Ensign Meris - All Intelligent Pilots Really Respect Training
Meris/Brian
(( Cockpit of the Kerynitis, Space around DS224 ))
((OOC: Adding a few more lines to move this Sim forward. ))
As Zoyara enlarged a portion of the scans, the image Meris had placed on the main viewscreen adjusted to show a mapped area where the singular subspace drifts seemed to coalesce together.
Vailani: There were supposed to be several distortion drifts in this region.
Beside Zoyara, the J’naii pilot spoke up.
Meris: Could they have naturally dissipated?
Bergmen: Rarely, Ensign. But even then, there should have been at least some space-foil scarring detectable.
K’Wara: Response
Vailani: Do we have the previous scans for comparison yet?
Meris checked the communication log and saw the incoming telemetry from Deep Space 224.
Meris: Yes, Lieutenant. I will display it for you now.
The J’naii pulled it up on the main viewscreen, limiting their forward visual, though they still had the side portions of the viewscreen clear.
Zoyara nodded and began working through the data, highlighting portions on her display. The markings were repeated on the main viewscreen for the benefit of the others in the craft.
K’Wara: Response
As they continued to go over the scans and approached the subspace distortion, the shuttle rumbled ever so slightly. Meris immediately checked the navigational sensors.
Meris: A minor pocket of subspace turbulence.
The J’naii pilot began to reduce power to the impulse thrusters to improve the craft’s stability and control.
Vailani: Keep us nice and steady, Ensign. A slight reduction in the power from the impulse thrusters. What’s the multispectral scan telling us, Lieutenant Bergmen?
Meris: Aye, sir.
From the viewscreen they got a visual on the subspace drift, which appeared to be a hazy bubble of local space, only barely noticeable by a shimmering speckle of slightly translucent light.
Bergmen: Found what probably is our subspace distortion, ma’am. ::pause:: But. I don’t know how to describe it. It looks like the subspace bloom, which is blistering into real space. Mr. K’Wara, opinion?
K’Wara: Response
Meris: Lieutenant Vailani, I recommend we adjust our course to orbit the distortion rather than close on it. Subspace turbulence may increase as we get closer, and all that we observe, we change. An orbital path will allow our sensor strength to impact the distortion uniformly, as opposed to an approaching path, which would increase our sensor strength as we close.
Vailani: ::nods in agreement:: Adjust course, Ensign. Mister Bergmen, anything showing up that might explain what this is?
While the others concerned themselves with the subspace bloom, Meris began to adjust their course to orbit the disturbance rather than close on it. They felt a 100-kilometer orbit was sufficient and executed the maneuver.
K’Wara: Response
Bergmen: Subspace distortions generally originate from real space lesions that weaken the veil. This one is confusing, as I did not find any marks caused by something that happened here. It’s more like - ::pause:: - subspace exotic particles bulging or ballooning in the veil wall separating real space from subspace. I’m no scientist, nor do I have an explanation for this. So if there are no other ideas, I would recommend - in the meantime of us getting more scans - to search the historic databases to see if something like this has been met before, ma’am.
Meris nodded as Bergmen spoke. It struck them that including a science officer on this mission would have been a wise precaution.
Vailani: Do that. Let me know if you find anything. Ensign Meris, can we communicate with the station and let them know the situation has changed?
Meris: Aye, Lieutenant.
Meris then swiveled their chair slightly left to access the communications panel more readily.
Meris: =/\= Kerynitis to Deep Space 224. Come in, please. =/\=
K’Wara: Response
Bergmen: Lieutenant, I cannot get better resolution on those exotic particles. We will need to get a little closer, I’m afraid, to be able to distinguish the particles in the subspace stream from those in the distortion. Recommend Mx. Meris be ready for evasive maneuvers in case of distortion bloom.
Meris’ brow knit as they heard Bergmen’s suggestion.
Beside the pilot, Zoyara inhaled a frustrated breath.
DS224: =/\= Go ahead, Kerynitis. This is Deep Space 224. =/\=
Meris: =/\= Be advised we have identified a common point of origin for the subspace distortions previously reported in our area. It appears to be some kind of subspace bloom. We are continuing our investigation. =/\=
DS224: =/\= Acknowledged, Kerynitis. Potential subspace bloom in your area. We will redirect traffic away from your area. You are to proceed with caution. =/\=
Meris: =/\= Understood, DS224. You will redirect traffic away from our location. We are to proceed with caution. Kerynitis out. =/\=
The pilot turned towards Vailani and was about to relay Deep Space 224’s orders when the Ops Officer addressed them.
Vailani: Ensign Meris, what’s your thought? How close can we get safely?
