ST:TTV309 | "Pandora's Box"
Updated: Mar 18
Stardate 94936.8
As the dust begins to settle and shipboard life return to normal, the crew of the Valley Forge turn their attention back to exploration in the form of a gift from a recently discovered Human colony. Though historically unable to travel the stars, the colonists have spent centuries studying them and so presented the Valley Forge with their collated data.
Now it's up to the crew to find a way to integrate it with their own astrometric data and see just how valuable this gift of information may be...
View Episode
Eunha@turtles#8407 Looks into her PADD is trying to fix her hair obviously not happy with it Keliaya@anncarise steps into astrometrics and smiles at Jenni, "Hello Jenni." Charlie@drcrippler hangs out by the door Jenni@crystyll taps away at the console, turning with a smile, "Hello Kelly!" Jenni@crystyll: "I'm glad you're here to help..." she looks around the unfamiliar faces, "...this isn't exactly my field" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois steps into the room with an unusually quick pace, looking around and immediately nodding to Keliaya and Eunha, then also to all the others Keliaya@anncarise: "Always happy to lend a hand wherever I can!" Keliaya@anncarise gives Timo a nod of greetings in return. Eunha@turtles#8407: "Your field wouldn't by any chance be hair dressing?" Jenni@crystyll chuckles, "I'm afraid I'm no better there than I am with astrometrics" Eunha@turtles#8407 Sighs as she is stuck with this atrocity of a hair style Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Smiles lightly at Eunha's remarks:"What's wrong with that, commander?" Keliaya@anncarise glances at Eunha, "Your new hairstyle is certainly...different." Eunha@turtles#8407: "Let's not bring it up again or i'll beat you all up." Jenni@crystyll looks at her a bit cautiously, not knowing people well enough to realise when serious or not yet Keliaya@anncarise chuckles, "Understood Commander." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Raises his hands in self-defense:"I'll not question that." Jenni@crystyll: "Perhaps a suitable distraction in the form our purpose here would save us from potential violent outbreaks?" Charlie@drcrippler watches everything from his corner. Tuts. Makes some notes. Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois he seems only now to notice that Jenni is, in fact, Jenni:"Oh, I didn't recognize you at first in your new uniform." he smiles:"Glad to see you here." Jenni@crystyll smiles, "Thank you Captain. It is a bit more repsectable than my flight suit, and seemed more in line with your uniform standards" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Nods slightly:"I hope you're enjoying your life in Starfleet..." Keliaya@anncarise: "It suits you, Jenni! We do have our own versions of flight suits, or rather working clothes, but this does have the feel of a Starfleet-style uniform." Jenni@crystyll: "Oh, very much so! And I hope that today will be the first of many where you can reap the rewards from this arrangement too" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Well....time to see it!" he chuckles:"So, what do we have?" Jenni@crystyll clears her throat and steps up to the main console, "Wel..." Jenni@crystyll: "What we have, Sir; is the extent of your stellar cartography to date" she taps and calls up a galaxy image Jenni@crystyll: (( https://d1u5p3l4wpay3k.cloudfront.net/sto_gamepedia/thumb/e/e6/STO_milky_way.png/300px-STO_milky_way.png?version=05d061250842e44a84d11b86a4f5d046 )) Jenni@crystyll: "Overlaid here is your own grid reference system for the extent of explored territory" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois looks attentively at the viewscreen, hands crossed behind the shoulders Charlie@drcrippler peaks at the screen Charlie@drcrippler: *peeks Jenni@crystyll: "Now, even for all your centuries of exploration there is still a vast portion of this galactic arm uncharted" Keliaya@anncarise: "The galaxy is a biiiig place." Jenni@crystyll: "Indeed. Very big!" Jenni@crystyll: "And where you have had the luxury of exploring it, you may recall that my people have not had such luck" Jenni@crystyll: "What we have had in lieu of this though, is centuries of exploring the stars through observation" Jenni@crystyll: "As part of my people's olive branch to Starfleet, the Council gave me this data to share with you in the hopes that it will be of use" she taps