LtCmdr Salkath - That's All She Got
Salkath
((Sensor Pod - USS Artemis))
Salkath: Well put, Ensign. And that is a wise place to start. Can you help me with these modifications? I'll grab some hyperspanners and work behind the console while you try that attenuation programming.
Bergmen: Sir, if you can take a look and tell me - it’s good code, right?
Extricating himself from behind the console, having placed the last isolinear chip back into its alternate slot, the engineer leaned over Ollie's shoulder to look at the encoding. He absently wiped his hands on a rag while he studied, an increasingly common compulsion while working.
Salkath: Yes... yes... a comprehensive list. These two - ::indicating with a point at two compounds on the list:: they might be superfluous. Minshara-class planets have been known to have isotopes of these in their atmospheres that might return erroneous results, but we can be certain that any competent sensor reader will factor that into their analyses. Yes. This will do quite effectively.
He signed off on his approval with a deferential nod, indicating that the ensign should proceed. He placed his tools back near the lift while Ollie finished up.
Bergmen: Thank you, sir. I will implement the code into the sensor matrix immediately. ::short pause:: Ready when you are, sir. You can run the scan. The dataset should filter the information needed immediately, lieutenant.
Gnai: What’s exactly going on now? This is sorry… it had to take a moment there.
Turning back towards the console, Salkath finally noticed that Gnai had finished its report to the bridge and had returned to assist at the consoles. He raised an eyebrow inquiringly, but the Galadoran was displaying a more characteristic hue and carriage within its tank, so he left it at that.
Salkath: We believe we have found an effective means of modifying short-range sensors to compensate for both the region's radiation and the target planet's natural defenses against said radiation. Both phenomena stymie our normal sensor configuration, but the alterations should give the Artemis adequate resolution of the planet's surface in finding our target freighter.
Ollie had divided the displays effectively for their needs, Salkath noted. The algorithms modifying the sensor output streamed by on one panel, with syntax showing its effectiveness for them to adjust on the fly if necessary. The next panel displayed ongoing power attenuation readings and the various manifolds between the warp engine and the sensor pod that were handling the increased flow. So far, all of those were within acceptable parameters. Finally, decipered scan data were showing up on the third screen; a feed of the sensor scans being conducted by the bridge, no doubt. Here, they could compare the resolution of the affected scans with their modified algorithms and continue adjustments if necessary.
Gnai: Good job Commander, Ensign.
Salkath: We will continue adjustments as necessary, of course.
They each monitored their respective panel, with considerable overlap. Salkath would point out an errant redirect in a piece of code for Ollie to address, while Ollie would see a manifold pressure spike before Salkath and bring it to a technician's attention. Both would glance at the readings coming in from the sensors, but would mostly wait for Gnai to note if something were amiss or suboptimal.
Bergmen: response
Gnai: Nothing yet…
More of the manifolds were spiking. There were reroutes available in the lower decks to ease the temperature extremes in one manifold, but options for detours were more limited the closer the plasma flow got to the sensor pod. Not to mention, the pallets themselves had sensitive instrumentation and circuitry that could only be overclocked for so long before they started to degrade. Time was not on their side.
Salkath: We need to find our target soon, or else we will need to take our modifications offline and reduce power to sensors.
That was not a conversation he would relish having with MacKenzie and Dakora, to be certain.
Bergmen: response
Gnai: There! That must be the ship!
Bergmen: response
Salkath had been heads down on the EPS schematic panel, trying to determine a particularly complex reroute to keep power levels maintained when the exhortation had come forth. He craned his neck around the other two, trying to glimpse the visual representation of the scans that were now on the third panel.
Gnai: Look, look at how the trees are damaged. ::pause:: Whoever lives down there might have seen this…
Salkath: That damage trail definitely appears to have a high velocity shallow impact profile.
Bergmen: response
Gnai: response
There were now alarms ringing from both of the other panels. The encoding they had done to increase sensor resolution was struggling when sensor elements flamed out under overuse, while the power distribution nodes could not take the sustained heavy draw being asked of them. If they did not terminate the modifications now, then the damage would be significant.
Salkath: Ensure the coordinates are logged, Lieutenant. Sensor enhancements need to be taken offline or we risk sensor blackouts due to damage. The bridge will need to make do with decreased orbital readings for now. Ensign, if you'll handle the encoding?
Bergmen/Gnai: response
Salkath made the harried calls to engineering and the various engineers stationed with technicians by vital EPS manifolds to drop the power increase they had arranged. Thankfully, it appeared that despite a few burnt-out instruments on a couple lateral sensor pallets, they had managed to avoid widespread or long term damage to the sensor systems with their hail-mary attempt. That it had paid off for the ship in its efforts to find the freighter was definitely a bonus. After he finished his coordination, the engineer turned to the other two with a resigned look on his face.
Salkath: Now that this is completed, we may want to try and advance our place in the queue for radiation treatment. We have been up here for a suboptimal period of time.
The sensor pod did have radiation shielding for the sensitive sensors found within, but that did not necessarily comply with the shielding optimal for protecting life. That, coupled with a compartment that was not rated for anything but occasional habitation, meant that they might have been exposed to more of the nebula's radiation than is acceptably safe.
Bergmen/Gnai: response
TAGS/TBC
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