7.6 REPLICATOR SYSTEMSgeometry transformational matrix field is used to modify thematter stream to conform to a digitally stored molecularpattern matrix. The matter stream is then routed through anetwork of waveguide conduits that direct the signal to a replicatorterminal at which the desired article is materializedwithin another phase transition chamber.In order to minimize replicator power requirements, rawstock for food replicators is stored in the form of a sterilizedorganic particulate suspension that has been formulated tostatistically require the least quantum manipulation to replicatemost finished foodstuffs (See: 13.5).The data themselves are subject to significant accuracylimits. It is not feasible to record or store quantum electronstateinformation, nor can Brownian motion data be accuratelyre-created. Doing so would represent another billionfoldincrease in the memory required to store a given pattern.This means that even if each atom of every molecule werereproduced, it is not feasible to accurately re-create the electronshell activity patterns or the atomic motions that determinethe dynamics of the biochemical activity of consciousnessand thought.REPLICATION VERSUS STORAGEThe use of replicators dramatically reduces the requirementfor carrying and storing both foodstuffs and spare parts.The limiting factor is the energy cost of molecular synthesisversus the cost of carrying an object onboard the ship. In thecase of foodstuffs, the cost of maintaining a large volume ofperishable supplies becomes prohibitive, especially when thecost of food preparation is included. Here, the energy cost ofmolecular synthesis is justified, especially when one considersthe dramatic mass savings involved with extensive recyclingof organic material.On the other hand, certain types of commonly used spareparts and supplies are not economical for replication. In suchcases, the items in question are used in sufficient quantity thatit is more economical to store finished products than to spendthe energy to carry raw materials and synthesize the finishedproduct on demand. Additionally, significant stores of criticalspares and consumables are maintained for possible useduring Alert situations when power for replication systemsmay be severely restricted or unavailable.REPLICATION LIMITSThe chief limitation of all transporter-based replicators isthe resolution at which the molecular matrix patterns arestored. While transporters (which operate in realtime) recreateobjects at quantum-level resolution suitable for lifeforms,replicators store and re-create objects at the muchsimpler molecular-level resolution, which is not suitable forliving beings.Because of the massive amount of computer memoryrequired to store even the simplest object, it is impossible torecord each molecule individually. Instead, extensive datacompression and averaging techniques are used. Suchtechniques reduce memory storage required for molecularpatterns by factors approaching 2.7 x 10 9 . The resultingsingle-bit inaccuracies do not significantly impact the qualityof most reproduced objects, but preclude the use of replicatortechnology to re-create living objects. Single-bit molecularerrors could have severely detrimental effects on living DNAmolecules and neural activity. Cumulative effects have beenshown to closely resemble radiation-induced damage.i
8.0 COMMUNICATIONS8.0 COMMUNICATIONS8.1 INTRASHIP COMMUNICATIONSCommunications aboard the USS Enterprise take twobasic forms, voice and data transmissions. Both are handledby the onboard computer system and dedicated peripheralhardware nodes. Though those sections of the computer normallyallocated to communications tasks are named the communicationssystem, the metaphor of the human centralnervous system is more applicable in this situation. The sheermass of adaptable links radiating outward from the maincomputers virtually assures that all information within thespacecraft will be rapidly transmitted to the correct destination,and will be received with little or no detectable loss of thatinformation. While the multitude of communications functionsare directly traceable to the same hardware, the operatingmodes and protocols around which they are based aredistinctly different and are worth noting.SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONThe hardware configuration for dedicated intrashipcommunications involves a minimum of 12,000 allocated dataline sets and terminal node devices distributed throughout the<strong>star</strong>ship, in parallel with the pure hardware telemetry links ofthe optical data network (ODN). This is the primary route forvoice and data signals. An equal number of radio frequency(RF)-based terminal node devices are distributed throughoutthe ship as a first backup layer. A second backup layer runsparallel to the electro plasma system and consists of 7,550kilometers of copper-yttrium-barium superconducting strands.This layer utilizes the same terminal node devices.Each terminal node device is a disk measuring 11.5 cmin diameter and 2 cm thick. The casing is constructed ofmolded polykeiyurium, the internal arrangement consisting ofa voice section and a data relay section. The voice sectioncontains an analog-to-digital voice pickup/speaker wafer,preprocessor amplifier, optical fiber modulation input/outputsubcircuit, and digital-to-analog return processor. The datarelay section contains two nested circuits consisting of astandard subspace transceiver assembly (STA), found mostprominently in Starfleet-issue communicator badges, andshort-range RF pickup and emitter. Handheld devices andtransportable devices not hardwired to the ODN send andreceive data via this part of the terminal node. While duplicateRF pickups exist in the backup system, their function in theprimary system is to manipulate data signals for transmissionover the optical fibers.OPERATIONDuring voice operations, the normal procedure involvesa crew member stating his or her name, plus the party or shiparea being called, in a form that can be understood by thecomputer for proper routing. Examples: "Dr. Selar, this is thecaptain," or "Ensign Nelson to Engineering." The artificialintelligence (Al) routines in the main computer listen forintraship calls, perform analyses on the message openingcontent, attempt to locate the message recipient, and thenactivate the audio speakers at the recipient's location.During the initial message routing, there may be a slightprocessing delay until the computer has heard the entirename of the recipient and located same. From that point on,all transmissions are realtime. When both parties haveconcluded their conversation, the channel may be activelyclosed with the word "out," which will be detected in context bythe computer. If both parties discontinue without formallybreaking the channel, and no other contextual cues havebeen offered to keep the line open, the computer will continuelistening for ten seconds, and then close the line. When usingthe communicator badge to initiate a call aboard ship, thecomputer will consider the badge-tap to be force of habit, orsimply a confirmatory signal.In the event that the recipient is unavailable for a routinevoice call, a system flag will be set in the computer and willalert the recipient that a waiting message has been stored.Emergency voice transmissions are prioritized and controlledby command authority instructions within the computer, andcan be redefined by command personnel according to thesituation.During most Alert conditions, the communications systemis automatically switched over to high-speed operationsoptimized to afford the Bridge uninterruptable links to the restof the ship for contact with other departments and assessment
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