The CE looked at both of the Ensigns and smiled “I have rebuilt this engine from the ground up and I know what is wrong with it. I want both of you to work together not against each other. You have intill the end of the day” he said as he left to help another group.

Lt. Riley O’Nell (CE)

OOC: I’m assuming ENS Boras is a Nameless Ensign I can detail as needed. If that is incorrect, just let me know, and I’ll backtrack

IC:
Ensign Waryn watched the Chief leave before turning back to Ensign Boras. “That was… odd. Is Lieutenant O’Nell always like that?”

The Arkarian Ensign just shrugged and gave a rueful expression. “I’ve only been here a month… I certainly don’t have him figured out.”

Izak moved closer to his new crewmate and extended a hand with a smile, “Izak Waryn… the New Guy.”

Boras chuckled and accepted the handshake. “Boras… former New Guy. Thanks for relieving me.”

“Your welcome, I think.” Izak went back to his diagnostic station and sent his results to Boras for a second opinion. “What did you do before I showed up?”

“The same diagnostic, but I didn’t think to run those secondary scans,” Boras admitted. “I did go over the logs, though, and found that the interference started shortly after 1300.”

Izak raised an eyebrow. “Well, that’s interesting. I guess I’ll contact Ops and request access to the sensors.”

“You’re not going to try increasing the plasma levels to the warp coils? I thought that was a novel idea.”

Ensign Waryn laughed. “I’m not going to try an unapproved procedure without permission on my first day. The Chief said this was our problem to solve, so unless you have the juice to authorize that test…” Boras shook his head emphatically. “… then I guess we’re looking for alternative solutions.”

The Arkarian shrugged again and went back to his own station.

OOC: This feels like a side sim at the moment, but I’ll post updates in chunks rather than dropping a massive text wall. (its also easier to complete a smaller post between errands and chores.

ENS Izak Waryn
Engineering Junior Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

A quick call to the Duty Operations Manager had gained the two Ensigns access to use the ship’s sensors, and they had been engrossed in their analysis for more time than either cared to admit. Izak caught the mildly amused looks of a few other Engineering Ensigns as they walked by, which only made him buckle down harder to find the cause of the warp field interference.

“Security was running checks on the shield emitters,” Bolas said after some time. “But there is no hint of abnormal gravitons that might have caused the interference with the warp field.”

Izak raised his eyebrows, impressed with the line of thought. “I wouldn’t have thought to check that. Were deflector systems one of your focuses at the academy?”

Boras nodded. “Yes. Shields, Phasers, and torpedoes.”

ENS Waryn nodded. “A tactical engineer, then. I’m more of a power, propulsion, and computer guy. Which makes it all the more annoying that I can’t figure this out.” His latest sensor scan was completed, showing no useful results. “Damn! Sensors don’t show any external signals or distortions that could cause the fluctuations the Chief found. Any luck on your end?”

“No… none of the non-engineering ships’ systems seem to be causing the interference either,” Boras replied, shrugging again. “Do you think we should-“

“No,” Izak cut him off. “The Chief assigned this to us.” ENS Waryn wasn’t about to fail at the first task given to him by his new boss.” He thought for a moment… his mind racing through increasingly unlikely probabilities.

“Omega molecules.” He said, finally. “The explosion of a single molecule could disrupt subspace for light-years in every direction. If it was far enough away, it might only cause the interference we’re seeing… and it would be well outside of the Ark Angel’s high-resolution sensor range.”

ENS Boras frowned. “Really? I mean, it’s a technically sound idea, but the probability of an Omega molecule explosion in this sector…” He shrugged, clearly not thinking it very likely.

“Unless you have a better idea, I say we hit the sensors again and try to narrow our focus.” Izak went back to work on his diagnostic console without waiting for his partner’s response.

Boras frowned and watched his fellow Ensign for a few moments, but then resumed work on his own station.

ENS Izak Waryn
Engineering Junior Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel

“Izak… we have to call the Chief.” Boras said, voicing what ENS Waryn already knew to be the truth. He’d realized it about 10 minutes ago when the amused expressions of the other engineering officers turned to faintly worried. Or pitying.

Together, Boras and Izak had scoured every option they could think of and reasonably attempt on their own. Everything seem to point to the warp coils themselves, but all the diagnostics they could run without impacting the system turned up nothing. They either needed to take the coils offline for a full diagnostic… or attempt some potentially risky off the books procedure. Either way, they needed help to do it.

It became clear that that was the point all along, but it only made Izak more frustrated. Not at the nature of the test… just that he’d totally missed the point in his stubborn attempt to do everything himself.

“You’re right Boras. Sorry to drag you down with me.” ENS Waryn said.

“Nonsense…” Boras said, trying to cheer him up. “We still have 15 minutes until the end of shift. The day’s not over just yet.”

Izak gave a faint smile, but didn’t feel it. He looked around Main Engineering and saw the Chief talking to the oncoming Engineering Duty Officer for Beta Shift. Ensigns Waryn and Boras approached and waited for an opening. “Chief… Ensign Boras and I need your help to solve the interference with the warp field.

ENS Izak Waryn
Engineering Junior Officer
U.S.S. Ark Angel