Federation

by Judith Reeves-Stevens

  “Do you agree with Mr. La Forge, then?” Picard asked. “That we have come upon this object before we are technologically able to understand it?”

  “That is a distinct possibility,” Data agreed. “I have used my subroutines to analyze the diagrams as Wesley and I have been working. It is the equivalent of the way in which humans consciously put aside problems so their subconscious can work on solving them without conscious effort.” Data paused and looked to the side. “Though in my case, since I remain conscious of everything, the analogy does not hold.”

  “Data,” La Forge said gently, “let’s not keep the captain waiting.”

  “My apologies, Captain,” Data said. “In any event, this first diagram is understandable.”

  “We’ve been over that diagram, Data,” La Forge said.

  Data looked at the object, indicating the path of the inscriptions and the diagrams along its front panel. “The diagrams that follow this first one clearly increase in complexity. I believe the next in the sequence relates in more detail to zero-point energy extraction, though to our knowledge of physics, it appears to be a mathematical description of a perpetual-motion machine.”

  “If we ever create the technology for extracting zero-point energy,” Picard said, “we will have perpetual-motion machines.”

  “In a manner of speaking,” Data allowed. “The third diagram bears some connection to the second, but I cannot comprehend its meaning at all. The fourth diagram appears to relate back to the first, referring again, I believe, to other spatial continuums beyond the one in which warp drive operates. I then do not have the slightest conception as to what nineteen of the remaining twenty diagrams mean, though judging from the preponderance of prime numbers in the ratio of line thicknesses to length, I presume they elaborate profound relationships of nature. Relationships which, as of now, are beyond our present level of science.”

  Picard nodded thoughtfully. Then he realized what Data had said. “Nineteen of the remaining twenty? Then you do understand another of the diagrams?”

  “That is problematic,” the android replied. He crouched down on his knees to point to a diagram at the bottom of the first row of inscriptions. Its position marred the otherwise symmetrical arrangement of the double columns.

  “Quite clearly,” Data said, “it is related to the first diagram in the series, though according to the established pattern, it should be much more complex, and thus indecipherable.”

  Picard knelt down beside Data to examine the engraved lines. “But you feel you understand what this one means?”

  “Taken in context, I believe the clear diagonal lines relate to the infinite power release once thought to accompany unstable warp fields.”

  Picard tried to place that within his knowledge of the development of warp propulsion. It had been a long time since he had taken that class at the Academy.

  But Wesley spoke up impulsively. “You mean, what they called the ’warp bomb’?”

  “Precisely,” Data agreed. “It was Zefram Cochrane, the human father of warp propulsion, who early on in his research faced the possibility that a warp field might be used to create a near-infinite energy release in a confined area.”

  “I’m pretty sure the captain is familiar with Cochrane’s work,” La Forge said.

  Picard got to his feet again. “I am, but please continue with any insights you might have.”

  “As an interesting historical corollary, when human researchers developing the first explosive atomic-fission device originally performed their calculations of the chain reaction they sought to create, they determined that there was a chance the chain reaction might extend from the enriched uranium in the device into the Earth’s atmosphere, igniting the atmosphere and consequently ending all life on the planet.”

  Picard could see La Forge’s impatience building but was eager to know what else Data had concluded about the Preserver object. “And how does that relate to the object at hand?” Picard asked.

  “Before detonating the first fission explosive, the researchers had managed to detect the flaw in their theory and were fairly confident that the Earth’s atmosphere would not ignite.”

  “Fairly certain?” Picard repeated.

  “Scientific rigor was not the same in the nineteen hundreds, sir. In any event, it was quickly seen that there was no possibility of an atomic chain reaction extending to the atmosphere. In the same way, Zefram Cochrane and his team were eventually able to definitively prove that even the most unstable warp field could never generate a destructive force greater than could be achieved by an ordinary matter-antimatter reaction. Yet,” Data concluded, “according to this diagram, such a reaction is possible.”

