: We aren’t at liberty to discuss that particular incident in detail at present. ::A knowing nod to Veers:: The point is that these particular anomalies, given the right circumstances, seem capable of breaking down interdimensional barriers allowing for two-way travel between universes – which is obviously problematic.
Veers: Response
Robin stood, taking her soda with her, and took another sip from the bottle as she walked over towards one of the various movie posters hanging on her office wall, examining it. The framed print was a recreation of the poster for the 1960’s era film “World Beyond Zero” – a film which Robin loved dearly, and which also dealt with a space portal that connected realities… one familiar and the other a dark grim universe ruled over by an evil empire.
Hopper: ::Looking at the print:: Yes, I think your recommendations are prudent, Cara – for now, at least, we should put out some sort of communication regarding limiting warp travel within the solar nebula. ::Sip:: And I think Stellar Cartography is a logical next stop in our work. If there is some sort of spatial pattern to these “incidents”, then the sooner we can identify that, the better.
Kivik: Ensign Veers – Warp Theory isn’t really my specialty, but I also wondered if it could be an interaction of the warp field’s subspace distortions, amplified somehow by the unrefined benamite… How would you recommend we go about testing this possibility, erm, ‘safely’?
Veers: Response
(( OOC – Happy to backsim here to elaborate on the conversation! ))
Hopper turned back to the other Science Officers, her mouth scrunched to the side in mild consternation.
Hopper: I think there’s another person on-station I’d like to rope into this investigation… A warp theory specialist on loan from the Vulcan Science Institute named Sirn. I think he could be a valuable resource. ::Nod to Veers:: Ensign, I’m going to connect the two of you, get you started working on finding possible solutions, see what insights the two of you can uncover.
Veers: Response
Hopper: I’ll reconvene with you in Stellar Cartography at 1400. ::To Kivik:: In the meantime, Lieutenant, I’d like to visit the Kitty Hawk’s science lab and look over the data you recorded during the gravity well incident first hand… Assuming Captain Rahman will allow it?
Kivik: ::Nodding:: I’m sure that can be arranged.
Amity’s Chief Science Officer tapped her combadge.
Hopper: =/\= Lieutenant Hopper to civilian scientist, Sirn. =/\=
Sirn: =/\= Response =/\=
Hopper: =/\= There’s an important matter of concern to both Starfleet and civilian operations in the area which could benefit from your expertise, if you’re willing. =/\=
Sirn: =/\= Response =/\=
Hopper: =/\= I’m assigning Ensign Veers to lead the effort with you. =/\= ::Tapping her badge to disconnect, nodding to Veers:: Over to you, Cara.
Veers: =/\= Response =/\=
Sirn: =/\= Response =/\=
With the next steps laid out for Veers and Sirn, Robin considered her own plan of action. It would be important for her to stay involved in the work Veers and Sirn would be getting started on – but first, there were some more ‘administrative’ matters to attend to.
Hopper: ::Half-heartedly:: Great. For now, let’s assume the warp field theory is right and work on that – but, at the same time, keep your minds open to other possibilities. This could be a multifaceted issue… or we could be entirely on the wrong track. I’ll also contact Ambassador Vataix’s office and let her know of the possible danger. That ought to be fun.
Robin let out a small sigh. The thought of putting out a warp travel advisory with so much still unknown was not an appealing prospect. At the same time, the longer they waited, the greater the odds of a repeat incident.
Veers/Sirn: Response?
(( OOC – Feel free to implement a time-skip in your next sim and begin simming with Sirn (written by Richards). Hopper will rejoin the scene once it gets going in Stellar Cartography. I encourage the two of you to have some warp theory science fun and we’ll keep building this plotline together! ))
TBC
