New Engine
Posted on Thu Apr 2nd, 2020 @ 3:42pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Elen Diari & Lieutenant Paul Michael & Ensign Auba Lyna
Edited on on Fri Apr 3rd, 2020 @ 4:52pm
1,376 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - New Home, Same Pioneers
Location: Main Engineering - Deck 11 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD004 1000 hrs
Michael was informed that the ship was getting a quantum slipstream drive. He had to read up on the latest data concerning the drive. Of course he had heard about it, but now that the ship was getting a drive, he wanted to be involved in the installation and the diagnostics. He entered engineering and saw that the install team was already there, setting up for the install.
Engineering had not looked anything like the engineering that Tyler remembered. Conduits and wiring hung from everywhere. He felt bad for Elen, and the rest of the engineering team as most of the crew had shore leave. Yet they had to work installing a Quantum Slipstream Drive. "Lieutenant, what are you and your people doing to my ship." Tyler said with a smirk as he walked toward Elen.
Michael went around, watching the engineers installing components for the new drive. There was even going to be a new warp core to power the new drive.
He found the work interesting.
Elen bounded over "Well, Captain Darling, decided to give the place a bit of a makeover while the new drives are installed. Just thought would upgrade a few other things too. Hey Paul, nice to see you too down here."
"Well don't work too hard, make sure that you both take some sure leave. You know us Captains are never told how everything works. Well I know how a QSD is supposed to work. Paul care to fill me in on power draws and how this thing operates." Tyler figured while he was done here he may as well learn a thing or two.
"Well sir, as you know quantum slipstream drive is a propulsion system not too dissimilar to transwarp drive developed by the Borg, in which it takes ships at speeds higher than those permitted by even the most advanced warp engines, producing what is called slipstream velocity." Michael walked towards the warp core. "Slipstream velocity is attained when energy produced by a starship's quantum drive is coursed through the deflector array to create a slipstream tunnel that allows it to travel at faster-than-warp speed. As recorded by the crew of the USS Voyager, a starship in slipstream velocity could cover fifteen light years in just three minutes, or 300 light years in one hour. This calculates out to 9,467,280,000 times the speed of light." He nodded to the captain and the chief engineer. "I would say that we shouldn't over use the new drive. We are still not sure how the drive will perform if we over use it, sir."
Either Paul had done his homework and was purposely trying to butter Tyler up or he was just citing an example pertinent to the conversation that they were having. The mention of Voyager was not lost on the Captain. "I tend to agree once it is installed we will engage a test flight and then only use it in an emergency. Is this installation going to run havoc on our current systems? I don't want my ship going offline."
"I shouldn't think so, why we're taking everything apart. Putting in safeties, backup systems, fall back equipment. Worse comes to worse, I'll put out solar sails." Elen tried to reassure the Captain "There's a residential school on Betazed in a couple of weeks, on training to use the QSD, I'm planning to go, and bring back a specialist with me, If you want to come along too Paul, have an extra space, and can use my bunk space- I'll be staying with my Mom and transporting in, combining business with pleasure."
"Sounds good, just make sure you are back before we head out. We should be receiving orders any day now. We can't get too comfortable in Dock. Paul, if you want to go by all means. The more people aboard who know about this thing the better off we all are." Tyler replied with a smile.
"Of course, captain, I would be happy to accompany the chief to this conference." Paul nodded to the captain then the chief engineer.
"Great then it sounds like a plan. Oh and Lieutenant Diari, do not bring any specialist back until they are run by the Commander or myself. We would want any transfer of Starfleet personnel to be by the book." Tyler smiled to let her know that he was half joking.
Meeting with a bunch of specialists, or spending time with Auba.....he'd prefer her, but orders are orders. "Captain. Are we," indicating Diari and himself, "going to be getting training on the QSD while at the starbase?"
"I believe you are being trained during the installation. On top of that the symposium that Elen spoke of should teach you even more. Beyond that you are just going to have to learn on the fly. Pardon the pun." Tyler smiled and looked around. It was funny he realized how little he had been in Engineering. "Blast, where can a Captain get a cup of joe around here?"
Michael spoke up. "I can get you one, captain. There's a break room just outside main engineering, sir."
"Or just go over to that alcove there. Just avoid the green topped dispenser, It's the worse substance known to man- decaf" El pointed, having made that mistake earlier.
Paul looks at Diari. "Lieutenant. We should probably get together and come up with a game plan for the installation. Plus we should create a data base and a briefing book for the entire engineering staff."
Tyler shuddered at the sheer mention of decaf coffee. "Whoever, made the decaf needs to get to medical and be evaluated." He said with a smile. He noticed the industrial replicator next to one of the engineering stations, a few quick computer taps later and Tyler was holding a nice steaming cup. "Seems I can reprogram the replicators. Benefit of being Captain I guess." he chuckled. "Not a bad idea Paul, I would also make sure you add Lieutenant Tam to that list. She needs to be brought up to speed if she is going to fly us anywhere."
Paul nodded. "Excellent idea, captain. The ship's pilot should be involved in the installation of the new engine."
"I cut my stripes in Operations, so I know how it can feel to have the Captain poking about when you are trying to get some work done. So, I will leave you to it. I am looking forward to the Pioneer's first jump." Tyler said with a smile and sipped the coffee.
"Yes sir, thank you sir." Paul watched the captain turn and leave. Then he turned to Diari, "So when do we get started, lieutenant?"
"Five minutes. Mess hall. I've just got a couple of things to finish up here. Bring whoever it is you're thinking about, pretty girl though. Paul, don't call me lieutenant, I hate rank." El answered, moving a box out of the way to her office.
"Yes lieut...Elen." He watched her leave, and once she was gone, he went to the quarters he shared with Lyna, and once he got there, he asked her if she wanted to have lunch with the first officer and Elen Diari.
"Do you think that's a good idea? The first officer and the chief engineer? You and me, at lunch with them?" Lyna asked.
"We have nothing to hide or worry about. Most people already know about us, so why not be together at lunch?" Paul responded. "I mean, we are getting married soon, aren't we?" He smiled at her.
"You know that when you smile at me like that I can't refuse you anything." She sighed. "Fine, we go to this lunch, and I'll sit there, all pretty, while the three of you talk shop."
A Joint Post By
Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Elen Diari
Chief Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Paul Michael
Assistant Chief Operations Officer, USS Pioneer
Ensign Auba Lyna
Security Officer, USS Pioneer
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