Ensign Tho’Bi - Antimatter and Anti-clockwise

[Tobi]

(( Holodeck 3, Deck 222, DS 224 ))

//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - THO’BI TYPING//

>AUTO EJECTION SYSTEM IS NON-FUNCTIONAL

>MERIS CONFIRM?

//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//

Tho'Bi: ::points from screen to Meris::

Meris: ::typing reply::

//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - MERIS TYPING//

>AUTO EJECTION SYSTEM PARTIALLY SUCCESSFUL. 

>PLASMA AND EPS TAPS SEALED 

>SIF ACTIVATED 

>VENTRAL PORT OPEN 

>RETENTION CLAMPS NON-RESPONSIVE 

//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//

The Andorian turned back to the terminal.

//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - THO’BI TYPING//

>COOLANT SUPPLY DEPLETED 

>NO WAY TO COOL CORE

>PROTOCOL ATTEMPT MANUAL EJECTION

//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//

Chunky glove fingers punched a sequence of inputs into the neighboring console. The screen above lit up in the familiar graphics and format of the LCARS system.

A collection of three-dimensional outline schematics sat rotating on the screen; largest among them was the stretched column of the Warp Core, then three stubby pod-like Antimatter Pod Assemblies, finally the flat curved panels of the M/ARA, and Antimatter Loading Port, Hull Plates.

The Helms Officer pointed at the three retention clamps located at the top, bottom, and midway up the stretched column of the Warp Core. 

Bancroft/Bergman/Cole/Imri: Response

Every Engineering graduate knew, the Manual Ejection Option, was an option in name only. Given the complexity and relative distances of the mechanisms that needed to be disengaged, it was all but a statistical impossibility to achieve; nevertheless, every Engineering Graduate was trained in the Procedures regardless. 

Dressed in the awkward radiation suit, the Andorian clunk-turned to the terminal.

//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - THO’BI TYPING//

>EACH COMPONENT HAS UNIQUE LOCKING MECHANISM 

>WARP CORE MOST COMPLEX

>ANTIMATTER POD ASSEMBLIES NEXT COMPLEX

>ANTIMATTER LOADING PORT AND M/ARA HULL PANELS LEAST COMPLEX 

>BUT GREATEST DISTANCE FROM HERE

>TIME_5_MINS

//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//

The young Engineer looked around the assembled officers, even a team of veteran engineers would struggle to pull this off.  

oO Hlas fellex thas ven hlastek. Oo

The Helms Officer began typing at the terminal. 

//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - MERIS TYPING//

>CORE RELEASE SUFFICIENT? 

>PREVENT MATTER AND ANTIMATTER REACTION 

>CUTTING PHASER ON CLAMPS? 

//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//

Lieutenant Storm had been standing watch over their terminal back and forth. Armed with enough information, she decided to interject.

//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - STORM TYPING//

>TEAM 1 - THO’BI, MERIS, IMRIL, AND BANCROFT  

> THO’BI, YOU’RE IN CHARGE

>STAY AND ATTEMPT ANTIMATTER POD ASSEMBLY DISCONNECT

>TEAM 2 - BERGMAN, COLE, STORM WILL ATTEMPT ANTIMATTER LOADING PORT AND M/ARA HULL PANELS DISCONNECT 

//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//

Bancroft/Meris/Bergman/Cole/Imri: Response

The young Engineer nodded self-consciously at the other Ensigns of equal rank to his own. Oddly, if this was a real life or death situation… his Andorian physiology would be doing a better job of keeping him calm.

Tho'Bi: ::to Storm:: ::Gestures her attention to the terminal screen:: 

Radiation levels in Main Engineering prohibited comms between the two teams, but the terminals were hardwired and shielded against radiation. The two teams could use them to communicate. He just needed to confirm the correct Terminal Designation so Lieutenant Storm would know which one to contact. 

//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - THO’BI TYPING//

> USE TERMINALS FOR CONTACT

> ROUTING DESIGNATION [ENG_TERM_04]

//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//

Tho'Bi: ::to Storm:: ::thumbs up::

The Lieutenant turned to her team. She put her forefinger in the air and circled it twice to say, “Let’s roll!”.

Bergman/Cole: Response.

((OOC: Confirm, teams split here. To keep things simple, only contact via Terminal will connect the two teams.))