away again Jenni@crystyll: (( http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/galaxy-map-3d-hi-res.jpg )) Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois quirks an eyebrow seeing the new pic appearing on the screen:"Oh..." Keliaya@anncarise: "Interesting...so this is what you've seen from Forged Earth, right?" Charlie@drcrippler raises his eyebrow Jenni@crystyll: "We have been mapping the stars beyond your charted borders for centuries as we searched for signs of Old Earth. Of course, we seemed to have been focusing largely in the wrong direction..." Jenni@crystyll: "But this means that we have accurate long range mapping of regions not yet charted by your exploration programmes. The challenge we have, is interpolating our data and finding a way to correlate it + Jenni@crystyll: + with your own astrometrics system" Jenni@crystyll turns back to the group, "And this where I defer to your collective judgement. I use navigation data, I don't write it" she chuckles Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "I see....your 'system' was completely different from ours. I suppose you used old-Earth techniques?" Keliaya@anncarise: "That's what I was thinking...from your position near the borders of our known space, you might've observed some things we haven't, or be able to confirm what we've observed but not confirmed." Jenni@crystyll nods, "Largely derived from it, yes" Jenni@crystyll turns and returns the image to the SF sector view Keliaya@anncarise looks to Timo, "You were among those who deciphered the Tik map in our search for Gainsborough survivors, right?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "I suppose the first thing we could do is a translation from old-Earth astrometric techniquest and ours..." looks around as to silently ask for outher suggestions. Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Nods to Kelly:"Yes I was...." Eunha@turtles#8407 her commbadge beeps and off she goes Keliaya@anncarise: "If you could figure out something that alien, an old Earth map should be comprehensible!" Sulayman@drcrippler wonders in like a lost puppy. "This is not Deck 3..." he mutters Keliaya@anncarise glances to Sulayman, "Are you looking for Eunha?" Jenni@crystyll continues tapping, a circular region overlay the lower left corner, from a centre point at the southern most corner of the beta quadrant blocks Sulayman@drcrippler: "I'm looking for... a way out..." he mutters. "But yes, Eunha would be handy..." Jenni@crystyll FX | The overlaid circle spans to the galactic perimeter and almost as wide as the combined SF alpha/beta blocks, with significant crossover region Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Chuckles to KElly:"I didn't do much that time...and I don't know if I could do someting now." Jenni@crystyll: "It sounds like you're better suited to this than myself already, Sir" she smiles Keliaya@anncarise: "You juuuust missed her. But you wouldn't happen to be handier with a starchart than a ship schematic, would you?" Jenni@crystyll: "This is an approximate comparative overlay I drafted myself using Forged Earth as a centre point" Sulayman@drcrippler sighs. "I'm never going to get off this ship!" he moans. "Oh... well, I would hope so..." he looks at the starchart. "This is new..." he steps forward. "Oh, Captain Timoreev," he nods Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: He's still looking at the screen very attentively, when Sulayman salutes him. He turns out quite surprised:"OH, lieutenant! Didn't expect to see you here..." Sulayman@drcrippler: "I didn't either. I got lost... the Valley Forge is a lot bigger than the al-Haytham..." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Chuckles:"You could say that..." he pauses for a moment:"But...remind me: what is your field of expertise?" Keliaya@anncarise: "She sure is!" Sulayman@drcrippler he nods to the map. "Astrophysics sir," Jenni@crystyll: (( https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/485622115438166016/520736760288903220/download1.jpg )) Keliaya@anncarise: "We're looking at stellar observations from a planet on the borders of our known space. An old, previously lost human colony called Forged Earth." