Author's Note: Gonna try a little addition to the story here, occasionally dropping in "Codex" entries for story elements that I may not adequately explain in the story itself.
CODEX: THE NEEDLEPOINT DRIVE
Developed in 2284 by the Nimea Military Research and Development to serve as an alternative means of long range galactic travel with the failure of the Mass Relay Network, the Needlepoint Drive is the primary method of interstellar travel used by the NMS Iwo Jima.
Created from information found in the Reticulan Chronicle, the Needlepoint Drive crosses the vast distances in the galaxy by generating artificial "wormholes", warping space and time through two conjoining gravity wells that meet just before the wells collapse and form singularities. This wormhole greatly shortens the distance between the target and destination, allowing what would take several years using standard FTL in the course of hours. The current limit of the drive is roughly four hours per jump before the Mobius Core needs to be powered down to prevent the Core from losing integrity.
Typical usage of the Needlepoint Drive involves generating telemetry from data gleaned from their destination, and using that data to fire a "needle" through space via quantum tightbeam communication, and generating the gravity wells along the "needle." Old Alliance communication buoys are preferred for this purpose, as they are designed to handle the "pings" from the Iwo Jima, and are usually located far away from any potential hazards and large celestial bodies.
"Jumping blind", or plotting a course without the response from an endpoint, is possible. The coordinates can be programmed manually, but NMRD considers this practice extremely dangerous, as there is no way of knowing what is on the other side of such a jump, and should only be attempted in dire emergency.
Comparing the Needlepoint Drive to the Mass Relay system is difficult, as it is superior in some ways, yet inferior in others. While the Needlepoint technology is still considerably slower than travel by the mass relays (crossing the galaxy via Mass Relay can be done in a matter of hours as opposed to the several days via Needlepoint travel), ships equipped with a Needlepoint Drive are not bound to the "rails" so to speak, theoretically providing a significant advantage in war when moving fleets and managing supply lines. NMRD believes that this technology was first developed by the Reticulan species over two million years ago precisely for that purpose; likely during their own failed conflict with the Reapers.
Chapter 9
For what had to have been a severe letdown for Frenz'Nimmel and the rest of the Iktomi crew, the Quarian captain took it with considerable aplomb, listening intently to what Marshall and the Iwo Jima had discovered on Ramses. It was during the playback from the memory module that had been found that Marshall paused the frame at the red-orange glow he had spotted earlier.
"This is the only significant oddity we have found. We're not sure what it is, or if its even anything of note.
"It would appear we have more answers than you, then." Frenz said. "Because I, and all Quarians for that matter, know exactly what that is." He turned to his Lieutenant, and asked, "Dani'Arah, can you call up video from The Pulse?"
"Yes, sir." Dani replied, her omni-tool flashing on her forearm as she inputted commands.
"The Pulse?" Marshall asked in query.
The video spoke for the Quarians. While there were no Reapers in the playback, there were several Geth platforms, and what happened to them when the red-orange surge of energy hit them filled in the missing gaps of what the Iwo Jima's crew had discovered.
The Geth that were struck by the surge simply... stopped, the life ripped from them in that instant, each platform crumpling to the ground, followed by the panicked screams of nearby Quarians, some of whom ran to the lifeless mechanical husks, others panicking because Geth programs in their suits had stopped functioning.
"Is there any way this video can be copied?" Marshall asked the ship's VI. "I think our High Command would like to see this."
"Copying the data is easily done. Playback with our current programming would be impossible." The VI said cheerily. "Rendering video coding to be compatible with our programs would be necessary."
"Well, let's get that copied anyway. We'll work out the particulars later."
"Understood, Captain Brasser."
Frenz spoke again once the VI vanished. "That same pulse caused the Mass Relay in Tikkun to... I don't want to say explode, because the destruction wasn't quite as violent as that, but more like... ruptured. The Pulse ripped it apart. You did not experience this like Rannoch and Ramses did?"
Marshall answered, "No. The Reticuli Relay had been rendered inert by a large scale EMP during the Reaper War. Whatever this pulse was might not have hit us because as far as the relay network was concerned, our relay didn't exist. There was no relay path for The Pulse to follow."
Frenz absorbed the theory, and accepted it for as good as any. He took a deep breath to gather his thoughts, and said "It was also at that point that we lost communication with our fleet on Earth. Because nearly all communication was routed through the mass relays... and our quantum tightbeam systems weren't powerful enough to cross that much distance..."
