AWF Chpt 121

-----
=Chapter 121=
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
-----
===Working with Hostile Company===
Black Lion Class Battlecruiser, CSS Veil of Light
Jump Point
St. Ives System, St. Ives Compact
June, 3030
----
Anastasia heard Adept Gallen returning to the area where she and Victoria and Acolyte Fuentes were working. Anastasia felt exhausted. She wasn't sure how long had been working. However, brother James and Acolyte Fuentes had taken several shift breaks. Anastasia knew most flight crews worked odd short four and six hour shifts, She paused and tried to guess how many times Brother James and Brother Fuentes had left and came back. It had been at least 24 hours since the escape attempt. Anstasia felt more tired.
Anastasia knew she could have rested, and desperately needed sleep, but she was concerned Tempes might do something nasty to her if she overslept or didn't get the ECM device functioning as quickly as possible. To Anastasia's surprise Victoria had been working side-by-side with her the whole time. Victoria looked as tired as Anastasia felt, but Anastasia appreciated her new friend's support and work ethic.
Adept Gallen floated up to Anastasia and gently squeezed her shoulder, "Sister Anna, when was the last time you rested?"
Anastasia had corrected Adept Gallen countless times that she preferred to be called by her full name, but he still called her Anna.
"Adept Gallen-"
"Please call me brother James, Sister Anna."
Anastasia sighed, if she wanted him to use the name she preferred, she'd have to offer him the same James, we're almost done with the equipment installation. At least for the internal components. There is an external antenna system we'll need to mount, but that will require a space walk." As she spoke, Anastasia realized she'd have to sleep before daring extravehicular activities.
"Will you test this installed equipment before we conduct the EVA?" Adept Gallen asked, "Demi-Precentor Tempes seemed quite excited about having the ECM suite installed, I'm certain he'd be very pleased to see the test."
"Perhaps we should wait until the equipment is working and then report it to him." Anastasia said as she watched Acolyte Fuentes glower at the wiring diagram. After a moment he shook his head and then he started plugging the cables into the system in a seemingly random fashion.
Victoria was watching Acolyte Fuentes as well. "Did you follow the wiring diagram I gave you?" Victoria asked as she began to float toward him.
"I'm certain it is wired in accordance with Blake's will." Adept Gallen said as he pushed himself between Victoria and Acolyte Fuentes.
"I'd prefer it was installed in accordance with Ohm's law." Victoria said as she tried to move around Adept Gallen.
"Ah Precenter Ohm…I'm not quite familiar with his law." Adept Gallen said as he reached out to the terminal near him. "Perhaps you can remind me of his teachings while we wait for the Captain and Demi-Percentor Tempes."
Victoria exchanged looks with Anastasia, as Adept Gallen opened the intercom with the bridge, "Captain Myers, Demi Precentor Tempes, we are ready to start testing the ECM suite. If you'd like to personally see the testing, we'll standby."
"They'll be down shortly." The bridge responded almost immediately.
"Excellent" Adept Gallen responded, then turned to face Anastasia and Victoria, "There now, as I said they are very excited to see the results of our work. Now while we wait, tell me about Precentor Ohm and his laws."
"He wasn't a…" Anastasia stopped herself, "George Ohm was a 19th century physicist from Germany. His law is an equation to relate voltage, resistance and current. This equation is used for all manner of designing, building, installing, operating and maintaining electrical systems."
"Truly he sounds gifted with the wisdom of Blake. Tell me of his contributions to our holy order."
"He was born nearly a millennium before Jerome Blake and the founding of your order. Further his law is so intrinsic to how most electronics work that I'm not sure how you'd determine his contribution."
Adept Gallen gave Anastasia a patronizing smile, "First, sister Anna, you must understand some of us believe that the order has existed long before Star League fell and Blake was compelled to shepherd us and impart his wisdom. The guiding light that Blake speaks of, even now, has always existed. Blake merely codified and compiled teachings that long existed."
Anastasia fought her desire to roll her eyes. She glanced over to Victoria who was rolling her eyes and shaking her head..
"When I first joined the order I remember one of the Adepts telling me that some of the wisdom of Blake could be traced all the way back to King Solomon. I was always fascinated by the idea that our holy order could trace its origin all the way back to ancient Terra." Acolyte Funtes said.
"Yes, indeed." Adept Gallen agreed. "So what is there to say that this George Ohm was not a member of ComStar, or however it was known in his time, and that his work was not done to advance the great cause that Blake would come to embody and teach us?"
"Common sense and basic intellect." Victoria answered.
"I'm sorry what was that, sister Victoria?"
