LtCmdr Kettick: Bedrock City Refinery

[Darwin Awkward]

(( Eagle Outpost, Forsaken ball of dust ))

Kettick: By the way, you might be interested in a joint Science and Engineering research project. I wanted to try and refine a couple milligrams of raw dilithium ore to see if that "Burn" episode is a discrete or ongoing event. At worst, it would remain inert, so no risk on our end.

The Denobulan did look interested.

Drex: I am interested in seeing how it behaves, so count me in. But… how do you plan to get the required power?

Kettick: Oh, I set up a small conversion array for testing purposes. The solar oven made of radiation shielding panels was easy, the tricky bit was to get the dinosaurs to run inside the wheel that powers the centrifuge.

The two other officers seemed to pause, before Drex's face lit up in a sort-of smile.

Drex: This would be the moment to remind myself that ingenuity and recklessness are often separated only by a safety margin.

An apt formulation, that Kettick would be sure to quote in the future.

Tanner: There is likely something we could use in the shuttle if we wanted to refine it to the point of certainty, and potentially spare the Dinosaurs a few laps.

Drex: That will work for gross power. Good. Two technical notes: first, we need to make sure the dinosaurs are fed and motivated properly, we cannot rely on them to run consistently without incentive. Second, we must ensure the rig remains isolated and monitored so that any instability in the dilithium can be contained.

Good news about the isolation bit, there was plenty of empty space around, and not many trees or tall buildings to break lines of sight, so finding an isolated area within observation distance of a good pair of binoculars was not going to be a major problem.

The part about sparing the dinosaurs undue effort and giving them proper incentive... would require adressing.

Just after he had disposed of the long metal rod that he had fitted witha polymer handle and attached to a salvaged phaser power pack.

Drex: Suppose… suppose it works. Have you thought about how to refine dilithium?

The Remmilian cocked his head to the side, then realised where the issue was. 

Kettick: My apologies. My previous declaration was imprecise. I meant that I had a built a *dilithum* conversion array. As is, proof-of-concept refinery model in the milligram scale. A sorta-parabolic sunlight collector fashioned out of salvaged reflectors and a lens to focus sunlight in a single point, and a small dino-powered potter's lathe to spin a crucible. The goal would be to use the sunlight to locally melt the dilithium, enabling the rotation of the crucible to crudely separate the glass from the impurities by mass through centrifugal forces. Scrap the layer of impurities, that we could melt again later to lessen the waste, and repeat as needed. ::  He shrugged :: Horribly inefficient, but good enough for behind-the-woodshed refining.

Tanner: ::Nodding.:: It should be doable.  We are after all, only looking to achieve a very small sample. 

The Chief of what was left of Engineering returned the Ensign's nod. That was the idea. Also, smaller explosions, if things came to that. 

Required smaller dinosaurs too.

Drex: Did you already bring this to Adyr and Adea?

Kettick: I left a memo of intent on a PADD in the command lean-to, but I was waiting for their green light before starting anything that would waste resources - as things are, everything I built can be disassembled and recycled easily enough. That being said, if you want to review the process and weigh in with your expertise, I would welcome the help.

Drex: It will take more than the three of us. PADDs alone are not enough; we need a second set of eyes to check every calculation.

The Remmilian remained quiet, albeit grateful. Mostly because he needed some time to ponder what Drex meant about calculations.

Tanner: Well, I’m certainly interested to see what we can pull together. I’m sure the Captain won’t mind us learning a bit more about what has left us stranded here.

Kettick: I must say that I find the hypothesis that all the dilithium in the galaxy just decided to spontaneously "go boom" in spite of all the law of physics rather unsatisfactory.

Drex: Response

Tanner: Well, I know we started with a Gym idea and we’ve gone in a few directions, but I’d be keen to take a look at this makeshift refinery.  ::Slight wince.::

The insectoid waved a spindly hand in a dismissive gesture. 

Kettick: It's more like I was waiting for the Captain's decision and decided to spend some idle time on a hobby project, but I don't mind investing it in something more useful. Especially if you can help me improve the design. 

Drex: Response

Tanner: Well, you don’t need me to convince the Captain, why don’t you let me get some supplies from the shuttle and I’ll meet you there.

Drex: Response

Kettick bowed slightly.

Kettick: Thank you for your help. Let me get the equipment from my workshop, and we can set up the array on the other side of that duen. Good lines of sight, and serves as a giant sandbag for us and the outpost both in case anyhting untowards happens.

Tags/End Kettick

((OOC: I believe we will have to end it here since act III will start soon))

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Lieutenant-Commander Kettick

Chief of Engineering

USS Eagle

G239107LR0

Your Engineering department kindly reminds you that you are supposed to read the flakking manual.