Space Walk Or History Lesson

Posted on Sun Feb 6th, 2022 @ 4:23pm by Ensign Duncan McManus & Lieutenant Samantha Leyton & Ensign Michael Sloan
Edited on on Sun Feb 6th, 2022 @ 4:24pm

Mission: Mission 5 - Babel
Location: Outside Ship
Timeline: Day 274 10:00
1413 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Just do a spacewalk, Ensign. It will be fine Ensign. You can do it. You have done so many before. Were the words that rolled around Daniel McManus’ head as he inched along the hull of the ship to where the damaged shielding plating was. He glanced over his shoulder to look at the shuttle that was lighting his route and what be lighting where he needed to work.

“You know Odysseus I know all about the real Odysseus. Want me to tell you all about your name barer whilst we work?” Daniel said trying to keep his mind occupied instead of on not letting go and losing hold of the ship and having to have the shuttle who was there watching him rescue him.

Elspeth McArthur was moving beside him confidently "This is so much fun!" She bubbled through the helmet. She was looking around as she did so.

"...Fun, Ensign?" Annikafiore Szerda echoed over the open communications channel she could hear inside her environmental suit. Although she wasn't panicking as clearly as Duncan McManus was doing, Petty Officer Szerda did keep her eyes pointed down at the hull of the ship beneath her magnetic boots. If she looked out at the stars, Szerda knew it might make her dizzy, and the last time she had felt dizzy had been... mind-rendingly challenging. Lugging an engineering equipment case over her shoulder, Szerda said, "This is hard work."

At the controls of the shuttlepod as it inched along behind the repair team, Samantha could see the slow movements of Ensign McManus as an old Earth song Intergalactic by a group called Beastie Boys played in the background. "Everything ok, Ensign McManus?" she called over the comm. Personally, she was jealous as she always enjoyed spacewalking.

“Yep. Fine. Just you know, trying to occupy myself. So would you like to hear all the things I know about the myths around the real Odysseus?” He asked. His voice and accent were light but he was wanting to talking s as out as one thing random.

Sam didn't really want to hear about the ancient Greek King but she knew McManus needed to focus. "Sure, why not? Also, keep your eyes on the bulkhead--it'll help with any dizziness."

"Odysseus was one of the most influential Greek champions during the Trojan War. Along with Nestor and Idomeneus he is was one of the most trusted counsellors and advisors. Can't say he I doing as well for us though." Duncan started keeping his eyes on the bulkhead. "I am not dizzy by the way just need to occupy myself from misstepping." It was an easy explanation for how his brain worked in situations like that.

Elf meanwhile all but skipped ahead to a loose panel and began to examine it. "Did you guys fail the Vomitorium at the Academy?" she asked innocently. She had laughed the whole way through it.

“Not but there is a huge difference between that and the real thing out here Ensign.” The man explained glancing to where the shuttle was.

There was a light hearted chuckle from the one known as Elf as she knelt to look at the rivets closer. "We should be able to weld these closed."

Watching people on their first extravehicular activity was always a sight for Michael. He remembered that survival training had been his favorite class at the Academy. In what seemed like another life ago as the Chief Armory Officer of the Valiant, he would take any new arrivals to the armoury department on a walk around the Intrepid's semi-circular saucer section. Taking a look at the rivets in question, the newly minted Chief Engineer added, "Agreed." His eyes moved from one of the other engineers to another. "Who wants to do the honors? I'm just here to supervise," he said with a sly smile.

McManus had been watching the planet below spinning far more lazier than he could ever remember the Earth moving when he had observed it from space. It was just making him sleepy which was a lot better for his nerves. "Fine... I guess the honour falls to me." McManus commented as he moved to look at the welding that would need to be done. It was not the easiest of welds with so many people around and the job itself but he should be able to do a good enough job to seal the damaged shielding plating back into place to protect the ship.

Elf watched in silence before turning her gaze to the planet. "Its pretty" she said almost absently. "I hear seeing Andoria from space is amazing. And Vulcan." Places she had not gotten to before their trip had ended like this.

"It really is beautiful," Michael echoed as he inched closer to McManus. While his remark about a hands-off supervisor was a joke, he found it important that he take an active part of the mission. They were all in this together, and the Department Heads needed to lead by example. Pointing out a spot on the plating, Michael explained, "There should be a power conduit just under here. Try to come a little from this angle," he motioned with his hand to illustrate, "when you begin welding. It'll keep you from burning out the power line while adding a little extra material to protect what is underneath."

Elf looked back and watched.

The other man moved to the angle and held up his hand to let the man know he understood as he bit down hard on his lip. He slowly set about welding along the line in an even movement despite how bulky it felt with the EV suite on. “Nice pointer.” He mused checking the line. It was why he was really enjoying having Sloan as Chief Engineer, he was learning so much and he was pretty sure that it was not Human Sloan who knew the knowledge. It was one of the main reasons he had joined Earth Starfleet to learn from other species, just had never expected to be as extreme as it had turned out to be.

“That should hold,” Michael replied as he gave the work a once over. The trick he taught McManus was one born from both sides of himself. The Earth marine knew the structural weakness was one that could be exploited in battle while the Romulan engineer understood how to counteract the vulnerability.

"How does the plating look from out there Sir?" Duncan wondered turning to look at the pod that was just off their left shoulder watching them for any mishap and giving them some much-needed light on the situation. The planet was beautiful, but it did not quite give enough light for them to work, torches would have left no hands free so it was the easiest option.

Leyton checked her console. The readings showed solid welds as she pulled up a magnified image of the plate on a nearby viewer "Looks good from here. But if it flies off the minute we go to warp, I'll have you out here doing it again...alone," she joked.

“Well, I will need your light Sir so you will be out here with me,” Duncan said brightly. “I have plenty more facts from Odysseus.” He added in a slightly less bright tone as he was pretty sure his welds were good. They had never failed before and now he had a new trick thanks to the chief engineer.

"Yeah, that's not happening. I'll assign Lieutenant Darru to keep you company," came Samantha's reply. "How is everyone else coming along?"

“I would not mind Lieutenant Darru. He listens and offers his own facts.” Duncan said brightly. The Vulcan might not be everyone’s cup of tea but the Scottish engineer appreciated how hard he worked and how he was looking to the future desiring knowing he would be burying them all.

Looking at the handiwork on the hull, Michael replied, “I think we’re wrapping up here.” He gave his team a slight nod and thumbs up to let them know they did a good job. “First EVA and we successfully completed the mission without a stomach evacuation.”

Duncan just shot the man a glare. It had been very touch and go that he had not vomited inside his suit but he was glad that he had, had the proper experience of doing it and successfully completing it. They just needed to get back inside now without that happening.