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: His smile suddenly widens:"What a pleasant coincidence..." Keliaya@anncarise motions to Jenni, "Their exchange officer is offering it to us on behalf of her people in hopes that it might aid our exploration." Sulayman@drcrippler: "And we need to decipher it right?" his eyes are fixed on the map Sulayman@drcrippler: "Like we needed to do with the Tiik map?" Keliaya@anncarise: "You were there for that as well?" Jenni@crystyll turns and calls up her map for the keen newcomer, "You could say that. Our system is different to yours, so we need to find a way to accurately correlate the two if the data is to help you at all" Sulayman@drcrippler: "I was the one who made the break through," he states stepping forward to the console. "If I may?" he asks Jenni Keliaya@anncarise: "Excellent, we have two stellar cartography experts here," she smirks playfully at Timo, knowing he's an engineering expert and was only just present for the Tik thing. Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois just clears his throat at Kelly's words Jenni@crystyll steps aside, please do! I'm just the messenger with this!" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Well..." he taps the screen. "I don't know much about how your civilisation mapped things, but this looks like a redshift map. Since light travels as a wave, it therefore has a wavelength," he looks Sulayman@drcrippler: back at everyone to see if they agree with his logic Keliaya@anncarise: "So...the colours on the map represent wavelengths, then?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois He agrees. No doubts. Just looking at the screen Sulayman@drcrippler: "Yes... that's my theory. The red colours are ones with shorter wavelengths and thus are stars that are moving towards the planet. The opposite are the purple wavelengths which are longer, and thus, + Sulayman@drcrippler: have to be moving away, right?" Keliaya@anncarise nods, "That makes sense." Sulayman@drcrippler: "So... I think for most of our surveys have plotted the speed of celestial bodies in regards to the centre of the universe. And we know in which rough direction that is in terms of the milky way Sulayman@drcrippler: galaxy," Sulayman@drcrippler taps the screen. "Which is this way," he adds the direction towards the centre of the universe onto the map Keliaya@anncarise nods along as she glances back up to the screen. Sulayman@drcrippler: "So. With this, we know which stars are travelling towards the planet and what speeds, and vice versa. If we overlay that with this map, I am hoping that they should align with the colours..." he taps Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois simply nods. He keeps nodding since a while. Sulayman@drcrippler: away at the screen, working as he talks, his fingers a blur on the console Keliaya@anncarise continues observing the map to see if Sulayman's theory pans out. Jenni@crystyll blinks, stifling a yawn. This is not as fun as shooting things... Sulayman@drcrippler is proof that this is very much fun and better than shooting things Sulayman@drcrippler looks up to see the results of his work Jenni@crystyll looks to the map, "So how do we know if it's correct?" Keliaya@anncarise: "We'll need some point of reference..." Sulayman@drcrippler: "Well... if we..." he hops onto the top and walks over to the projection. "Centre it on this...lady's planet to start with. We can adjust it from there," Jenni@crystyll nods, "I can do that much at least!" and taps away, centering the view Sulayman@drcrippler: "One second," he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a laser pointer. "Okay..." he shines it on the projection. "So, take away the unknown map," he asks Jenni@crystyll taps and does as requested Sulayman@drcrippler: "Thank you," he nods and shines his laser pointer onto the projection. "Okay so that star..." he points to a mass of data and numbers. "Is D-892. I recall the numbers," he says. "That should be on a + Sulayman@drcrippler: red dot," he nods at Jenni. "Unknown map please," Jenni@crystyll switches view again Sulayman@drcrippler checks if that star is near a red dot, Sulayman@drcrippler: rolls 96 (1-100) Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Sighs, looking at Sulayman and Jenni performing this 'procedure' with such confidence:"These are those moments in which I would really like to remember more about my Astronomy classes...." he murmurs Jenni@crystyll FX | The star is almost right on top of a red dot! Sulayman@drcrippler doesn't celebrate just yet. "One is just a fluke," he mutters, his eyes scanning the area. "Okay, Phi 342A should be a purple dot," he looks around for the star and the location