Lost in Time (Part 1 of 2)

Posted on 04 Jul 2024 @ 11:41am by Commander Morgan Tarin & Ensign S'Ers-a M'Lyr'Zor & Ensign Mackenzie Laren & Petty Officer 2nd Class Donald Andrews & Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeysa Zeror & Petty Officer 3rd Class Lucrete

3,160 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 19 - Tomorrow's Galileo
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 7, Main Engineering
Timeline: MD 06, 1601 hrs

[ON]

The late afternoon hours aboard USS Galileo-A had already proven to be chaotic for Commander Morgan Tarin. Any semblance of sleep had been non-existent following the previous day's detection of hostile inbound vessels which were now slated to intercept her starship's position in approximately three hours. Three hours. An eternity? A blink of an eye with present circumstances considered. Various last-minute updates from each department had been coming across her desk non-stop in a final attempt to both prepare for battle and execute their temporal maneuver back to the year 2392.

Tarin presently sat behind the desk in her ready room while meticulously reading through all the new PADDs her yeoman had been bringing her. After tending to each one, she'd signed off with her thumbprint then returned them to the young Trill for filing. She finally retrieved the final slim and silver device from what was once a large stack, then finished her administrations and handed it back to her assistant.

"That's it for now," the captain said to Zeror while straightening her posture and stretching her arms over her head and behind her. Soft pops in her upper spine and shoulders helped alleviate some building tension. "I need to get down to main engineering and perform a final inspection. I'll be back in thirty minutes."

"Aye Sir." Jeysa said glad that the paperwork was over, though she was surprised how calm Tarin appeared to be when an overwhelming Klingon force was coming to wipe them out in a few hours time.


Deck 7 - Main Engineering

Sera sat at her desk reviewing the real-time data regarding current power consumption. They were currently operating within the power constraints. It was still quite theoretical that the ship would perform satisfactorily in open hostilities. Perhaps it would be prudent to rerun the algorithm? She should probably run the numbers again.

Her normally well-organized desk was a visual representation of the inner chaos of her mind. PADDs and slates littered the surface and in no particular order.

An alert popped up on the holoscreen in front of her. Power fluctuation of the holodeck generator. Fvadt! She did not have the bandwidth to go troubleshoot this, and the power from the generator was crucial to continued operations.

She stood from her desk and walked out into main engineering looking for suitable volunteers to go troubleshoot the fluctuations.

"I will require two volunteers. We are currently experiencing statistically significant power fluctuations from the holodeck generators that have been spliced into the power transfer grid. This will need to be rectified if we are to continue at current power levels."

Oh that was a nice way to put all of this. Normally Sera would be able to select the two best qualified candidates to take this task but as she couldn't even figure out what time it was anymore, this seemed to be a reasonable compromise.

"I'm a little busy down here Sir." Donald called out from below where the warp core should have been. The damage they had sustained and the warp core ejection had torn a chunk out of the injector assemblies and with a small deuterium leak too it was leeching power and was a general risk to everything. He looked up towards the main level of engineering. It was busy but quiet at the same time, especially without John there.

"I'll do it." Mack called out from the upper level of engineering. The Bajoran engineer had spent much of the repair time shoring up EPS conduits so that the wounded Galileo-A would be able to better withstand another attack... At least, that's what Mack hoped...

Mack nodded for the junior engineer next to her to keep working as she made her way over to the railing to peer down at the main level of engineering. "I'll just need someone to keep shoring up these EPS conduits if I do." She relayed directly down to the lower level.

From the main level above where the Bajoran junior officer called down, Petty Officer 3rd Class Lucrete - the young dark brown-haired Ardanan NCO - diverted his attention away from a secondary power transfer conduit control panel after hearing the request from the acting CHENG. There weren't many of them left following Hollenday's demise, and so he reluctantly volunteered himself before it became an order. "I will accompany the ensign."

Sera dipped her head once in acknowledgement. Good. She understood that asking more of her team was not ideal, but these were not ideal times.

"Thank you for offering your time here, Ensign...Petty Officer." Sera began as the two engineers made their way over to her. "I have observed power fluctuations that exceed power transfer grid safety margins with regards to amperage spikes - I am concerned there is a short somewhere in the cabling and require you two to run the line and report back with any significant findings. I will ensure that the couplings and cabling into main engineering are not the issue. Haste is essential...there are only a few hours left before our...guests arrive. Questions?"

Sera didn't even bother to attempt accurate timing. She found it satisfactory enough that the drifting sensation and feelings of dissociation had abated since the rather awful 'cocktail' Lieutenant Vala had supplied earlier. It was still there...lurking in the dark recesses of her mind, but at least it had been beaten back to the shadows so she could focus on the final preparations of her department to give them the best chance at what...survival?

Her mouth tugged. Well...those thoughts were mostly in the shadows.

Somewhat hesitantly, Lucrete raised a tepid hand. "When you said 'our guests'...you mean the Klingons, right?" He nervously glanced around the engineering bay and its prominently noticeable lack of warp core assembly. "How are we supposed to fight them if we can't even keep all the primary systems online?"

