Lieutenant Wyatt Ral - Where the Wind Takes Us
Jason Price
((Holodeck 3, Deck 5, USS Thor))
The three of them were all aboard the yacht and ready to do some sailing on the high seas. Wyatt found the gentle swaying of the ship relaxing and reminded him of the times he’d spent on the small rowing boat in his Lake Cataria program.
Ral: Yes, where do you need us Captain?
Kreshkova: Meris, vould you like to pilot her?
Meris as the pilot was the obvious choice. Wyatt could probably pilot the Thor using the LACRS interface but this was something different.
Meris: Can you show me how it's done?
Kreshkova demonstrated, turning the wheel with measured precision.
Kreshkova: Zhis is how ve steer. You use zhis vheel to turn zhe bow of zhe boat. ::Gesturing to the front of the boat:: I just moved her four points to port. Each spoke of zhe vheel is a point. Port is left, and starboard is right.
In his relaxed state Meris’s internal thoughts flowed over him effortlessly.
Meris: I see... the wheel alters the orientation of the submerged control surface. The resulting hydrodynamic forces then influence the vessel’s heading. There is a delay between input and response. Not an entirely efficient design.
Ral: Quite different to how the Thor pushes itself around in the vacuum of space.
Kreshkova: Vyatt, you could help me secure zhe sail, so she catches zhe vind better.
Wyatt gave Sasch a quick nod and followed behind. A wave rolled beneath the ship and lifted it a little more sharply. He grabbed the handrail to steady himself as he followed Sasch,
Meris: Steady as she goes, Captain.
Ral: Getting into the part already Meris. ::grinning::
Meris: Extended exposure to direct sunlight can result in dermal damage. We may wish to consider protective measures.
After the amount of time he’d been in space since leaving the Academy, the thought of sun protection had never crossed his mind, although the simulated UV radiation on the holodeck shouldn’t be sufficient to cause any permanent damage.
Ral: Noted, Lieutenant. ::saluting::
Kreshkova: Response
Meris: This body of water... is the Caspian Sea?
Kreshkova: Response
Ral: You can always ask the computer to give you a navigational chart, Meris.
The wind caught the sail hard as Wyatt moved and the canvas snapped with a sharp crack. He reached for the line, fingers closing around the coarse rope, and hauled it in hand over hand. The boom shifted, swinging across as the sail tightened.
He looped the line around the cleat and the tension settled through the rigging, the sail now trimmed cleanly to the wind. The yacht responded almost immediately, the motion of the ship becoming smoother as the wind made it glide effortlessly across the water.
Meris: Mister Ral, you are part Human, correct? Does your lineage have any association with this region of Earth?
Wyatt turned back towards Meris.
Ral: Wyatt is fine when we’re not on duty. No, my mother is from England and we had a residence in Scotland but we didn’t spend a great deal of time on Earth to explore the planet further.
Kreshkova: Response.
—
Lieutenant Wyatt Ral
Assistant Chief Engineer
USS Thor NCC-85852
C239903WR3