Sender: Dr. Thallia Thorn
Recipient: SLRC
Subject: Dark Matter Shielding
Location: Ames Research Station
Source: Anzao Communications Relay
-->Initiating Playback
He...hello there!
My name's Th...Thallia Thorn and I'm hoping you'd be wi...willing to share with me just how yo...you've gone about the miracle of protecting Ames Research Station from the Dark Matter st...storm that rages around you so fiercely.
The re...reason I ask is that I'm hoping to replicate that miracle. I'm working with the Starfliers organisation to de...design and manufacture a multi-purpose spacesuit that can survive and operate in th...the harshest of environments. I've a...also got in mind a construction project or two brewing away in my mi...mind that I'd prefer to future-proof against dark matter if possible.
I app...appreciate I'm coming out of left-field on th...this one. I've m...made my way to Ames if you'd prefer to have a face-to-face conversation, though you're likely busy. If so, talking in co...comms like this would work just as well.
Starlight Research Consortium Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.
From: Dr. Leo Morningstar
Subject: RE: Dark Matter Shielding
Encryption Strength: Moderate
Greetings Dr. Thorn. This is Dr. Leo Morningstar, the Director for Starlight.
The conversation around Ames is a tenuous one at best. The Dark Matter storm has been a near constant enemy in terms of maintaining the stations systems as well as the buoys which keep the paths to and from the station open. Our former Pathfinder department are one of the ones who regularly maintain those buoys to ensure that the route stays open for all who traverse the system.
The design of the generators themselves are classified. Simply put, we use powerful electro-static arrays that require near constant maintenance to maintain and power. Keeping these generators up and running is a considerable task for the technicians and engineers onboard. Many don't even realize the amount of effort that goes into ensuring they don't fail. Unfortunately, I cannot divulge their design but I don't believe that would matter even if I could. Miniaturizing this design would not only prove futile (as the power requirements could not be met) but dangerous--even for something as small as a simple suit. Even if the power requirements were able to be met, you would have so much power running through the suit you would be in danger of getting cooked alive.
With all of that being said, SLRC staff might be inticed to looking into something adjacent to these generators that may not require as much power to operate. Though keep in mind, the less power that they would have to consume would shorten your ability to exist within a radioactive field considerably. This would only be able to be used, at best, as an emergency system in the event you found yourself stranded in one for any particular reason and not for exploring.
I hope this helped. If you have any other questions, let me know. We can meet at Ames and discuss in more detail, if you wish to. Let me know and we can provide the route into the system. I suggest approaching from Colorado, as the route is considerably shorter and less dangerous.
--Dr. Leo Morningstar Director Ever upwards, towards answers.
You fear oblivion. Yet you forget. The universe remembers every atom of your being. Even dust hums your name in the dark. Roleplay is dead. Long live Powertraders and PvP I guess.
It's go...good to make your acquaintance. I d...don't think we've spoken before or that I've spoken with Starlight. It's always g...good to meet more of the scientific community.
I had n...not considered the proprietary nature of this solution of yours would have been classified. Curious~ I wonder why. Regardless you make excellent points Leo. Replicating the solution that keeps Ames safe sounds as if it is not feasible without a platform capable of housing that kind of power generation.
However, I sense the whiff of opportunity for the cr...creative!
Perhaps there are other explored solutions that were not feasible for Ames? Resistant materials too limited f...for applying to a whole station? Mayhaps similar electro-static arrays could be employed on a vessel enough to simulate th...the effect for periods of time? A te...temporary field within wh...which EVA's could operate sa...safely is a intriguing proposition. There are also some new and fa...fascinating materials making their way onto the markets from realms exotic and unnamed. Have you come across samples of bacteria being categoried as 'organic capacitors'?
Perhaps there are in...innovations we can find to make efforts of yo...your technicians and engineers a little bit easier.
I sh...shall come to you at Ames. These kinds of brainstorming discussions are easier t...to have in person, and I'd be keen to come and meet you in person regardless. I, ur... happen to kn...know the route in from Colorado already. A long story, one I may share one day.
Is there anything you or folks on Ames re...require at the moment? Considering I'll be br...bringing a Dunlin through the storm to you, it may as well be full of things you may need. Let me know either wa...way, and I'll begin making my way to you.
Starlight Research Consortium Chasing starlight since 829 A.S.
From: Dr. Leo Morningstar
Subject: RE: Dark Matter Shielding
Encryption Strength: Moderate
The reason you may have not dealt with us over the past few years is we've been undergoing a bit of a metamorphosis where operations are concerned. Our overhead ballooned considerably over the past several years which put us in a bind financially. We only recently came out of the restructuring scarcely a few months prior to our conversation.
The reasons for the classification is due to the nature of the devices internal components. I can't go much further into details on this front but suffice to say, it's design is proprietary to SLRC. We have no intentions of sharing such a device with the public due to it's dangerous nature. One wrong calculation of power and it can do considerable damage to it's surroundings.
Applying the design to a mobile platform does have some merit, however. The ship in question would have to have it's weapons systems power flows gutted and all of that power rerouted to the mobile shielding. This would render you effectively helpless if you were attacked. This is the only way I can see this being possible within a mobile unit. The reactor should be able to provide sufficient power using what it normally would for weaponry. I can't guarantee it would operate with any of that power used for weapons. You'd need a gunboat or frigate and up to power this, however. I don't see many smaller ships, except maybe the Dunlin, being able to adequately power the shielding. We have some experience with this in the realm of sensor upgrades, such as our experimental Pathfinder-class, the Darkhorse, but this is a unique circumstance considering the ships Zoner origin.
We don't have our headquarters at Ames but we do manage the daily administration tasks and have a small contingent of Consortium staff there on standby. I can head out that way from Tau-23 to meet you there when you are on your way. We need to do a rotation of staff from the station anyway and the Darkhorse has been chomping at the bit to do some scans of the system.
I will meet you there.
P.S. If you want to bring something, bring some standard medical supplies and food. Ames always needs them due to the location of the installation.
--Dr. Leo Morningstar Director Ever upwards, towards answers.
You fear oblivion. Yet you forget. The universe remembers every atom of your being. Even dust hums your name in the dark. Roleplay is dead. Long live Powertraders and PvP I guess.
Myself and the Al...Aletheia have arrived at Ames Research Station earlier today along with some supplies that are currently being offloaded as I send you this message. The Aletheia is a Dunlin retrofit, so if our conversations lead us down the path of exploring that mobile platforming we have one at ha...hand for a walk-about and scoping the idea out.
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