View source for Sinoxodalcalcite “Da’allium” As a Self-Sustaining Destructive Compound With Physio-Psychic Transmissive Ramifications

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''2400, Vol. 422, No. 2 ''<br />

<br><font size="5">'''Sinoxodalcalcite “Da’allium” As a Self-Sustaining Destructive Compound With Physio-Psychic Transmissive Ramifications'''</font><br> by <font size="3">[[Hiro Jones|Hiro Jones, MD]]</font>

__TOC__[[File:Da'allium.png|alt=Figure A - Molecular model of Da'allium|thumb|<ref>Da'allium</ref> Figure A - Molecular Model|none|400x400px]]<h3>Abstract</h3>

Starfleet Mission Records Archive, entry ArMa240002.19<ref>[[Impact (Artemis)]]</ref> details the ensuing complications during a humanitarian mission to Meranuge IV in the wake of a meteorite impact. The resultant airborne particulate (heretofore called “Da’allium”) from the unstable fusion of elements (both native to Meranuge IV and present in the meteorite) were not only sustained by the Da’al (indigenous humanoid intelligent and technologically advanced species of Meranuge IV) telekinetic ability, but also utilized the corresponding telepathic ability to elicit a heightened aggressive state. The Aggressive State (heretofore called “Da’allium Rage”) focussed and amplified the Da’al form of telepathic link, which resulted in a focussed and amplified effect of the Da’allium upon the afflicted.

It has been speculated the Da’al telepathic/telekinetic ability known as the Shu’Da’al<ref>[https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-artemis/c/nlb1IlZYza4/m/eYFlBv82BgAJ Shu'Da'al]</ref> is largely responsible for the Da’al tendency toward pacifism<ref>[https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Da%27al#Physiology Observed Da'al Behavioral Patterns Da'al] </ref>, however recent events indicate this same ability has the potential for extreme volatility and under such circumstances pose a risk to telepathically sensitive (particularly empathetic) individuals of non-Meranugian origin.<ref>[https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-artemis/c/9aqsJsHw6SU/m/zK89M1JkAAAJ ev1]</ref><ref>[https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-artemis/c/PK8nHXaPrDc/m/zNWSbPedAAAJ ev2]</ref>

The purpose of this paper is to examine the conditions required for and resultant to the compound known as Da’allium, detail treatment options (up to and including curative), and outline future preventative measures and cautions for future involvement with the residents of the Meranuge system.

<h3>Conditions Required</h3>
[[File:Da'alBrain1.png|left|thumb|Fig. 1 - Da'al Superior Collosus]]
[[File:Da'alBrain2.png|thumb|Fig. 2 - Da'al Gross Paramotor Lobe]]
Si<sub>3</sub>Na<sub>2</sub>Ga<sub>5</sub>CaO<sub>2</sub> “Da’allium” is an elemental compound which cannot exist without sustained restrictive energy input. Working in conjunction with the Science department aboard the USS Artemis-A (c. 240004)<ref>[[Jovenan]]</ref><ref>[[Kawarda]]</ref>, it has been confirmed that the molecular bonds would not have held more than a few nanoseconds under normal conditions. The causal event was the pressure and intense exothermic reaction triggered by the meteorite impact. The trace of Gallium was found from scans of the meteorite itself, which accounts for its presence solely in the compound in question. The Superior Collosus (the Da’al analog to the [https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/Paracortex Betazoid Paracortex] - See Fig. 1) proves to be the section of the Da’al brain responsible for the subconscious empathetic and telepathic harmonizing characteristic of their people. Due to the delineation and delegation of telekinetic and telepathic abilities, the Shu’Da’al would appear to be a sympathetic, binary psionic ability suite, governed by the Anterior Shuda Gland. Speculation as to the evolution of this trait is premature and undeveloped, but it may have arisen as a means of efficient communication of food, water, or danger sources prior to the advent of spoken language among the Da’al. While vestigial in this sense, it has been retained on account of the benefits to a more biologically advanced society.<ref>Spec./Haskins and B’Aragah, 2399 (244-273)</ref>

The static field generated by the Gross Paramotor Lobe (See Fig. 2) was sufficient to hold the compound in a state of mid-flux, thereby allowing it to ebb and flow in relation to the population density of Da’al within the vicinity.

