Originally based on an (incomplete) entry in the June 2007 challenge (Photons and Forcefields)
Star Trek: Emerging Enterprise
3 June 2407
Yarrabrai, Kamilaroi, New Australia, United Federation of Planets
Karen ‘Kazza’ Allenby had arrived at home after an arduous day of work as a zoologist at the local university (The University of New Armidale). Even about 150 years after New Australia had been colonised the Federation still hadn’t catalogued all of the animal species on the planet, a fact which it shared with a majority of the Federation’s colonies. Kazza put her hand on the scanner plate, and her house door opened. “Welcome home Karen, you have zero messages from your contacts and 1 million messages in your bulk folder” the computer said. Kazza knew what those million messages would be – spam.
“Delete contents of bulk folder,” Kazza said.
“Bulk contents deleted,” the computer said.
She put her PADD down on the kitchen bench. She couldn’t be bothered to make her tea and snack physically so she went to the replicator. “Lipton Tea, hot, with a teaspoon each of milk and sugar and vegemite on crumpets.”
The requested items materialised in the replicator, and she took them out. She listened to her playlist of 23rd Century Neo-Rock Classical music, as she sipped on the tea and ate the crumpet.
After this, about 20 minutes later she went down to the basement, where her personal Holosuite was. She stopped at the door. “Access ‘Age of Exploration 2260’s Federation’s Trials,’” she said.
“Confirmed, accessing MMOHRPSUG,” the computer said.
A few seconds later: “MMOHRPSUG accessed please input entry location.”
Kazza input the entry location and the Holosuite door opened. She went through.
Age of Exploration 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
Simulverse Time: 5 June 2267
Location: USS Enterprise NCC 1701 presently exploring sector 1024
In an isolated area of the Enterprise’s saucer section, Kazza’s Holosuite door opened. Kazza entered the Enterprise, and the door closed her clothes then visibly changed into a 23rd Century Starfleet uniform. She looked about, she quickly found her quarters. She had been participating in this Simulverse for a few years, as far as she knew she was the only real person on the Enterprise. She went into her quarters, to rest before going on duty.
“Captain’s log: Stardate 2627; the Enterprise is once more approaching the edge of explored space, in a few hours we will be in the unknown”
Kazza entered the bridge as Kirk had finished recording his log entry. Then the ship trembled.
“What was that?” Kirk asked. Spock raised an eyebrow, as Sulu put the ship back on course. Spock looked at the sensors.
“The sensors detect nothing that could have caused the disruption Captain” he said. The Captain was concerned, but there were no damage reports coming in so he decided to continue on course. Kazza looked at the sensors also but also couldn’t see anything that could have had caused the trembling…
Dunedin, New Zealand, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
Andrew James had gotten home from high school and had been blasted by spam, most of it from a Ferengi Embassy somewhere near Cardassian space. To relax he went down to his family’s Holosuite. “Access ‘Age of Exploration 2260’s Federation’s Trials,” he said.
“Confirmed, accessing MMOHRPSUG. MMOHRPSUG accessed please input entry location,” the computer said.
Andrew chose the place he wanted to go.
“Unable to comply; the vessel you have chosen is out of range,” the computer said.
“What do you mean? ‘Out of range’? Andrew asked.
“The vessel you have chosen is out of range,” the computer said.
Andrew sighed, even in the 25th Century some error messages were cryptic. Andrew tried and tried, but couldn’t go where he wanted to go. Was there something wrong with the Massively Multi-user Online Holographic Role Playing Simulated Universe Game? He checked, he could go to many other places in the simulverse, but the Enterprise was ‘out of range’. He decided to send a message to the organisation which supported the MMOHRSUG.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Kazza had been on the ship for about 3 hours so she decided to leave the Holosuite and then prepare dinner. She went to her quarters first. “Computer, exit,” she said.
“Unable to comply, program malfunction,” the computer said. This was most definitely what Kazza did not want to hear. She tried again, but still got the error message.
“What do you mean? ‘Program malfunction’?” she asked.
“Unknown.”
“Computer, arch.”
“Unable to comply, program malfunction,” the computer said.
Kazza tried to get the arch again, with the same result. There were other options though.
“Computer, disengage MMOHRPSUG.”
“Unable to comply, networking simulation programming won’t disengage,” the computer said. Kazza knew there was only one more option, but that probably still meant that she was stuck in the Holosuite.
“Computer, service.” she said.
“Complying, service door will open.”
A small Holosuite door opened in the wall of the quarters. She went through it and put an instruction on the control panel there to keep the service door open at that location in the ship. She looked around the small room. There wasn’t anything there that could really help, though she could stay alive there indefinitely if it came to that. There was a replicator and a bathroom, and that was it, no exit door or hatch that she could use to escape to the outside world. She turned to the control panel.
She hoped she would find a way to fix the troubles with the MMOHRPSUG.
Ashalla, Third Republic of Bajor, United Federation of Planets
Orale Sarai was upset that she couldn’t access the Enterprise in the AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials. ‘I guess I could take another ships shuttle…’ she thought.
Alice Springs, Stuart, Australia, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
Delaney Egan had gotten home from the train station where she had commuted from work at Uluru. She was now at her Holosuite.
“Unable to comply, the vessel you have chosen is out of range,” her computer was saying.
She knew not why the Enterprise was out of range when the rest of the 2260’s Federations Trial’s MMOHRPSUG was apparently working. She went back upstairs and made dinner as the sun was setting.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Some time had passed. Kazza had replicated dinner and eaten it; she had tried to deactivate the holosuite’s networking connection, and also to disengage the MMOHRPSUG. (She had also attempted to communicate with the outside world, without success) All that she had accomplished was to confuse herself, and to discover that LCARS was very complex. ‘It would probably take a pair of Bynars to make much sense of it’ she thought.
She then looked out the door, the quarters lights went out, and there was the sound of trembling, it sounded as if the Enterprise was in some sort of trouble. ‘If I am going to be stuck on it I may as well help’ she thought and she leapt out of the service room. She could notice at once that there were a lot of vibrations in the floor. She was sure she was needed on the bridge.
“Report, Spock!” Kirk said.
“There are no detectable anomalies near the ship Captain, logically there should be something there,” Spock said. Then the bridge trembled again, the bridge lights dimmed.
“Mr Sulu, reduce speed to Warp 5.”
“Aye Captain.”
The Enterprise reduced speed from Warp 6 to Warp 5.
“What does your ‘logic’ tell you about this situation Spock?” Dr. McCoy asked. Kazza exited the turbolift as Dr. McCoy was asking this question.
“Easy, Bones,” Kirk said, he didn’t want his two officers and friends arguing in the middle of a crisis like this.
“Logically there is something there that our sensors cannot detect,” Spock said.
Kazza watched as Kirk and Spock hypothesised, about the situation. Spock eventually suggested increasing the acuity of the sensors, and Mr. Scott was called to the bridge. Kazza took a seat next to Spock and looked at the sensors. There was still nothing that she could see that was causing the troubles that the ship was having. Soon she was going down to engineering to help in the improvement of the sensors.
Kolkata, Indian Federation, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
Local Time: 6:00 pm
SB was at one of the commpanels in his house, he wanted to a have a quick look at what was happening before his wife came home. He logged into the 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG. Then there was an error message on the screen!
