Sciences

[Science Lab, prior to Mess Hall]

Elliaph looked up from her consoles, where she'd been bouncing her finger just above various displays as she checked them before moving to the next console over. Her focused face broke into a smile at Dupont's entrance, and she gestured around her.

"Doctor! Welcome to Science! Probably not so different from your own lab that you'll be lost, but if some science experience is what you're here for, you're just in time! Commander Malko's got us making sure the sensors are in perfect condition so we can take readings of the upcoming quantum torpedo test. They think it's gonna be a light show out there, but here's where the real action's going to be! Take a look!"

Alex smiles back at the contagious smile of Lt. Cmdr sh'Elliaph and the abundance of passion flowing from her. "Always nice to see a fellow scientist with enthusiasm for their work." Alex will take a look, although his knowledge was mainly medical, he did have a credible knowledge of scientific principles. "Fascinating, I recall Photon Torpedoes having certain characteristics, what exactly do you anticipate to be picked up from the sensors during the upcoming tests?"

Thani grinned wide and went to one of the sensor displays.

"Computer, bring up average sensor readings from photon torpedo detonations." The computer did so, showing lines and colors spread across a black graph. "Compare to average sensor readings from quantum torpedo detonations." The chart shrank to one side, leaving half of the display available for another graph with colors less vivid, with much more blue and much higher numbers. Then she turned to Dr Dupont.

"We have centuries of data on photon torpedo explosions, showing high amounts of ion radiation left over from the anti-matter blast. Though we do have decades of data from quantum torpedo tests, and years of data from field use, Our information still has wide gaps in terms of precision and accuracy. What we have so far is high readings of a wide variety of radiation types in amounts difficult to pin down, with lower readings fluoronetic vapor and plasma residue.

Computer, display technical data for USS Mihoshi's short-range sensor systems." Another display shifted, and rotating images of the sensor systems and their locations aboard ship were accompanied by scrolling text on the right with the specific data regarding them. "These new sensors are so precise, we're hoping to be able to actually record the entire process of a quantum torpedo's zero-point energy reaction within the warhead, along with picking out each individual type and amount of radiation released in the detonation. Not only will it be a great test of the sensors, but it might even allow for non-military applications of 11-dimensional membrane technology. Isn't that amazing?" At some point, her attention had shifted back over to the display of the sensor specs and warhead readings.

Alex nods as Thani explains the new system, it was sounding very exciting and then variables and variations. A thought crosses his mind, "If we're worried about interference causing abstract data, why not implement a Faraday cage to conduct the test within and thereby reduce the variance to get as close to core data as possible? Or perhaps use something else to help reduce the interference?" It was a fairly simple concept, but he was sure there was a reason they weren't using such a concept now.

Elliaph brought a hand up to her chin, tapping a finger and looking over the data spreads.

"A physical Faraday cage would be instantly obliterated by the blast, unless it was so large as to fit the Enterprise itself in it. They're pretty impractical when used to track torpedo data. But if we used a shield bubble, that could cut interference significantly, while also providing more accurate data regarding the energy released when a starship is destroyed." A wide smile crossed her face as she tapped a few buttons on the console, bringing up an animated display of a torpedo approaching a shuttle before being enveloped in the shuttle's shields, then the shuttle exploding.

"It's perfect! We target an unmanned shuttle with an automated order to raise the shields once the quantum torpedo enters the shield's radius, and then gather readings from the ensuing blast! The shields will prevent excess energy from distorting the explosion's data, we'll also get information on how the torpedo's energy affects a warp core's blast, and can potentially measure it all from a closer range while remaining safe due to it being partially contained!"

Alex loved group mind discussions. A ripple effect as each idea is mulled over, improved upon and taken to a new destination. "That sounds perfect! Now, if only we didn't have to destroy a shuttle but could instead create a much smaller drone to get the same effect." Pulling out a datapad and pulling up the specs for the space available in the casing, "Could we re-purpose a photon torpedo casing to create a drone with the necessary shield requirements for the test?" and then another idea, "Or perhaps have a shield generator outside the blast zone so we could do multiple tests, and only lose the object or drone for the torpedo to strike? Once the photon torpedo enters the radius the shield would go up, containing the blast." Alex wondered if that would be viable as he had less experience with shield generators. But some principles were the same. Limit the variables by reusing certain items to keep a constant, and then you could get cleaner data.

Thani turned to Dr. Dupont and gestured her chin-rubbing hand toward him, still very much deep in the situation proposed.

"That might not give us all the most valuable information, but on the other hand, it may be more useful in the long run. Let's set up some simulations and see how they play out with and without a warp core involved. Maybe if we use a non-shielded probe as control, then a shielded probe as the experiment, we can find out how much interference a shield shell Faraday cage would affect readings, then apply those readings to a shuttle as a simulation of real combat." Once again returning to her consoles, Thani stopped after clearing what she'd brought up earlier and spun on her heel.

"Wait a tick, you came here for cross-training? What am I doing! Get over here, time to get your hands in the mud, Doctor!"

Alex nods as she mulls over the problem and talks it out loud. Enjoying the back and forth nature.

Alex chuckles when she realizes he's there for cross-training, "Yes Ma'am!" As he moves to where she indicates, "I'm used to getting muddy hands as it were, let's do this." As he awaits more fun in science.

Lt Cmdr Elliaph spent time working with Dr Dupont to show him around the new Science Department interface in a practical context, as they prepared simulations to determine the best way to approach the upcoming tests.

[Aaaaand scene.]