text | 04. project results

[anybodies]

This is Mystique again.

I'm reporting on the results of the Jump clock project. I won't recap the details there.

EXTERNAL MEASURE (passenger-fabricated) Jump 37: 1,829 hours Jump 38: 391 hours Jump 39: 6,578 hours

INTERNAL MEASURES (shipboard systems) Jump 37: 0 hours Jump 38: 0 hours Jump 39: 0 hours

These reports will be ongoing. I strongly advise that the next time anyone debarks, make an effort to estimate the time that's transpired since our stop on Arima.

Analyses and interpretations are welcome. Please be aware that our efforts at external videography failed. Basically, the Jump movement destroyed the equipment. I'll update about the trans-hull cartography project when there's something to update about. A bunch of weird and context-free numbers counts as 'something.'

I would like to commission timekeeping devices not linked to the native system as well, in the time between now and Van Rijn destroying us. Anyone up for it?

Comments

[immuno]

I'd love to get a look at what you're using to draw these measurements. Has anyone been looking at distance? Cartography would be a good place to start, if we can create some three-dimensional star maps and generate our own reference points.

[anybodies]

The cartography I was referring to was a matter of measuring distances around the ship, using the external (relatively stable) structure to try and reconcile with the internal (typically unpredictable) structure. It's pretty unlikely to work in a concrete or replicable kind of way, but I thought the ship's reaction would be informative.

I don't think anyone has been making efforts to chart our progress through space-- that's a great idea. If you have the skills for the astronomy aspect, I know people who could handle tech as needed. If I'm wrong and someone is already on this, we're interested.

[immuno]

I have the skills, but I wouldn't say I have the familiarity with the level of technology aboard the ship yet.

It wouldn't take much: I'd need a program that could store scale images in a three dimensional grid.

And, of course, use of whatever radar and shuttles this ship has for short-range exploration to take concrete measurements with. At least, if we want a real map instead of an overglorified star chart.

[technologist]

I'm familiar with the tech.

[ Hello, nice to meet you. Jk just abrupt interruptions and no introductions, it took him like ten minutes to decide to send this much. ]

[immuno]

And do you know of any ways to use it to develop something like what I mentioned?

[technologist]

[ Well. ]

The problem's going to be with the jumps, obviously. Since the ship isn't moving, the fixed points can't be

[ Can't be ??? Except just not finishing a text looks more like not finishing a text than a cue, so a bit later: ]

can we not text?

voice:

[immuno]

[ With a sigh, Lydia turns on the audio for her comms, and notes: ]

What are you, forty? Should I get you a landline? [ Rhetorical questions. She moves right along to a real one. ] Can't be what?

voice;

[technologist]

[ Wow jk can we go back to text or just go back to not talking maybe. But he ignores the taunting and gets right back to the point, if a bit indirectly. ]

They can't be— well, they won't be fixed, technically. [ That isn't quite right. The wording isn't, anyway, but he just moves forward instead of trying to clarify. ] And depending on the distance, it could take us months just to... triangulate?

voice;

[immuno]

Won't be fixed because ... ? [ Oh. Wait. She knows this. The sound of fingers snapping. ] Because the jump folds space, it doesn't move the ship. We're the objects that are fixed.

I highly doubt any government would sanction a project that was scrambling the universe, though—I have to imagine it's putting everything back where it found it once we've made the move. If we can just chart the layout of the stars in relation to one another, we should still be able to run a scan and develop a schematic that tells us, then, where we are in relation to where we used to be.

Presuming, of course, that we remain within a reasonable distance of where we used to be. Mystique's readings could put us, well, anywhere.

voice;

[technologist]

[ A slightly stunned pause. What he was going for and then some; he'll take it, though there is that vague, annoying feeling of someone stealing your thunder. ]

Yeah. Except it is scrambling something. We should be fixed in place, not time. I think.

[ Pretty sure. Kind of difficult to go from 'talking theoreticals with other nerds at lunch' to 'jump technology is real'. ] Or there's the, um— the time dilation. Or whether or not the stars are... if it's been much longer outside, then the stars could be...

[ Moving, except there's a specific term for it that he's missing. It loses importance a second later, anyway. ] But then how are they following us?

voice;

[immuno]

Then the stars could be aging and the other objects could be gravitating, too. [ Hmm. Good point. ] At most, though, those numbers account for—what, nine months maybe? Nothing significant enough to alter readings on an universal scale, at least not for stars. Nor significant enough to prevent someone very determined from catching up—particularly if they have jump technology, as well. They certainly understood it well enough.

[ Which is to say, someone crawled out of the grav couch this month and caught up on reading the npc post she missed. ]

Better than I do. [ Which she hates admitting, but really needs to. This is all out of her depth, but she's luckily got an adaptive, critical enough mind to keep up and roll with it. ]

voice;

[technologist]

[ Nailed it. Meaning there isn't much else to say, and instead he gets hung up on that admission. After an uncertain pause: ]

Have you been to Engineering?

voice;

[immuno]

Not yet. Why? Is there anything worth looking at?

[anybodies]

Leo Fitz and his cohorts are extremely skilled. I'd recommend them for anything related to technology. Raven Reyes was working with me previously as well. Hi Leo.

If more specific knowledge is needed for the software, I believe Peter Parker (he left) had some associates, and we have a few strong hackers on board including Natasi from Medical Bay.

I don't have much to contribute, but I can help you organize if you need. I'd appreciate it if you published your findings too.

[GETTING A LITTLE AHEAD OF OURSELF, MYSTIQUE?

Not with geniuses like u 2.]

[immuno]

Don't be modest: you've already contributed plenty. We know that the jumps last for staggered time intervals now. Hopefully, as they continue, your readings will be able to establish some kind of usable pattern for us to even predict the duration of the next one. If this continues to work, and we combine our resources, down the road, we might even be able to predict our trajectory.

[anybodies]

I was mostly referring to my limited understanding of astronomy, but that does put these facts into perspective. Thank you.

I look forward to hearing of your work. I may be available for the work outside the ship too, although my training isn't as complete as the department members.

[immuno]

Well, it sounds like Fitz has the charting technology under control, which leaves ... Can you fly a shuttle or point me in the direction of someone who can?

[anybodies]

Great to hear.

I'd want CFO Wash sooner to fly the shuttle than I would. But if you'd allow me to approach him or add an addendum, I'd love to co-pilot.

[immuno]

I'd really appreciate if you'd ask him about it. You can call it allowing you to if you want, but I'd think of it as you doing me a favor.

some days later~

[anybodies]

You're needed here.

CFO Wash has also agreed to fly. I'll be his co-pilot. We should be ready when you're able.

[immuno]

Fitz hasn't gotten in touch with me about engineering the equipment. I'll hunt him down. We'll probably need this jump to put something together, at least.

[anybodies]

Sure. I let him know it'll be in the scope of the next few months, so I'm glad we're on the same page. With any luck, no space bigots will have massacred us by then.

[technologist]

[ Wow no pressure :') but really thanks you're the best ]

Hi. And thanks. I think we should maybe talk, though

[anybodies]

[d'aww]

You're welcome.

Sure. About what?

[technologist]

Not on the network. I think.
I'll contact you in a bit.