Ensign Iliac & Lt Brzezinski: The Core of the Matter
Avander Promontory
((Upper Primary Computer Core 1, Deck 7, USS Octavia E Butler))
Brzezinski: So get this, the rocks can be grown, almost like crystals. There’s a large amount of carbon in them, by volume, but I still wouldn’t characterize them as organic.
Rivka Brzezinski had been excited to find in their new Deltan ensign, a like-minded individual with appropriate scientific curiosity and a panache for engaging questions. She had made another friend. Now with Sevantha that made two on board, a new record!
And since the counselor had been extremely busy since the last mission, Rivka was glad to find someone else to share her new insights with.
Iliac: So is the blocking of telepathy an accidental side effect or do you think it’s some sort of… well, convergent evolution is probably the wrong term for a non-organic, but some sort of interaction with the Danni?
Rivka moved to a new row of gel packs and began her scans.
Brzezinski: I know what you mean. (beat) It’s too early to say. I don’t think we have enough data from the planet to make a full model. But…
She paused dramatically.
Brzezinski: …there are some compounds in these rocks that show a correspondence with a toxin used to kill a Zet that sickbay did an autopsy on!
Iliac moved to a new row as well and restarted the algorithm that she and Rivka had developed for tracing memory engrams.
Iliac: Oh right, I read about that. I hear one of our own officers was almost poisoned.
Rivka shrugged without looking away from her data.
Brzezinski: I’m not a toxicologist, but I don’t think that sort of thing would kill a human. (thinking for a moment) Might give them a vitamin deficiency though, I suppose.
It would be a real inconvenience if one were attempting murder and only gave the intended victim scurvy.
They continued to work in silence, scanning row upon row of hybrid bio-neural isolinear gel matrices. They were supposed to have been joined by some computer specialists, but despite the hours they had been working, no one else had shown up. After a few more minutes, Iliac decided to broach an earlier topic.
Iliac: I just think you would really enjoy meeting the other role-players in DnD.
Brzezinski: I don’t know, I’m just not a fan of holodeck escapism.
Iliac: It’s not that, it’s more—
A transporter whirled and they were joined by three others. The specialists assigned from DS14 had finally arrived.
Hamada: My name is Kiyo.
Burlag: Response
Valk: Petty officer 3rd class Valk, ma’am.
Iliac: I’m Ensign Iliac, this is Dr. Brzezinski, the Federation’s foremost neuroscientist in the quadrant!
Rivka was taken aback by the praise. It was accurate, of course, but surprising. Maybe this spunky kid was alright.
Brzezinski: I also am a specialist in bio-neural gel packs, hence…
She waved around at the rows and rows of processor banks.
Burlag: Response
Iliac: The doctor has detected a number of engrams in here that look suspiciously like a set of self-aware consciousnesses. (beat) That’s not normal for a Federation computer, of course.
Hamada: Yes, there are quite a few items listed that could be more easily classified as personality quirks rather than programming flaws.
The specialist distributed PADDs to the new arrivals who began parsing data updates.
Hamada: Those that have been reported have all be listed here. The sub-file is titled Quirks and you will find it under “programming”.
Valk: Understood.
Brzezinski: I think the engrams are actually two distinct clusters, with remnants of a third. One alone would be a cause for concern, but this is next level.
Rivka had been quite taken with the reports of the Zet being able to transfer their consciousness electronically. Nevertheless, she was a little skeptical. Hard evidence of the process could be a great boon in her own research. She had even volunteered as a utility officer to help with the computer issues. She wanted some hands-on experience with the alleged phenomenon.
Burlag/Hamada: Response
Valk: I assume we are to pick a task and begin working on it, ma’am?
Brzezinski: Have at it. (beat) But leave the engrams to me! (beat) And don’t call me “ma’am.” (beat) “Doctor” is fine.
Iliac rolled her eyes and gave the enlisted Vulcan a half-smile as if to say “don’t let Rivka’s brusk manner perturb you, she’s an acquired taste.” If such a sentiment could easily be communicated between a Deltan and a Vulcan.
Burlag/Hamada: Response
Valk: In teams or individually?
Burlag/Hamada: Response
Valk: Understood.
Iliac: We’ve scanned all the rows above this line. (she indicated the row she was currently working on) The data is being compiled on this secondary system.
She indicated a large external drive on the floor.
Brzezinski: The science data processors were also showing a high degree of issues.
She indicated a nearby bank.
Burlag/Hamada: Response
Valk: Slow processing speed and occasional glitches…seems easy enough.
Burlag/Hamada: Response
Brzezinski: No, that’s not a good idea.
Burlag/Hamada/Valk: Response
Tags/TBC
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Ensign Iliac
Temporal Affairs Officer
&&
Lt. Rivka Brzezinski
Neuroscience Officer
USS Octavia E Butler
O239910AP4