Conversation with #st_missionroom1 at Wed Aug 1 20:56:20 2018 on CaptHarper@chat.startrekengage.com (irc)
(21:20:00) CO_CaptHarper: BEGIN SIM
(21:20:01) CO_CaptHarper: BEGIN SIM
(21:20:02) CO_CaptHarper: BEGIN SIM
(21:21:02) CO_CaptHarper: :: enters the bridge from the ready room and enthusiastically claps her hands :: XO: Are we ready to launch the probe, Commander?
(21:23:43) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: ::Makes final preparations on a new 'singularity probe'; having scavenged extra parts from multiple lesser probes, to properly secure it against the effects of massive graivational and temporal stresses.::
(21:25:25) TAC_LCdr_TLira: :: has assumed the primary tactical console for the first time in Major Wolfe’s absence and is taking time to familiarize herself with the layout whilst scanning the space around them ::
(21:26:16) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: ::Hums to himself, as he tunes a similar process he used for Atlantis, but on a much smaller and more manageable scale; a tiny subspace bubble to shield the probe.::
(21:26:34) MED_Ens_Acacia: :: enters the bridge, nodding politely to the other officers. She takes a medical computer console at the back of the bridge, checking recent shipwide radiation scan data ::
(21:27:05) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: straightens up a bit on her chair as Harper enters, a mixed smile on her face. It's good to be moving on, but this is sort of the last hurrah :: CO: Standing by for your word, Captain.
(21:28:36) SCI_Ens_Jude: :: walks in behind Acacia and sits down at a science console ::
(21:28:42) CO_CaptHarper: :: grins as she stands in front of her chair :: XO: The word is given.
(21:31:15) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: looks back at Kuari :: XO: Launching on your mark, Commander Kuari.
(21:32:06) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: turns her head towards Wright :: CSO: Launch probe.
(21:32:48) SCI_Ens_Jude: :: tap console, preparing to receive data ::
(21:32:59) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: launches, enjoying this part of the procedure :: CO/XO: Deployment complete, probe is away.
(21:33:40) CO_CaptHarper: ACTION> The specially-configured probe arcs away from Atlantis's aft, activates its subspace bubble, and spirals on down toward oblivion.
(21:33:56) TAC_LCdr_TLira: :: for a moment, a part of her is keen on getting a firsthand look at that data, but she reminds herself that she must commit to her new role. She can look at the data later, of course ::
(21:34:04) MED_Ens_Acacia: :: pauses to watch the probe on the scanners, before pulling up radiation data once more ::
(21:34:37) CO_CaptHarper: :: watches the probe's departure on the main viewer, the camera showing the nacelle tips on the edge of frame ::
(21:35:03) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: :: Activates the probe's subspace bubble, and begins fine tuning it as it descends towards the singularity ::
(21:35:27) NAV_LtJG_Navarro: :: takes a break from working on their return course to look up as the probe leaves ::
(21:36:29) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: watching the data stream in with great interest ::
(21:37:05) CO_CaptHarper: ACTION> As the probe gets closer, for now, the data returned is similar to what we got when we rescued the Voth ship.
(21:37:53) SCI_Ens_Jude: :: taps console, going through data, noting anything of possible interest, and yawns as she sips her coffee ::
(21:37:54) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: Self: So much easier with an object of this size... ::Hums.::
(21:38:03) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: darts her head up and down, between the main viewer and her console ::
(21:38:13) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: mentally pictures the probe playing Ride of the Valkyries to itself on repeat ::
(21:38:43) CO_CaptHarper: :: really should restrain herself from wandering forward and peeking over Lexy's shoulder at incoming science data... but can't, and does so anyway ::
(21:39:05) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: very quietly humming Wagner to herself ::
(21:39:30) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: perks a finned ear towards Wright subconsciously ::
(21:39:43) CO_CaptHarper: :: offhandedly wonders what that song is, makes a note to ask later ::
(21:40:17) TAC_LCdr_TLira: :: has no idea what is being hummed and is not entirely sure she wishes to ask the computer later. Last time she did that, the results were... awkward, to say the least ::
(21:40:30) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: abruptly stops when she notices Kate next to her :: CO: Sorry... I just... it's a brave little probe.
