The Quantum Experiment

Posted on Mon Apr 13th, 2020 @ 7:45pm by Ensign Kara Hoffman

Mission: INTERMISSION: Rebuild, Reuse, Recycle
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: Pre-launch SB1
583 words - 1.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Main Engineering had been generated perfectly, down to the last console in the Holodeck. Kara had taken her day off to run some experiments of her own, regarding the Quantum Drive. Apparantly retrofitted ships were able to use the QSD and it was stable, but after crunching the numbers, something didn't add up. Kara wanted to find out what her instinct was telling her and so she once more found herself in her Engineering Experiment simulation.

Kara furrowed her brow as streams of data poured onscreen. "Computer, pause section." The computer paused the display and Kara read through the data. "Computer, simulate an additional ten percent to the structural integrity field, relay to me changes of deflector stress and temperature."

The computer responded. "deflector dish stress is at fourteen hundred Kilo-newtons. Hull temperature is at eight hundred and twelve point three degrees Celsius."

Kara sighed. "Simulate secondary power couplings to the Deflector, shift power balance to the Chroniton regulator by two percent higher." The computer chimed to indicate the changes had been made.

Kara watched and waited. There is no doubt Starfleet Engineering had managed to make this Quantum drive "work" with a retrofit. Doesn't mean it was as efficient as it could be. If she was correct, these slight changes made bit by bit might just enable them to reach an even higher efficiency.

The heat buildup of the Quantum drive meant, that even if only used for a few hours, the cooling off period is about six to eight times higher than travelling time.

She read through page after page of data, before finding something interesting. It was clearly an engineer's notes during the testing phase of the drive, in it he explains of his experiments. Reading through it, Kara may have found the answer to this little problem.

"Computer simulate a ten percent increase in structural integrity, with a chroniton particle build-up of anywhere between 0.12 and 0.10"

As the computer registered the changes, the results of the data flowed in. She smiled. "If this is what I think it is... Computer end test and analyse results."

The computer chimed. "Test complete."

"Yes, and? Have I reduced the heat-build up therefor increasing the efficiency of the drive?"

The computer responded. "Negative."

Seems there was much more work to be done. "Restart test. Let's start from scratch..." She said, plowing her face into her hands. "This is going to be a long day." She muttered, looking up at a hanging picture of Gallia, Tayalas and her that was taken at Christmas. She smiled, "Don't worry my dears, I'll figure this out."

She looked back down to the main console as the test restarted. "Stable Quantum field...good. Now we go into the Slipstream..." She commentated. "Chroniton particle buildup stable at 0.11." She watched as data flooded through her screen. "Computer, is there any reasonable way to reduce chroniton particle buildup, to 0.09 or lower?"

The computer chimed. "Confirmed"

Kara smiled. "Implement any necessary changes and load all changed data onto the main engineering console so I can see."

The data and schematics began to flood onto the screen below. She leaned forwards, with a huge grin on her face. "I see. Well that might just work. Report deflector stress and temperature please?"

" Deflector Dish Stress is at nine hundred and twenty Kilo newtons. Deflector Dish temperature is at seven hundred and sixty three degrees Celsius."

Kara's brown eyes widened. "Interesting, I think I've found at least part of the answer to this whole problem."

OFF