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Tweak says, "RAW"

Dominic Vail (dom_vail) wrote in omega_reality,
@ 2011-06-06 16:02:00

Entry tags:

*complete, 2011 06, character: dominic vail, dead: henrietta lange

RP: Dom and Hetty
Who: Dom and Hetty
Where: Hetty's office
When: June 6, 2011
Summary: Dom wants a Supercomputer

Dom liked this new center. They had everything in one building, from the gym to the computers and cool toys. It was a lot more efficient than having to go all around the base to find things. He liked even more that they were close to Vance and Hetty. He missed her. Vance was the one who gave orders. Hetty was the one who helped you follow them. Right now, she could help with something else.

Gone were the soldiers and helpers. Instead it was just them. It felt a little too much like home, and Dom had to remind himself that it wasn't home and it wouldn't be home until they found a way, and Hetty was the key. He went up to her office and smiled when he saw the opened door, not too far from Vance's own open door. He went inside and sat down. "I've been thinking about finding a way home," he started without preambles or chit chat. Hetty would direct the conversation how she wanted; she always did. "I've been looking at the experiments conducted," he said, not explaining just how he had gotten that information, but it seemed that the Armed Forces could be hacked here just as easily as they could in their dimension.

"Let me explain what they did, or were supposed to do. They created a portal to different dimensions. The portal would go to random dimensions. Anyone crossing it would have to take a device that would allow the scientists to pull them back. It's like... a modified version of a Stargate," he said, smiling, because the idea of building a giant stargate was so cool even if it didn't work the way the Stargate was supposed to. "Anyway, this device never worked. Also, they have no clue how to target a specific dimension. It's like a Stargate that opens at random addresses. You'd have no way to know where you end up. Even if we perfect their crappy work, we wouldn't be able to go home. We'd just leave this dimension. So after we figure that out, we need to find a way to target dimensions, and that can't be done without a computational model, not unless we start building their Stargate and start sending people as an experiment, which we know we can't do. So we're back to a model, and for that we need a supercomputer. Without it, we're never going home, Hetty. Even with one, it might take years before we can find a working model and then we need to find the equipment to create this gate. We're here for a while. I thought you and the director should know and plan accordingly, but I didn't think you wanted anything in writing... and we really need a supercomputer. I looked at prices. They are pretty much equivalent to ours, about $800,000 for one. I'd love to have more than one, but one is the minimum. The only other option would be a distributed computing platform, but the power resources we'd need would make more than a few people suspicious and it would be expensive too."

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hetty_lange
2011-06-10 05:48 am UTC (link)

Hetty appreciated the new offices. She could be closer to her agents again. Perhaps still not as hands on as she had been in the past, but she was here where they were, keeping an eye on those wayward boys of hers. Smiling when Dom entered, she raised an eyebrow as he launched into his purpose in being there that afternoon. Though she appreciated the direct approach in moderation, Hetty appreciated the niceties and formalities...the dance. It was part of what had drawn her to the spy business in the first place, back when you could still call it spy business without drawing censoring looks from the Intelligence community.

Even Sam Hanna rarely entered her office without first offering a teasing greeting.

"I am well, Mr. Vail. Thank you for asking. And yourself?" Tilting her head to one side, she waved toward the door. "If you would be so kind as to close the door, lest we be disturbed?"

The information he presented regarding the experiments that had brought them there wasn't what interested her the most. No, that was the request made for equipment to do the scientists one...or twelve...better. Hetty couldn't help sighing silently to herself. While she did nothing to disabuse her agents of the fact, it was difficult to pull off the arrangements she'd made before. She wasn't without her resources. This was a game she'd played too long not to have contacts and some political currency after eight months. Her reach was not quite as extensive as it had been in their home dimension, however and these boys, bless them, were going to stretch it to its limits. "Something of that ilk will require sometime to finance," she said. "Have you given thought to where you would wish to house such a system? There are not many secure places where something of that nature could be hidden. Do the others agree with your assessment?"

