Ghost Station (The Wandering Engineer)

by Hechtl, Chris

  “And like charges repel each other right?” a smart kid asked.

  O'Mallory nodded to him, making a mental note to keep an eye on him for later. He might make a good engineer someday down the road. “Right. Throw in force emitters to help speed them along and a force emitter that gives the fuel a heavier shadow mass than what it normally would have and walla! We've got acceleration!”

  “Because every action has an equal and opposite reaction,” the teacher interjected with a nod. O'Mallory looked at the Veraxin and then back to the watching class with a nod.

  “Exactly. Before we just used this plasma drive. But now... now we can do a bit more,” she smiled as she pointed to a plastic replica of the ship. The kids looked at it. “This has been in my office for centuries. It's pretty brittle so be careful, don't touch. It's neat because it lets us see the ship as a real world model, not something virtual,” she said waving to a nearby hologram.

  “Now, the admiral hooked us up with better emitters,” she looked over the shoulder to Mr. Warner and the captain as they came in. The class turned to see them. The exec smiled politely. The captain froze and then nodded, thawing a little at the sight of his daughter nearby. Toni was a teacher's assistant for the class. She had her camera out and was getting it all recorded though. The chief was doing her best to ignore the girl and the camera.

  O'Mallory nodded to the men. “Be with you in a minute captain,” she said with a smile over her shoulder to the men before returning her attention to the kids. “Now, as I was saying, the admiral hooked us up with repaired shield nodes. But these nodes do more than just protect the ship. Can anyone tell me what else they do?”

  The Veraxin teacher started to say something but she held up a restraining hand. The Veraxin chittered in disappointment.

  “Seem’s like she's a little excited,” Warner said softly to the captain.

  “You think?” The captain replied quietly. “I don't recall anyone ever getting into engineering until they were given an apprenticeship. I didn't anyway,” he said looking at the group of students. Most of them were adolescents under twelve.

  “Something new,” Warner said.

  “They better not expect the same on my bridge,” the captain growled.

  “Wouldn't dream of it sir. We can't afford the distraction,” Warner said politely. The captain gave him a curious look to see if he was pulling his leg and then returned his attention to the class.

  Most of the students had suggested various shielding for the nodes. One Telerite child managed to point out the roll of the nodes in hyperspace transit. But apparently that wasn't the only thing the nodes did.

  The Veraxin teacher was looking nonplussed. She didn't know either. O'Mallory let them go on for a little while and then waved a hand.

  “I gave you a hint when I explained the plasma drive,” she said. When none of them caught on she finally relented. “The nodes are another form of subspace drive,” she said, smiling.

  Even the captain blinked at that one. He looked at Warner who shrugged helplessly. They had always used the plasma drive and the RCS. Using the nodes?

  “You see, the nodes can both repel and tractor an object. That's another function by the way, to pull something closer to the ship. Or...”

  “Or pull the ship closer to something else!” A wide eyed girl with pig tails said bouncing. She clapped her hands excitedly.

  “Right!” O'Mallory said with a smile at the kid's exuberance. “We can tractor an object, say a planet, and pull the ship to it. We can also push against objects. Like oh, say the exhaust we just vented,” she said with a grin.

  “Wow!” A kid said.

  “Can we really do that?” The captain asked, turning to Warner. Warner was as confused as him.

  “Apparently so,” Warner replied slowly.

  “I assure you it is not only possible, we're going to be doing it in Antigua. That will save tons of fuel. With the plasma drive and nodes working together we'll be able to travel from the jump exit point to the planet at upwards of half C. That's half the speed of light,” O'Mallory said, pitching her lecture to the officers in the room now as much as to the kids. The kids turned to look at the officers as well. The captain nodded, putting on a sober face.

  “It seems things are looking up,” Warner said with a smile. “Right kids?” he asked. The kids cheered. He smiled.