"The ships that were identified on the bridge were Klingon in origin." Sera replied slowly, not finding this line of questioning conducive but also...understanding. "We do not require a warp core to engage in battle. Given our strategic power reductions and redistribution there...should be enough power for close quarters maneuvering using the impulse drive and shielding."

"The addition of the holodeck power generators should make up for the shortfall in power availability to allow for normal phaser canon usage should such be require."

Sera looked on to her team. They looked like how she felt deep within. Tired and...unsure. Yes, that was a safe word to use. "This is our ship. We have been given the order by the captain to ensure Galileo is ready for a potentiality of...more than heated words. We must have...faith in each other that all of us will do our best, and we will succeed in the mission. I have read every one of your respective personnel files. Truly a cadre of exemplary individuals stand before me, and today may be the day we earn our titles of 'miracle workers.'"

Mack nodded. She was sure she looked worse for wear. However, she hadn't had much opportunity to look into a mirror as of late.

"In the resistance, we had to leave the injured behind if they were slowing the rest of the group down." The Bajoran spoke. "It was a necessary sacrifice, as only the fit survive. However, looking after the wounded Galileo might be more important today. If there's a chance- even a small one- that we might make it through this, then it is worth tending to the injured, and bandaging up Galileo the best we can."

Petty Officer Lucrete nervously shifted his eyes from side to side following both ensigns' speeches. "I agree, but...can we really fight them and prevail? How many more of us are going to die in that process?" There was a sense of building panic within the young NCO's voice which betrayed his otherwise-calm outer projection.

"If we do nothing then we will die, Petty Officer Lucrete." Sera calmly rebuked. It might not be a bad thing, to 'shuffle off this mortal coil,' but she wasn't about to tell the rest of her team that. "The only option left to us is to ensure that our ship is as ready as it can be...and to have confidence in the engineering crew of the 'B' that they will be ready to send us back when the time comes."

A brief crackle of electricity, a thud and a barrage of expletives came from where the warp core used to be followed several long seconds later by a call of 'I'm ok.' in a slightly distressed voice.

Sera's expression shifted at the sound of colorful metaphors and she departed the group she had called together and rushed over to the railing that once surrounded the core and looked down. "Your words are incongruous with the colorful metaphors you just shouted and the sounds of pain, Petty Officer Andrews! Status Report!" She called down the multi-storied shaft.

However as she looked down she forcibly gripping the railing tightly as a feeling of profound vertigo coursed through her. Squeezing her eyes shut tightly momentarily, Sera waited for the disorientating sensation to pass, but it did not abate as she opened her eyes again.

The ombre effect of lighting transitioning to shadows and darkness held within it a rather siren-like desirability to explore it further. If something...unfortunate were to happen to her here, would it matter?

Regardless of the stomach churning, room-spinning dizziness, Sera pushed herself away from the railing almost violently, and staggered back a step, still awaiting Andrew's response.

They were so close to the end-game. She had to stay in control just for a little while longer...

Mack saw the distress her boss was in and made her way over to the railing herself.

"Here, let me:" She said to Sera before peeking over the railing yourself. "Are you alright down there, Petty Officer Andrews?" She asked.

Staring down into the void where the warp core used to be wasn't nearly as debilitating to the Bajoran as it was to her Vulcan superior. Maybe it was because Mack was more used to it? Whatever the case, she would be the one to wait for Andrews' response

Donald lay slightly slumped against part of the antimatter injector assembly. "I'm alright, little crispy at most." He waved a lightly charred right hand up at the group. "Rookie mistake, tripped and grabbed the nearest thing to steady myself. Happened to be the live wire I was working on."

Mack rolled her eyes and sighed. Allegedly, Andrews had been in Starfleet longer than she had, and he hadn't thought of basic electrical safety? This crappy situation must be getting to everyone...

"Next time, identify the circuit that wire is connected to and get someone to shut off the breaker for that circuit." Mack reprimanded the Petty Officer from above. "The amount of power that goes through those wires is lethal, and we can't afford to have anyone cooking themselves to death on a good day."

"I needed to keep it live for the job Ensign, easier that way" Donald said ignoring the tone of the Bajoran woman. "Now, would you kindly throw me a dermal regenerator?"

Mack rolled her eyes again. If they weren't in a life or death situation, she would have written Andrews up for not practicing safe operating procedures. However, given the dire circumstances, if it could get the Galileo back into the fight faster, then shoddy practices needed to be overlooked, which included simply throwing down the requested tool instead of taking the extra time to safely deliver it.

Though, if they survived this, perhaps it would be a good idea to discuss best practices with Sera... Mack thought as she made her way over to the closest tool kit and located a dermal regenerator within before returning to the railing and leaning one arm over the side.

"Catch:" Mack said as she swung her arm slightly and released the tool, watching it drop down towards Andrews' hand.

Being right handed Donald instinctively went to catch the dermal regenerator with that hand only catching himself as the last moment, switching the device on he began to wave it over the red and slowly blistering skin of his hand. "That's better."

Sera, meanwhile had taken a moment to recover from the bizarre sensation of vertigo that overtook her when she looked down. She was not prone to such episodes, but since being taken from their original time, nothing had been going well.

