Chapter 2
The two senior officers stepped off the transporter pad and advanced through the doors into the adjacent corridor. Johnson stared around at the area, at the ships grey- blue walls, the overhead lighting set just above his head, and at the deep red carpeting that donned the passageway. "Twenty three decks, computer systems augmented through the crystalline power matrix. Three shuttlecraft tucked away out back," commander Johnson recited. "Very good, commander. You're beginning to redeem yourself!" the captain and commander stepped into a nearby turbolift and proceeded to engineering. A computerised voice signalled they had arrived. "Deck twelve, Main engineering. Proceed."
The Warp core shone out above all else in the room. It was a massive column of light that stretched all the way up to the third floor. The cores design is extremely streamlined for its function but what it lacks in size it makes up for in power. Hexagon- like shapes of light moved around inside the core; the Geodyne-pressurised warp reaction creating a magnificent light show. At the very bottom of the core lay a man dressed in his engineering uniform. He was playing around with a piece of technology that was inserted into the casing of the core. He was muttering something to himself, or perhaps to whomever it was that was close enough to listen. "Damn Nanite infuser! Starfleet assured me this thing would work properly! Its not enough that they insert these things into my key systems, now Starfleet wants me to perform maintenance on them!" He clearly did not notice the captain and tactical officer approach. Anderson leaned down on one knee and peered into the casing. "Is there a problem, lieutenant?" Richards, surprised by the captain's presence, shot up and banged his head against the top of the open panel. "Aargh! No, captain. I mean Yes- Sorry, sir, I'm.I didn't see you come in!" Anderson helped the lieutenant to his feet before introductions began. "Commander Johnson, this is lieutenant mark Richards chief of engineering, lieutenant, this is commander Andrew Johnson. He'll be making use of those weapons you look after." The pair shook hands and said their hellos. "What was the problem?" Said commander Johnson. "It's this new experiment Starfleet has deemed the Eternity ready to test: Nanite- infused systems." Johnson wore a puzzled look on his face. "Nanites?" This time the captain broke into the conversation. "Nanites are a new microscopic engineering aid. In extreme situations when engineers are required to focus on singular systems, the Nanite machines are released through a series of infusers into damaged primary systems and fix them." "I wouldn't mind having the technology if it worked properly, but this is the third Nanite infuser I've had to fix today," Richards stared glumly at the tool he held in his hand. "We'd best leave you to it then, lieutenant," said the Captain. "I want every system running at full capacity by the time we leave in eight hours." Richards sighed in his mind. There was one thing about captains that never changed, whoever they were: They always asked the impossible of the engineers. However the lieutenant had learned through looking at the work of past engineers and present that it was strangely possible make impossible tasks.well, possible.
"Captain on the bridge!" A man stationed at the Operations position yelled. Immediately all personnel stood to attention. "At ease. Prompt as ever, lieutenant," the captain said to the ops officer, before he leaned toward Johnson. "Lieutenant Casey. He's a little over- excited at the prospect of leaving soon. I'll leave you to familiarise yourself with the ship and crew. Your stations on the left, though I'm sure you knew that already. Good day, commander." Captain Anderson left Andrew to take in the view.
The Bridge was larger than he had expected. They always were. At the front of the bridge towered the viewscreen, at present focussed on earth. Just a little beyond was helm control, its control- interfaces the Starfleet standard since 2750: differing shades of blue with the occasional button tinted green or white. The chair was a shade of dark green. Johnson found this strange even on the schematics, as all other chairs on the bridge were a darker blue- grey. Perhaps it was the symbol of the responsibility that helm control embodied. Then again, being placed in control of weapons of mass destruction was itself a pretty weighty responsibility. The Captains chair was situated at the centre of the room with a First Officers chair beside it on the left. A silver rail separated the back of the bridge to the rest of it bar two sets of steps that led up to it. Dead centre of this back- wall was the schematic cut away of the ship. When you looked at this it really began to dawn on you how large a project the Eternity was. Beside it on the far left was his station and on the right, Ops. Two doors on either side of the bridge led to the Captains ready room and the Conference room. Another door next to Ops led back to the turbolift he had just left. The lieutenant was still there. Johnson decided to introduce himself. "Lieutenant Casey? I'm commander Johnson. I'm the chief tactical officer. Nice to meet you." Casey reciprocated Andrews' gesture by holding out his own hand to the commanders. "Nice to meet you too, sir. My first official bridge posting, sir. I'm in charge of Ops. I'm very excited." I'd never have guessed, thought Johnson. "I'd best get back to my work, sir. Perhaps we can talk later, in the Canteen, or at Jexals?" Ah yes, Jexals. He'd heard about that. The ships very own restaurant, entertainment facility and general fun- place to be on the ship. "That'd be good. I'll see you later." Looking around, Johnson tried to pinpoint anyone else he could talk with. All the people seemed busy. He glanced briefly at his own console, which was manned by someone. However itching he was to get to know his workspace, he really needed to get to his quarters and clean up before their departure. There'd be plenty of time for weapons banks later, - after a shave.