“Cannot generate avatar, the vessel you have chosen is out of range,” He looked at the screen as if the message was in Sanskrit, even though it was in plain Bengali. He tried to determine what was wrong but only got more error messages. Someone would hear about this.
First City, Qo’nos, Interstellar Klingon Empire
Leerella, daughter of Keroth scowled at the dishonourable error message that had appeared on the screen for the 7th time! She wanted to get away from her job at the High Council’s Computech servicing bureau. Now she was faced with more programming, and Federation programming at that.
‘Why is the Enterprise ‘out of range’?” she asked herself. She started attacking the Federation programming, and soon found a reason, but not a very satisfactory reason.
“Someone will hear about this!” she roared.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Kazza had helped Scotty and the Engineering staff to increase the acuity of the sensors, occasional trembling going on all the while. Then the lights dimmed and the warp engine stuttered though it re-started and went back to Warp 5. “My Bairns!”
Scotty exclaimed. Then the ship computers showed signs of malfunctioning.
“We may need to turn around,” Kazza said to Scotty.
“That is up to the Captain,” Scotty said. Kazza went back to the sensor troubles.
“The sensor efficiency, has improved, there is slight evidence of disruptions in Space-time, though I find no logical reason that they are causing the troubles the ship is experiencing,” Spock said.
“Logic! My emotions are saying get out of here!” McCoy said.
“Relax, Bones,” Kirk said.
“Relax, how can I relax when the ship is shaking apart around us!” McCoy said. Kirk thought, and then sat back in the captain’s chair.
“Mr Sulu, change course to 30 degrees port, lets see if we can steer around whatever this phenomenon is,” Kirk said.
“Aye, sir,” Sulu said.
“There is a hypothesis that I am working on, but I will not divulge what it is until I know more,” Spock said.
“You sound as you are hypothesising something that would definitely be bad news”
Kirk said.
“It will certainly be bad news,” Spock said. He then turned back to the sensors.
Kir’Sharr, Vulcan, United Federation of Planets
T’Sal raised her eyebrow at the error message on the Holosuite panel. ‘It is not logical that a part of the simulation would be ‘out of range’.’ She decided to find out what was going on with the simulation…
Bethlehem, Federation of Autonomous Israeli and Palestinian Communities, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
Local Time 5:30 pm
Elias bar Josiah was slightly upset that he couldn’t get to the Enterprise in the AoE 2260’s Federations Trials MMOHRPSUG. He left the vicinity of the Holosuite and went up to his bedroom; he accessed the discussion boards run by the organisation that ran the MMOHRPSUG. He could see that many people from across the Federation and beyond had posted about the lack of access to the Enterprise. A post by a Klingon (or at least someone residing in the Klingon Empire) interested him.
Seattle, Washington, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
Age of Exploration Studios Headquarters
Local Time 12:10 noon
It had been a busy few hours as people in the headquarters had rushed to determine what was happening to one of their simulverses, when a rush of complaints had came in from across the Federation and beyond. Now the CEO was talking to a group of admins.
“So, what is happening? There are error messages saying that the Enterprise is ‘out of range’ and there is a role player on New Australia stuck in her Holosuite without communication? And more importantly, how could this happen?” CEO Robert Findlay asked. A young admin raised his hand.
“I have gone over the logs, and it appears that the Enterprise is running off the edge of the simulation. It has gone off the edge of the official simulation and is now in a ‘buffer space’ and will soon hit the actual wall of the programming,” the admin, Theodore Goddard said. Many of the admins in the room agreed with what Goddard had said. They activated the holoprojectors in the room. Then above the table was shown a 3-D map of the simulverse in question. There was a blip right at the edge showing where the Enterprise was.
“Ok, can you zoom in to where the Enterprise is in detail?” Findlay asked. Someone touched a control and the screen zoomed in. It showed the Enterprise blip in between a plane of dotted lines and the edge of the simulation. “How were we apprised of the situation?” he continued.
“According to the forum, a Klingon computer expert cracked the programming after being angered by the error message that kept popping up,” Goddard said.
“Our programming should be more secure, but then again it should not be so vague. I mean ‘Program error, the vessel you have chosen is out of range’ that is what the computers are saying when people tried to access the Enterprise after it had gone into that ‘buffer space’” Findlay said, he gestured at the Enterprise blip in the holodisplay.
“But my main question is how could this happen?” he asked, almost shouting. Another admin timidly put up his hand. “How could this happen?” he asked the timid admin. The admin stammered as he began to talk.
“The, the sim-simulverse is m-meant to be modular, like most other simulverses. A module was due to be added next month in the direction the Enterprise appears to be going, we didn’t expect the Enterprise or any other ship to approach the edge so soon. Not the least with a role-player on board,” the admin, Harold Timms said.
“Is this new module ready?” Findlay asked.
“No it isn’t. It has barely entered beta-testing, and even if it was ready, it would likely have had deleted the Enterprise, with unknown consequences for the Neaussie trapped on board. If we just added the module to the simulverse without lengthy preparation, which hasn’t started yet, it would likely cause chaos that could theoretically spread throughout the Federation’s cyber systems, and possibly beyond that,” Timms said.
“What would be the solution?” Findlay asked.
Another admin put up her hand.
“Yes.”
“Someone would have to enter the simulverse at the closest point to where the Enterprise is and then bring it back out of the buffer zone. Then the Neaussie person can leave their Holosuite,” the admin, Emma Fields said.
“Excellent! When can you be ready?” Findlay asked.
“Me, sir?” Emma asked.
“It is your idea. You can do it, and I know you don’t have anything else to do at the moment,” Findlay said.
“Right,” Emma said. “I will be ready, with a few other people, in an hour.”
“Excellent, report when the situation with the person from New Australia has been resolved.”
And like that the meeting was over.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Kazza was now exhausted; she went back to her quarters. When she arrived the ship trembled again, much greater than the previous trembling. She noticed that the door to the service was flickering. She leapt through the door, and saw that the programming problems were also affecting the service; she saw that the replicator was offline and the lights in the service were flickering. She went back out to the quarters, and then went to bed, though not before noticing some lag in the program. Even in the 25th Century there was lag.
On the bridge, Captain Kirk ordered a reduction in speed to Warp 4 and another minor course correction.
Seattle, Washington, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
An Age of Exploration Studio’s Laboratory
Local Time 1:30 pm
Emma Fields and a few other AoE workers approached a Holosuite. “Can’t we just use a few workstations?” one of the programmers, Tyrell Grant, asked.
“We could, but what would the fun be in that? A Holosuite is more personal,” Emma said. She tapped on the panel and accessed the 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG. She then opened the Holosuite door to open space about 100 meters from the edge of the ‘buffer space’. She walked through stopping at the arch; the others followed her into the Holosuite, the door closed.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
Open Space
“It is cold in here,” Tyrell said.
“Of course it is cold, it is open space!” Emma said. She inserted one of the isolinear optical chips she had brought into the appropriate slot. Then a late 24th Century Danube Class runabout appeared. “It will be warm in there,” She continued.
“The Nile?” One of the other people, Ilia, said.
“Sure, why not?” Emma said. She put the other isolinear optical chip into another slot, and what appeared to be a Tricorder appeared at her feet. “Ok, with the Nile, we can find the Enterprise. With this we can diagnose what is going on with the program,” she said. She led the others into the Nile.
