Posted by Lieutenant Meredith Monroe (Chief Engineer) in Main Sim - Main Engineering (Attn Cadet Paul)

Posted by Cadet Grayson Paul (Engineer) in Main Sim - Main Engineering (Attn Cadet Paul)

Posted by Lieutenant Meredith Monroe (Chief Engineer) in Main Sim - Main Engineering (Attn Cadet Paul)
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
SNIP
OOC: As a reminder to our cadets, there is a wonderful trove of rp related documents (along with our government charters and the like) stored in our library. In this sim, particularly for our more engineering minded cadets, I point to the entry on the Monolith-class: https://www.star-fleet.com/library/bookshelf/tm/monolith.html

IC: The computer popped open the engineering file for the class of ship reasonably quickly, the display showing three dimensional outputs of the ship structure along with information related to her complement and system implementation. It was dull. As dull as a ship can get honestly. Cargo ships with small complements meant to move things from one point to the other, they didn’t make for effective much of anything beyond that.

The Potterfield specifically, was only mildly more interesting. The data that Commander Jackson had provided showed that the ship was transporting biological science samples and other supplies to a research station, but her beacon had her off course. Further data indicated that of the twenty, five crew members had isolated themselves in the sickbay on deck three.

Scans when the Challenger first arrived on the scene also showed the following engineering anomalies: The warp core had been taken offline but was operational, along with weapon systems, communication systems (except for the automated distress beacon), and transporter systems. Power systems were online, but in low power mode, providing power to life support on deck three only. The only way on or off of the Potterfield was site to site transfers from the Challenger or to land a shuttle manually and even then the crew would have a hard time doing much of anything except float around what appeared to be a hothouse of plant life, and something else roaming around in there.

In short, engineering was faced with the following problem: How was a ghost ship, with a quarter crew, filled with plant life, and what exactly was the Challenger going to do about it?

GM

After staring at the specs and sensor logs for about fifteen minutes, Grayson stood, stuffing the last of the biscuit into his mouth and returned to Lieutenant Monroe.

“Ma’am,” he began. “I’ve been going over the data, and I can’t find anything wrong with the ship. Other than the jungle which seems to have inexplicably grown only on Deck 3. It’s weird, but nothing some machetes and good old fashioned weed killer couldn’t handle. If we can get the growth under control, I don’t see why we couldn’t just go turn the lights back on.”
Cadet Paul, Engineer.

“Good work cadet” said Meredith, offering Paul another biscuit as she spoke.

“If ye are confident in your conclusions, ye can go and take your report to the Captain on the bridge. Hopefully the science boys can come up with something a bit less strenuous than an old fashioned machete.”

She paused and appeared to consider something.

“Are ye up to date with your EVA qualifications? Might just be a wee trip in our future.”

Lt Monroe - Chief Engineer

“Oh I’m up to date,” Grayson looked wary, and waved off the second biscuit, “And I don’t get too sick. Anymore. But I do have a tendency to become disoriented. I don’t know, something about just the vast emptiness of space throws me off. If we’re suited up, but inside a ship I should be fine. But don’t worry, if you need me outside, I’ll do it, just don’t expect me to like it.”

Grayson held up his PaDD, “So, L.T., shall I take this to the Cap now?”
Cadet Paul, Engineer

“Aye, best run that up to him now, he’s likely on the bridge or in his ready room.”

Meredith paused for a moment and then nodded her head in the direction of the door.

“On the way I’d be thinkin’ about ways to clear the veggies oot of the way and how best to restart the systems with life support doon for most of the ship. Cap’n Rhodes likes it when Cadets bring him solutions as well as problems, aye?”

Lt Monroe - Chief Engineer

“Will do,” the Cadet tossed the Lieutenant a hasty salute as he turned and walked out of engineering. As he did so, a multitude of thoughts flooded his mind.

First, he was taking a report to the bridge, to the Captain! Grayson held a healthy respect for the position of master of the vessel, and Grayson didn’t know Captain Rhodes personally so didn’t have an opinion of the man one way or the other. But, the stakes were high here. His report could play a role in the recovery of the Potterfield…in the recovery of those five souls trapped (or imprisoned) in Sickbay.

Second, Grayson didn’t like problems. He did like solutions, much like the Captain, according to Lt. Monroe. It was true though, as far as he could tell the Potterfield would operate normally once the engines were brought back to full power. The problem is twofold, Grayson thought as he neared the turbolift doors, One, how do we get rid of the plants, and two, where are the missing Potterfield crew members?

Entering the turbolift, Grayson held the PaDD in his right hand as he tapped commands into it with his left, and barked, “Bridge.” He began speaking aloud, “When we tend to gardens, we have to pull weeds. Of course, you have to make sure you get the root system out else it’ll grow back. Is this situation any different than weeding a garden?”
Cadet Paul, Engineer