Detecting Changes, Part 3

Posted on 13 Feb 2026 @ 4:15pm by Lieutenant JG Mira Quinn

292 words; about a 1 minute read

=/\= Science Lab =/\=

Mira had thought the assignment Sorvak gave her would be a minor side task. She would review the anomaly model, identify a few irregularities, and return to mapping astral phenomena.

Instead, it looked like the anomaly model flagged nearly everything.

Seated at her console, she instructed the computer to once again filter the usage data. As the wave patterns shifted across the display, she made a face.

Most personal units showed predictable morning and evening activity. If she had been modeling common usage trends, she would have been finished hours ago.

But she was looking for deviations.

Replicator use ranged from “never” to “a lot,” with little consistent scheduling. For example, she focused on the anomalies flagged for one replicator unit. It showed steady morning activity—likely breakfast—but on some days it was unused entirely. On others, it produced large quantities at irregular hours.

Toilets and sonic showers were no more helpful.

She had expected a measurable shift one the Arawyn encountered the Eirian ship. None appeared.

When shoreleave began, overall usage declined across the board. The anomalies, however, remained.

Several units showed no activity at all. But she couldn't see any sustained deviation patterns and the number of unused units didn't match up to indicate they were all from the same unused quarters.

Ops had anonymized the data; she could see only serial numbers. She made a note to consult with them regarding unit assignments.

Mira stretched her arms overhead and glanced at the time. Her shift was almost over, and she hadn't yet found a model that could distinguish routine variance from true anomaly.

She wasn't even sure there was one.

Cmdr. Sorvak wanted flagged anomalies.

She started making a list.

=/\=

Lt Jg Mira Quinn
Science Officer

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