Test Subject
Posted on Tue Mar 3rd, 2020 @ 5:02am by Lieutenant Sovar & Ensign Michael Sloan
Mission:
Mission 2 - Fallout
Location: Deck C - Waste/Water Recycling Systems
Timeline: Prior to the events on the Planet
1025 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure
The waste/water recycling systems room had been described to him by a crewman as "a mess of conduits, seals, and conversion hardware." When he entered the room, Sovar took a moment to observe it and readily saw the logical pattern in its distribution; predictably, the crewman had been exaggerating the state of the room. It was clearly designed by a knowledgeable engineer for the efficient input of raw waste, conversion, and output of usable proteins and materials.
Around one of the primary input conduits from D & E deck, the Vulcan scientist observed the executive officer conversing with one of the engineers. Though he was within earshot the moment he entered the room, he lingered at what he estimated to be a polite distance until the junior officer had been dismissed. The engineer averted his eyes as Sovar passed him, but the Vulcan nodded in greeting nonetheless. The crew's reactions to him ran the spectrum, and he was accustomed to it by now.
"Lieutenant Commander Sloan, may I have a moment of your time?"
"Of course, Lieutenant," Michael nodded as he gave the Vulcan his full attention. He did not care much for the way Vulcans tended to talk down to Humans, but he understood that their species was both more advanced and more experienced. The realist in him knew that the key to Humanity's future was still tied to the Vulcans. "What can I do for you?" he added.
"I believe the command staff has made an error in pursuing our present course of action," Sovar replied. He delivered it with those Vulcan intonations that weren't outright condescension but suggested it somewhere between the lines.
"You do?" Michael replied, raising an eyebrow. Under normal circumstances, he would be irritated but open. However, this time, he was peeved but decided to hear him out. "A Vulcan who thinks a Human is making a bad command decision, a tale as old as time," he started. "What have we done wrong, in your estimation?"
"Since we have determined our position relative to Terran space, I believe we should be dedicating some resources to ascertaining the nature and mechanics of the phenomenon that caused our spatial displacement. The Vulcan Science Academy's observations of similar phenomenon suggest that there are temporal limitations," Sovar said. After a moment's thought, he rephrased himself, "Our path back to known space may be time-limited. The phenomenon may dissipate, leaving us stranded."
"Yes, while that is important, I also can't lose half our crew due to starvation," Michael stated. A little irritated with the presumption, "Our sensors were blind in the nebula and our food and water supplies destroyed. Were it an unstable wormhole, we could have slipped through at any time and already missed it."
"Which is why it should be a priority to begin the search for the phenomenon immediately," Sovar replied. His face changed, perhaps even softened. "Though I will concede that the failure to take adequate steps to protect our food and water supplies has placed us in something of a predicament."
"That, we can agree on," Michael stated. He knew that he could debate all day on the merits of the command choice to search for food. However, he knew that failing to find a way home would have doomed the crew to starve. Because the Vulcans had saved his life once, he kept his anger in check. "Mister Sovar, is there anything to better shield the food and water supplies in the future?"
Sovar hesitated. He recognized that his objections were being largely unaddressed and that he was being redirected to another matter entirely. Further, certain information in possession of the Vulcan Science Academy related to shield technology and metallic alloys had not yet been disclosed to the United Earth Starfleet.
"There may be some possible further precautions that could be implemented."
"Even if you give us the entirety of Vulcan knowledge, we still are a hundred years at least from home," Michael pointed out. He then added, "By that time, who's to say that we aren't in some multicultural confederation that can fly warp nine?" The point was to say that any technology shared with the Atlantis probably would never amount to anything special by the time they got back home.
"And who is to say we will not be in a state of war with one another?" Sovar countered in reply. "Temporal conjecture is still conjecture, Commander."
Shaking his head, the Commander let out a little more frustration out in his voice as he said, "Fine. Your people have held us back for a century, what's one more?" After regaining his composure, he looked back to the Sovar and asked, "You want us to go back and look for spatial anomalies inside a nebula, correct?" Pausing a moment to motion with his hands to indicate the ship, "Realistically, with our sensor package being as limited as it is, any rediscovery of the anomaly that brought us here would have to be incidental. Would it not be logical to say that even the most minor of calibrations could assist us in finding any anomaly almost exponentially?"
"That is a logical conclusion," Sovar confirmed. Then he admitted, "You have a point, commander. Lieutenant Darru and I could begin making some improvements to the ship's sensors. We may also be able to improve radiation shielding; it is something we will have to discuss together as Vulcan and Terran technology do not always interface well. Shall we begin work?" He paused for a moment and tilted his head slightly. "Or would you like to speak to Commander Leroux first?"
"Go ahead," Sloan nodded toward the Vulcan. Slightly smiling a bit, the man added, "There is an old saying that says that it is better to ask forgiveness than permission." Rethinking this a bit, he clarified, "How about this? Give me a report detailing what you can actually do to improve our sensors and radiation shielding, then I'll present it to her."
"Very well, commander. As you wish."
Lt. Commander Michael Sloan
Acting First Officer/Chief Armory Officer
NX Atlantis
Lieutenant Sovar
Science Officer
NX Atlantis