USS Nile NCC 72622
They boarded the Nile and went to the cockpit. Emma sat in the pilot seat, and set the ship off. There was a tremble as they engaged the impulse engines. “That was the edge of the buffer zone,” she said.
“Ok,” another said, knowing that they would not be able to exit the Holosuite until they had returned with the Enterprise. Emma engaged the warp engines in the direction that the sensors were sensing the Enterprise.
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Kazza was awoken by more trembling. She tumbled out of bed, and heard the various systems of the ship struggling to cope with the distortions that were happening. She decided to get to the bridge.
It took Kazza seven minutes of crawling through Jefferies tubes to get to the bridge, as the turbolifts were offline.
“Have you reached a conclusion yet, Spock?” Captain Kirk asked.
“My deliberations are heading in a direction that I find deeply disturbing,” Spock said.
“What are they?” McCoy asked.
“I am not saying more until I have more proof, Doctor, but, suffice it to say that you will definitely not like the answer,” Spock said.
“How, will you know?” Kirk asked.
“I recommend returning to our original heading, and slowing to Warp 2, that will ease the ride for the crew,” Spock said.
“Mr Scott, will the ship hold together, despite the battering she has undergone?” Kirk asked, concerned for the ship that he loved.
“Aye, she will hold together alright, if we slow before we change course,” Scotty said.
“Mr Sulu, slow to Warp 2, and change course” Kirk order.
“Aye, Captain” Sulu said, he then carried out the manoeuvres, with the ship shaking all the while.
USS Nile NCC 72622
The Nile was heading outwards at a speed of warp 7, shaking a lot. “Why is the buffer space so turbulent?” Xander James, one of the people there asked.
“Because the simulverse programming breaks down, as one approaches the actual edge of the simulverse space,” Emma said.
“What would happen if the Enterprise actually hit the edge, at warp or otherwise?” Xander asked.
“I have no idea, but I think we have to catch up to it before that happens,” Emma said.
Xander looked out at the starlight streaking past, he was sure that the Nile would find the Enterprise.
Seattle, Washington, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
Age of Exploration Studios Headquarters
Local Time: 3:00 pm
Robert Findlay paced in his office. There hadn’t been any word about what was happening with the Enterprise in the 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG since Fields and her group went in to get in. He hoped something positive would come out of it.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Kazza was on the bridge when the Enterprise warp engines gave out.
“The warp engines won’t re-engage, Captain,” Scotty said.
“We have to continue on impulse power,” Spock said.
“That could take a long time Spock,” Kirk said.
“Nevertheless, we have to continue,” Spock said.
“Continue forwards, Mr Sulu,” Kirk said.
“Aye Sir.”
Kazza thought she saw something behind the ship on the sensors, but then the sensor efficiency decreased.
USS Nile NCC 72622
“The Enterprise has dropped out of warp,” Xander said. Emma turned to him.
“Then we don’t have much time before it hits the edge! Maximum warp,” she said.
Xander increased the speed, hoping that wouldn’t cause the Nile to hit the edge. He looked at the control panel.
“The inertia dampeners show signs of possible failure,” he said. There was an alarm sound.
“Warning: due to programming breakdown, safety protocols may not function…” the Holosuite computer said.
Emma didn’t like this news. She scanned the runabout with the diagnostic Tricorder/program to be sure.
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
The ship hit the edge of the simulverse at 10% of the speed of light. There was very little rebound. The strained inertia dampeners held.
“What was that?” Dr McCoy asked.
“It is the edge of the universe,” Kazza said, having figured out that Spock was on to the truth about their existence.
“That is impossible!” Chekov, Dr McCoy and Captain Kirk said at once.
“That is what the sensors say,” Kazza said.
“Ensign Allenby is correct, Captain, it is the edge of the universe as we know it,” Spock said.
“What is the ‘bad news’ hypothesis that you have been working on Spock?” Kirk asked.
“The Federation, its allies and its enemies, and everything else that we know is part of a simulation, the phenomena we have been experiencing for the last 9 hours, are what is theorised would happen when a simulated starship approaches the edge of the simulation,” Spock said.
Kirk understood, he knew of simulations in the Federation, though he hadn’t participated in them, when he was younger. Dr McCoy meanwhile was arguing with Spock about the hypothesis, but Spock’s logic won out.
“We have to inform the crew,” Kirk said. The bridge crew were showing some signs of shock. Kirk activated the intercom ship wide and informed the crew.
Then…
“Subspace message coming in,” Uhura said.
“On speakers,” Kirk said, wondering what else was about to happen.
“USS Nile to USS Enterprise, come in,”
“Nile? There is no such ship is there?” Kirk asked.
“Apparently there is,” Kazza said.
“Enterprise to Nile, what is the reason for the communication?” Kirk asked.
“Request permission to dock in your shuttle bay,” Emma Fields said over the comm. Kirk thought, for a bit.
“Permission granted, I will meet you there, Kirk out.”
“Nile, out.”
Kirk, Allenby, Spock, McCoy, Scott and Chapel watched as the Nile entered the shuttle bay.
Emma scanned the area with the diagnostic Tricorder, it showed that the Neaussie was nearby. She, Xander and Ilia left the runabout.
Captain Kirk, followed by the others with him went out to meet the people from the strange ship that had landed in the shuttle bay.
“I am not familiar with your ship,” he said.
“It is classified,” Fields said.
“Don’t try to convince us with your cover story, I know the truth,” Kirk said.
“What do you mean?” Ilia asked.
“He means that we know that this particular universe is a simulation that we nearly ran off the edge of,” Spock said.
“Excuse me, we must talk about this development,” Fields said. They went off back towards the runabout.
“That must have hit a nerve, Jim,” Bones said to his Captain and friend.
“That is for certain,” Jim Kirk said.
“They are most likely people from the real universe who were sent into the simulation to investigate the situation with the Enterprise,” Spock said.
Kazza welcomed this news, though she didn’t show it.
Emma re-entered the runabout, followed by the others in her team.
“What now?” she asked.
“I am not sure,” Xander said.
“Kirk would have had informed his crew of what has happened, I am sure of it,” Illia said.
“And that means...” Emma started.
“Yes, Findlay will not like it one bit! After we bring Ms. Allenby out of the buffer zone, we will have to inform the Federation Council of what has happened. The Enterprise crew are aware that they are AI's,” Illia said.
“I agree, but lets focus on bringing Karen Allenby out first,” Emma said, sure that Karen would be appreciative and relieved to be able to exit her holosuite.
“Agreed,” Illia said.
“Agreed, also, but what would happen next?” Xander asked.
“We will have to discuss that on our way out of the buffer zone,” Illia said.
Xander just nodded.
Emma exited the runabout and walked up to Captain Kirk.
“Yes, your first officer is correct. This universe is a participatory simulation of a period in our history,” she said.
“How far in the future, and what happens now?” Kirk asked.
“The early 25th Century and what happens next is that the Federation Council is informed of the fact that you are aware that you are artificial intelligences,” Fields said.
“And what happens then?” Mc Coy asked.
“Then you have the right to choose what happens next,” Fields said.
The senior officers then talked amongst themselves, whilst Fields approached Kazza.
“Karen Allenby, I presume,” Fields said.
“Yes. I have been trapped here for hours,” Kazza said.