  Picard re-created the steps of Data’s argument. He didn’t see what the problem was. “However, you think the earlier diagrams show that zero-point energy extraction and transwarp propulsion are possible, if technologically beyond us for the moment. So why is it a warp bomb does not fall under the same category?”

  “Because,” Data said, with no hint of exasperation, “zero-point energy extraction has been known to be theoretically possible since the first mathematical descriptions of inertial damping in the early nineteen-nineties. Similarly, when Starfleet abandoned its transwarp propulsion studies, it was for reasons of practicality, reliability, and efficiency. If in the future the unlimited resources of zero-point energy ever become available, transwarp propulsion indeed might be feasible. But the warp bomb is as much a scientific impossibility as igniting Earth’s atmosphere with an atomic bomb.”

  “Which raises the question,” Picard concluded, “of why this particular diagram is included on the object.”

  “Since the warp-bomb diagram differs from the others and seems out of place in the sequence, it is possible that it was added much later, by someone other than the original manufacturers of the object.”

  “To what end?” Picard asked, frowning.

  “Though I feel I have some expertise in the analysis of technical information, when it comes to understanding the motivation of sentient beings, I must defer to those who have had firsthand experience.” Data looked at La Forge.

  “Mr. La Forge?” Picard said encouragingly.

  La Forge in turn looked at Wesley Crusher. “Well, actually, Captain, Wesley is the one who came up with the idea.”

  Picard tugged on his tunic. “Very well. Mr. Crusher?”

  Wesley looked uncomfortable in a gawky, adolescent way. “Well, sir, I’ve been spending a lot of time getting ready for the Academy, and … I think it might be a test”

  “The object?” Picard said. “A test?” He stared at the object, trying to see it in this new light.

  “Some of the entrance exams I’ve had to take were completely-visual,” Wesley explained in a hurry. “You know, pattern matching, spatial orientation, identifying mathematical functions … Maybe that’s what this is. Sort of.”

  “And the purpose of it would be … ?” Picard prompted.

  Wesley looked embarrassed, shrugged, and said nothing more.

  “Wesley thinks that like the old Earth space-probe instruction plates,” La Forge said quickly, covering for the young man, “these diagrams might be the instructions for how the object operates. And if we can figure out how it works, then maybe we could use it to communicate with whoever built it.”

  Picard eyed Wesley dubiously. “So you think this might be some sort of subspace … or shall we say, trans-space radio?”

  Crusher’s cheeks burned bright red and Picard was genuinely sorry that he affected the youth that way. “More likely a computer of some sort, sir,” Wesley mumbled as he glanced down at the shuttlebay deck. “At least, according to what Data said about it appearing to have molecular quantum circuitry.”

  Picard looked at Wesley until the acting ensign glanced up and caught his eyes. “Mr. Crusher, I consider your idea a valid theory. To be part of the Starfleet team, you should never hesitate to contribute or to speak your mind. Good work.”


  Wesley abruptly beamed, though he still looked slightly disconcerted.

  “But, unfortunately,” Picard went on, “if this is a test, it seems unlikely we are in any position to pass it.” The captain rested his hand on the object. For a moment, he suddenly recalled Wesley when the young man had been unsuccessful in his first attempt at the Academy entrance exams two years earlier. But Beverly Crusher’s son hadn’t abandoned his goals then. He had simply applied himself to study harder for the next opportunity to retake the exams.

  “The next opportunity …” Picard said to himself.

  “I beg your pardon, Captain?” La Forge asked.

  Picard smiled. “The Romulans failed the test,” he said.

  Data, La Forge, and Wesley just looked at him uncomprehendingly.

  “Don’t you see,” the captain said, “this has nothing at ail to do with the Borg. I think Geordi was right.” Picard missed La Forge’s reaction to his sudden use of the engineer’s first name, a sign of the captain’s enthusiasm. “That Borg artifact over there probably is just a replicated duplicate, built solely for us, so we would believe that we stumbled upon this Preserver object on our own.”

