Marveling at Engineering

Posted on 25 May 2023 @ 6:39pm by Lieutenant JG Christina Hartley & Captain Bane Plase

2,977 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: Main Engineering, USS Cygnus

ON:

Elder Ectar, the leader of the Builders Guild on Antioch III, looked on in awe, completely dumbfounded by the complexity and sophistication that came into view as he and his guide, Lieutenant Hartley, rounded the bend and came in full view of Main Engineering. The uncomfortableness of having to stoop slightly was completely forgotten. "Bless the gods," he exclaimed breathlessly.

"Wouldn't go as far as gods, no offence. The Warp Core is a newer model, added into the ship when the refit was completed recently," Christina explained. "This isn't even the most advanced ship the fleet has, we have faster ones, but the Cygnus is my baby. I helped with the refit designs," she explained.

"A refit?! This is simply too much," Ectar exclaimed. "You must be the very best Engineer that your Starfleet has to offer, to be able to refit this marvelous vessel and design those refits. Tell me, how did you come about all of this advanced education? Our best scientists have education and experience in the many decades just to have what we have!"

Christina couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh I'm good, but believe me, I'm not the best. There are engineers who build these ships and can do a lot better work than me. Not many, but some. As for the education, it's part of the four year training course at Starfleet Academy. You should see my father, he practically designed the Sentinel Class ship, and has a lot of awards for engineering," Christina explained. "So, this is the primary Matter/Antimatter Reactor, or the Warp Core as we call it. It combines matter and antimatter to create a warp reaction, allowing us to travel at warp speeds, working in conjunction with the deflector dish, which creates a warp field," she explained.

Elder Ectar was no dummy, but the things she was saying to him were just too fantastical to be able to comprehend. "Wait, wait, wait," he said motioning with his hand, his head bobbing in the way that was normal to his people. "You learned all of this in four years?! Surely you are jesting with me. And what do you mean by 'class ship?' Your Captain told us there were many ships like this one in your Federation. What does 'class' mean?" He didn't even get to the warp core, for he had stopped processing information when his brain short-circuited at this incredible information. "Do your people have incredible learning abilities due to your technology? Is it wired into your brain through computer interface?"

Christina thought carefully about how to address the questions. The species weren't technical, clearly, but that wasn't their fault. There was a time when humans made warp with a nuclear rocket.

"Yes and no. The training begins at the Academy, which is the four year program. However, any good engineer will learn more every day, there's always new things to discover when it comes to technology. Several hundred years ago, a human called Zephram Cochrane used a weapon of mass destruction to create the first warp core. We met the Vulcan's, who had better technology than we did. I guarantee you that within the next hundred years, your people's technology will advance greatly, now you know what to look for," Christina said.

"I do have an eidetic memory, so I remember everything I've ever read or learnt. It's not a normal thing, but I see it as a bonus. I've been working with engines since I was a kid. Hell, at ten years old, I built a warp capable shuttle, and helped with the Sentinel class," she continued.

"As for classes, that's the word we use for every type of ship. The Cygnus is a Nebula Class ship. One of our best ships in the fleet, the Enterprise, is a Constitution Three Class ship," she said, leading him to a computer console, and showing different classes of ships.

For a brief moment, she flashed back to that day in Earth's Orbit. She had been on the Cochrane and had been assimilated with that damned Borg virus that affected most of the fleet.

She still had nightmares of that day, of how she had been forced to fire on her own friends, on her people, but she had been thankful that Kin, and K'tress, had been visiting Kin's family on Cait at the time, as had her family.

Elder Ectar's head was spinning on his neck. So much information, he was just about into sensory overload. "I am completely surprised at all of this," he said, gesturing to the screen in which wire-frame renditions of ships showed on the screen, but also to the screen and computer itself. "You people are so incredibly advanced. It would be nothing for you to come in and conquer us. You said your first warp-capable vessel was made out of a weapon of mass destruction? Does that mean this vessel is a weapon of greater magnitude? Your people must be well-versed in the school of combat, destruction and subjugation." He did not mean it as an insult, but merely fact.

Christina nodded. "Come with me," she said, leading him to the engineering holodeck. "I want to show you the history of our people, and how everything came about," she said. "Now, the holodeck might surprise you, but please, don't be alarmed."

"Uh, ok," Elder Ectar responded, following the tiny being. He was disheartened that they were leaving Engineering; there was so much he wanted to look at and ask about, but he scarcely knew where to begin. So many new things, so many new experiences. He was also a bit suspicious about the holodeck, especially after what Hartley had to say. Today notwithstanding, it was almost impossible to surprise or alarm Ectar.

