Now....what's this? (Part Two)

Posted on Fri Feb 12th, 2021 @ 6:36pm by Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Coleman & Lieutenant Alekela illm Meaho'ōla & Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri & Lieutenant Percy McWire & Lwazanda Ral Daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed

4,074 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Episode 109 - The Dust Settles
Location: STARBASE 400 - LEVEL 1685 - SCIENCE LAB
Timeline: MD2

[ON:]

STARBASE 400 – LEVEL 1685 – SCIENCE LAB – LATE

The team had been working for hours and hours now. The research concerning the Tholian Assembly “gemstone” project was moving along. Albeit, painfully slow. Deep inside the Federation starbase on level 1685 was a science lab that this team of scientists, researchers, security, and engineering professionals had moved into. It had a separate and isolated Mark IV computer core, its own power system, also isolated from the main grid. They had worked for hours to simply map out the plan. And now, for the last seven hours, the computer had been searching for a way to start the monumental task of accessing and indexing the knowledge and data stored in optically generated, algorithms that looked like DNA strands and were powered by harmonics.

Matthew Plumeri was standing over to one side of the lab. He had made a basketball hoop from a strathium wire. He anchored it to the wall with stembolt sealant and below it was a small wicker basket. It had once held fruit and had been sent by Starfleet Command. It was the best of a “welcome basket” that Matt could think of. The fruit lay on a table and so did the healthy nuts and dried seaweed jerky along with the blue and white ribbon from Starfleet. The paper card also lay on the table although Matthew had long ago folded that into a paper airplane. He had rolled the gift wrap and packing stuffing into a not-quite perfect “ball” and was tossing hoops from where he stood. Suddenly, the computer announced,

=A= (beep-beep) Computational error. Isolinear to optical data matrix overflow. Division by a non-sequential link. Unable to continue. =A=

Matt held his breath while the computer read aloud the latest error and said, “FFFFFFuddruckers!” He tossed the “ball” and it hit the “rim” and bounced away. “Great.” He sighed, one hand on his hip and the other hand rubbing the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes. “Damn. What the hell?” He called, “Larken? Jonathan? Anybody still here?”

Alekelia stuck her head in the room as she heard the sounds of someone with a raised and upset voice to see if anyone was hurt. "Is everyone alright in here?" She asked with concern.

"Alekelia" Matt said to himself, trying to say her name without his thick Fontalan accent. He answered louder, "Yeah. Still here. Still alright. We got another one of those non-linkable errors. Everytime we get those we lose like...the last hour of analysis. Where's Jonathan or McWire? Let them have a go at it yeah? Whatever I'm doin'...it ain't not working well." He botched the last colloquialism. He looked over in her direction, "You're sure we are looking at biological data? Right? How do we even know that what we're looking at are cells?"

Alekelia looked over the bit and asked, "this is optical of some sort, have you considered something along the delayed choice experiment? As you know from double slit that light that light decides to be a wave or a particle if it is (or is not) measured. In other words if one places a measuring device to “observe” the light it will always be a particle. However if it is not “observed” then it is always seen to be a wave. This is because unmeasured single-photon beams always create an interference pattern on photo-sensitive film placed at the other side of the twin slits from the light source. In other words single photons going through one or other of the slits actually go through both slits and interfere with themselves and in doing so bring about a classic wave-created interference pattern of light and dark stripes on the film. However if a measuring device is placed on either or both slits then the light magically becomes a stream of single photons that creates blobs of light on the film that show how each particle has gone through one or other of the slits. In the delayed choice the measurement is done after the photon has left the slit and before it arrives at the measuring device. Thus the photon through temporal quantum entanglement is determining its behaviour in the past. By changing what its behaviour might be, that is changing the statistical wave then perhaps get more coherent data? It is just a thought."

Plumeri listened as the doctor spoke and everything Alekelia was saying was true. He was familiar with the "delayed choice" experiment and was about to point out that this problem had already been solved two-hundred and eighty years ago with the Heisenberg compensators. An integral part of the transporter system allowing the transporter sensors to compensate for their inability to determine both the position and momentum of the target particles to the same degree of accuracy. This ensured the matter stream remained coherent during transport, and no data was lost. Or...was it?

Matt closed his mouth and wrinkled his nose in thought. After a moment and walking closer to her position in the lab he said, "Ohhkaayyy...so let me talk this out. We have an unknown, very old and somewhat alien technology that has used - we think - some kind of method to store data holographically into these gemstones." He indicated to the gemstone in one of the sensor pods in one corner of the lab. "The entire crystal lattice structure is highly organized and upon closer inspection we find that instead of a traditional crystalline matrix we find, instead, organized patterns of what look like DNA."