Tempes, flanked by two ROM agents and Captain Myers came around the corner, "Ah, there you all are." The captain smiled as she pulled herself along the passageway. "I heard the ECM suite is ready for testing." Shaffer and Hap came into view several meters behind everyone else. They were handcuffed together and seemed to be having difficulty staying with the group..
When Shaffer saw Anastasia looking at them she flashed Anastasia a toothy grin, "I'm taking very good care of your husband."
Anastasia was too tired to think of a good response, and she was still concerned that anything she did, or failed to do, would illicit a violent response from Tempes. She was pleased to see Hap shake his head as he "accidentally" caught the chain of their handuffs on a handle and it caused Shaffer to unceremoniously bump into the wall.
"Hurry up you." Tempes growled at Shaffer and Hap.
"It's my fault sir, usually my dance partner is slimmer and more athletic" Hap replied.
Tempes gave Shaffer a warning look, but said nothing. Anastasia was glad that Hap was in good enough spirits to make jokes. She was so tired, it took her a second to realize Hap was referring to her as his preferred dance partner.
The Captain turned her attention to Anastasia and Victoria, "What's next ladies?"
"We still need to install the antenna, but we can put the system in a loop back test, and make sure the equipment is functioning properly with the ship's systems." Anastasia said. She was relieved to see Hap unharmed and enjoying the backhanded compliment at Shaffer's expense.
"Very well." Captain Myers said. "Let's go ahead and engage the system."
"Wait, I need to check-" Anastasia glanced over to see Acolyte Fuentes turn on the system he had just plugged in. At the same time Adept Gallen pulled Victoria over to the terminal and motioned to her to turn on the other systems. She shrugged as she started to remotely activate everything they had installed.
There was a loud pop from the system next to Acolyte Fuents and every other light along the passageway went out.
"What just happened?" Captain Myers
"If we're lucky we just blew a fuse." Victoria said as she looked at Acolyte Fuentes, "because someone can't follow simple instructions unless it's matching colors and shapes."
"This garbage Cappellan equipment isn't built to Star League standards. It's no wonder this happened." Acolyte Fuentes said, "We should remove all of it before it damages the ship."
Captain Myers looked at Tempes. He cleared his throat, and gestured to the smoking device. "Anastasia, what is the device that is 'malfunctioning'?"
"It's a power amplifier."
"Please examine the power amplifier and tell us if it can be repaired." Tempes's tone was deceptively polite.
Anastasia pulled herself over to the power amplifier, unplugged all the cables and then opened the access panel. A thin cloud of smoke and a smell of ozone was released as Anastasia examined the power amplifiers internals. She found the fuse box and pulled out a dark colored piece of plastic that incased metal leads. The metal leads were discolored and blackened. She looked at the other fuses, but only one seemed to have been blown.
"It looks like we blew a fuse. Allow me to replace the fuse, and replug in these cables and we'll see if it's a problem with the equipment." Anastasia handed the ruined fuse to Acolyte Fuentes, "Please find a replacement for this 30 amp fuse. It's a standard fuse. Green plastic, 30 printed on the side. Think you can find one like this?"
Fuentes looked back to Tempes, and Tempes motioned for him to go. Before he angrily pulled away Anastasia took the wire diagram from him. She examined the cables and found Chinese symbols printed on tags on each one that were like the ones on the wire diagram. It took her a few moments to match cables to the diagram. She was so tired she her mind was feeling thick and slow. Her hands shook as she tried to line up cables.
Captain Myers approached Anastasia and watched her work, "When was the last time you slept Leftenant?"
Anastasia stopped and looked over her shoulder at the ship's captain. "I haven't slept since we were taken aboard."
"That was over 36 hours ago." Captain Myers looked around at Victoria, Acolyte Fuentes and Adept Gallen. "Fuentes, Gallen, have you slept?"
"Yes, Captain. Fuentes and I have been on the standard work shift."
"Corvus, what about you?"
"I've been on the same schedule as Anastasia."
"You both need sleep now. Take 8 hours immediately." Captain Myers told both women.
Captain Myers floated back to Tempes, "I know you want this equipment online now, but we're running the engineers too hard. More mistakes are going to happen."
"Agreed." Tempes said, "I'm confident the crew and Leftenant Calahad are doing their best." Tempes looked over at Anastasia. She was looking at Hap.
Adept Reilly joined the group, "What just happened? I saw one of the circuit breakers tripped."
"Equipment was misinstalled." Captain Myers said. "The team is going to rest and try again in 8 hours." The Captain motioned to Victoria and Anastasia to leave.
Victoria pulled Anastasia away from the group, "Come on I'll show you the engineers berthing area."
----
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
121,Chapter