String Theory_ Fusion (Book 2) - Kirsten Beyer [31]
Janeway rose from the seat behind her desk and gently took the padd from Seven’s hand, perching herself on the desk’s edge as she began to examine its contents.
“This has to be a mistake,” Janeway said slowly.
“I assure you, there are no errors,” Seven replied.
“You expect me to believe that this array is capable of manufacturing and storing every single element in the known universe… even a few we’ve never seen… and refining them into pure energy sources?” Janeway asked.
“Belief is irrelevant,” Seven said simply. “One of the two rings that comprise the array is dedicated completely to the accumulation, storage, and processing of atomic particles ranging from the simplest to the most complex. There are hundreds of power transfer conduits which branch out from the central refinery so that energy can be distributed throughout the array’s various systems. In addition, there are forty-seven docking bays equipped with storage tanks and fueling systems which would appear to be compatible with all known starship propulsion engines and power grids.”
“This doesn’t make any sense,” Janeway said, shaking her head.
“The singularity that the array orbits, like many singularities of its size, would theoretically contain all of the elements we are reading in some form. Though I cannot speculate as to how they are able to gather, stabilize, and process those elements…”
“That’s not what I mean,” Janeway cut her off. “Consider the point of view, or the goals and aims of a species of sentient beings who would construct such a thing. Set aside the ‘How did they do this?’ question for the moment. Typically, once a civilization becomes capable of interstellar travel, they utilize the elements that are accessible when they develop their propulsion and power systems. In the case of Starfleet, for example, our matter-antimatter reactors require dilithium to harness their energy, which is relatively common within the Federation. Our scientists are constantly seeking new and more efficient energy systems, and as breakthroughs are made, Starfleet vessels are upgraded to incorporate new developments and the others are discarded. What we are seeing here suggests that the array’s builders anticipated the fact that multiple vessels using hundreds of different propulsion and power systems would, at some point, need to use the array for fueling.”
“Perhaps many different species participated in the construction of the array,” Seven offered.
“Perhaps,” Janeway mused, “but that doesn’t change the fact that while this is a marvelous and brilliant system, it is also incredibly impractical.”
Seven could not argue the point, nor did she wish to. The energy systems she had discovered were only one of the many marvels the sensors told her were present aboard the array.
“At this time we do not possess enough data to form any complete hypothesis as to the motivations of the array’s designers,” Seven said. “However, I believe there is evidence to support the position that the array was intended to be used by multiple species.”
“What makes you say that?” Janeway asked.
“The second ring that comprises the array contains life-support systems for every species contained in the Federation database, as well as every race the Borg ever encountered.”
Janeway tried and failed miserably to hide the level of shock generated within her by Seven’s characteristically stark and simple description of a technological miracle as Seven continued her report.
“In addition, the array’s computer core contains trillions of gigaquads of data stored in densely compacted information retrieval buffers. I calculated the system requirements for a core that could contain data including planetary composition, interstellar phenomena, complete astrometric mapping, and life-form analysis for our galaxy alone. This system exceeds those requirements by a factor of ten.”
“Where to begin, indeed,” Janeway said, as if finally understanding Seven’s initial