Ens. Gnai - The Breaking Point
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Lich
May 15, 2024, 2:58:55 AM5/15/24
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((Main Engineering, Deck 15 - USS Artemis-A))
Gnai had come to Engineering, and to Lt. Cmdr. Salkath with a very specific goal in mind - finding someone who would be discreet about its suit, while also being a confidante who could look after it if it became damaged past Gnai's limited engineering expertise. Much to its muted delight, Lt. Cmdr. Salkath had agreed, and been far more accommodating than Gnai had even expected. The offer to give Gnai ultimate judgement on who would have access to files regarding its suit was incredibly kind, and it hadn't even contemplated asking such a thing.
They'd run through a few tests, mostly on the range of movement and other smaller facets of Gnai's suit limbs. Overall, the suit was in good condition still, even after the chaos of the mission.
Gnai: The legs are operating normally as well. Is that sufficient, or are there other tests you would like to run on the limbs? Weight capacity?
Salkath: Yes. ::deep in thought, then rising suddenly and striding away:: Yes. Come with me.
Gnai: Okay, sir. Thank you, again!
Gnai followed Lt. Cmdr. Salkath as he walked to a small alcove within Main Engineering. The lab was gridded, denoting the presence of holoprojectors. Gnai was... mildly confused as to why they had moved to this lab at first.
Salkath: We are going to test your suit in a safe, non-destructive manner. To you, in the least. You are necessary in this procedure, both for your permissive credentials and for your education in your suit's limitations. Computer, using locked folder Gnai Baseline Epsilon 1, create a physics-accurate analogue of the suit detailed within.
oO Ah. This made sense now. What was it, "all models are wrong, but some are useful"? Hopefully this one is useful. Oo
The computer gave a discordant chime.
Computer: A simulation based on locked folder Gnai Baseline Epsilon 1 requires permission from Ensign Gnai.
Once again, Lt. Cmdr. Salkath had been true to his word. Gnai felt gratitude wash over its body, along with flickering lights that it assumed the Vulcan wouldn't understand. It could see as he raised an eyebrow. Such a Vulcan expression.
Gnai: Permission granted, computer.
Computer: Permission confirmed. Standby.
The computer whirred behind the scenes, generating a model from the readings Lt. Cmdr. Salkath had taken from Gnai. The projectors came to life at the tail end of this process, creating another Gnai, right across from it. The duplicate was a bit uncanny to look at, with the Galadoran in its tank completely still.
Gnai took its time, circling the replication of itself, tapping on the tank and limbs with its suit's hands. What a strange thing, to see oneself like this. It felt real, and it sounded real, but Gnai knew it couldn't be real...
Gnai: This is... mildly alarming to see. ::pause:: But interesting at the same time.
Salkath: I understand that to be a common response to seeing one's holographic double. I have not encountered this myself, as I do not frequent the holodeck.
At the Academy, there had been ample opportunities for Gnai to experience the holodecks, and to work on its holoprogramming. But it had never tried to replicate itself. The whole act seemed a bit... self-centered to it.
Gnai: It's good to know that this isn't an atypical reaction. ::pause:: What's the plan then, for the testing?
Salkath: For this test, your holographic double will endure weight to its virtual breaking point. It will mirror your movements and actions, though the weight you measure will be a fraction of what it encounters. This way, we can both learn the maximum limits of your suit.
oO Smart! Oo
Gnai: Good. With luck, the model is close enough to this suit.
Salkath: Your double can lift whatever you choose it to. The force exerted is not necessarily analogue to the object or objects. You can lift a ton of feathers, or a stack of gold pressed latinum, or a pile of targs. Do not let normal physical limitations dictate your choice.
The various options Lt. Cmdr. Salkath offered... seemed somewhat ridiculous to Gnai.
Gnai: Hm... What about another tank of water? Water could be continually added until the breaking point is reached. And the volume of water is easily converted into mass.