  “Now, your teacher has a workbook we want you to look at. It's in the computer. I'm going to hand this off to Yvonne here so I can talk with the captain and the exec. But you kids be good and don't touch anything okay?”

  The kids nodded. She smiled. “Good. And if any of you are interested in engineering, let your teacher know. We'll give you some material to look over. Maybe even junior apprentice jobs if you are up for it,” she said. There were some more smiles and a few grins and excited chattering as they nodded after that was digested.

  “Good,” she patted the girl on the back and moved around the class as Yvonne waved them into motion. The kids waved good bye and kept going.

  “That was interesting,” Warner said with a nod in greeting to the chief.

  “Yes,” O'Mallory turned to look at the kids and nodded at the pig tailed girl who was waving. “It was something new to try,” she said. Toni waved to her dad and then turned her camera on Yvonne and the class.

  “I see you have an admirer. Someone to train to fill in for you?” The captain asked amused.

  “I don't know. From what she was telling me earlier she was bucking for someone else’s job.”

  “Oh?” The captain asked.

  “Yes. Yours,” O'Mallory said with a small grin. Warner chuckled.

  “I'll have to watch my back then,” the captain said dryly. “She seems a capable sort.”

  “Good to know the ship will be in good hands in the future,” Warner said diplomatically. O'Mallory nodded as the girl turned and skipped gaily to catch up with the departing class.

  “Can we really use the nodes to drive the ship?” The captain asked. “Seriously chief?”

  O'Mallory sobered and nodded, looking the captain in the eye. “I wouldn't lie about that cap. Yes, Kiev can now do it. Once we get all the nodes repaired and synched she'll get to about point six or point seven C I think. At least that's what the computer models are telling me at any rate.”

  “Wow,” Warner said, grinning. “I love it,” he said.

  “It will certainly save on fuel, but what about using the reactor?” The captain asked, trying to find a hidden flaw in the plan.

  “We have to run the reactor just to run the plasma drive captain. Before we had just enough energy to run what we had. Now we've actually got too much for just the plasma drive alone. I was talking to the admiral about it when he pointed the grav drive out to me. I think he was planning it all along actually,” she said sounding miffed.

  “Sounds about right,” Warner said, sounding amused.

  “I wonder what other tech goodies he's got for us?” O'Mallory asked suddenly interested.

  “I'm not sure. I'm interested in finding out though,” the XO replied.

  “And what happens to all of this equipment when he leaves?” The captain demanded. “Eventually it's all going to break down again you know.”

  “Probably,” O'Mallory agreed with a nod. “Eventually of course. But that's what I'm here for. Me and my people. That's why we're taking every advantage of Irons generosity as we can. I really want to make spares too. Tons and tons of spares. Which is why I wanted to talk with you. I want to renew my request for an asteroid.”

  “I'm not sure what the Antiguan's will say about that,” the captain said cautiously.

  “Well, what they don't know can't come back to haunt us,” Warner mused. The captain looked at him. He shrugged under the gaze. “Honestly captain, they are ground pounders. They aren't interested in space. All of their assets are on the planet. I doubt they'll miss one or two or even three rocks.”

  “Two or three now?” The captain asked,
raising an eyebrow at the first mate.

  “Well... I was thinking... and this is only a thought mind you,” Warner held up a cautionary hand. “What I was thinking was that we could ask the admiral to replicate his replicator. Maybe more than one. Then we can make parts and equipment that's not on the restricted list.”

  “Restricted...” the captain stared at him. “How?”

  “We can do that now,” O'Mallory said, picking up the thread and nodding. “We can replicate food now. We don't need the admiral for that. He's shown us how to make plastic and simple small objects with the food replicators as well. Even replacement parts for them. He's shown the doctor how to make medical supplies too,” she said.

  “He has?”

  “Medical supplies and tools. Even tissue and things. I understand Numiria is studying the tech now. If it works out we can start waking some of the less injured sleepers soon. Possibly in a week. Maybe sooner if she has enough confidence to try.”

