Joining the Network

Posted on Fri Dec 8th, 2017 @ 3:12pm by Commodore Jason Myers & Captain Michelle Bartlett & Commander Rostra Tang & Lieutenant Valeria Mordin & Lieutenant JG Sandra Garcia

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Ops Computer Control
Timeline: After "The Feasts of Four Nations"

The isolinear chips that Tukal had supplied were visually similar to any other isolinear chips that any of the myriad races had used. Simple looking, though deceptive in their appearance. These chips were unlike any that were every given to the Federation. A gift, from a new ally. A responsibility, a sign of trust from a people that don't give it easy.

Michelle walked in with Garcia and Forrester, briefing them on the work that needed to be done. "The technology looks like it can't possibly work with a Sovereign Class but it's astounding that it all seems to fit. Our specialists couldn't believe how adaptable it is. It contains a multitude of protocols and installations that will be linked to specific areas of the ship only, useable three times a day by restricted officers. For now that's myself, the Commodore, Commander Tang. It was the request of Tukal that we restrict it and not become too dependent on it."

"Isn't that a little counterproductive?" Garcia asked

"It's to protect their interests as well as our own is my understanding." Michelle replied. "It's one of their most significant advances. They don't want to just have it used and abused."

"So once it's installed, what will we have access to?" Garcia asked, still a bit curious.

Valeria chimed in, overseeing the installation out of racial representation and a touch of curiosity. "The Ts'usugi Buoy Network is a series of stations that allow for instantaneous communication and sharing of data across, well, any distance. Once in contact with the network the Wellington would have access to the accumulated research and exploration data of the Empire, along with our copy of the Dalacari Republic archives."

"As you can imagine, the location of each hub of the network is a closely guarded secret, as is their method of operation." she paused, "And before you ask, it's frowned upon to ask the Network itself for information pertaining to the Network."

"This will basically expand our knowledge of the quadrant... Which will be useful for some of the scraps I'm sure we'll find a way to get into." Michelle said.

"I'm still confused by how it works. All this information and it won't blow out the power grid?" Garcia asked.

Once installed, the chips began to run their installation sequence. Updating and generating a new communication protocol, installing permissions and authorizations, it almost felt like installing new hardware back in the ancient era of the 21st century. These protocols were ironclad, the encryption unlike any used by any Alpha, Beta, or Gamma quadrant race. After a full three minutes of activity, the procedure was complete and on the nearest screen there was simply a single phrase.

"Add authorized users. Awaiting."

Garcia looked at the instructions, and typed the first name in... Bartlett, Michelle. "Congratulations, Captain. You're the first one."

Once the name was entered, the connection was made. Using the standard subspace transmitter, it took a moment for the connection to finalize but when it did on the other side of the screen was another Ts'usugi, male, dressed in a dark purple uniform. A soft violet illuminated the area around him, which cast the whole of his appearance as something sinister. It wasn't very well illuminated on his side though given that Ts'usugi could operate in dim light, perhaps that was all the light he needed. "Connection stabilized. Acknowledge Michelle Bartlett for visual identity."

Michelle nodded. "I acknowledge." she said as the scanner passed over her. It seemed a strange feeling to be connected in this manner to something. She was giddy at the prospects of this program but knew it must not be abused.

"System shows you have preliminary access, granted by Fleetmaster Daisan Tukal. Welcome to the Network. As an outsider, you may not know the restrictions." he paused, "Any question that you are not allowed to know the answer to, you will be informed of such. Such questions do not count towards your ration of time on the Network. The Network's secrecy is vital, and you are expected to destroy or otherwise secure the chips containing the access encryption and codes. In the event of their destruction, provided the Network is not compromised, you will be issued replacement code chips."

"I see a citizen of Ts'usu." he motioned towards Valeria, "She can explain topics that are not to be addressed to the Network."

"Now, can the Network assist you?"

"Lieutenant, what kind of questions can we not ask?" Michelle inquired.

"Any question that would compromise Ts'usugi military function, endanger Ts'usugi society, or compromise the secrecy of the Network. Things like fleet locations, Buoy locations, or questions like 'How do we defeat you'." Valeria answered. "You also aren't allowed to ask the whereabouts or identity of the current Emperor. You'd have to travel to Ts'usu for that." A pause, "You also aren't allowed to ask where Ts'usu is. Any images or pictures you receive that may contain or allude to Ts'usu's location will have the stars in the sky digitally removed."

"A fair set of rules." Michelle said. "I have no questions at this time, network. Thank you." she added

"It appears to be integrating well with the power grid... Though we may have a few fluctuations here and there." Garcia replied. "Lieutenant, I'll ask Engineering to fiddle with the levels a bit and see if we can balance it out." she paused a moment. "So far they're reporting no serious strain on resources. It seems to be adapting to our systems rather well."