"Computer, activate history program Cochrane one," Christina ordered. The holodeck shifted to show Zephram Cochrane in front of the Phoenix. "Please, don't be alarmed. We're still on the ship, the holodeck allows us to create any environment using photons and forcefields," she said.

As the holodeck suddenly shifted from the grid-like pattern on the walls, floor and ceiling to them literally standing in space in front of the pointed nose of what was clearly a weapon, the Elder stumbled, a scream escaping his lips. He grabbed onto Hartley for support. Upon hearing what she said, he relaxed a little, but his senses told him he was in the vacuum of space. "I do not understand. How can you manipulate photons? And what is a forcefield? You say we are still on your vessel, but clearly we are floating in space. But I still feel my feet on the surface, and I can still feel air in my lungs, and can still hear you. This, this is too much," he exclaimed.

"Computer, arch," Christina ordered. The arch appeared, with the door opening, revealing the engine room of the Cygnus. "For us, holodeck technology has been around for quite a while, and we improve on it every day. We can create any environment, use it for entertainment, for education, training, even for communication," Christina said. "A forcefield is... a field of energy used to either contain something, or protect something. We use it in our defensive technologies, to stop enemies from shooting us," she said, trying to keep the explanation simple. "Right now, this is essentially virtual reality, just a collection of three dimension images. We're still breathing because we're on the ship. It can be more realistic, if we chose to remove the oxygen, but that's not something we need to do. This is just how I'd like to show you a bit about our history of engineering," Christina explained.

The Elder listened as he stood, or floated, he didn't know anymore, at the archway and door appeared to the right angle of the weapon looking thing in front of them. Through the portal, he could see Engineering in which he had just left, and people appear from the left or the right, walk across their field of vision, and disappear on the other side. He suddenly had a strong sense of vertigo. "This is, in a word, magic."

"There was a human, centuries ago, called Arthur C. Clarke. He said that any sufficiently advanced technology would be indistinguishable from magic. Give it a century or two, and your people will be in my position, teaching others about warp drive, and how all this seemed like magic to you once," Christina said.

Ectar nodded slowly, trying to calm his flipping stomach and ease his frayed nerves. "Perhaps. I guess I will see when I am an old and esteemed elder," he said. "Perhaps now you can show me what we came in here to see."

Christina nodded. "In the year 2063, Earth was still recovering from the third world war, which had killed over six hundred million people. Most governments were destroyed, and the people were trying to survive against poverty, hunger and disease. Doctor Cochrane wanted to build a warp capable ship. Why, I don't know. Maybe he wanted to find a new world, maybe he wanted to sell it, or just prove it could be done. Whatever the reason, he managed it. The day he launched, and succeeded, a Vulcan ship was doing a survey on a planet in our solar system, and realised humans had broken the warp barrier, so they made first contact," Christina said.

"They helped humans to become better. They held back some technologies, claiming we weren't ready, and maybe we weren't, but thanks to humans finding out we weren't alone in the galaxy, everything changed. War, famine, disease, poverty, it was all gone within fifty years, and Earth became a primary founder of the United Federation of Planets, thanks to Captain Jonathan Archer," Christina said.

She showed him images of Cochrane, the Phoenix, the NX Enterprise, and Captain Archer.

"Because of a few good people, we were able to find a better path for our people," Christina explained.

Each time the image in front of them changed, Ectar stumbled. He was not used to this newfangled contraption they were in. "So to answer my standing question, you people are aggressive and warlike. With tools like this, you could create your enemy and know what they would do even before they do. This is a tactical advantage in the extreme. You said your person built this on the end of a planet war that killed...you said six hundred million? That is quite the number of people. And he built it out of a tactical weapon. How do you fare in open space?"

"We were aggressive and warlike. Not everyone, but some. They felt humans had to take control of everything, but those ideals soon died out. Doctor Cochrane built his ship from a tactical weapon, showing that even the most dangerous of items can be used for peace. We're explorers. Yes, we have weapons and defences, but others have far better weapons because they like war. We defend ourselves, but we prefer peace to war. We just want to help people to make the galaxy a peaceful place, through words and diplomacy. We've cured all kinds of diseases, brokered peace between many species that were at war. For me, I like to build new things, and make new devices to help others," Christina said.

"I have a wife and a daughter, and I want them to be able to live safely. I want to grow old and have grandkids around, as well as great grandkids. I want to explore, and I want peace," she added. "But sometimes, we have to fight. The Klingons were once our enemies, as were the Romulans. We've fought so many people who decided they didn't like our peaceful way of life, thinking we were lying or just ripe for conquest. Then there were others who just wanted to subjugate everyone," Christina said softly.