Matt called over to Jonathan and Percy, "Guys? Don't make me do all the thinking over here. If I get a migraine from this I'm a kick your asses." Listening but hearing nothing he turned his attention back to the problem at hand saying, "These computational errors...the optical buffer is overflowing and I think its because the computer is running into non-sequential links. The fix is to reset the holographic translation matrix to the last point of the coherent data stream and start again." He looked towards Alekelia, "To me, it sounds like there is simply so much data here that the computer can't keep up? Bit that doesn't seem to fit because this is the exact same process for reading any isolinear data fragments. You're suggesting that these...non-sequential breaks might be...what exactly?"

"That there are quantum entanglements that extend over time. As you are trying to parse on bit, there is a back flow sort of like that experiment I mentioned that information is being transmitted back in the time space and then the photons are then behaving differently. It has been suggested that the universe has a second dimension of time that it operates on." She offered. "For example, Something as simple as how particles moved. A moving particle was completely described by its momentum that is its mass times its velocity and its position. But quantum physics says you can never know those two properties precisely at the same time. By altering the laws describing motion even more, postulating that position and momentum are not distinguishable at a given instant of time. Technically, they can be related by a mathematical symmetry, meaning that swapping position for momentum leaves the underlying physics unchanged just as a mirror switching left and right doesn’t change the appearance of a symmetrical face. In ordinary physics, position and momentum differ because the equation for momentum involves velocity. Since velocity is distance divided by time, it requires the notion of a time dimension. If swapping the equations for position and momentum really doesn’t change anything, then position needs a time dimension. Thus introducing a second time dimension solves many of the problems."

Plumeri's eyebrows lifted in understanding and he snapped his fingers. "Oh! Yes! Now that would be something worth killing for right? Not just knowledge saved, preserved in this complex form. But accessible even through time. But....we have to be dealing with something larger then particles..." he trailed off and the two of them started to work the problem.

MEANWHILE

Jonathan had gone down to Main Engineering and grabbed a few items that he knew he would need in the next few hours. While en route with Percy in tow, the pair ran into Lwazanda, one of the many incredible patrons of the Starbase.

As the pair stopped and talked to her for a moment, Jonathan realized something that made him think about their predicament down on Deck 1685.

Lwazanda had rather darkened eyes, which were a little bit larger than most humanoid species. Jonathan tilted his head and asked, "Ma'am, if you don't mind me asking, what species do you hail from?"

Lwazanda looked aghast. "As if you don't know!" She always assumed her reputation preceded her. " I am a proud Daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed, and you'd do well to remember it."

"Well, if you don't mind, can I ask for your help down on Deck 1685? We're running into some errors in something that you might be able to help out with," Jonathan said, hoping that she would be willing to help out with their little mystery.

The Betazoid woman raised a curious eyebrow. She didn't know what sort of issue she might be able to assist in. Still, she consented with a nod.

"Okay, awesome! Just meet us down there and we will put you to work!" Jonathan said with a genuine smile on his face. Slapping Percy on the shoulder, he nodded towards the turbolift and told Lwazanda to come down at her convenience.

BACK IN THE SCIENCE LAB - LEVEL 1685

They headed to the Turbolift and headed back down to Deck 1685, where they heard the Doctor and Plumeri talking about fragments and computer core problems. Walking back into what seemed like an interesting Engineering problem, Jonathan interjected, "Well, what kind of computer core are we using? It could be a problem if we are using Isolinear Chips and a computer core that uses them. Maybe, if we updated to a Bio-Neural jell-pack or Positronic Core, we might be able to get past some problems. What do you think Percy?"

"I agree on that an isolinear Chips core bears it weaknesses of overheating and this could cause a slower out processing time and may fail as it did. A bio-neural jell-pack combined with a Positronic core could solve some problems. We would have a faster processing time and it’s fail rate might be 30 percent, having a 70 percent chance of success” Percy said „we should use two sets of each, having one redundant or as a back up that jumps in when needed either needing more power or to replace the current set. I hope with those sets we could eliminate some of the issues.” He continued his thoughts out loud sharing it with everyone in the room.

Lwazanda had stopped by her apartments first. She needed to change out of the long flowing chiffon dress she had been wearing into something more versatile. She didn't know what 'work' she was set to assist with, so she settled on a maroon jumpsuit and quickly made her way to Deck 1685. "Hello all." She said with a smile as she entered.

Matthew looked at the new faces and took in a breath. Stepping around the console he greeted them, "Thank you all for your help. I recognize Jonathan and Percy." Turning to Lwazanda, "You must be our diplomatic referral? The computer recommended you and said you were expertly qualified. Allow me to introduce you to the team, Doctor Alekelia, medical officer and part-time theortical strategist." Matt smiled when he introduced her. It was meant as a compliment. "Jonathan Coleman from Starfleet's Corps of Engineers, Ensign McWire, also from Engineering but also came highly recommended for his out-of-the-box thinking. And I'm Matt Plumeri, Historian, Archaeo-astronomer, part-time detective, at your service. Welcome to the team Lwanada, Daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed. We're on the trail of Tholians."

