The Solution
Posted on Sat Jun 29th, 2024 @ 9:29pm by Commander Roy Baker & Lieutenant JG Autumn Cruise & Dovar & Fauna & Talon
Edited on on Sat Jun 29th, 2024 @ 9:30pm
Mission:
Lexington S2, E1: Conflict Arises
Location: Lutari Capital Building
Timeline: MD001, 1155 hrs
3303 words - 6.6 OF Standard Post Measure
Location Lutari Capital Building
Dovar and Fauna walk into the waiting room where Roy and the other waiting members were waiting for them to return. Roy was relieved when he saw them return. He had no idea who the lady was but he assumed she was important.
“Minister Dovar, we want to help your people, but in order to do so we need to know what's going on. Please tell me you have information for your people.” really asked as he looked over to Dovar and Fauna.
“I have been given permission, this is our Minister of Defense Fauna. She is here to make sure I don't give you too much information no matter trade secrets and other matters of defense.” Dovar said he looked over to Roy.
“It's an honor to meet you Minister Fauna.” Roy said to himself was this really necessary? He tried to put himself into their position, maybe it was.
“Likewise.” Fauna replied. The Starfleet officer didn’t seem like he was up to anything nefarious but she didn’t sense he was happy either. She looked at the others, studying them.
“Our scientists have come up with a way to create a temporal barrier within our city limits. We created this artificial dome to protect us; however they can't figure out how to turn it off.” Dovar started to say with a concerned look on his face.
Roy looked over to his team to see if anybody had anything they wanted to ask or say, for the moment they all appeared to be in shock just like him. “We would need access to your data, cuz I'm not even sure how you generated this artificial bubble.”
“There is an ancient log kept in the archives from another race that allegedly inhabited our sector of space a long time ago, according to the log they disappeared however there was a small science team left behind to try to create a new offensive weapon to try to keep ships locked into it we figured if we just try to keep it where ships or other colonies out, so they couldn't mess with us.” Dovar said, looking to be ridiculed for their actions.
Autumn listened and thought that it was not the smartest thing to do but she knew the last thing they needed was to hear that right now. “I am an operations officer, I am willing to try and help along with the others”.
“And I am an engineer by trade. Most of my crew started off as scientists, so we might be able to help you.” Roy suggested to Dovar.
“Any assistance you could offer would be greatly appreciated.” Dovar simply said.
“We would need access to your data files.” Roy said as he looked at Fauna. Would she be willing to give him he wondered.
Fauna felt her protective nature come out and was prepared to protest but she reminded herself that she had agreed to let them help.
“If you will come with me.” Fauna said. “I will take you to look at them.” She led the way out of the way and to where there was a console with their data files on it. Typing in her password she stepped aside. “It is all yours.”
“Lieutenant Cruz, we're up.” Roy said as he started to walk towards the device, looking to make sure that Autumn was joining him.
“Yes Commander.” Autumn said and headed over to where he was walking beside him. She was hoping that they could help them figure out a way to shut it off.
“I think between our combined skills we can figure this out.” Roy suggested to her. So far he had been very impressed with her.
“We will.” Autumn nodded. “I am glad we are here and able to help them. I wonder how long they have been stuck like this.”
“2 months, and our vegetables are having a hard time. They're not getting enough photosynthesis from the Sun. This anomaly which is acting like a barrier shield is preventing a lot of the UV and the sun. We've had to run generators throughout the dome in order to keep it warm here.” Dover said, not waiting for fauna to get permission. He wanted this team to see how bad it was.
“2 months? How long can you sustain this? I assume your resource is going to be running out or their finite.”
“We have about another month worth of supplies before they have to look at alternative options. Some of our scientists are suggesting that if we go underground, the inside of the dome is going to become either super warm or superheated, given the fact that we've had to turn on our generators I'm pretty sure it's going to be super cold. Not enough power coming from the Sun to generate a stable heat bubble.” Again Dovar explained.
Roy looked over at you Autumn. “What are your thoughts, Lieutenant?” he asked as he was waiting for her to respond.
“It looks to me that the program won’t shut off because there is nothing in the programming that is a fail safe.” She said to Roy. “They didn’t give an option to turn it off when they started it. We need to add a program that will allow us to shut it down.” She paused and looked to Dover. “Is this where you built it and set the perimeters or is there another location within m?”
“I have to go to sub level 3 when the science lab, that's where we installed the device. Believe me when I say that we have tried to turn it off ourselves.” Dovar said to Autumn.
“I believe you.” Autumn said. She looked at Roy. “I am thinking we could build a code on my pads and download it.”
“Do you know enough about their machinery to do that, how long would that take?” Roy asked knowing that the system they're going to be using is completely alien to her.
“I’d have to look at it first.” Autumn said. “To see if there is a way to feed the program into it.” She paused. “The only other option would be to cause the whole system to fail by destroying it.”
“You can't do that. The system is generated through our power grid if you destroy it you'll be destroying the entire power grid to our colony.” Dovar pointed out to Autumn.
“Then blowing it up is not and option, have you tried starving it of power?” Roy asked as he looked over to Dovar.