(21:40:44) ENG2_Ens_Razyn: :: recognizes the Wagner opera, and joins in ::
(21:41:27) CO_CaptHarper: CSO: Indeed! Its sacrifice for science will be remembered. :: seriously ::
(21:41:38) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: smiles conspiratorially at Razyn ::
(21:41:46) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: then gratefully at Kate ::
(21:42:10) CO_CaptHarper: ACTION> As the probe gets ever closer, the subspace bubble successfully has a noticeable effect, shielding it from time dilation.
(21:43:13) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: notes this in the data stream :: CO: Captain, the subspace bubble seems to be very effective. We're getting far less time dilation than would normally be expected at this proximity.
(21:43:16) CO_CaptHarper: All: I think we will name it Schwarzschild, after the human scientist.
(21:43:43) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: ::Sees he's starting to rub off on Alexis, and smiles; the sound of music quiet enjoyable.::
(21:43:58) CO_CaptHarper: ENG: Well done, Lt. Ilaihr.
(21:44:14) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: has a small, momentary swell of pride for the great scientific minds of her race ::
(21:44:27) TAC_LCdr_TLira: :: raises an eyebrow at the concept of naming such a relatively insignificant object, but makes no comment about it ::
(21:45:06) CSO_Cdr_Wright: CO: I think Schwarzchild would have considered that a great honor, Captain.
(21:45:48) SCI_Ens_Jude: Self: Hm. :: had been focused on the data the entire time, and perk up an eyebrow at the conversation, before sipping her coffee, and once again, looking down at her console. ::
(21:46:14) CO_CaptHarper: CSO: I imagine so. :: smiles softly as she looks back up at the main viewer, the probe long out of sight ::
(21:46:26) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: CO: Thank you, Captain. ::Replies idly, not even really sure what she was praising him for; is too concerned with music and the probe's subspace telemetry; even though he isn't hooked up to the system like he was last time.::
(21:47:12) ENG2_Ens_Razyn: :: continues to hum Wagner, as he keeps an eye on the probe ::
(21:47:21) CO_CaptHarper: ACTION> The brave probe Schwarzchild descends past the orbit where the Voth ship was stuck, and new data begins to stream in, space-time warping more intensely with each passing moment.
(21:48:09) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: watches with interest, pointing out the subtle but persistent shifts to Kate ::
(21:49:19) CO_CaptHarper: :: looks with great interest at the new data and what's being pointed out ::
(21:53:08) CO_CaptHarper: ACTION> As the Schwarzchild approaches the Schwarzchild Radius, a great deal of the nearby matter from the accretion disk is suddenly ionized and accelerated to a significant fraction of C and ejected along the black hole's poles, combining with the Hawking radiation to form a massive relativistic jet.
(21:54:31) MED_Ens_Acacia: :: breathlessly, as she watches on the side of her screen :: Self: Wow...
(21:55:11) TAC_LCdr_TLira: :: gazes at the viewscreen, taking in the view ::
(21:55:12) CO_CaptHarper: :: sees the spike in the data and looks up at the main viewer, her eyes going wide ::
(21:55:37) CO_CaptHarper: TAC: Shields at maximum. That must come with a radiation spike.
(21:56:07) TAC_LCdr_TLira: :: checks that shields are indeed at maximum :: CO: Aye, sir. Shields are at maximum and holding.
(21:56:17) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: ::Would have been fascinated to see what the probe is, with his own eyes, to experience the crossing from one realm of one possibility to another; much like the crossing of one mind to another.::
(21:57:00) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: looks with awe at the numbers coming in from the brave probe :: CO: Captain... the probe is reporting that the velocity of that relativistic jet is... 0.8c, sir. The entirety of that huge jet is approaching the speed of light.
(21:57:39) MED_Ens_Acacia: :: taps at her console :: CO: Radiation levels are up, just barely exceeding expected parameters.
(21:57:46) CO_CaptHarper: :: still staring at the viewer :: CSO: Incredible!
(21:57:51) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: eyes flick between the spectacular display and the spectacular numbers coming in ::
(21:58:05) CO_CaptHarper: MED: Understood. NAV: Increase the radius of our orbit.
(21:58:42) CO_CaptHarper: ACTION> The Schwarzchild crosses the radius whose name it bears, and every event in its future now must lead to the singularity. However, its transmissions can still get to us, and its subspace bubble is still holding!
(21:59:09) SCI_Ens_Jude: CSO: Still receiving transmissions.
(21:59:11) NAV_LtJG_Navarro: CO: Si, capitana. :: accelerates Atlantis into a wider, slower orbit ::
(21:59:58) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: breathes and says quietly :: Self: At the center of the galaxy beats the heart of a *beast*. CO: The subspace bubble is holding steady, Captain, transmission is intact.
