Main Engineering had finally settled into something approaching routine. For M’Mera, routine was welcome.

The Merrimack had completed her latest mission, the major systems were operating within specifications, and Engineering had finally begun working through the maintenance list that inevitably accumulated while the ship was occupied with more important matters.

M’Mera was reviewing that list when an Engineering technician approached. “Lieutenant, we have something odd in the secondary power grid.”

M’Mera’s ears perked forward. “Define odd.”

“Power consumption.” The technician transferred the readings to M’Mera’s console. There was nothing remarkable about the total draw. What caught M’Mera’s attention was where the power was going.

Deck Seven.

“Computerr, identify ssysstemss drrawing powerr from EPS Junction Sseven-Bakerr.”

=^= Environmental systems, corridor illumination, internal sensors and auxiliary power distribution. =^=The computer responded. All perfectly ordinary, M’Mera mused.
Except the numbers did not balance, she ran the calculation again. There was a continuous 2.3-kilowatt draw that the computer could not associate with any registered system.

“Could be a bad sensor,” the technician suggested. M’Mera’s tail flicked once behind her. “Could be.” Then the unexplained draw disappeared. The technician looked at her in her surprise and M’Mera looked back at him, a low growl moving through her chest as she peered at the readings again.

Three seconds later, it returned. Exactly 2.3 kilowatts. “Computerr, rrun a diagnosstic on EPS Junction Sseven-Bakerr.”

=^= Junction Seven-Baker is operating within established parameters. =^=The computer informed the both of them.

“Trrace the unaccounted powerr conssumption to its terrmination point.” M’Mera ordered. There was a pause.

=^= Unable to comply. Power distribution records indicate no unaccounted consumption. =^= M’Mera slowly looked back toward the display.

The Engineering sensors clearly showed the power leaving the junction. The computer insisted that it wasn’t.

Now that was interesting, M’Mera mused to herself, before she picked up an engineering tricorder and stepped away from the console.

“I’m going to Deck Sseven.” She glanced toward the technician. “Keep watching Sseven-Bakerr. If that powerr drraw changess while I’m down therre, tell me immediately.”
The tricorder snapped open in her hand as she headed for the turbolift. There were few things M’Mera disliked more than losing track of power aboard her own ship. And somewhere on Deck Seven, 2.3 kilowatts of the Merrimack’s power were going somewhere they weren’t supposed to exist.

Lieutenant M’Mera
Chief Engineer
USS Merrimack

This gives M’Mera a contained Engineering side mystery that can involve maintenance tunnels, old ship modifications, a forgotten piece of equipment, or something more unusual depending on where you want the side sim to go.