Better With Racing Stripes

Posted on 28 Apr 2023 @ 10:23am by Lieutenant Albert Spangler & Captain Bane Plase

1,254 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: Atioch III Science District
Timeline: About the same time as "Conversations"

ON:


"There we go. I think that is all the paperwork that is needed to grant you the security clearance to access our science facilities here in the Capital. I tell you, nobody has been in here other than the ones you see here, plus a couple of others that are still on their way in from their domiciles. Not even the Tashi herself has been in here. So, as you can imagine, we are not familiar with the paperwork to get someone access to this," she said, smiling at the tiny being from another world.

Albert wasn't sure how to respond to this; he was nowhere near comfortable with the diplomatic aspect of first contact. Given his track record with first impressions on the ship, the fact he'd avoided anything close to an intergalactic incident was astounding. "It's an.. an honor. I'm sure there is much for us to learn." His returned smile was practically normal.

The Antiocian beamed at him, thrilled that they would be able to teach the aliens something. She had heard through whispers and conjecture that some years ago, they had picked up communication from an alien, but that was all. Not what the message said, who heard it, nothing. It was likely rumor. Still, the fact she was standing here talking to one thrilled her to no end. There would finally be some vindication on the world with the war between the sciences and the religious. Certainly the science could now win the day, and maybe they could get some real science done now. "The honor is ours, Lieutenant. Right this way, please." She ushered the tiny person through some thick metal doors, then through thick glass doors, and finally through thick wooden doors to the cavernous science institute. Walking up to a table, she pointed at the dials, knobs, switches and levers, then to the readout. "Do you know what this is for?"

Probably to open all those doors, Spangler thought, but surprisingly chose not to say. He looked at the console, which was conveniently almost at head height for him. It looked like a rudimentary mass spectrometer, but with limited output and what could only be manual controls. It appeared both incredibly complicated and archaic at the same time. "I can't say I've used such a device. Please tell." He considered asking for a demonstration, but was slightly concerned he'd have to sit on her lap.

The Antiocian scientist's smile dropped just a little, but was enough to be noticed. She thought that for a race of beings that were so far advanced of them, theoretically, they sure didn't know what A Toroidal LHC Apparatus was, and this was the basis of warp theory! She explained it to him slowly, so he could understand.

The way Spangler had to crane his neck up to make eye contact with the Antiocian only heightened the feeling he was being spoken to like a child. Al was familiar with this device, but only from his time in the Academy. This methodology of research was archaic compared to current methods employed by Starfleet, and he had a mind to make a comparison to a horse and buggy, followed by a 'but I'm sure you'll get there eventually.'

But, the human scientist didn't. Beside the fact he was genuinely interested to see this phase of development first hand, who was he to talk down (or, literally up, in this case) to this species? His mind raced with the potential for these people, smiling gently but genuinely as he patiently listened. "I see. Truth be told, I haven't actually seen such a device, but I am glad you have shared this with me. We use different methodology currently for such research, but it all started for us much like this."

This pleased the Antiocian Scientist greatly. "I would be very interested in seeing this new methodology you speak of. I have heard from others that you have a marvelous interstellar ship in orbit over our planet. I have not taken the opportunity just yet to look at it through a telescope, but I do know others that have, and they say it is massive. Would it be too much to ask for you to take me there, and show me your methodology, and let me see some of your amazing technology?"

Albert considered this, simultaneously considering door head clearance issues along with what he really could share with these people. He quickly decided this sounded like an 'above his pay grade' situation. "I will ask my Captain; I'm sure at some point we will welcome a delegation aboard, just as you have welcomed us."

The Antiocian smiled warmly. "That would be lovely, but of course I would not wish to put you through any trouble or imposition," she said, trailing off. She was giving him a way out, but secretly hoped the tiny person would be able to negotiate with his Captain about her coming aboard. With any luck, she would be able to see enough and learn enough to be able to reproduce it. The scientific potential was, quite literally, immense. "In the meantime, I am interested in what you think of this." She beamed brightly as she stepped over to the computer, and pulled up a schematic. What she was showing him was extremely highly sensitive, to the very top levels of their government, but she figured it would not harm to show cutting edge technology to a person that was several centuries ahead of them in technological advancement.

An inward groan flowed through Al's core, even as his expression remained the same. He wasn't particularly enjoying the quiz/guessing game of Antiocian technology, or his counterpart's anticipation of his answer. If he had ever seen one, Spangler probably would have said it looked like a giant microwave. Albert's head tilted slightly, imagining the thing with go-fast racing stripes. Oh, maybe. "It appears to be a mechanism for the synthesis of nutrients from a standard molecular base." Albert returned his head to normal, eyebrows raised slightly. Fairly convinced these people had invented their own replicator.

The scientist blinked several times, stringing the words together in her head, trying to understand what the small human had just said. "Uh, no. This is something we are developing to be able to heat up food really fast, using microwave radiation. We are still within the testing phase, but it seems harmless, so long as we can figure out a way to keep the microwave radiation from coming out of the food preparation area while it is active," she said. "Tell me, do you have technology that can create food from nothing except the base building blocks? Because if you do, that would be the first thing I would like to see if you can get me access to your ship," she exclaimed.

Radioactive food. Spangler's eyes went wide slightly at mental image of a mutant potato monster destroying a city, the impromptu monster movie his mind generated as the concept she described flew wildly over his head. "Cooking with radiation. Sure." He smiled weakly, "We do, essentially. On the user-end, the food just kinda.. appears. Not quite as exciting as this uh.. radiation oven. But it is convenient." He'd never really thought about the replicator, how did it work?

OFF:

A meeting of the minds, dictated but not read by,

Lieutenant, Junior Grade Albert Spangler
Chief of Science, USS Cygnus

&

A Giant Antiocian Scientist
Played so graciously by Steve Brown

 

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