Lwazanda's eyebrow raised at the mention of Tholians. "I was on Tholia in the seventies. I acquired the most luxurious silk while there." Lwazanda sighed longingly. "What exactly are we chasing Tholian's for?"

"It appears that there is some sort of pre-Tholian or Tholian related data on an interesting jewel which acts a bit like a storage bank." Alekelia said and then added, "Have you dealt with Trellium silk?"

“Only once. At my youngest sister debut I wore a gown of Trellium silk.” Lwazanda got lost in the memory for a moment and a smile traced her lips. She shook her head to return her thoughts to the present. “Data on the Tholians would be invaluable to diplomats and historians alike.”

Coleman nodded as he let Plumeri introduce him to everyone. Then, he went over and began looking at the type of computer core that was being used by the team. He waved for Percy to come over and help him check it out. He wanted to let everyone get introduced as he checked out a few things out.

"Is there a way for us to use Isolinear Chips Cores alongside the Bio-Neural Jellpacks and Positronic Cores?" Coleman asked Percy as the others talked.

"Well I have never tried to combine them, of what I learned at the academy and what they told us that compatible rate is under 60%. To some degree it could work. We might need to put some more safety fuses in and re route some power conduits. I personally think just need to try it out. Learning by doing. If that works we have gained more knowledge and an even more powerful Computer.“ Percy said "if it fails, then we still have the back up solution in place.“ he continued.

Jonathan thought about it for a second and said, "How long would it take and how many of us would it take for us to get it done, Mr. McWire?"

“Hmmm... if we got two to three working on it then it would take 3 hours aligning and setting it up. The trickery part will be aligning three different systems together so we don’t blow up the computer. The rest should be simpler.” Percy replied. “So I need one or two volunteers that will help me build this together.”

Jonathan nodded gently and waved the others over. Once everyone was within earshot, Jonathan said, "Mr. Plumeri, we might have an idea on how to get past your little problem with the computer core."

Matt listened as the team started getting to know one another. He said to Lwazanda, "I had no idea you held a diplomatic title. I can see why the computer recommended you. And about that Trellium silk? We should talk. I have some clothes that were given me by a dear friend. More on that later? I'm afraid the tasks at hand demand our attention." Coleman's voice brought his attention to them.

Plumeri walked over to where Coleman and McWire were standing and he listened to the idea of aligning the three different lab computer systems. Some kind of a large, distributed computer core that could then, possibly, process the amount of data that needed to be compiled. "It's worth trying. We have got to be able to move forward in larger steps than what we;re doing. But Commander, to address your concerns from earlier, may I suggest that we also isolate the network mesh systems? I mean completely isolate - even break the links to Memory Alpha? We're still dealing with alien technology that's tens of thousands years old. We can't possibly know or predict how this new data will behave. And, if we're going to isolate our systems then we're going to need a reference terminal to look stuff up. I think then lab next-door, 1687? Can we take that one?"

"We can set up a secure link to Memory Alpha and Omega through one of the SCE datalinks that I have access to. Percy and I can set everything up within an hour," Jonathan said, looking at the young Engineer.

Matt nodded, "Excellent! Sounds good!"

“Ok Commander, let’s get going” Percy said “we can than continue on building the computer once we have set up the lab next door.”

Nodding to Commander Coleman and then turning to Lwazanda and Alekela, Matthew asked, "In a bit here we're going to try and mesh three different computing technologies. To be honest, I don't know if this is the answer - but we have to try something. We have to take the interface matrix off-line. That means the gemstone with the 'Librarian' on it." Matt brought up an image of the standing formations that he and Larkin studied before while on the planet on Mendak. "Lwazanda? Have you ever seen anything like this stone before in Tholian culture? And, another thing that bugs me, what was the Cardassian Doctor Crell Moset so interested in? He was working with the Tholians - or at least hired by them. We have to find out why and I'm hoping you can help?"

Lwazanda shook her head. "I'm afraid I haven't." She looked worried that she wasn't helping.

Alekelia shook her head in the negative. "The Tholians have a long history, that is all I know and they are very xenophobic. Whatever information is on there must be something of great import to them to even consider bringing in someone non-Tholian." she offered.

Matthew sighed, "Agreed. The Tholians are very...difficult...when shopping for a gift for them" he said wryly to himself.

Before leaving to work on the data terminals, Jonathan heard the conversation going on about the crystal and the librarian. Walking over to the three of them, he asked them, "Is there any way that the Librarian and the crystal might be a living entity? Living almost like the Borg or the Trill would, in some off the wall Tholian way? And if so, could that be why Dr. Moset was trying to help them?"

