MSNPC Dariell - They look weird, but might they help?
CPT Arianus
(( Operations Systems Maintenance deck, New Hope ))
As they gazed at the blank bulkhead, Dariell found it hard to keep their hands from fidgeting. The emotions they experienced when everything fell apart still resonated within them, all of them. Dariell clutched the tablet tightly, hoping they would not betray them again like they did in front of Luirett. They had gone over their manuals so many times that they hardly needed to refer to them anymore; Dariell could almost recite them by heart. And yet, all their knowledge did not provide them with the answers they so desperately needed, not in time. It was meant to work... and if Luirett had given them maybe another two or three more hours, Dariell would have found a way to make it right. But instead, Luirett invited strangers.
Maybe strangers will know. Repair their mistakes, and leave, let them be.
Dariell brushed off the smudge from their cheeks with the sleeve of their overalls as they noticed the light signaling their visitors had arrived. They took a deep breath, and once again they repeated in their mind what Luirett had instructed them.
Be nice. Be hospitable. Look presentable for the meeting. Answer only technical questions and nothing more. Anything else, ask Luriett first. Or ValhJeahn. Or better, let them answer.
Dariell nodded for themselves into lonely silence and exhaled.
oO That's what I'm intending to do. Speak just technicals. Nothing else. Let speak others. Oo
Dariell reached for the control panel and opened the bulkhead door, stepping inside to greet the strangers. Although they understood that the strangers could be different, even their most vivid imaginations couldn't brace them for just how... weird the strangers turned out to be.
They were so huge in person, and really had fur on their heads. Dariell watched them with keen interest for just a couple of moments, a second, two maybe, and that was enough for strangers to break tradition and speak first in the first embrace.
Silveira: Hello we are from the USS Artemis and we are here to render aid, am I, by any chance adressing Dariell?
A pink giant with golden shoulders (yet he was smaller than the blue one who followed him) walked towards them, and Dariell wrapped their lower arms around the tablet they held, resisting the urge to step back. Instead, they raised their upper arms in a gesture of welcome.
Dariell: They are me, yes. (beat) Be welcome to New Hope, you from USS Artemis.
A blue loomed over his colleague, fixedly gazing at Dariell, who did their best to avoid meeting his eyes. The pink carried on with his greeting.
Silveira: A pleasure to meet you, even under these circumstances. I am Lieutenant … :: Vitor paused and almost immediately corrected himself.:: Commander Silveira.
Another pink - seemed different from the one who identified as Silveira, maybe was she and Silveira he? Their silhouettes looked like those of Boraxian… - stepped up to take the floor.
Cole: Response
Dariell stopped contemplating and waved an upper hand in greeting to Silveira and then to Cole.
Dariell: It’s an honor of mine to know and be known, Lieutenant Commander Silveira… Ensign Cole. ::gaze at Tho’Bi:: And how should I know your companion?
A blue immediately stepped forward and bowed slightly.
Tho'Bi: ::quiet and measured:: I am Ensign Tho’Bi. I am an Engineer.
Dariell repeated their wave of an upper hand in greeting Tho’Bi.
Dariell: It’s an honor of mine to know and be known, Ensign Tho’Bi, the Engineer. Know me as Dariell. I’m the ship’s Chief Mechanic.
Now that everyone was familiar with one another, Tho’bi appeared eager to get to work.
Tho’Bi: I have brought some tools and equipment ::beat:: With your permission ::bows:: perhaps we could with most critical systems.
Dariell cast a quick look at the gear Tho'Bi was carrying, their eyes revealing more excitement than young Yurum wanted to show.
Dariell: Any help you can render will be welcomed, Ensign Tho’Bi. Our ship, unfortunately, met some unforeseen complications from a recent accident.
Silveira: I concur. After all, accidents happen all the time. And the faster we can help, the better.
Cole: Response
Dariell took a slight sidestep to give themselves more personal space as the commander took to their side.
Silveira: How often has this happened?
Dariell: Nothing that would happen often, this actually was our first serious during this voyage. And we found the original cause. There was an issue with the power redistributor. Initially, I suspected the problem was simply a faulty sensor, but the actual issue turned out to be a microcrack in the safety layer of the transformation unit, and I found it. Just... a little late. Next time I will know.
Cole: Response
The commander Silveira frowned, clearly not very pleased.
