Lunch Buddy

Posted on 07 Sep 2016 @ 11:08pm by Lieutenant JG Braxton MacKenzie & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Alexander
Edited on on 09 Sep 2016 @ 1:44am

2,648 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 12 - Recluse
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 2 - Mess Hall
Timeline: MD01 1300 Hours

[ON]

The mess hall was unusually full today. Braxton took the only empty two seat table in the room. He put his tray down, having ordered Plomeek soup and a veggie lasagna. To drink he'd taken a club soda with lemon.

Thinking he'd have a quiet time he began his meal.

"Ryan lunch 1." Ryan spoke to the replicator. A small tray with a slice of Chicken and mixed vegetables with a hot cup of coffee materialized. He set his PADD on his tray and grabbing the tray before looking for a spot to sit. He saw Braxton eating alone. Good there is Lieutenant Braxton. Ryan thought. He made his way over to the Lieutenant, dodging crewmen who were getting up. "Good Day sir, mind if I sit with you? I know it your break, but I have some updates about the cube sats that I would like to go over with you if you could spare a moment." Ryan asked as he approached Braxton, feeling a little bad about interrupting the man on his break.

Braxton, who was quite shy outside of work, perked up when he heard it was about the cubes. When there was work, it made interaction wit the crew a lot easier. "Please have a seat." He said. He took a sip of his soda. "Tell me about all things cube Ensign Alexander."

"Yes sir. I am sure you know that a cube is a three-dimensional solid object bounded by six square faces, facets or sides, with three meeting at each vertex. The cube is the only regular hexahedron and is one of the five Platonic solids...." Ryan said, before stopping and laughing. "I am sorry sir, I am kidding." He said stiffing his chuckle. "I have started work on my CubeSats. Essentially my Cubesats are a type of miniaturized satellite for space research that is made up of multiples of 10×10×11.35 cm cubic units, though I doubled there size to allow for a a larger internal power unit, as well as rudimentary maneuvering capabilities. I spoke with the Admiral about the machines, and she suggested setting them up as an almost early warning type system that we could use while in the nebula. I have set up each one to be a signal enhancer, as well as a relay booster for communication on a none subspace carrier. However, I am trying to figure out a sensor package to utilize within the nebula. I am currently thinking of adding a sort of detector that will look for concentrations of refined metals, that way if a ship gets close, whether cloaked or not, we could at least be informed of the general bearing and distance. We have enough space for two types of sensors, which is why I wanted to speak with you about them, to see if I could get some insight, sometime I think to much like a Marine and not enough like a Starfleet officer." Ryan said hoping he wasn't prattling on to much.

Braxton smiled. "Well Mr. Alexander. I am impressed. If you were not in OPS I would ask you to join the Science department. I will assist in any way that I can." He took another sip of his soda. "I like the detector idea. I know it sounds weird but something feels off about all this in my gut. The Nebula is too easy to booby-trap."

Ryan nodded. "I agree, however we still have render assistance if we are able. Though there is an old mantra that a very wise Gunnery Sergeant once told me, 'Trust, but verify,' also 'hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and expect nothing." Ryan said with a grin. "Though not to change subjects to much, I was hoping that for the CubeSats we could have the main sensor be tuned to Duranium as it is the most common substance used in hull construction of starships, but using one specific type, we should be able to set the sensitivity to a specific density, and allow the Sats to use more power, and should give the little buggers a few hundred Kilometers more range. Sorry if I am pushing this a little much." Ryan said before sighing slightly, and taking a drink from his coffee. "Oh, and you aren't the first department head who as tried to get me to convert." He said with a laugh.

Braxton smiled. No wonder others had tried to recruit him. The boy was smart. "I like your ideas for the cubes. Question to make them last longer can we rig up the cubes with a micro forcefield generator to guard the inner workings and make them last a bit longer. The field will protect the components and it will fail first so might increase the life of the cubes and with the double sensors might give us more bang for our buck. What do you think?"


