IKC FHew 7C6110
In the belly of the Whale – Discovery
by Soghla' Marie St. Helene
Post Details
Marie was called back to attention by beeping of a computer which had finished its assigned task. She glanced over at the diplomat and the merchant. They had no interest in what a mere beq was doing which was just fine by her. She paid them no attention either.
Damn! Not at all what she’d hoped to see. *The encryption is unknown. Attempts to break it have failed. Revised estimate: one hour twenty two minutes and five point nine one one six seconds.*
Marie was about to instruct the computer to continue when she had another thought. She typed in an instruction to review all other functions of the device.
*The technology involved is unfamiliar. It contains a sub-routine.*
What is the purpose of the sub-routine?
*Unknown at this time.*
Can you determine its function?
*It can be done.*
“How long?” she almost spat. She made no attempt to disguise the exasperated tone.
The computer reacted to Marie’s tone not one iota. Marie typed the request.
*Estimated time, twenty nine minutes, twenty two point two five one seconds.*
We don’t have twenty nine minutes, twenty two point two five one seconds! She cogitated for a moment. If work is ceased on the decryption, how much difference will it make?
She was gratified to note the computer could not provide an immediate answer to respond. It took what, to a computer, must have seemed like millennia. *Revised estimate: two minutes, seven point nine nine five three eight seconds.*
Proceed
Time dragged while the computer ran its calculations. Had she have been asked, Marie would have estimated the delay as more like two hours, seven minutes and...stuff it, forget the seconds to the nth decimal place. She heard more footsteps. Jared entered the cargo bay and went straight to the stacked crated. Panic momentarily raced through Marie but she thrust it down. You’ve already established the fact that the crates were sloppily stacked so that petaQ shouldn’t notice anything untoward. Anyway, so what! You’ve already got your story worked out.
*Probability calculated at seventy two point nine one six percent that the device sends out a signal to allow a vessel with the appropriate technology to identify the location of a cloaked ship.*
But.... she thought, The cloak was up and the Cardassians still managed to target us before I worked out how to assemble the device. Clarification, she typed.
*It is a sub-routine. It acts independently of the whole. It is built into a single unit with its own power source.*
Jared said something about ‘tagging’ but Marie ignored him. Pedantic I can take, just, Marie thought. No need to be condescending. “Computer, can you disab....” In her enthusiasm, she’d again forgotten that you can’t talk to Klingon computers. Then again, you can’t talk to Klingons either. That only left one question. How long to disable the device’s signal? Assume current operating parameters remain in force; that is, use all non-essential resources.
*Unable to disable signal. Insufficient knowledge of technology involved. The signal can be temporarily shut off. Estimate: thirty five point one six seven two five five eight seconds to shut off signal.*
That came as a blow. Still, a shut down signal was better than an operative one. It gave them room to manoeuvre, at least. Marie did not hesitate. “Do it!” she yelled. “Authorisation Marie St. Helene: Alpha-Nine-Zeta-Seven-One-Alpha.” Then she remembered herself. That was her code from her last ship. Damn!
Proceed.
There was a lot of activity over on the other side of the cargo bay but she ignored that too. Elation bubbled through her. This would show that self-important Klingon! She’d cracked the problem and she’d done it all by herself: she, Marie St. Helene!
*Device disabled.*
,’,St. Helene to Matlh. La’.,’, The ship shook violently as it was hit again. ,’,Evasive manoeuvres. The Cardassian won’t be able to follow us.,’,
There was a lurch then...she was very pleased to note the F’Hew was now on a much more stable course.
by Soghla' Marie St. Helene
Post Details
| Title | Discovery | |
| Mission | In the belly of the Whale | |
| Author(s) | Soghla' Marie St. Helene | |
| Posted | Thu Mar 18, 2010 @ 12:10pm | |
| Location | Cargo bay |
Damn! Not at all what she’d hoped to see. *The encryption is unknown. Attempts to break it have failed. Revised estimate: one hour twenty two minutes and five point nine one one six seconds.*
Marie was about to instruct the computer to continue when she had another thought. She typed in an instruction to review all other functions of the device.
*The technology involved is unfamiliar. It contains a sub-routine.*
What is the purpose of the sub-routine?
*Unknown at this time.*
Can you determine its function?
*It can be done.*
“How long?” she almost spat. She made no attempt to disguise the exasperated tone.
The computer reacted to Marie’s tone not one iota. Marie typed the request.
*Estimated time, twenty nine minutes, twenty two point two five one seconds.*
We don’t have twenty nine minutes, twenty two point two five one seconds! She cogitated for a moment. If work is ceased on the decryption, how much difference will it make?
She was gratified to note the computer could not provide an immediate answer to respond. It took what, to a computer, must have seemed like millennia. *Revised estimate: two minutes, seven point nine nine five three eight seconds.*
Proceed
Time dragged while the computer ran its calculations. Had she have been asked, Marie would have estimated the delay as more like two hours, seven minutes and...stuff it, forget the seconds to the nth decimal place. She heard more footsteps. Jared entered the cargo bay and went straight to the stacked crated. Panic momentarily raced through Marie but she thrust it down. You’ve already established the fact that the crates were sloppily stacked so that petaQ shouldn’t notice anything untoward. Anyway, so what! You’ve already got your story worked out.
*Probability calculated at seventy two point nine one six percent that the device sends out a signal to allow a vessel with the appropriate technology to identify the location of a cloaked ship.*
But.... she thought, The cloak was up and the Cardassians still managed to target us before I worked out how to assemble the device. Clarification, she typed.
*It is a sub-routine. It acts independently of the whole. It is built into a single unit with its own power source.*
Jared said something about ‘tagging’ but Marie ignored him. Pedantic I can take, just, Marie thought. No need to be condescending. “Computer, can you disab....” In her enthusiasm, she’d again forgotten that you can’t talk to Klingon computers. Then again, you can’t talk to Klingons either. That only left one question. How long to disable the device’s signal? Assume current operating parameters remain in force; that is, use all non-essential resources.
*Unable to disable signal. Insufficient knowledge of technology involved. The signal can be temporarily shut off. Estimate: thirty five point one six seven two five five eight seconds to shut off signal.*
That came as a blow. Still, a shut down signal was better than an operative one. It gave them room to manoeuvre, at least. Marie did not hesitate. “Do it!” she yelled. “Authorisation Marie St. Helene: Alpha-Nine-Zeta-Seven-One-Alpha.” Then she remembered herself. That was her code from her last ship. Damn!
Proceed.
There was a lot of activity over on the other side of the cargo bay but she ignored that too. Elation bubbled through her. This would show that self-important Klingon! She’d cracked the problem and she’d done it all by herself: she, Marie St. Helene!
*Device disabled.*
,’,St. Helene to Matlh. La’.,’, The ship shook violently as it was hit again. ,’,Evasive manoeuvres. The Cardassian won’t be able to follow us.,’,
There was a lurch then...she was very pleased to note the F’Hew was now on a much more stable course.