(22:00:01) MED_Ens_Acacia: CO: Radiation numbers back within expectations. Our math must have been off by a decimal... Levels holding at safe on all decks, ma'am.
(22:01:52) CO_CaptHarper: MED: Thank you, Ensign. Let me know if we will require anti-radiation medication.
(22:02:07) CSO_Cdr_Wright: CO: Schwarzchild has passed the point of no return, but the information is still escaping. :: shakes head :: Self: Remarkable.
(22:02:53) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: stares at the data herself with big eyes :: Self: Wow...
(22:02:57) MED_Ens_Acacia: CO: The vaccines you've all had should suffice, we're monitoring scans though.
(22:03:17) CO_CaptHarper: ACTION> The jet continues to erupt.
(22:04:45) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: CSO: Interactions with the subspace bubble. The probe is a tiny piece of stable real-space in a chaotic ocean, of space beyond our abilty to comprehend.
(22:07:40) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: nods agreement at Ilaihr :: ENG: Indeed... as I said, remarkable. It's entered the lair of a beast capable of terrific violence, and yet... still it calls out to us across the impenetrable void.
(22:09:01) CO_CaptHarper: :: a corner of her mouth perks up at the poetic notion ::
(22:09:39) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: CSO: It is on a path I have followed my whole life, able to see a facet of the universe I never will.
(22:10:04) CO_CaptHarper: ACTION> The jet shows no sign of ceasing, building into two immense towers from the poles of the black hole, extending onward into space at relativistic speed.
(22:11:15) CO_CaptHarper: ACTION> Schwarzchild continues to bravely send data back from unknown space, being perhaps the first artificial object to send information from beyond a black hole's event horizon.
(22:11:23) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: looks up from her console to the image on the viewscreen, this time her jaw dropping a little ::
(22:12:09) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: CSO: Although... on our previous adventure inside, I did see a great deal.
(22:12:29) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: CSO: Through the eyes of the ship.
(22:13:03) SCI_Ens_Jude: :: looks at viewscreen, lifting up her travel mug, fascinated ::
(22:13:07) CO_CaptHarper: ACTION> The data from Schwarzchild suddenly ceases, as it succumbs to inevitability.
(22:13:23) CSO_Cdr_Wright: ENG: Sometime you must tell me what you saw, my friend, perhaps over a pot of tea. :: smiles briefly back at him before returning her gaze to the wondrous views in front of her just as the connection is lost ::
(22:13:26) SCI_Ens_Jude: CSO: Data ceased.
(22:13:59) MED_Ens_Acacia: :: lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, looking at the end of the data stream heavily. ::
(22:14:19) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: confirms, then nods at Jude and frowns up at Kate :: CO: The Schwarzchild has succumbed, finally, to the beast, Captain.
(22:14:32) CO_CaptHarper: All: Rest in peace, brave explorer, and we thank you.
(22:14:38) ENG_Lt_Ilaihr: ::Smiles, looking back to his console.::
(22:15:35) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: closes her mouth, then glances at Harper ::
(22:15:57) ENG2_Ens_Razyn: :: nods at viewscreen, and looks down at his console ::
(22:17:26) CO_CaptHarper: :: returns Kuari's glance :: XO: Well, I am not sure that we can top that.
(22:18:35) XO_Cdr_Kuari: CO: Should we be sad that it's "down hill" from here?
(22:19:27) SCI_Ens_Jude: XO: There is always something bigger, whether we know it or not.
(22:19:58) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: smiles in Jude's direction :: SCI: I like your thinking.
(22:20:01) CO_CaptHarper: :: turns to gaze at the main viewer :: XO: Not at all, my friend. We are explorers on the shore of an infinite ocean.
(22:20:48) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: nods ::
(22:21:43) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: a corner of her mouth perks up at the poetic notion ::
(22:23:09) CO_CaptHarper: CSO: Now, as for that jet... do we have all the data we need on it?
(22:24:50) CSO_Cdr_Wright: CO: We could easily collect data for the rest of our natural lives and still get new information, but between the Schwarzchild and the data I just collected from the probes that we launched prior to assisting the Voth ship, we probably have as much as is realistically necessary, Captain.
(22:26:24) CO_CaptHarper: :: wry grin :: CSO: Or even relativistically necessary?