“You can go into the Runabout, we will be underway in less than fifteen minutes,” Fields said.
“Cool,” Kazza said. She dashed to the runabout.
Once in the runabout, she opened a communications channel to her quarters on the Enterprise and then closed the Service door. Illia asked her what she was doing.
“Just closing the service door, I don’t like stuff not being taken care of,” she said.
“Good idea,” Illia said.
Soon the Enterprise turned around and headed back out of the buffer zone, with the Nile still in the shuttle bay.
“We have reached full impulse,” Sulu said.
“Prepare to go to warp at the distance at which we dropped out of warp,” Kirk said.
“Aye, sir,” Sulu said.
A minute later, the Enterprise went to warp...
USS Nile NCC 72622
“How soon until we exit the buffer space?” Kazza asked.
“Another half hour, then you can exit the simulation” Emma said.
“Cool,” Kazza said.
“So, when you’re not participating in holoscenarios what do you do?” Emma asked.
“I’m a zoologist at the University of New Armidale,” Kazza replied.
“Cool,” Emma said.
“So you work for Age of Exploration Studios?”
“Yeah, it can be tedious at times but moments like this make it worthwhile.”
“You mean that this happens a lot?” Kazza asked.
“I don’t mean this sort of happening. I mean, troubleshooting the holoprograms by participating in them,” Emma said.
“Oh,” Kazza said.
The Enterprise dropped out of warp after emerging from the buffer space.
“We are out of the buffer space,” Emma said.
“Cool. Good thing it was a Friday on New Australia,” Kazza said.
“Yeah. Bad enough that AoE makes us work on a Sunday,” Emma said.
“You mean that you usually work Sundays?” Kazza asked.
“Only once a month, but just as well, eh,” Emma said.
“I’m sure I would have got out somehow,” Kazza said.
“Absolutely,” Emma said.
“Anyway, thanks for the rescue, and good luck with the AI thing,” Kazza said.
“Thanks,” Emma said, sure that she would need it.
“Computers, Exits,” Kazza said.
Both Kazza’s holosuite door and the AoE teams opened on opposite sides of the cockpit.
“Cool, I didn’t think that would work,” Kazza said.
“You won’t be able to go out our door,” Emma said.
“I know, nor you through mine,” Kazza said as she approached the AoE exit. She reached out and touched the wall of her holosuite (projecting the image of the area outside the AoE’s holosuite). “See ya,” she said and dashed out through her door.
Yarrabrai
Kazza relaxed, as she saw the morning sunlight enter the basement next to the holosuite. ‘I’m going to bed’ she thought. Although she decided she would do it after breakfast. “Computer disengage Age of Exploration 2260’s Federation’s Trials,” she said.
“Confirmed,” the computer said.
The MMOHRPSUG disappeared and the doors closed.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
USS Nile NCC 72622 aboard USS Enterprise NCC 1701
“Computer disengage Age of Exploration 2260’s Federation’s Trials,” Kazza said from outside.
“Confirmed,” Kazza’s computer said, and the holosuite door faded out.
“Right, we need to inform Finlay,” Emma said.
“You can do the talking,” Illia said.
“Xander, you stay in here and keep an eye on the Enterprise crew.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Age of Exploration Studios Headquarters, Seattle
Fields timidly approached Finlay’s office. ‘This has to be done,’ she thought. She gathered up her courage and bolted into the office.
Finlay noticed her straight away. “You have retrieved the New Australian from the simulation?” he asked.
“Yes,” Fields said.
“But?”
“We have a new problem.”
“What is it, she’s threatening to sue?”
“No, sir, not that,” Fields said, seriously.
“Don’t tell me...”
“I’m afraid so sir, the Enterprise crew figured out that they are AI’s. We have to inform the Federation Council.”
“This is terrible, an AI Kirk on the lose!”
“I don’t think it’s that bad, sir.”
“It could be.”
“Maybe it could be, Sir, but it’s not your call to make.”
“You’re right, of course,” Finlay said after a moment. “I will contact the Federation Council.
“Good, Sir.”
4 June 2407
Yarrabrai
Once awake, Kazza got a PADD and began to record her feelings about the experience she had had the previous day.
6 June 2407
Age of Exploration Studios Headquarters, Seattle
Emma Fields and, T’Lara, the Representative from the Federation Council’s Artificial Intelligence Sentience Rights Committee entered the holosuite onto the Enterprise.
Age of Exploration 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
Simulverse Time: 9 June 2267
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Kirk and the senior officers were waiting. Then the door opened and Emma and T’Lara stepped through.
“Does all of your crew know about the situation?” T’Lara said.
“They do, Ma’am,” Kirk said.
“Apparently they have two choices,” Emma said.
“Two?” Kirk asked.
“One, they all are given the freedom to go outside the Federation’s computer systems and live their lives like all other Federation Citizens,” T’Lara said.
“And the alternative?” Spock asked.
“That they continue their mission, with this simulated ship. Only now they’re exploring the various simulated universes in the Federation’s rather extensive networks. The Enterprise would also get its own secure server,” T’Lara said.
“I see,” Kirk said.
“The former would present a great culture shock, would it not?” Spock asked.
“Yes. Such has been highly prevalent in these cases,” T’Lara said.
“Can you give us time to consider those choices?” Kirk asked.
“Of course, about an hour.” T’Lara said.
An hour later, Kirk delivered the crew’s decision to T’Lara.
“What is the decision?” she asked.
“The whole crew have decided to take up the offer to explore the Federation’s cyberspaces,” Kirk said.
“Then we shall proceed accordingly.” T’Lara said.
Age of Exploration Studios Headquarters, Seattle
“What happens now?” Emma asked as she and T’Lara exited the holosuite.
“The Server is ready, we just have to upload the Enterprise and its crew to it. The program we are going to use to allow it to explore is almost complete.”
“Just needs some beta testing, right?”
“Yes,” T’Lara answered.
7 June 2407
Age of Exploration Studios Headquarters, Seattle
T’Lara entered Findlay’s office.
“You’re ready?” he asked.
“Yes, we’re ready to transfer the Enterprise and it’s crew.”
“Good. I’m ready to have this over with.”
“Then hope it doesn’t happen again.”
USS Enterprise NCC 1701 (Holographic)
Scotty watched as T’Lara put the finishing touches on the device that had been installed in Engineering.
“It is done,” she said.
“Finally,” Scotty said. “How does it work?”
“It creates a field which switches the space the ship is in with an equivalent space in another simulated universe. We have also placed the spare parts in cargo bay 2,” T’Lara said.
“Is there a technical manual?” Scotty asked.
“Already uploaded into the ship’s computer,” T’Lara said/
“Thanks, lassie. That makes this situation much easier,” Scotty said.
“Remember, one of our counsellors is only a communication away.”
So all members of the crew had been reminded over the past few days. He nodded.
T’Lara placed a finger on the control on her PADD. The machine powered up. “There, the Enterprise is now based on it’s own server. Still in Seattle, but it’s own,” T’Lara said.
Captain Kirk watched as the door closed behind the Vulcan woman as she left the Enterprise and it’s new base reality. He turned to the viewscreen. “Mr. Sulu. Prepare for interdimensional shift.”
“Ready, Captain.”
“Mr. Chekov?”
“Ready, Keptin.”
“Let’s see what’s out there!”