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dom_vail
2011-06-10 12:02 pm UTC (link)

Dom would have blushed, but he didn't, and yes, he was definitely going back to his academic days when niceties were just a waste of time. These were seconds that could be used for constructive discourse. "You're quite welcome," he answered cheekily as he stood up and closed the door, before sitting back down. "Sam hasn't killed me, so I suppose I'm good, too. Do you know how many hours are spent monthly on unnecessary social conventions? Too many, but that's irrelevant right now." He'd have to talk to Sheldon and see if they could come up with a number. It would be a nice break while working on important things.

"Here's the problem with the supercomputer. It's big, it's traceable and you can't really hide it. Unless we do everything in the black market and put it in the safe house, people will know. That would take into account that we can get one in the black market. There's no guarantee. Supercomputers are hardly things criminals invest in. Also we wouldn't know if it works properly, which means throwing out plenty of money in case we're wrong. Finally, we wouldn't really be able to use it unless we go there," he said, without stopping. "Now, if we go the legitimate route, it has to stay here, but there is no room for being hidden."

He nodded. "Yeah, we all want a supercomputer, however there is another much cheaper, more mobile, but questionable solution, of the type that you'd have to approve. You know how I said that the power resources for a distributed computing platform aren't practical? Well, we could get around it. We create a program, hide it on the net, and anyone that goes there would download the program and become part of our platform. Berkeley had a similar program, although the participation was voluntary and with notice. This would be involuntary and secret. The downside is that if some hacker out there comes across it, he or she could possibly find us. We wouldn't make it easy, but the possibility would exist. However, a solution like this would mean that we would have the resources at our disposal all the time. As long as we have a laptop and can connect to the internet, we're good to go. In any event, Hetty, we need to prepare for the long run. Discounting the possibility that we can't return, we will be here years. We can't live from day of day, more long term plans should be made."

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hetty_lange
2011-06-11 05:06 am UTC (link)

"Unnecessary to whom?" Hetty asked with a smile. "So many of those social conventions serve a purpose most people have simply forgotten or do not take the time to consider. But, that's a conversation for another time, of course. I am glad to hear Sam hasn't killed you, however." Yes, she was definitely looking forward to being around her agents more often. Someone had to look after them before they did irreparable damage to themselves.

Hetty personally believed you could find anything on the black market if you knew where to look. Just because it seemed implausible didn't make it impossible. But, there were far more pressing questions of logistics and security at hand. "It would have to be hidden, Mr. Vail. There is no reason for a government agency, given the mission statement we have been given, to require such an item. In light of who we are and how we came to be here, such a thing would raise alarm bells that could well make the machine worthless when there was no one left to use it before it could do it's work properly. As to the solutions of a questionable nature, in this business, plausible deniability is a better friend than diamonds.

"Nothing is ever a sprint, Mr. Vail. But, this is not quite the Boston Marathon. More like the Barkley Marathons. What plans can be made for the long term will be made. But, how long that term is, well, that's not strictly up to us, now is it? Let me consider the options and get back to you. If, as you state, we are to be here for quite a while, a few more days' delay while a secure and workable option is found will not be a hindrance."

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dom_vail
2011-06-11 03:41 pm UTC (link)

"To scientists," he said, laughing. "And you should really come to MIT and have that discussion in the science department." Hetty might be great, but even she wouldn't convince a bunch of geniuses who thought that unless you were discussing logarithms and theories, you were wasting their time.

"I honestly don't think that we'll get the use that we need if it's hidden outside the base. Lack of access would make it useless. These ideas come at any moment. I can't see me and Sheldon leaving in the middle of the night and not raise suspicious," he said.

Dom smiled. "I don't know. I'm pretty sure it is up to us, because no one else is finding the solution. They are too stupid to do it if their research is anything to go by, not that I would have seen their research, but if I had, that would be my opinion. We'll find you a solution, Hetty, but unless we get a breakthrough, I'm estimating a three to five year period for that to happen. I hope that helps you make your plans." He nodded. "We're still at the theoretical stage. We don't need the computer just yet. I thought I'd give you time." He stood up. "Thanks. It's always nice talking to you." He stopped before reaching the door and turned to look at her. "I mean that. It's good to have you so close again. You're always been the one to keep the team together." He opened the door, still looking at her. "Have a good day."

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