Repairing the Freighter Part 2

Posted on 05 Jun 2024 @ 1:54pm by Lieutenant JG Christina Hartley

1,098 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Enigma Variations
Location: Holodeck 1

As Christina stood in the holodeck with Lucas and Amy, she was working the controls quickly, coming up with a design that they could use. It was coming along nicely, thanks to the input of Lucas and Melissa.

“How did you come up with this idea, Melissa?” Lucas asked.

“Honestly? I’ve been thinking about this for a while. Obviously not for this freighter, but you know I love reading the old reports from Archer and Kirk’s day, right?” Melissa asked.

“Yes, and we remember how you love being on the holodeck with a representation of Captain Scott. Yes, we all know,” Christina smirked, causing Melissa to blush.

“Well, I came across a report about when the NX-01 was damaged from a Romulan mine, and they needed repairs. They came across an automated shipyard,” Melissa said. Christina nodded.

“Right, I remember that from the Academy; damned thing tried to kidnap a member of the crew to use him as a computer core,” Christina said. Then she remembered the rest of the report. “Right, it beamed in the new parts, beaming out the old practically at the same time.”

“Right, and that was two hundred and forty years ago, give or take. I’ve been working on a theory to be able to do something similar,” Melissa admitted, as Christina used the sensors that the team aboard the freighter were placing, to get an exact scan.

“Not a bad idea; if we can make it work, it’ll make repairing ships a lot easier,” Christina complimented.

“Repairing? We’d be able to build ships quicker if we could work out the tech,” Lucas said, as he was reprogramming the cargo transporter from the holodeck controls, which Christina had linked to the cargo transporter.

“Right now, we should focus on testing this, and getting the freighter repaired. We can look at expanding the tech later. I do want to keep an eye on the life support fields though,” Christina said. “I’ve got the system monitoring them for any changes, and so far, the power cells are running steady.”

“I know it’s been a bit of a pet project for you, Christina, but you gotta stop worrying so much about this. They’ll work,” Lucas told her.

“I know, and I appreciate the faith in me,” Christina smiled.

“Okay, I’ve got the changes to the cargo transporter done,” Melissa said. “I think we should run a test.”

“Alright, let’s get something programmed,” Christina said, tapping in several commands and creating a holographic segment of the freighter, showing the damage as well. “Alright Lucas, let’s power up the transporter portion of the device.”

“Starting with ten percent, ma’am,” Lucas replied, as he began his work on the device.

“Syncing the transporter with the replicator,” Melissa said from her station.

“Activating the recycling program,” Christina added. All three of them were heavily focused on their individual tasks, wanting to make sure the new design worked. “Syncing complete; all three systems are unified.”

“Okay, good,” Lucas said. “Melissa, I’m reading a minor power fluctuation in the secondary capacitor relay; we’ll need to strengthen that relay.”

“Christina, try fortifying it with a forcefield around the interior of the relay,” Melissa commanded. Christina may have been the Chief, but when the engineers were working like this, there were no ranks, no commands, no officers; just engineers doing their job, and loving it.

“Understood. Taking power from the backup power node for the forcefield generator,” Christina replied, focused on the system. “Is that enough?”

“I need another three percent power,” Melissa replied.

“Understood. Adding a fourth power cell to the unit,” Christina replied, using the holodeck to create the cell. “Is that working?”

“That got it. Lucas, did that correct the imbalance?” Melissa asked.

“It did,” Lucas confirmed.

“Lucas, I need you to refine the transporter beam by point five microns,” Christina said, as she studied the readings.

“Point five microns, got it. I’m gonna need to aim this by eye,” Lucas replied.

“If anyone can, it’s you,” Christina complimented. “Let’s refine the protocols by routing power through the tertiary transporter relay.”

“That should give us the accuracy we need,” Lucas agreed, making the adjustments to his system. “Melissa, the replicator is starting to slip from alignment,” Lucas added. “Michaels to engineering, I need you to shut down Cargo transporters two and three; we need the power.”

=/\=Understood. Shutting them down and shunting the power to your location.=/\= came the reply.

“Okay, I’ve got the power to the realignment systems,” Melissa said, making the adjustments.

“Okay, everything looks good. Activating the transporter enhancers,” Christina said, powering up the system. “Lucas, it’s your show.”

“Alright, let’s get this done,” Lucas said. “Don’t talk to me; I need all my focus on this. Just keep the power stable.”

“You got it. Energise when ready,” Christina said. She and Melissa watched as the holographic segments of the freighter were beamed out, but before the transporter cycle was complete, the replacement segments were being beamed it. Within five minutes, the small segment they had in front of them was looking perfect, as if it was fresh from the assembly line.

“Shut it down and run the scan. Any problems?” Christina asked, grinning.

“Nope; the new layout with the extra cells and systems worked perfectly. I think we can do this,” Melissa said. She let out a cheer of happiness, before hugging Christina and Lucas.

“Alright, now we’ve got the system working, it’s time to work on the real thing. Let’s get back to the freighter, and we’ll let the others know we’re ready to begin,” Christina said. “Lucas, you need any support here?”

“I’ll stay; you should be on the freighter so that you can monitor it from there. Send Daphne up here would you; she can handle your system here if needed,” Lucas said.

“Hartley to Jones, report to Holodeck One,” Christina ordered.

=/\=On my way=/\= came the reply. Christina looked at the two.

“Let’s go make a miracle happen, and earn our place in the record books,” Christina said, before leaving the holodeck, heading back to the freighter, hoping that they’d get the same result. If this worked, they’d be legends in their own right.

If it failed, they’d be dead. Well, everything had it’s risks, but that was part of the game if you wanted to be an engineer.



The Miracle Workers
As played by

Christina Hartley
Chief Engineer
USS Cygnus

 

RSS Feed