Jenni@crystyll: "Maybe your computer could identify this star?" she looks back to Kelly for confirmation Sulayman@drcrippler smirks. "Found it," he checks to see if it's on a purple dot. "Though... I think we can run a computer to match faster than me," he nods Jenni@crystyll chuckles Keliaya@anncarise: "If we have them in our systems, certainly." Keliaya@anncarise chuckles, "No doubt it's a good exercise for you!" Sulayman@drcrippler: rolls 86 (1-100) Keliaya@anncarise steps up to the console, ready to find more stars for Sulayman but also to get a closer view. Jenni@crystyll FX | It is indeed almost on top of a purple. Some minor discrepancy, but easily workable to tweak the overmapping Keliaya@anncarise: "Looks about right to me!" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Okay... so... I think we can configure the computer to do the rest," he turns and reaches down to Kelly's console. "All the data should be there for you to run your simulations," Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Quirks an eyebrow, again:"Wait...are you telling me that...it's done?" Keliaya@anncarise nods and types away, using Sulayman's information to allow the computer to run the rest of the comparisons. Sulayman@drcrippler stands and turns to look at the map, hands in pockets Jenni@crystyll: "It needs some adjusting, but if I'm reading this right; we should be good to test it by heading to a nearby new point" Keliaya@anncarise: "There is one point here..." Keliaya@anncarise highlights a purple point on the Forged Earth map. Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "What about this?" Sulayman@drcrippler looks at the corresponding data Keliaya@anncarise: "Our astrometric surveys haven't identified a star in that area, but Forged Earth maps have. However, according to the gravitational effects acting on the other systems, there should be a - Keliaya@anncarise: - sizable stellar body in the area." Jenni@crystyll: "That does sound intriguing as it's within your own explored region!" she turns, "What do you think Captain, a suitable test?" Sulayman@drcrippler: "This is interesting. Let's go and investigate..." he turns. Sulayman@drcrippler: "At...the Captain's discresion," he adds Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Well...." he looks for a moment at the screen:"For me, it is, for sure. However..." he smiles:"Should I remind you that this ship is not under my command?" Jenni@crystyll: "Of course" she nods, "But you are the senior officer here" added with a smile Sulayman@drcrippler makes his way down. "If you wouldn't mind Captain, I would like to join you... although..." he looks down. "I don't have my uniform here," Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Well, in my opinion it would be worth the effort. A bit of exploration these times would do no harm. I could send Capt. Se'Lai my recommendation...or we could all board the Attar and go" he says + Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: + chuckling Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Turns on Sulayman:"But of course! After all you did here..." Jenni@crystyll: "I believe Captain Keelah is eagerly awaiting news of our progress here" Sulayman@drcrippler: "Seems like God wanted me to get lost and lead me here," he smiles lightly Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Nods to Jenni:"Then why not informing her? I'll contact her and see if she agrees." Keliaya@anncarise: "Your skills were very helpful once again with astrometrics work, commander!" Sulayman@drcrippler blushes and shrugs. "It wasn't that hard..." Jenni@crystyll: "Impressive work, indeed!" Keliaya@anncarise: "Anyways, shall we make our way to our mystery star?" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois is already tapping his ombadge Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: <C>Timoreev to bridge Jenni@crystyll: <C: Keelah> Andrej! I heard you were back on board, everything ok - you didn't get lost did you...?" Sulayman@drcrippler turns red and heads towards the door Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: <C>Never, Keelah. How could I? Instead, I have something good for you: coordinates for a fancy exploration trip, I'll give you the details later. Interested?" Sulayman@drcrippler blinks as he sees the Vulcan slip out, glancing back at the others confused... Sulayman@drcrippler: "We..." looks back at the corner and shurgs. "Nevermind..." Sulayman@drcrippler: *shrugs Jenni@crystyll: <C: Keelah> Oh! I should have figured you would find your way to our little project. I take it Jenni's information has yielded results then? Have them send their data to the helm and come join us!" