PNPC Ens. Imogen Lacy — Impossibilities and Deductions
Naxell
((Main Engineering, Deck 12, USS Khitomer, at warp))
The lower decks did not notice or care much about a change in command. The work was largely the same. Rosters and shifts were shuffled, but that could happen without much notice even without a new CO and XO. The primary difference was that the Chief Engineer’s office was vacant.
Michaels: Ginny. If you have a minute, come, take a look at this diagram we just received from the bridge.
Ensign Imogen Lacy barely looked up from the diagnostic she was running on the impulse engine system to acknowledge the Lieutenant's request. Throughout the compartment, yellow lights blinked silently, warning that the ship was at heightened risk of combat. In spite of this, the diagnostic would continue and would do so without her attending to it, but just the same she opted to mark the point at which she would step away, if only to know where to begin her review of the logs when she returned.
As Lacy approached, she caught a early glimpse of what Lieutenant JG Michaels wanted her to see. It was a low resolution orthographic projection of a starship. No, strike that, it was a long-range scan.
Michaels: Your thoughts?
Lacy: Lattice Alliance cruiser.
Michaels: Yes. It is definitely a large Sheliak craft. Based on the readings the bridge is sending, it appears to be adrift. It is showing a minimal power signature and no obvious lifesigns. :: Lera rotated and twisted the image. :: There is something wrong about it.
There was something wrong about everything to do with the Lattice Alliance, so why should the ship be any different? Ginny's eyes narrowed as Lera pulled up a list of Lattice ship profiles, specifically the Sheliak frames. Some of the designs had references, and were a bit better filled out in terms of observed features and specifications.
Lacy: Not one of those. New design? Wartime improvisation isn't exactly unknown though.
Michaels: Either that or the derelict is showing major structural damage. Note the drive section here. The angle does not match our diagram. And, assuming we have correctly identified the ship classification, this structure here is missing. There is an remote possibility that this is a poor imitation of a Sheliak ship.
Lacy: Damage seems far more likely. But—assuming that's a buckled stardrive—there'd have to be massive forces at play.
She did not give the idea that it was a faked starship much thought, and from Lera's tone, she assumed the other woman didn't either. It had taken her a while to calibrate herself to the Lieutenant’s off-hand remarks, but she had come to appreciate them. Like noting when you were stepping away from monitoring a fully automated diagnostic process, there was something to be said for being thorough.
Michaels: I have no idea. It is almost as though something broke the ship, or the ship broke itself trying to free itself.
Lacy: It almost looks like—
Ohnari: Ah! Lieutenant Michaels. What's with the mood lighting?
The ship's Chief Medical Officer stride into the compartment, a yellow-clad Ensign in tow. Lt. Commander Ohnari was, in an instant, the highest ranking officer present in Engineering, which felt strange to Ginny in a way that confounded her. Maybe she missed Lt. Commander Dewitt’s leadership after all, and it was more than just the empty Chief's office.
Michaels: Mood lighting? Ah I see. Apparently the Captain is attempting to cheer me up by going to Yellow Alert. :: beat :: What brings you to Engineering? I just spent three days that rank somewhere near the bottom of my happiest days ever list under nearly constant Medical examination. I understood that I was cleared for light duty. In compliance I have foregone lifting anything heavier than my father. :: Turning to Talon :: Welcome to Engineering, Mr. Morda. I do hope that your sarcasometer does not require tuning.
Morda: Response
Ohnari: ::winking playfully:: Yes, you were cleared for light duty. But I am saving you a trip to Sickbay and checking in now. Just a full service CMO for ya.
Michaels: Just like my friendly neighborhood spiderman? :: brief nod :: I should apologize. The pain meds do seem to be impacting my temperament somewhat. I do appreciate your concern for my well being. I will assign Ensign Lacy to monitor me and send me off to avail myself of your services if, in her estimation, my judgement is impaired.
Ohnari: Response
Ginny's eyes darted back and forth between the two of them, like a child being asked to choose their favorite parent. On the one hand, she worked with Lera day in and day out. On the other hand, Lt. Commander Ohnari knew at least two dozen ways to kill a person that wouldn't suggest foul play in an autopsy.
Michaels: Mr. Morda. It is good to see you again. Perhaps I was in error but I understood you were going to working with Security.
Morda: Response
Michaels: Temporary. Permanent. It makes no difference. Since you are here, I will find something constructive for you to do. Before we start that, there is someone I would like you to meet. :: gently pulling Ginny to meet the newcomer. :: Ensign Lacy. This is Ensign Talon Morda. He worked with me on our last mission managing the shuffling transporter system. It appears that Mr. Morda will be doing dual service for a while as both an engineer and as a security officer. Ensign Morda. This is Ensign Ginny Lacy. Miss Lacy is probably the best, most knowledgeable on Khitomer. Miss Lacy is my "goto" person if I have any questions.
Morda: Response.
Ginny reached her hand out to shake Ensign Morda’s.
Lacy: Nice to meet you. ::nervous smile:: She exaggerates.
A little.
Michaels: Despite what I said to Doctor Ohnari, we are at Yellow alert because we have spotted a Sheliak vessel nearby. You should be grateful you have less experience with the Sheliak than we do. Khitomer would have an extraordinarily difficult time with a Sheliak vessel of this size.
Ginny nodded, and stepped back as Lera got Talon up to speed. Slipping away, it didn't take her long to find Lt. Commander Ohnari in the Chief Engineer's Office, spinning in a chair, focused on a PADD. Probably medical records.
Lacy: Commander?
Ohnari: Response
Lacy: I just— um, I wanted to say, ma’am…
She struggled to find the words. Lera had appointed Imogen her chosen health minder, a role Ginny didn't feel equipped to perform. For one thing, she was an Engineer. For another, she was an Ensign.
Ohnari: Response
Lacy: I'm not a nurse, ma'am. If there was a problem with Lieutenant Michaels and I needed to tell you, I wouldn’t know what to look for.
Ohnari: Response
Ginny let out a relieved breath. She nodded, satisfied that she wouldn't be required to do a task that was both awkward and impossible. She stepped back out of the doorway, to make way for the CMO. As she passed by, Ensign Lacy fell in behind her.
Michaels: It will become an engineering problem is the Captain decides to get closer to the "nebula" and it strikes us in a similar manner. Analyse that data. We need to understand as best we can what it is, and how it works. Is it a physical object? Is it something else? We will need to know how to counteract it and defend against it. We will need to be able to quickly repair whatever damage it may do. :: beat :: You are going to be the engineering expert on that matter. What I want you to do is to learn everything you can about what happened and be ready to adapt when more information becomes available. I realize that this is a non-trivial task and admit there is minimal information available at this time. I have little doubt you will generate several theories that will ultimately be proven wrong but that is how the process works. ::beat:: Any questions?
Morda / Ohnari: Response
Lacy: I suggest we start with what we can tell about the ship. If we can figure out what caused the damage, we might be able to figure out what their crew did to escape, and then work backward from there.
Ohnari / Michaels / Morda: Response
TBC
——— ● ———
Ensign Imogen “Ginny” Lacy
Engineering Officer
as simmed by
Commander Nax-Ellarneii-Tellargo
Commanding Officer
USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)
A240001NH3