Wyrmsvaar
24-01-2005, 20:15
Problems on Liberty
International Science Vessel in Possible Peril
By Fred Finkle, Galactic Syndicated
The science station Liberty experienced serious control and sensor problems for four hours last Wednesday. According to a status report broadcast by the resident scientists, difficulties began with a series of thermal and radio anomalies in the immediate area, followed by total sensor failure. Control functions were seriously reduced, scientists reported inability to access files, use communications, or even open doors at intermittent but frequent periods. Life support systems were apparently disabled for twenty nerve-wracking minutes, after which total control of the vessel was restored.
Liberty, a deep-space scientific probe crewed by scientists of many nationalities, has operated now for nine years without serious incident, until Wednesday. The scientists are still unsure as to the source of the thermal anomalies, citing the possibility of unknown massive bodies - dark matter - affecting instrumentation, instrument malfunction, sentient interference, or space-time distortions.
The crew will not consider abandoning the ship until the situation is more dire. Said Captain Dorean: "It would be pretty ridiculous if we just gave up after one little control problem. We'll look at what happened - it's probably just a frayed wire anyway."
Other members were more skeptical. One scientist was cited as saying: "I think we're looking at more than a burnt-out fuse here. This was a temporary system failure on a massive scale - the system isn't designed for that sort of thing to be possible."
It will be at least six more days before another response can be received from Liberty. Let us hope no further malfunction occurs within that time.
International Science Vessel in Possible Peril
By Fred Finkle, Galactic Syndicated
The science station Liberty experienced serious control and sensor problems for four hours last Wednesday. According to a status report broadcast by the resident scientists, difficulties began with a series of thermal and radio anomalies in the immediate area, followed by total sensor failure. Control functions were seriously reduced, scientists reported inability to access files, use communications, or even open doors at intermittent but frequent periods. Life support systems were apparently disabled for twenty nerve-wracking minutes, after which total control of the vessel was restored.
Liberty, a deep-space scientific probe crewed by scientists of many nationalities, has operated now for nine years without serious incident, until Wednesday. The scientists are still unsure as to the source of the thermal anomalies, citing the possibility of unknown massive bodies - dark matter - affecting instrumentation, instrument malfunction, sentient interference, or space-time distortions.
The crew will not consider abandoning the ship until the situation is more dire. Said Captain Dorean: "It would be pretty ridiculous if we just gave up after one little control problem. We'll look at what happened - it's probably just a frayed wire anyway."
Other members were more skeptical. One scientist was cited as saying: "I think we're looking at more than a burnt-out fuse here. This was a temporary system failure on a massive scale - the system isn't designed for that sort of thing to be possible."
It will be at least six more days before another response can be received from Liberty. Let us hope no further malfunction occurs within that time.