Silveira: We are here to help and wish to run some scans for better assistance.
Dariell: Yes, be our guests. Just if you could limit the scan to this deck, as well as the one above and the one below us. The upper decks are residential, and I want to ensure that we respect their privacy, which is important because, well, it is personal privacy.
The sudden beep from Tho'Bi's tricorder drew Dariell's attention, and they turned in his direction.
Tho'Bi: ::looking at Tricorder:: I believe the Tricorder has located their computer core. ::looks up:: Perhaps we could start there.
Dariell: Great idea, Engineer Tho’Bi! Good point to start. And when we get there, I have one problem with the computer cores that I'm hoping you can assist me with as well.
Silveira/Cole: Response
(( Skipping the corridor subscene, as Dariell will not say anything now, but if Sil or Cole have questions, happily to backsim it! Ps. A really nice architectural description, Tho’Bi! ))
(( Computer Core, New Hope ))
It was bound to happen sooner or later—the constant struggle of their life as a true mechanic. The computer cores. Dariell nudged Artemis away team through the bulkhead door into the control room, hoping they would all be able to fit. But as they stepped in behind Ensign Cole, they realized their concerns were unfounded. There was still enough space to breathe and move around, letting them operate without getting in each other’s way... too much.
Tho'Bi: ::to Silveira:: Sir, this appears to be a master system display ::points at the lights on the schematic:: I think it is in failsafe ::beat:: they may not know the extent of the damage.
Silveira: Response
Dariell: Less the fail-safe, Engineer Tho’Bi, more like… working for now in the alternative law. ::points to “MSD”:: We got a leak in the green line power system during the accident, nothing critical, and we are working to restore the line as the line was damaged before the leak control valve, so for now, we need to keep lights on for systems that the green operates with transfer by this power transfer unit. ::points to the square at “MSD” through which green lines and yellow lines intersect:: from the yellow line.
Cole: Response
Dariell tried to gauge whether they grasped the explanation, but when Tho'Bi shifted his focus to the computer cores, they took it as a certainty and followed him.
Tho'Bi: ::to Silveira:: Twin computer cores ::points at hexagonal cores:: …but they're out of sync.
Silveira: Response
Dariell: Unfortunately, that is the issue, Engineer Tho’Bi. We cleared the primary computer core registers and restarted the communication protocol between the cores, but this only helped for an hour or two. Then they desynchronized again, which triggered an alternative law. I hope you can help us resolve that issue.
Cole: Response
Tho'Bi appeared deeply focused on the ship's cores, likely attempting to grasp their functioning to lend a hand—or so Dariell hoped.
Tho'Bi: ::looking at Tricorder:: Optical fibre connects the ship systems in a socket exchange. ::gestures at racks:: core systems located at the centre ::hand sweeps outward:: …second systems on the outside.
Silveira: Response
Dariell: Correct, Engineer Tho’Bi.
Cole: Response
Tho'Bi approached the computer core control interface and started to analyze the mainframe. Dariell quickly noticed the first issue the Artemisians might face, and it was clear that Tho'Bi recognized it as well.
Tho'Bi: ::to Silveira:: it appears I need an additional pair of hands.
Dariell nodded to Tho’Bi’s words.
Dariell: That’s true, Engineer Tho’Bi. As you can see, our systems were designed without consideration for... alternative physiology. I sincerely apologize for any issues this oversight may create.
Silveira/Cole: Response
Dariell paused for a moment, their expression revealing that they were weighing their response. However, after a brief silence, the tension in their shoulders relaxed as if they had come to a decision in their thoughts.
Dariell: If it will be any help, I can share any necessary working instructions or maintenance manuals. They can help you better understand how things might differ from your experience.
Silveira/Tho’Bi/Cole: Response
Dariell had hoped for a bit more enthusiasm, but as Luirett had reminded them countless times before, they needed to make the best of what they had—even if that meant dealing with three giants in their oddly colored turtlenecks.
Dariell: Or you can instruct me on what to do, that may be quicker?
Silveira/Tho’Bi/Cole: Response
TAG/TBC
–
Dariell
Chief Mechanic of the Sectarian Faction
As simmed by
Lieutenant JG Ollie Bergmen
Operations Officer
U.S.S. Artemis-A
A240009JC1