CHAPTER 8

O'Brien knew that the coming conversation would be a difficult one. Dax had talked earlier in the day with a member of Surveyor's probe team, and Sisko thought O'Brien ought to try talking to someone else who might have knowledge.

O'Brien had heard that it could be very difficult to hold a conversation with perhaps the most celebrated safety designer in history. He had never met the man, but had heard from many people that Stoan could be exceptionally difficult. And by "difficult," they usually meant "insulting." It was not that Stoan intended to insult anyone, people said, but it was his way of being direct. O'Brien found a published news profile about Stoan, in which one interviewee said that Stoan lacks emotions, but "the place in his psyche where emotions are supposed to be is filled with ego." Another interviewee was quoted as saying that most people would think that Stoan was a shameless braggart, "but for the fact that he really has done all the remarkable things he says he's done." Still another interviewee was quoted as saying that Stoan was a difficult teacher "who would bully you and tear you to pieces if he thought you didn't know what you were talking about."

So O'Brien had tried to prepare himself. He resolved not to lose his cool, no matter what was said. He would be talking to someone who was way above him, on a professional level. He expected that he might be belittled, harangued, intimidated. But Sisko had ordered that he at least had to try to talk to the one who had designed nearly all of Observer's safety systems.

O'Brien wished he knew what Dax had learned from her conversation with the Surveyor probe team member. It might help. But Stoan, as it happened, was busy inspecting the probes and safety systems aboard Surveyor. He agreed to speak with O'Brien at a specified time. There had not been any opportunity to learn what Dax had found out.

At the designated time, O'Brien touched his control pad to open a communication channel. The computer promptly asked for an authorization code, which he promptly gave. On the display in front of him were the words, "Stand by."

Moments later, the words disappeared, and the image of a stern Vulcan face appeared.

"Commissioner Stoan," O'Brien began. "Thank you for taking time to talk to me today."

"Greetings, Mister O'Brien." Stoan spoke with no tone of greeting in his voice. "Use the honorific 'Mister' when addressing me."

"Yes, sir, I will." So it begins, O'Brien thought, with a criticism of my very first words. "Sir, I have been investigating the Observer incident and I have some questions about some of the safety systems."

Before we begin," said Stoan with no trace of impoliteness in his voice, "I know you are the Chief of Operations aboard Deep Space Nine; but may I know your qualifications as an engineer and as an investigator?"

"Of course, sir." O'Brien had expected this. He gave Stoan a brief summary of his education, assignments and experience, focusing upon his on-the-job education in a variety of technical systems. He made it a point to emphasize those instances in his career in which he had addressed questions of failure analysis. Stoan listened without comment.

When O'Brien finished, Stoan spoke. "Do not be offended by the following question. Is there anyone more qualified than you who could be assigned to this investigation in your stead?"

The question stung, but O'Brien remained cool. "If we wish to have the investigation continue, then no, sir. It should be possible to obtain someone more qualified than myself, but that would take many days, and we would have to suspend the investigation. Does the Commission wish to suspend the investigation?"

"No, it does not."

"Then I am the most qualified individual available. Sir."

"Have you formally studied the specialty of Engineering and obtained a degree?"

"No, sir, no formal study or degree."

"Are you educated or trained in the principles of interlocking safety protocols for the handling of ultra-hazardous materials?"

"No, sir."

"Do not be offended, but I deem such education essential in any competent investigator. For investigation of this particular incident involving the USS Observer, such an education seems to me to be indispensable."

O'Brien felt his face begin to flush, but he kept his expression passive and his voice even. "Sir: I have to admit that I do not know as much about safety systems and system failures as you do."

"Yes, you must admit that."

It was another put-down, and O'Brien tried to ignore it. "But my aim is to draw upon your knowledge and experience so that I may complete my assignment."

"Do not take offense, but I do not have the time nor the inclination to educate you."

"Sir: I am educating myself, to the extent I am able. But I need your assistance with certain technical questions."

