Shuttle for Your Trouble

Posted on Fri Dec 20th, 2019 @ 1:15am by Dr. Maryln Barick, Phd & Lieutenant Commander Lukas Carter

Mission: Mission 1 - One Step forward
Location: Main Bridge
1155 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Livingston was summoned to the bridge by Lieutenant Commander Carter, the ship's Chief Engineer.
Arriving on the bridge, he approached the commander. "You wanted to see me, commander?"

Lukas glanced up from the engineering station on the bridge and nodded at Livingston. "Richtig, just a moment...let me put the finishing touches on this simulation" He explained, fingers still hammering away at the terminal. He was still working away at the modifications to the long-range sensors to improve detection of biological material with limited success. He keyed in the final sequence and pushed back from his chair as the simulation began. "Sorry about that, Ben."

"No problem, sir." Ben took a quick glance at the simulation the commander was running. "What can I do for you, sir?"

"How familiar are you with our shuttlepods?" Carter asked, getting up from his station.

"Very familiar, sir. I took and passed the pilot training in the pods, and took the engineers extension course as well. I can repair or replace any of the internal components, helm, sensors, life support and weapons. I understand the working parts of the engines, but I leave that to the engineer's, sir." replied Ben, his eyes never left the commanders.

"Excellent," Carter said, clapping his hands together. "As it stands, I have more problems than I have engineers, and I need a way to make our shuttlepods more efficient if we're going to maximize our supplies. That's where I need your help, Ensign."

"Then I am your man, commander. I know those pods inside and out. I'll find a way to get the most out of the controls."

Carter smiled for the first time in days. "Glad to hear it, Ensign." He snatched up a datapad from his console and handed it to the helmsman. "These are the numbers I'm looking for through the modifications. The goal, in a nutshell, as the Americans say, is to make them better suited to surveys and mining operations instead of personnel transport."

Livingston thought for a few moments. "If you want to convert them to survey missions, then we can add more sensors to detect water and food, and if you're talking mining operations, we'll need to retune the phase weapons for a more focused beam for mining....but then how would we get the materials back if the pods are reconfigured?" Ben looked at the datapad. "We could try to build a third shuttlepod, using replacement parts, and just try to increase the carrying loads by leaving out usually important components...like sensors and life support."

"Crews could be in their EVA suits while aboard to reduce the load on the pods support systems," Carter added.

"If EVA suits are used, sir, there would be no need for any life support systems, sir. Extra oxygen supplies could be stowed in the pod if the suits run low, sir. And since there would be no sensors on the pod, my recommendation is that the new pod always travel with one of the other pods." replied Livingston.

"Put together a proposal and a construction schedule for my review," Carter said with a sharp nod. "Good thinking, Ensign."

"Thank you, sir. I'll get started right away." Ben turned and left the commander, and returned to his quarters to write up the proposal.

First thing he had to do, was to check the computers inventory to see if they had the spare parts they would need to construct another pod. If enough parts were available, they could construct a pod slightly longer then usual, increasing carrying potential.
If no parts were available, they could salvage parts from any derelict ships they come across.
If they would be carrying water, they would have to seal the cargo section, unless they transported it as ice.
It might be necessary to construct a vacuum type system to move any liquids or dirt, if they decide to construct a planting bed in one of the cargo holds to grow food.

An engine would also be needed, so he looked up the spare parts for that. The engines would have to be rated as one half to three quarters impulse thrust.

They would need the proper tools to construct the pod, plus the personnel to do the job.

Taking into account all the factors involved for such a project would require 7 - 10 days, with 3 crews, working around the clock.

It took Livingston 4 hours to finish the proposal.

He carried the proposal back to the bridge, and finding the commander there, "Sir, I've finished the assignment." He handed the commander the pad.

Lukas looked up from his engineering terminal, surprised to see the Ensign back so quickly. "Right, let's see what you've got," He took the datapad and began to flip through the proposal. "Pretty ambitious," Carter mumbled. "Can I trust you to take point on this work, Ensign?

Ben smiled at him. "Yes sir...I can handle it."

"Thank you, Ensign. If you need anything, let me know." Carter returned his smile. Livingston was taking the proposed assignment in stride. "Otherwise, I'll check in on your progress tomorrow."

The next morning, at 0600 hours, Livingston gathered the construction teams together. Each crew would be assigned a particular assignment, so that no one redid any completed work. First order of business was to assign team leaders. Ben would be floating from team to team, checking progress. Ben left the decision of 2nd team leaders to the team leaders to decide. Then he handed out the diagrams that he created as a blueprint for each teams. The engines were assigned to team one, the shuttlepod frame team two and the controls team three.

Team one, along with Livingston, started working on the engines, while the other teams returned to their normal duties.

At 0900, Marylyn Barick walked into the hanger bay, and watched as the crew worked on the new shuttle. Ben saw her and walked over. "Hello." He smiled at her. "Anything you need?"

Marylyn smiled back. "Wanted to see what you were working on." She wanted to see him, but used the project as an excuse.

"We're trying to build a new shuttlepod, one that can carry more raw materials, food and water, back from wherever we find them." Ben was glad she was here.
Marylyn looked over the design. "Have you considered installing storage tanks into the design? This way you can transport liquid water in bulk?"

Ben looked at her, then the design. "You may have something there. Using a tank would be better then using anything else. Lucky for us, we're in the early stages, so we can easily incorporate that idea." He looked at her. "Any other bright ideas in that head off yours?"

She touched his hand. "Let me think about it." With that, she turned around and left.

Been turned back to the crew. "Slight change of plans, people."

Lieutenant Commander Lukas Carter

Ensign Benedict Livingston

Dr. Maryln Barick, PhD