  “Interesting,” Warner said. The captain wasn't so sure. He wasn't sure about having additional people in his ship using up resources.

  “The medical replicator is limited, I understand its low on nanites, but it's functional. Slow but functional,” O'Mallory said.

  “I wonder if she can do anything about my parents?” Warner asked. Both the captain and chief engineer looked at him. Slowly sympathy worked into both of their features.

  “No, you don't need to get your hopes up,” the captain cautioned.

  “Why not?” O'Mallory asked, no demanded. She looked at Warner and nodded her chin to him. “Give it a shot. Get the admiral involved. He uploaded a full medical database. I bet his AI could get into their implants and see what's gone wrong. If it's hardware we can fix it. If it's tissue, doc can give it a shot.”

  “We'll see,” the captain said.

  “She's cloning tissue now. I heard she's replicating fingers for a couple of people. One of my engineers,” O'Mallory said.

  “Really,” Warner said nodding. “I'll have to congratulate her if it works out,” he murmured diplomatically.

  “Think about it,” O'Mallory said. “But back to the drive, yes, we'll use more power. Right now the reactor is at about sixty percent efficiency. If we have the raw materials... and time,” she glared at the captain. “I... well; the admiral and my crew can replicate a new core. Maybe even a back up fusion reactor or parts. Spares,” she said.

  “I'll think about it,” the captain mused.

  “Please do. I understand we're getting to Antigua a couple of months ahead of schedule. We can use that time to get a lot done captain. Who knows?” O'Mallory said, hands up. “We could use one of the replicators to make stuff to trade with the natives! I think Blur should look into it. I tried to tell him about the plastic parts but he just rants on and on...” she sighed, shaking her head.

  “I'll have a talk with him,” Warner said.

  “No,” the captain said, adjusting the hem of his jacket and straightening. What they had said made a lot of sense. And not all the asteroids would be used by the ship. They could use some of it in trade. That would get Blur off his back. “We will have a talk. Or I should say, I will. I think this idea has merit. We can do more than move raw material. The natives will pay more for processed material, and even more for finished products.”

  “There's the spirit cap,” O'Mallory said with a nod and smile.

  “Good day chief, we'll talk again,” the captain said turning.

  “The proposal is in your inbox captain. The wild idea one...” she shrugged as they made their way to the hatch. The captain turned at the hatch, one hand on the side.

  “Wild idea?”

  “Build another ship. Or a station,” she said, voice pitched to get to them. Those around her stopped what they were doing and stared at her. She shrugged of their gaze, intent on the captain.

  “Can we do that?” Warner asked, looking at the captain uncertainly.

  “It would do something about the crowding,” someone murmured.

  “Another ship? Or a base?”

  “Think about it captain, I know I will. I have been thinking about it for some time really. And they will,” she said indicating their audience. “The future is bright indeed,” O'Mallory said as she crossed her arms. “We just have to work hard for it,” she said.

  The captain stared at her for a long moment before nodding slowly. “We do indeed. Thank you chief. I look forward to reading your proposal. Both of them,” he said walking out.

  Numiria watched a Veraxin nurse examining the chart. They now had twelve additional patients; fortunately they all took up a single bed. Ezri, another nurse was nearby working up blood cultures. The pixy like human had a nice light touch, delicate enough to draw tiny samples from their small patients.

  “I... I didn't know,” the Veraxin chittered in distress, coming over to the doctor. She signed helpless dismay with her upper arms. “I... we should have but we didn't.”

  Numiria's ears went flat as Ezri pursed her lips but didn't say anything. Instead she carried the tray off quietly. “I didn't know either. I think it was a case of willful blindness,” Numiria murmured watching Light Touch and her young helper stroke a pregnant female into relaxing in the bed. “I should have. We all should have. Seven centuries and we've overlooked them.”

  “It is wrong. We must make it right.”

