Ensign Lera Michaels - Let There Be Light

[steve...@yahoo.com]

((Deck 12, Main Engineering, USS Khitomer))

The journey through the darkened engineering compartment went smoothly. Lera almost felt at home floating through the compartment, pulling herself along on the top of this cabinet, and pushing off that bulkhead. She looked back frequently to assure herself that Valora was still with her. Valora was always right there. Lera allowed herself a half smile. The woman was a matter of constant surprises. Lera halfway expected her to have been a master engineer sometime during her career. Still, some individuals take naturally to maneuvering in zero gravity. When they arrived outside the door to the compartment, Lera opened the cabinet that contained the radiation suits and pulled out one from the middle. She handed it to Valora.

Michaels: You will need to put that on. :: beat :: Miss Croix. How much engineering training have you received?

Valora: Response

Michaels: That is good. As you put on your radiation suit, I will give you some specific information concerning what we will be working with and some of the potential hazards. Feel free to interrupt me if this is too basic for you or if you have questions.

Valora: Response

Michaels: The Emergency Generator is an ultrasmall-scale nuclear power plant. This particular one is about the size of a bed suitable for an average size human. It generates sufficient power for the ship's lights at emergency levels, the full life support and artificial gravity, and a significant portion of the ship's computer system. Internal Unobtainium batteries allow the unit to start automatically when a power failure is detected. It is our theory that the unit has not started because of interface damage to the computer system.

Valora: Response

Michaels: There remains the possibility that the unit itself is damaged. Ensign Lacy has been checking the physical facility, but since communications are also down, we do not know what, if anything, she has discovered. A radiation leak is possible. Ergo, the radiation suits. :: brief pause:: If all goes well, we will have to make a few minor adjustments, push a button, monitor the control panel, and watch the lights come back on in the ship. We may need to make some repairs, or we may need to step the system through some of the start-up procedures manually. :: Lera paused and watched Valora complete donning the radiation suit. Valora had done a better job than Lera had expected. :: Questions?

Valora: Response

Michaels: Response

((Timeskip, 15 Minutes later))

Lacy had already completed the mechanical checklist and had found nothing unusual. The three women stood, studying the control panel, which was one of the few things they knew was illuminated on the ship. Lera saw nothing that obviously needed to be done. Lera looked at each of the others in turn. Lacy nodded.

Michaels: Ladies. We should restart the generator. :: To Valora :: If you like, please press that button there.

Valora: Response

It would be unfair to say that nothing happened. The Emergency Generator came to life. The control panel showed that it was performing at a nominal level. The lights steadfastly refused to come on. Lera took a deep breath and stifled the urge to use words that might cause a sailor to blush.

Michaels: oO Mother pus bucket! Oo Nothing.

Valora/Lacy: Response

Michaels: Yes, Ginny. You are right. I had forgotten that there is a computer connection on the power delivery system. We will have to install jumpers around it. Miss Croix. Push the button again.

As soon as the control panel showed the generator had powered down, Lera and Ginny went to work. Ginny had opened the panel by the time Lera got to her side. Ginny settled back on her heels, looked at Lera, and tilted her head toward the gel pack inside. The gel pack looked like it had mutated or perhaps had some variety of vermin moving around inside.

Lacy/Valora: Response

Michaels: Of course.

It took more effort than any of them had expected to get the gel pack free from its mounting, something which bothered Lera a good deal. A moment later, it was free. After a brief examination, Lera handed it to Valora.

Valora: Response

Finally, the jumpers were installed, and the three women were back at the control panel again.

Michaels: Miss Croix. :: Indicating the button on the control panel. :: Let there be light.

Valora pushed the button a third time, and the generator powered up again.

Lera felt the impact instantly as she settled more solidly than before back on the deck.

Michaels: And there was light.


Ensign Lera Michaels

Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2