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: <C>Roger that. Coordinates will arrive immediately. See you later for a drink...as hosting captain, it's on you, of course. Timoreev out." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: He's still chuckling when he makes a nod to Kelly:"Looks like we have our little trip." Jenni@crystyll turns, smiling at the positive reception, "Let's go then!" Keliaya@anncarise smiles, "Excellent. On to the bridge!" Jenni@crystyll hovers around the side console with a view Keliaya@anncarise works on the bridge engineering console. Sulayman@drcrippler takes his science seat. "Oh... Kazra... It's you," he says flatly Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois looks around, possibly desperatingly looking for Keelah Sulayman@drcrippler: [Kazra] "I missed you to Commander," she grins Jenni@crystyll Keelah | sits in her lone command chair as always and smiles to see Andrej, "I've been reviewing the data, seems you all made short work of the map integration!" Sulayman@drcrippler is not impressed. Sulayman@drcrippler: "The feeling is not mutual," he crosses his arms and leans on the console watching the centre Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "I am afraid I had no part in that" he says smiling:"Cmdr. Al-Firawn and the others earned all the credits." Sulayman@drcrippler [Kazra] catches onto the praise. "Oooh, get you, showing off I see," she teases Jenni@crystyll Keelah | glances back to Sulay with a knowing smile, "Good to know. Anyway, we should be entering sensor range of the target coordinates momentarily" Sulayman@drcrippler turns cranberry red Keliaya@anncarise looks to the front of the bridge, "Primarily Commander Al-Firawn. All I did was get the computer running his process so it would go faster." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois At Keelah's words, he mechanically looks a the viewscreen, even if he knows there's nothing to be seen Sulayman@drcrippler turns crimson and presses himself against the bulkhead. Sulayman@drcrippler [Kazra] takes a hypo from her pocket and injects Sulayman. "Get any warmer and you'll turn into a sun..." Keliaya@anncarise | The science console flashes as long range sensor information starts coming in. Sulayman@drcrippler: "That's not how stars..." he shakes his head. "Nevermind," he turns to look at the sensor information Sulayman@drcrippler: "We're getting some sensor data Captains," Jenni@crystyll: Keelah | "Well, there is at least something there. So far so good then... what do we have, Commander; confirmation of a star system?" Sulayman@drcrippler: "We can't read any celestial bodies there, but we are detecting a substantial gravitational force," Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Uhm...interesting. If there's no stellar body, could be some sort of anomaly." Keliaya@anncarise: "I was thinking the same..." Jenni@crystyll Keelah | turns to the front - eyes narrowed, "Mr. Chag, keep us at extreme range" Sulayman@drcrippler: "But I am certain that the map said that there was a celestial body there..." he brings up the map to check if all the other dots were aligned with stars Sulayman@drcrippler nods. "Yes, I am correct, every other dot is perfectly aligned with stars. There has to be something here... maybe it's avoiding our sensors? Can we deploy a probe?" Keliaya@anncarise: "That's a sensible precaution." Keliaya@anncarise looks to Keelah for authorization. Jenni@crystyll Keelah | nods her agreement, "Prepare a class II and launch when ready" Keliaya@anncarise nods back and taps on her console for a few moments, "Probe ready...and away." Sulayman@drcrippler: "If I may suggest that the probe take a visual image. If it's evading our sensors, it would evade the probes' too," Jenni@crystyll FX | The Class II sensor probe does indeed provide a visual feed to the main viewscreen Keliaya@anncarise FX | The probe shows something in the distance as it approaches, and the image gets closer and closer... Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "So, let's see..." Keliaya@anncarise: (( https://www.wired.