LtCmdr Connor Dewitt - Hit it!

[Tim]

((Main Engineering, Deck 12, Khitomer))

Dewitt: One more thing before we light that thing up. As I said, the reserves give us only three, maybe four masses. So the order matters. ::beat:: My vote is fusion reactors first. Every filament sitting on that, an EPS junction or a coolant manifold needs to go. Once we are above survival, the rest of this gets a great deal easier.

Valeris: We may need to use up one of those runs for pattern creation. ::gesturing towards his console:: We don’t have a complete pattern.

Connor nodded. He had been on the wrong side of pattern buffer math before, as an Ensign. The stakes had been lower back then. He knew what it cost to skip a calibration step. Valeris was right.

Michaels: Two observations if I may. If we transport away the filaments that are plugging the holes in the hull, we will suddenly have multiple air leaks. My preference would be to remove those filaments last and perhaps not at all. If we can find a way to detach them from their external anchor, we could repair the holes at any time. :: quick glimpse at Vidya and then back at Dewitt:: Second, the filaments in the nacelles that have been draining our power must be exceptionally effective superconductors to carry that much power in that amount of time. The graphene tubes at the core would explain some of that but there is still much to learn. If possible, I would like to retain at least one of those filaments for later study.

Dewitt: ::nodding:: Both noted, Lieutenant. Though I will not allow to take any samples of a living organism without its consent and according to everything we know the nebula is at least close to that. You can keep a copy of the pattern buffer data once we have enough power.

Vidya: Response

Connor watched the console in front of him. He felt torn between his roles. The engineering problem had been solved by Commander Valeris for now. Was he supposed to return to the bridge? The Captain’s orders had been clear, but his responsibilities were bigger than just one department now.

Valeris: We should be able to grab enough with the first run to help fill in the gaps and make the remaining attempts more effective.

Michaels: Agreed.

Dewitt: Alright, you call the shots, Commander. Fusion reactors first, nacelles second, warp core access third. Take one run to get the full pattern ready. :: to Michaels:: Lieutenant, you keep the buffer in check. ::to Vidya:: Ma’am… If the rhythm of any of this looks wrong to you, say the word. We will stop an listen.

Vidya: Response

Valeris: Not much left to do but hit the button, sir.

Connor nodded and took a deep breath.

Dewitt: Hit it.

((Brief timeskip - Main Engineering, Deck 12, USS Khitomer))

The transporter hum had a strange tone to it tonight, because what it was lifting out of the ship was not, by any definition, close to anything Connor had transported before. Several runs in, the room felt different. Connor had the cleanest read on the power curve since they had entered the nebula. Several other crewman were already starting repairs on damaged systems.

Valeris/Michaels: Response

Dewitt: Good work, both of you. Generation is climbing. Warp core will be next, Mr Valeris. Set your targets. We recharge backup batteries between each run and give the capacitors some room to breathe.

Valeris/Michaels: Response

He had not finished his thought when the chirp of his communicator sounded.

Semara: =/\= Semara to Commander Dewitt. =/\=

Connor chuckled and tapped his combadge.

Dewitt: =/\= Comms assistant Dewitt here, Ma’am. Go ahead.=/\=

Semara: =/\= Question: How's our impulse drive and tactical systems? =/\=

He glanced at the main systems display next to his console and let his fingers trace the curves before he answered.

Dewitt: =/\= Impulse is on its way back, but we need some fusion reactor energy to work down here. We just cleared the reactors and the nacelles. I would not bet my job on full impulse for a couple of minutes, but you will have maneuvring thrusters and… ::pause:: at least half impulse. Tactical systems though… We need to prioritize. =/\=

Semara: =/\= I only need torpedoes for the moment, long as we can move. :: Beat :: Oh, and - is the SDA still charged? =/\=

He paused again before answering.

Dewitt: =/\= I’m not sure I like the plan, Amelia. ::another pause:: The SDA is charged. Two shots at least. Three if we are stingy. Capacitors are isolated from the main systems so they will not refill until we connect them. ::another beat:: One thing before you reach for it… We do not know what and SDA pulse will do inside this cloud. We have used the SDA inside a nebula before. You surely remember… ::another pause:: Position us in a way that the SDA does not fire into the center of the cloud.=/\=

He did not know if that made a difference. But he knew that he would want to be on the bridge as soon as Amelia put her plan into action. Whatever that was.

Semara: =/\= Excellent.  Thank you, Commander.  Semara out. =/\=

The line closed again. Connor stood where he was for one long breath. Amelia had told them exactly what she needed. And surely her plan would have better chance for success with fewer masses onboard.

Dewitt: Commander, change of order. Warp core slides to the run after next. This one goes into weapons systems. Every filament sitting on a torpedo magazine, loading mechanism or launch tube comes first.

Michaels/Valeris: Response

TAG/TBC

LtCmdr Connor Dewitt
First Officer
USS Khitomer
A239901CD3