If the number of exposed Da’al remains below two or three, the effects of the Da’allium will be present, but manifest at a slower rate than with higher populations. Over the course of the mission mentioned previously, teams were able to observe groups ranging from one exposed adult<ref>Minister Erbil was indoors and isolated from other Da’al for the majority of the teams’ interaction with him.</ref>, one non-exposed youth<ref>Male Da’al youth (name of minor not included) was indoors and isolated from Da’allium and other Da’al, and presented asymptomatic until later exposure to both Da’allium and previously exposed Da’al.</ref>, and a group of 4 relief workers to mobs exceeding one hundred seventy individuals.<ref>[[Impact (Artemis)]]</ref> From this dataset, it can safely be extrapolated that duration of exposure to the Da’allium is less of a factor than quantity of exposed patients.

<h3>Conditions Resultant</h3>
[[File:Da'alBrain3.png|thumb|Fig. 3 - Inflammation of Da'al Caudal Subcortex]]
During the course of the mission, several cranial and brain wave scans were performed on Da’al in various stages of effect. From these scans we are gaining a strong baseline understanding of the Shu’Da’al, though at present it is still far from comprehensive. Current theories concur that the Anterior Shuda Gland (unique to the Da’al) secretes a hormone that activates the Quasi-Parietal Subnode thereby limiting the effectiveness of the prefrontal cortex in direct correlation to the amplitude of the radiant energy of the Da’allium. This in turn inflames the Caudal Subcortex, resulting in the observed heightened aggression. (see Fig. 3)

Once the Da’allium Rage has been initiated, it does not appear to have an end to the course it will run. This leads to the conclusion that the terminus for the condition is that of the patient themself. The only plausible theoretical terminus for the affliction is cessation of all brain activity of Da’al in the geographic vicinity. Loss of consciousness would not suffice as the Superior Collosus maintains activity at all times.
Once exposed and symptoms begin presenting, the ambient airborne Da’allium began exhibiting wave-like tendencies. The “ebb and flow” took on another dimension as the energy grew increasingly organized in pattern and strength. After a time, this wave increased to become audible<ref><nowiki>https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-artemis/c/eTWFUenxSY8/m/UVRa52quAAAJ</nowiki></ref>, but before then, it was perceptible to Betazoids present.

Without a control scan, extrapolation from the existing data carries a confidence in accuracy of 78% at best, but it is believed the Betazoid Paracortex<ref><nowiki>https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/Paracortex</nowiki></ref> served as a receptor for the psionic inflammation using the Da’allium as a carrier wave. The lack of physiological delineation in telepathic centers of the Betazoid brain, there was no defense. Reports from other teams<ref><nowiki>https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-artemis/c/20raRJ3JXHk/m/abPSoxS1AQAJ</nowiki></ref> indicate specialized training tempered the onset of fully-manifest symptoms, however it is unclear as to whether the exposed Betazoids on the away teams would have progressed once removed from the contaminated environment.

<h3>Treatment Options (Temporary Symptom Alleviation)</h3>Lexorin<ref><nowiki>https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-artemis/c/9R2ZPV0SY_k/m/B_bLO8uTGAAJ</nowiki></ref> was employed to temporarily abate symptoms presenting in one Betazoid patient, but the effectiveness of this treatment was short-lived and not tested on an exposed Da’al. Two methods were employed among both Da’al and Betazoid patients, with varied success.

