Carpathia IV: Episode 299 - Joust's Day 2
The Catacombs, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Joust: First Officer's Log, continued. Engineering has their department sorted, as expected. Frankly, I expect that all areas will be running smoothly. Some face time with each of the departments, especially in times like this, is important. I'm especially curious about the new torpedo storage and extended loading devices that we're building. First, I have to get into the pylon. It's not an easy place to be, given how cramped it is and I can't even imagine what it must be like for Nalma.
Joust tapped pause on his tablet and gazed at the door leading into the starboard pylon. An ordinary door from the outside, with a simple placard stating "Starboard Pylon" but Joust knew that things would change quickly inside. Joust touched the control and the door slid open.
The moment the door opened, the noise from within made itself known. Not just construction noises, but the hum of the nacelle running at full power at the other end. It was a space with little sound deadening and conversation had to be loud to be heard. Joust stepped in and immediately had to start climbing over pipes and conduits, following the curvature of the plyon as he went with the construction noises getting closer and closer. Finally, he found them, a dozen crew preparing new tracks and torpedo cubbies. Nalma, as tall as he was and ears on top of that, had his ears pinned down the back of his head.
Joust: We need to improve access to this place.
Nalma: And make the ceiling higher.
Ramei: For you, ya gangly bastard.
Joust: Anyway, that's a problem for another day. I'm here to see if you need anything.
Nalma: Things are going well. I proposed a lift system to load the warheads, but Ramei thought something less complex would be better.
Ramei: Tracks have fewer moving parts to break and I designed a system where many of the parts can be repaired with a robotic system if necessary. Sensors monitor the track conditions and automated systems replace damaged tracks. Plenty of redundancies to go along with it. We have another team working on the other pylon.
Joust: Sounds like everything is going well.
Nalma: Come back in a couple of hours and you can see us test the automatic repair system. Ramei is looking forward to smashing the tracks.
Ramei: You damned well bet I am!
Joust: In that case, contact me when you're ready. If there's nothing else, I'll leave you to it.
Ramei: Oh, there is one thing!
Joust turned his gaze to Ramei, giving him a look that clearly communicated, "Go on."
Ramei: We're going to exhaust the matter synthesizers by the end of this. After we slow to induction, we'll need to open the nacelle collectors to pick up some stellar matter to replenish them.
Joust listened while he tapped notes into his tablet.
Joust: I've got that on my list. Anything else?
Ramei: That's all. Invite the captain for the demonstration too. If this is my last chance to have a little fun, I'm taking it.
Joust: Sounds good. Everyone holding up okay?
Ramei: As long as I stay focused on my tasks, I'll be fine.
Nalma: Same here. I feel like I've made up for my youthful indiscretions. Whatever happens, no regrets, right?
Joust: Very good. Carry on.
Corridors, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Joust: First Officer's log, continued. Ramei's gonna Ramei. It's comforting that, even in times like this, he never changes. I'm glad to see the ingenuity of the torpedo expansion. He'll make a great chief engineer someday.
Joust's next stop, the bridge, but he took a much longer route than usual to survey the ship and note anything of interest that might need attention. Thus far, nothing, everything in order, and he enjoyed a few moments of peace and quiet. That is, until he came across Trex and Shep.
Joust: Oh, good. I was hoping to come across you two.
Trex: Commander! As I live and breathe. We're just doing security rounds and stashing weapons where we can.
Shep: I find it unlikely that we'll be boarded, but we must be prepared in case.
Joust: Of course. Results so far?
Shep: Displeased. This ship was not built with security in mind. Too many long, straight corridors and not enough emergency containment doors in most areas. Frankly, the Blood Agony suffered the same problems. That's one of the reasons why we were able to be successful in our mission.
Joust: It was built before we ever knew of the vashta. I hear the Frozen Flame has updates with better security designs. Shame it isn't ready for combat, but it's working well for evacuations.
Trex: I look forward to seeing it! Assuming I live that long, but one day at a time, right?
Shep: I shall be satisfied if I live long enough to know that Carpathia will be safe. You know, one of the other reasons why we were successful in our Blood Agony mission is that nobody was trained or prepared for an infiltration. That, at least, will not be us.
Joust: I have no doubt the crew is ready for anything. If you have any recommendations that we can implement in the next day or two, get them to me or the Captain quickly.
Trex: We already have Teek and Baal stashing weapons around the bridge area and we're doing the same down here. For now, just make sure Captain Valro informs everyone that we're stashing pistols in corridor access panels if they should need one. Any panel number in a multiple of ten will have a gun in it.
Joust tapped the new note into his tablet.
Joust: ...multiples... of... ten.
Trex: Not enough to put a gun in every panel.
Joust: I'll let Captain Valro know. As you were.
