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Damage Report

Posted on Tue May 11th, 2021 @ 7:49am by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Senior Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Stoun

1,815 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 3 - Fear Is Fear Itself
Location: Deck 7 - Main Engineering
Timeline: Mission Day 1 @ 1100 Hours

ON

A call had been placed and help was on the way and Keiben had been as vague as possible about the damage to Copernicus, not having wanted to disturb Chief Stoun while he was working to patch together Copernicus as much as possible. However it was getting to a point that he needed to know the extent of the damage so he had ventured forth to engineering despite Doctors orders to rest... something he knew he would pay for later when Mel found out.

Engineering was a bustle of activity as he had predicted and in the center of it all he spotted his Chief Engineer, conducting a symphony of people and equipment.

"Chief, I'm sorry to interrupt but I need a complete damage report and to let you know that help is on the way!"

"Great news, as for the damage report, it would probably be easier to tell you what isn't busted." He motioned around the ship. "Ahh that panel there, I think it is working." He grabbed his jacket from the chair and threw it hastily back on. "We're operational, for the most part, just don't take us into battle. Main systems are anywhere from fourty, to sixty percent, life support, defensive, and propulsion are in the higher range, sensors, weapons in the lower range, secondaries are at about forty percent. Spare parts are the biggest issue at the moment but we are currently making do with what we have. Speaking of which, I don't have any spare captains laying around and I don't feel like getting thrashed by the doctor." He grinned at the captain. "I didn't see you here."

"I appreciate that Chief more than you can know!"
Keiben smiled as he limped forward. "Is it really that bad?"

"Maybe, maybe not. The problem is we keep patching things back together. There were some things when we were back in space dock that got fixed and things that got patched enough to get the ship back together and being flight worthy. She could have spent six months space dock, but we didn't have six months, so that is where we are. I wouldn't take us into combat but we are functional. If this was a bigger ship we'd have more resources at our disposal. I'll have a better sense of where things are at in a few hours. All of these numbers are probably on the conservative end of things." Stoun looked over a PADD and handed it to the Captain. "Like I said, just don't rattle things too much."

"Noted Chief. We have some help on the way, USS Andromeda. We are making Warp One and she is exceeding that in leaps so in a few hours we should have the spare parts we need... Do we need to stop over at a Starbase for a complete refit Chief?"
He didn't want the answer to his last question because he had a feeling it would be a simple and resounding YES which would mean Copernicus would be out of action for a few months. That said, if it needed doing then they would have to do it.

"Well everything comes with trade offs... it is like rust. If we get into spacedock for a full refit.. once we start pulling things apart you are going to find other things, and then you are in dock even longer. If we don't and keep repairing things we keep the ship running everything looks and sounds good may not have any issues, but pick too big of a fight, misjudge the harmonics of a nebula and boom, you've blown the power grid and we are adrift and I'm salvaging parts from the latrines to get us going again. I mean, this is a science ship, not a dreadnaught. Some of the redundancies that are built into a combat ships we don't have which makes it difficult." Stoun furrowed his brow. "Next time we are near a supply depot, I have a shopping list of things we need that would probably be enough to keep us going."

"Noted... I will schedule a lay over for as long as needed when we say goodbye to Andromeda... Just promise me you won't be fluffing your repair estimates and yes I'll keep your secret".
The Captain chuckled, forcing him to clutch his ribs that still ached from his struggles on the planet.

"I would never dream of fluffing repair estimates. I'm just cautiously pessimistic about most things. For instance, I just assume everything is going to go to hell, if it doesn't, then well all the much better." Jon grinned a bit. "I'll see if I can get you warp two, but don't hold your breath." He paused for a moment and looked over the Keiben. "How you holding up, and don't give me any fluffed up repair estimates."

"I'm on the mend... Fatigued all the time!" he shuffled into the office nook that Stound had in the engineering compartment, not wanting the junior officers or enlisted crew to over hear. "I just feel guilt more than anything. I was in command. Yelena died because of me. Kotan, Olowe and Horn all injured because of my orders and I wasn't strong enough to fight what that fucking machine was doing to me, forcing me to do!"

Keibens eyes went wide. "Chief, I'm sorry. Please excuse my language... Thats very unlike me!"

