Stopping by Deck 6 on a Snowy Morning

Posted on 16 May 2024 @ 7:07pm by Lieutenant JG Montgomery Vala & Ensign S'Ers-a M'Lyr'Zor

3,917 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Episode 19 - Tomorrow's Galileo
Location: USS Galileo-A Deck 6 - Jeffries Tube
Timeline: MD05 - 0500hrs

[ON]

Despite being surrounded by the vacuum of space, starships tended to be kept at a fairly pleasant temperature. In usual times at least. Usual generally hand in hand with a ship having a warp core.

On that count, current times were very far from usual, and that meant it was very, very cold.

Climate control, holodecks, most of the replicators and non-essential systems in general had been deactivated.

Vala had some objections to the latter, which included his lab.

It had been a trying day, made worse by his challenging relationship with the cold.

On one hand it reminded him of long winters in the arborean climbs of his homeworld, Dhaelthra IV. In that sense he was phisiologically prepared.

But on the other it was hard not to associate the freezing temperatures with the anomaly he'd been intimately familiar with during his time at the Variance Lab.

He sighed as he climbed between decks. Those memories were indelibly burned into his consciousness. Always recalled in such temperatures.

After some climbing, he finally found his destination deck. While it was a small relief to cease the climbing, the cramped interiors of the jeffries tube beckoned.

Why couldn't he have caught Sera when she was in Main Engineering... But the computer had informed him she was in the Deck 6 Jeffries Tubes and well, the matter couldn't wait.

He grunted a little and shook the cold from his joints, then with icy air biting his cheeks and his breath spreading out in front of him in a fine mist, he clambered into the low maintenance tunnel in search of the Chief Engineer.

Sera was in the Jeffries tube for a very specific reason. Holodeck 1 & 2 had their own dedicated power supplies, and she had assigned herself to the task of running cabling from the generators to splice it into the impulse reactor power grid.

It was an unorthodox maneuver, to say the least, and definitely not something taught at the academy. The holodecks had dedicated power supply for a number of logistical and safety reasons, but they were not necessary in the same manner as say, life support.

The splicing process, had shown itself to be a more delicate and work intensive task than what Sera had initially considered. The cabling itself--the sheer length of it--held a not insignificant amount of mass, and it was proving challenging to marry the cabling ports from the two lines together. Of course they would not be directly interface-able.

Sera was already composing a strongly worded letter of complaint regarding this egregious oversight in design in her head.

Exhaling a huff of breath in mild exasperation, she was rewarded with a fine, misty cloud as the moisture in her breath condensed. It was cold, and that was unfortunately by design. At least she had been cognizant enough to factor in the power usage for everyone to replicate cold weather gear since the ambient temperature of the vessel had to be lowered. The heavy coat she wore made the miserable job a little less miserable.

With her mind focused on not dropping the heavy cabling while manufacturing some sort of way to connect the two ports while 'on the fly,' Sera didn't recognize that someone was approaching her. The days of no meaningful sleep or meditation was slowly catching up; Her efficiency was becoming affected.

So when Montgomery suddenly showed up in her peripheral field of vision, Sera visibly startled and dropped the coupling that she was trying to marry to the two ends of the cabling. She literally growled as the sound of the metallic clanging was heard echoing down the shaft. Her fingers were numb and it affected her manual dexterity.

Fvadt, fvadt, fvadt!

A hunched over Vala emerged from the hatch into the slightly larger segment of Jeffries Tube between them, bending low to retrieve the coupling from the floor in order to offer it to the engineer.

He had not seen a glimpse of her since their post-briefing meal at the start of the mess. While only days had passed, it looked like she was bearing the burden of several months of exhaustion and stress.

"Sera," he said, his accent malforming the 'S' into more of a 'Z' sound, "I apologise for disturbing you in your work. I was not able to catch you in your office."

Sera reached out and took the offered coupling and dipped her head in appreciation. "I am not often in my office, Lieutenant."

She turned her attention back to her task at hand and belatedly realized that the science officer had trekked into a Jeffries tube to find her. "What do you require?"

"Montgomery is fine," he attempted a warm look despite the cold, "I am not here to give orders."

He shifted a little, still having to bend a little to remain standing in the tube. "I am here with a dual purpose," Vala glanced at the half jury rigged holodeck power supply, "The first half of it, I suspect you will not particularly appreciate..."

He paused for a moment, looking back to Sera, "I wish to request some power for one of the multi-purpose laboratories."

"Your request is denied." Sera replied--almost in a distracted manner--as she continued to fight with the coupling.