Star Trek: Emerging Enterprise
3 June 2407
Yarrabrai, Kamilaroi, New Australia, United Federation of Planets
Karen ‘Kazza’ Allenby had arrived at home after an arduous day of work as a zoologist at the local university (The University of New Armidale). Even about 150 years after New Australia had been colonised the Federation still hadn’t catalogued all of the animal species on the planet, a fact which it shared with a majority of the Federation’s colonies. Kazza put her hand on the scanner plate, and her house door opened. “Welcome home Karen, you have zero messages from your contacts and 1 million messages in your bulk folder” the computer said. Kazza knew what those million messages would be – spam.
“Delete contents of bulk folder,” Kazza said.
“Bulk contents deleted,” the computer said.
She put her PADD down on the kitchen bench. She couldn’t be bothered to make her tea and snack physically so she went to the replicator. “Lipton Tea, hot, with a teaspoon each of milk and sugar and vegemite on crumpets.”
The requested items materialised in the replicator, and she took them out. She listened to her playlist of 23rd Century Neo-Rock Classical music, as she sipped on the tea and ate the crumpet.
After this, about 20 minutes later she went down to the basement, where her personal Holosuite was. She stopped at the door. “Access ‘Age of Exploration 2260’s Federation’s Trials,’” she said.
“Confirmed, accessing MMOHRPSUG,” the computer said.
A few seconds later: “MMOHRPSUG accessed please input entry location.”
Kazza input the entry location and the Holosuite door opened. She went through.
Age of Exploration 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
Simulverse Time: 5 June 2267
Location: USS Enterprise NCC 1701 presently exploring sector 1024
In an isolated area of the Enterprise’s saucer section, Kazza’s Holosuite door opened. Kazza entered the Enterprise, and the door closed her clothes then visibly changed into a 23rd Century Starfleet uniform. She looked about, she quickly found her quarters. She had been participating in this Simulverse for a few years, as far as she knew she was the only real person on the Enterprise. She went into her quarters, to rest before going on duty.
“Captain’s log: Stardate 2627; the Enterprise is once more approaching the edge of explored space, in a few hours we will be in the unknown”
Kazza entered the bridge as Kirk had finished recording his log entry. Then the ship trembled.
“What was that?” Kirk asked. Spock raised an eyebrow, as Sulu put the ship back on course. Spock looked at the sensors.
“The sensors detect nothing that could have caused the disruption Captain” he said. The Captain was concerned, but there were no damage reports coming in so he decided to continue on course. Kazza looked at the sensors also but also couldn’t see anything that could have had caused the trembling…
Dunedin, New Zealand, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
Andrew James had gotten home from high school and had been blasted by spam, most of it from a Ferengi Embassy somewhere near Cardassian space. To relax he went down to his family’s Holosuite. “Access ‘Age of Exploration 2260’s Federation’s Trials,” he said.
“Confirmed, accessing MMOHRPSUG. MMOHRPSUG accessed please input entry location,” the computer said.
Andrew chose the place he wanted to go.
“Unable to comply; the vessel you have chosen is out of range,” the computer said.
“What do you mean? ‘Out of range’? Andrew asked.
“The vessel you have chosen is out of range,” the computer said.
Andrew sighed, even in the 25th Century some error messages were cryptic. Andrew tried and tried, but couldn’t go where he wanted to go. Was there something wrong with the Massively Multi-user Online Holographic Role Playing Simulated Universe Game? He checked, he could go to many other places in the simulverse, but the Enterprise was ‘out of range’. He decided to send a message to the organisation which supported the MMOHRSUG.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Kazza had been on the ship for about 3 hours so she decided to leave the Holosuite and then prepare dinner. She went to her quarters first. “Computer, exit,” she said.
“Unable to comply, program malfunction,” the computer said. This was most definitely what Kazza did not want to hear. She tried again, but still got the error message.
“What do you mean? ‘Program malfunction’?” she asked.
“Unknown.”
“Computer, arch.”
“Unable to comply, program malfunction,” the computer said.
Kazza tried to get the arch again, with the same result. There were other options though.
“Computer, disengage MMOHRPSUG.”
“Unable to comply, networking simulation programming won’t disengage,” the computer said. Kazza knew there was only one more option, but that probably still meant that she was stuck in the Holosuite.
“Computer, service.” she said.
“Complying, service door will open.”
A small Holosuite door opened in the wall of the quarters. She went through it and put an instruction on the control panel there to keep the service door open at that location in the ship. She looked around the small room. There wasn’t anything there that could really help, though she could stay alive there indefinitely if it came to that. There was a replicator and a bathroom, and that was it, no exit door or hatch that she could use to escape to the outside world. She turned to the control panel.
She hoped she would find a way to fix the troubles with the MMOHRPSUG.
Ashalla, Third Republic of Bajor, United Federation of Planets
Orale Sarai was upset that she couldn’t access the Enterprise in the AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials. ‘I guess I could take another ships shuttle…’ she thought.
Alice Springs, Stuart, Australia, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
Delaney Egan had gotten home from the train station where she had commuted from work at Uluru. She was now at her Holosuite.
“Unable to comply, the vessel you have chosen is out of range,” her computer was saying.
She knew not why the Enterprise was out of range when the rest of the 2260’s Federations Trial’s MMOHRPSUG was apparently working. She went back upstairs and made dinner as the sun was setting.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Some time had passed. Kazza had replicated dinner and eaten it; she had tried to deactivate the holosuite’s networking connection, and also to disengage the MMOHRPSUG. (She had also attempted to communicate with the outside world, without success) All that she had accomplished was to confuse herself, and to discover that LCARS was very complex. ‘It would probably take a pair of Bynars to make much sense of it’ she thought.
She then looked out the door, the quarters lights went out, and there was the sound of trembling, it sounded as if the Enterprise was in some sort of trouble. ‘If I am going to be stuck on it I may as well help’ she thought and she leapt out of the service room. She could notice at once that there were a lot of vibrations in the floor. She was sure she was needed on the bridge.
“Report, Spock!” Kirk said.
“There are no detectable anomalies near the ship Captain, logically there should be something there,” Spock said. Then the bridge trembled again, the bridge lights dimmed.
“Mr Sulu, reduce speed to Warp 5.”
“Aye Captain.”
The Enterprise reduced speed from Warp 6 to Warp 5.
“What does your ‘logic’ tell you about this situation Spock?” Dr. McCoy asked. Kazza exited the turbolift as Dr. McCoy was asking this question.
“Easy, Bones,” Kirk said, he didn’t want his two officers and friends arguing in the middle of a crisis like this.
“Logically there is something there that our sensors cannot detect,” Spock said.
Kazza watched as Kirk and Spock hypothesised, about the situation. Spock eventually suggested increasing the acuity of the sensors, and Mr. Scott was called to the bridge. Kazza took a seat next to Spock and looked at the sensors. There was still nothing that she could see that was causing the troubles that the ship was having. Soon she was going down to engineering to help in the improvement of the sensors.
Kolkata, Indian Federation, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
Local Time: 6:00 pm
SB was at one of the commpanels in his house, he wanted to a have a quick look at what was happening before his wife came home. He logged into the 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG. Then there was an error message on the screen!
“Cannot generate avatar, the vessel you have chosen is out of range,” He looked at the screen as if the message was in Sanskrit, even though it was in plain Bengali. He tried to determine what was wrong but only got more error messages. Someone would hear about this.
