Depolarization
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:44 pm
TIV Tiberius, Kronos Class Temporal Dreadnought
"Ma'am all clear in this sector" a voice on the bridge indicated to Commander Lilith Reynolds.
"Very well, take us into the next sector" Reynolds said drolly. "Begin the scan process there. Notify me if anything changes I will be in my ready room" she said while standing up and straightening her uniform.
She walked in to her ready room and gazed out into the stars. It's funny how you don't miss them until they're gone she mused to herself. She heard the doors to the room open behind her and saw her first mate's reflection in the star field.
"Commander, what exactly are we looking for out here" the young man inquired.
"I am not at liberty to disclose that lieutenant" she said with out turning around.
"Ma'am with all due respect we have been sweeping every sector of the known multiverse for the last 19 standard weeks. We have had no word from command, and you are not being helpful in easing the minds of the crew" the lieutenant said walking away from the door. "Ma'am I have friends on the Dauntless, Harbinger and the Joyner. They tell me that their current patrol is exactly what ours is. Those are not mere science vessels. That makes at least 4 heavy warships out looking for something, but their commanding officers are being as tight lipped as you are ma'am" he said, now standing right next to Reynolds looking out into space, "there is something big going on isn't there" he inquired.
Continuing her gaze out into space the captain merely repeated, "I am not at liberty to disclose that".
"Damn it all Commander" the lieutenant said turning to face his superior, "the crew is scared. This mission is shrouded in too much secrecy. You at least owe your commanding staff an explanation so we can ease the crews fears"
Several uncomfortable silent moments passed as Reynolds continued to stare out into space. "They really are quite remarkable aren't they" she said whimsically.
The lieutenant's anger was mixed with confusion, "What are remarkable".
"Stars. Our ancestors looked out and saw divine beings and the souls of the dead. Then our more recent ancestors revealed them to be enormous balls of burning gas" she chuckled, "yet this knowledge has not taken their beauty"
"Ma'am with all due respect this is not the time for poetic notions on stars" the lieutenant said in disbelief at his Commander's unusual behavior. "Fine, if you wish to consider the matter resolved I will return to the bridge" he said. After saluting Reynolds he turned on his heal and returned to the bridge.
Back out on the bridge the command staff was waiting with bated breath. They wanted to know what the lieutenant learned. "Everyone back to work" he snapped slumping into his chair. Something major was going on, and it was not good.
After an hour had passed the Commander's voice was on the comm, "Lieutenant Horner, please report to the ready room.
The bridge staff looked at the lieutenant as he stood from his post and walked into the room.
"Lieutenant, I have been in touch with Temporal High Command" Reynolds said. "I have been cleared to inform you of the bare bones of our mission" the Commander said.
"Six months ago we had a rather large temporal ping" Reynolds said activating a holo-display.
"What kind of ping would have the THC up-in-arms like this?" Horner asked.
"A clone ping" the commander said, indicating on the temporal spectrum where the event occurred.
“But in the academy they said that a clone of an STC signature is purely hypothetical. It was the ramblings of some delusional scientist or some such� the lieutenant said in disbelief.
“Yes, Professor Emil Sky. His work was suppressed by the THC, cadets only learn the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his work� the commander said, “his theories were, quite radical. Yet the math added up. He stated that with all of our experiments we were doing unforeseen damage to the STC, even to 001. He said that relying on her would lead to trouble�
“Why would relying on an AI to monitor the STC be problematic� Horner inquired.
“Because an AI is still a computer, computers are fallible to their programming. He might not be able to detect something that is out there if she is not programmed to look for it� the commander said.
“You sound like you agree with him ma’am� Horner said looking at his commander.
“I do. Maybe not about the whole unforeseeable repercussions issue; but I do agree with him about 001. I don’t trust a computer that is doing a job that a sentient can do. AIs have no instincts, they can’t feel the answers in situations. They can only process logically and mathematically the ‘correct’ answer� Reynolds confided in her lieutenant.
“What happened to Sky� Lieutenant Horner inquired.
“Nobody knows. Last anyone saw of him he claimed that he knew the exact date of the fall of our people and the multiverse. He had come across some sort of doomsday scenario equation. He tried to bring it before the THC. They of course refused to even see him. So he took more...� she paused, “drastic measures�
“What did he do� Horner was now intrigued.
