Positronic signature in Nemesis

Question

In Nemesis, the Enterprise E is lured to Kolarin III by a positronic signature, which ends up being B-4, another Soongian android.

Would starships of that time period (circa 2379) normally monitor for positronic signatures? Are sensors able to pick up a such a signature from several systems away? (Equivalently, could the Enterprise detect Data, if he happened to be several systems away?)

I could ask why Shinzon didn't simply invite a Federation delegation directly to Romulus, and specifically request that it be led by Picard, and then give Picard B-4 as a gift / sign of good faith, which would all be much less convoluted and circumstantial...but I won't. — Praxis, Feb 11 '15 at 07:06
Based on what we see in the film, the answers are yes, yes and yes. — Valorum, Feb 11 '15 at 09:34
@Richard ... Fleshed out a little, that could most definitely be the answer. — Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2, Feb 11 '15 at 12:43
@Paulster2 - But not a good answer. Self-explanatory isn't my thing. — Valorum, Feb 11 '15 at 12:44
@Praxis, if you were, hypothetically, to ask that question, I'd answer that he's be treated with the utmost suspicion and never, ever given access to the ship's computer. A gift from the Romulans? Must be a trick! — PointlessSpike, Feb 11 '15 at 13:24
We know that Starfleet ships do continuously scan for certain things, even when the crew aren't aware - for example, the Omega particle is detected by Voyager even when they aren't scanning for it. — Moo, Feb 11 '15 at 14:00
@PointlessSpike : Even without B-4 being a (direct) gift from the Romulans, they must have given him a thorough investigation before they interfaced his positronic brain with Data's. They would have done the same thorough investigation (and turn up nothing) if he came direct from Shinzon. Also, a Soong android would be too difficult for Data to resist tinkering with. — Praxis, Feb 11 '15 at 14:14
@Moo : That's certainly true. But I'm more concerned about whether positronic emissions would be on their "hit list" by default and whether they could detect a weak emission from such a distance. — Praxis, Feb 11 '15 at 14:15
@Praxis: But they had no real reason to suspect him. The manner in which he arrived lends itself well to the idea that he was picked up by accident. They wouldn't have investigated him as thoroughly as if he was just given to them by the Romulans. The Romulans are both devious and technologically advanced, whereas they just found him on a random planet. — PointlessSpike, Feb 11 '15 at 14:20
@Praxis as positronic brains have proven to be very difficult to replicate functionally (to the point where someone wanted to take Data apart to study), I would suggest that it would be something Starfleet would be highly interested in and looking out for at all times. — Moo, Feb 11 '15 at 14:25
Wow. Enemies can easily find location of Enterprise just by scanning for positronic signature.. — user931, Feb 11 '15 at 15:00
@SS, the ship doesn't have a cloaking device. The range of detection of Positronic particles is probably the same/similar to the range it can be detected normally. — PointlessSpike, Feb 11 '15 at 15:05

PointlessSpike · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-11T14:08:00.857

3

I'll bite.

I'll answer two and three first. The answer to two is a definite yes. Of course, since they did pick B4 up, therefore they can. The answer to three is probably yes. It's possible Data has some special shielding to stop him being picked up, but there's no reason to think so based on available evidence.

The answer to one is more fun. Positrons are pretty exotic. They're only used in a limited number of technologies. None are mainstream, so all are significant. I imagine normal scans will include positrons just because they're significant whenever you find them and, upon detecting them, sensors will beep to let you know. Plus, as Richard commented, Geordi's visor can pick them up. Since that's basically a sight-aid, complex ship-board sensors meant to do detailed scans of anomalies will be even more attuned to exotic particles.

There's nothing to indicate they were doing anything out of the ordinary with their sensors. However, we don't know that for sure. Clearly they are able to pick up positronic technologies from that range, but whether it's usual for them to try is a question I can't answer for definite. I would assume so, and there's good reason to think so.

edited Feb 11 '15 at 14:08

answered Feb 11 '15 at 13:41

PointlessSpike

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You might want to mention that Geordi's visor picks up positronic signals in The Masterpiece Society and that the positronic signal emanating from Data's head remains undetected in Time's Arrow Part I because of the composition of the cave's walls. – Valorum Feb 11 '15 at 14:04
With regard to Time's Arrow, do you have the script? If so, feel free to edit my answer to include details. – PointlessSpike Feb 11 '15 at 14:09
@Richard : That's a good point! – Praxis Feb 11 '15 at 14:10
@PointlessSpike - The links in my comment are to the transcripts. The actual script is here here, Pt I and here, Pt II – Valorum Feb 11 '15 at 14:18
It doesn't say that it was what was blocking readings of his positronic brain. It's still possible (albeit unlikely) that he has some kind of shielding. – PointlessSpike Feb 11 '15 at 14:24

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 13 '15 at 01:56

Ship sensors monitor for every kind of signal known. Ship senors are primarily passive detection devices, so they are simply waiting for the blip to appear on the scope, identify it, and measure it.

I think the question raised here about the effective range of sensors over light years is a compelling one. In Star Trek, speed, distant, and time were never monitored carefully to create anything resembling a science fiction continuity.

Distant in Star Trek is relative to plot. This means that the story is written and the details are filled in; they are not driving the story. And this is different from almost all other science fiction, driving we the fans a little squirrely.

Implied in your question is the notion that "isn't it kind of a little ridiculously lucky that they found this guy buried in a desert with their sensors and it just so happened to be another Soong type Android?"

I think the writers intended you to be skeptical. As I recall, B-4 was placed their by Shizon to lure Captain Picard. And so, it was ridiculously lucky and you are right to be skeptical. (Except, it wasn't actually lucky at all -- It was a trap!)

However, on the flip side of the coin, as PointlessSpike mentioned, positrons are not naturally occurring. In Star Trek, rare things are always easier to scan for. (This seems to be a truth in regular life as well. The person acting strangely always stands out in a crowd. We notice the one woman wearing bright red lipstick.) Therefore, positrons are discernible on Star Trek sensors at "great distances." But remember, distance is relative to plot. Frankly, I think several star systems away (easily 15-50 light years) strains credulity even if distance is relative to plot. I can't think of one instance in Star Trek where such fine detail (such as the location of a head) is discernible over a distance greater than the distance from orbitting Starship to a planet.

It would be far more believable to find the android floating in deep space. In this case, there would be no noise and interference from THE PLANET. The ship could have followed faint positron emissions like bread crumbs through space until the android was found.

But at the end of the day, it is subjective.

Positronic signature in Nemesis

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