Dauntless

Posted on 25 Aug 2016 @ 8:21am by Ensign Miraj Derani & Lieutenant JG Rahl Tyton Ph.D.

1,673 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 12 - Recluse
Location: USS Galileo Mess Hall, Deck 2
Timeline: MD-1 1230

[ON]

Miraj had slipped away from the conn for her lunch break, and grabbed a selection of rolls and soup from the mess buffet before looking around for somewhere to sit. Galileo packed in a lot of people, and the mess hall was crowded. But there was one empty seat, opposite one of the new arrivals, in Science teal.

"Hi," Miraj hovered by the seat for a moment. "Can I sit down?"

Rahl had thought to grab a bite to eat as his stomach reminded him he had not done so that morning. Walking into the mess hall, however almost had him turning right back around.

It wasn't that he didn't socialize with people, but this was ridiculous. It was like trying to pack a board with one more transistor that you know just wouldn't fit due to the tight squeeze. With a sigh, he shook his head. He joined the line and grabbed something quick. Finding as empty of a spot as he could he sat down.

He was about half way finished with his meal when he heard a voice. Looking up he saw the woman standing next to the empty seat. He nodded and motioned for her to sit down. "By all means. If you don't take it now you are likely not to have a seat. My apologies for my obliviousness as I did not see you walk up. I'm lieutenant Rahl Tyton."

"Miraj," Miraj said, sitting down. "Ensign Derani. I fly the ship."

Rahl smiled. "Ah helmsman something quite needed or we would go nowhere and still be stuck at the shipyard." He chuckled a bit. "I don't do anything so grand as that. I'm just a researcher. I research and develop new technology and systems where they are needed, and some that aren't. So if you think of something that might help out in the flight control area do come down to my office. I'm the new head of the R&D department."

"That is so cool!" Miraj's pink bunches bobbed excitedly. "So you design computer systems or medical systems or something else? What do you research?"

Rahl chuckled. "All of the above. I have an extensive research history as well as being able to draw from the specialists on the ship to help in any projects that might be needed. Most of what we do is advanced theoretical systems. Cutting edge research and development. It's our job to think outside the box and push the edge of science as much as we can. To redefine the boundaries of what is known and what can be accomplished. Take for instance the bio-neural gel that is now used for computer systems. Nothing like that was known before it was used on the intrepid class starships. Things like that..being the first on that new frontier is what my department does."

Miraj looked suitably awed, and for a moment all she did was drink her soup. "So, if you do things like that, have you heard about Project Dauntless?"

He raised an eyebrow and looked around to see who might overhear the conversation. "The Dauntless project is supposed to a classified R&D project. Exactly how did you hear about such a project ensign? I doubt your security clearance is high enough for you to be able to access those records."

"The details are classified. But not its existence. There was a presentation on the physics of Quantum Slipstream at the Jupiter Science Sympoisium three months ago. Eventually, they'll figure it out. Hopefully by then I'll have the logged hours to join the flight test team."

Rahl leaned forward on his elbows. "True, though slipstream technology is still unreachable for the moment. They have yet to address the issues with power management much less anything else. I keep in touch with colleagues at the Utopia shipyards to stay abreast of things."

Miraj's eyes went wide and bright with excitement, "have they got the correctional algorithm working yet? Are they going with the single deflector/field generator design or have they come up with something different? I heard a rumour about manual piloting, is it true?"

Rahl took a sip of his drink and looked around again. "I'm afraid I can't go into the details. However suffice to say that a single drive will not be able to handle the flow needed. Also at the moment manual piloting is the only way any sort of movement can be achieved. The computers just can't handle the complexities and volume of computations that are required at the moment."

Miraj beamed, and bounced in her seat lightly. "Really? Its true? Thats. So. Awesome!!"

Rahl nodded but made a quieting motion. "Indeed it is but please keep this information to yourself. I may be overly paranoid when I say this but we don't want a scrap of any of this being learned by anyone outside of Starfeet. Slipstream technology is very cutting edge and I have no doubts that the other governments would do there utmost to try to get there hands on our research should they come to know that we are working on it."

"Oh!" Miraj nodded, and her bunches jumped around frantically "Absolutely. Totally. Completely understand. How long have I got? before its ready for test flights?"

He shook his head. "It is still a long way off before then. As I said they still have to get the power management system done first. Then the relays and control system...I would say there is still a bit of time before they even come up with a proof of concept model."

"Fantastic!" Miraj quickly did some math whilst chewing a mouthful of soup-dipped orll. At the current rate, she'd make her thousand hours in..... two years, give or take. She'd done "So at least... two years?" she said hopefully.

Rahl tried to keep his lips from twitching up into a smile. It was good to see someone with this much enthusiasm for the future of technology. She would need it. If what he had heard was true, the training that would be required for anyone thinking about becoming a slip stream pilot would be beyond rigorous. "I'd say you have more then that. Probably at least five to ten years, unless they have some major break through."

"That long!" Miraj slumped in her seat. "But its been nearly twenty years. Surely they'd be closer thatn that?" she wanted to ride the quantum wave, wrapped in a second skin, feeling the throbs and hums and growls of the ship in every fibre of her being...

"Yes that long. Remember we are talking about a whole new way of traveling. Look how long it takes most civilizations to invent warp technology for themselves. It's not something that just happens. It is a long painstaking process. However I have full confidence that they will make it. In fact some of the research I intend to do is in regards to the slipstream technology."

She'd pouted at first, not wanting to accept she'd be an ancient crone in her thirties befor the project was ready, but when Rahl said he was researching SlipStream she perked right up. "You are? will you need help? I mean, anything that I can do Piloting wise? Anything to make it happen faster."

Rahl shook his head. "Not at the moment. I'll be working on the power requirements first just like they are. Once we have that the rest should start to fall in line. Not that it will be easy or fast. However, should it become a reality and I can convince the admiral to let me install a slipstream drive on this ship. Well..you may get all the piloting experience you could ever want."

"Oh. My. That would be totalling amazing. You have to do it. I need to fly slipstream. I would totally be up to helping you persuade the Admiral . You have to get it working. If you did, I would be so grateful, I'd be totally in your debt. Quantum Slipstream." she gave a happy sigh. "A dream come true."

Rahl nodded. "I have a few ideas of how to proceed for the energy and formation requirements. I'll probably be leaning on engineering for a bit to make sure the specifications meet with starfleet standards and safety regulations. However when the time comes for the test flight. I will make sure you know about it. I will also hold you to your word should I need help convincing the admiral."

Miraj swallowed some more hastily chewed food. Like he'd have to force her to help. She'd crawl over broken glass if it meant she got to test pilot Slipstream "Absolutely. Whatever it takes."

Rahl sat in thought for a moment and finished his drink. "I think I may have an idea on the power. However, I think I just came up with an idea on the control and piloting system as well. If I can get that working first the admiral may very well let me continue with the rest of the project. As soon as I have it ready..you will be the test pilot for it. It may take a few months to come up with and perfect the designs but one way or another we will make it a reality."

"You mean that?" Miraj nearlyed squeled out lout , she was so delighted. "Thank you!. So much. "I mean, Thank you. I will owe you...well I don't think there are enough favours in the universe. I'd be forever grateful."

He chuckled with her excitement. "Indeed, as soon as I have the system developed I will let you know. Now, unfortunately, you will have to excuse me. The sooner I get back to the lab the quicker I can get started on all of this." He winked at her before standing.

She blushed a little and grinned. "I hope you make progress soon."

[OFF]


Ensign Miraj Derani
Chief Flight Control officer
USS Galileo

Lt JG Rahl Tyton
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

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