Curing a Cancer

"Thank you for coming so quickly, Lt. Syntron," Jolie said as she gestured to an empty chair at the conference table. "Dr. Nasaro-Myth and I were talking about medical problems we might encounter with the anomaly. During the meeting with Fleet Captain Samji, it occurred to me that this anomaly acts very much like a cancer--spreads rapidly through any route it can, takes over with mindlessness, prevents normal tissues from functioning properly. We have cured cancer by teaching the body to recognize the cells as invaders, cut off its ability to get nourishment from the health tissues around it, and even to reprogram the cancer DNA into normal DNA again. I know cosmology and astronomy obviously don't work the same as medicine, but could we still not apply some of the concepts? Cut off the subspace routes to prevent spread? Keep the anomaly from gaining energy from the universe around it? Perhaps we could even teach our normal universe to recognize it as 'foreign' and protect itself?"

She laced her fingers together and tapped her forefingers in thought, and then looked at the Vulcan Lieutenant with an intensity that made her onxy eyes glitter. "I know it probably sounds crazy, but there must be some way to heal the galaxy."

"Well, cutting off routes for it to spread any further, that's what we are going to do with this whole operation, thanks to what we know of subspace fractures made by misaligned warp cores and, of course, the suturing of fractures themselves with the inverted ionic pulse emitter of our dear lieutenant here," started to say Elliago with a nod towards his crewmate. " But that is like covering a wound to stop bleeding and prevent infection; what we're looking for here is if we could have the body, here normal space, repair itself... cure the cancer instead of just stopping it."

“This is a rather curious approach to this phenomenon." Syntron began, "However, from a biological point of view Doctors, I’m not certain that we can even begin to rely on any type of biological remedy to resolve something that is inorganic in nature… other than perceiving this endeavor metaphorically. In this case, with this anomaly’s ability to dimensionally shift between space-time, our solution does seem to be limited to somehow mending the subspace fractures throughout the quadrant to prevent it from entering our space at all.”

The Vulcan science officer then paused for a moment and considered how much these doctors were familiar with what they specifically learned about the anomaly and their procedures during their last missions on the Artemis. He then continued with a brief summary.

“During our previous missions, we reconfigured our sensor arrays and our modified deflector enhancements, including a directional space sonar, to feed the data that we collected surrounding the ship and beyond immediately to our systems in the science stations. Our reprogrammed Astrometrics lab computer in conjunction with the updated interface to the Stellar Cartography computer provided instantaneous data analysis and projections, and thus we were able to directly follow and predict virtually all anomaly activities, via imminent subspace fractures, in and beyond our proximity range; even before they occurred. We then developed the means to instantaneously recalibrate all of these signals to tactical, science and ops stations and consoles on both the main bridge and the auxiliary bridge to provide preventative countermeasures. This provided us with the advantage throughout the Artemis of effectively countering these subspace fractures with the upmost speed, precision and efficiency before the anomaly could emerge and spew out additional damage. Or to paraphrase this using an old Terran medical axiom, we employed an ounce of prevention that was certainly worth much more than a pound of cure.”

He then added “So Doctors, since we are not dealing with an entity with a built in immune system or other defensive means, elucidate how you intend to surgically “cure” this lifeless anomaly?”

"I know it's not organic, of course, so to a degree the concept is indeed metaphorical," Jolie said, tipping her head in thought. "However, when a host is without an immune system, we can provide a cure that gives the being the proper immune system. In the old days, we used to use transfusions of blood products to provide the needed white blood cells, or we immunized to teach the body how to recognize that antigen to fight it off the disease. Now we use nanites to reprogram the infectious or cancerous cells. Yes, that's an organic being, but DNA is still a chemical that can be altered. A neuron is organic, but it creates an entirely physical electric potential that travels from negative to positive or vice versa. We can predict that electrochemical potential and re-route it, even reverse it if we need."