“He broke into the 001 compound and attempted to upload his equation into her processing unit. He was stopped and taken before a special tribunal. He was not even permitted to defend himself. He was cast out of our society, forced to wander the stars until death for ‘crimes against the STC’. That was they called it� there was a little anger in Reynolds voice.
“You sound like you are unhappy with the way that played out� Horner commented.
“Yes I am. What was the harm in uploading the equation? The High Command is so pompous. They feel as if they and they alone know everything� the commander spouted angrily.
“Commander, what was the ping of� Horner said changing the subject for the sake of Reynolds’ career.
Looking at her lieutenant, she said “Which one�.
“You said there was only one� he said confused.
“We are assigned to find one yes, but there were three� Reynolds said walking over to her desk to pour herself a drink, she looked at how little of the Scotch was left and decided to pour the lieutenant a glass.
Reaching out and taking his glass the lieutenant asked, “What were the signals ma’am�
Reynolds swished the liquor about in he glass for a moment before answering, she did not think her lieutenant would believe her if she told him. “One was the Tiberius, one the Asgard and one was unidentifiable� she said.
“Un identifiable� Horner asked after taking a sip.
“Yes, but the energy pattern most resembled the Equinox� she said gulping down all that was in her glass.
“You cannot be serious� the lieutenant said, also gulping down the liquor in disbelief.
“It is like the Equinox but more powerful.; the t-rads are off the charts. It’s as if…� she trailed off.
“What� Horner asked.
“Nothing, never mind; forget I said anything� the commander said.
Their conversation was interrupted by a blare over the comm, “Commander to the bridge�
Both the Commander and the Lieutenant looked at each other before they left the ready room. They knew what this must be.
The scene in the bridge was like a ghost town. The air was still and nobody said a word.
“There is an unknown vessel roughly three tenths of a light year from our current position� a voice from the science station said.
“T-rad readings� Reynolds inquired.
“None ma’am it would appear this vessel has no temporal capability� the man replied.
“Take us in and broadcast to them who and what we are� Commander Reynolds ordered.
"Ma'am all clear in this sector" a voice on the bridge indicated to Commander Lilith Reynolds.
"Very well, take us into the next sector" Reynolds said drolly. "Begin the scan process there. Notify me if anything changes I will be in my ready room" she said while standing up and straightening her uniform.
She walked in to her ready room and gazed out into the stars. It's funny how you don't miss them until they're gone she mused to herself. She heard the doors to the room open behind her and saw her first mate's reflection in the star field.
"Commander, what exactly are we looking for out here" the young man inquired.
"I am not at liberty to disclose that lieutenant" she said with out turning around.
"Ma'am with all due respect we have been sweeping every sector of the known multiverse for the last 19 standard weeks. We have had no word from command, and you are not being helpful in easing the minds of the crew" the lieutenant said walking away from the door. "Ma'am I have friends on the Dauntless, Harbinger and the Joyner. They tell me that their current patrol is exactly what ours is. Those are not mere science vessels. That makes at least 4 heavy warships out looking for something, but their commanding officers are being as tight lipped as you are ma'am" he said, now standing right next to Reynolds looking out into space, "there is something big going on isn't there" he inquired.
Continuing her gaze out into space the captain merely repeated, "I am not at liberty to disclose that".
"Damn it all Commander" the lieutenant said turning to face his superior, "the crew is scared. This mission is shrouded in too much secrecy. You at least owe your commanding staff an explanation so we can ease the crews fears"
Several uncomfortable silent moments passed as Reynolds continued to stare out into space. "They really are quite remarkable aren't they" she said whimsically.
The lieutenant's anger was mixed with confusion, "What are remarkable".
"Stars. Our ancestors looked out and saw divine beings and the souls of the dead. Then our more recent ancestors revealed them to be enormous balls of burning gas" she chuckled, "yet this knowledge has not taken their beauty"
"Ma'am with all due respect this is not the time for poetic notions on stars" the lieutenant said in disbelief at his Commander's unusual behavior. "Fine, if you wish to consider the matter resolved I will return to the bridge" he said. After saluting Reynolds he turned on his heal and returned to the bridge.
