Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alexander Stewart (Chief Armory Officer) in Torpedo / Probe Launchers (forward)

Posted by Lieutenant Helena Laursen (Helm/Navigation Officer) in Torpedo / Probe Launchers (forward)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alexander Stewart (Chief Armory Officer) in Torpedo / Probe Launchers (forward)
Posted by… suppressed (20) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The CAO had been doing the rounds checking all his department areas for general maintenance and found himself in the Torpedo / Probe Launchers (forward) where a lowly Ensign sat swearing over the torpedo controls.

“What’s up, lad?” Stewart said as he walked in and looked at the general mess of the area where the Ensign had tools strewn all over the small area.

“Uh..hi, sir.” The Ensign stuttered as he held up a spanner. “I am trying to realign these launchers and not having a lot of luck, sir.”

“Ahh,” Said Stewart, “Ye know what we need? We need a navigatorr!” Moving over to the bulkhead by the door, Stewart toggled the comm switch.

|o| Lt. Commanderr Stewarrt to Lt. Laurrsen, Ah be in the Torrpedo / Prrobe Launcherrs (forwarrd) with an unforrtunate Ensign who be having trrouble re aligning the forrward launcherrs. Ah wonderred if we could borrow yourr experrtise for a wee bit?|o|

~Lt. Commander Alexander Stewart CAO

On the bridge, Helena hit the comm button in her station. [O]Of course, Cmde. I’ll be eight down.[C] Helena paged the reserve pilot. When he arrived she swirled in her chair and got up.

Roughly seven minutes later, Helena walked into forward Torpedo launcher bay. “What can I help with?”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

“The Ensign herre, do be having trrouble realigning these launcherrs, Ah thought it would be advisable to have ye have a looksee to be surre we arre using the correct coordinates and such beforre we play with them a wee bit morre.” Stewart said.

~Lt. Commander Alexander Stewart CAO

Helena nodded and moved over to the targeting console and then the small view screen. “Where exactly are you trying to hit?”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

The young Ensign gulped,”Umm nothing, sir. I am just trying to recalibrate as the calibration is off.”

Ensign Lowly

~Lt. Commander Alexander Stewart CAO

Helena smiled at him, “Relax Ensign. This is a common maintenance need. However, if we don’t aim for something, then we won’t know how far off the calibration is. So let’s pick something and see.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Stewart smiled as he watched Laursen work with the young Ensign, he tapped a few keys to put up the navigation map onto the viewer.”Therre ye be. Now ye can pick something to aim at.” He said to the Ensign, with a chuckle and a wink to Laursen.

~Lt. Commander Alexander Stewart CAO

“Okay, so when calibrating we bring up the simulator first. That will get us closer and not waste as many firing solutions, since we can’t just go back to Earth any old time for more. We’ll see what the computer predicts and go from there.” Laursen motioned toward the computer where the simulator was pulled up and linked to the current navigation map.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

The young Ensign nodded eagerly as he looked at the simulator display. Then he pointed excitedly, “How bout there? It’s just a non gaseous asteroid?”

~Lt. Commander Alexander Stewart CAO

“Alright, give me just a moment.” She pulled up the target on the actual navigational computer as a comparison. “Alright, go ahead and do your test fire.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

The young Ensign gleefully double checked his aim and then hit the firing mechanism. “Dead shot!” He said happily as Stewart watched on and winked at Laursen over the young man’s shoulder. He could have done that the navigator had done to help the young man but he wanted the lad to be independant and to know what to do himself and how to ask the Helm/Navigation for help. After all, Stewart himself could not be expected to run to the young man’s help all the time.

~Lt. Commander Alexander Stewart CAO

Laursen nodded to Stewart and then looked back at the Ensign. “Alright, let’s try targeting from different angles. That was a straight shot. Let’s test the full range of coverage. Then we’ll test the other tubes.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

The young man nodded excitedly as he eagerly bent over the console and entered a navigation sequence for a different angle as well as a few more for different angles.

~Lt. Commander Alexander Stewart CAO

“Alright, one at time, to make sure we can see exactly what is going on. We can try multiple shots later, but the best way to correct accuracy is one at a time,” Laursen to him.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

“Aye Ma’am,” The young Ensign said as he hit the firing sequence for the first one.

~Lt. Commander Alexander Stewart CAO

Helena watched as the ship fired off the face torpedos. The first seemed to go alright, the next one was slightly off, and by the end, the less direct the angle, the more off it was. “Give me just a moment…” she checked the sequences with the actual navigational computer. “Alright, it looks like the navigational computer and targeting computer aren’t in sync. There might be a disconnect in the wiring that links the systems. We might need an engineer up here. But let’s try a live shot just to make sure.” She looked at Stewart, “You have remote detonate on these? I’d hate to fire one off and miss and it keep going.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Stewart arched an eyebrow, “Of courrse, lass. Isn’t usually standarrd but I prreferr to be safe then sorrry. Use this code with them if you’d like to set the rremote detonate.” He moved forward and keyed in a code quickly.

~Lt. Commander Alexander Stewart CAO

Helena held up her hands. “Oh no. That’s on you Chief. I don’t directly deal with weapons,” she grinned cheekily. “Just makin’ sure we have failsafes.” She examined the targeting algorithm and the navigational computer and made an acute angle adjustment. “Alright. Whenever you two are ready.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

Stewart hit the key that triggered the remote detonation and clapped the Ensign on the shoulder,“‘Wheneverr yerr rready lad,” He said and the young Ensign leaned forward and it the firing sequence.”She’s away!” He said gleefully.

~Lt. Commander Alexander Stewart CAO

Helena watched as the torpedo sped through space toward the asteroid they had targeted.

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

The torpedo acted perfectly this time, as programmed. The alignment was fixed. The young Ensign gave a whoop of celebration which he cut off midway. Stewart chuckled and patted him on his shoulder. “Quite alrrright , lad. Good shooting. Thank ye, Lt.” He said turning to Laureen.
“Ah apprreciate yer patience with the lad. He should be able to do it on his own now. Rright lad?” He cocked an eyebrow at the Ensign who nodded affirmatively.

~Lt. Commander Alexander Stewart CAO

“No problem, glad I could help.” Helena grinned. “The theory in Academy on perfectly orchestrated simulations is a lot different t from practical application.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer

“Ah, indeed it tis. Can Ah buy you a drink in the Lunarr Rroverr, Lieutenant, to repay ye forr yer kindly assistance?” Stewart asked as he walked with her out the door into the corridor.

~Lt. Commander Alexander Stewart CAO

Laursen turned to the Ensign, “If you need help again, just call.” She patted him on the shoulder and stepped out into the corridor. “Sure, I’m off duty right now. Appreciate it.”

Lt. Laursen, Helm/Navigation Officer