Chapter 16.
Learning curve.
(Scott POV)
I was in my holodeck resuming my Red Dead Redemption 2 programme.
I was in the middle of Talking with Dutch and Hosea. The day after that thing at the Alder's barn. Which was brought Sadie back to the group. Then Dutch disappeared as did Hosea.
"Computer. Restore characters in program McCall Red Dead 1," I said.
"Unable to comply, there has been a disruption of power to energy grid Beta 4," Computer said.
"McCall to Bridge, Report," I said.
"We're experiencing power fluctuations on Deck 6, Captain, Tuvok is investigating," Chakotay said.
"Keep me informed. McCall out," I said.
"Computer end program," I said.
As it closed it off.
Then I returned to my quarters and got changed into my uniform and headed to the Bridge and went into my Ready room.
"Captain log, Stardate 48846.5. Ordinarily the loss of a gel pack would be a minor inconvenience, but here in the Delta Quadrant, it's a reminder of the precarious nature of our journey, End log,"
Then the door bell rang.
"Come in," I said.
Then Tuvok and Chakotay came in.
"I take it you found out what happened?" I said.
"Yes," Chakotay said.
"I don't understand The gel pack have an extremely reliable track record, It's almost impossible to damage them, Why did this one malfunction?" I said.
"Unknown," Tuvok said. "Lt Torres is running a materials analysis on the gel pack, In the meantime the unit has been replaced,"
"How many do we have left in reserve," I said.
"47," Tuvok said.
"Those gel packs run half the critical systems on this ship, Once they run out, that's it," I said. "We can't replicate now ones,"
"It might be possible to switch over some systems to conventional isolinear circuits," Chakotay said.
"Great B'Elanna to get started on it," I said.
There is one other matter I wish to discuss," Tuvok said. "I am concerned about Crewman Dalby, He attempted to make unauthorized repairs on the damaged gel pack, When I confronted him, he lost control,"
"How so?" I said.
"He became extremely angry, to the point of insubordination," Tuvok said.
"Dalby," I said. "I've heard complaints about him from others,"
"Indeed," Tuvok said. "This is not the 1st incident involving Mr. Dalby, Last week he was found tampering with the ship's systems to increase a friend's replicator rations, and he has missed 3 of his last 10 duty shifts,"
"Commander you know Dalby better than I do, Any idea what might be bothering him?" I said.
"Dalby's always been pretty aggressive," Chakotay said. "My guess is the man's frustrated, he's not used to dealing with Starfleet Protocol and procedure,"
"A starship cannot run without protocols," Tuvok said. "Mr. Dalby's attitude is disrupting this vessel's operations,"
"What do you suggest, Dragging him in front of a disciplinary board?" Chakotay said.
"Perhaps that would be the best approach," Tuvok said.
"Doubt that's going to help, Dalby's not the only Maquis who's having problems adjusting and besides, it's not only a matter of attitude, It's also a matter of experience, It's not fair to expect Starfleet behaviour from people who never went to the academy," I said.
"What do you propose?" Tuvok said.
"We need to bring some of these people up to speed, instruct them in how to run a Starfleet Vessel," I said. "Show them why we do things the way we do, Give them an opportunity to feel like they're part of the team,"
"A crash course in Starfleet operations," Chakotay said. "Field training,"
"Exactly," I said. "So, what do you think, Tuvok? Are you up to training group of raw Cadets?"
"Me?" Tuvok said.
"You taught at the Academy for 16 years," I said. "You'd be perfect for the job,"
"Commander Chakotay would be a more logical choice to be their instructor, He is a Maquis, As well as their former Captain," Tuvok said.
"That's my point, He doesn't have to earn their respect," I said. "We do,"
"Very well, Captain," Tuvok said. "I will prepare a curriculum,"
"Commander, pick out the Maquis crew members you feel would benefit most from the training," I said. "Have them report to Lt. Tuvok at the next duty shift,"
"Right," Chakotay said. "Don't worry Tuvok, I'll tell them to take it easy in you,"
Then Both Chakotay and Tuvok left.
XXX
I was back on bridge went.
"Captain, we got another power failure," Harry said.
"Where?" I said.
"Deck 4 Section 9-C," Harry said.
"Gel pack," I said.
"Yes," Harry said.
"Bridge to Engineering, report," I said.
"It's another malfunction in the Bio-neural circuitry," Torres said. "We're putting a repair crew on it now, Torres out,"
Not to much later, Torres told me what was going on and I told her to speed up on the Isoline Circuitry as fast as she could.
XXX
I was in the Ready room after Tuvok and Torres has a possible source.
"Captain's logs, Stardate 48859.3, Tuvok has reported what maybe a possible explanation for the infection in the Bio-neural gel packs, I have asked Lt. Torres and her team to investigate Neelix's kitchen,"
Then We lost some more gel packs.