The two senior officers stepped off the transporter pad and advanced through the doors into the adjacent corridor. Johnson stared around at the area, at the ships grey- blue walls, the overhead lighting set just above his head, and at the deep red carpeting that donned the passageway. "Twenty three decks, computer systems augmented through the crystalline power matrix. Three shuttlecraft tucked away out back," commander Johnson recited. "Very good, commander. You're beginning to redeem yourself!" the captain and commander stepped into a nearby turbolift and proceeded to engineering. A computerised voice signalled they had arrived. "Deck twelve, Main engineering. Proceed."
The Warp core shone out above all else in the room. It was a massive column of light that stretched all the way up to the third floor. The cores design is extremely streamlined for its function but what it lacks in size it makes up for in power. Hexagon- like shapes of light moved around inside the core; the Geodyne-pressurised warp reaction creating a magnificent light show. At the very bottom of the core lay a man dressed in his engineering uniform. He was playing around with a piece of technology that was inserted into the casing of the core. He was muttering something to himself, or perhaps to whomever it was that was close enough to listen. "Damn Nanite infuser! Starfleet assured me this thing would work properly! Its not enough that they insert these things into my key systems, now Starfleet wants me to perform maintenance on them!" He clearly did not notice the captain and tactical officer approach. Anderson leaned down on one knee and peered into the casing. "Is there a problem, lieutenant?" Richards, surprised by the captain's presence, shot up and banged his head against the top of the open panel. "Aargh! No, captain. I mean Yes- Sorry, sir, I'm.I didn't see you come in!" Anderson helped the lieutenant to his feet before introductions began. "Commander Johnson, this is lieutenant mark Richards chief of engineering, lieutenant, this is commander Andrew Johnson. He'll be making use of those weapons you look after." The pair shook hands and said their hellos. "What was the problem?" Said commander Johnson. "It's this new experiment Starfleet has deemed the Eternity ready to test: Nanite- infused systems." Johnson wore a puzzled look on his face. "Nanites?" This time the captain broke into the conversation. "Nanites are a new microscopic engineering aid. In extreme situations when engineers are required to focus on singular systems, the Nanite machines are released through a series of infusers into damaged primary systems and fix them." "I wouldn't mind having the technology if it worked properly, but this is the third Nanite infuser I've had to fix today," Richards stared glumly at the tool he held in his hand. "We'd best leave you to it then, lieutenant," said the Captain. "I want every system running at full capacity by the time we leave in eight hours." Richards sighed in his mind. There was one thing about captains that never changed, whoever they were: They always asked the impossible of the engineers. However the lieutenant had learned through looking at the work of past engineers and present that it was strangely possible make impossible tasks.well, possible.
"Captain on the bridge!" A man stationed at the Operations position yelled. Immediately all personnel stood to attention. "At ease. Prompt as ever, lieutenant," the captain said to the ops officer, before he leaned toward Johnson. "Lieutenant Casey. He's a little over- excited at the prospect of leaving soon. I'll leave you to familiarise yourself with the ship and crew. Your stations on the left, though I'm sure you knew that already. Good day, commander." Captain Anderson left Andrew to take in the view.
The Bridge was larger than he had expected. They always were. At the front of the bridge towered the viewscreen, at present focussed on earth. Just a little beyond was helm control, its control- interfaces the Starfleet standard since 2750: differing shades of blue with the occasional button tinted green or white. The chair was a shade of dark green. Johnson found this strange even on the schematics, as all other chairs on the bridge were a darker blue- grey. Perhaps it was the symbol of the responsibility that helm control embodied. Then again, being placed in control of weapons of mass destruction was itself a pretty weighty responsibility. The Captains chair was situated at the centre of the room with a First Officers chair beside it on the left. A silver rail separated the back of the bridge to the rest of it bar two sets of steps that led up to it. Dead centre of this back- wall was the schematic cut away of the ship. When you looked at this it really began to dawn on you how large a project the Eternity was. Beside it on the far left was his station and on the right, Ops. Two doors on either side of the bridge led to the Captains ready room and the Conference room. Another door next to Ops led back to the turbolift he had just left. The lieutenant was still there. Johnson decided to introduce himself. "Lieutenant Casey? I'm commander Johnson. I'm the chief tactical officer. Nice to meet you." Casey reciprocated Andrews' gesture by holding out his own hand to the commanders. "Nice to meet you too, sir. My first official bridge posting, sir. I'm in charge of Ops. I'm very excited." I'd never have guessed, thought Johnson. "I'd best get back to my work, sir. Perhaps we can talk later, in the Canteen, or at Jexals?" Ah yes, Jexals. He'd heard about that. The ships very own restaurant, entertainment facility and general fun- place to be on the ship. "That'd be good. I'll see you later." Looking around, Johnson tried to pinpoint anyone else he could talk with. All the people seemed busy. He glanced briefly at his own console, which was manned by someone. However itching he was to get to know his workspace, he really needed to get to his quarters and clean up before their departure. There'd be plenty of time for weapons banks later, - after a shave.