((TEAM ONE: THO’BI IMRIL BANCROFT MERIS))

Team 2 left Main Engineering at a pace. The young Andorian Ensign turned to the Terminal. His mind raced. He ran the options in moments…

Although of the same rank, Ensign Imrill had been aboard Artemis longer than he, it made sense Imri took on the task of releasing the Warp Core. Ensign Meris had demonstrated a high degree of familiarity with the Warp Core Tech, given the complexity of the procedure, Ensign Imril would need the Helms Officer's skills.

He would take on the Antimatter Pod Assemblies. The unlocking mechanisms were simpler. Certainly a procedure, a skilled Doctor could learn in a hurry. 

//ENGINEERING TERMINAL SCREEN - THO’BI TYPING//

> IMRIL TAKE MERIS RELEASE THE WARP CORE

> BANCROFT ON ME. ANTIMATTER POD ASSEMBLIES. 

> CONFIRM?

//CONTROL PANEL SCREEN - END//

Tho'Bi: ::glances at the assembled officers::

Imril/Meris/Bancroft: Response 

((OOC: Team Imri/Meris and Team Tho'Bi/Bancroft are still both in Main Engineering. They can see each other. Comms will be shaky. Terminals reliable. Tho’Bi's Comms are damaged and do not function.))

The Andorian led Ensign Bancroft at a dash to the Antimatter Pod Assemblies. The decking shuddered under their rushing feet. Golden sparks spat from compromised power relays and conduits, like cobra venom, threatening to hot-solder through their Radiation Suits. All they could hear was their own breathing and clunk of their feet.

The Antimatter Pod Assemblies were located under protective floor panelling set into the deck at the aft of Main Engineering. There were identical locking mechanisms mirroring each other, at either end of the protective floor panel. The Andorian Engineer positioned himself in front of one of the locking mechanisms.

Tho'Bi: ::points at the opposite locking mechanism:: 

Bancroft: Response 

The locking mechanisms were set into the panelling. Chunky circles with a broad flat grip designed for hands in gloves to operate.

Tho'Bi: ::kneels down:: ::gloved fingers around locking grip:: ::turns 180° anti-clockwise::

Bancroft: Response 

The protective floor panelling popped up with a clunk. An electric blue light spilled out from beneath it. With alarming ease the Andorian slung the large flat slab of protective panelling to one side. It clattered to a halt against the back wall.

The three Antimatter Pod Assemblies were hexagonal hulks of reinforced heavy-alloy. Each one had a set of microfusion initiators designed to accelerate the pods away from the ship at a rate of 40m/second. These needed to be primed first, before unlocking the two retaining bolts, positioned at either end of the Pods.

 

The locking mechanisms were a simple cylinder/chamber design. Press and twist the cylinder 360° anti-clockwise, to cause it to pop up, then remove.

The microfusion initiators-primers were not so simple. A coded sequence had to be inputted by hand on a small keypad built into the top of the Initiator. 

The crack on the young Andorian's visor spidered-spasmed outward, triggering a yellow alarm within his helmet. The visor was losing integrity. He checked his Engineering Tricorder. Three minutes.

Tho'Bi: ::gestures with three fingers::

Bancroft: Response 

The Andorian knelt down in front of the first Antimatter Pod Assemblies. 

Tho'Bi: ::gestures to Bancroft to watch:: ::enters primer sequence:: 8 1 2 8 7 2 4 0 2 0 8 2 0 ::presses confirm button::

The microfusion initiators hummed into life, sending a tremor through the bulk of the Antimatter Pod Assembly.  

Tho'Bi: ::presses and twists retaining cylinder 360° anti-clockwise:: ::removes cylinder:: ::points at cylinder nearest Bancroft::

Bancroft: Response 

Shunt! The Antimatter Pod Assemblies disappeared down the Ejection Shoot.

Tho'Bi: ::points at one of the two remaining Pods:: ::starts working on the other pod::

Bancroft: Response 

TAG/TBC

((OOC: 

Antimatter Pod Assemblies design based on Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual 5.4 Antimatter Storage and Transfer. (p. 68)

Andorian Phrase:

Hlas fellex thas ven hlastek.

The fire froze before it could light.

Andorian phrase suggesting hopelessness, or that the endeavour was doomed to fail from the very beginning. ‘Kobayashi Maru’, in effect.))

   

———————————

Ensign Tho’Bi

Engineering

USS Artemis-A

A240203T11