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ut_interstellarOpener_f.png )) Jenni@crystyll 's eyes widen at the sight, "Wooow..." Sulayman@drcrippler: "That's a black hole..." he says before tapping his console Sulayman@drcrippler “rerouting gravitational measures to the helm. Don't take us beyond the event horizon," Keliaya@anncarise: "That means..." she looks to Sulayman, "If you're thinking what I'm thinking..." Sulayman@drcrippler sends a gravitational map to the helm so they don't get pulled in Jenni@crystyll Chag | "Already holding at extreme range Commander, don't'cha worry, we got this!" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "A black hole?" he murmurs:"Wait a second..." Sulayman@drcrippler: "Probe status?" he asks Jenni@crystyll | Keelah watches quietly, content to observe her crew & guests in their element Keliaya@anncarise: "Probe hasn't reached the event horizon yet. Engineering is altering the program so we don't lose it." Sulayman@drcrippler: "This is... amazing," he conceeds looking at the telemetry. "How did it get here? Did a star collapse?" Keliaya@anncarise: "That's what I was thinking! Could you tell how long ago this could've occured?" Sulayman@drcrippler looks at the gravity field strength to do just that. Sulayman@drcrippler: "Rougly sixteen years ago, if my calulations are correct. I'm not sure of the mass of the star though, that may throw it," Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "Only sixteen years? In astronomical terms, that's nothing." Jenni@crystyll: "Could that be extrapolated from it's colour grade on my people's map?" Keliaya@anncarise: "Exactly. That's a very recent collapse, which could explain the discrepency..." Sulayman@drcrippler nods. "Perhaps... wait, I can!" Sulayman@drcrippler he compares the colour of the purple dot to others of the same colour and thus speed. Knowing the rough time from the big bang, he uses the speed to calculate the mass of the star and thus the type. Sulayman@drcrippler: "I've narrowed the time down to sixteen and a half years," Keliaya@anncarise: "That's it!" she looks to the helm, "Chag, how far away are we from Forged Earth?" Sulayman@drcrippler: "The star was a red giant before it collapsed," Keliaya@anncarise | Chag: "Forged Earth? Uhh...19.2 light years." Keliaya@anncarise looks to Jenni, "And you said your people only did visual observations from Forged Earth?" Sulayman@drcrippler does calculations from that information Jenni@crystyll nods, "When they started observing, it was their only known point of reference so everything evolved from that" Sulayman@drcrippler grins. "Now, according to Forged Earth, that star is still alive. They can still see it, since light from this star is still reaching them!" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: "That explains why it is still present on their star charts." Keliaya@anncarise smiles, "That's what I was thinking!" Jenni@crystyll: "Should it not have still been present on yours though? At least recording a black hole being here in place of a former star?" Keliaya@anncarise: "It'll be another three years or so before it disappears from Forged Earth's sky." Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: To Jenni:"Not necessarily. Our probes and sensors are not perfect either." Sulayman@drcrippler glances at the star. "That would be a sight. A star that you've seen every night just disappearing..." Jenni@crystyll: "Ooh, now we know this we can inform my people of the astronomical discovery. They will be able to observe it's collapse!" Sulayman@drcrippler nods. "We don't have constant surveys of all the stars we've seen. We last mapped this area 10 lightyears away and detected the gravity. They must have assumed the star still existed," Jenni@crystyll: "But your charts didn't show anything here at all, was my point" Keliaya@anncarise: "Well, they never charted the star, hence it being missing from our records." Jenni@crystyll grins, "This means our data can be helpful for you even within your charted region! This is great news!" Sulayman@drcrippler: "That can happen," he nods to Kelly Keliaya@anncarise looks to Jenni, "So it seems your charts are correct, barring the occasional dead star that is." Keliaya@anncarise: "But most stars exist for billions of years, and it's not everyday we come across one that happened to collapse within our lifetime." Keliaya@anncarise: "I'd say much of your map is still up to date!" Sulayman@drcrippler rubs his head. "If only people used the same system we do," he mutters quietly Jenni@crystyll | Keelah looks her way as well, "Great news coupled