First City, Qo’nos, Interstellar Klingon Empire
Leerella, daughter of Keroth scowled at the dishonourable error message that had appeared on the screen for the 7th time! She wanted to get away from her job at the High Council’s Computech servicing bureau. Now she was faced with more programming, and Federation programming at that.
‘Why is the Enterprise ‘out of range’?” she asked herself. She started attacking the Federation programming, and soon found a reason, but not a very satisfactory reason.
“Someone will hear about this!” she roared.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Kazza had helped Scotty and the Engineering staff to increase the acuity of the sensors, occasional trembling going on all the while. Then the lights dimmed and the warp engine stuttered though it re-started and went back to Warp 5. “My Bairns!”
Scotty exclaimed. Then the ship computers showed signs of malfunctioning.
“We may need to turn around,” Kazza said to Scotty.
“That is up to the Captain,” Scotty said. Kazza went back to the sensor troubles.
“The sensor efficiency, has improved, there is slight evidence of disruptions in Space-time, though I find no logical reason that they are causing the troubles the ship is experiencing,” Spock said.
“Logic! My emotions are saying get out of here!” McCoy said.
“Relax, Bones,” Kirk said.
“Relax, how can I relax when the ship is shaking apart around us!” McCoy said. Kirk thought, and then sat back in the captain’s chair.
“Mr Sulu, change course to 30 degrees port, lets see if we can steer around whatever this phenomenon is,” Kirk said.
“Aye, sir,” Sulu said.
“There is a hypothesis that I am working on, but I will not divulge what it is until I know more,” Spock said.
“You sound as you are hypothesising something that would definitely be bad news”
Kirk said.
“It will certainly be bad news,” Spock said. He then turned back to the sensors.
Kir’Sharr, Vulcan, United Federation of Planets
T’Sal raised her eyebrow at the error message on the Holosuite panel. ‘It is not logical that a part of the simulation would be ‘out of range’.’ She decided to find out what was going on with the simulation…
Bethlehem, Federation of Autonomous Israeli and Palestinian Communities, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
Local Time 5:30 pm
Elias bar Josiah was slightly upset that he couldn’t get to the Enterprise in the AoE 2260’s Federations Trials MMOHRPSUG. He left the vicinity of the Holosuite and went up to his bedroom; he accessed the discussion boards run by the organisation that ran the MMOHRPSUG. He could see that many people from across the Federation and beyond had posted about the lack of access to the Enterprise. A post by a Klingon (or at least someone residing in the Klingon Empire) interested him.
Seattle, Washington, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
Age of Exploration Studios Headquarters
Local Time 12:10 noon
It had been a busy few hours as people in the headquarters had rushed to determine what was happening to one of their simulverses, when a rush of complaints had came in from across the Federation and beyond. Now the CEO was talking to a group of admins.
“So, what is happening? There are error messages saying that the Enterprise is ‘out of range’ and there is a role player on New Australia stuck in her Holosuite without communication? And more importantly, how could this happen?” CEO Robert Findlay asked. A young admin raised his hand.
“I have gone over the logs, and it appears that the Enterprise is running off the edge of the simulation. It has gone off the edge of the official simulation and is now in a ‘buffer space’ and will soon hit the actual wall of the programming,” the admin, Theodore Goddard said. Many of the admins in the room agreed with what Goddard had said. They activated the holoprojectors in the room. Then above the table was shown a 3-D map of the simulverse in question. There was a blip right at the edge showing where the Enterprise was.
“Ok, can you zoom in to where the Enterprise is in detail?” Findlay asked. Someone touched a control and the screen zoomed in. It showed the Enterprise blip in between a plane of dotted lines and the edge of the simulation. “How were we apprised of the situation?” he continued.
“According to the forum, a Klingon computer expert cracked the programming after being angered by the error message that kept popping up,” Goddard said.
“Our programming should be more secure, but then again it should not be so vague. I mean ‘Program error, the vessel you have chosen is out of range’ that is what the computers are saying when people tried to access the Enterprise after it had gone into that ‘buffer space’” Findlay said, he gestured at the Enterprise blip in the holodisplay.
“But my main question is how could this happen?” he asked, almost shouting. Another admin timidly put up his hand. “How could this happen?” he asked the timid admin. The admin stammered as he began to talk.
“The, the sim-simulverse is m-meant to be modular, like most other simulverses. A module was due to be added next month in the direction the Enterprise appears to be going, we didn’t expect the Enterprise or any other ship to approach the edge so soon. Not the least with a role-player on board,” the admin, Harold Timms said.
“Is this new module ready?” Findlay asked.
“No it isn’t. It has barely entered beta-testing, and even if it was ready, it would likely have had deleted the Enterprise, with unknown consequences for the Neaussie trapped on board. If we just added the module to the simulverse without lengthy preparation, which hasn’t started yet, it would likely cause chaos that could theoretically spread throughout the Federation’s cyber systems, and possibly beyond that,” Timms said.
“What would be the solution?” Findlay asked.
Another admin put up her hand.
“Yes.”
“Someone would have to enter the simulverse at the closest point to where the Enterprise is and then bring it back out of the buffer zone. Then the Neaussie person can leave their Holosuite,” the admin, Emma Fields said.
“Excellent! When can you be ready?” Findlay asked.
“Me, sir?” Emma asked.
“It is your idea. You can do it, and I know you don’t have anything else to do at the moment,” Findlay said.
“Right,” Emma said. “I will be ready, with a few other people, in an hour.”
“Excellent, report when the situation with the person from New Australia has been resolved.”
And like that the meeting was over.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Kazza was now exhausted; she went back to her quarters. When she arrived the ship trembled again, much greater than the previous trembling. She noticed that the door to the service was flickering. She leapt through the door, and saw that the programming problems were also affecting the service; she saw that the replicator was offline and the lights in the service were flickering. She went back out to the quarters, and then went to bed, though not before noticing some lag in the program. Even in the 25th Century there was lag.
On the bridge, Captain Kirk ordered a reduction in speed to Warp 4 and another minor course correction.
Seattle, Washington, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
An Age of Exploration Studio’s Laboratory
Local Time 1:30 pm
Emma Fields and a few other AoE workers approached a Holosuite. “Can’t we just use a few workstations?” one of the programmers, Tyrell Grant, asked.
“We could, but what would the fun be in that? A Holosuite is more personal,” Emma said. She tapped on the panel and accessed the 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG. She then opened the Holosuite door to open space about 100 meters from the edge of the ‘buffer space’. She walked through stopping at the arch; the others followed her into the Holosuite, the door closed.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
Open Space
“It is cold in here,” Tyrell said.
“Of course it is cold, it is open space!” Emma said. She inserted one of the isolinear optical chips she had brought into the appropriate slot. Then a late 24th Century Danube Class runabout appeared. “It will be warm in there,” She continued.
“The Nile?” One of the other people, Ilia, said.
“Sure, why not?” Emma said. She put the other isolinear optical chip into another slot, and what appeared to be a Tricorder appeared at her feet. “Ok, with the Nile, we can find the Enterprise. With this we can diagnose what is going on with the program,” she said. She led the others into the Nile.
