Practice makes perfect

Posted on Tue Jan 12th, 2021 @ 8:52pm by Commodore Keiben Haistro & Commander Lillian Carter

720 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - Echoes Of An Empire
Location: The holodeck
Timeline: MD7 0600

ON:

It was an hour before her shift started and Lillian was practising landing the starship on a planet's surface. This was her 10th attempt. She had purposefully set the simulation incredibly difficult, with many shifting variables... Gravity, wind shear, atmospheric discharges. She had only crashed 4 times so far.

The simulation was buffeting hard on this attempt. Lillian was sat at the helm, focused, while the simulated ship bounced all over.

The computer monitored her position. “On glide path. Warning! Decent speed is 29% above recommended limit and increasing.”

“Acknowledged.” Lillian replied through gritted death. Coming in too hot, she muttered to herself.... Slow it down..... Slow it down.

Lillian was so engrossed in the simulation that she didn't hear the holodeck doors open.

He just stood, watching her hidden in the darker corner of the bridge thankful she wasn't Betazoid or some other telepathic species. This gave him the opportunity to watch, the irony of this situation not lost on his given it was exactly the same to how he ended up crashing with Doctor D'BrooNi, the only difference being this time it was Copernicus and not a shuttle. Immediately Keiben could see her mistake but rather than say anything he remained silent, waiting for a moment to announce himself that would not put the Ensign off her stride, and she may yet recover this landing.

The vibration through the deck was still increasing. Lillian took a deep breath "You wanna dance? Ok... Let's dance."

Like virtuoso pianist performing a concerto, Lillian's hands flew over the controls adjusting speed, pitch, decent rate, thruster vectors. Gradually, the vibrations reduced.

The computer reported "Decent velocity now within safety limits. Approaching landing co-ordinates."

"Steady.... That's more like it." Lillian said to herself. "Matching inertial dampers to local conditions, extending landing struts... Touchdown on my mark in..... 5.... 4.... 3....."

There was a large jolt as the simulated ship landed hard and Lillian was bounced in her seat.

After a brief pause, she tapped one final button. "Mark. Disengaging engines and securing thruster exhaust."
She nodded to herself "If I can do it in those conditions, Landing on our standard M class planet should be a walk in the park." she muttered to herself. "Computer bring up the last landing log and display all flight parameters."

Her display brought up the record of the landing as she started to study the playback.

"You don't need the log Ensign... That was impressive work but could I make one observation?"
Keiben moved from the shadows, around the main railing as he spoke until he could sit down in his own simulated chair. "Copernicus has a crew of eighty... No one person is an island, you have an entire crew to help you so don't try to do things on your own... my only criticism".

Lillian jumped slightly at the sound of the Captain's voice. "Captain. You startled me. Lillian stood from her seat and turned to face him, coming to attention. "I'm well aware of that Sir. I had programmed the computer to make the landings as difficult as possible. This... This will be my first time landing a starship sir. I wanted to be prepared."

"Honest truth Ensign... Nothing can prepare you for landing a one hundred and ten thousand tonne Starship. All you can do is rely on each others support. You know the principles, you've had some practice now... Now please go and relax and stop worrying... You can do this!"
He didn't know if it would work but he pushed his own feelings of trust and support towards Ensign Carter, maybe she would be receptive to them or maybe she would not be able to pick up on them as with most Humans but it was worth a try.

After a moment, Lillian nodded. ""Very well Captain. As you say, it is possible to over prepare for something." She spoke to the computer. "End program and clear."

The bridge of the Copernicus dissaperaed and was replaced with the hologrid.

"I think I'm ready Captain. Thank you for your advice." She said with a confident smile.

Keiben had barely chance to stand again before the chair vanished from beneath him and he openly laughed at his own lack of grace in so doing. "And next time, give me some warning!"

Lillian blushed slightly. "Aye Sir."

OFF

 

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