JP - Ensign Nathan Richards & Crewman Furahl Ygrix - Does Not Compute
Travis St. John
((Shuttlebay 4, The Cellar, Amity Outpost))
Nathan sat and pondered a name for the shuttle. It wasn’t uncommon for an auxiliary craft to go without a name, but Nathan felt that this one needed it. Every name was unique, some shared the names of important historical figures while others held the names of landmarks or more parks back on Earth. Nathan could only think of one that would be fitting. There was a National forest that occupied the midwest region of North America back on Earth. Caribou - Grand Targhee. He always liked the name Targhee.
Richards: ::snapping his fingers:: That’s it. You are the Targhee.
He took another drink from his water, when he heard his datapad chirp. He looked down at it, and noticed that his request for programming assistance had been approved. Any minute now there was going to be a Computer Specialist heading down his way. He rubbed his hands together, excitement growing as it seemed the shuttle was going to be ready to go sooner than he expected. It was only a few minutes before he heard the door to the shuttlebay open, and a member of the Science Division stepped through.
The seven-foot tall Edosian stepped through the door, stooping slightly as he entered. His bright yellow eyes reflected the ambient light of the dim auxiliary shuttlebay, giving him an intense and ominous appearance that ill-fitted his placid demeanor. He wore a blue and grey uniform, denoting his station – and on his chest was a single black-and-silver angular pip with a line running through it.
He crossed two of his arms across his chest, the third reaching up to sit on his chin quizzically – and he spoke in a deep, droning, muffled voice.
Ygrix: Ensign Richards? ::Squinting:: I am Crewman Furahl Ygrix. Lieutenant Kivik has assigned me to assist you.
The word “assist” seemed to carry a certain reserved disdain for the nature of the assignment.
Richards: ::Maniacal laughter:: Welcome to my lair, Crewman.
Nathan smiled, standing from the crate he was sitting on. He looked the Edosian over for a moment, before holding out his right hand. He didn’t know which hand the Crewman used primarily so he held it somewhere in the middle, trying not to offend him in any way.
The Edosian rolled his yellow eyes at Richards’ remark and held out his central hand with a sigh. After they had completed the shaking ritual, he retracted it quickly.
Ygrix: I was told that you were something of a ‘maverick’ by the Lieutenant who informed me that I should help to ‘keep you in line’ whilst we work on this project together. I trust we won’t have any trouble?
Richards: A ‘maverick’, huh? ‘Keep me in line’... I thought me and Kivik and I had a wonderful time together. ::shrugging:: There won’t be any trouble, as long as you don’t cause any. And keep in mind, Crewman, I am in charge after all. :: smirking::
Ygrix: You may outrank me, Sir, however I also understand that you lack the skills necessary to complete this work on your own – and so you will need to rely on my knowledge of antique LCARS programming to finish your… project.
Nathan let his hand fall. It was apparent that the Endosian wasn’t going to be someone he could…mess around with.
Richards: My project. Right. Well, let’s get to work then, shall we? ::motioning towards the shuttle:: And, for the record, she doesn’t like the word antique. She’s a classic.
Ygrix: ::Groaning:: It’s a machine, Sir. It does not have preferences. However, it does require someone trained in antique computer systems to return it to functionality. Why don’t we start with the first barrier you are experiencing?
The Crewman’s left and right arms came together in front of him, one as a fist and the other as a flat surface – mimicking an object impacting a wall.
Richards: Okay… All I really need is help with getting all of the systems to read with the main computer. They aren’t all from the same craft. Kind of a…Frankenstein…If you will.
Ygrix: A what? If you’re going to speak in metaphors, Sir, I’d ask that you keep them accessible to non-Terran species, like myself. It will improve our… ::rolling eyes:: …synergy.
Nathan leaned against the rear hatch opening of the shuttle, rubbing his face before crossing his arms.
Richards: Mix-and-match. ::shaking head:: I’m putting a lot of my soul into this project, so I’m having a lot of faith in you to make things how i want them. How the shuttle will need to be run. Is that something you can do?
Ygrix: I am an expert, Sir. It is why I was Enlisted in Starfleet. I can make it run – however, I would recommend that a more efficient course of action would be to provide me with a detailed breakdown of your objectives so that I may tell you which are achievable and which are not.
Richards: Seems simple enough. ::scratching his chin, under his breath:: I don’t think you’re being very optimistic.
Ygrix: I would also recommend listening to my advice over the urge to try and achieve the impossible. A computer system founded on solid and inflexible principles is a computer system that can last the ages. ::Sighing:: They don’t make them like they used to.
Richards: But what the computer can do and handle all depends on how the systems are implemented. That’s my department. I’ll handle that end. All I need to know is if you can get the computer up and going.
Ygrix: ::Shrugging, all three arms:: As I said, Sir. You outrank me – and I have been assigned by my Superior Officer to this project. Therefore, I will do as you direct… ::Pacing slowly in a small loop:: I don’t expect we shall emerge from this experience as ‘friends’ but I trust that you shall find my job performance satisfactory.
