Engineering Engineers (Part 2)

Posted on Sat Aug 27th, 2016 @ 11:35am by Lieutenant T'Pral & Commander Hans Munich

1,172 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Shadow Dance
Location: The Power Center of the Capitol
Timeline: Following the dinner

[Continued...]

[OLD]

"You make that sound harder than getting the Council to allow you to see the heart of our Power and even a rocket ship?" He sounded disappointed. "You cannot think we would do something other than look would you?"

"On the contrary," she countered, "it may be as simple as asking her. However, I am not the Commodore, so I cannot predict what her response will be."

[NEW]

"I was just wondering if this is a reciprocal relationship; I want to show you that which I think you would enjoy that we both do." Goshen nod. "Engineers are alike across technology, that is why we are here to share what is common. I wanted to show this to you; I just hope you enjoy that which we have achieved?"

T'Pral's eyebrow rose slightly at Goshen's words. "Enjoyment is an emotion I do not feel. However, I will be satisfied by viewing your technological advancements, which is my assignment in the course of evaluating your world's application for Federation admission."

Fair enough." Goshen shrugged. "Is smiling an emotion, I do not know if I am being a good host or not as I usually read the faces and turn my tour to please." The doors opened and Goshen went out first. "You will have to tell me as you have a pretty face but your expression makes me feel as though I am a task you do not wish to be a part of and you are... humoring me?" The cavern was humid and the strong echo of the machines reverberated about. "Please forgive me if I bore you, I find this exciting and hoped as an Engineer you would feel the same?"

"Smiling is a reflection of emotion," she replied. Her hands remained neatly clasped at her back as they stepped into the cavern proper. "You are a satisfactory host, Mister Goshen. My species values logic over emotion. While I am not emotional, I do find different technological approaches fascinating." As they approached the equipment, T'Pral's eyes widened with interest and began systematically analyzing each part. For the first time during the visit, her hands unclasped and moved forward.

"Okay." Goshen said. "This is the main chamber for the city's Fusion reactors." He moved ahead and towards a nearly story high computer control board with dancing lights accented by the whistles and beeps from the equipment all around them. "This is the Master Tree; it is the junction monitor between the twelve Reactors and the flow of power into the city." He spoke with some pride. "We monitor this as though our lives depend upon it as they actually do. "

Outside the clear glass were the fusion reactor housings that each had the size of a small building on the shape of a half Drum container on a much larger scale with smaller housings around it to route the power.

T'Pral raised a hand to the display board, but stopped short of actually touching it, knowing that to contact an unknown power board was generally dangerous. She followed the blinking lights for a moment, seemingly transfixed by the patterns, though in reality she was analyzing the pattern. There was quite a bit she could recognize externally, but a true analysis would require looking inside. Without turning to Goshen she asked, "Would it be agreeable to allow my perusal of the schematics of this power relay system?"

"If you come up with a way to improve you have to share." Goshen said calmly. "Trade Secrets and all that." He might have even been joking. "I can get you a copy of the current specs and deliver it after the tour." He shrugged. "With what I have heard from what little the Counsil feeds me this is a toy for you right?" He nod. "I mean you have power sources that make this seem rather outdated I suppose?"

"That would be satisfactory." The Vulcan nodded once, her hands returned behind her back. "Our impulse engines - for sublight velocity - are powered by fusion reactors." Her eyes strayed to the window beyond which housed the Jenefran reactors. "Ours must be more compact and efficient for use aboard a starship, but the principles are the same. Generation of an energetic deuterium plasma for power output."

"Our Rocket Ships have a smaller model as well." Goshen said. "These are for a whole City that needs the power." HE seemed proud of the achievement. "I wonder how our Rocket Ship engines will compare to your Star SHip's 'impulse Engines' is it? Well It might be quite enlightening to have a contest of speed through the system? You know see both our prides in a harmless competition?"

T'Pral raised an eyebrow to Goshen. "I do not see why you would wish to challenge us to such a contest. Starfleet engines have been refined over the course of centuries. While the Calypso is not the fastest vessel in Starfleet, is it not logical that such a contest would not be much of one?" She was not trying to insult the man, logic simply gave the advantage to the longer history.

"At warp you might be right, but the sub-light is only to the speed of light. It is a sprint." Goshen had a sly smile. "Besides, would it not just be what a human before called 'Bragging Rights?"

T'Pral's expression did not change. "It is indeed a sprint, but you are still forgetting, we have been engineering fusion power for centuries longer than you have. If I were speaking to a human, I would compare a Model T to a 2020 GT. Same basic design, same basic power plant, but drastically different performance over a single century of advancement. I would not brag about beating an... underdog. It would not be logical." She paused a moment, "I still would be agreeable to view your... rocket ship."

"Don't be fooled by the term Rocket Ship." He laughed. "I think this tour just became much more fun. I'll get you the plans for this board." He seemed excited. "Let me show you what you are about to go up against?" He started to move. "We have a Rocket Ship down for degaussing, I can show you one close up and personnel."

T'Pral followed, her eyebrow rising once more. "I am not fooled. Many species use the term to refer to space-going vessels for conveying sentients. My... concerns merely reflect a difference in experience. My species has been traversing the stars for twenty five hundred and twelve of your years." She did not reveal this information to boast, but merely to show where she was coming from. "A distant view of your vessel to begin would be adequate, before we initiate a more detailed analysis."

"Should be done and ready for a tour by the time we get there." He was all but bounding for the elevator.

"Indeed," she replied as she followed closely behind.

OFF

Lt T'Pral
Chief Engineer
USS Calypso

Goshen
Jenefran Engineer
Played by LtCdr Munich

 

RSS Feed