(by 4 people)
My name is Kevin Aaron Aanerson and I am a Starfleet engineer. When you think of Starfleet I'm sure like most people you probably think of all those missions that are so widely publicized about how the captain and command staff of a Starship saves the earth and universe from some great threat or alien plot. You know the stories because we've all read about those truly exciting exploits.
Enamored, where it all began
Ramblings
It seems that when the inner workings of our technology exceeds the understanding of the common man it ceases to be a wonder and takes its place in the background as an adjunct to our lives. Sort of like my holo-collection of early twentieth century bread toasters. The design and function of a toaster is really quite simple and easy to understand. But you don't need to understand how a toaster works to make toast. And that is the basic difference between me and most of the rest of the world/universe, I have a burning desire to understand, in detail, how everything works. I don't like being a spectator unless I have the plans and blueprints to the event.
Transporter TA
Unapproved Tech
When I first heard about transporter TA's I couldn't stop laughing. Lots of boring duty in a transporter bay will give anyone plenty of time to come up with all sorts of diversions. Add to that the average age of the transporter duty personal barely out of their teens and you have the makings of something unique and entertaining, if you"re a guy.
The Incident at xxxeDDes
First Contact
I met the infamous Ensign Peterson at a bar in star dock one day. I thought that he would be tired of talking about the "incident" but he was quite happy to give me a personal audience. I guess it was because it gave him a sort of celebrity status and maybe also because I was buying the drinks. I already knew the story as it was required reading at the academy as it was one of the examples of what not to do when you meet a new alien race. But of course I wanted to hear all the little details from Peterson myself.
Peterson's ship was transporting the ambassador from planet xxxeDDes to a conference with several representatives from the surrounding star system. This was actually a first contact situation but very few aboard knew the details of the mission much less that an ambassador from a new world would be traveling on board. Also unknown was the type of life form the ambassador was or even what he looked like.
Peterson's ship was transporting the ambassador from planet xxxeDDes to a conference with several representatives from the surrounding star system. This was actually a first contact situation but very few aboard knew the details of the mission much less that an ambassador from a new world would be traveling on board. Also unknown was the type of life form the ambassador was or even what he looked like.
Commanding Data
Unapproved Tech
I had a chance to sit down with Jim Trender who is part of the famous team of engineers from the Enterprise. His other claim to fame of course is his part in the Commanding Data incident. I would like to make clear that he and the other two engineers are top notch people with years of experience and service in Starfleet and I have the utmost respect for him and his team.
Because Commander Data's schematics are available for any engineer to examine it is well know that all of his systems are basically autonomous and Commander Data's individual parts can operate independently of the system whole. In other words Data can command any part of his body to perform a function and then continue on with other things without having to address the original command to that separate part. Data can command his hand to perform a task and basically leave it to continue on with that command while he does something else.
Because Commander Data's schematics are available for any engineer to examine it is well know that all of his systems are basically autonomous and Commander Data's individual parts can operate independently of the system whole. In other words Data can command any part of his body to perform a function and then continue on with other things without having to address the original command to that separate part. Data can command his hand to perform a task and basically leave it to continue on with that command while he does something else.
Lights in the Sky
Planets I've Known
I consider myself something of an amateur xeno-archaeologist, it's not that I'm really good at it but when you are a card carrying member of the Intergalactic Xeno-Archaeologist Society "IXAS" you have access to sites that otherwise would be off limits. So I use my membership card any chance I get. I've visited many strange worlds and the thing I like best is the surprise and wonder when you are blown away by something totally unexpected. One of my favorite planets is "Stairways", actually the planets real name is unknown as the entire population has been gone some ten thousand years ago. It was given the name stairways because that is what the entire planet is covered in, hundreds of millions of paths and stairs built above the planet surface to a height of up to 20,000 feet in some areas.
SynPets
Viable Fragments
Developed as an offshoot of late 21st century cloning the SynPet is a silicon tissue organism with the cloned attributes of living animals. The company that developed the first "working" models had for years attempted to grow meat for human consumption. In their fervor to bring to market "The Freshest Meat on the Planet" as heralded in their ads, they forgot that most people prefer not to know where their Prime Rib comes from. Their packaged meats although originally quite well received by the public presented a unique problem when the purchaser had to "end the growth process" as the company liked to call it before cooking the meat.
As an engineer I can say they outdid themselves with the packaging as it was basically a miniature incubation chamber that not only kept the meat fresh (alive) but allowed it to continue to grow as long as the required nutrients were supplied.
As an engineer I can say they outdid themselves with the packaging as it was basically a miniature incubation chamber that not only kept the meat fresh (alive) but allowed it to continue to grow as long as the required nutrients were supplied.
Baawaa Nid
Aliens I've Known
On long hauls many people are comforted by personal pets and it's common to find a variety of earth based animals like cats, dogs, fish, and the occasional bird. A lot more people keep SynPets or meat pets as they are known because they are easier to take care of and if you get bored with one you can always trade up.