Sick Bay, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Joust: First Officer's log, continued. I don't like the thought of being boarded, but I feel better with Trex and Shep getting things prepared. Next stop on the list is sick bay. It'll be my first time there since Darius left. It won't be the same without him there.
Joust paused his recording again as he stood before the sick bay doors. With a tap, they parted and he strolled inside, taking a quick look around. From somewhere down the hall, he neard Sorchae's voice.
Sorchae: Tamati, see who that is!
Moment's later, Tamati rounded the corner and spotted Joust.
Tamati: Good afternoon, Commander. Business or pleasure?
Joust: A social call, so pleasure, I suppose. I'm not in need of treatment. I just want to see how you're doing and if you need anything.
Tamati: One moment. Doctor! It's Commander Joust!
Sorchae: Be right there!
Tamati: We were finishing up a meeting. It's a good chance to provide your thoughts now that it's finished.
Before Joust had a chance to ask what the meeting was about, Sorchae entered the reception room.
Sorchae: Hello, Joust. Social call?
Joust: Just checking how you're doing and if you need anything.
Sorchae: Nothing needed, no. We're in pretty good shape. We were just discussing the upcoming battle. We intend to have half the sick bay staff spread around the ship to respond to emergencies more quickly. We're working on a list of areas that need that kind of coverage.
Joust: I imagine the triage bay is one of those places.
Sorchae: Most definitely. Which patients go where will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Factors include how injured the patient is, how close they are to any of the medical facilities, and how full those facilities are. It might get chaotic, but we will manage.
Joust tapped new notes into his tablet while Sorchae spoke.
Joust: ...how full the facilities are... Good. Anything you need, just let us know.
Sorchae: Will do, Joust.
Bridge, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Joust: First officer's log, continued. My final stop before meeting Captain Valro is the bridge. I expect to find the secondary bridge team on shift, or maybe a hybrid. I don't know if Baal and Teek are done putting in weapons or how they're doing that. I'm sure Trex gave them instructions on how it should be done and I'll find out when I get there.
The lift doors opened and Joust stepped out. His first glance was to the Captain's chair, but nobody was in it. Relief bridge officers occupied most of the other chairs while Baal and Teek huddled together under one of the consoles.
Joust: Trex mentioned that you were putting weapons on the consoles.
Teek: Commander! Yes, that's what we're doing.
Baal: For the second time, actually. We started attaching them with magnets but discovered it was too easy to knock them off. We're using a firmer attachment and getting them a little further out of the way from hitting everyone's knees.
Joust: Reasonable. Hopefully we won't need them, but it's good to have them in case. Is there anything you need?
Teek: No, but thanks. Shep got us everything we need. It's just a matter of getting them on now.
Joust suddenly noticed something unusual, a long object handing off of Baal's belt.
Joust: Oh, Baal, you're wearing your sword. Unusual for you.
Baal: Razor sharp. If there's a time to start wearing it, it's now. I'll admit that I'm getting antsy. I'm ready to kick vashta ass.
Joust: You'll get your chance. If you need anything, I'll be in the ready room with Captain Valro. As you were.
Baal: Yes, Commander.
Ready Room, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Aire examined Joust's notes, occasionally interjecting with a comment or a question. Ryuu was with him, a welcome addition.
Aire: Nothing major, which is good. You'll craft a memo about the weapons stashes to send out.
Joust: I'll do that as soon as we're finished here.
Aire: I've just received a battle plan from the Admiralty.
Joust: About time.
Aire: Yes. 58 Carpathian ships, including us, will join the battle. The rest wouldn't stand up in this kind of fight and would get picked off immediately. Some shuttles and runabouts will hold position outside the battle zone to provide support. The Neptunus, with Captain Alka, will be there, along with 32 tokki ringships, and finally, the two dragon ships. Admiral Zhang will be in command aboard the Crystal Falchion. The dragon ships will go in ahead of us. Our hope is that Lazmaedia herself will consider them the bigger threat and battle them, keeping us free to focus on the Vashta.
Ryuu: I'll be joining the dragon ships when we reach the rendezvous. White dragons like me are crucial. Our goal is to drain her energy if we can.
Joust: I like that. We'll have a better chance against the Blood Agony if Lazmaedia is busy.
Ryuu: We'll be doing everything possible to keep her attention on us.
Aire: More details to come. Those are the broad strokes. Commander, your orders between now and then are to make sure the current tasks get completed and the crew is rested and fed before the battle begins.
Joust: Resting won't be easy, but I'll make sure they have time for it.
Aire: It won't be easy for any of us. I suggest we move our discussions to the lounge so that we can at least pretend to relax.
Joust: I'll make the drinks.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Colourbrand
Falke2009