Inclining his head, Matt asked, "These could be like...proto-Tholians then?"

"What is the difference between a silicone based lifeform and a silicon style chip or for that matter most any other similar composition, perhaps not much. I wonder though if perhaps more like the crystaline entity that has been encountered before perhaps?" Alekelia offered again.

Matt activated a nearby LCARS terminal and started looking, "It's as good a place as any to start. I could use some help in reviewing the research? If anyone feels like looking at log entries?" he asked.

Matt paused a moment and looked at Alekela, "Something you said earlier has been nagging at me. Something about the 'quantum entanglement'? When Larkin and I firt saw this particular gemstone, it was in a series of standing stones. It had all the look of some ceremonial or religious stage...or area. That means that it must have some kind of significance. I mean, it stands to reason that it does. Now, the Tholian Assembly is built, or, established like a commune or a collective. With a caste system for the military and leadership and worker roles. Punishment, as far as I can tell, is expulsion from the community which would mean eventual death. Here's my thought - if the ancestors, the proto Tholian people, if you like, were making a record of their civilization they intended it to last. Right? Otherwise, why go to all the trouble to encode these stones in such astounding detail? And why record everything other than that they are perfectionists? They wanted this record to be found. They wanted it to be complete. They wanted it to be easily accessible and they programmed a holographic interface with what they thought was the best way to communicate. But...they couldn't be sure. They couldn't be certain that someone thousands of years later would find the record and understand it. So, they made more gemstones and encoded them with different aspects of their culture? No, I think I'm wrong there. I'm beginning to think that each stone is independent and complete. But there is this whole 'quantum entanglement' that's also apparently present. So here's what I think now." He looked up at Alekela from the console, "What if the proto-Tholians could be sure that their history would be found. What if they could peer across...time itself. Just enough to know that their record would be found?"

"In the delayed choice experiment it would indicate that either the observation is steering the past, or that the past somehow has steered the future. However, it turns out that it is due to the nature of time. Time itself turns out to be an emergent phenomenon, that is, time emerges from the matrix of the background of quantum states like life is an emergent phenomenon of chemical processes. This was demonstrated with the famous Migidish experiment in which outside a miniature created universe there was no time but an 'observer' within the universe became entangled within the universe and time happened for that observer. Going along your line, then I would offer perhaps that in order for this to work, that one has to become 'entangled' within it thus the sequence and time should emerge. You mentioned a sort of holographic image along with various other crystals when you first encountered the entity. Those might have provided a linkage a way to become entangled enough to then have things work as intended. While we cannot know exactly what other crystals were present, perhaps some sort of resonance could still be set up to simulate the same environment. Anybody have quartz crystal handy?" Aklekelia asked after giving her opinion. Everyone talked about time, and dimension of time but very seldom was the idea of what time really was and how it came about rarely looked into.

Going over to one of the lab tables, there had been some various stones laying out and Jonathan grabbed what appeared to be a quartz from one of the various worlds of the Federation. "Here you go, Doctor," Jonathan said, handing over the stone before stepping back to stand inbetween Lwazanda and Percy.

As he reached them, Jonathan turned to Lwazanda and asked in a hushed tone, “Might I ask a more personal question? One of the reasons why I asked you to join our little impromptu gathering was that you looked like you were a part of a family I knew back on Betazed. If it’s not too personal, you wouldn’t happen to be a part of the Fifth House of Betazed, would you?”

"Yes, my family is apart of the fifth house of Betazed. Why?" Lwazanda asked, curious as to what Jonathan had in mind.

Nodding his head, Jonathan smiled as he remembered all his time on Betazed, however short it might’ve been. Handing over some of his equipment to Percy, he mentioned that he’d be back in a moment.

Jonathan took his Betazed companion’s arm in a typical Betazed fashion. Once out of earshot, Jonathan asked, “I didn’t want to ask this in front of the others because it would be something that could throw their careers away. It’s something you can totally walk away from as well, but I was wondering if you could reach out to your family back home and see if they could get any information on the Tholians for us? In particular, if there was any reason why they’d want to hide the stones from us? If you’re willing to do that, that would be a huge favor for us, in particular, to help end the war too. But, again, that’s something you can totally tell me no."

"Yeah, I'll see what I can find out for you. The Tholians and the Cardassians working together was something weird. I'll get back to you guys if and when I figure something out," she said, nodding her head gently and letting herself out.

Jonathan joined the rest of the group and they all began working on the research. They were getting so much closer and Jonathan could taste it.



CONTINUED IN PART THREE



[OFF:]


LTJG. Matthew Plumeri
ACSO - Historian
SB400

&

Lt. Alekela illm Meaho'ola
Doctor
SB400

&

Ensign Percy McWire
Engineer
SB400

&

Commander Jonathan Coleman
Deputy Director, SCE

&

Lwazanda Ral
Civilian

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