LtJg Lera Michaels - Ritt der Walküren Part 1

[steve...@yahoo.com]

((OOC - This has proven to be way too long so I'm splitting this into two parts. Tags are supposed to be limited to the second part. ))

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

Zerva: =/\= Lieutenant Zerva to engineering. =/\=

Dewitt: =/\= This is Dewitt. Go ahead, Lieutenant. =/\=

Michaels: I will wait, sir.

Zerva: =/\= We’re going to need a torpedo loaded with filaments and a speaker-filled probe chaser. =/\=

Dewitt: =/\= Ah… how… what? =/\=

Michaels: =/\= I have doubts. =/\=

Zerva: =/\= The speaker filled probe was an idea I got from gunnery Sargent Martz. We’ll use it to clear a path between us and the Alliance. The music will cause the filaments to dissipate around it as it passes through. Essentially we would be plowing our way through with music using the probe and ensuring the torpedo makes its mark. =/\=

Michaels: =/\= The vacuum of space is not particularly conducive to sound wave transmission. =/\=

Zerva: =/\= And energy probe? Just to be clear, you said your probe would attract the filaments to a power source? Instead of pushing the filaments away from the Khitomer, you want to bring them closer?

Michaels: The idea is to provide the filaments attached to the hull something more attractive than Khitomer.

Dewitt: =/\= Lieutenant, I prefer your idea of a speaker probe to push away those masses instead of attracting more. We would have to use an energy signature to modulate it with a lullaby, because sound does not travel in space. But I have no clue if it would work. ::beat:: To modify a torpedo we need at least half an hour. =/\=

Zerva: =/\= I understand. =/\=

Michaels: =/\= Very well, sir. =/\=

Dewitt: =/\= Ezra, this is risky. Not only for the ship, but also for the people modifying the torpedo. ::beat:: We will start working on both the torpedo and the probe. If this becomes unnecessary, I want you to contact me immediately. If I don’t hear from you, we will have everything ready in thirty minutes. Dewitt out. =/\=

Connor looked at each of the individuals in the silent room. Lera watched him for a moment before turning away. There was still the problem of ridding Khitomer of the filaments to be solved. And the idea of a torpedo loaded with a filament cluster was interesting though exactly what a group of detached filaments would accomplish was unclear to her.

Valeris: I have some reservations, sir. But it’s your call.

Dewitt: I share your reservations, Commander. ::beat:: We will use Engineering Lab two to modify a probe and a torpedo. ::to Valeris:: Prepare to beam both into the lab immediately and have non-essential personnel evacuate the adjacent sections. ::pause:: Lieutenant Michaels, work with Vidya to identify masses to load into the torpedo. At least five that are small enough to fit. ::beat:: Once you’re done, you’ll all accompany in the Engineering Lab.

Vidya: Then let us ensure those reservations do not come to pass.

Valeris: Beginning transport of payloads to Engineering Lab two, sir.

Vidya: ::to Michaels:: Shall we begin?

Lera nodded and directed Vidya's attention to the ship's display. Like so many other things on Khitomer, Lera was certain the display was a strange, alien piece of work for her Velithari compatriot.

Michaels: The payload compartment of the torpedo is about ...:: Lera stopped. The two lacked a common set of units which raised the question of size. Lera used her hands to demonstrate the approximate size. :: is about this big. Ideally we would like something that will fit in that space and improve our condition at the same time.

Connor turned and faced her.

Dewitt: ::quieter:: One more thing. Whatever happens in the next thirty minutes, I want a list of who is on those damage control teams. I want names and decks. And I want to know what they fixed. ::pause:: Not for the report. I just want to know.

Michaels: No problemo.

((Short time skip, Engineering Lab 2))

The probe and the torpedo were already open when Lera and Vidya entered the room. They went to the torpedo sitting on the workbench. Though the torpedo was little more than a large tube, Vidya seemed especially interested in it.

Michaels: This is the torpedo we were discussing. In some respects, it is similar to the probe over there.

Dewitt: Computer, erect a level eight containment field around Engineering Lab two. Seal the lab perimeter, authorization Dewitt, theta-nine.

The blue shimmer flickered across the bulkhead as the computer made an affirming noise.

Michaels: ::to Vidya :: That is a forcefield. It is a high energy barrier that prevents anything from touching the wall, ceiling or floor of this room. The idea is to prevent anything bad that may happen in this compartment from affecting the rest of the ship.

Vidya nodded, a gesture Lera was certain she had copied from watching them.

Dewitt: ::quietly:: Alright, let’s get to work.

Valeris: Where do you want me, sir?

Dewitt: Torpedo is yours, Commander. I’d like Lieutenant Michaels with you on the magazine. We are going to want every cubic centimeter of volume we can find for masses. ::beat:: I’ll work on the probe. We need it to broadcast the energy signature of the lullaby. Same waveform you and Mr Morda built for the bridge. ::to Vidya:: Ma’am, stay close to whichever of us looks like they need another pair of eyes.

Vidya: ::bowing, with a bit of a sharp tone in her voice as she looked at the XO:: I will stand here and watch. ::beat:: It has been decided.

Michaels: :: to Vidya:: Perhaps a bit more to this side. You will be able to see better if you stand there.

Valeris: Are we planning on keeping the warhead installed, or just swapping it with masses?

Dewitt: I say we pull it, Commander. ::beat:: We are not delivering an explosion, we want to deliver a payload. If we leave the warhead in, we might destroy the filaments instead of spreading them. ::beat:: Pulling the warhead also buys us volume. With the warhead out we can probably fit more than five masses. As long as there are no counter arguments?

Vidya: I see no fault in your words. This is ::to Michaels:: how do your Vulcans say? Logical?

Michaels: :: with a slight smile :: For Vulcans, logic is all important. :: pause :: I was not raised as a Vulcan so some of that does not apply to me. ::

Dewitt: ::nodding:: Do it.

Valeris: We should probably reinforce the case of the torpedo to avoid the filaments breaking their way out.

Vidya: A wise precaution.

Michaels: It can not hurt.

Dewitt: Agreed. ::beat:: We have replacement plates in lab two storage. I’ll bring them over. Plate the inner surface with a second layer. That should buy us some time.

No Tags/TBC

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LtJg Lera Michaels

Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2