#6 Big Expectations

Posted on Sun Aug 30th, 2020 @ 9:03pm by Lieutenant Damien Saunders

Mission: Star Base Mercury
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: Following Post #4

[ON]

Damien was sitting alone in the mess hall. He looked into the mug of coffee. He let his eyes wander, noticing the bubbles evaporating at the top of the silver mug. The Lieutenant's double cream, double substitute sugar, was routine he enjoyed.

He set the cup back down, refocusing on the engineering padds he had strewn across the table.

At this time of day, there were few people in the mess hall. His meeting with the Senior staff was somewhat surprising. His mind was already overwhelmed. A starbase! He thought, he had recently been promoted to full Lieutenant, on a starship, let alone to oversee a whole roll out of Federation Technology, a starbase set of plasma generators would be daunting.

Never the less, he was confident. Deep inside, he had been trained to roll out the technology. The best Engineering Technologists taught Damien within the Academy, and for that, he was grateful as he would have to recall every bit of information. He would also be using his prior contacts within the Engineering Corps to draw on their expertise. This would be an exercise in learning new skills for nearly the entire crew, he was sure.

Thumbing through the Starbase schematics, Damien calculated the type of crew he would need. He estimated the number of rotations he would employ so that he could oversee the Starbase roll out operations. Concurrently, at the same time, he needed to ensure a competent Engineering on the Amadora as well.

"No sweat Saunders." He wryly smirked. He looked out the mess hall panoramic view of windows, enjoying the starfield and hum of the ship's engines in the quiet mess hall. It was therapeutic to an Engineer.

Accounting for logistical integration, linear plasma routing of sub-systems to primary systems, the starbase would remain on liquid plasma for its interim energy needs.

"Simple as cake." He laughed sarcastically. He shook his head, his headache coming on. "Take a breather and relax. It will all unfold." Damien told himself.

"Computer, the time?" He rubbed at his forehead, closing his sore eyes.

= The time is now 1832 hours = The main computer replied.

He would have to stagger the number of engineering tools he transported to the station, at the same time, keep on the Amandora. The intermix chamber of the starbase plasma generators would require the most attention. Sensor relays would need to be placed on platforms throughout the Engineering deck, ensuring that there was no release of critical gasses, compounds as the liquid deuterium was fluxed.

"Oh for fu-"Damien caught his self.

"Crystalline anti-matter sub-processors are employed in the conduit thermatics!" He scoffed. "12 hours alone of just sitting there, watching the micron scans." He rubbed his eyes.

"Fill up, Chief?" One of the Engineering crew, Ensign Wagner, had entered the hall. He was filling up on his break Damien assumed.

"Meeting, tomorrow at 0730, my office… We have new orders." He turned from his table.

"Care to spill?" Wagner asked.

"I've already got a headache. I don't want to give one to you." He shook his head. He then gave a sly grin. "Tomorrow, rest, you'll need it."

[OFF]