| SUBMITTED: Stardate 96144.1 | FILED BY: CAPT Zaliel Sel | SECURITY: Level 3 - Restricted |
LOCATION: RAQ-8971 System, Aldebaran Sector
MISSION: Perform field test of Daystrom Institute's Directed Energy Replication Pattern Articulator (DERPA) prototype
OUTCOME: Completed and Verified 2/3 tests. Attacked by Romulan ship intent on stealing DERPA. Doctor Wex KIA, Prototype Destroyed
KEY PERSONNEL:
CAPT Zaliel Sel
CMDR Tellara Zarath
LCDR Wimini Zolwink (NPC)
LT Salek Lovet
LT Victor Castillo
ENS Amset
CDT Robin Monre
RADM Dmitri Konieczko
LT Sera Valore
CIV Wex (NPC)
CMDR Tellara Zarath
LCDR Wimini Zolwink (NPC)
LT Salek Lovet
LT Victor Castillo
ENS Amset
CDT Robin Monre
RADM Dmitri Konieczko
LT Sera Valore
CIV Wex (NPC)
NARRATIVE: In accordance with a request from both the Daystrom Institute for Advanced Practical Engineering and Starfleet Command, Brahe hosted an experiment of a Doctor Wex of the Daystrom Institute. He claimed that his device, the Directed Energy Replication Pattern Articulator (DERPA), would allow starships to replicate objects previous difficult or impossible to replicate, such as shuttlecraft and even entire ready-to-fly starships.
As started in the original testing protocol, Brahe traveled to the nearby RAQ-8971 system to perform the test away from the high EM activity of the Deep Space 13, where we, under the direct observation of Rear Admiral Konieczko, conducted the tests in three parts:
Test 1 - Replication of a Type 9 Shuttlecraft - The test completed successfully in approximately 15 seconds. The replicated shuttle was tractored into the Brahe shuttlebay where it underwent extensive scans. The result of which showed a slight molecular drift consistent with earlier simulations. This shuttle was handed over to the DS13 Dockmaster on completion and will be returned to the Daystrom Institute along with Doctor Wex's shuttle.
Test 2 - A two-story Federation colonial habitat. This test took approximately 40 seconds. Too large to be placed in the shuttle or cargo bays, extensive scans of the structure using the Brahe sensor systems indicated the structure exactly matched the configuration presented. This structure was tractored away from the testing area, where it would eventually be destroyed by the explosion of a Romulan ship.
Test 3 - Replication of the Brahe. This was the most controversial test and the point of contention during the pre-mission staff meeting. Many officers, including Rear Admiral Konieczko, expressed concern regarding this effort. Doctor Wex was directly asked if the device would replicate organic matter, which he assured the crew that it would not. This test took approximately 57 minutes to complete; however, just as the beam was disengaging, a Romaulan vessel decloaked and attacked the Brahe.
Test 2 - A two-story Federation colonial habitat. This test took approximately 40 seconds. Too large to be placed in the shuttle or cargo bays, extensive scans of the structure using the Brahe sensor systems indicated the structure exactly matched the configuration presented. This structure was tractored away from the testing area, where it would eventually be destroyed by the explosion of a Romulan ship.
Test 3 - Replication of the Brahe. This was the most controversial test and the point of contention during the pre-mission staff meeting. Many officers, including Rear Admiral Konieczko, expressed concern regarding this effort. Doctor Wex was directly asked if the device would replicate organic matter, which he assured the crew that it would not. This test took approximately 57 minutes to complete; however, just as the beam was disengaging, a Romaulan vessel decloaked and attacked the Brahe.
The Romulan attack immediately crippled the Brahe's propulsion systems. Energy surges caused by the attack also created a feedback within the DERPA, destroying the components inside both deflector relays. A tractor beam was then engaged to prevent us from raising shields or taking other defensive measures. Before the Brahe could respond, the Romulan ship attempted to beam Doctor Wex from the bridge. The quick actions of the bridge crew prevented the Romulans from completing transport; unfortunately, Doctor Wex did not survive the rematerialization process, despite the efforts of the Brahe medical staff.
The Brahe was then contacted by the Romulan ship--over audio only--by a Commander who refused to identify himself, his ship, or the nation of its affiliation. A scan of the vessel did not place it within the list of Republic ships on file. The Commander then demanded that the Brahe hand over Doctor Wex and the DERPA prototype, or be destroyed. Severally outmatched and unable to flee, the Brahe ostensibly agreed to the terms, claiming it would take four hours to remove the prototype--the Romulans gave us one hour.
In truth, the Brahe crew worked valiantly to restore warp engines and long-range communications, in addition to a desperate plan to scuttle the ship in advance of the Romulan's deadline if necessary.
Shortly before the Romulan's deadline was met, the replicated Brahe suddenly jumped to warp, colliding with the Romulan ship, destroying both. Fortunately for our ship, the shields snapped back the moment the tractor beam was released, which protected the Brahe against the destruction of both ships.
Once the Brahe settled, Ensign Amset informed the Bridge that he had received a transmission from another Amset aboard the replicated Brahe. This information was logged into the ship's computer and required Captain's Level Authorization to review. Upon later review of the contents of the Amset transmission (attached to this report), the following information was observed:
- The DERPA, in addition to creating a replica of the Brahe, also replicated the crew
- Neither replication was perfect, as indicated by Amset's own log and the Bridge chatter
- Several systems did not replicate correctly, including liquified circuitry
- At least a third of the crew had either died immediately or degenerated rapidly, resulting in aggressive, violent outbursts
- Doctor Castillo's replicated counterpart provided more detailed medical scans via Amset, showing the rapid degradation of neurosynaptic pathways caused by the incomplete replication
- The replicated Doctor Wex admitted that some of his simulations involved replicating animals to see if the technology could be used in such a manner, a claim he stated was partially successful
Based on the information provided by the replicated Amset, we believe that the Replicated Brahe crew, coming to understand their nature and fate, chose to sacrifice their lives to save our ship and prevent the prototype from falling into Romulan hands. It is the opinion of this author that their actions were meritorious and worthy of citation--though the answer of how one awards the action of an officer's replicated counterpart is unclear.
RECOMMENDATION: None at this time
COMMANDING OFFICER'S COMMENT: As a Starfleet Officer, I am dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and advancement of science. I believe that our technological innovations and capacity to learn are paramount to our ability to raise the quality of life for all peoples in the galaxy. While I do not believe Doctor Wex acted with malice, the ethical question of the DERPA technology should be raised. Further, whether the Federation--or the galaxy--is ready for a technology like Doctor Wex's is a matter in need of dire consideration. It is not hard to imagine a future where entire ships and crews are created from nothing and squandered again and again in the pursuit of conquest. How devalued is life when it can be simply recreated? How easy is war when all it takes is a little energy to create whole armadas?
We have already seen such dangers with the unintended creation of sentient holograms: people made of light who think, feel, and have ambition. I caution Starfleet and the Daystrom Institute from walking the same ethically dubious path--one marked with photons only to later be paved in blood.
I acknowledge that other powers may create this technology before us. That a ship and crew lost could be restored; that many broken families could potentially be made whole if this technology were to be perfected. These things I do not deny. I only caution and hope my superiors will weigh carefully the benefits against the dangers with wisdom and integrity.
OOC: This is OG Captain Sel's perspective on the events surrounding One Brahe, Two Brahe, Red Brahe, Blue Brahe