The first, and most scientific, was isolation - removal of the patient from the contaminated environment. While this treatment did not halt the progress of Da’allium Rage, it did appear to have some benefit in aiding the patient to “will-out” over the telepathic influence. Eventually, this method proved fruitless, as the amplitude continued to increase.

The second method was more “hands-on.” A slap<ref><nowiki>https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-artemis/c/rLl6GJAvkjQ/m/qZb_Hu7eAQAJ</nowiki></ref> (or some other minor violence) done to the patient was jarring enough emotionally, and stimulates the production of noradrenaline/norepinephrine within the patient's brain stem to counteract the inflammatory effects of the hormone from the Anterior Shuda Gland. This “treatment” however, is difficult to dose, and given the nature of the affliction could in most cases be more detrimental than beneficial to the patient. It is therefore not a recommended treatment.

<h3> Curative Measures</h3>
The only common factor in any proven curative treatment of an individual affected is the application of a stasis field, tuned to oscillate between 34.8 and 22.2 MHz.<ref><nowiki>https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-artemis/c/fPncImxZWyg/m/DotM60JVFwAJ</nowiki></ref> The device employed during this mission was originally a floral transport device, repurposed as an emergency osteo stabilizer, refined/re-tuned and repurposed as a Da’al psionic feedback loop inhibitor.

The theory behind the device was that if the affliction only existed while the Da’al were in direct telepathic/telekinetic contact with the Da’allium, temporarily severing this contact would result molecular bonds in the Da’allium compound to break, ending its existence and therefore the threat. The adjustments were made by Chief Engineering Officer Lieutenant Hallia Yellir<ref>[[Hallia Yellir]]</ref> and first tested by the author of this paper<ref>[[Hiro Jones]]</ref> on a Betazoid patient<ref>[[Talos Dakora]]</ref> to great effect.

Having successfully tested the calculations on a small scale, the next phase of testing was to implement the same treatment on a larger scale. Adjustments were made and the stasis device connected in-line with a Da’al planetary transport set to overload the engines, sending the pulse from the device to a wider, albeit still limited radius. The effects of this method were mixed.<ref><nowiki>https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-artemis/c/TVrDXHF9Dx4/m/JfzzuLbvAgAJ</nowiki></ref> While the disruption was successful, the limited range, coupled with the side effects from the shockwave of the overloaded engine (severe nausea, temporary loss of hearing, tinnitus, disorientation, blunt-force trauma, and injuries sustained from being thrown by the shockwave), damage to the area (small crater from the transport explosion), as well as the risk of injury from airborne shrapnel caused by the explosion rendered this treatment method inadvisable.

The theory however, proved scalable. In order to implement a cure on a scale on par with the scale of the contamination, a second device was prepared and attached to a series of forcefield generators, arranged around the meteors impact crater. This depression in the topography, paired with the radial configuration of the energy barrier created a conical shape which would act as an amplifier for the harmonic frequency needed to disrupt the Da’al/Da’allium contact. While this method posed the risk of tinnitus and nausea as side effects, they were far less acute than the mid-range test, and quickly subsided after the curative implementation.

<h3>Prevention</h3>
The author does not believe preventative measures will be necessary. The Da’allium can only exist under extreme or artificial environmental conditions, and as such is unlikely to recur. That said, if the substance were to be detected again, immediate removal and isolation of Starfleet crew with telepathic levels T2/E2<ref>[[T/E Rating System]]</ref> or higher is recommended. Additionally, any teams entering a contaminated area should be equipped with a modified stasis device for use in treating individuals.

It cannot be emphasized strongly enough: while the direct hazards and risks of the Da’allium Rage are seemingly benign, the peripheral risks are incalculable, and since the affliction appears to persist at least in Betazoids post removal, this should be treated immediately, and not permitted to “run its course.”

<h3>Sources</h3>

[[Category:Journal of Starfleet Medicine]]
[[Category:Medical Articles]]
[[Category:Chemicals and Particles]]
[[Category:Biology]]

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