Post Number 148 An Idea

Posted on Mon Jan 16th, 2023 @ 12:10am by Lieutenant Tara Herculoid PhD & Captain Rogue Green {Meji}

Mission: BUGS OH NO!!
Location: Midroa III
Timeline: Current

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Once Tara had her samples on the shuttle she headed out to locate Bachman, after speaking with several of the residents she soon located him. The governor was seated on a bench not far from the town. "Governor if you have a few minutes I'd like to discus some ideas I have. I'm Lieutenant Herculoid assistant science chief on the Amandora."

Dwight Bachman had seen the woman approaching as he sat under a shade tree, the afternoon sun high in the sky and making the day hotter by the minute. It was a picnic table style, made of permacrete, in an area a few of the residents had turned into a small park. This particular table sat near the edge of a creek, the roiling sounds of the water moving along being both pleasant and relaxing. "Well met, Lieutenant. Dwight Bachman, Governor and leader for the 4,000 residents here. What can I do ya for?" He did not reach out to shake hands but kept peeling bark in long strips from a small branch he had laying on the table.

Tara took a seat across from him "I was on the bridge when your call came in asking for assistance and the problem with your irrigation needing repairs. I have an idea for not only fixing that but a way to have inexhaustible energy for decades to come same with water. I found a very large waterfall and I know it can be harnessed to do what I'm speaking of," she handed him her PADD."It's all there"

Watching what he was doing and still peeling, Dwight would glance up now and then as he spoke. "Hydroelectric power. All fine and good until you consider our power needs. As for the irrigation it is gravity fed from a reservoir we created by building a dam." Finished with his peeling Bachman set the clean branch aside as he intended it for another purpose. The strips of green bark he began to pick up and meld together using a wicker-style. Now, as he spoke, he would pause his bracelet creation and look at her. "If it's the waterfall I think it is, that you are referring to, we have considered it from time to time."

"It's the big one that the creek that feeds into the lake, the waterfall is about a mile from there with a cave large enough to house the machines. We use something like this on my home planet. I helped design it that's why I know it will work," Tara said.

She isn't listening, thought Dwight. He set his project aside faced her head on. "Look, I am not opposed to that. Not at all. But, hydroelectric power will not produce the energy necessary, naturally. By that I mean, for the entire power grid. We have forcefields and power fences to make sure our animals don't escape and begin destroying the natural ecosystems here. Invasive species always cause chaos to an environment."

Taking an easy breath Dwight went on. "Like I said, I am not opposed to using more hydroelectric power. As for the irrigation it is a simple physics issue. There are pieces of the piping that need to be replaced, and that was all incoming before our transport went out of contact. The dam we built is hydroelectric and does supply enough power for all the street lights. That, and it gives a reservoir for the gravity fed water to drain from, through a cistern we also built to funnel it. The mountains behind the reservoir do get quite a bit of snow fall, so the runoff every spring can be quite a deluge." Giving a grin he looked at her with serious eyes. "What are you planning on doing with your waterfall idea?"

"Putting in fiber optics into it, along with several turbines that will be run by the equipment that will be housed in the cave.Once up and running it will give endless power for not only this city but cities up to five hundred to one thousand miles," Tara said as she showed him the set up on her home planet "This is on my home planet of Amzock and how we've harnessed the waterfall. This outlines everything I've said. All in all the decision is up to you. This is only a suggestion. If you say no that's fine too."

"How many months does the Amandora plan on spending in orbit?" Asked Dwight. Her plan was sound, and as he had said, they were using hydroelectric power now, for minor needs. Water turbines, like wind turbines, did not produce the amount of power needed to run an entire colony. That was akin to running New York City off of the hydroelectric power produced by the Niagara Falls. It just would not produce enough power to feed everything, all the time, constantly. But, at the same time, using a new hydroelectric plant would add power to one side of the colony and take some strain from the grid. So, he was not totally opposed to the idea. But, his question was important to it all coming together.

"Not months sir but weeks, our engineers can have this up and running in two maybe three weeks, a month tops. I'll be working on it as well and I can easily get engineers from my planet to assist as well. The can be here in a matter of six hours should Commodore Song agree to that. That's something I'll need to ask her. But I see no reason she'll not go with it," Tara replied.

"Weeks my ass," said Dwight. "It would take months to build the structure necessary to hold the water turbines in place, to survey every possibility for catastrophic failure. Plus, the tunnels would need to be engineered to adequately place the machinery in the right spots, and not everything will be able to be moved by transporter. If we stick with weeks then it will take about eight weeks to get it all done, and that's just putting it all in place." Bachman hated being this way, but his people had worked their butts off to build what was here, and it never took 'only a few weeks' even when that was the initial projection. Every construction project ran into snags and those snags caused delays if people wanted it done right.

"As I said it was a suggestion. I thank you for hearing me," Tara said getting to her feet."

Dwight stood up along with her, still looking her in the face. "Oh, so now you go and get pissy when I question your overblown estimate of how quickly this could all be done. How many more would it take from your homeworld to accomplish it all in a few weeks? We can't house all those people and we won't allow shanty towns to be built on land we already have purposed for our own needs. Also, how am I supposed to trust you when you can't even handle constructive criticism? Hm? My first priority, Lieutenant, is the well-being of those who entrusted me with the vote to lead the colony. I am not saying no, but you obviously think I am. That upsets me since all I am doing is trying to reason this out from all possible angles. You don't have to live here once you zoom out of orbit, we do. Safe construction is construction that isn't rushed." He waited to see what his words would do, what affect they would have.

