Discussion over a meal

Posted on Mon Nov 11th, 2024 @ 11:26am by Lieutenant N'vok Holv & Lieutenant JG Daisheliss "Lissa" Kerr

Mission: Season 6: Episode 5: A church beyond heaven
Location: Galley
Timeline: Before arrival at the station
1205 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

N'vok brought over a tray and sat down, choosing a table with a good view of the . . . space station. He waited patiently to be joined by his fellow scientist.

Lissa half-jogged with her tray, trying to not bounce too much as she hurried over to the table after spotting N'vok. "Hey! Sorry, I'm late. I normally like to be early for things, but I miscalculated how long a simulation would take. How are you?"

"These things happen," N'vok replied, "science rarely runs smoothly. Did you learn anything interesting from the simulation?"

"It takes a while to prove a negative. If that can ever be done truly, so not necessarily today. Just one more check mark on the list of many. I've been working on what puts one outside of the causality loop in temporal anomalies for a while," Lissa explained. "My theory is that there are too many variables to really try to come up with any kind of practical formula - and these simulations are just smoke. The computer has no idea. Unfortunately, Starfleet gets a little weird when you start suggesting actually playing with time," she said casually.

"Anyway, enough about that. What have you been up to? Anything interesting?"

"Continuing cultural analysis of the local species, which is a challenge as we do not have a great deal of information about them," said N'vok. "And overseeing the so far futile attempts to duplicate their faster-than-light travel technologies." He took a sip of his drink, "Though it does seem fascinating that one singular event could so badly deform the cultural development of so many peoples."

"I think we've seen that time and time again in history. That's why we're so careful with the Prime Directive, isn't it?"

"It is, but it would not have helped in this situation," he said looking into his drink. "What it that Terran saying, 'the road to hell is paven with good intentions'?"

"Now the people here have to live with the fallout and our ability to help is so limited. If only we were not so far from the Alpha Quadrent," he said. "But we must work with what we have."

"Well it might have helped had the Progenitors had been a little more careful. For such an 'advanced' species, seems quite irresponsible to me," Lissa quipped. She used her fingers to place air quotes when talking about the advanced nature of the Progenitors, her tone quite dry. "This would be fascinating to you though - I don't mean to say you enjoy seeing anyone suffer," she quickly corrected. "I just mean this is right up your alley the anthropology part of it anyway. I bet there is a lot to break down."

"We cannot, but definition, plan for the unexpected," said N'vok. "I suspect that is what happened on the Slavers' world. I wonder if . . ." he just stopped, suddenly deep in thought. "Surely the solution could not be that simple?" he said after a moment.

N'vok focussed on Lissa. "How are you at designing computer communication programs?"

"I mean, I usually write my own simulations unless it's something pretty complex. I'm no expert, but I've learned the basics. What are you thinking?" Lissa asked. She could see the wheels turning, but was unsure where they were going.

He steepled his fingers. "What if the Progenitors Computers do not realize that they are being abused? If we could inform them of the true situation, of what damage they have caused, perhaps they would shut down and wait for the Slavers to culturally advance to the point they should have been at before accessing the gifts of the Progenitors? It might not work but if it does . . ." he paused. "Well, it would destabilize the region, but in a positive way rather than the current situation."

"Accessing the computer on that level would be the challenge, I would think," Lissa opined. "Writing the program shouldn't be too much of a challenge if we know the language. But, I would thing the safeguards that they put in place to keep just anyone from doing something like this would be pretty difficult to overcome. I would anticipate more than just your typical firewall defenses, but probably offensive tactics as well."

"Maybe," ponders N'vok. "I think perhaps just a focussed informational burst." he said. "I do not want to force the computer to do anything, I just want it to know the situation. With that, I am hoping it would make the right choices. Attempting to hack the core computer system across interstellar distances seems . . . difficult. My preference would be a focussed informational burst across multiple media and languages, preferably broadcast from a probe so we would not need to be anywhere nearby."

"That would be fairly simple to do. Do you really think it would work?" She asked skeptically.

"Do I think it will work, no," said N'vok. "Do I think it could work, yes. The cost of the time to craft the messages and the use of a probe are inconsequential against the potential gains. It will need the Commodore's approval as there is a small chance it could invite retaliation. But I think it is a worthwhile project."

"Retaliation... yes, well I imagine there will be support on board to try it and just be prepared for the possibility," Lissa replied. "I guess it's not so much us interfering as it is hoping that the progenitors locked in their own failsafe." The thought of interfering too much troubled Lissa. This bit of justification was a comfort to her.

"We will do our best to structure the transmission in such a way that it will be difficult to track back to the Elysium, if approval is given," said N'vok. "The last thing we need is more trouble from the slavers. If you could start drawing out a proposed set of messages and explanations to be broadcast. We can recruit Mister Dosivi to provide translations into as many of the local languages as we can manage."

"Sure. So, do you want them to seem like they are coming from different places? Like they weren't all created at the same time or written by the same person?" She asked.

"No, I do not mind if they are obviously from the same source," said N'vok. "It is simply with more data types coming in, the odds of one of them being accepted and analyzed by the Progenitor's computer is higher. At least, that is my hope. Who know what kind of plee will resonate with a computer nearly as old as time itself?" He pauses. "We need songs, ballads, and poems detailing the sense of loss when the Slavers take people away or from the slaves themselves and their terrible experiences. An emotional appeal might work where simple reason fails."

"I can get with Teevs after lunch and start working on something," Lissa agreed. "Anything else?"

"That should be a good start, I will contact the Commodore and ger permission to move forward," said N'vok. "And thank you for the inspiration."

Lissa shook her head. "I don't know that I did anything, but you're welcome."

"Keep me updated and I will do the same," said N'vok tapping his combadge on his way out.