PT 007 Xho and Theo

USS, 7:05 PM

Captain's Log: Date 3172194

USS, 7:06 PM

We stayed for one extra day on the Joined's world before leaving.  Still no coordinates home, but we now have potential new means of contacting our off-world bases.  A number of coordinates the Joined had marked as "off-limits" due to our presence.

USS, 7:09 PM

Unfortunately, as it turns out, even the best of Plane Traveling Vessels require power to function.  The intention after our first departure was to refuel between trips out from Rodan-Bari.  But, given the circumstances, this has not been possible and we are now dangerously low on power.

USS, 7:11 PM

Fortunately, the Professor has found a solution to this problem, making some alterations from the Joined's world to add energy converters to the ship's exterior hull.  Per his suggestion, we have made a jump to Void Space, where the converters are steadily at work transferring the natural radiation of the Void into consumable power.  I tried not to congratulate him too hard, but I am impressed at the ingenuity.

USS, 7:13 PM

As we restock our fuel supplies, I have relieved all non-essential crew of duty for the time being, and established shifts by which those in necessary positions can take breaks.  We've all gotten a bit tense, as our simple jump has become something a bit more uncertain.  I am hoping some downtime will rejuvenate everyone as we set about our next plan to find our way home.

USS, 7:13 PM

((So, you guys are free to either improve or take some down time or perform some side missions.  Just let me know where you're going.))

USS, 7:14 PM

((If anyone had something they wanted to have done on the Joined world, send me a ping and we can do a flashback.  Otherwise...whatever you're up for.))

Commander, 7:18 PM

Commander Xho will head to engineering first during her time off.

USS, 7:19 PM

Ok, you'd find a smaller than usual group, given the sort of lax schedule right now.  Depending on what he wants to do, Theo may or may not be there.

Theo, 7:20 PM

Theo is probably overseeing the refueling.

Commander, 7:21 PM

How is it going?

Theo, 7:22 PM

Pretty well.  I'm looking forward to seeing the converters work without imploding.

Commander, 7:23 PM

… is implosion a significant possibility?

Theo, 7:24 PM

I've gotten it down to a 1% chance in the simulations.

Theo, 7:25 PM

… from 89%, so it is signifigant.  But seeing it successful in simulations isn't the same as seeing the real things work.

Commander, 7:25 PM

Indeed not.

Commander, 7:25 PM

How many simulations?

Theo, 7:26 PM

I iterated the converters seven or eight times.

USS, 7:26 PM

ARTI: "Current scans indicated possibility raised to 4% chance of implosion."

Theo, 7:27 PM

See, it's fine.

Commander, 7:27 PM

... it would be better to reduce the chances to nearer zero; would it be better to go slower?

Theo, 7:29 PM

We're already going slowly.  1-5 percent is the best we can do under our specific conditions.

Commander, 7:29 PM

The reactor is less stable while generating less power, correct?

Theo, 7:29 PM

Ideally, we would be doing this when the engine was sitting partially disassembled in the shipyard.

Theo, 7:30 PM

Theo nods.  "Exactly.  There's a fairly delicate balance to maintain."

Commander, 7:31 PM

Even if we had a shipyard and illimitable time, disassembly would introduce another set of failure points.

Theo, 7:31 PM

But it would cut down the implosion chances.

Commander, 7:32 PM

And raise the chances for other problems.

Theo, 7:33 PM

But we're mostly talking bout the implosion chances here.

USS, 7:33 PM

ARTI: "This process requires the excess radiation of the Void Space.  To do it in a shipyard would force us out of Void Space."

Theo, 7:35 PM

We're doing the best we can under our specific circumstances.

Theo, 7:36 PM

The only way our chance of implosion would be lower is under perfectly controlled circumstances that are impossible right now, that's all I meant.

Theo, 7:36 PM

So, yes, it's going well.

Commander, 7:36 PM

Excellent.

Commander, 7:37 PM

Is there a place in engineering where a person could sit and be out of the way of your work?

Theo, 7:40 PM

Theo looks around.  "I didn't really set the place up for spectators.  Why?"

Commander, 7:40 PM

I don't need to spectate. I want to listen to the engine.

Theo, 7:40 PM

Theo studies Xho.  "Why?"

Commander, 7:41 PM

So that I know what it sounds like when it is working.

Theo, 7:41 PM

… good answer.

