LtCmdr Salkath - The Recipe for Mock Indignation

[Salkath]

((Main Engineering, Deck 15 - USS Artemis))

There were four engineering officers gathered in the center section of Main Engineering, informally discussing their personal projects and planning for how best to allocate the resources of the department to accommodate their various endeavors.

Salkath: Please, if you wish for assistance or collaboration, keep me in mind. I would be honored to assist if you need a second pair of hands. ::looking askance at the Bolian:: I could even arrange to have Ensign Knzapp assist you if I am indisposed.

Knzapp: Hey, what? How did I get dragged into this!? Ugh, I feel a stomach-ache coming on...

Imril: IIf I can get this mini-HIFG idea to work, I wouldn’t suggest using one to gird your tummy.

Salkath: ::turning to Gazki:: Any indication about the origin of the magnetic coils from the Tritorian yet? Their peculiar properties were certainly a challenge during reclamation.

Gazki: Gazki is pursuing multiple lines of scientific inquiry. The most promising leads all circle back to tell-tale aspects of Boslic metallurgy. But that doesn’t explain all aspects of the finished product. Gazki suspects that Boslic base materials were in conjunction with the construction methodologies suited to some other alien species.  Potentially, producing the energy dampening and redirection qualities as an unexpected beneficial side-effect.

Imril: It could have been a ‘happy accident.’ Maybe someone was cutting corners on cost, or using what building materials they could get ahold of in a hurry, when they made the coils for that particular ship.

Gazki: ::swaying their antennae in thought:: That is possible. In which case, the personnel involved in construction might not even have realized what said personnel had created. This may explain why the news of the coils has not spread to Starfleet until now; no being has sought to pursue any patents or proprietary replicator chaincodes. However, Boslics are famed across the Alpha Quadrant for their skill as smugglers. Gazki cannot discount the possibility that the specifics of these coils, whatever their orgin, have been kept in tight secrecy for some time.

The Vulcan furrowed his brow in thought, recalling what he could about the unaligned species at question.

Salkath: That could make sense. Other than illicit surplus purloined from a major spacefaring organization, the easiest way to get technology is to purchase from non-aligned cultures. The Boslic are happy to sell to the highest bidder, and if combined with other technologies, unintended side effects are not out of the realm of possibility. This definitely warrants further study.

Knzapp: Wonder if we could sell them, knowing their special properties? If, for say, somebody had outstanding gambling debts on DS224, that latinum could come in handy.

They looked at the Bolian. The Bolian looked back and shrugged apologetically. The segue was given all the due attention it deserved, and the topic quickly shifted.

Imril: ::Looking to Salkath and Knzapp:: What about you two? What side projects do you have on the metaphorical burners?

Salkath: I am working on improving the heuristic subroutines of the replicator pattern generators. Without demolecularizing an existing foodstuff, the action of forming a new recipe can be very time consuming. If the subroutines were optimized to draw from individualized cultural and personal databases without providing an itemized description of tastes, textures, temperatures, and molecular properties, then one would be able to recreate an recipe-less foodstuff much more readily.

Left unsaid was how difficult the project had been so far. Heuristic programming required a fair amount of imagination to anticipate how the programming's AI would interpret the changes, and this Vulcan was not known for being overly imaginative. Personally, he did not mind the logic involved with building a replicator recipe from the molecular basics up, but could sympathise with those who did not have the patience or skill to do so.

Knzapp: Now that's a project I could get behind! If you want a helper to try your experimental dishes, I'm your man!

The junior engineer was practically salivating. Salkath tsked, did he not think of anything other than food?

Imril: ::To Knzapp:: Now that I think of it, I don't think I heard your specialties yet. Come on, share!

Knzapp practically squirmed, looking uncomfortable with the question. He hemmed and hawed for a few seconds, before haltingly speaking up.

Knzapp: Yeah, I'm just a technician. No real specialty.

Salkath: ::disbelief evident in his voice:: That does not seem likely. You are a commissioned officer that graduated from Starfleet Academy. You must have specialized to complete your training.

Imril/Gazki: response

The Bolian stamped his feet and turned a darker shade of turquoise.

Knzapp: Look! My people are commonly service workers! I come from a glorious line of bartenders. I have a great aunt and seventeen cousins who are fantastic waitstaff at prestigious restaurants throughout the quadrant. I wanted a similarly notable service job. I... I thought I was joining Starfleet to be a janitor.

Salkath: ::drolly:: Was that before or after you studied and passed several advanced theoretical and practical engineering classes?

Knzapp: ::sullenly:: I THOUGHT the prerequisites to clean a Starfleet vessel or base were especially intense. By the time I realized what was happening, I was on a cadet cruise.

Imril/Gazki: response

Salkath: Well, I must admit that when Ensign Knzapp can be motivated to contribute, he is an intelligent and skilled engineer. It is the motivation part that is a challenge. Still, if your story is true, Mr Knzapp, then it was a fortuitous four year mistake.

Knzapp: ::affronted::  TRUE?! What are you implying, sir? I would NEVER!

Salkath: We could always consult Dr Sadar for her opinion if you are always completely honest about your numerous trips to sickbay. Especially the visits that see you leave your shift halfway through...

That deflated the righteous indignation in the Bolian right quick.

Knzapp: Yes. Aherm. Well, let's not get off topic, right? Imril, Gazki, weren't you saying you needed help with your projects? We should get started on that! Now!

Imril/Gazki: response

Salkath: Agreed. We are on shore leave. There is no need to feel compelled to work on anything immediately. Please, get out and explore the station, we are on a reduced duty roster so there is plenty of time. Before we adjourn, was there anything else we should discuss?

Imril/Gazki: response

TAGS/TBC

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Lieutenant Commander Salkath

Engineer, USS Artemis-A

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