USS Nile NCC 72622
They boarded the Nile and went to the cockpit. Emma sat in the pilot seat, and set the ship off. There was a tremble as they engaged the impulse engines. “That was the edge of the buffer zone,” she said.
“Ok,” another said, knowing that they would not be able to exit the Holosuite until they had returned with the Enterprise. Emma engaged the warp engines in the direction that the sensors were sensing the Enterprise.
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Kazza was awoken by more trembling. She tumbled out of bed, and heard the various systems of the ship struggling to cope with the distortions that were happening. She decided to get to the bridge.
It took Kazza seven minutes of crawling through Jefferies tubes to get to the bridge, as the turbolifts were offline.
“Have you reached a conclusion yet, Spock?” Captain Kirk asked.
“My deliberations are heading in a direction that I find deeply disturbing,” Spock said.
“What are they?” McCoy asked.
“I am not saying more until I have more proof, Doctor, but, suffice it to say that you will definitely not like the answer,” Spock said.
“How, will you know?” Kirk asked.
“I recommend returning to our original heading, and slowing to Warp 2, that will ease the ride for the crew,” Spock said.
“Mr Scott, will the ship hold together, despite the battering she has undergone?” Kirk asked, concerned for the ship that he loved.
“Aye, she will hold together alright, if we slow before we change course,” Scotty said.
“Mr Sulu, slow to Warp 2, and change course” Kirk order.
“Aye, Captain” Sulu said, he then carried out the manoeuvres, with the ship shaking all the while.
USS Nile NCC 72622
The Nile was heading outwards at a speed of warp 7, shaking a lot. “Why is the buffer space so turbulent?” Xander James, one of the people there asked.
“Because the simulverse programming breaks down, as one approaches the actual edge of the simulverse space,” Emma said.
“What would happen if the Enterprise actually hit the edge, at warp or otherwise?” Xander asked.
“I have no idea, but I think we have to catch up to it before that happens,” Emma said.
Xander looked out at the starlight streaking past, he was sure that the Nile would find the Enterprise.
Seattle, Washington, United Earth, United Federation of Planets
Age of Exploration Studios Headquarters
Local Time: 3:00 pm
Robert Findlay paced in his office. There hadn’t been any word about what was happening with the Enterprise in the 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG since Fields and her group went in to get in. He hoped something positive would come out of it.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Kazza was on the bridge when the Enterprise warp engines gave out.
“The warp engines won’t re-engage, Captain,” Scotty said.
“We have to continue on impulse power,” Spock said.
“That could take a long time Spock,” Kirk said.
“Nevertheless, we have to continue,” Spock said.
“Continue forwards, Mr Sulu,” Kirk said.
“Aye Sir.”
Kazza thought she saw something behind the ship on the sensors, but then the sensor efficiency decreased.
USS Nile NCC 72622
“The Enterprise has dropped out of warp,” Xander said. Emma turned to him.
“Then we don’t have much time before it hits the edge! Maximum warp,” she said.
Xander increased the speed, hoping that wouldn’t cause the Nile to hit the edge. He looked at the control panel.
“The inertia dampeners show signs of possible failure,” he said. There was an alarm sound.
“Warning: due to programming breakdown, safety protocols may not function…” the Holosuite computer said.
Emma didn’t like this news. She scanned the runabout with the diagnostic Tricorder/program to be sure.
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
The ship hit the edge of the simulverse at 10% of the speed of light. There was very little rebound. The strained inertia dampeners held.
“What was that?” Dr McCoy asked.
“It is the edge of the universe,” Kazza said, having figured out that Spock was on to the truth about their existence.
“That is impossible!” Chekov, Dr McCoy and Captain Kirk said at once.
“That is what the sensors say,” Kazza said.
“Ensign Allenby is correct, Captain, it is the edge of the universe as we know it,” Spock said.
“What is the ‘bad news’ hypothesis that you have been working on Spock?” Kirk asked.
“The Federation, its allies and its enemies, and everything else that we know is part of a simulation, the phenomena we have been experiencing for the last 9 hours, are what is theorised would happen when a simulated starship approaches the edge of the simulation,” Spock said.
Kirk understood, he knew of simulations in the Federation, though he hadn’t participated in them, when he was younger. Dr McCoy meanwhile was arguing with Spock about the hypothesis, but Spock’s logic won out.
“We have to inform the crew,” Kirk said. The bridge crew were showing some signs of shock. Kirk activated the intercom ship wide and informed the crew.
Then…
“Subspace message coming in,” Uhura said.
“On speakers,” Kirk said, wondering what else was about to happen.
“USS Nile to USS Enterprise, come in,”
“Nile? There is no such ship is there?” Kirk asked.
“Apparently there is,” Kazza said.
“Enterprise to Nile, what is the reason for the communication?” Kirk asked.
“Request permission to dock in your shuttle bay,” Emma Fields said over the comm. Kirk thought, for a bit.
“Permission granted, I will meet you there, Kirk out.”
“Nile, out.”
Kirk, Allenby, Spock, McCoy, Scott and Chapel watched as the Nile entered the shuttle bay.
Emma scanned the area with the diagnostic Tricorder, it showed that the Neaussie was nearby. She, Xander and Ilia left the runabout.
Captain Kirk, followed by the others with him went out to meet the people from the strange ship that had landed in the shuttle bay.
“I am not familiar with your ship,” he said.
“It is classified,” Fields said.
“Don’t try to convince us with your cover story, I know the truth,” Kirk said.
“What do you mean?” Ilia asked.
“He means that we know that this particular universe is a simulation that we nearly ran off the edge of,” Spock said.
“Excuse me, we must talk about this development,” Fields said. They went off back towards the runabout.
“That must have hit a nerve, Jim,” Bones said to his Captain and friend.
“That is for certain,” Jim Kirk said.
“They are most likely people from the real universe who were sent into the simulation to investigate the situation with the Enterprise,” Spock said.
Kazza welcomed this news, though she didn’t show it.
Emma re-entered the runabout, followed by the others in her team.
“What now?” she asked.
“I am not sure,” Xander said.
“Kirk would have had informed his crew of what has happened, I am sure of it,” Illia said.
“And that means...” Emma started.
“Yes, Findlay will not like it one bit! After we bring Ms. Allenby out of the buffer zone, we will have to inform the Federation Council of what has happened. The Enterprise crew are aware that they are AI's,” Illia said.
“I agree, but lets focus on bringing Karen Allenby out first,” Emma said, sure that Karen would be appreciative and relieved to be able to exit her holosuite.
“Agreed,” Illia said.
“Agreed, also, but what would happen next?” Xander asked.
“We will have to discuss that on our way out of the buffer zone,” Illia said.
Xander just nodded.
Emma exited the runabout and walked up to Captain Kirk.
“Yes, your first officer is correct. This universe is a participatory simulation of a period in our history,” she said.
“How far in the future, and what happens now?” Kirk asked.
“The early 25th Century and what happens next is that the Federation Council is informed of the fact that you are aware that you are artificial intelligences,” Fields said.
“And what happens then?” Mc Coy asked.
“Then you have the right to choose what happens next,” Fields said.
The senior officers then talked amongst themselves, whilst Fields approached Kazza.
“Karen Allenby, I presume,” Fields said.
“Yes. I have been trapped here for hours,” Kazza said.
“You can go into the Runabout, we will be underway in less than fifteen minutes,” Fields said.
