[sb188-Ronin] Ensign Kelor Zh'taan - The smaller, the better
Kelor Zh'Taan
((Deck 14, Main Engineering, Pool Table, USS Ronin))
The Ronin had cut the power transfer to the planet's surface and was simultaneously struggling against the pull of the black hole. The power cut was abrupt and damaged several Ronin systems.
Morgan: Impulse engines offline, the hit to the EPS grid took it out, first thing. It’s going to take an hour or so to fix it, and with us closer to the temporal black hole, we needed it online asap.
Zh'taan: With the power transfer offline, the ship should have more available power, right? We might be able to buy some time by trying to move away from the black hole using reverse engine thrust. Instead of turning around, what if we try backing away?
Dohna: Good thinking, Ensign. We can move off faster once impulse power is back online.
Despite the damage to the systems and the near-disastrous situation, Kelor began to see a glimmer of hope. But repairs still needed to start before they could respond fully effectively. And the Andorian's main goal was mostly to buy time.
Morgan: Quick thinking, ensign! All we have are RCS thrusters, but that should be enough to push us back from getting into the black hole's gravity well, though I’m not sure if temporal black holes operate in the same way as your typical black hole.
He couldn’t help but let a proud smile appear on his face.
Dohna: Is the deflector still operational?
Of course, to keep that smile, the deflectors had to be intact.
Morgan: ::lifting her head up:: Yes, the deflector is still operational. ::she smiled as a strand of unruly red hair got in her face::
He breathed a sigh of relief at that answer while tapping on his LCARS.
Zh'taan: And their power doesn’t seem to have weakened. ::Smiles::
Dohna: So our escape plan is intact, how long before that window closes for good?
He regained his usual seriousness. Although the damage to the ship’s devices was minor for most systems, time was still the critical factor. The acting captain and the away teams were still on the surface, and fighters were still in space.
Morgan: ::turning to Zh’taan:: How much time do we have, exactly, Mr. Zh’taan?
He swallowed loudly. It felt, and it wasn’t just a feeling, as if the lives of many of his teammates, including the captain, rested on his shoulders.
Zh'taan: ::searching on his LCARS:: If we manage to get far enough from the black hole, and continue emitting anti-chronitons… ::performs calculations on his screen:: I’d say we have 33 minutes and 25 seconds left. ::Smiles::
The smile quickly disappeared as he recalled the situation. Even if things were going relatively well on their side, he had no idea about the teams on the surface, and an unidentified ship was approaching. So barely over thirty minutes was not much…
Dohna: ::sighing:: That's not much time. Any way we can extend our window?
Morgan: ::shrugging:: You got me, I’m just the engineer. I can build things, take things apart, and put them back together again. Quantum mechanics and black holes? So not my area of expertise. But I do catch on damn quick. ::she turned to Zh’taan:: You’re the scientist, what say you?
Time was pressing, and he knew it. He also had to account for the current state of the ship and the potential number of injured, which he didn’t know exactly. A quick solution was required.
Zh'taan: ::turns to Rachel:: I know time is tight, but I need information. What’s clear is we must continue emitting anyons to prevent the ship from being surrounded by chronitons, which accelerate the damage effects. ::Continues scanning his LCARS::
Dohna: Response
Rachel displayed the results of her calculations on the main screen. Kelor examined them while continuing his research. He understood what Rachel was looking for: reducing the size and the gravitational pull of the black hole at the same time.
Zh'taan: I still have a few databases to search, but given the ship’s current state and the time left, it’s going to be hard to find a miracle solution…
Dohna: Response
Morgan: There has to be a way. The deflector is still operational. What if we used it to saturate the black hole with neutrinos? I’m thinking to use them to dilate the wormhole. If we manage to contract it, we could gain time for our teams and craft to return. Any better ideas?
Zh'taan: ::I don’t think neutrinos would work; they aren’t solid particles with mass. They would get sucked in by the black hole even faster than anyons, and the chronitons would reform around us in mass. ::His fingers stop typing on the screen:: Can you give me the status of the tractor beam?
Morgan/Dohna: Response
Zh'taan: ::Smiles as he transfers the page from his LCARS to a larger screen visible to the team:: I found something. The black hole generates a massive gravitational force. But the tractor beam could allow us to create antigraviton particles. I think this could reduce the black hole’s pull.
Morgan/Dohna: Response
Zh'taan: ::Types commands on his LCARS and sends the results to the screen:: I just sent the maximum distance the ship should maintain from the black hole and the power settings for the tractor beam. If we manage to back away and use the tractor beam in repulsive mode, we can get far enough from the black hole to stay safe long enough to recover our teams. This could give us at least 30 more minutes compared to the current situation.
Morgan/Dohna: Response
Zh'taan: Understood, I’ll handle synchronizing the beam with the black hole.
Morgan/Dohna: Response
TAGS/TBC