Potter's Field Forum report/summary

Subspace Network Reports
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1
Stardate:
102755.3
Filed By:
CMDR Sedai, Katriel
Clearance:

FORUM PROMPT Conclusion of Potter’s Field Anomaly expansion is of serious concern. Review findings from Lost Buoys report and outline potential next steps.

OUTCOME Unable to conjecture what the actual cause of anomaly expansion might be with our current information levels, but there is a strong probability that there is a connection to Yuhop Wormhole and its rotating feature. Further exploration of a possible previously unknown or considered seventh terminus would likely yield more information about anomaly’s behavior and how to act on it.

KEY PERSONNEL

  • CAPT Kermit, J.
  • CAPT Mika, K.
  • CAPT Tungsten
  • CMDR Sedai
  • LCDR Greene
  • LCDR Suvik
  • LT Sovum
  • ENS Vemok

NARRATIVE

Discussion started out somewhat speculatively, with personnel offering summaries of previous engagements with Potter’s Field anomaly and discussion of untested hypotheses.

In the meantime, Ensign Vemok had evidently been studying the previous report results more carefully and, crossreferencing with DS13 data banks, he discovered the time interval between the buoys’ failure timestamps exactly matches the length of time of a full Yuhop Wormhole rotation cycle (72 + 3.6861 hours, or 75h 41m 10s). This led the Ensign to the conclusion that there is possibly a seventh terminus to which the Yuhop wormhole normally leads in the supposed 3hr 41m 10s ‘inactive’ window, but for whatever reason, it does not open and we do not know the destination. The simplest explanation, as Ensign Vemok noted, is that the seventh terminus opens in Potter’s Field directly, resulting in an energy exchange that potentially makes the field grow.

All officers found this theory of the seventh terminus to be fairly convincing, though we differed on the possible results of what we might find at the end of it, even if we could manage to open the Yuhop end. The following suggestions have been laid out as possible next courses of action:

(1) Acquire the means to prompt open the Yuhop wormhole during its inactive period, possibly from discussion with Itrin or by getting access to the remaining Azedi dreadnought

(2) Determine some other experimental method for forcing entry to the Yuhop wormhole during its inactive period, which would potentially put Yuhop itself at risk

(3) Determine and develop some other experimental method or vessel that can withstand Potter’s Field’s power drain capabilities enough to send a serious explorative investigation to learn more about the anomaly directly.

RECOMMENDATION Immediate expedition to confirm that the time interval between anomaly growths is the same value, as all else depends on this hypothesis.

RECOGNITION ENS Vemok’s analysis of the results from the lost buoys report was critical to a productive discussion.

OOC Transcript here.

Thanks for brainstorming everyone! If anyone is interested in pursuing something based off this report, let me know.
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USS Reyga - Captain's Log
AAR: Full Circle: Survival Mode Launch Event
2
Stardate:
102756.4
Filed By:
LCDR Suvik
Clearance:

ADDENDUM Given the rate of power depletion measured during previous incursions, the average power requirements for maintenance of a static warp field of sufficient volume, the maximum sustainable non-relativistic sublight velocity, and the linear distance to the center of the anomaly at its narrowest point, it has been determined that an exploratory mission would require an approximate transit time of two years, ten months, twenty one days, and two hours – each way, for a vessel with the equivalent power production rate of eight Mark XIV starship-grade matter/antimatter reactors. There is a singular possible candidate in the Starfleet inventory: the feat could be accomplished by a current-generation starbase M/AM power plant, assuming one were fitted with appropriately sized warp coil assemblies and adequate fusion power remained available for mission support.

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3
Stardate:
102767.0
Filed By:
CMDR Sedai, Katriel
Clearance:

ADDENDUM At this time, USS Reyga and a separate DS13-based crew on the USS Asimov have both been able to independently reproduce results that confirm the Potter’s Field anomaly expands suddenly and only at specific time intervals, i.e. every 75h 41m and 10s.

Additionally, I have spent some time in discussion with Elder Koenraddyariel of the Itrin and have some peculiar findings to report. Up until this conversation, he has always been calmly genial and respectful, but his countenance shifted subtly when I introduced the topic of the Field and our observations of its growth. I could not discern what it was that I said exactly that caused this change and when I confronted him directly on it, he only demurred that anything was amiss.

The Elder did clarify that, of course, the Itrin people have known of the anomaly and did not understand the principles that govern its physics or strangeness. Likewise, though they have existed in the region for far longer than almost any other species, they had not been aware that it was expanding. This much of his explanation seemed to be true, at least as far as my senses could confirm. But I admit it is difficult to dismiss the feeling that perhaps the Itrin are aware of more than what they were interested in sharing.

Finally, the Elder did additionally apologize that he would not be able to provide Starfleet with any details or knowledge of the wormhole drives or stablization techniques that he claims the Itrin evidently pioneered. Not only would it be challenging to impart the knowledge without extensive additional theoretical understanding, after the downfall of the Itrin Hierarchy, it became forbidden for Itrin to share or provide knowledge of Itrin technology with any other species.

Elder Koenraddyariel did say he would be willing to speak with the other Elders to see if an exception could be made, so with that concession, I chose not to press the issue.

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4
Stardate:
102772.4
Filed By:
Perim, N.
Clearance:

ADDENDUM Surprising development. The Ralin Commonwealth has come into possession of a heavily damaged Azedi dreadnought. Despite the damage, we have confirmed that it has been repaired to a … mostly spaceworthy state, and that its wormhole drive remains operational.

With news of the Potter’s Field expansion, Ralin has agreed to aid in Starfleet’s research efforts. Asimov has been redeployed to Ralin to support diplomatic efforts, while the dreadnought is on its way to rendezvous with Reyga near Yuhop.

Note that while Ralin has agreed to the use of the dreadnought and its wormhole drive, Starfleet personnel will not be permitted direct access to its systems. This must be considered a joint operation. Expect to relay instructions through the Ralin crew.

Good luck.

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