"Ah," Vala had been expecting such a response. He moved closer to her and grasped some of the cabling to support it as she worked.

"I understand the dilemma we are in regarding power and I am sure you have had many such requests but," he attempted to guide the cable to make it easier fo her to manipulate the coupling, "this is more important. A step below life and death but, well," he managed to catch her gaze for a moment, "it may define the future of the universe."

Sera dipped her head slightly in silent thanks as Montgomery's additional assistance was enough to get the coupling aligned with one of the cables and a satisfying clunk was heard as it locked into place. Agreeable. Now it was time to lock the other end with the other section of cable. It was rather fortuitous that the science officer had arrived when he had. Upon seeing just how difficult task this was with one person, perhaps she should allow him to further explain - if for nothing else just to keep the extra help around just long enough to lock the two cables into place.

"May define the future of the universe? I request further explanation. If you are unable to provide details that satisfactorily outline this rather...high-handed claim, my answer stands, Lieutenant."

Sera then looked over her shoulder to him. "I am on duty, and you are here in an official capacity."

"Very well, ah, Ensign M'Lyr'Zor," his pronounciation was perfect. He gave a small smile, "The science team has discovered something that may redefine our objectives here." He held up the cable to ensure Sera had room to operate, "This discovery involved picking out a very small strand of data that had been, as far as we were told, 'missed' by scientists of this time.""

He caught her gaze, "I wish to check the data in one of our labs, free from any potential... adulteration that may or may not be applied aboard the B. Then, if all as well, present it to Commander Tarin."

Sera sighed. It was a tired sound. Her mind was drowning in numbers, trying to add this new addition into the mix, and returning with red flashing lights...too much energy consumption. As her hands worked on getting the coupling aligned and interlocking the cables, her brain began a furious re-modification of power consumption in order to find something--anything--that she could cannibalize to allow the science officer the power he clearly needed.

"What equipment do you believe will be required? If the power drain is low enough...I will pull it from other areas of the ship."

"I'm afraid it is nothing that you'd constitute as 'light'," Vala began, trying to adjust his position in order to make things as easy for Sera as possible, "I will need to activate at least two dedicated mathematical subprocessors, three would be more ideal." The dedicated computation units were power hungry, and required substantial cooling.

"Besides that you may recall I... accidentally damaged the chrono-synaptic analyser," he gave her a slightly awkward look, "ironically it has become rather crucial given our temporal displacement..."

"I recall repairing it. Do you mean you...broke it again?" Sera might have sounded slightly perturbed. One of the couplings engaged with a satisfying snap, and she began focusing on the other end of the coupling all the while silently cognizant of how close Montgomery was to her and one wrong move would most likely engaged in unasked for physical contact.

"No, it remains very much intact. Though I have yet to run proper tests with the correct calibration due to recent events..." Vala attempted to provide the engineer with sufficient space to maneuver whilst remaining useful as a stand for the cables. "It will also require power. Ideally... And for it to hold together through some challenging calculations."

"Lieutenant Vala...we are operating at 30%. I have no additional power sources at my disposal to readily grant your request...and what difference will your calculations make?"

It was an unusual question for a Vulcan to posit. It almost sounded slightly fatalistic. It also was a not so subtle request for more information. As it stood now, he was not making his case. If Sera was going to have to pull from defensive systems it better be for a good reason.

"Well," he responded as he slightly adjusted the cables, "The difference largely depends on how much you trust our colleagues on the 'B'." He glanced sideways, catching her eye, "Running the numbers here is the only way to authenticate their data."

Her brow flicked upwards in response to his question about trust, but kept her attention on slotting the cabling into the coupling. It was...almost...there.

"I do not trust anyone, Lieutenant. Everyone has their own agendas..." Her eyes darted to the side to his for a second before flicking back to her task. even you...as evidenced by... Sera added silently.

She looked like she wanted to say something more, but instead ducked her head back down and twisted the coupling and was rewarded with a satisfying 'click.'

"What is the amperage of the device in question?"

Vala took a step back as the cables slid into place, still hunched over slightly in the confined space.

He gave a slight grimace before replying, "It is... significant." He took a PADD from his pocket and proferred it to the engineer, "I thought you might ask so here are the specifications. Please do not mistake me, I do understand there is little to spare."

Sera took the offered padd and began scrolling. He was not incorrect. The lab that held this specific piece of equipment was rather...power hungry.

She slumped backwards off of her knees and leaned her back and head against the Jeffries tube wall. The holodeck power generators were going to boost the power availability, but she was uncertain if there would be enough. What if she sacrificed her quarters? Completely shut down the other labs?

