Fried

Posted on 08 Dec 2025 @ 10:51am by Lieutenant JG Cajag Lagnas & Lieutenant JG Dezran Taalen

1,243 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shakedown
Location: Science Lab 3
Timeline: Current

::ON::

Smoke was rising from the the spectrum manifold of the phasic microscope. Caj was still getting his bearings both with being in a starfleet lab again and with being in a lab with a whole new parade of equipment. The phasic microscopic was a new piece of said equipment, issued to the the repaired and Re-furbished USS Cygnus, as part of its over haul. It was state of the art and cutting edge and Caj suspected he has broken it as he watched the very fine trail of smoke rising from the machine.

All he had done was switched the bloody thing on! Well switched it on and decided to see if he could use the Phasic microscope on his sandwich. This clearly is not what you should use something that does a full spectrum analysis of phasic matter in its quantum state. Maybe it had been the Bologna meet? Anyway as such he had had to request some assistance from the engineering department.

Dez walked through the parted doors, occupying the Science Lab with a curious look as he scanned the room. "Someone call for an Engineer?" he announced, his voice filling the silence abruptly. He walked through the room, eyeing the sensitive lab equipment with scrutiny. His eyes settled on the Science officer at the station opposite the door. "That you?" he asked, standing rigid.

“Yes sir” said Caj with a smile and a wave. “I think I broke it?” He pointed to the phasic microscope. “I’m no engineer but I don’t think it should be smoking like that.” He chuckled nervously

The smoke trailed up from the device at the station. Dez could smell it. The stench permeated the air, assaulting his nostrils. It was that distinct electrical smell—like something truly foul had been incinerated and wanted everyone to know. He walked to the station and stood next to the officer. "Yep. Looks like its toasted alright," Dez said, waving his hand to dissipate the smoke. "Lab equipment isn't exactly my specialty, Lieutenant...?" It was a question. Dez was still new onboard and was unfamiliar with most faces and their names. Not that he especially cared to know them all, but he understood having to play nice. Sometimes.

“Lieutenant Junior Grade Cajag Lagnas. Chief Science Officer. At your service!” Responded the Trill enthusiastically with a smile. “I’m pretty new here. I’m sure this phasic microscope just needs a once over from someone more technically minded than I.”

"Dez Taalen, but Dez'll do. Nice to meet ya, Lieutenant Junior Grade Cajag Lagnas. I'm brand new around here, too. And this is my first Phasic Microscope call," Dez said, setting his tool kit down on the workstation. He examined the microscope, leaning over it to view it from all angles. It still smelled like someone had put it in an incinerator on max power—which seemed like a fitting end to this particular microscope's life. He brushed away some soot that had collected, taking a closer look at the tool's power source. "Hmm. So, what'a'ya use this thing for anyway?" Dez asked as he inspected the socket on the backside of the microscope.

“Well Mr Dez’ll the phasic microscope gives analysis of phasic matter in its quantum state. It reflects back quantum flux in the matter stream bending it so to see the matter though different phases of time.”

"Just Dez," he responded, content to remove the title and rank. "Boy. Sorry I asked," he chuckled lightly. "Well, I don't usually deal with this kinda thing, but the base components aren't much different than anything else. The smoke indicates that something power related isn't behavin'. Were ya usin' it for standard operation when it fried? Anything out of the ordinary? Just grasping here is all."

“All pretty standard” said Caj picking up his nearby plates sandwiched and taking another bit into it. “I think it might be the subatronic linear filter. It doesn’t like all the pesky phased quantum particles.”

Dez looked at the Science Chief, sandwich in hand. He hadn't realized that he was hungry, but now he couldn't help but notice the rumble in his stomach. The replicated food was starting to taste bland. He made a mental note to seek out something better.

"Subatronic linear filter, huh?" Dez asked. His brow furrowed as he scanned the other man. "Sounds like ya have some technical experience, Chief." He directed his attention back to the piece of equipment.

Detaching the latches on his toolkit, he retrieved several hand tools. Before long, Dez had the microscope broken down into its base components. He laid them on the bench strategically, making note of their order for reassembly. The tip of the diagnostic scanner in his hand lit sequentially, the tool emitting a low frequency hum. Dez moved the tool around the microscope, his eyes intent on its feedback display.

"Hmm. Well, something definitely ain't right," Dez said. "This the only one you have in the lab?" He looked up at the other officer. "Just in case I need to take this back to Engineering. Might need to reference the schematics if it gets too involved."

Caj nodded "We have at least one spare of each piece of equipment in stock. Two spare if it cant be replicated in the industrial replicator." Caj picked up his sandwich and took another bite. "The phasic microscopic cant be replicated because of its power source and unique micro temporal mesh filament used in its optics."

"Right," Dez said, leaning over the device. Removing the access plate, he wiggled the power source free. He waved the diagnostic scanner over the void in the instrument again. The scanning tips emitted a shrill chirp, their glow changing from the neutral yellow to a soft red color. "Hmm. Looks like some sort of foreign matter in the contact circuit. Didn't drop some of that sandwich in here where it don't belong, did you?" he asked. He looked up, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Dez looked back down at the microscope, picking up a fine-tipped extractor from his tool kit. "So, bein' new around here I ain't had a chance to explore much. Where's one go for the good food onboard?" he asked casually.

Caj shrugged a little "I'm a bit new myself....." He paused for thought as he contemplated the question around a mouthful of sandwich. "I have been down to ten forward the grub down in those parts seems to be good. But I only tried the lunch menu. Best to skip the officers mess though.....I swear the replicators in that neck of the woods have not figured out what a sandwich is yet."

Dez nodded. "Noted," he responded. "I ain't met a replicator that's pleasing with anything that's pre-loaded. I have a collection of programs that I'll be loadin' in. When I get a free second," he said. Though, he internally wondered if that would ever be the case given the workload. His attention diverted as the extractor in his hand caught on something. "Ah. Here we go," he said. "There's some kind of filament in the pathway for the power source. Must have caused a short," he reported.

"Well I did try and use it on my sandwich. I wonder if that did it?" Caj said innocently as the engineer looked at him grumpily and continued to work on the machine

 

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