"My people will come on a ship and will be staying there in between times when they'll be on the planet. I honestly though you were saying no. We built our power source and irrigation in three weeks, our waterfall is just a little larger than the one you have here. If I didn't think it would work or was possible I'd not have approached you about it. I'm asking you to trust me that this will work. I know it seems like it's impossible in a short amount of time but trust me when I say it will work. All I need is your permission and that of Commodore Song and I can have a ship here in six hours and work can begin tomorrow," Tara said "We'll make sure your people can operate things once we leave," Tara said.

Bachman went to speak but was interrupted.

"You two finished yet? You sound like an old married couple." Commander Green came forth from the tree line, having heard their argument since it was a bit above normal volume, and her augmented hearing was so acute. She was smiling at them both hoping to bring down some of the tension. "Say yes, Dwight. As a favor to me. You're right, no amount of hydroelectric power can keep all your systems running but it is a damn sight more for use elsewhere. Your power core wouldn't be so strained anymore."

Dwight, upon seeing Green, could not remain upset. It all just melted away when he saw that smile, which caused him to chuckle at himself and smile over at Tara. He gave a pseudo-frustrated sigh for show. "Level heads enter the picture. You're right, of course. Miss Herculoid, I will take your offer and data to the council and see what they think. If they all agree by majority, then I will."

Green gave Tara a wink as she walked behind Dwight, so he could not see it, as she was going around him to stand on his other side. A purposeful, tactical move so she could show her friend and shipmate that she was on her side without giving away the alliance.

Tara nodded at Green as she downloaded the necessary files onto her PADD showing how this worked and the plans for it and handed it over to Dwight "This is how we did it and I've downloaded it and translated it into Federation Standard. Show this to your council and in the meantime I'll get my people here as well. This is not the first planet I've offered this to. I've had one flat out no and two said yes and two are thinking on it."

Bachman took the offered PADD, his face turning the way Rogue had approached, and not seeing her, went to the other side to see her standing there all smiles. Those eyes told him she had planned this in some fashion, to cave to the idea. But, with how he was so intrigued by her he would let it slide. Looking at Tara. "I'm sure we will agree, Lieutenant. Tell your Commodore we are fine with it."

"Aww, isn't this precious," asked Ro in a sarcastic, cynical, cheeky way. "We're all getting along." She then laughed at the looks on their faces. "Hey, it was a long space flight, I'm a bit ditzy."

"A bit," asked Dwight, to strike back at being cheeky, which got him a cuff on the arm.

"Hush, you." Ro went around the table and gave Herculoid a hug. "Her first name is Tara, Dwight. She gave you rank and surname."

"I was wondering about that." He said. "When she said Herculoid I just figured that was her name. Her whole name since Herculoid is absolutely unique." Dwight gave Tara a smile. "Nice to greet you common, Tara."

"Likewise Dwight," Tara responded "I'll inform my commanding officer and contact home and have fifty of our engineers here in six to seven hours and between them and the engineers on the Amandora we'll have this done and operational before we pull out."

Bachman gave Tara a pleasant nod. "I'll have this approved by supper. Thank you for the idea. Oh, and one thing. This is for power only. Our irrigation system is unique to our needs and we don't want any changes. Just the materials for the repairs. Once our transport finally gets here then we can replace whole sections."

Green looked back and forth between them. She understood Tara's want to help, but colonists were independent by nature, and they did have their own creative ways of doing things. Not every farmer on Earth used the same irrigation systems, or ways of using them. Each was unique to their needs. "Glad this worked out. Power station it is, then. Irrigation we'll help with but leave to you folks to deal with your way." Ro looked at Tara. "I hope that's good enough for you?"

Tara nodded "It's fine commander, I'll get to work on my end and be ready to go in the morning, Dwight thank you for hearing me out. You won't be sorry trust me."

"It was my pleasure," said Dwight. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have a council meeting to assemble and a Commander who needs the guided tour." He gave a cheeky smile to Green and Herculoid, his eyes mainly on Green. Reaching out he took up Ro's left hand and kissed it on the knuckles. "Until then, Commander." Releasing the hand he then tromped off towards town.

Ro gave a smile to Tara, her cheeks a bit flushed by a tad bit of embarrassment, but also due to her own arousal at finally meeting the man. So, to offset all that she simply gave Tara a hug and as she stepped back looked her in the eye. "Keep this between us, right?" This was asked one friend to another, not superior to subordinate, backed by another sheepish grin.

"Your secret's safe with me," Tara said squeezing her hand "After all we've been through this is just what the doctor ordered, namely me as I do have that PhD," she giggled.

"We are a pair," giggled Green. "But, thanks. Love ya, Sweety. Go get 'er done, lady. The lioness needs to pursue her prey." Another silly cackle and Green headed off in the direction Dwight had gone.

Tara watched Ro take off after Dwight and smiled before heading out to the shuttle.

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