Ectar nodded again, understanding. "So you are really here for peace, then." It was a statement, not a question. "Can you show me more of your engine room?"

"Of course," Christina agreed, leading the way back to the engine room. "So, as I said, this is the warp core, which processes the matter and antimatter, using Dilithium crystals to get the reaction we need to create our warp fields," she explained.

Elder Ectar nodded, walking beside his very short new friend. "We have something similar in our only faster-than-light vessel, though we do not call it a 'warp core.' We call it a star drive engine," he said proudly. "The scientist that built it, Esteemed Elder Dr. Prinricht, thought it fitting, since the engine would be driving the vessel to the stars. Poetic, really. Tell me, what are 'dilithium crystals?'"

Christina nodded in understanding. "That's an understandable name. It's a good name. Every species has their names and methods. The Dilithium crystals are what we use to control the reaction," Christina said, opening the tray in the core to show the crystals to the Elder.

The Elder looked upon the crystals, but did not recognize them. "I have never seen anything like this before. However," he said, and giggled with a hint of embarrassment, "I am not as fully versed in such advanced technologies as a star drive engine, or a warp core, as you call it. To me, this is far, far advanced technology. Even our version of it. I still do not understand how an engine like this, without any discernable thrust vector, could propel a vessel to speeds that exceed light." He shook her head to emphasize the lack of understanding.

Christina smiled. "At one time, our people thought this kind of travel was impossible. Hell, a few hundred years ago, there were people on Earth who thought our world was flat, even though they were presented with evidence to prove it wasn't. Technology develops as the need arises. Now you know of the Federation and our peoples, your people will focus on making space travel better, and before long, your star drive might even become better than our warp drive. I've seen the specs, you use your star drive in a different way to the warp field. I'm already studying them to see if there's a way to improve it, and if so, maybe make a new engine that takes us further than warp drive can," Christina said.

The Elder shook his head again, this time impressed. "I cannot even begin to fathom how intelligent you and your kind are. It took our scientists the sum of our entire history to get to build that engine, and you are already studying it and understanding it, undoubtedly in your free time." He pivoted the conversation. "What does your kind do for fun during your free time on this ship. Er, that is, assuming you get any?"

"Well, it varies from person to person. My wife, Kin'Fuji and I, we spend our free time with our daughter, K'tress, having picnics, on the holodeck, listening to music, and I like to read and study more about technology, to make improvements. Captain Bane enjoys hiking, reading, and music. I know that some of the engineers like to sunbathe, or just go swimming. The holodeck does give us all a chance to relax. When we're making repairs for whatever reason, we don't have much free time, but the stories everyone hears about adventures we have, well, for every so called adventure we have, we spend about six weeks doing absolutely nothing except giving reports in because travelling through space can be boring, which is why we have holodecks, libraries, and things like that, to keep us entertained," Christina replied.

Ectar nodded. "Our philosophers have been grappling with our government and scientific community to combat this thing, for when we decide to leave our solar system. The travel to the nearest star at our highest speed, which I believe cannot be sustained for very long, would take almost two years. A long time to be traveling, for sure. Lieutenant, thank you so much for this tour. You have given me much to think about. All of this has really fatigued me greatly, surprisingly. Maybe it is just the newness of it all."

Christina smiled at the Elder. "Of course. If you like, I can show you to guest quarters to allow you to rest, Elder," Christina offered. "Or perhaps you'd like something to eat or drink?"

His eyes widened in surprise. "Is there no bounds to your hospitality and generosity? Surely your cooks are off duty at this time of day to make something special for me? Plus, I would not wish to burden them with my special dietary needs. We have no idea if the foods and drinks you people consume are harmful to us."

"Give me a second, I can do a scan to see whether our foods or drinks would be harmful. Our replicators can also create your foods, some of our teams have sent back replicator scans of your food," Christina said. "Not much, but some," she said, getting a medical tricorder from a med kit. "Good thing about my wife being a doctor is that I know some medical knowledge."

Pointing at the tricorder in Christina's hand, he said, "You can figure all that out with that tiny little device? I still maintain you people are magical," he said, laughing.

Christina laughed as she scanned the man, before ensuring he could eat practically everything. "Trust me, this is nothing," Christina said, grinning, looking forward to seeing his reaction to the replicators.



A most curious post by

Elder Ectar
Leader of the Builder's Guild


&

Lieutenant Junior Grade Christina Hartley
Chief Engineer
USS Cygnus

 

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