Science Fiction Smack Down 2017

Challenge 1.3 - Quasar

The Inquisitive returned to normal space with a ripple of the fabric of reality around it. In the cockpit of the science vessel, alert klaxons started sounding almost immediately.

"Report!" Brock Reeves demanded from the pilot's seat. His hands flew over the controls surrounding his padded chair, attempting to stabilize the ship and eliminate the vibrations coursing through it.

"Sensors are detecting a massive gravimetric disturbance," the computer answered in a simulated female voice.

"Came in too close to the quasar," Brock muttered. "Celia, Can you get us clear?"

"Affirmative," the ship's computer replied. Celia stood for Comprehensive Electronic Logistical Interactive Assistant, and her artificial intelligence program was tied into every system on the ship to provide up to date information and control should Brock require it.

The main engines fired in conjunction with perfectly timed bursts from the thrusters, edging the ship out of the gravity currents and into a more stable position. The vibrations threatening to shake the ship apart ceased, and Brock was able to activate a full sensor scan of the vessel's surroundings.

"Position realigned," Celia informed him. "However, the sensors you activated are detected high amounts of radiation. Electromagnetic barriers will only be effective for a limited amount of time at these levels. Immediate departure is recommended."

"No choice," Brock countered. "The Science Council wanted detailed information on the quasar, so we have to collect it. However, we can do so from a greater distance. Bring us out to mid-range on the sensors and recompute time to barrier failure."

The Inquisitive moved further away from the quasar it had been sent to study. The radiation hitting the electromagnetic barrier caused flares of energy to swirl about the ship in a sphere of blue and green phosphorescence.

"Radiation levels decreasing but still high," Celia reported. "Estimated time of failure is two hours."

"Understood," Brock accepted. "We'll make this a short visit. What are the sensors telling us about the quasar? Are you detecting the edge of the accretion disk?"

"Negative," Celia denied. "Sensors are also not detecting any trace of an event horizon."

"Run a check on the sensors," Brock suggested. "Celestial theories have predicted a supermassive black hole in the center of most galaxies, especially galaxies forming a quasar."

"Diagnostics complete," Celia stated. "All systems operating within expected parameters."

"I don't understand it," Brock muttered to himself. "Theorize, what could be the potential cause of such a deviation in current sensor readings with expected norms?"

"If the current sensor data is accurate, the only logical answer would be the scientific conclusions based on distant observation were in error," Celia replied simply.

Brock leaned back in his padded chair, exhaling slowly through his mouth. "Whoa. If you're right, we're going to be rewriting a lot of scientific material, perhaps even making theories and whole lines of study obsolete."

"It could also open up new lines of research, not to discover what has been thought to be true but what actually is true," Celia added.

"Well then, let's get to work," Brock suggested. He swiveled his chair around and departed from the cockpit.

Rather than having ladders between decks of the ship, the Inquisitive had padded conduits shielded from the artificial gravity system working everywhere else on the ship. Large cylinders with opening at every level, the conduits allowed Brock to become weightless and glide smoothly down three decks. Floating out of the conduit on the appropriate floor, he had to pause a moment to give his body a chance to adjust from the shift between weightlessness and full gravity.