"Ehh.. it happens. You haven't spent a lot of time around engineer's then if you think that is going to bother me.. computer coffee.. two cups." He moved over to the replicator as two cups of coffee appeared. "May sound a bit callous but, they knew what they signed up for. I don't think anyone faults you."

Anger flashed at the chiefs words and his initial instinct was the tear the chief a new one but as quickly as it was there it faded to nothingness. He was right and Keiben knew this but it wouldn't stop him feeling what he was feeling.
"Thanks Chief" as he accepted the steaming cup of coffee. "I've been to see Commander Horn and he said pretty much the same but it won't settle me... Not yet anyway."

"I know that look." Jon moved around to his seat and sat down. "We are all hard on ourselves, even about the stupid little things. Beating yourself up over things isn't doing you or the crew any help." He took a sip of the coffee. "You can worry about all the yesterdays and the tomorrows that they may have been, or you can worry about the today and what it will bring tomorrow." He looked into his coffee. "Hell some bug in the programming that some lackey twenty years ago coded into this replicator could have made this cup poisoned. I'm not going to worry about it." He lifted his mug to the Captain and took a swig.

"You know you are in the wrong line of work Chief... You should have gone into being a therapist!"
Keiben raised his mug also, downing the warm liquid but really mulling over what Stoun had said because it did make sense in ever aspect and way it could be looked at. It wouldn't change how he perceived things and he would still beat himself up for his decisions that would lead to tragedy but at least he could be aware that was what he was doing.

"Bah, warp cores, conduits, and hull plating are easier to understand, besides, I've been told I'm a bit intimidating." The coffee did smell off, maybe needed a tweek. "What's the plan?"

"Andromeda will be along side in a few hours, I'm sure their Chief Engineer will be in contact with you soon... I do have one request". Keiben drained the coffee cup in one swift motion, placing the empty down on the console edge. "Charlie Brooks... Have you met her yet?"

"No, can't say that I have.. new crew member?" Jon drank the rest of his cup. "Computer, another coffee."

"Doctor D'BrooNi's daughter. She has been accepted into the academy with a few years deferral but they have asked if we could start her basic training. Would you mind putting her to work from tomorrow morning?" he couldn't help but feel a swell of pride on behalf of Charlies biological father who could no longer be with them. "She's a bright kid so don't molly coddle her!"

The Chief had gone to the replicator and was in the midst of taking another sip when he almost dropped the cup. "Captain" he stammered unintelligibly for a few moments. "I uh.. well... is she qualified? I mean. No offense to Ms. Brooks, but.. engineering, I mean, if she got a deferral from the academy she must be what eighteen or so? Does she have prior engineering experience? Taken apart a replicator? Scrubbed a plasma conduit? I am stretched thin down here already..." He already knew that his protest was going to go no where.

"Only fourteen Chief and no. I'm thinking that you let her shadow someone on your team for a time but if it's inconvenient I can ask Sher'ra to look after her for a time".
Keiben could understand the Chief caution given the amount of work that needed to be done, and if he said it wasn't the best time then he would shuffle her over to Security to start with.

"Fourteen?" His eyes went a bit wide. "Hell." he took the cup and went back to his chair. "I mean, look, I remember what kind of nonsense I was into at fourteen." he closed his eyes as he rubbed his forhead. "Is she interested in pursuing a career in Engineering or is this just an overview of ships operations?"

"At this point an overview... She is certainly not keen on Sciences though!" Keiben chuckled remembering the conversation.

"Alright, I'll have her shadow me, I don't want the others to have to adjust their schedules. She ok with swearing? I mean, in the heat of the moment a panel doesn't want to come off.. some language may be used. I don't have the same pedigree as some of the officers, and I don't want to have the Doc coming after me for being a bad influence. " The Chief pounded the rest of his coffee. "Does she drink coffee? She's probably going to have to start."

"My understanding is Chief that bad language and engineering fit together like Kirk and Spock... What happens in engineering stays in engineering... I'll tell Charlie not to say anything to her mother as well!"

The Captain stood, intent on making his move from Engineering. "Thank you for the coffee and the talk Chief... I've monopolised enough of your time. I'll let you get back to it."

"Alright, doors always open. Let me know if you need anything."

END

 

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