She brushed a lock of auburn hair behind her ear as she pulled up the holoimage of the anomaly and the subspace fractures through which it traveled. "Just like a cancer, the anomaly can, as you noted, travel through these fractures. We need to continue 'healing' them to prevent the easiest route. But what if it bursts through somewhere else here at the center, like a tumor grown too large?" She stabbed at the large glowing region. "This is what we need to figure out how to shrink or remove it from our space-time continuum. We can't use organic means, but we can use the ideas. The anomaly translates into our space because there is something here that allows it to, and we have whatever it needs--a chemical, or a particular energy signature, or something else that fuels it. It's mindless just like lightning is, but lightning travels because it seeks the opposite charge. It's mindless, but that's still what it requires. Not only do we need to seal the fractures, but I think we need to repulse it electromagnetically--make our universe an environment that is hostile to its growth. If we can use nanites to create electrochemical signals to repulse cancer cells, we might be able to use some devices that key in on the electromagnetic spectrum of the anomaly in order to create an electromagnetic field that repulses it. That would buy us more time to seal the fractures, particularly on the larger breaches."

Elliago nodded as the chief medical officer of the Lotus explained her approach to the problem, until she spoke of electromagnetism.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, Mister Syntron, but I seem to recall that, on our first encounter with the anomaly, it was noted that it had no gravimetric or electromagnetic energy; no mass and no polarity. Obviously, this means any kind of EM pulse will not affect it; nor can we tractor it away. But I think you are still on to something here, Doctor. What about the nucleonics and chronitons? Lieutenant... could we affect them or use them to affect it the way Doctor Bindo suggests?"

Nodding his head in affirmation, the science officer appreciated the eloquence of what Doctor Bindo was conveying.

“Perhaps” Syntron continued “the anomaly is not seeking like lightning to an opposite charge, but spilling into our system as water behind a dam seeps as cracks begin to emerge. The greater the number and size of the cracks, the more water is able to escape. The question is doctors, will our time and resources best be utilized focusing on an attempt at controlling the anomaly itself to some degree, or instead, directed toward preventing it from continuing to enter into our time and space? Or to carry on with the previous analogy, will we try to control the vast amounts of water and immeasurable potential energy restrained on the other side of this wall, or do we fix the cracks in the dam holding back this lethal anomaly?”

After a brief reflective pause and a shifting of thoughts, Syntron continued.

“You are correct Doctor Nasaro-Myth in that the anomaly has neither mass nor polarity and emits no gravimetric or electromagnetic energy. Yet we found that we could manipulate to a small degree the outer edges of the anomaly by using a graviton beam to append an additional gravitational pull on the anomaly followed by a high level anti-graviton beam to equally repel the perimeter of the anomaly within close proximity. This theoretically shouldn’t work yet somehow influences the shape of the anomaly’s perimeter. But this manipulation unfortunately is on a relatively miniscule scale and doesn’t at this level solve any major factors of the overall threat… unless we construct a way to upscale this method and perhaps implement this in conjunction with other procedures.”

Syntron then studied the holographic image of the anomaly and the subspace fractures as he elaborated.

“In reference to nucleonics, it would be a challenge to affect the quantum behavior of atomic nuclei within an anomaly that shifts its existence in and out of our time and space. Could they be use in conjunction with chronitons and their temporal properties? This is something to consider. However, since extensive old warp trails and possible chronitron traces from cloaking devices of starships could have been potential catalysts to these subspace fractures emerging to begin with, we’ll need to proceed cautiously to avoid exacerbating the situation we are attempting to resolve.”

Looking away from the holoimage for a moment, Syntron then postulated.

“So perhaps the question for the moment is this… since we can now effectively detect these subspace fractures before they occur and we are able to suture these fractures using inverted ionic pulse emitters, is there a way to upscale and expand all of these known quantities, techniques and systems… perhaps in combination with other methodologies to eventually corral and push this anomalous intruder out of our system altogether?”

"You tell us," chimmed in the Deltan with a wink and a smile. "You're the expert here."

He glanced then at his colleague from the flagship.