"Commodore Myers is next." Garcia said as she typed his name in. "Your go, sir."

The Network operator looked over at Myers as he stepped forward, ""Acknowledge Myers for visual identity."

"I acknowledge." Jason said as he stood still while the scan was completed. "Is it wrong that that almost tickled?"

"Any discomfort or sensation should be investigated on your end." the network operator informed Jason. "Either at the scanner end, or a trip to medical may be in order. As you were in the room, I will log that you heard and understand the limits and responsibilities of access to the Network." the figure in the eerie purple uniform, in the eerie purple light spoke. It was hard to see beyond him in the image. Perhaps it was a dedicated communications booth, or perhaps it was just that dark wherever he was transmitting from.

"Welcome to the Network, Commodore Myers. Can the Network assist you today?" You'd think after asking a question like that as many times as he's probably asked it, you'd get tired of asking. But that wasn't the case here. Everytime he asked, it still had the tone as though it were the very first time he ever asked it. It showed that level of professionalism and dedication that the operator could make such a potentially menial task still sound so important. The flow of information was vital to an empire, afterall. Maybe his task wasn't so menial afterall.

Jason decided to dig a bit deeper than Michelle. "Yes. I have an inquiry." he said. "can you display all known areas of the Delta Quadrant that the Ts'usugi Empire has explored?" he asked.

The operator keyed in a few sequences on his end, though exactly what he was typing couldn't be seen from the Wellington's screen. "System. Rack twelve, cube seven. Retrieve documentation thirty seventy nine five. Latest iteration." and on the operator's side there was a chime. "Documentation received and in transit."

Coming through the subspace transmission was a detailed starmap of a wide expanse, covering a region of the Delta Quadrant about twice as vast as that held by the Tholians back in the Beta Quadrant. It included systems physically surveyed as well as those visited by probes, listing the systems as viable for colonization, farming, mining, or systems to be left alone. This map also included the systems explored by the Dalacari, and even included the location of Dalacar.

The location of Ts'usu, however, was omitted.

"Can the network assist you further?" the operator asked once the transmission was complete. It took about fifteen full seconds for the totality of the data to reach the Wellington, though the Buoy had it almost immediately upon asking. Whatever they were using for data transmission and storage must be incredible.

"No thank you." Jason said before something caught his eye as Michelle studied the map. "Wait... Lieutenant... Was that a person?"

Garcia looked up at the Commodore "It has to be a hologram. There's no way someone would have a real person on the other end of the line."

"It was indeed a person." Valeria clarified, "We don't like the use of holograms to represent someone who is still alive. We find it disingenuous to hide our real face behind a false one such as a hologram." she continued with a nod towards where the Buoy operator's visage was.

"All Buoys are fully staffed and constantly operational. Any fault is a call for alarm."

"Who says fully automated everything is the way to go?" Jason said as he looked. "This clarifies at least an additional 35% of what we've already explored. We can even see small parts where Voyager was reported to have traveled. Though it looks like they were just on the outskirts of where the Ts'usugi exploration ended. Except here, and here." Jason said as he pointed on the map.

Valeria piped in gently, "We were monitoring your Voyager craft as she came through our explored territory. We opted not to interfere, though." a pause, "Her mission wasn't truly exploration at that point, she just wanted to go home. So we did what we thought was best and kept most of the region off of her trail while she was in our explored space. We ensured that they never had to run into the Cho'Tegra, the Kholdarans, or Emperor forbid the Evolved."

"I'm sure Admiral Janeway appreciated your gesture in hindsight." Jason said. "I caught a glimpse of her once when I was back home on Earth seeing my sister at Headquarters. Never got to meet her, but I know she was strongly in favour of us returning once the wormhole was discovered."

"We also knew that if we offered them a surveyed world to settle down upon, they'd turn it down. They wanted THEIR home, not a new one."

"You're up next." Jason said as he turned to Rostra. "I assume you already know the drill with most of this."

Rostra actually held up a hand, "I'm a Dalacari, and all Dalacari are in extension special citizens of Ts'usu." she paused, "Plus, my security clearance is high enough with that consideration that I ..."

"... actually already HAVE access to the Buoy network." she admitted with a smirk. "Though, Wellington gets slightly more access then I do. The Network already has..."

"... me on file."

Valeria added, "All citizens have access to the Network. I do, my parents do, even my little sister. We don't restrict access based on merit, what we DO limit is the availability. My littlest sister couldn't constantly ask the Network for answers to her homework. I couldn't ask for meal plannings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday. So, what we limit is the availability. It encourages citizens to seek out their own answers first."

"Plus..." Rostra added, "The empire is big. Like, big." and the pair giggled. "But, as for Wellington access to the Network, I'll accept responsibility as the third name on our..."