"How will any data gained from your proposed equipment usage assist us in our continued survival?"

Normally Sera was an ardent supporter of learning for learning's sake. However, considering the hierarchy of needs she was currently balancing on a blade's edge, if his proposal did not produce an added benefit then she could not logically allow it.

Vala cautiously lowered himself to sit nearby. His back felt an immediately sense of relief at no longer being hunched over. "Honestly, Ensign, I cannot know," he looked over to her. She was clearly feeling the weight of the ship on her shoulders. "It may be immaterial, it may be crucial. A lot depends on if we make it back in one piece in the manner Saalm has promised..."

She exhaled softly through her nose, but the sentiment she was trying to express was ambiguous. Her eyes were focused on some point on the ceiling of the Jeffries' tube.

"Apologies. I do not know how I can configure the power usage available to approve your request..." Sera's tone held the barest hints of distress before flattening out. "I will simply have to figure a viable solution."

"Well it is simply that, a request. You cannot give what you do not have, ensign, but I would be grateful if a viable solution happens to present itself." His look was one of sincerity, "You need not apologise. I can see how... challenging things are at the moment."

Sera said nothing in reply at first. Her body was doing something quite out of the ordinary...she was shaking...no shivering? Vulcans did not favor the cold, however usually they held the control necessary to manage their biological processes. That she was manifesting a physiological response to 'generate' heat was yet another manifestation of fatigue.

It was a rather uncomfortable sensation.

"It is far more statistically probable that we will be destroyed when the Romulans return, and all of the research you are attempting to perform is simply an exercise in futility."

A strange compulsion took hold of Vala for a fraction of a second. He had the strongest desire to wrap his arms around the engineer. To provide her with warmth. He blinked and vanished the thought. It was improper and... unprecedented.

"It is indeed," he replied after a few moments composing himself, "But I have fared worse odds and made it through. It is the way of Starfleet." He looked at her with an empathetic expression, her shivering was distressing, "Your judgement is the only one that matters here. If by some fortune power is available, well, I will do the necessary calculations."

"My judgement? I trust my judgment least of all, Lieutenant." The feeling of incongruity that had taken root at the debriefing days ago had never gone away. It had only been pushed to the side so that more pressing matters could be managed...but it had been creeping back.

"Nothing unreal exists..." She repeated again in her head--at least she hoped it was just in her head--as if the proverb would suddenly clear up any of the lingering...wrongness about what had been happening since they had been pulled out of their own time.

Montgomery's need was apparently great enough that he would climb into the guts of Galileo to find her and 'plead his case.'

Her voice took on a tone of surrender. "I will...perform further calculations to see if your request is feasible."

"That is appreciated," Vala replied softly, "If it may be then it shall be."

He leaned back against the bulkhead, feeling a shiver run down his spine. He stared into the middle distance, "The Federation has many high ideals. Fairness, justice... equality. But when it comes to Starfleet they organise us like a military. Ranks, 'sirs', orders. Subordinates and Commanding Officers..." He trailled off for a moment, his breath hanging in the air.

"There is a reason for this, Sera," he looked over to her, "The rigour and training, the high standards of the academy. They are designed that in moments of fire, when lives are on the line. That we make the best possible decisions without hesitation." He recalled the engineers voice on the comms during the recent battle, the cold orders of Saalm. The death of Hollenday.

His tone became more emphatic, "Your judgement is, and has been sound. It is up to you whether you have confidence in it or not but we are here today as a result of your actions." His eyes lingered for a moment then looked away. "What can we do but strive to survive on the basis of one decision at a time..."

"None of this was supposed to happen." Sera replied, her voice taking on a harsher edge than she had intended. Months in a hospital to regain equilibrium and she was losing it on the first mission. Her return to duty...a mistake?

Something had to give eventually. Oh, she cognitively understood what Lieutenant Vala was attempting - it simply was having undesirable results given the unexpected variable of exhaustion and...something else. There was something else going on within her. Ever since they had been pulled into the future--with the distasteful nature of their collective fates bared to them--Sera had not been able to adequately integrate this knowledge. It just felt wrong...and that sentiment, from a Vulcan of all people?

"I believe your...faith is misplaced, Lieutenant." Sera tone bordered on testy as she pushed off the wall and began gathering her tools. There was no time to worry about abstract sensations of 'wrongness.' "Regardless, do not concern yourself. I am capable of performing my duties under these...stressors."

If I could survive Wuh os Klomak and being bonded to Viruk...then this too must be endured. All difficulties end eventually.