“We have and without any success. It seems to be self-sustaining at this point.” Dovar said in response. He was at a loss of words on how to solve this problem.
“Does anyone have any suggestions?” Roy asked,he hoped everyone there would think of a possible alternative.
“It is self sustaining.” Gerald commented. “There has to be some way to prevent that. The first thing we need to do is go look at the system that started it all.”
“I agree.” Autumn spoke up. “There is always some fail safe, a way to shut it down. It is like a puzzle, we just need to find the missing piece.”
“Did you're team build a fail safe?” Roy asked as he looked to Fauna. He helped they did for their sake.
“They did.” Fauna replied with a nod. “But the system won’t allow us to use it.”
“It sounds as if it has evolved.” Autum said with a frown. She looked to Roy. “What if we feed it a virus.”
“How long would it take you to write a program, then create the virus?” Roy asked, hoping it wouldn't take them very long.
“If they have their program stored on a pad off the actual machine, I can give you a time frame.” Autumn relied.
“The program is too massive to run on a data pad.” Dovar wondered why Fauna, who actually was in charge of the program, wasn't speaking up.
“We have an off site where we built it.” Fauna spoke up. “It’s on a computer in a secure location.” She wasn’t offering unless Dovar agreed.
“I need to see it.” Autumn said. “I can then create the virus.”
“Well, that might be more challenging and I first anticipated” Dovar started to say to Autumn, the machine wasn't accessible. They're able to monitor it for any changes to the program or outside of the field. At times it makes sense but given the unique situation right now didn't make a lot of sense.
Autumn frowned. “Why is that?” She asked. Autumn hoped there was going to be some glimmer of hope in Dovar’s response. She looked over to Roy, who was waiting for the answer as well.
Dovar looked over to Fauna, this was her show. It was her idea that decided to put the main console system outside of the main dome, for this very reason she is afraid that if they activated they would be trapped in here forever and that somebody or some people would have to be left behind in order to ensure the safety of everyone else. It was a redundant backup system. However, people who were left behind unfortunately were all killed and the console is hidden.
“Our backup is outside the dome.” Fauna spoke up. “I thought it would be a fail safe for us but those we left behind are all dead.” She looked at Autumn and Roy. “It is hidden where it can’t be found.”
“Wait you said you have a backup. Where is the primary?” Roy wondered where it was? Hoping it wasn't destroyed.
“It is here.” Fauna said. “If you come with me I will take you there.”
Autumn smiled at her words. This could be the answer to all of this. “This is good news.”
Roy wondered why they did not suggest this console earlier. What were they not telling her. “Good luck Lieutenant.”
They walked along and came to a locked area. Fauna put the code in and stepped aside. “It is in here. After the others were killed outside we’ve all been afraid to go near it.”
“You think the computer has evolved.” Autumn asked her with a frown. This couldn’t be worse. She looked to Roy for guidance.
“I am not sure what you mean by that.” Dovar suggested to Autumn, as he waited for a response.
Roy wasn't sure where she was going with that train of thought either, he was trying to keep an open mind and not formulate his own hypothesis just yet. He needed more information.
“You said the people outside were killed.” Autumn said. “How did they die? What does the computer do when they get too close?” She paused. “Did you build a fail safe into the system to protect itself?” She looked at Dovar this time.
“Yes they were by the bombardment from the Gorn. Isn't that why you're here to respond to our distress call from the Gorn.” Dovar asked the young lady, who was pretending like she was some bigwig.
“It is.” Autumn nodded. “I just wanted to clarify what you meant by killed. It is better not to assume.”
Fauna liked that the woman called Autumn was being thorough in her questions. She appreciated someone who did not make assumptions.
“The computer will not prevent you from accessing it.” She said to her. “We have and had no issues.”
“Why can't you shut down the system?” Roy asked her. What was keeping them inside this place?
“There are no shutdown codes.” Fauna spoke up. When they programmed it they didn’t make any.”
“So is your plan to have the same running indefinitely?” Roy asked, thinking that was idiotic.
“I wasn’t the one who built it.” Fauna replied. “I wasn’t even consulted. They are all dead now.” She took his accusation personally.
Dovar tried not to laugh as she spread her lies, they were so transparent she was the head of the department of course she knew about it she was just trying to play the victim here. Plausible deniability was the game obviously.
Roy was not sure he believed her either, but he didn't have any proof to dispute her claims, and Dovar wasn't saying anything to contradict her.
“Let’s take a look at it.” Autumn spoke up. She didn’t believe there was no fail safe. That would be a very dangerous procedure. It might be hidden but she would find it.
“Well follow me.” Dovar said, hoping the weak safety program that they created would actually turn the device off. They've had no luck with it. But maybe the Starfleet type could.
Autumn walked alongside Roy and glanced over at him. “As you know, no self respecting engineer would make a program without a backup to shut it down. The problem is going to be finding it within the program.”
Roy grinned at her comment. It was culturally a little insensitive though. So he needed to address the point. “We're not here to criticize other people's work, Lieutenant.” Roy reminded her.
