Posted by Cadet Aili McMorran (Scientist) in Side Sim - Cadet McMorran’s Presentation in Stellar Cartography

Posted by Lieutenant Garth (Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim - Cadet McMorran’s Presentation in Stellar Cartography

Posted by Cadet Ashlyn Trenton (Security Officer) in Side Sim - Cadet McMorran’s Presentation in Stellar Cartography
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Lieutenant Garth’s expression was as difficult to read as ever as she finished, but he did seem to be deep in thought, considering Cadet McMorran’s findings. As the presenter asked for questions, Garth looked over either shoulder expectantly for other questions before he asked his own.

The Cadet’s eyed kept scanning the room for the majority of the presentation, keeping to her duties, but when given the opportunity she did raise her hand to ask a question.

Aili pivoted her head, sweeping the room in search of interventions. The first hand she saw raised came from an unexpected position in her peripheral vision. One of the security officers who had arrived and stood, not joining the audience, had their hand raised. Realising it was in fact Cadet Trenton, she smiled and gave her a nod, and called upon her: “Cadet Trenton, yes.”

“What is the current margin of error for detection? How small, large, or far can a stellar phenomena be and still be detected by this sensor?”

• Cadet Ashlyn Trenton

Aili hummed. “Well, that’s a question with quite a complicated answer. In summary… the margin of error is dependant on direction but as an average, I believe it can pinpoint the position of a source to within 300 light years. And this is essentially just a prototype! There is plenty of room for improvement. When it comes to the types of phenomena, they do need to be extremely high energy to produce detectable waves. Things like a high mass black hole pair colliding or very high mass supernovae. The higher the energy, the further we can ‘see’ them from. We do lose precision with lower energy waves, so with less energetic or more distant sources.” Not knowing the level of scientific education Trenton had but also not wanting to sound patronising, she followed up, along with a friendly smile. “Does that answer your question?”

Cadet Aili McMorran - Science

Trenton nodded softly, “It does, thank you.”

-Cadet Ashlyn Trenton

When the room had a moment of silence, Garth’s grumbling voice filled the space. “Cadet McMorran,” he began, “you mentioned directionality and positioning of stellar events such as supernovas or the creation of black holes. I wonder if this technique could be used as an early-warning system for class-M planets in the line of fire of directional Gamma-ray bursts that often occur during these events. Perhaps we could use this system to start evacuations of colonies in danger of succumbing to crippling levels of radiation, long before the Gamma-ray burst reaches the planet and harms the inhabitants.”

McMorran committed her full attention to the questioning of her department head when it inevitably arrived, politely meeting his gaze and clearly directing her body and presence in the room in his direction.

Garth’s gaze was steady on McMorran, pointed and challenging but also genuinely curious. “As a Starfleet officer, you are pledged to protect the citizens of the Federation and other beings of the galaxy from threats both natural and man-made. In my experience, stellar cartography can be used to monitor the most dangerous natural disasters in our galaxy and allow us to prepare for them, rather than be caught off-guard. Have you considered the ways that this technique could be used in such a way? How will this method help citizens of the Federation?”

(Lt. Garth, CSO)

The ringing of Garth’s words through the lab were followed by several second of silence as McMorran pondered his questions. A smile tried to escape but she managed to suppress it. During her years at the academy she had seen many a cadet fumble the ‘social awareness’ or ‘cultural significance’ types of questions. It was an experience she had gone through herself in her first year. Unlike some of her peers, Aili had learned from her shortcomings and had since done what she could to cultivate a mindset more conducive to such considerations. The cadet took a deep breath. “Well sir, I do suppose a modified version of the detector could be manufactured and positioned around Federation space to form a… a kind of array or grid. As you know, we should be aware well in advance of any threats from stars or other object we know of. It is of course possible that there are objects which have gone undiscovered on the edges of our space, where there are dangerously many colonies. The gravitational waves from dangerous events may well create signals which we could detect earlier than those we look for with typical early warning systems. I would say it certainly motivates further study, sir, but I can see this technology bolstering our alert systems. Every minute, nevermind hour, evacuation efforts have is no doubt directly linked to lives saved.” With a sharp inhale through her nose, she nodded to Garth. Answering his questions exhaustively yet briefly was key to keeping him happy. That was her working theory at any rate. Aili felt like she had spent almost as much time aboard the Challenger studying Garth as she had the stars.

Cadet Aili McMorran - Science

Garth sat in silence for a moment, his expression unchanged and seemingly unphased by the dozens of pairs of eyes on him as he considered the cadet’s answer. Finally, he spoke without preamble. “I will arrange for a meeting between you and a contact I have in the Federation Bureau of Internal Affairs, I’m sure she will be interested in discussing this detector in great detail. I encourage you to see this as more than simply a capstone project that you set aside now that it’s complete. If you continue to refine this device, it could have profound implications for both the field of stellar cartography and the security of the Federation. Well done, Cadet McMorran.” The gruff old man relaxed into a stoop on his stool as the room around him was slowly filled with murmurings of shock at his praise.

From over Lieutenant Garth’s shoulder, NEnsign Selik began to clap confidently, and was soon joined in by the rest of the gathered audience who filled the lab with applause. The wizened tellarite’s mouth twitched upwards in a small, sly smile meant only for McMorran to see.

(Lt. Garth, CSO)