"All of this," Vala said matching her movement and helping to pick up her tools, "is and was inevitable. This travel to the future was always going to happen, and the lives we lived in this timeline were always going to happen to other versions of ourselves."

He straightened up holding a hyperspanner, "One of the few lessons I have learned in my dealings with time is that when it comes to causality, you are completely at the mercy of those who wish to manipulate it." He proffered the tool, "All you can do to rebel is to try to follow a different path to the one they have attempted to lay out for you."

Sera took the tool Montgomery held out to her, careful to not inadvertently touch him. She took the tool and slipped it into a slot in her satchel. "Ah."

Her response wasn't even a word. To anyone who knew Vulcans in any capacity would have understood what an usual response that was. Her carefully constructed mental well-being was slowly unraveling. Her mind was stuck in a loop trying to rationalize what challenges she had identified within...but what if it was something else? Could a temporal shift cause a sensation of impermanence...an impression of instability?

She did not realize that she had begun whispering a Vulcan mantra, subconsciously attempting to ground herself as the sensation of dissociation threatened to wash over everything.

Nothing unreal exists...Nothing unreal exists..."

"Hm?" Vala said as he heard the repeated phase. He frowned slightly as he looked at the engineer. She did not look well and repetitive whispering was not typically a sign of someone who had an entirely good hold on reality.

"Uhm... ensign," he cleared his throat, "...Sera. You do not seem altogether... What I mean to say is I know that there is an extreme burden of pressure on you in this mission. On all of us to an extent but, well, you've been deprived of a warp core and..." A small part of his brain began to wonder why he was suddenly not articulating himself as well as normal. This was not usual.

He shifted slightly on the spot, "That is to say... Is there anything I can assist you with? Perhaps I can cover some duty or another so you can get a moment of... rest, or peace. It may be... conducive...?"

Sera continued returning her tools to their designated spots in her satchel and did not initially answer Montgomery's inquiry. However, his words finally penetrated and Sera turned her attention from her mantra--and her tools--and looked at him. "The mission is what matters and time...time is a commodity that is in short supply. If I cannot handle this, then I serve no meaningful purpose."

Her tools returned, Sera closed the satchel and threw the strap over her shoulder. "If you will excuse me, Lieutenant. I have other pressing duties. I should have an answer for you within...19, ah...17..." The numbers were slipping through her mind like sand through her fingers. "Soon."

"Of course, S-," his breath hung in the air between them as he gathered himself, "Ensign. I do not wish to delay you."

He paused for a moment then caught her eye as best as he was able, "This, well... As humans say, 'this isn't my first rodeo,'" he shifted slightly uncomfortably, "Whatever a rodeo is..." He shook his head then forged on, "Time can... ah, exact its price. Sera, ensign I should say, if you feel that you are drifting..."

He looked away. What was wrong with him? "...If you feel that you are drifting... let me know. I know a few ways to anchor it all. Or at least to help. Uh. In that regard." He raised his palms. One part of his brain felt like it had died in the cold Jeffries Tube, "If required or, well, desired."

Drifting? What an interesting word choice...and yet, Sera did not feel like she was drifting at all...more like slipping, or falling. It was no doubt simply lack of meaningful rest; no time for adequate reflection. Yes. That was it.

"Your offer is..." Sera's voice trailed off as she considered how best to end her statement. Acknowledged? Unnecessary? Needed? Her eyes stared off into the distance as she lost focus on what exactly she was considering.

It was a momentary lapse, to be certain, but Sera did not finish her statement. She regained focus and slipped the satchel strap over her shoulder.

"I will have your answer within a half hour. In that time I would recommend that you consider how long you will require the additional power usage to perform your analyses."

Vala bowed his head respectfully, "As you say, ensign."

He hooked his hand around the tunnel he had initially emerged from, ready to ruin his back once more in the low part of the tube, "My offer is... ever present." He gave a small smile then turned and began to shuffle away.

Sera did not give any response. There did not seem to be any need. She did, however, watch him as he made his way down the section of the tubing he came in from.

For a moment--a very brief moment--Sera had considered telling him about the irregularities within her mind. Just as well she didn't. To verbalize that she was...not handling the stressors of the mission successfully with only having been onboard for a week? Sera saw the internal challenges she was presently facing as some kind of proof that she was somehow incapable. To think any further along those lines was just...too much.

Sera's mouth twitched as she remembered the final stanza of a poem by Robert Frost, as she inspected the cabling as a final check to ensure the coupling was secure. It was, and she nodded to herself as she recited it impulsively,
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."

[OFF]

--

Ensign S'Ers-a M'Lyr'Zor
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A

&

LTJG Montgomery Vala
Deputy Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

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