Nathan had a hard time finding anyone he came across that he didn’t end up being friends with after their first encounter. Ygrix was going to be a tough nut to crack. He might not even be able to crack him. If he played his cards right, this… encounter could be somewhat bearable.
Richards: We will see about that. The main computer is mounted behind the co-pilot. Inside the bulkhead. The secondary computer is behind the pilot. Everything is wired in, and I have the Power Cells ready to install, whenever you’re ready.
Ygrix: I would recommend installing the power cells now, then, Sir. Otherwise I think we shall both find it challenging to program the computers.
Nathan rolled his eyes, and grabbed one of the Power Cells and installed it into the rear compartment of the shuttle. There was an arc as the cell made its connection, bringing the aft section of the craft to life. He installed a second and third cell, bringing the whole craft to life. The control panels all lit up, cycling through their checks before they all lit up with different errors and messages.
Richards: This should be interesting…
Ygrix: ::Under his breath:: An understatement. ::Sighing:: Ensign, do you realize you are asking me to turn a pile of scrap into a functional flying machine?
Richards: Where’s your sense of adventure? ::taking a deep breath:: I smell a challenge!
Furahl crossed his arms once again. This time, his extra arm rested on his three-pronged hip.
Ygrix: Then you are more enthused at the prospect of abject failure than I am.
Richards: ::sighing:: Let’s just see what we can do, huh?
Ygrix retrieved his PADD from it’s holster and nodded slowly and unenthusiastically.
Ygrix: Very well. Let me see what is feasible given the… ::rolling his eyes:: …present conditions.
((Sometime later))
Richards: Life support, weapons, and shields seem to be a bit confused. The error for the engines is…understandable. I only have thrusters wired in currently. The impulse engines need some TLC, and I need to get my hands on a pair of micro-cores for the warp drive.
Furahl scratched his head. His PADD was lit up with a wide array of alerts, errors, and cautionary messages all of which told him what he already knew inside – that this was a pet project doomed to fail.
Ygrix: You must understand, Sir, that computer programming is far from being a stagnant field. Modern systems iterate more often than they ever did before and it requires a considerable amount of time and dedicated study to keep up with that pace. Requiring these outdated components to speak with one another is like asking a Tamarian to give directions to a Gorn…
Furahl groaned at his own metaphor. Ensign Richards’ proclivity for colorful speech was evidently wearing off on him – a development he detested quietly.
Ygrix: Where did these things all come from?
Richards: I'm not sure, to be honest. All of the parts were in unlabeled crates scattered around the bay. The two main panels here in the cockpit are from a Type-17, the others I believe are from a Type-9. The thruster packs are from a Type-18, the computer cores are from a Type-11. There's a little bit of everything in here.
Ygrix: If that is the case, then, I withdraw my earlier surprise. This outcome is entirely expected. Perhaps if you wish to repair this machine you should acquire new up-to-standard components for it.
Richards: I didn't think it would be this complicated…
Ygrix: That is abundantly evident… Sir.
Nathan ran his hand through his hair, feeling somewhat frustrated.
Richards: Why don't we take a break, and regroup.
Ygrix: I think stepping away from this work would be wise. I would like to have a word with Lieutenant Kivik about this project and my role in it. I am beginning to suspect that this was nir idea of a ‘joke’ – which I do not appreciate being made the ‘butt’ of.
Richards: ::Crossing arms:: Does this joke have a punchline? Cause I've been waiting.
Ygrix: If there is one thing I think that you and I can agree on, Ensign, it is that you and I are ill-fitted workmates.
Nathan thought back for a moment to what Kivik had said in the SRC. Ne planned this.
Richards: ::grumbling:: Ill-fitted workmates is putting it mildly.
Ygrix: ::Sighing:: As much as I would like to say that this is entirely your failing, this is hardly the first time I have found myself in such a position. I believe I should extricate myself from this project before I am overcome with insubordination. I will advise the Lieutenant that I am incapable of performing this task.
Richards: ::putting his hands in the air:: You’re just going to give up? Come on…I really need your…
Ygrix: ::Holding up one of his three hands:: I understand that you will stand next to no chance of completing this work without my expertise, but I am afraid it must be this way. Please do not attempt to change my mind. I will ask Lieutenant Kivik to seek out a different programmer of sufficient skill – if one can be found on this station.
Richards: ::crossing arms again:: Well I guess we'll see won’t we?
With that, Furahl collected his PADD and tools and made his way sluggishly towards the Cellar door. He turned around to offer one final parting word to Richards.
Ygrix: Good day, Sir. ::Rolling his eyes:: And good luck, I suppose.
Richards: I’d say thanks for the help, but you really weren’t much!
The door slid closed behind Ygrix as he left the shuttle bay. Nathan picked up a spanner that sat on a nearby crate, and threw it across the shuttle bay where it clanged against the far wall.
Richards: ^#&@!
END
Ensign Nathan Richards
Engineering Officer
Amity Outpost
A23995NR1
&
Crewman Furahl Ygrix
Computer Scientist
Amity Outpost
V239806K11
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