"You were completely in the dark." Marshall said with a sad nod. He didn't want to reveal that Reticuli Prime did have a tightbeam connection with Earth that had also not yielded anything over the last hundred years. He wasn't sure he wanted to crush the hope of a man who had already been in transit for roughly a decade. "And so now you're using FTL to try find out yourself."
"It is only recently that we were able to improve the drive to the point where it was feasible." Frenz admitted. "And even with these improvements, we still have about fourteen years ahead of us. It is trying." His face brightened a hint, and he said, "Although... if you are heading the same way, and seeking similar answers... perhaps the company will make the distance more bearable."
Smoke coughed uncomfortably, and Marshall had to fight back a playful grin. He slowly turned to Smoke, and said, "What do you think, Commander? Think they're hostile and a potential threat?"
The two Quarians seemed earnestly confused by the question, and aghast at the suggestion they had come across as hostile. But before either could protest, Smoke had already answered, "Nah, I think they're alright. Why? Did High Command clear you to talk about our... advancements if they passed muster?"
Marshall finally cracked a full smile, although he was apologetic. "I do apologize. Our superiors had told us to treat this as first contact with an alien species. I suspect you have a similar protocol, even if you didn't apply it here."
Frenz visibly blushed. "Actually... we had prepared the Iktomi to drop explosive charges down the docking bridge and storm this vessel if we came under trouble. The Lieutenant here isn't even my second officer... So..."
"Well, then it's fortunate that we both came with good intentions." Marshall said, now feeling the tension that had been in the air now that it was dissipating. He decided not to rub in the fact that the Quarians plan likely would not have ended well for the Iktomi.
Smoke, however, did. "Well, that would have been a bad idea. With the firepower this little ship is packing, we would have effectively... neutered... you."
Marshall's eased expression turned angry, and he drove his elbow directly into Smoke's gut, hard enough to double over the Commander and slump him forward with his head on the table, wheezing in pain. Not for the implication of the Iwo Jima's weapons as much as the horrible pun.
"All understandable suspicion aside, Captain Frenz'Nimmal, I am something loathe to tell you that by the time the Iktomi reaches Earth, this ship and others soon coming from the Nimea Fleet will have taken that same trip thousands of times over."
Frenz and Dani shared an unreadable glance before the captain asked, "How... may I ask, is that possible? That would require FTL speeds far beyond anything ever produced."
"It's not FTL in the strictest sense," Marshall explained, "Nor am I permitted to discuss the specifics of this technology, but what I can say is that the current orders for this ship involves a circle tour around much of what was once Alliance space, including Earth, and will only take us at most a year to complete."
To say the Quarians were floored by this claim would have put it mildly. Frenz's jaw dropped so far that Marshall was afraid his mask would fall off. Meanwhie, Dani insisted, "That... that is not possible!"
Marshall shrugged, "You don't have to believe me. Now that we know who you are, we can make a tightbeam connection, and we'll contact you in about two hours when we reach the next location on our itinerary, which would be about a year away at the speed you were going. If we wanted to go straight to Earth..." He quickly brought up the VI again, and asked it, "How long would it take us, theoretically, to get to Earth from here?"
"A direct course for Earth would not be recommended, per NMRD recommendations, as we cannot determine a safe coordinate location for the jump." Kelsey VI chided.
Marshall rolled his eyes, even with his daughter's cuteness, he was finding the VI to be extraordinary obnoxious at times. "I know that. But assuming we did, how long would it take?"
"In this purely hypothetical scenario, assuming full functionality of the Needlepoint Drive, and optimal power output from the Mobius Core, it would take approximately thirty-one hours, and fifty-three minutes to complete the entire journey."
Marshall cringed momentarily as the VI revealed the names of their top-secret technology, but calmed himself as he realized there was no way the Quarians would exactly be able to steal or replicate said technology simply by knowing what the Nimea Military named them. "I know this may be hard to accept or absorb... but we could have news of your fleet before your ship made it to the next cluster." At that point, Marshall decided he might as well completely ruin the man's mission. "Although... I don't think you'll like what we find."
Marshall's voice carried enough dread that Frenz was able to decipher the implied meaning easily enough. "Had there been much of anything left of Earth... word would have eventually reached you."
The Quarian captain looked abjectedly... defeated. It was a funk that he must not have visibly sunk into often, considering how worried Dani had become, the seemingly snarky Lieutenant putting a comforting arm around his shoulders and whispering soothingly into his ear.