"Doctor Bindo, I still think your on to something here with your idea of treating this anomaly like some invading germ or spreading cancer into our universe seen as a living organism..."

His purple eyes glazed over for a moment before he suddenly turned back towards the Vulcan.

"Mister Syntron; since our universe is not lacking in nucleons, even in space, could chronitons be possibly the way to, I don't know... stimulate them like some antibodies to work against the anomaly?"

An eyebrow was slightly raised as the science officer peered toward Doctor Nasaro-Myth as he responded to his comment and his inquiry.

“At this point doctor, several methods could be possible, but nothing is certain… other than the eminent danger that this anomaly presents.”

Reflecting again on the Doctor’s proposal, Syntron responded “In using chronitons, even if employed by chroniton torpedoes, I would be concerned about some type of chronokinetic rebound that could strike any nearby ships resulting in temporal fractures in the regions around the existing subspace fractures and within the ships themselves if the reaction was unexpectedly swift. What type of unforeseeable consequences these temporal fluctuations could create is also a consideration. However, it may be possible to set up a series of simulations on our ship to safely test some possible scenarios; including a chroniton factor. But the actual results would obviously not be known unless these were conducted in proximity to the anomaly itself.”

"If we had any such chroniton torpedoes, that is..." observed Elliago with a heavy sigh. "I will certainly not debate you on the subject. Back at the Academy, I barely made it out of the temporal mechanics basic course alive and sane."

He had heard of these exotic warheads... but only that they were still highly experimental... and highly classified.

Jolie's forehead knit together as she considered all the information. "It must be gaining energy--or anti-energy if appropriate--from somewhere, however, or it wouldn't be growing as fast as it is. We definitely need to suture the fractures, but we also need to cut off whatever is in this space-time that is allowing it to grow. We can only seal so many fractures at one time. I'm betting one of the engineers can come up with a way to scale the suturing process up to a macro level." She frowned harder. "Wait--you said you could predict the imminent fractures. That implies you can predict the timing. Can we not somehow synchronize the chronitons to the anomaly's appearance in our universe, and then use the nucleonics to repel it or even drain the energy from the anomaly?"

Syntron listened attentively to Doctor Bindo’s proposition.

“We were basing the predictions of these subspace readings on the physical measurements were receiving from the high level of chronitons detected from our enhanced sensor arrays rather than any sort of regulated timing of energy… like that of a pulsar. From what we have gathered thus far in our extensive examination of this phenomenon, its activity seems to be more chaotic rather than synchronous.”

Focusing his gaze back onto the projected image of the anomaly, Syntron continued with his thought.

“As you know, this anomaly with its plasma-like composition is normally camouflaged by matching frequencies of typical background radiation in space. Its concealment is only revealed as the emerging tendrils of the anomaly escape out of the subspace fractures in a given area of proximity.”

Then an idea began to coalesce in his mind.

“Going back to perceiving this endeavor metaphorically in terms of biology… what about hypothermia? As you well know Doctors… biologically this is the condition in which the core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions to continue. However, in this case we’re dealing with the high temperatures associated with plasma-like energy. It is very cold in space. Theoretically speaking, if we deprived the anomaly of the extreme temperatures required to maintain its high energy state, then the energy of this anomaly would reduce to the point of deionization; reverting it back down to a mere gaseous state of matter.”

The Deltan nodded pensively then spoke almost as if for himself.

"Make sense... but... with a cosmic phenomenon nearly three cubic parsecs in size... that would requires a mighty big bucket of icy water..."

The thought may have sounded ironic, but still, it pointed out to the very cosmic-scaled scope of the problem... and such scope being a problem in itself, above and beyond the very thing they were facing. And so, Elliago looked again at his shipmate.

"Any idea how we could do that? Herakles had a nearby river to deviate and with it clean the Augean'stables... We are not that lucky."

Syntron reflected deeper into the possibilities of initiating a deionization cascade effect within the anomaly until he was struck with a possible method.

