Plan B

Again standing to ask for the floor, Kheren looked at the starbase commander.

"If I may, Sir, I beleive I can offer this alternative from what has been thoroughly researched and field-tested by Mister Syntron, my chief of science, and the rest of my crew."

Following a nod from the fleet captain, the Andorian stepped down the levels of the amphitheater to join him on the central podium.

"With your permission, Sir..."

Then he called outloud:

"Computer: link with USS Artemis computer; on starbase main conference room holoemitter, display ship records from stardate 87057.83."

As the tridimensional representation came to life, Kheren addressed the assembled officers.

"You may all request from starbase's databanks technical and research specifications needed to quickly and easily adapt your systems for the task," he began. "But to put it simply and succintly: since polaric ions are capable of generating waves of subspace fractures, inversing them reverse the process and effectively close these fractures."

On the holodisplay appeared an excerpt from the recorded logs of the Artemis, from the time it had discovered the X'Ell Dyson shell; indeed, the titanic spherical construct the size of a solar system could be glimpsed against the background of stars from time to time, as the recorder followed the gyrations of the USS Artemis before the cosmic inferno of the Azimuth Horizon. Another, much smaller disc-shaped craft could be seen as well, eventually revealing itself to be the detached bridge of the Ambassador class refit.

"As you can see, we already field-tested the procedure successfully and, with it, averted the destruction of the X'Ell homeworld. By recalibrating the main deflector dish to emit anti-polaric ion pulses, we could use it in concentrated beams directly into the fractures and, in effect... stitch them up."

On the tridimensional image, both crafts were darting white bursts of energy from their front end. Each time a pulse struck an emerging tendril of plasma, the blaze was blown out like a candle flame.

"As you can all guess, our one ship alone could not neutralize enough of these fractures to even begin to smother an anomaly of this magnitude. But just as obviously, a concerted approach with all the fleet's ships would cut off some of those lines of expansion while we also entrench its overall growth with directed subspace fractures from our adjusted warp geometry. This will give us the best chance to permanently trap this thing within its own current subspace and normal space domains.And if not... with enough time and luck, possibly cut off all its doorways into normal space."

Making a pause to let everyone digest the data, the Andorian took a breath and then added:

"From reports of Lieutenant Pel, the chief science officer of the Alsea I read this morning, we can also implement a field-tested sensor-nav reflex system of her own devizing that will allow our ships to predict the emergence of a plasma ejection from a subspace fracture. By connecting this sensor-warning system to navigation and to our modified deflector emissions, each ship will be able to effectively detect, steer clear and close up any emanation of the anomaly before it strikes. And, to be on the safe side, implementing the Metaphasic Shielding Program Laforge One will further garantee the safety of all ships and crews, even those without ablative regenerative armor. This way, we will dig our firewall around this cosmic blaze... or, if it comes to worst, eventually hope to cut off all its entry points into our universe."

Kheren ended the projection.

"Configuring our ship' systems this way should also help us better concentrate on dealing with any... interference... while effectively caging, or smothering, the Azimuth Horizon."

Saluting Fleet Captain Allen Samji, the commanding officer of the Artemis stepped down from the podium and went back to his seat.