Back out on the bridge the command staff was waiting with bated breath. They wanted to know what the lieutenant learned. "Everyone back to work" he snapped slumping into his chair. Something major was going on, and it was not good.
After an hour had passed the Commander's voice was on the comm, "Lieutenant Horner, please report to the ready room.
The bridge staff looked at the lieutenant as he stood from his post and walked into the room.
"Lieutenant, I have been in touch with Temporal High Command" Reynolds said. "I have been cleared to inform you of the bare bones of our mission" the Commander said.
"Six months ago we had a rather large temporal ping" Reynolds said activating a holo-display.
"What kind of ping would have the THC up-in-arms like this?" Horner asked.
"A clone ping" the commander said, indicating on the temporal spectrum where the event occurred.
“But in the academy they said that a clone of an STC signature is purely hypothetical. It was the ramblings of some delusional scientist or some such� the lieutenant said in disbelief.
“Yes, Professor Emil Sky. His work was suppressed by the THC, cadets only learn the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his work� the commander said, “his theories were, quite radical. Yet the math added up. He stated that with all of our experiments we were doing unforeseen damage to the STC, even to 001. He said that relying on her would lead to trouble�
“Why would relying on an AI to monitor the STC be problematic� Horner inquired.
“Because an AI is still a computer, computers are fallible to their programming. He might not be able to detect something that is out there if she is not programmed to look for it� the commander said.
“You sound like you agree with him ma’am� Horner said looking at his commander.
“I do. Maybe not about the whole unforeseeable repercussions issue; but I do agree with him about 001. I don’t trust a computer that is doing a job that a sentient can do. AIs have no instincts, they can’t feel the answers in situations. They can only process logically and mathematically the ‘correct’ answer� Reynolds confided in her lieutenant.
“What happened to Sky� Lieutenant Horner inquired.
“Nobody knows. Last anyone saw of him he claimed that he knew the exact date of the fall of our people and the multiverse. He had come across some sort of doomsday scenario equation. He tried to bring it before the THC. They of course refused to even see him. So he took more...� she paused, “drastic measures�
“What did he do� Horner was now intrigued.
“He broke into the 001 compound and attempted to upload his equation into her processing unit. He was stopped and taken before a special tribunal. He was not even permitted to defend himself. He was cast out of our society, forced to wander the stars until death for ‘crimes against the STC’. That was they called it� there was a little anger in Reynolds voice.
“You sound like you are unhappy with the way that played out� Horner commented.
“Yes I am. What was the harm in uploading the equation? The High Command is so pompous. They feel as if they and they alone know everything� the commander spouted angrily.
“Commander, what was the ping of� Horner said changing the subject for the sake of Reynolds’ career.
Looking at her lieutenant, she said “Which one�.
“You said there was only one� he said confused.
“We are assigned to find one yes, but there were three� Reynolds said walking over to her desk to pour herself a drink, she looked at how little of the Scotch was left and decided to pour the lieutenant a glass.
Reaching out and taking his glass the lieutenant asked, “What were the signals ma’am�
Reynolds swished the liquor about in he glass for a moment before answering, she did not think her lieutenant would believe her if she told him. “One was the Tiberius, one the Asgard and one was unidentifiable� she said.
“Un identifiable� Horner asked after taking a sip.
“Yes, but the energy pattern most resembled the Equinox� she said gulping down all that was in her glass.
“You cannot be serious� the lieutenant said, also gulping down the liquor in disbelief.
“It is like the Equinox but more powerful.; the t-rads are off the charts. It’s as if…� she trailed off.
“What� Horner asked.
“Nothing, never mind; forget I said anything� the commander said.
Their conversation was interrupted by a blare over the comm, “Commander to the bridge�
Both the Commander and the Lieutenant looked at each other before they left the ready room. They knew what this must be.
The scene in the bridge was like a ghost town. The air was still and nobody said a word.
“There is an unknown vessel roughly three tenths of a light year from our current position� a voice from the science station said.
“T-rad readings� Reynolds inquired.
“None ma’am it would appear this vessel has no temporal capability� the man replied.
“Take us in and broadcast to them who and what we are� Commander Reynolds ordered.