Perhaps not as creative as Lt. Cmdr. Salkath was intending, but Gnai was a scientist, and it was far more concerned with the accuracy and gravitas of the experiment. If this was to be documented, it wanted it to be done right. And with an air of seriousness.
Salkath: Response
Bobbing up and down, Gnai waited as Lt. Cmdr. Salkath tapped in the specifications of the experiment. Two tanks of water fizzled into existence, before both Gnai and its photonic doppelganger. If the Vulcan was right, Gnai would only be lifting but a small mass, and the mass on its double would increase until it broke.
Hopefully the tanks of water were programmed correctly.
...
Although... now that it thought about it, a holographic suit would be a very interesting thing. If this went wrong and its own suit broke here (or at some point far in the future), it might request a chance to try such an idea out. A mobile emitter would allow it to venture out into the world encased in light, and perhaps the suit would be more resistant to damage that way...
Something to ponder, at least.
It leaned down to pick up the empty tank in front of it, watching as its double did the same next to it.
Gnai: This is ready to start the experiment. Computer, record Gnai Baseline Experiment 1.
The computer dinged in affirmation.
Salkath: Response
It seemed that he had done it correctly, and Gnai felt a bit silly to have doubted the Lt. Cmdr. He had far more experience, clearly, than Gnai had. The tanks slowly started to fill with water, barely weighing down Gnai's suit's arms, but as the volume steadily increased, the arms of its reflection's suit started to groan. It wouldn't feel the pain either way, if it was the one actually holding the weight of the water, but it did shiver unconsciously as the servos that drove the other suit whined.
And a split second later, they failed. The noise stopped, as did the experiment. Seeing the broken arms of the hologram made Gnai uncomfortable, so it turned away quickly.
Gnai: ::turning to face Salkath:: Sir, how much weight was that?
Salkath: Response
Gnai: Computer, finish recording Gnai Baseline Experiment 1. ::to Salkath again:: Do you think this should be repeated, or was there enough data in that to provide for the baseline?
Salkath: Response
--
Gnai had come to Engineering, and to Lt. Cmdr. Salkath with a very specific goal in mind - finding someone who would be discreet about its suit, while also being a confidante who could look after it if it became damaged past Gnai's limited engineering expertise. Much to its muted delight, Lt. Cmdr. Salkath had agreed, and been far more accommodating than Gnai had even expected. The offer to give Gnai ultimate judgement on who would have access to files regarding its suit was incredibly kind, and it hadn't even contemplated asking such a thing.
They'd run through a few tests, mostly on the range of movement and other smaller facets of Gnai's suit limbs. Overall, the suit was in good condition still, even after the chaos of the mission.
Gnai: The legs are operating normally as well. Is that sufficient, or are there other tests you would like to run on the limbs? Weight capacity?
Salkath: Yes. ::deep in thought, then rising suddenly and striding away:: Yes. Come with me.
Gnai: Okay, sir. Thank you, again!
Gnai followed Lt. Cmdr. Salkath as he walked to a small alcove within Main Engineering. The lab was gridded, denoting the presence of holoprojectors. Gnai was... mildly confused as to why they had moved to this lab at first.
Salkath: We are going to test your suit in a safe, non-destructive manner. To you, in the least. You are necessary in this procedure, both for your permissive credentials and for your education in your suit's limitations. Computer, using locked folder Gnai Baseline Epsilon 1, create a physics-accurate analogue of the suit detailed within.
oO Ah. This made sense now. What was it, "all models are wrong, but some are useful"? Hopefully this one is useful. Oo
The computer gave a discordant chime.
Computer: A simulation based on locked folder Gnai Baseline Epsilon 1 requires permission from Ensign Gnai.
Once again, Lt. Cmdr. Salkath had been true to his word. Gnai felt gratitude wash over its body, along with flickering lights that it assumed the Vulcan wouldn't understand. It could see as he raised an eyebrow. Such a Vulcan expression.