"... side. I can identify myself to the Network as both a special citizen and the adviser to the Wellington."

Jason looked in shock... "Did... Did you have access to the Buoy Network back on the Yorkshire?" he asked as Jason and Michelle looked at her.

"I've had access since I was fifteen." Rostra answered, "The trick is having the means to contact the Network. I didn't feel right attenuating someone else's subspace..."

"... communications rig. Plus there's the whole secrecy and integrity of the Network bit, so yes I had access... I just never used it on the Yorkshire."

"Damn. And here I thought we'd found your magic tricks that made your reports and briefings bearable." Michelle said. "I guess it was just all hard work. No magic."

Each form of Rostra Tang smiled wide, "Yeah, no magic, no hocus pocus. No secret cheat code. Just good old fashioned hard work."

She paused, "Though, if you think MY reports are impressive, read what you got from the Network." she motioned to the PaDD in Michelle's hand. "I recommend the section..."

"... on Planetary surveys. See, part of what WE get out of the Defense Accord is that whenever the Ts'usugi come across a new planet that hasn't been..."

"... surveyed, they check for habitability. Dalacari have specific requirements in mind for habitable worlds, and one of those is a tolerable gravity. One point three..."

"... Earth standard, for the curious. Go ahead, check one."

Michelle input a search for a random planet near No Man's Land. "Commander Damian may have to up his game... Look at this info. Without any colonists there, it tells you water content, gravity, atmosphere composition... Our own science analyses are nothing like this."

Valeria had a smirk on her face at Michelle's findings, "Ts'usugi catalog every world and moon we find to see if it fits habitation for either us or the Dalacari. If it fails habitation, then we see if it meets the standards for farming, resources, or finally mining. If a world is unfit for anything that we'd have use for, we designate it a world for testing and move to the next world or moon."

"Dalacari don't like worlds with existing indigenous life. There was a time when we weren't so particular, but since allying with the Dalacari, we've adopted a similar approach in narrowing down worlds. Worlds with many moons remind us of home, so they're good for distant way stations to improve morale. Worlds with heavy metal mantles or cores are excellent for mining, as are worlds around dying stars such as red giants."

Rostra brought a hand up to interrupt politely and Valeria yielded the floor. "Dalacari harvest energy resources from white dwarf stars, and have begun research into the field of Neutron Star mining. It's... not as glamorous as it..."

"... may sound. It's exceptionally dangerous. Ordinarily we'd just position arrays around the unused axises of the star and charge injector batteries. Or place them..."

"... to direct collected energy at an outpost or a satellite array around a planet." she explained. "We're studying neutron degenerate matter to improve the tensile strength..."

"... of construction and fabrication matter. Hulls that don't break." she paused, "You know... ever."

"Which is understandable." Michelle said. "The implications of serious injury... Well... we just saw a lot of what can happen." she added.

Valeria gave a nod in understanding as well. "Well, Captain... Commodore... Welcome to the best kept secret in the Delta Quadrant." she stated with little fanfare, but a smirk in its stead.

"Unbelievable." Jason said.

"Lieutenant, how's the power output?" Michelle asked.

"When we get to starbase, we can ask them to install a couple more relays but for now this should be good. We should allow just a bit of extra juice just in case something blows out." Garcia said. "I've established a secure coding so that its presence aboard remains relatively secret. That way there can be no unauthorized access."

"Ts'usu appreciates your discretion." Valeria said with a nod.

"We should also construct a sort of virtual wall to make sure that none of the information uploads into the Federation data streams. With the Cardassians probably knowing our weak points now, we don't want the Bureau of Information getting hold of any of this."

"Do it." Michelle said. "The more secure, the better."

Rostra perked up at this, "I'll lend a hand. Cardassians might not know much about Dalacari encryption algorithms." a pause, and then she made a face each at Michelle and Jason, "And no... Dalacari encryption isn't 'Two-Pass'." she held that face for a moment, before each of her was giggling.

Michelle chuckled. "I'd like to make sure it stays that way." she said. "Thankfully there wasn't anything Gul Kasella could have taken from us in that regard." she added. "If there's nothing else... I suppose we should get underway."

Valeria gave a shake of her head, "All the systems are installed and operating, and as the resident Ts'usugi citizen you've handled the security of the connection to a degree that any of my people would consider 'satisfactory'." she gave a nod at this. "Welcome to a new part of a new world."

=====

Lt. Valeria Mordin
Science Officer
USS Wellington

Commander Rostra Tang
Executive Officer
USS Wellington

Captain Michelle Bartlett
Commanding Officer
USS Wellington

Commodore Jason Myers
Task Force Commanding Officer
Starfleet Command

Lieutenant JG Sandra Garcia
Operations Officer
USS Wellington