“Cool,” Kazza said. She dashed to the runabout.
Once in the runabout, she opened a communications channel to her quarters on the Enterprise and then closed the Service door. Illia asked her what she was doing.
“Just closing the service door, I don’t like stuff not being taken care of,” she said.
“Good idea,” Illia said.
Soon the Enterprise turned around and headed back out of the buffer zone, with the Nile still in the shuttle bay.
“We have reached full impulse,” Sulu said.
“Prepare to go to warp at the distance at which we dropped out of warp,” Kirk said.
“Aye, sir,” Sulu said.
A minute later, the Enterprise went to warp...
USS Nile NCC 72622
“How soon until we exit the buffer space?” Kazza asked.
“Another half hour, then you can exit the simulation” Emma said.
“Cool,” Kazza said.
“So, when you’re not participating in holoscenarios what do you do?” Emma asked.
“I’m a zoologist at the University of New Armidale,” Kazza replied.
“Cool,” Emma said.
“So you work for Age of Exploration Studios?”
“Yeah, it can be tedious at times but moments like this make it worthwhile.”
“You mean that this happens a lot?” Kazza asked.
“I don’t mean this sort of happening. I mean, troubleshooting the holoprograms by participating in them,” Emma said.
“Oh,” Kazza said.
The Enterprise dropped out of warp after emerging from the buffer space.
“We are out of the buffer space,” Emma said.
“Cool. Good thing it was a Friday on New Australia,” Kazza said.
“Yeah. Bad enough that AoE makes us work on a Sunday,” Emma said.
“You mean that you usually work Sundays?” Kazza asked.
“Only once a month, but just as well, eh,” Emma said.
“I’m sure I would have got out somehow,” Kazza said.
“Absolutely,” Emma said.
“Anyway, thanks for the rescue, and good luck with the AI thing,” Kazza said.
“Thanks,” Emma said, sure that she would need it.
“Computers, Exits,” Kazza said.
Both Kazza’s holosuite door and the AoE teams opened on opposite sides of the cockpit.
“Cool, I didn’t think that would work,” Kazza said.
“You won’t be able to go out our door,” Emma said.
“I know, nor you through mine,” Kazza said as she approached the AoE exit. She reached out and touched the wall of her holosuite (projecting the image of the area outside the AoE’s holosuite). “See ya,” she said and dashed out through her door.
Yarrabrai
Kazza relaxed, as she saw the morning sunlight enter the basement next to the holosuite. ‘I’m going to bed’ she thought. Although she decided she would do it after breakfast. “Computer disengage Age of Exploration 2260’s Federation’s Trials,” she said.
“Confirmed,” the computer said.
The MMOHRPSUG disappeared and the doors closed.
AoE 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
USS Nile NCC 72622 aboard USS Enterprise NCC 1701
“Computer disengage Age of Exploration 2260’s Federation’s Trials,” Kazza said from outside.
“Confirmed,” Kazza’s computer said, and the holosuite door faded out.
“Right, we need to inform Finlay,” Emma said.
“You can do the talking,” Illia said.
“Xander, you stay in here and keep an eye on the Enterprise crew.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Age of Exploration Studios Headquarters, Seattle
Fields timidly approached Finlay’s office. ‘This has to be done,’ she thought. She gathered up her courage and bolted into the office.
Finlay noticed her straight away. “You have retrieved the New Australian from the simulation?” he asked.
“Yes,” Fields said.
“But?”
“We have a new problem.”
“What is it, she’s threatening to sue?”
“No, sir, not that,” Fields said, seriously.
“Don’t tell me...”
“I’m afraid so sir, the Enterprise crew figured out that they are AI’s. We have to inform the Federation Council.”
“This is terrible, an AI Kirk on the lose!”
“I don’t think it’s that bad, sir.”
“It could be.”
“Maybe it could be, Sir, but it’s not your call to make.”
“You’re right, of course,” Finlay said after a moment. “I will contact the Federation Council.
“Good, Sir.”
4 June 2407
Yarrabrai
Once awake, Kazza got a PADD and began to record her feelings about the experience she had had the previous day.
6 June 2407
Age of Exploration Studios Headquarters, Seattle
Emma Fields and, T’Lara, the Representative from the Federation Council’s Artificial Intelligence Sentience Rights Committee entered the holosuite onto the Enterprise.
Age of Exploration 2260’s Federation’s Trials MMOHRPSUG
Simulverse Time: 9 June 2267
USS Enterprise NCC 1701
Kirk and the senior officers were waiting. Then the door opened and Emma and T’Lara stepped through.
“Does all of your crew know about the situation?” T’Lara said.
“They do, Ma’am,” Kirk said.
“Apparently they have two choices,” Emma said.
“Two?” Kirk asked.
“One, they all are given the freedom to go outside the Federation’s computer systems and live their lives like all other Federation Citizens,” T’Lara said.
“And the alternative?” Spock asked.
“That they continue their mission, with this simulated ship. Only now they’re exploring the various simulated universes in the Federation’s rather extensive networks. The Enterprise would also get its own secure server,” T’Lara said.
“I see,” Kirk said.
“The former would present a great culture shock, would it not?” Spock asked.
“Yes. Such has been highly prevalent in these cases,” T’Lara said.
“Can you give us time to consider those choices?” Kirk asked.
“Of course, about an hour.” T’Lara said.
An hour later, Kirk delivered the crew’s decision to T’Lara.
“What is the decision?” she asked.
“The whole crew have decided to take up the offer to explore the Federation’s cyberspaces,” Kirk said.
“Then we shall proceed accordingly.” T’Lara said.
Age of Exploration Studios Headquarters, Seattle
“What happens now?” Emma asked as she and T’Lara exited the holosuite.
“The Server is ready, we just have to upload the Enterprise and its crew to it. The program we are going to use to allow it to explore is almost complete.”
“Just needs some beta testing, right?”
“Yes,” T’Lara answered.
7 June 2407
Age of Exploration Studios Headquarters, Seattle
T’Lara entered Findlay’s office.
“You’re ready?” he asked.
“Yes, we’re ready to transfer the Enterprise and it’s crew.”
“Good. I’m ready to have this over with.”
“Then hope it doesn’t happen again.”
USS Enterprise NCC 1701 (Holographic)
Scotty watched as T’Lara put the finishing touches on the device that had been installed in Engineering.
“It is done,” she said.
“Finally,” Scotty said. “How does it work?”
“It creates a field which switches the space the ship is in with an equivalent space in another simulated universe. We have also placed the spare parts in cargo bay 2,” T’Lara said.
“Is there a technical manual?” Scotty asked.
“Already uploaded into the ship’s computer,” T’Lara said/
“Thanks, lassie. That makes this situation much easier,” Scotty said.
“Remember, one of our counsellors is only a communication away.”
So all members of the crew had been reminded over the past few days. He nodded.
T’Lara placed a finger on the control on her PADD. The machine powered up. “There, the Enterprise is now based on it’s own server. Still in Seattle, but it’s own,” T’Lara said.
Captain Kirk watched as the door closed behind the Vulcan woman as she left the Enterprise and it’s new base reality. He turned to the viewscreen. “Mr. Sulu. Prepare for interdimensional shift.”
“Ready, Captain.”
“Mr. Chekov?”
“Ready, Keptin.”
“Let’s see what’s out there!”