“The tendril-like whips that emerge from subspace are exothermic extensions from the plasma reactions of the anomaly entering into our time-space.” The Vulcan scientist began.

“Like a multidimensional doorway, theoretically we should be able to inject a cooling agent into this threshold before sealing the fractures using inverted ionic pulse emitters. Therefore to use Doctor Nasaro-Myth’s metaphoric ‘bucket of ice water' reference, we could strategically launch a series of customized trilithium probes from each of the fleet’s starships that once simultaneously detonated at designated areas around the anomaly, could theoretically eliminate sizable aspects of the fusion reactions occurring within the anomaly, and thus significantly impact its allegorical metabolism. The resultant shockwaves would theoretically be trapped within the anomaly’s own dimension of space/time since it would be deprived of the energy required to expand through any remaining subspace fractures.”

Elliago frowned as he listened to the Vulcan; not so much because he had a bit of a hard time following the scientific principles behind the proposal as he was preoccupied with the larger view of things. And this he put into words.

"Trilithium... a substance that can even make a star go nova... not your run of the mill firecracker you know. What about the consequences for the wormhole to to this other universe inside of it... and for this pocket universe itself?"

“Indeed” Syntron acknowledged “This is a rather ambitious proposal. However, if we implement a minimal amount of trilithium in each probe, then the reactions would be more implosive than explosive. Our intention is to nullify the anomaly’s energy not contribute to it. In addition, if each probe is strategically placed within the perimeter around the anomaly, then the resultant oscillations of shockwaves as an inverse result of the implosion would theoretically counteract each other through the destructive interference of each set of waves… or at least thwart the preponderance of potentially destructive waves within the given region of the anomaly. This should minimize any potential damage inflicted on either system; certainly less than the damage already caused but this dangerously relentless anomaly.”

The Deltan doctor's purple eyes suddenly widened.

"Wait! It just occured to me; this is possibly how the Romulans intend destroying the anomaly! With a plasma torpedo!"

He could already see the eyebrow of the Vulcan arch up in typical fashion, but he plowed on, dread etching his voice.

"I'm no tactical officer but, aren't trilithium isotopes found as toxic waste product of matter-antimatter warp cores... and in Romulan plasma torpedoes? Isn't that why the first ones back in the twenty-third century were so terribly powerful? Today they have been toned down because of the difficulty of stabilizing those isotopes I suppose... But now, suppose that the Romulans have solved that problem..."

He didn't have to finish. Everyone knew of the Soran incident back in 2371 that had caused the collapse of the Armagosa star and nearly that of the star Veridian, only to be stopped with the loss of the USS Enterprise D of then captain Jean-Luc Picard. With a star of sufficient mass, the inhibition of nuclear reactions from even a small amount of trilithium could lead to a supernova. With a first generation Romulan warhead shot in an anomaly of a cubic parsec in size...

"We must tell the captain!" he simply said.

Jolie's elation at the possibility of solving the anomaly problem while minimizing the casaulty risk turned to utter dread as she listened to Mr. Syntron's elegant proposal, then catching Dr. Nasaro-Myth's mental image of a cubic parsec of space exploding. "And if the Romulans use too much trilithium, the galaxy dies." Her face was white as she stood.

The Deltan nodded to her with a strained smile.

"Doctor Bindo, thank you for your input; it will certainly be of importance to our later efforts dealing with this phenomenon."

Then he turned towards the Vulcan.

"Mister Syntron, I think you and I have to return at once to the Artemis. Since our ship is one of those tasked to face the Romulans, our captain must be advised immediately of what we have discussed here."

As he talked, Doctor Bindo had already called the Lotus and beamed out in a shower of sparkling lights.

“Agreed” Syntron acknowledged as he stood up and activated his combage.

“Syntron to Artemis… Two to beam up.”

Within a matter of seconds, their molecules shimmered out of existence from their meeting room on Starbase 10 only moments after Doctor Bindo was transported to the USS Lotus.