"We will need to revisit safety protocols apparently..." Sera said aloud as she watched MacKenzie drop a dermal re-generator down the warp core shaft.

"Yes, apparently," commented the sudden and distinctive dry voice of Galileo's captain who had silently entered main engineering during the commotion and now stood a mere two meters behind the acting chief engineer. A disapproving frown creased the wrinkles within Tarin's brow while she sternly observed the four yellow-collared engineers. Her hazel eyes tightened while she stood firmly with her hands clasped behind her back.

What a most inopportune time for the captain to visit main engineering. When was the last time she had seen Tarin? She could not remember.

"Ah, captain." Sera briskly responded, turning to face Commander Tarin. However, once faced with the CO's stern expression the words dried in her mouth.

"Ensign." Tarin's acknowledgement was terse and only momentary before she lifted her chin to subtly gesture to the vacant warp core assembly chamber and the crew member unseen deep within its bowels. "What's going on here? We're less than three hours from our departure and the Klingon task group's arrival. Not a good time to be taking casualties."

"Petty Officer..." Sera paused as she furiously tried to remember the crewman's name and...Oh! "Donald! No...Andrews just completed a kinetic learning exercise. I postulate that he now has complete understanding why the breakers are shut off. Pain, I have found, can be an exceptional motivator, captain."

Oh Fvadt...keep it together! "My apologies. I bear the responsibility of this...lapse in situational safety."

"We all make mistakes. Just ensure it doesn't happen again," she lightly scolded the Vulcan before stepping past her then coming to a stop next to the Bajoran engineer. Tarin peered down into the bottom of the deep housing compartment where she observed Andrews' silhouette. "Need an escort to sickbay, petty officer?" she called down, her voice producing a slight echo throughout the chamber.

'Oh crap' Donald said to himself as he heard Tarin's voice talking with those assembled above him, then a moment later her face loomed over the side of the barrier. "I can manage that Sir." He replied then looked at his surroundings for a moment. "I might need a hand getting back up to you though."

Rising her torso and head back up from the well, Tarin then looked to the tall auburn-haired ensign standing next to her. They hadn't formally met throughout the chaos of the past days but now was as good a time as ever to see the former resistance fighter in action. "Mackenzie, correct? Let's not keep him waiting," she curtly instructed.

"Aye, Captain:" Mack nodded, stepping away from the railing and making her way towards the nearest Jefferies tube that would take her to Donald's location. "And somebody shut off that breaker in that area! The last thing we need is two fried engineers!"

Truth be told, she had given that last order as a manner of course correction, as she had fairly obviously been caught tossing a dermal regenerator down to Andrews, and this was an attempt to maintain her integrity in front of the captain.

The young engineer departed on her quest to retrieve her fallen comrade which prompted Tarin to turn back to Sera and approach her again. "I was hoping for some better news down here," she dryly commented to the Vulcan. "What's the status of the impulse reactor and our drain rate? Have you encountered any issues maintaining a consistent power flow?"

"Better news...?" Sera parroted as a number of irreverent--and possibly insubordinate--replies came to mind and were instantly discarded.

"Issues...just a few highly inconvenient power fluctuations from the holodeck generators that were spliced into the grid in an attempt to off-load some of the draw on the reactor. Only the spare cabling isn't rated to handle the amperage and the variability is impacting the EPS conduits - and if we cannot maintain grid stability we will lose ship's phasers, and that will most likely ruin Admiral Saalm's endgame." Sera's normally cool, measured tone slowly thawed to the barest hint of frustration along with her words feeling forced by the time she had finished.

Sera knew at that moment that she did no longer have the mental fortitude available to adequately navigate the mine infested waters that were a conversation with Captain Tarin.

For only the briefest of moments, Tarin could have sworn she she heard a twinge of emotion in the Vulcan engineer's voice. It gave her momentary pause after which she simply shrugged it off as if her mind was playing tricks on her. "Have you tried re-calibrating the power distribution nodes to compensate for the flow dynamics?"

It was akin to asking if Sera had shut off the computer and turned it back on. Of course they had tried that.

"The generators run on a different amperage. We have even tried to run it through an EPS tap - hence the shortages and...small personal injuries. It is somewhat of a...zero-sum game. I believe I now have a number of legitimate reasons why the holodeck generators operate on a separate power distribution system."

It was a testament to her knowledge base that Sera could still have a cogent conversation regarding engineering systems. However, she was already reaching her limit. Her head was beginning to pound, her bones ached--no thanks to Lieutenant Vala--and Tarin was still standing in front of her.

"Why are you still here?" Sera asked in a bewildered tone, not quite realizing she had now graduated to 'thinking aloud.'

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

Ensign Mackenzie Laren
Deputy Engineer
USS Galileo-A

CMDR Morgan Tarin
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-A

Ensign S'Ers-a M'Lyr'Zor
Acting Chief Engineer
USS Galileo-A

PO3 Lucrete
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A
[NPC Tarin]

PO3 Jeysa Zeror
Yeoman
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Mimi]

PO2 Donald Andrews
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Mimi]

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