Theo, 7:42 PM

Theo gets up out of his seat and points at it.  "Sit here."

Commander, 7:43 PM

Surely you require a place to work.

Theo, 7:44 PM

The captain insists on me being on the bridge way too much, so I made the functions of this station redundant at several points on the ship.  But if you want to hear and feel the engines run, this is the best place.

Commander, 7:45 PM

... very well.

Commander, 7:46 PM

Commander Xho sits. "I am somewhat constrained by my duties, but when would be the least inconvenient time to come and listen?"

Theo, 7:48 PM

Probably during the shift change.

Theo, 7:48 PM

Or times like this.

Commander, 7:50 PM

Commander Xho nods.

Commander, 7:51 PM

At some point, I would like to sit down with the schematics and ask some questions.

USS, 7:51 PM

About this time there's a small alarm sound.

Theo, 7:51 PM

Theo takes out a datapad.

Commander, 7:52 PM

Ah. Implosion beckons.

Theo, 7:52 PM

No, that's a different alarm.

USS, 7:52 PM

ARTI: "Warning!  Pressure build up in cooling vent three.  Passageway obstructed."

Theo, 7:52 PM

Ugh.  Alright, into the tubes, I suppose.

Theo, 7:53 PM

Reroute to four until I get it cleared.

USS, 7:53 PM

A voice some in over your comms.  It's Cadet Smoke, the tabaxi engineer.  "I've got it!"

USS, 7:53 PM

ARTI: "Redirecting fluid."

Theo, 7:54 PM

All right, make it fast, and mind the swarmfoam matrix conduits.

Theo, 7:54 PM

… I'm not used to having a halfway competent staff.

Commander, 7:54 PM

They have exemplary records.

Theo, 7:55 PM

On my last ship I pretty much had to do everything myself.

Commander, 7:56 PM

Has it been difficult?

Theo, 7:56 PM

Adapting has been challenging.

Theo, 7:57 PM

I'm not exactly a 'people person'.  I'm sure it's been noted.

Commander, 7:58 PM

I was more referring to sharing.

Theo, 7:58 PM

Oh.  Yes.

Theo, 7:58 PM

I never had to before, really.

Theo, 7:59 PM

I was left in the hold.  Didn't have to go to parties at all.

Commander, 7:59 PM

In the long run it may be worth it.

USS, 8:00 PM

At about this point the alarm stops and a peaceful quiet is restored to the room.  Just the hum of the engine.

USS, 8:01 PM

This hum is broken by the sound of a nice jug's worth of cooling fluid bursting from a pipe and landing on Theo, dousing you in a cold blue liquid.  It's not painful, but it is uncomfortable.

Theo, 8:02 PM

...what.

USS, 8:02 PM

Smoke: "Clog's fixed.  Sent some of the spent fluid out.  Clear the pipes up."

USS, 8:02 PM

Smoke: "Everything should run a bit smoother now."

Theo, 8:02 PM

Smoke, I'm going to pull of my arm and b-beat you with it now.

Commander, 8:03 PM

Perhaps next time putting a bucket down first would be helpful.

Theo, 8:04 PM

I have to go get washed off.  Smoke, find a bucket.

Commander, 8:04 PM

Commander Xho nods.

Commander, 8:05 PM

One more thing.

Theo, 8:05 PM

You're on mopping duty now.

Theo, 8:05 PM

Yes?

USS, 8:05 PM

Smoke: "...yessir."

Commander, 8:05 PM

Let me know when you need tools or equipment. I will help with the forms.

Theo, 8:06 PM

Theo detaches his arm and turns it this way and that, letting coolant drip out of the nooks and crannies.  "Thanks.  ...wait, there are forms?"

Commander, 8:07 PM

Regrettably.

USS, 8:07 PM

There is a sort of toweling off section as well as a shower to help rinse off any dangerous chemicals.

Theo, 8:07 PM

Ugh.  Well, thanks.

Commander, 8:08 PM

However, if there is a good reason to request something, they will often send it.

Commander, 8:08 PM

... sometimes even if there is not.

Theo, 8:09 PM

Theo starts pulling his shirt off right there, wringing it out.    "I've just been making what I need, but someone who can navigate the forms is useful."

Commander, 8:10 PM

Commander Xho is far too polite to ogle.

Theo, 8:10 PM

Theo is not shy, and goes over to get decontaminated.

Commander, 8:11 PM

Let me know, Dr. Forgewight.