"What is your security clearance?"

"Gold, sir."

"Your security clearance is not high enough." It seemed to O'Brien that there was a note of impatience in Stoan's voice. "There is very little I am permitted to tell you. Perhaps we ought to end this communication."

"Sir," O'Brien tried to keep his voice even. "I do not need to know about the details pertaining to generation of Upsilon Radiation."

"That is true."

O'Brien continued: "But I do need to know about the safety systems. I am currently focusing on whether it is possible to override or deactivate the life detection system and the environment assessment system."

"That focus is unwise, extremely unwise," Stoan interrupted.

"Unwise? Why, sir?"

"Perhaps you need to educate yourself to a greater extent before you speak to me," Stoan suggested.

O'Brien grit his teeth. "Why is it unwise to look at those two systems, sir?"

"The reason is so obvious that I should not have to explain it. If you had performed even a modest amount of research, you would know that systems based upon the life and environmental sensors are used in thousands of applications in various forms, and have been so used for over thirty years. They have, for all intents and purposes, perfect safety records."

"I knew that, sir."

"Further, if you had performed basic research, you would have learned that, in the case of the life sensor, all attempts to deactivate or sabotage or deceive such sensors have been unsuccessful."

"I understand that as well, sir."

"Further still: as a matter of basic failure analysis, if an investigator is trying to find the cause of a system failure, that investigator does not begin by examining those components that have been proven to work perfectly. That investigator does not presume that components that have performed for decades without a single recorded failure may have on this occasion failed for the first time."

"I understand that, too," O'Brien said, now wondering how long he would be able to maintain his composure.

"Mister O'Brien, do you now understand why that focus is unwise? Have I now explained it sufficiently to you?"

O'Brien decided to make one more attempt. "Mister Stoan, it is my duty to inquire whether a determined individual, whether innocently, or by mistake, or with malice, might try to bypass the Observer's safety systems. I had hoped that you would be able to assist me."

Stoan stared at O'Brien for several seconds. "Put simply, you wish to know whether I have any information concerning methods or techniques that an individual might use in order to cause a probe to explode on board. Is that your question?"

"Yes."

Stoan spoke slowly. "May I say it is an injudicious inquiry? Do not take offense, but it would be a poor use of my time to answer."

O'Brien was stung again. There was no mistaking it, Stoan had just told him that he'd asked a very stupid question. His voice rising, O'Brien decided to press the issue. "Sir, that question goes to the heart of the investigation. Do you have any idea how this explosion might have occurred?"

Stoan's cocked his head, in a gesture of what seemed to be irritation. "Mister O'Brien. Do you wish me to engage in wild speculation?"

"No, sir, of course not."

Stoan's voice rose a wee bit. "Shall I discuss events without knowing the facts surrounding those events?"

"No, sir."

"Shall I concoct scenarios for you that may bear no relation to reality?"

"No, sir, no."

"Do you think I would design a safety system for secret and highly hazardous operations, and include in my design procedures by which those safety systems could be readily bypassed?"

"No, sir."

"Do you think I would have the reputation that I have, or hold the positions that I hold, if I were to knowingly fail to address every known or foreseeable hazard?

"Sir, no."

Stoan's voice rose again, ever so slightly. "Do you think that if there were a simple solution to the problem, that I would keep it to myself?"

"No, sir," O'Brien said, though he wondered about this.

"Do you now understand why your question is injudicious?"

O'Brien took a breath. He'd had enough. "Thank you very much for your answer, sir."

Stoan cocked an eyebrow. "I did not answer," he said simply.

"Yes, you did," replied O'Brien, his finger poised over his control panel. "Your answer is, that in spite of being as smart and experienced as you are, you do not have the first damned clue as to what the hell happened to the Observer and her crew. Please do not take offense. Good day."

O'Brien touched the control panel and closed the communication.

Then he went to Quark's to have a drink.