  “But why not just give us the Preserver object?” La Forge said. “Why go to all the trouble of wrapping it up in part of a Borg ship?”

  Picard smiled as the logic of it became clear. “Because the Romulans correctly assessed our weakness—our need for new knowledge. Imagine if they had tried to give us the object alone. We would have been suspicious, mistrustful. We probably wouldn’t have allowed it on the Enterprise, fearing some trick.” The captain patted the object now. “But a piece of Borg technology would receive a different reception. Starfleet wants something like that so badly that we were bound to be less critical when it was offered.

  “And the whole scenario of coming to us directly—not leaving it in a space lane where someone else might have come across it—but bringing it directly to the attention of the Enterprise, the first ship to have engaged the Borg, how could we resist? And approaching us through the Ferengi—pure genius. We were so busy trying to avoid being cheated by DaiMon Pol that we didn’t bother to examine what he was saying very carefully.”

  “But, Captain,” La Forge pointed out. “All those Ferengi … they were killed, sir.”

  Picard frowned. He was aware of the specter of death surrounding this object. “Dead men tell no tales, Mr. La Forge. Whoever was behind this plan wanted no witnesses.”

  “And what about Traklamek?” La Forge continued. “I can understand the Romulans deciding to sacrifice Ferengi, but not their own people.”

  Picard nodded in agreement. “Traklamek’s fate might very well have been a miscalculation on the Romulans’ part. In hindsight, Commander Tarl did seem too eager to return home to the Empire. It’s possible that it was intended from the beginning that she would be ’recaptured’ by Traklamek, leaving us with the Borg artifact and feeling fortunate that we had escaped with it. Remember, Traklamek made no mention of the artifact, nor did he attempt to destroy our shuttlecraft when we were bringing it aboard. However, he was not prepared for our commitment to helping Tarl escape to a new life.”

  “Which would mean Tarl is probably halfway home by now,” La Forge said, “thinking we’ve fallen for her story hook, line, and sinker.” At that remark, Data looked at La Forge as if the android were about to ask a question, but La Forge held up his hand and said, “I’ll explain later, Data.” The engineer addressed Picard again. “I’ll admit it makes sense, but you’ve got to admit it’s an incredibly complex plan.”

  Picard agreed with La Forge’s sentiment, but he said, “Think of the incredibly high stakes, Mr. La Forge. This object could open a window onto technology centuries, if not millennia, in advance of our own.”

  “That’s another problem,” La Forge said. “If it’s so valuable, why give it to us?”

  “So we can do what the Romulans could not,” Picard answered. “Unlock its secrets.”

  Data rejoined the discussion. “If that is true, Captain Picard, then the Romulans must have devised a second part to their plan, to allow them to reclaim this object once we have determined its function, if we are able.”

  Picard had already considered that. “A very good point, Mr. Data. Would your investigation of this object have uncovered any Romulan listening devices?”

  “Without question,” Data said. Then he looked over at the reconstruction grid on the shuttlebay deck. “However, there is no telling what may be hidden in the complexities of the apparent Borg assembly. I will require some time to scan that assembly detail.”

  “In the meantime,” Picard said as he studied the mound of parts already removed from the Borg-like material, “perhaps it would be wise to surround the entire artifact with a security field, in order to disable any hidden sensing devices.”

  “I’ll get on it right away, Captain,” La Forge acknowledged. “But what should we do about this?” He indicated the object.

  Picard studied the inscriptions carefully. If he were to follow the rules apparently inscribed on it, he would turn the object over to Starfleet, where a science team would begin analysis and trial and error. It could be decades before any results might be forthcoming, if at all. But as his attack on Traklamek had shown, sometimes the rules could be changed.

  “Is it possible,” Picard asked, “that the conduits used by the Borg to tap the object’s power might also be used to link it with a computer?”

