JP - Lt. JG Kivik & Lt. JG Scotty Reade: Old Friends, New Skills (Part 2)

[Lt. JG Kivik]

((Lower Main Engineering - Deck 2, USS-Independence-B))

As Scotty and Kivik got to work with the automated diagnostics on the Indy, Scotty wanted to ask Kivik something. 

Reade: So, what made you change your mind? With all this engineering stuff? 

Kivik: ::Standing with hands awkwardly hovering over the panel:: Well, to be honest, Scotty… the trouble at the Expo made me realize that I really don’t have as solid a grasp over important Engineering concepts as I maybe ought to have. Of course, I retained what I learned at the Academy… but when science gets experimental, I think it would really help me to actually know how these things work beyond the theoretical… You know?

Reade: I see, that is good. More help the better? 

Kivik: Exactly. I don’t want to be caught in a situation where I don’t know how to… ::waving hands uncertainly:: …fix whatever is going on.

There was a beep from the console. Kivik jumped a little before realizing it was just the first of many confirmations that the ship’s systems were functioning as intended.

Reade: How are things in the Sciences? 

Kivik: Good, I suppose. It’s a very large department. ::Considering:: It’s a bit unusual sharing so much of the space and responsibility with the Civilian contingent. I guess nobody’s quite clear on who to look to for things like proposal approvals or findings reports. But we’re making do.

Reade: That is good. Yea guess working with the civilian science team makes things a bit more tough. 

Another beep – a different tone this time.

Kivik: Okay, now there’s something orange flashing on the screen. What’s that mean? It seems bad.

Reade: Oh, ::turning around to screen:: looks like one of the systems has a degradation, nothing major, but we should investigate to be sure. 

Kivik: Okay, so not too bad then. How do we check that out?

Reade: We will need to physically look at the problem system and check to see what is causing the degradation. Most likely it could be a blockage of some kind or another issue that might need some more work. 

Kivik: Lead the way.

Reade: :: motioning with hand:: Looks like it's the Bussard collector. That would need to be tested from the outside of the vessel. 

Kivik: Uhh… Outside the ship? ::Clamming up:: You mean while we’re still docked in the shuttlebay, right?

Reade’s face affirmed that was the plan. Kivik breathed a small sigh of relief. During nir last EVA adventure – a claustrophobic trip down a damaged mining shaft to rescue an injured spacefaring creature – ne had sustained a nasty concussion during that mission. Had the glass of nir helmet not held up, it could have been far worse.

Reade: Are you ready to go out? 

Kivik: Yes. ::Clearing nir throat:: Yeah, of course. I can do that.

The duo grabbed some of the tools and stepped back out to the exterior of the vessel, this time they wanted to check the Bussard collector to see if there was something wrong with it. The problem being though it would be hard to test the collector, without the Indy B flying. 

((Terminal A - Gate A1 - Amity Outpost)) 

Reade: So Kivik, you ready?

Kivik: ::Clutching a toolkit like it was a life preserver:: I think so… Where are we going exactly?

Reade: I think we can take the gantry over to the back of the Indy, and see what the collectors are doing. 

Kivik: Understood. I’m ready to watch and learn. Of course, I understand the theory behind the bussard collectors – but I haven’t seen them working up close. ::Smiling weakly:: Hey, maybe this will even be fun.

Reade: Ok, sounds good. Lets get our tools ready

Scotty grabbed his PADD, tricorder and some other tools needed to run a diagnostic on the collectors. Kivik followed suit, trying to collect the same tools as Reade.

Reade: Lets go! 

The pair made their way around to the area indicated in the earlier diagnostic scan, near the rear of the vessel.

Kivik: Alright, Scotty. Looks like we made it… I don’t see anything obviously wrong here. Should we run the test again?

Reade: Starting test. 

As the test started, it seemed there was a minor issue with the collectors, as the diagnostic alarm went off again, warning there was a slight issue.

Kivik: Hmm. ::Shrugging:: Maybe you see something that I don’t?

Reade: Ah, I see the problem, there is some sort of external blockage on the collector. :: To Kivik:: Any idea on what that is? 

Kivik looked where Scotty was pointing, but nothing immediately stood out to nem as being unusual. Then again, Scotty spent far more time staring at starship components than ne did.

Kivik: External blockage? ::Squinting:: I don’t see anything. ::Checking nir tricorder:: Let me see if I can detect anything… Not seeing anything on the main bands. I’ll try switching to particle emission scans. Maybe the bounceback will tell us something…

Reade: Good thinking Kivik. 

