The Neutronium Record

Posted on Fri Jun 27th, 2025 @ 12:03am by Lieutenant Commander Deanna Celes & Lieutenant Inara Senn

1,102 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Wounds From the Mirror
Location: Inara 's lab
Timeline: 0300 hrs

Deanna's comm badge interrupted her sleep. Again, and again. It was important if she was being aroused at this time.

Deanna opened her eyes and slowly reached over to the comm panel on the table next to her bed. She spoke in a groggy almost lethargic tone, "Please tell me the ship is about to explode, because if this is a junior officer calling, they are going to be scrubbing the plasma manifolds while the engines are still running."

"Deanna, Come to my lab. this is incredible." Inara's voice noted

Deanna remained quiet for several moments. "Fine...on my way."

Deanna entered Inara's lab with what appeared to be a holographic representation of glyphs from the device Brigid had brought a few weeks ago. Inara was working fast, each of the crystalline neutronium segments were expanded into three dimensional artifacts. "Deanna, how do you communicate with races you haven't discovered yet? And how do you restrict the data you give them, if you cannon, when your civilization... let's just say... leaves this plane of reality, so to speak?"

Deanna tried to compose herself, her mind still foggy and desiring to return to bed. "I, um, well, I suppose a telepathic record would be out of the question or else you wouldn't have called me." She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and tried to focus on the holographic image and her eyes grew wide. "Wait, what am I looking at? Is that what I think it is?"

Inara smiled. "What you're seeing here, is elements." She pointed at one. "Hydrogen." She pointed at another. "Helium." And another. "Lithium, Copper, Gold, Every element native and discoverable by races with the most basic types of sciences. As you can see, they're arranged in combinations in these glyphs that are either neutral or react to each other in predictable ways." She kept talking like she had discovered a breakthrough. Look how the individual elements will react. These... are computer-based algorithms. Some are simple, and some are so complex, we will require the most powerful computers in the galaxy to figure out. It's like a sequence of data that, depending on technological advancement, can be activated at a certain technological and social advancement. To a tribal society, it teaches the most basic ideas of astronomy and matter, and it does not betray too much."

"A how-to manual to advance civilizations at a steady but safe pace" Deanna noted. She looked closer, "Listing the elements and reactions is certainly a notation of an advanced society, but why not put forward the mathematical constants? Virtually every civilization figures out the prime numbers and then in short order the basic physical constants of physics like gravity and the laws of motion and thermodynamics. Do you recall a scientific expedition that Prof. Galen undertook before his death, which Picard and the Enterprise completed. It was a map of a sort left by a species that exists eons before others, and when the clues were pieced together, it created a simple holographic program that showed one of these people giving a message that indicated that they seeded countless worlds in hopes that one day species that would develop would learn of this progenitor race. Might this be something similar?"

"Because not every form of mathematics understands the concept of zero. This universal language teaches as well as creates conditions that result in the levels of computing required to compile its algorithms. If I take elements of the glyphs that can be processed by the Washington's main computer, it could adapt itself to its surroundings." Inara mentioned. "It's based on the idea, that an understanding of science at the degrees of access will mean an understanding of a society's need not to destroy itself with this knowledge."

"Suppose it is a good thing that we found this information rather than somebody else, like the Cardassians or Romulans" Deanna replied. "You've been studying this information for a couple weeks now, have you determined how to program any of these items into the holographic processors?"

"Well, it compiles within different types of computers a different way. The only thing I can say, is put it in the Holodeck and turn it on." Inara noted. "Good thing I deleted that calisthenics program last month, and in conclusion. The algorithm's final form depends on the type of technology it interfaces with."

"Well, if we are going to take a look at this on the holodeck, it should be after we have both had a full night's sleep. And we should discuss who we might have with us when we view it, because we shouldn't look at this potential contact situation without either the captain or XO" Deanna replied flatly.

"Why? This is not a new race, it's like an exaggerated Voyager Disk. Not really an intelligent lifeform. More like some kind of database or library. We could turn it on, and a hologram will pop up and call the Commander a waste of space and the captain a snowman with diddly-bobs. But okay, I guess we need more opinions, because oh, the world is so much better with opinions." Inara concluded.

"Inara, your tired, and so am I. It's 0315. Maybe you are fine acting like a first year Academy student preparing for exams, but I need to rest. I have my standard duty rotation, just like you do, in just under five hours. Unlike you, I have to coordinate with both tactical and engineering after they made massive alterations, and I have to make sure everything is ready for when we reach the Saber in 7 hours." Deanna rubbed her temples on either side of her head, "I am sorry if I am not being more excited regarding the scientific aspects of what you have found, because under normal circumstances I would be, but at the moment I have a lot to prepare for, including a potential hostage situation that includes an old friend and colleague. Get some rest Inara. With a touch of luck, we'll have the whole mess cleared up by 1700 and I'll be happy to take a look at this in the holodeck with you. We won't even tell the captain."

"Alright, Alright. I just got so hung up with it when I was on to something. Time to sleep I guess." Inara mentioned.

"Yes, time to sleep. And for the record, I understand. It is a remarkable find. We'll look at it again tomorrow with fresh eyes" Deanna said softly as she made her way to the door. She stopped and looked back at the image Inara had created, "It really is fascinating."

 

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