Location: Soledad
Time: 10/16/G.R. 2014, 4:44 pm
Description: Project Proposals Requiring Council of Scientists Approval
Dr. Herndon: Dr. Liang, have you not ever considered restructuring the Black Box Bureau into a semi-autonomous, independent agency? It expends much of the valuable time of the Council of Scientists to have to deal with these hogwash Black Box projects mixed in with legitimate scientific undertakings.
Dr. Liang: Dr. Kruszewski used to handle much of the bureaucratic work, but you know what happened with the Space Mafia. In any case...
Dr. Liang: Would the next presenter please come forth and commence?
???: Gladly.
Dr. Mikoto: I am Dr. Mikoto, Director-General of the Trattorian Energy Commission and 2007 Nobel laureate in Chemistry. Today I am here to propose a study into the practical applications of BB-C-W-09982.
Dr. Mikoto: The Trattorian Energy Commission is a semi-autonomous agency of the Science Department, dedicated to research initiatives developing better and more practical energy production and storage methods. Through increased access to power, we aim to achieve widespread enjoyment of Trattoria’s Tek Level 7 among the Citizenry.
Dr. Mikoto: Preliminary research into BB-C-W-09982 through computer modeling of its structure reveals incredible promise as a portable energy source.
Dr. Mikoto: Interestingly enough, the phenomenon predicted of BB-C-W-09982 resembles that studied in G.R. 2013 by a team of Akkadian physicists led by Professor Schneider. Via the inducement of a quantum lattice structure, BB-C-W-09982 may be able to attain an exotic negative temperature state of motional degrees of freedom and thus achieve greater than 100% efficiency in a Carnot heat engine. Central to this is a mathematical interpretation of the Boltzmann distribution, a full derivation of which may be found in the written proposal I submitted prior to this presentation. Obviously, this holds astonishing implications for the usage of BB-C-W-09982 as a portable power source and storage substance.
Dr. Mikoto: Despite its status as Tek Level 7, an uninformed glance at Trattoria might indicate otherwise. The primary cause for this is the confinement or limited spread of much of our most advanced technology to industrial or experimental use among the higher echelons of our society. In turn, much of our most advanced technology requires copious amounts of energy to function. Thusly, aligned with the TEC’s overarching guiding principle, this study would seek to rectify this impasse. We would also decrease our dependence on foreign Scythian antimatter, and increased portability would enable TRF units in engagements against other technologically-advanced factions of interest, such as RARCom.
Dr. Mikoto: I will assume you or an assistant reviewed the budgetary manifests, project timetables, and endorsements in the submitted written proposal. The TEC and the Sun Engineering Corporation will defray much of the cost of this enterprise, with the Council only needing to provide the Black Box itself.
Dr. Mikoto: Any further inquiries?
Dr. Liang: This proposal is preposterous. The TEC may have its own mission, but the Black Box Bureau is dedicated to the
termination or research into the
termination of all anomalies. If we tolerate research into the exploitation of anomalies, we might as well don pointy wizard hats and tattered robes and chant during experiments. This is what separates Trattorian science from Bavarian magic.
Dr. Herndon: Well, to refine the Chief Scientist’s sentiment, we do occasionally permit the use of a small handful of Lithium-class Black Boxes if they represent an essential enabler of other legitimate scientific research. The most famous example is probably BB-P-Li-00757, the cornerstone of neutrina production and Trattoria’s intergalactic program. However, a Wolfram-class designation is mostly hypothetical and lacks the impetus necessary for approval.
Dr. Ong: I object to this proposal with no reservations. Reckless research without necessary precautions or motivation is more often counterproductive—one need look no further than the Terminate Accords to see what that approach bought our counterparts in RARCom. Be it further resolved that research into anomalies represents condoning of magic, running counter to every principle for which the Trattorian Science Department stands.
Dr. Mikoto: Science aims to explain the universe around us—denying the existence of anomalies instead of attempting to explain or replicate them in the lab makes you no better than the Cuthulic Church in terms of dogmatism. We live in the same world and under the same physical laws as the magicians of Bavaria and Krakow—what distinguishes us from them is not our worldview and theoretical frameworks, but how we approached said frameworks. We employ an inductive method of experimentation to formulate general conclusions to apply to general cases and to understand the BrikVerse. Every time science has encountered something inexplicable—the celestial motions, the electromagnetic nature of light, the inconsistency of relativity and quantum mechanics—science did not die, it grew stronger and advanced. I merely ask of you to allow me to continue that scientific method you claim so strongly to uphold.
Dr. Yuan: I feel Dr. Mikoto may have a point. Would it not be a much more effective way of eliminating “anomalies” if we were to instead attempt to construct a rational explanation for their function or existence?
Dr. Ong: Dr. Yuan, have you gone mad? Such imprudence on our part would lead only to the ruin and desolation of our nation. Science may advance by explaining the unknown, but the, say, wave-particle duality never threatened to massacre and destroy us like many of these Black Boxes do.
Dr. Herndon: I propose a compromise. Let us authorize Dr. Mikoto’s project provided that all official involvement of the CoS is sealed. If anything goes awry, we will take necessary steps to cover it up. Dr. Mikoto, you will later receive the Black Box from Site 45 on Unicité and discreetly transport it to your lab on Soledad via a private shuttle. Is this proposition agreeable to you?
Dr. Mikoto: Yes, I am willing to accept these accommodations.
Dr. Liang: Very well then, let the Council take the matter up to vote. All members, please express your support or disapproval of Dr. Mikoto’s proposal.
Dr. Liang: By a 3-2 vote, the Council has agreed to permit you access to and use of BB-C-W-09982. Please avoid its mismanagement.
Dr. Mikoto: Thank you for this opportunity.
lol j/k