Kivik: Well, you’re right - there is something blocking the collector, but I’m still not sure what it is. Based on the readout, my best guess is congealed plasma – maybe the system isn’t venting it correctly. ::Remembering:: Didn’t the Stellae take an interest in the Indy-B’s plasma ventilation? Could they have damaged something?

Reade: Hmm, you're right. The Stellae did take a good interest in the plasma ventilation. Its totally possible if they did damage something. Maybe we did not catch it during that time. 

Kivik: ::Nodding:: Even the juvenile caused a lot of damage to that mining shaft. A full grown adult might well have been able to inadvertently cause some trouble.

Reade: That is 100% true, hopefully we are not in that scenario, but I could be wrong. 

Kivik: If that is the case, how do we fix it? Is this is a – ::miming pushing buttons on nir PADD:: – “boop boop beep boop” situation or a – ::miming hitting something with a hammer:: – “hands on” situation?

Reade: :: Laughing:: Well, its definitely not a boop boop boop situation, it's more a hands on approach, we need to flip the vessel around. So the bow is facing us and the stern is facing forward, I trust you are capable of doing that?

After Kivik went into the cockpit and rotated the vessel around, he could then begin the repair of the bussard collectors.  

Kivik: ::Thinking:: I think I can manage it if the Indy-B flies anything like one of the smaller shuttles. I did some training with Lieutenant Ariadust… before the race that is… and I know my way around the helm controls enough for basic maneuvers.

Following Scotty’s direction, Kivik made nir way back inside the craft and over to the helm control. While it was certainly different piloting a Defiance-Class, the principles were the same, especially at low velocity.

Kivik: =/\= Okay, Scotty. I’m going to bring it about now. Stand back. =/\=

With the press of a few buttons, the craft slowly rotated about in the docking bay one hundred and eighty degrees. Kivik glanced out the viewport and gave Scotty a ‘thumbs up.’

Reade: =/\= Ok, lets begin the repairs. =/\=

Kivik: =/\= Alright. On my way. Save some plasma for me! =/\=

The duo began the repairs of the bussard collectors. It took some time, and a fair amount of instruction, but Kivik was able to follow along well enough. Ne found that, as ne worked, the function of the various components solidified in nir mind and the interactions of the mechanisms revealed a more thorough understanding of the ship’s systems. Ne smiled as they worked, glad to be learning from one of the best.

((3 hours later))

Reade: Ok, looks the repairs are done. :: To Kivik:: Can you run the remote diagnostic on the collectors again. 

Kivik: ::Tapping nir PADD:: You got it… Okay, we’ve passed the initial check, so that’s an improvement.

Reade: Awesome, looks all green so far. 

The diagnostic completed successfully. Kivik pumped a fist in the air victoriously.

Kivik: ::Grinning:: Hey! We did it!

Reade: Only thing that is left to do is create a repair report and send it over to Wil Ukinix for approval and record keeping. 

Kivik: ::Chuckling:: At least that doesn’t change from one department to another. The PADDwork never ends, does it? ::Smiling:: So what’s next?

Reade: Well, I had nothing else scheduled for today, but I really want to take a peek at the Kitty Hawk’s engineering systems. Want to tag along?

Kivik: Are you kidding?! Take a look inside a Galaxy Class?! You better believe it Scotty.

Reade: Yes! Who would decline to see something like that, mind those are Starfleet’s most prestigious assignments. 

Kivik: Oh, and hey, while we’re there – maybe we can rig up something in my old roommate, Finsen’s quarters. Nothing too bad, of course. Maybe make the lights flicker a little?

Reade: ::Surprised:: Well, I do not need Captain Rahman throwing me off the ship, but that sounds like fun. 

Kivik: ::Shrugging:: Don’t worry, Finsen’s a great sport! She’ll love it.

Reade: Lead the way! 

As the two officers walked together back into Amity, towards the Transporter Bay, Kivik turned to Scotty and thanked him.

Kivik: I really appreciate you taking the time to show me the works today, Scotty. ::Smiling:: You’re a good teacher. Maybe someday you’ll be guiding the hands of the next generation of engineers at the Academy – like your dad.

Reade: Well, thanks for kind words, but I feel like that is way later in my carrer. I am more of a hands-on person. Maybe next shore leave. 

Kivik: ::Laughing:: Yeah, well, don’t get any big ideas just yet. We still need you here for now. 

Reade: Of course, did you hear? Engineering got a new minio- Ensign starting soon. 

Together, they shared a hearty laugh – but it did feel as if they were both looking forward now towards the future and the opportunities that lay ahead.

END

Lt. JG Kivik

Science Officer

Amity Outpost

V239806K11

+

Lt.JG Scotty Reade

Engineering Officer

Amity Outpost

V239804SR4