Posted by Lieutenant Commander Kord (XO) in Main Sim - Alien Ship - Engineering

Posted by Lieutenant Tiastri Ezial (Chief Engineer) in Main Sim - Alien Ship - Engineering

Posted by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) in Main Sim - Alien Ship - Engineering
[snip]
=/\= Kord, I’d like to take a look around this ship for myself, with the First’s permission. I can start by coming to the engine room where you and Tia can brief me on the repairs you have made. Expect me shortly =/\=

A short while later John Glen appeared in Engineering.

Kord greeted Glen at the entrance to Engineering.

“With as much damage as she had when we got here, I think we did well in our attempted repairs. Everything seems up to spec at the moment.” Kord reported.

John was surprised at Kord’s description of ‘up to spec’ concerning the system repairs. “Does this ship even have a specification? I mean… from what I’ve seen, it was jury-rigged even before the improvised and makeshift additions. Just between us, I don’t know if these people need a medal for bravery or for stupidity. Whatever, you and Tia managed to do could only enhance and upgrade it. At Warp Factor one they will take eight days to get back home from here. Do you think they will make it without further repairs? I’ve agreed to shadow them back, but I’d rather do something else, and I certainly don’t want any accidents.”

“The other thing is that their mission out here was to search for three sleeper ships, sent out in three directions that correspond to the three systems that we located that they had visited. It would be good if we could find those missing ships for them, but difficult to do that if we are limping along at Warp one,” added Glen.

Tia had come up behind Kord as the two were talking and heard the Captain’s query. “Sir, you are right. This ship’s been limping along for a long time. If you want to help them, perhaps I can remain about with a couple engineers and help keep them afloat till they get home. That would leave the Merrimack free to move at a slightly faster pace,” she smiled knowing that even Warp One on the Merri was probably a bit better. “Then you guys can see to the other ships and we’ll get them home without floundering again. With luck.” She laughed with her eyes knowing to burst into a laugh here was probably rude.

“Something like that was my original thoughts,” replied the Captain, “but then I saw quite how crudely improvised this ship was and I’m concerned about leaving anyone alone here. If we stay alongside we can make an emergency rescue much more quickly. In any case, the First has asked me not to leave now and I agreed. We will need to rely on sensor sweeps and radio signal detection only. A proper search and rescue mission would demand several ships, and probably and expanding-square search pattern for each of the three Sleepers. So, we just don’t have those resources in any case. It was just an idea I had that we might win some kudos back on planet Alstair if we could pull it off. Obviously, getting this ship back safe and sound is the most important thing to do.”

“We might be able to narrow down the search parameters. We search the space between the systems and the home world allowing for a bit of course drift, easily covered by our sensors as we travel. We can also create a search vector assuming that primitive, by our standards, navigation systems did not account for galactic drift.” Kord suggested.

“That works for one of the Sleeper ships,” replied Glen. “The other two ships went in different directions - to the other two systems we visited when we were first tracking this ship… Anyhow, that is exactly what we should do. I’ll also authorise a period of R&R for most of the crew. I’ve already organised a formal banquet for our new friends, but we could have other cultural and musical exchanges and ‘get to know you’ events. I don’t know, we could call it a ‘First Contact Party’ or something. It certainly is a very different First Contact to that with the belligerent Dolphins!”

Glen told Tia and Kord, “It looks like you have everything in hand here, so I’m going to track down Inola and discover what she has found out from the Third.”

Glen left Engineering

• Glen, CO

Tia listened to the troubles and solutions. She commented to Kord as the Captain left. “If the Merrimack is going to stay in escort, it could also do a wide back and forth sweep of the system as we go. If it stayed within an hour or so of rejoining at Warp 8, then more ground could be covered. I also recommend probes, perhaps, being sent to search in the other directions. May be able to give us a better chance of tracking trails and finding the missing ships.” She knew it was a long shot, but what else could they do and still be ‘actively looking’?

Tia
CE

“Long range probes will be a must.” Kord said.

He looked around a moment to be sure they were alone or, at least, had all eyes elsewhere.

“Make the proposal to the Captain and the First about the Merri making sweeps out to an hour’s distance. Advise that we take the First’s recommendation into account. We want them to be comfortable with our presence.” Kord said then gave Tia a quick, hopefully unnoticed by the alien crew, kiss.

• Kord, XO

Tia had been about to answer him when he stole the kiss. It made her blush and her hand rose to rest on his chest as she smiled. “Kord!” she hissed in an embarrassed whisper but didn’t move away. “I’ll see if the Captain is game. Why don’t you see if they want us to remain on board, if we can share quarters. To help save space and be less of a bother, of course.” She smiled knowing it was a bold request. But she hoped it wouldn’t be seen as amiss by the Captain of the ship they were visiting. Some time away from the Merrimack was a luxury she was planning on taking full advantage of.

“And I’ll ask the Captain is willing to sweep wide back and forth and we’ll stay aboard and help them keep moving on as we go. And we can send off and monitor the probes as well. I’ll be back.” She rose on tip toes to kiss him back once more before turning to head for the Captains and see if they agreed on their plan.

Tia
CE