When Frenz finally regained his composure, he had at least resorted to a grim determination. "Nevertheless, we knew that end was the likely scenario. It is still something my people need to see, to have shown to them. We need Quarians to see the aftermath... to know exactly what happened." A wan smile crossed his lips. "And as much as I would love to hear that your people would willingly share this magnificent new 'Needlepoint Drive', I am neither naive nor foolish enough to expect such perfectly reasonable desire to keep it to yourselves for the time being."
He stood, as if the process of straightening would also straighten his resolve. "We would be grateful for you to pass on word of our people when you discover it, but provided we have permission to continue travel through what was Alliance space, I and the Iktomi will continue on our mission."
"Reticuli Prime, as far as I am concerned, holds no specific claim to Alliance space. You hardly need our permission." Marshall said. "I can't imagine the Nimea Parliament could reasonably make any such claim either."
Smoke scoffed, "Since when has our parliament and reasonable ever belonged in the same sentence?"
Frenz's was satisfied with that. "Thank you, Captain. When I return to the Iktomi, I will arrange for a tightbeam address for my ship be sent to yours. At the very least, the communication will be a welcome change from the lonely void of space. That there are others out here, willing to help us find answers, will be a profound boost in morale. Come, Lieutenant, let us..."
Frenz's words died off, and he had a meaningful expression towards Dani, who returned the look with confusion. "What terrible thoughts are churning in that head of yours, Captain?"
He locked eyes with Marshall, trepidation lacing his next words. "I... have a request for you that may seem very toward and presumptuous. I ask you only entertain it before dismissing it outright."
The request had been very unexpected. Marshall had honestly expected the O-9 board to flat out reject it when Marshall brought the idea to them, not wanting to make that call himself. It had seemed, for a very long moment, that was the decision they were going to make... until intervention from Jonas (conveniently timed, of course) swiftly turned the tide.
It was an opportunity to make a kind gesture to a suffering people, Jonas had said. An opportunity to give the Quarians closure, and generate some good will with other species, a useful bit of currency to have as Nimea expanded their fleet and fingerprint on the galaxy as a whole. The argument swayed enough minds that they were all willing to fall into consensus.
There were considerable limitations to the offer, which the Quarians happily accepted, Frenz having expected a swift dismissal much like Marshall.
The entire exchange resolved itself and led Marshall to where he was now, approaching the airlock yet again, awaiting the transfer. On the way, he nearly bumped into Doctor Nathan Coyle, the ship doctor assigned to the Iwo Jima.
Marshall had actually forgotten they had a ship doctor until just then, a dismissal that Marshall instantly regretted. Much like everyone else on the ship, Doctor Coyle was a prominent and well respected member of his field, one of the highest sought medical opinions not just in the Nimea Military, but in the private sector as well. He was even one of the few Nimean citizens, military or no, that had special exemption to travel to Sedin, as even that country could not deny Doctor Coyle's extensive knowledge in medical advancement.
"Oh, my apologies, sir!" Nathan said. "I didn't mean to..."
Marshall held up his hand in acceptance. "Not a bother, Doctor." He gestured to the pad the doctor was holding, and said with a teasing grin. "I can see you have a bit of reading to do."
"Oh yes..." He said tiredly, although at the same time Marshall could sense the excitement in the challenge presented. "I have a lot to absorb and quickly if I am to perform my duties to my own expectations with this change. So, I beg your pardon and bid your leave, sir."
"Carry on, Doctor." Marshall said, chuckling as he stepped aside to let the doctor pass.
Another ten meters forced him to stop and cede the hall to a large dolly carrying several boxes, and led by two petty officers. They apparently did not see the captain, as neither saluted or even looked up, engrossed in their own conversation.
"So... why are we bringing this stuff on board again? We've got more food than we probably need already." The first asked.
The second huffed. "She can't eat our food, I think. I dunno exactly why, something about dextro-chararity or something. All I know is, she needs special food, and that's why we gotta take this to the galley."
There were no more interruptions, which was fortunate as he arrived at the airlock, Smoke already waiting, as the signal for the door to open was given.
Seconds later, Dani'Arah stepped across the threshhold, her back slouched forward due to the pack nearly as tall as herself slung over her right shoulder. A sidearm across her left hip and a shotgun at her right, coupled with helmet tucked under her left arm, completed a list of all the gear she was carrying. Marshall bit back a laugh; amused that packing tight and heavy wasn't a trait limited solely to human military convention.
"I apologize if I do not salute, sir." Dani said. "My hands are rather full at the moment."
"No offense taken, Lieutenant."
The Quarian nodded in thanks, then declared, "Lieutenant Dani'Arah vas Ik..." she stopped abruptly to correct herself, "vas Iwo Jima, reporting for duty, sir."