Ryan took a sip from his coffee. "When you mentioned that in the meeting, I tried to accommodate that system. The issue that I am having is the generator, as power is the problem." He said frowning slightly. "The drain of running both systems at the same time is a little much for the generator. If I make the generator any bigger, then we lose some of the ability to create many of these buggers. I checked the stores and we are a little limited on the none replicated materials that are needed to construct the generators." He said still frowning as he took another swig of coffee and taking a bite of his chicken. He slowly chewed thinking for a moment. "Any ideas sir?"

Braxton sighed. "Honestly I wish that I had an idea... What about a self powering filed. Maybe....we can get," he sighed and rubbed his temple. "I honestly don't know. The generator can't run both but is it possible to rig up a ..... Wait what about using the surroundings to recharge the generator? Dilithium...we have micro devices that can filter the dilithium in the atmosphere and turn it into power right?"

Ryan nodded,. "Well yes, but micro is a relative term. The extracting process is small, but it'd the refining portion that can be large, as well as adding substantial mass." He said, taking a drink of cofffee. "If only we could just throw a battery in it..." He said trailing off. "Wait... a battery. What if we used a phaser power cell. It doesn't have to last long, just enough to extend the lifetime of the sat, without adding to much mass." Ryan rubbed his temples for a moment, trying to do rough math in his head. He quicky typed up a few calculations onto his PADD and slide it over to Braxton. "What do you think sir? That should extend the life span by about a day."

Braxton smiled. "Genius! If we used a phaser rifle battery it's got more juice but it's the same mass. That would give us two days!" He did the math just to make sure. "I think we've solved our problem! You are a Genius!"

Ryan smiled. "I wouldn't go that far sir. Just passionate about a project." He said with a chuckle. "And I couldn't have done it without some help. Now the hard part, asking security to give us about a half dozen of them phaser rifles to out the power cells in the few caseing that I have. It won't take long to ad the particle shield." He said with a smile. "Though between you and me, I think the Admiral might allow me to use a torpedo as the launch vehicle. " His eyes lighting up.

Braxton laughed. "Young man you will go far in Starfleet. Great job!" He genuinely meant it. He always gave credit where it was due.

"Thank you sir. We are still are only half do e, we still need to build, test launch and implement. " He said finishing his coffee. "But we are that much closer. " He said with a nod. He types a few commands into PADD with the updated requests, and specifications to the little SATs he was making. "I haven't even thought of a name for them, and Cube Sat is a little awkward to say in casual conversation. " Ryan smiled. "Well that should take care of the Cube Sat issue for awhile, how have things been going for you sir? Settling in nicely?"

He smiled. "Settling in just fine. How about we call them the Ryan Cubes or the Xander sensors?"

Ryan laughed. "Those are pretty good. I was even thinking Kraken, and I think it would be grand to hear the Admiral say 'Release the Krakens'." He said with laugh, not being to serious.

Braxton threw his head back. "I love Clash of the Titans. Let's suggest it." He smiled at Ryan. "So how about you? How are you liking your posting." He wasn't sure if he was doing this conversation thing right and it disturbed him that he was doing it more and more.

Ryan smiled as he entered in the name suggestion for the CubSats. Kraken, hehe. Ryan thought to himself. He took a bite of his chicken of before answering. "I am enjoying it here. I feel a little behind the curve sometimes, but such is life when you Mustang." He said with a shrug. "This is an interesting ship, and only my second time aboard a Nova Class, well maybe third? I can't remember."

"Can't remember?" Braxton asked.

Ryan Shrugged. "I have been on a lot of Federation vessels for one thing or another, so sometimes its hard to remember exactly how many times I have been aboard certain starships, especially the specific types."

"Ah...alright." He smiled and finished up his drink. "Now why do you say that you feel behind the curb?"

"I am 5 to 6 years...uh...'behind' those in my class graduating class at the academy, at least in terms of age." He said with a shrug. "I am grateful for modern medicine, but there are still limitations in which the body can and will start failing. I guess my fear is that I will be old to be able to accomplish my goals." Ryan said, looking down at his plate for a moment, frowning. He looked back up to Braxton. "Just means I have to work harder than most." He said his frown turning into a smile.

"Ensign as far as I'm concerned your way ahead of the ball game. Heck I know commanders that are years behind you. I knew one at Starfleet HQ that if put in a contest with you would loose darn quick. Don't sell yourself short. Look at what you did here. Genius." He said and meant it.

