MEMORY OMEGA EXTRACT / PERSONAL LOG: LAFORGE

SD44407.7

Today was one of the strangest experiences I’ve ever had. And I’ve been taken hostage by Pakleds.

It started when I got to the red team meeting a little late, but ready to tell them I was done with the Data Red and if that meant the end of my Starfleet career, so be it.
Before I could get a word out, Thalla apologized for underestimating me. Tuvok expressed that he was impressed by my proposal, and Maddox, for some reason, wouldn’t look at me. They all wanted to know more about my idea.

What idea?

I was grateful for my VISOR, and not just because it lets me do spectral analysis in my head, but because it hides the absolute confusion in my bloodshot eyes. I know I didn’t send anything out, but before I could rack my brain for a solution to this mystery, I was dragged into a discussion of exactly how my idea would work.

It’s basically the same concept I used to contact Data. Instead of using subspace distortion to reach his autonomic scanning system and send a “look at me” code, it’s a way of sneaking a cascade-shut-down subroutine into his positronic net. The rest of the day was spent working out the kinks and plugging the holes.

Thalla supposed that subspace distortion generators set to pulse out a rudimentary shut down code could be installed aboard ship. Command staff could activate them in the event that Data’s loses control again.

Maddox couldn’t wait to point out that Data could mimic any voice on the crew and could lock anyone out of giving the activation commands. Tuvok wiped the smug, self-satisfied look off his face by pointing out an ancient method of keeping computer systems secure called “air-gapping.”  It’s primitive and simple, but it’s unbeatable. As long as the units aren’t accessible to any integrated computer system aboard ship, then Data wouldn’t be able to override them. Each unit would be activated manually. With enough of these scattered around the ship, there would always be one accessible to at least one or two members of senior staff.

Maddox tried to shut down the brainstorming by pointing out that Data could simply destroy each unit by hand. “It’s a simple matter for an android that can bend a forty kilobar rod of parsteel. I’ve seen him do it,” he said. I think he felt special because of that.

When I get back to Enterprise, I’m going to owe Data a huge apology. I got carried away by the problem-solving process. He knows that happens. He’s seen it enough.
“Of course,” I said, “he wouldn’t be able to destroy units that he didn’t know were there.”  I explained to Maddox and the others that if it’s battery powered, instead of plugged into the EPS conduits, he’d never find them in the course of diagnostics. Inactive units don’t emit any subspace distortion. And since they don’t have to do the job of an actual subspace transceiver, they just have to generate a subspace field, a unit like that doesn’t have to be any bigger that a few centimeters. They could be installed behind false panels. With a little work, they could even fit inside a comm badge.

Once I realized what I was doing I sat down and shut up, but the damage had already been done. And then it started to get worse.

Tuvok began interrogating Maddox over Data’s capability to override his own subroutines…or to be more accurate, subroutines that he thinks are his own subroutines.

“Yes, Data could preemptively override rest subroutines,”

“No, he can’t disregard a self-preservation shut down,”

Tuvok realized it couldn’t just be a sleep command; it has to be a true threat, like erasing his operating system. Now we’re really playing fire.

Data’s positronic net will begin shutting down before permanent damage can be done.

“Soong was very proud of his work,” he explained. “As he should be. And he made sure to take steps to protect that work. He doesn’t go down all at once, but within a minute or two, it’ll be as though someone flipped his on/off switch.”

Once she got her antennae untwisted after learning about the switch, she said “We have prefix codes for starships, this will be a prefix code for Data.” Then she asked Maddox if he could write a subroutine that could be introduced into Data’s autonomic systems that would force such an erasure.

His face, when she asked that…I would love to get him to a poker table. I’ll give him credit for trying not to admit that he could, but the man can’t lie to save his own life, let alone Data’s.

Is that what he’s been doing?

Thalla adjourned the meeting so that she and Tuvok can program a holodeck simulation for tomorrow. Maddox is to present a shutdown subroutine proposal.

Me? All I can think about is who sent that message because damn straight it wasn’t me.
I think I know.