“I apologize, Commander.” Autumn looked to the others. “To you as well, I tend to be passionate about things.”
“We all want answers here, and we'll try to find you some. Hopefully together we can come up with a solution to get us out of this current situation.” Roy suggested to the crew and to the people inside the field.
“Thank you.” Fauna said with relief. She was starting to feel like it was possible that they could shut it down. She had begun to be concerned that all was lost.
“Let's start by scanning that console, I'm pulling whatever data we can from it.” Roy said as he looked at Autumn.
“I am on it, Commander.” Autumn said and went to work scanning it. She didn’t find much out of the ordinary but thought it would be good to study the data away from it.
The data started to come in, it was clear that the court field was self-containing. For whatever reason the deactivation code wasn't working.
Roy waited patiently for Autumn to give him an update, cuz he didn't see the data like she did. You was trying to reassure Fauna and Dovar that starfleet would be able to assist them.
“There are some faulty data codes.” Autumn spoke up. If we rebuild them and enter the right codes I believe we can shut it down.” She looked at Dovar and Fauna. “You need to build this program over so this doesn’t happen again.”
“Let's give it a try.” Roy suggested is he liked Autumn's idea. It was a good place to start.
“Is there a place where we can sit down and work.” Autumn asked Dovar and Fauna. “We’re going to be creating a file that will circumvent the program. Just a table that the two of us can sit at.”
“We can sit over here.” Dovar suggested as he led her and Fauna over to an unused workstation. And put his codes to unlock the computer.
Autumn sat down and went to work. She felt Roy sit down next to her. He was easy to work with, she never felt like he was leaning over her shoulder while she was working. “This isn’t easy.”
“All right, if you need my help just let me know.” Roy said is he picked up on her subtle hint. He looked over to Minister Flora.
“Minister, is there any kind of built-in safety defenses that we need to be made aware of?” Roy asked as he waited for a response.
“Yes.” Flora replied quickly. “If the system senses you are trying to destroy or eliminate it, it will attempt to shut you out.”
“I can build into the program that it is an Upgrade and fool it.” Autumn said to Roy. “It sounds like they don’t want to get rid of it just want the ability to shut down if need be.”
“I'm getting the same impression.” Roy said as he's looking to Autumn. “Try to write a code to be able to shut it down if needed. If not I have another idea but let's call that plan b.”
“Yes Sir.” Autumn went to work in her program. It took quite a bit of time to make it appear as a harmless upgrade while at the same time give them the ability to shut it down.” She looked to Roy. “It’s done, would you like to take a look, Sir?”
“I trust you, are you ready to implement the shutdown protocol?” Roy asked, hoping that just wouldn't come back to bite them.
“Yes.” Autumn said confidently. “I believe this will work.” If she thought it wouldn’t she would not recommend it. She headed over to the console and started to download her program. “So far, so good.”
“Keep me apprised.” Roy suggested is he looked over to autumn, and then walked over to the two ministers.
“Minister Fauna if we're successful in turning off the field, I would strongly suggest that you look at a way of creating a new kill switch program.” Roy suggested to the minister.
“Yes.” Fauna nodded. “That will be our first priority. We do not want to go through anything like this again.” She was glad for the advice.
“My team is pretty good, I believe we can get this resolve for you today.” Roy said is he looked over to Autumn, it was now on her.
“Thank you.” Fauna replied. “I was totally against allowing you to help us.” She looked at him. “I was wrong and I admit it.”
“I’m ready to implement the program.” Autumn spoke up. “It is downloaded. All I have to do is run it.” She waited for her first officer to give her the word.
“Minister, please give the order.” Roy said as he looked to Fauna. This is her planet and her project, he felt like she should have the right to give the order.
“Run the program.” Fauna said to Autumn. She watched with interest.
Autumn went to work and kept her eyes on the console. After a few moments, she sat back and sighed in satisfaction. “It is shutting down.”
Roy smiled as he washed the device power down slowly. For a minute there, he was a little concerned. However they were able to shut down device and that's all that mattered at this moment.
Minister Fauna, I believe you can handle things from here?” Roy asked her with a big grin on his face.
“Yes.” Fauna replied. “I cannot thank you enough. She looked from Roy to Autumn. “We are in your debt.”
“Let's just say it's more of it we scratch your back next time you'll scratch ours.” Roy suggested to her.
“Understood.” Fauna said with a smile. She looked from Roy to Autumn. “This means you are going to be able to return to your ship now.”
“Indeed, you ever need assistance again please reach out.” Roy said aid.
“Thank you again.” Fauna said sincerely. “I can’t tell you what this means to all of us.”
“It was my pleasure.” Roy said as he then flipped open his communicator. “Commander Baker to the Lexington, the away team is ready to beam out.”
Autumn had a smile on her face as the communications officer answered and a few moments later they were back on the ship. It was a job well done.
The Council of Elders is five people.
High Minister Talon
Minister of Defense Fauna (Sammi)
Minister of Agriculture Trara
Minister of Justice Flora
Minister of Education Domtop
Minister of Commerce Dovar
Minister of Science Dre