"I appreciate the confidence sir."

He smiled. "It is well deserved and as I said if ever you wish to come into science you need only ask. I'd be happy to have you on staff."

Ryan nodded, taking a bite from his Chicken and Veggies. "If you don't mind me asking, what made you join Starfleet?" Ryan asked, not meaning to change the subject, but praise was one thing that always made Ryan a tad uncomfortable, even if it was deserved.

Ryan had now stumbled upon touchy subject for Braxton. "Well I liked Starfleet, and I liked science and here I get both." He said echoing what he'd told the XO and CO.

Ryan studied the man for a moment. Considering he had been very talkative about most things since they had sat down, and how little information he had given in regards to his question, Ryan suspected that there was more to it. However, he wasn't going to pry. "Fair enough sir." He said with a smile. "What was your specialty at the academy?"

Braxton smiled, "First time around Stellar Cartography and Astronomy and then I went back and took up Archaeology. The last was my favorite." He polished off his drink. "How about you Ensign?"

Ryan nodded. "I majored in Electrical and Computer Engineering, as well as Atmospheric Science." Ryan said with a smile. "Though the reason I am in Operations is I am a bit hands on, considering past experiences, and I can't stand sitting behind a computer for to long." Ryan said with a laugh.

"Well good to know on the Atmospheric Science front. Sounds like you've got a good education and you fit well in many departments. Hands on is good." He said. "It's important to do what you love."

"That it is." He agreed, finishing the last bite of his food. He was about to ask if he had any family, but bit decided against that line of questioning. "What did you have for lunch sir? It looked good."

"Well today I had Plomeek soup and a veggie lasagna. To drink a club soda with lemon. I'm not a vegetarian but it's nice to have a bit of veggies every now and then. How about you?" He asked.

"Just Coffee, Chicken, and assorted Veggies." He said with a smile. "Not very creative, but it get the job done."

"Yes... I think we need to have some variety of food." He sighed. "Sometimes it gets a bit...boring." Braxton said.

Ryan nodded his agreement. "Normally I would agree, but I could get Ma'am Alexanders, Chicken in cream sauce with rice, all day every day and die a happy man." He said with a laugh. "What is your comfort food sir?"

Braxton smiled. "All time favourite is Jambalaya. Ohhhhh I could taste Mamon Marie's Jambalaya now! She used to make it extra spicy. Loved it...that and ice cream."

Ryan smiled. "I used to love Jambalaya. I was once on Bourbon Street in New Orleans back on Earth, and one of my Marines took me to his favorite place to eat there. It was a small restaurant, I can't even remember the name, and we had been drinking. Anyways, we ordered the Jambalaya, and asked that it could be as spicy as they could make. I mean hay, we were big bad Marines right, we can take anything." Ryan said pausing dramatically. "Well, after a few minutes the dish comes out, we are chowing down, and it is amazing, spicy, but amazing. Well the waiter comes back and asks if it was hot enough. All five of us said it could be hotter, and we ask if they have any spicier hot sauces. Our waiter goes back and asks and brings us out this assortment of hot sauces. Again, we add it, it is great but we were really to inebriated to really tell. The waiter comes back and asks how we are doing. Well, needless to say, after another trip to the back this BIG Telleraite Chef comes out. With the spiciest thing I have ever had. We ate the whole thing, said it wasn't spicy enough. The chef has this evil glint in his eye, but we pay no mind to it. About 12 hours later, all 5 of us were is so much pain." Ryan said laughing. "I can't look at Jambalaya the same way ever again."

Braxton smiled and chuckled. "Well don't let that experience stop you from trying again. Jambalaya is like art each hand that makes it adds is own flavour." Braxton noted that lunch was long over. He actually didn't mind. He'd had fun talking to Ryan.

"Well Ensign, I think I best be getting back to work. Thank you for your company." He said.

Ryan nodded and stood. "Not a problem sir, anytime. And thank you for the ideas. I will get them implemented right away." He said with a smile. "Have a good one sir."

"You as well Ensign."

[OFF]

*******

Ensign Ryan Alexander
Operations
USS Galileo

&

Lt. JG Braxton MacKenzie
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

RSS Feed