(22:27:05) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: grins back :: CO: Indeed, Captain.
(22:29:58) CO_CaptHarper: :: claps her hands on her thighs :: Alright then. NAV: Mr. Navarro, have you completed the calculations and slipstream solutions for our return trajectory?
(22:31:02) NAV_LtJG_Navarro: CO: Aye, offset by fifty light years from our inbound course, as you asked.
(22:32:44) CO_CaptHarper: NAV: Thank you, lieutenant. :: starts to wander around the bridge as she talks ::
(22:33:01) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: watches Harper wander ::
(22:34:25) CO_CaptHarper: All: What we have done here... :: lingers her fingertips on a railing as she passes :: is expand scientific understanding of an area of space that was shrouded in mystery for centuries.
(22:36:07) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: looks up at her, nodding ::
(22:36:36) CO_CaptHarper: All: Our worlds, all of them, are bound by this black hole into a gravitational ballet. Our peoples have danced around this place for millennia without even knowing it.
(22:38:14) CO_CaptHarper: All: Then, when we did know it, we were confounded by the veil of dust and gas obscuring our observations. But now, here, because of what all of you have done... we have met our dance partner.
(22:38:31) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: thinks of her world, so far away from anyone else's on her ship, and feels closer to home once again by the sight in front of them ::
(22:39:55) CO_CaptHarper: All: It binds us all and brought us together with new friends. Your performance here could not have been better, and on the verge of our departure from this place, I thank you all for your work to expand our knowledge.
(22:40:19) MED_Ens_Acacia: :: wipes a tear from her eye, overwhelmed by the emotion in the room ::
(22:41:53) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: looks around the room at the others one by one ::
(22:41:59) CO_CaptHarper: All: Know that we are but the first, and the Federation will return to follow up on our studies. ::: takes a long look at the main viewer, burning Sagittarius A* into her memory ::
(22:42:18) CO_CaptHarper: :: glances at Kuari, then Lexy, then Navarro :: NAV: Mr. Navarro, warp eight until it is safe to engage quantum slipstream.
(22:42:46) NAV_LtJG_Navarro: :: with a sad smile, he engages the warp drive :: CO: Warp eight, aye.
(22:42:59) XO_Cdr_Kuari: :: finds herself taking in a deep breath of finality ::
(22:43:00) CSO_Cdr_Wright: :: wants to applaud, but is too shy to start it, so just smiles, eyes shining with tears ::
(22:43:09) CO_CaptHarper: ACTION> Atlantis streaks away from the Milky Way's center, back into the alpha quadrant.
(22:43:20) CTO_Maj_Wolfe: :: breaks from parade rest to begin preparations for slipstream flight. ::
(22:43:39) CO_CaptHarper: :: makes her way back to the center of the bridge ::
(22:44:28) TAC_LCdr_TLira: :: with the major’s appearance on the bridge, she has shifted back to the secondary tactical position. With one last look at the view before them, she returns to her duties ::
(22:46:57) CO_CaptHarper: XO: Commander, make the ship ready for slipstream flight. :: estimating that it'll be safe soon, based on their inbound time ::
(22:47:42) XO_Cdr_Kuari: CTO: Configure shield geometry for slipstream, Major.
(22:48:04) CTO_Maj_Wolfe: :: is already finished preparing the shields :: XO: Aye, Commander. Shield geometry configured for slipstream flight.
(22:48:08) XO_Cdr_Kuari: CTO: Raise shields.
(22:48:41) CTO_Maj_Wolfe: XO: Aye, shields raised.
(22:48:54) XO_Cdr_Kuari: CO: Ready for slipstream, Captain.
(22:49:27) CO_CaptHarper: XO: Thank you, Commander. NAV: You may activate slipstream when safe to do so.
(22:49:43) NAV_LtJG_Navarro: CO: Yes ma'am. Slipstream flight in one minute. :: activates the drive ::
(22:50:16) NAV_LtJG_Navarro: CO: Thirty seconds....
(22:50:44) NAV_LtJG_Navarro: CO: Five seconds...
(22:50:47) CO_CaptHarper: ACTION> The slipstream vortex appears ahead of us and the Atlantis is smoothly pulled in, to begin the first leg of her long, strange trip home.
(22:50:52) CO_CaptHarper: PAUSE SIM
(22:50:53) CO_CaptHarper: PAUSE SIM
(22:50:54) CO_CaptHarper: PAUSE SIM