  La Forge nodded. “That’s why we were scanning for an interface area on the surface.”

  “Why not try to access the object from the exposed interface area?”

  Wesley was the one who answered. “Wouldn’t that be like … cheating, sir?”

  Picard shook his head. “In this case, we’re making up the rules as we go along, Mr. Crusher. I see nothing wrong in exploiting every opportunity which presents itself.”

  La Forge looked thoughtful. “I could hook up a type-three interface connection between the ship’s computer and the object in just a few minutes, sir. It won’t tell us anything immediately, but at least we could start probing the object’s circuit structure.”

  Picard nodded. “Make it so.”

  A half hour later, the Borg-like artifact was encased in a sparkling forcefield that would prevent any type of monitor from recording the events on the shuttlebay deck and transmitting them to any potential Romulan spy.

  At the same time, beside the Preserver object, La Forge, Wesley, and Data had set up a portable engineering computer-console. A thick bundle of monofilament induction leads ran from the console to a universal connector that was attached to the interface area on the object’s scarred section. Picard had watched his crew set up the equipment with interest.

  Finally, La Forge looked up from his tricorder and flipped the tiny device shut. “We’re getting positive signal strength from all microscopic conduits, sir.”

  Data spoke from his position at the console’s controls. “I have established a program which will allow our equipment to probe each conduit in terms of signal strength and its interrelationship with other conduits. It will be a trial-and-error method at first, but in time we should gain a basic understanding of the circuit logic used within the device, which might lead to our being able to communicate with it.”

  “Splendid,” Picard said to his team. “Any idea how long it might take?”

  “On the order of hours to days, sir. Assuming that we are correct in identifying the object as containing computational ability.”

  Picard had been hoping for faster results, but it would take the Enterprise more than two weeks to reach Starbase 324, so at least there was a chance of achieving some breakthrough before then. “Please proceed, Mr. Data.”

  Data ran his fingers over the console’s control panel. “I am now completing the connection.”

  Status lights flickered over the console’s displays and on the universal connector.

  “Intriguing,” Data said as he s
tudied the readouts.

  Picard stepped closer to look over the android’s shoulder. He could see that patterns were already beginning to emerge.

  “Look at that,” Wesley said, standing on Data’s other side. “The object is probing our equipment the way we were trying to probe it.”

  “Is that right, Mr. Data?” Picard asked.

  “It is, sir. It appears the object is considerably more sophisticated than I anticipated.” He pointed to the largest display screen on the console, where geometric shapes created by multicolored lines swirled like mixing water currents. “The data-relay pattern that is developing is similar to that which was created by Dr. Ira Graves when he downloaded his intellect into the ship’s computer.”

  Picard reacted with alarm. “Is the object attempting to download information?”

  Data angled his head, eyes fixed on the displays. “It is unlikely that—”

  Riker’s voice came from Picard’s communicator. “Bridge to Picard.” He sounded troubled.

  Picard tapped the Starfleet delta on his chest. “Go ahead, Number One.”

  “Sir, the Enterprise has just changed course.”

  “Under whose authority?” Picard asked.

  “That’s just it, sir. No orders have been received or given. We simply … changed course and the helm no longer responds.”

  Picard looked at the universal connector attached to the Preserver object. He had been in space long enough to guess what had just happened. “Disconnect the interface at once,” Picard ordered. Perhaps the object wasn’t to blame, but the interface could always be reestablished later.

  Data quickly entered commands on the control surfaces. Picard heard the Enterprise’s engines begin to whine.

  “Sir,” Data said, “the interface no longer appears to recognize our abort commands.”

  “Captain Picard,” Riker announced. “We’re at warp eight and continuing to accelerate.”

  “Mr. La Forge!” Picard called out as he pointed at the universal connector.

  But Wesley was closer and immediately saw what the captain meant. He grabbed the monofilament fibers attached to the connector.