Briefing Room
1:25 PM
Kirk sat in the Briefing Room with Thelin and several scientists: Lieutenant Commander Pierre Gaston,
Head of the Physics Department. Lieutenant Mark Baines, whose passion was physics and energy
and Cres Vumor, a civilian scientist from Oranga III, who specialized in dimensional and interspatial physics.
Also attending was Petty Officer Bower. He'd been dubbed the Saratoga's Eyes because he was undisputed
master of her sensors and probes and Kirk knew that his sharp eyes missed nothing when it came to readings.
He was also a good friend of Alyen's and was the one the medic turned to when he wanted to improve his
computer and technical skills.
Only a few days ago Alyen had confided in Kirk."Steven's truly the eyes of this ship. And I feel better
knowing that his sharp eyes are always on the alert for danger."
I'm sure you do, little bro, Kirk thought. Especially now that you and Shylea have a little Someone on the way.
He smiled inwardly as he glanced at Bowers. I feel better too. Knowing that he's watching over this ship.
And my family.
Thelin began the meeting. "Our initial scans were inconclusive at first, but they match those taken from
the USS Kelvin before it was destroyed. We do have a theory." The Andorian's voice was thoughtful as
he continued. "It's possible that we're looking at some kind of Quantum Storm."
Gaston now spoke. "Think of all possible realities existing parallel to each other, but separated by
a temporal barrier. What we're seeing now is a place where the barrier has weakened."
"Think of the barrier as a cloth," Baines said. "This is a place where the cloth's gotten ragged and holes
have appeared. This could enable something to pass from one reality to another."
"Like the Nerada," Kirk said thoughtfully.
Vumor now spoke in his soft, high pitched voice. "The anomaly seen by the Kelvin was described as a
'lightning storm in space.' It's possible that the storm was the result of some kind of temporal entanglement.
Of the different realities not only touching, but becoming entangled with each other."
"We may have seen indications of that, "Bower said. "We sent several remote probes toward the anomaly.
When they got close to it they began to show signs of…entanglement; programs suddenly started routing
through different sections or operating in entirely different ways."
Kirk frowned. Proximity to the anomaly could cause 'entanglement' between inanimate objects.
If that anomaly can also affect organic matter as well….
Further discussion was abruptly cut off by a sudden lurch as the Saratoga rapidly began to move.
Before Kirk could hail the bridge, Akari's voice came over the comm. "Captain! The anomaly's
expanding! I'm backing us up!"
"On my way!"
As Kirk raced toward the bridge he thought; And I also feel safer knowing that Akari is at the Helm!