Meris: ::pausing, thoughtful sigh:: We are currently orbiting at a distance of 100 kilometers. I feel we can safely operate at 50 kilometers but, within that distance, we may not have sufficient reaction time to escape should the blister rupture.
K’Wara/Bergmen: Response.
Zoyara nodded to the helm officer.
Vailani: Make the adjustments.
Meris: Aye, Lieutenant.
Meris adjusted their orbit, tightening it around the bloom gradually until they were at the 50-kilometer mark. At that distance they also reduced speed to one-half impulse, lest the crew begin to feel like a ball swinging at the end of a string.
As the shuttle glided into position, Zoyara looked outside the viewscreen window.
K’Wara/Bergmen: Response.
Several alerts began to sound off. She turned to the others.
Vailani: Give me a status update.
On their status screen, their port nacelle flashed several times from black to red to black to red. Their hands moved to the power controls and they began shifting power flow to isolate the damaged nacelle.
Meris: ::alarmed:: Our port nacelle is losing power. I am adjusting power to the starboard nacelle to compensate. I believe we may have come in contact with a root of Mister Bergmen’s bloom.
K’Wara/Bergmen/Vailani: Response.
Meris’ fingers worked quickly across the console, rerouting power to the starboard nacelle, engaging the plasma interlocks to seal off the EPS feeds to the port nacelle, and executing a purge of the residual plasma built up in the damaged nacelle. The pilot then began to execute a level-3 diagnostic of the port nacelle watching their screen as EPS conduit integrity was confirmed, the system checked for plasma flow irregularities, a field coil misalignment, or a myriad of other things. While they did this, the starboard nacelle continued to purr along without issue. Meris couldn't help but think though, if they struck another 'root' of the subspace bloom, they could wind up with a completely dead shuttle floating in space. Meris did not relish requesting recovery from Deep Space 224 or the USS Artemis.
Meris: ::turning towards the others:: The diagnostic I've run indicates there is no physical damage to the nacelle or its components. I believe power flow was temporarily disrupted by the subspace distortions which caused it to lose power. I believe we can restart the port nacelle using our onboard systems and the functioning starboard nacelle as a primer. ::to Vailani:: Shall I proceed Lieutenant?
K’Wara/Bergmen/Vailani: Response.
The pilot nodded and turned back to their console.
Meris: ::to K'Wara and Bergmen:: I will need your assistance. Lieutenant K'Wara please reprime the system by initiating a controlled flow of warp plasma from the main reactor to the port nacelle. ::to Bergmen:: Once Lieutenant K'Wara indicates the nacelle is primed, please open the plasma interlocks to allow power from the EPS grid to enter the nacelle. ::to Vailani:: Please monitor the system for plasma pressure stability and coil temperature to ensure we don't breach acceptable thresholds. Once the nacelle is primed, and the power is restored, I will perform the nacelle restart procedure.
K’Wara/Bergmen/Vailani: Response.
As the others set about their tasks, Meris began to work through the nacelle restart procedures. It had been several month since the last time they'd performed a simulated restart and many more months since doing an actual one in low-Earth orbit. However, despite the intervening time, they felt comfortable performing the restart procedure using a simple pneumonic device they’d been taught at the Academy.
oO All Intelligent Pilots Really Respect Training... Oo
All stood for ‘Assess’ the situation by performing diagnostics and checking for damage.
Intelligent stood for ‘Isolate’ the nacelle by rerouting power and sealing EPS conduits.
Pilots stood for ‘Purge’ the nacelle by venting plasma and clearing EPS pathways.
Really stood for ‘Realign’ by calibrating the field coils and monitoring their temperature throughout the process.
Respect stood for ‘Restart’ by reengaging systems, opening plasma injectors, and cycling startup systems.
Training stood for ‘Test’ which would be necessary once the restart was complete.
When the others indicated they were ready, Meris activated the restart sequence and watched as the monitors for the port nacelle spiked and then leveled out. Through the deck plating they could hear and feel the familiar hum returning and the corner of Meris' mouth twitched with satisfaction as shipwide readings normalized. They quickly ran another diagnostic but were soon satisfied that the nacelle had returned to working order. Still, it would require a significant review once they returned to the Artemis to confirm why it had failed and to ensure it had no lasting issues.
Meris: ::to Vailani:: Port nacelle is working again. However, with one nacelle corrupted I feel I would be remiss not to recommend that we return to Artemis. Our data so far should be sufficient for a preliminary analysis and Deep Space 224 surely has others who can continue where we've left off.
K’Wara/Bergmen/Vailani: Response.
(( Tags/TBC ))
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Ensign Meris
Helm Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240207M14