But of course the more adventurous personal always want something a little different. One real different pet I encountered was courtesy of an engineer Jason Entaa a shipmate some time back who owned what is known as a Baawaa NId. The Baawaa Nid is a sort of insect animal hybrid. It's hard to describe but it can fly like a bird, has compound eyes like an insect but each eye moves independently and has eye lids. It's un-nerving to watch the thing blink because the eyes don't always blink in unison so they always have some eyes open, watching you. I suppose it's part of their defense mechanism to keep an eye out for predators. Also they can blink in patterns depending on their mood or when they are pissed off.
But of course the more adventurous personal always want something a little different. One real different pet I encountered was courtesy of an engineer Jason Entaa a shipmate some time back who owned what is known as a Baawaa NId. The Baawaa Nid is a sort of insect animal hybrid. It's hard to describe but it can fly like a bird, has compound eyes like an insect but each eye moves independently and has eye lids. It's un-nerving to watch the thing blink because the eyes don't always blink in unison so they always have some eyes open, watching you. I suppose it's part of their defense mechanism to keep an eye out for predators. Also they can blink in patterns depending on their mood or when they are pissed off.
The Walking Lakes of Freggaire
Planets I've Known
I only had a couple of hours to spend on Freggaire and of course like everyone else I had to see the walking lakes. Freggaire is ANI so you can't really tread the planet except for one lab that has a small lake in the containment area.
The walking lakes are naturally occuring lakes of non-Newtonian fluid that you can walk on with properties like that old recipe for Ooblick of water and corn starch. But that is where the similarities end and the magic of Freggaire begins. The very first thing everyone does when they get to visit the lake is take a hammer to the pond and give it whack and then quickly reach into right where you hit and retrieve a mirrored sonic duplicate of the hammer. The duplicate is very substantial in density although somewhat slippery due to the nature of the fluid material. I had brought a wood handled hammer because of what I had heard about how it replicated wood and I wasn't disappointed.
The walking lakes are naturally occuring lakes of non-Newtonian fluid that you can walk on with properties like that old recipe for Ooblick of water and corn starch. But that is where the similarities end and the magic of Freggaire begins. The very first thing everyone does when they get to visit the lake is take a hammer to the pond and give it whack and then quickly reach into right where you hit and retrieve a mirrored sonic duplicate of the hammer. The duplicate is very substantial in density although somewhat slippery due to the nature of the fluid material. I had brought a wood handled hammer because of what I had heard about how it replicated wood and I wasn't disappointed.
A Piece of Time
Alien Tech
Most everyone I know who is earth born carries with them something to remind them of home. It's usually something small and easy to carry and a lot of people wear pendants or rings filled with a small amount of soil from their hometown. Sometimes when you are in deep space it's nice to be able to hold something from earth in your hand to help put things back into perspective.
BASELOW Jumping
Unapproved Tech
Before you ask, yes I did and more than once but of course it was when I was much younger. I know it's stupid, juvenile, dangerous, and not an approved use of tech but it is fun.
If you are unfamiliar with BASELOW jumping it is the use of an APT or linked APT's in jumping off or from:
* Buildings
* Antennas
* Spans
* Earth
* Low Earth Orbit
* Outer Space
* Warp
If you are unfamiliar with BASELOW jumping it is the use of an APT or linked APT's in jumping off or from:
* Buildings
* Antennas
* Spans
* Earth
* Low Earth Orbit
* Outer Space
* Warp
Pon Pons
First Contact
The Pon Pons as you probably already know are considered to be one of the most beautiful humanoid species in the known universe. It is said that when the crew of the starship Orion I made first contact with the Pon Pons the captain and crew who first set eyes on them were speechless. It took the prodding of a nonplussed Vulcan to snap them out of their worship like trance . The Pon Pons who were just as excited to meet a new species suggested that they meet right away. The captain of the Orion I readily agreed and offered his ship for the event. The Orion I being a starship was set up for just such an event with an elegant "first contact" transporter bay with all the accrutrements necessary to put on a good face. Everyone on board the Orion I had seen the video of the Pon Pons and they tried to beg, steal, borrow, coerce or otherwise get themselves added to the list of "dignitaries" who would greet the Pon Pons. The occasion was carefully planned and arraigned to the last detail. The tables were set with all the best food and drink a starship could conjure up. The anticipation was palatable when the moment finally arrived.
The Great Galactic Bleah
A humans need to be pampered is probably without rival in the known universe. We put on a wonderful front of drive and ambition but we always fall prey to the little luxuries that life has to offer and the more exotic they are the more we want them, no matter what.
Planet DodddodnthinTintag was know as the spa planet and for good reason. The whole planet seems have been designed as a steam bath with its volcanic activity and hot springs. But the planets occupants were the driving force behind the whole phenomenon.
More...
Planet DodddodnthinTintag was know as the spa planet and for good reason. The whole planet seems have been designed as a steam bath with its volcanic activity and hot springs. But the planets occupants were the driving force behind the whole phenomenon.
More...
