Ensign Noemi Lim - Plans now laid

[Ensign Noemi Lim]

((SOS Labs, Deck 10, USS Eagle ))

Best to get all the theories out there and in the open, even if Noemi couldn’t provide much for its likelihood. 

Lim: Elor had a theory that the nebula might be a living one.

Drex: He also suggested the Romulan were doing strange experiments that went wrong…

Kettick: And those hypotheses might not even be mutually exclusive on a regular Tuesday.  In any case, we would have to get our listening device deep enough into the nebula that there is matter in sufficient quantity to carry the sound, which means getting closer to the source. :: He paused and looked at the map of the nebula, tracing with a finger Eagle's trajectories in and out :: Somewhere deeper in along our approach vector, given the magnitude of the effect decreased progressively the further we moved away from Ifir's position?

Drex: The combined quantum fields might have acted as an amplifier for the frequencies. That could explain why we did not experience any anomalous effects until we reached a specific position within the nebula. :: He paused. :: However, since the Ifir was already present in that area, it does not rule out the other hypothesis either.

Kettick: A combination of factors, then? An unknown source, possibly deeper into the nebula, or a weak regional effect, and... whatever the Romulans did that caused a quantum amplifier effect right on their position?

Lim: ::She shrugged:: Basically we don’t have enough information to make any kind of call. Just a bunch of hypotheses of various levels of plausibility.

Drex: A buoy stationed just outside the interference zone would allow us to monitor the nebula continuously without reentering the area. We could tune it to the ipersound frequencies, maybe even attempt controlled signal output and see if there is any response :: He hesitated, then added with a hint of skepticism:: But… if the buoy is outside the field, it might not pick up the deeper signal distortions. We could miss the most critical data entirely and if this is a form of communication it might not provoke anything at all.

Kettick: :: Serenely :: On the other hand, sending signals at random might provoke an hostile reaction from an unknown species because we accidentally insulted their whole lineage in a language we do not have a translation matrix for. 

Lim: ::Brow wrinkles in confusion:: Has that ever happened?

Drex: ::Turning on his chair, he looked between Kettick and Lim .:: Well… it might be a safer first step. Worth testing before we escalate.

Kettick: :: Nodding :: A prudent decision. Passive scans it is.

Lim: Sounds like a plan.

And likely to be accepted because the ship wouldn’t be getting anywhere near the nebula.

Drex: The shielding needs to be adaptive, not just reactive. And we need to stabilize the system without compromising sensitivity.

Kettick: I believe we can work around this problem.

Kettick did something on his PADD and held it out for Drex and her to see. He then drew rough shapes with a finger on the nebula map as he spoke.

Kettick: We could install our buoy with the data collection and transmission equipment here, just outside the field, and then extend a completely passive sensor further in, at the end of a tether that would transmit the signal.

Noemi didn’t know anything about probe set up so didn’t add anything.

Drex: I see… ::He murmured :: A passive sensor would be less likely to provoke a response. And with the buoy remaining outside the main field, we reduce the risk of full system failure or contamination.

Kettick: Yes, of course, if the problem comes from the sound frequencies, transmitting them as is would only extend the effect to our probe. A piezoelectric transducer at the "microphone" end should do the trick. Unless the effect persists once converted, or inhibits the conversion into current, but that would be information in itself.

Lim: ::Looking to Drex:: And that information will be useful?

Drex: Right. We won’t have the results we are looking for, but it will still tell us something useful.

Lim: At this point anything would be useful if only to help narrow things down.

Kettick : Response

Drex: Do you think it is possible to run a transmission test first? Maybe simulate what we expect to be the worst-case scenario... well, nearly the worst. We do not need to destroy one of our buoys. ::He added thoughtfully.::

Lim: Then what would be the worst case scenario? The nebula is alive, sapient and hostile?

Like Drex had said earlier, a nebula that could think and plan would be the hardest to counter.

Kettick : Response

Drex called up the sensor specs for the Eagle’s run through the nebula. 

Drex: If it is alive and if it knows we are watching it may try to speak again. ::He paused, the memory of the voice echoing in his mind. It was not a message, but a command, cold and clear.::

Noemi was still not convinced, but it wasn’t like she had anything to disprove the theory either way.

Lim: Guess we’ll see.

Kettick : Response

Drex: Let us hope this leads us somewhere. :: He remarked thoughtfully, then as he headed toward the exit, he added. :: I’ll view the updates as soon as the Head Counsellor releases me. See you later.

Lim: See you.

With a final wave Noemi headed out to make her way back to Sickbay. She’d eventually need to update Elor about their plans and maybe he had something helpful to add.

Kettick : Response

Tags/End for Noemi

Noemi Lim

Ensign

USS Eagle

O239306IK0