with a great discovery" Sulayman@drcrippler [Kazra] smirks. "Looks like you did good LC!" Sulayman@drcrippler rolls his eyes at Kazra. "Thanks, I guess... and thanks for looking after Eunha and the baby," he says quietly Sulayman@drcrippler [Kazra] shrugs. "She's a friend, she's in good hands," Jenni@crystyll | Keelah: "Alright; Mr. Chag, plot a standard sweep of the perimeter - you know the drill, warning bouy deployment then take us home" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: To Keelah:"Needless to say, I think we should profit for this to collect as many data as possible. Also, if I may, on the black hole influence on the nearby systems." Sulayman@drcrippler: "The al-Haytham can do that!" he steps forward. Jenni@crystyll | Keelah nods, "We'll run a cursory sweep as we deploy the buoys, but..." she smiles, "As the Commander suggest; a dedicated research vessel may do well from such an assignment" Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Smiles at Sulayman:"Well, this could be a wonderful test-bed for your first command. I'll assign the Al-Haytham to this." Sulayman@drcrippler blanches and gulps. "Er... er... yes..." realises he's taken a few steps back Andrej Timoreev@chrisdubois: Still smiling:"I'll look forward for your report." Sulayman@drcrippler nods
View AAR
SUBMITTED: Stardate 94936.8 FILED BY: CAPT K Se'Lai SECURITY: Level 1 - Open
LOCATION:
Uncharted Region MISSION:
Integrate new astrometrics data & verify OUTCOME:
Successful integration verified with unexpected discovery of rare anomaly within explored space. KEY PERSONNEL:
CAPT Se'Lai CAPT Timoreev CMDR Meel [npc] LCDR Eunbi LCDR Keliaya LCDR Al Firawn FLT Baelai LTJG Chag [npc] ENS Rivett
NARRATIVE:
With a gathered team of interested parties both from within and beyond the crew, FLT Baelai presented her people's 'gift of friendship' to the Federation; a complete archive of their astronomical survey data. Though historically unable to take to space flight due to a lack of resources, the people of Forged Earth made commendable efforts in their enhancements of old Human technology to gather astronomical data; their goal being predominately driven towards locating the Sol system. Their system was understandably different to our own astrometrics, and so a team was assembled to attempt a coherent integration of the presented data, which appeared to be derived from a form of redshift analysis using their own star as a central point of reference. This was easily identified by LCDR Al Firawn who proceeded to spearhead the data integration by way of cross-reference against known stellar bodies. An initial promising result was comfortably refined through the computer and projected against our own stellar map. The imported data had a crossover with our own of approximately 1/3, leaving 2/3 of the new data representing previously uncharted territory further out along the Alpha/Beta quadrants galactic arm. Of the initially identified anomalies, one of particular note was selected to investigate as it fell well within our previously explored region but identified the presence of a star which did not feature on our own mapping. Further to this, our own astrometric data of that sector indicated a gravitational force enacting on surrounding systems which would suggest the presence of the star shown on the new data. With the science team gathered on the bridge, we set course for the coordinates and were greeted by long range sensor readings of extreme gravitational distortion. Holding a safe distance we sent out a class II probe to gain a clearer picture of the source of the readings and found it to be a black hole. Calculation concluded that the star - a former red giant, not surveyed by Starfleet during it's existence - had collapsed approximately 16-17 years ago. Where Forged Earth is over 19LY from this position, the star is still visible from there and so appeared in their data. RECOMMENDATION:
Continued study of the newly integrated map data and POI identification for further exploration. USS Al-Haytham has been volunteered to conduct a more intensive study of the recently collapsed star. Data on our findings from this particular POI have already been forwarded to the Forged Earth Council, and a recommended note should be retained that with the foresight of our calculated timeframe; in approximately 3 years time there will be a rare opportunity to observe the collapse of the star through their observation network.