To Err is...

Posted on Sun Apr 23rd, 2017 @ 6:01pm by Lieutenant T'Pral & Lieutenant JG Annie Dixon

798 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Pulling Together
Location: Main Engineering, Quarters

ON:

T'Pral caught herself frowning at the data displayed before her. The antimatter injectors were out of alignment by 5 microns. Not enough to cause any kind of discernible problem, but to her it was an affront to efficiency. What was really bothering her, though, was she couldn't tell what could have caused it. They shouldn't have been altered, and the housing was within the reaction chamber... unless...

"Lieutenant Dixon?" T'Pral queried across Main Engineering.

The officer in question meeped as she heard the Vulcan call her name. She didn't know why the Chief Engineer had called her out, and mildly dreaded facing her. Either way, you didn't disobey the Vulcan, else she destroy you verbally with logic.

"Yes, ma'am?" Annie Dixon replied as she approached meekly.

T'Pral stepped back and indicated the readout with the wave of a hand. "Do you detect anything amiss?"

"Um," Annie said as she blinked at the data. "No? Everything looks better than perfect, ma'am."

"Look again," the Vulcan insisted. "The antimatter injectors are out of alignment."

"W-?" she started to query until she saw what T'Pral was complaining about. "5 microns is well within tolerance of the system."

"They should not be misaligned at all. I adjusted them myself yesterday."

Dixon bit her lip but didn't want to say what was going through her head. "Perhaps the computer systems need a diagnostic?"

"I already ran one. Were any crew working in the reaction chamber today?"

"No ma'am," Annie shook her head vigorously. Wouldn't T'Pral know that? They would have to completely shut down the core and let the radiation dissipate before doing work in there. That was work usually done either at a spacedock, or during extended shoreleave, simply due to how long the MARA core would be down.

T'Pral's cheek began to pulse in annoyance. What was going on? Was the junior lieutenant lying to her? She eyed the human with a critical eye. While she did so, Dixon had turned to the readout and was looking into the problem.

"Um, ma'am," she began a little hesitantly as she saw what might be the issue. "When did you adjust the injectors?"

"1923 hours."

Annie nodded and pointed at the alignment graph. "There, 1923 hours. The source of your error."

T'Pral was already shaking her head, "You are mistaken. I do not err. Isn't the saying 'to err is human?' I am not human."

Dixon was persistent. "Nevertheless, ma'am, the misalignment originates at 1923 hours."

The Vulcan took a closer look. Indeed, Annie was right. She pursed her lips and began an internal diagnostic. She took pride in her work on the Calypso's MARA system. She shouldn't have erred. And indeed, she should have caught the cause of the error sooner. What was making her overlook it? she would have to meditate on it.

"Lieutenant," T'Pral stated at last, "Please realign the injectors. I... have something I need to do. You have Engineering in my absence."

"What? Oh, um, okay." Annie stammered, rather shocked she was left in charge. Sure, she got promoted recently, but that was mostly expected. She didn't think she would be given so much responsibility so soon! She watched as the Chief slipped out of Engineering, biting her lip nervously. After a moment, she made her way to the injector diagnostic console to fix T'Pral's error.

[T'Pral's quarters]

The room was dark, save for candles spaced strategically around the room to provide perfect ambient light. Sure, the computer could dim the lights to the same level, but the candles provided something more. T'Pral, clad in ceremonial robes, sat cross-legged in the exact center of the room. The furniture had been pushed aside, standing in as candle holders.

She reached deep within herself to find the answers she sought. Something was wrong with her. As she began piecing the puzzle together, she realized these small errors had been happening for a few days now. Nothing that drew attention, yet. Now, though, they were beginning to amplify. If she didn't halt the progression....

Her eyes shot open as realization hit her. "No." She frowned and stood quickly, pacing in her room. "No, no, no. It's too early! No!" she shouted at last, pushing over one of her tables in an explosion of emotion.

That sealed it. As she regarded her face in a wall mirror, a haggard, emotional face pulsing with quick breaths, she knew the truth. She would have to address this problem. she'd have to call her husband, and ask the Commodore for a favor. But first, she'd have to focus her emotions.

She resumed her position on the floor and resumed her meditation. As soon as she stabilized her emotions, she would begin the process of recovery.

OFF:

Lt T'Pral
Chief Engineer

Lt(jg) Annie Dixon [NPC]
Assistant Chief Engineer

 

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