An hour or 2 later it happened again but the engines whined.
"Sickbay to Bridge, Captain what seems to be happening?" Doc said.
"We're losing more bio0neural circuitry, Doc, all systems are being affected, please tell me you have some good news about a treatment," I said.
"I'm afraid not. Frankly, I'm at a loss, But we'll keep trying," Doc said.
"Please do, McCall out," I said ending the channel.
Then we shook again.
"Inertial Dampeners are malfunctioning," Harry said.
"From the Gel packs, Paris all stop," I said.
"Yes," Harry said.
"We are at full stop now, Captain," Paris said.
"Anything on long range," Kat said.
"Nothing," Chakotay said who was at Tactical.
"Captain the Bio0neural network is failing sequentially," Harry said. "We are losing systems faster than we can compensate with backups,"
"Red alert," I said.
"What about changing over to Isolinear circuitry?" Kat said.
"Torres is working on it, but It's a long way from being ready," Harry said. "It couldn't even maintain life support at this point,"
"Propulsion is down," Paris said.
"Every system on the main grid is down, communications, transporter, Turbo lifts and life support," Harry said.
"Bridge to Engineering," I said.
"Torres here, Captain," Torres said.
"Transfer whatever power you can to life support and keep working on the Isolinear circuitry," I said.
"Understood," Torres said.
"Captain, Life support is failing," Harry said. "Deck 15 has lost all power, and Deck 7 has lost its gravitational grid,"
"Sickbay to Bridge," Doc said.
"Tell me you good some good news, Doc," I said.
"Captain, I believe we may have something," Doc said.
"Go ahead, Doc," I said.
"The gel packs are incapable of responding to an infection in the same way that humanoid organisms do," Doc said.
"With a fever," I said.
"Exactly," Doc said. "We've experimented with heating the samples of bio-neural circuitry we have here, and the results are promising, Of course we don't have the ability to produce the amount of heat needed to wipe out a shipwide infection,"
"McCall to Torres," I said.
"Torres here," Torres said.
"If we wanted to superheat the gel pack system to raise its temperature so to speak how could we do it?" I said.
"I suppose we could infuse the gel pack circuits with a high- energy plasma burst from a symmetric warp field," Torres said.
"But we'd have to generate that heat by inverting the warp field towards the ship," I said.
"Right, We could produce the required energy by getting the warp engines to 80% of maximum while we're standing still, Then we could initiate the Plasma burst," Torres said.
"Can we get to 80% with all the control failure we have?" I said.
"If we reroute the emergency power to the warp engines, It might be enough, but it's a risky move," Torres said.
"I'm aware of that but we have to try it, Divert all power, including life support to the warp engines," I said.
"Aye, Captain," Torres said.
"Tom, deactivate the nacelle control system and prepare to engage the warp engines," I said.
"Nacelle controls deactivated, Ready to go," Tom said.
"Do it," I said.
"I don't know about the bacteria, but I'm ready to pass out," Tom said.
"Engines are only at 74% of maximum," Kat said.
"That's not enough for a plasma burst," Chakotay said.
"Tom, increase antimatter flow," I said.
"It's having an effect, Captain, Temperature is at 340 Kelvins, can we get the engines a little hotter?" Harry said.
"Tom, get us to 80% of maximum somehow," I said.
"I'll try," Tom said.
"Okay, we're at 360 Kelvins," Harry said.
"Engines at 79% of maximum," Kat said. "We can risk it,"
"Bridge to Torres Initiate the Plasma Burst," I said.
"Aye captain. But be prepared, It might blow out some of the conduits," Torres said.
"Acknowledged, Do it," I said.
XXX
"Bridge to Sickbay, Report," I said.
"Bacteria level are dropping Captain, if they continue, we should be able to purge the system within a few minutes," Doc said.
"Keep me informed, We need life support back on line," I said. "As soon as possible,"
"I'll get back to you right away, Captain," Doc said.
"Harry how much life support do we still have," I said.
"30% and Dropping," Harry said.
"Sickbay to Bridge, Repeat sickbay to bridge, can anyone hear me?" Doc said.
"Go ahead, Doctor," Kat said.
"All of the infectious bacteria have been destroyed, the danger of further infection has passed," Doc said.
"Harry, Start getting our systems back online, Life support first," I said.
"Aye captain," Harry said.
XXX
After 2 hours.
"Life support back online," Harry said.
"Warp drive, online," Tom said.
"How long to finish the rest," I said.
"Another 2 hours or so, Captain," Harry said.
"Good, Tom. Resume course for home Maximum warp," I said.
"Aye captain," Tom said. Engaging the Warp drive.
That's all for this chapter.
More to follow.
Stay tuned
Stay Safe.
Season 1 is finished.
PEACE!