Gnai: Permission granted, computer.
Computer: Permission confirmed. Standby.
The computer whirred behind the scenes, generating a model from the readings Lt. Cmdr. Salkath had taken from Gnai. The projectors came to life at the tail end of this process, creating another Gnai, right across from it. The duplicate was a bit uncanny to look at, with the Galadoran in its tank completely still.
Gnai took its time, circling the replication of itself, tapping on the tank and limbs with its suit's hands. What a strange thing, to see oneself like this. It felt real, and it sounded real, but Gnai knew it couldn't be real...
Gnai: This is... mildly alarming to see. ::pause:: But interesting at the same time.
Salkath: I understand that to be a common response to seeing one's holographic double. I have not encountered this myself, as I do not frequent the holodeck.
At the Academy, there had been ample opportunities for Gnai to experience the holodecks, and to work on its holoprogramming. But it had never tried to replicate itself. The whole act seemed a bit... self-centered to it.
Gnai: It's good to know that this isn't an atypical reaction. ::pause:: What's the plan then, for the testing?
Salkath: For this test, your holographic double will endure weight to its virtual breaking point. It will mirror your movements and actions, though the weight you measure will be a fraction of what it encounters. This way, we can both learn the maximum limits of your suit.
oO Smart! Oo
Gnai: Good. With luck, the model is close enough to this suit.
Salkath: Your double can lift whatever you choose it to. The force exerted is not necessarily analogue to the object or objects. You can lift a ton of feathers, or a stack of gold pressed latinum, or a pile of targs. Do not let normal physical limitations dictate your choice.
The various options Lt. Cmdr. Salkath offered... seemed somewhat ridiculous to Gnai.
Gnai: Hm... What about another tank of water? Water could be continually added until the breaking point is reached. And the volume of water is easily converted into mass.
Perhaps not as creative as Lt. Cmdr. Salkath was intending, but Gnai was a scientist, and it was far more concerned with the accuracy and gravitas of the experiment. If this was to be documented, it wanted it to be done right. And with an air of seriousness.
Salkath: Response
Bobbing up and down, Gnai waited as Lt. Cmdr. Salkath tapped in the specifications of the experiment. Two tanks of water fizzled into existence, before both Gnai and its photonic doppelganger. If the Vulcan was right, Gnai would only be lifting but a small mass, and the mass on its double would increase until it broke.
Hopefully the tanks of water were programmed correctly.
...
Although... now that it thought about it, a holographic suit would be a very interesting thing. If this went wrong and its own suit broke here (or at some point far in the future), it might request a chance to try such an idea out. A mobile emitter would allow it to venture out into the world encased in light, and perhaps the suit would be more resistant to damage that way...
Something to ponder, at least.
It leaned down to pick up the empty tank in front of it, watching as its double did the same next to it.
Gnai: This is ready to start the experiment. Computer, record Gnai Baseline Experiment 1.
The computer dinged in affirmation.
Salkath: Response
It seemed that he had done it correctly, and Gnai felt a bit silly to have doubted the Lt. Cmdr. He had far more experience, clearly, than Gnai had. The tanks slowly started to fill with water, barely weighing down Gnai's suit's arms, but as the volume steadily increased, the arms of its reflection's suit started to groan. It wouldn't feel the pain either way, if it was the one actually holding the weight of the water, but it did shiver unconsciously as the servos that drove the other suit whined.
And a split second later, they failed. The noise stopped, as did the experiment. Seeing the broken arms of the hologram made Gnai uncomfortable, so it turned away quickly.
Gnai: ::turning to face Salkath:: Sir, how much weight was that?
Salkath: Response
Gnai: Computer, finish recording Gnai Baseline Experiment 1. ::to Salkath again:: Do you think this should be repeated, or was there enough data in that to provide for the baseline?
Salkath: Response
Tags/TBC :)
Ensign Gnai
Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240102G11
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