  “We will,” she said with a nod. She turned to the first patient. Bloodknife was in his own bed with life support machinery hooked up to him. Fortunately they had found the plans to simple life support machinery and tools geared to elf physiology in the database the admiral had uploaded for them. It had taken a bit of scrambling to get the life support equipment she had needed but it had been completed in time.

  Bloodknife was going to live; she studied his readouts and nodded. She was sure of that now. It was touch and go for a while, but he was stable. In the morning they would work on his spine. She needed to research the procedure with Light Touch tonight. Their neurology had her particularly worried. It was so dense and tiny... she wasn't sure they could do anything. At least she couldn't.

  She had wondered how an elf could become a doctor. Or how a normal doctor could operate on an elf. Or on another larger alien for that matter. Fortunately the same database with the equipment held the answer.

  Well, one answer at any rate. For conventional medicine waldos worked both ways. The robotic arms could be built to any scale and teleoperated by the user. Good to know. She had a two sets under construction now. She had been forced to sacrifice some of her spares to get the materials for them, but she intended to make up for it when this asteroid plan was put into place.

  “Think the surgery will work?” The Veraxin asked.

  “I don't know,” she sighed with an ear flick. So much was still unknown. By rights she should take her time, keep the patient under and study the problem. Unfortunately she wasn't sure a prolonged medical coma would help or hurt him either.

  “Too bad we do not have access to medical nanites. They could go in and repair the damage. If they were small enough,” the Veraxin chittered, signally uncertainty.

  “I... you're right,” she replied and shook her head and flicked her ears. Now that they had some answers it was impossible not to be frustrated to see how far they had to go and not be able to go there right away. “We don't have them. We'll make the best out of what we've got. We owe him that,” Numiria said. She looked at the clock and sighed. It was well past dinner. She owed Lobo an apology.

  That night the captain was in his quarters with his wife. Toni their adopted daughter was off on a date in the garden. Cora was amused by her husband stubbornly clinging to old habits. He was reading with his reading glasses. He was in his chair, sitting under the reading light. When they had become a couple she had insisted on redecorating the captain's suite. Just about everything had been replaced.

  That stuffy battered old chair was the one thing he had insisted on keeping. She had even tried to
smuggle it out an airlock once but he'd caught her in the act and had a work crew return it to its proper place. He'd then welded the blasted thing to the deck so she couldn't pull that again. It was one of the few things he put his foot down about.

  Of course it meant he couldn't shift positions with the thing now, which was rather amusing. She had found out later that the chair was a legacy from the first captain of the Kiev. Its massage tools were mostly broken but it was still comfortable.

  She of course knew that from experience. When the rocking chair hadn't worked for Toni's teething issues she'd been forced to give the chair a try. Its one remaining vibrator had soothed both adopted mother and child into a doze. After that she had stopped sniping at him about the dratted old thing.

  Even if it was dusty and smelly. She wrinkled her nose in thought. She watched him adjust his glasses and then shift from one cheek to the other, trying to get comfortable without having to get up. Perhaps she'd ask O'Mallory to take a look at the thing she thought. Discretely of course. She'd long resigned herself to its presence, but if it must remain here then maybe, just maybe it could be updated. Maybe even fix the massage features? That would be nice. She smiled as she made her way over to him.

  She stroked his chest from behind him. He looked up and smiled to her. She was wearing a silk robe over her black silk teddy. He felt a familiar thrill at the view. “What are you reading?” she murmured with just the right hint of huskiness in her voice. That husky voice spoke of more delights in his near future. He smiled slightly at her tone and showed her, angling the tablet so she could see it better in the light.

  “O'Mallory's plans for Antigua?” she asked, reading the header at the top of the page. “O'Mallory? The chief really filed a report let alone a plan?” They both knew the chief was death on paperwork.

  The captain shrugged. “Apparently so,” he said looking at it again.

  “She really must be serious if she went through all that trouble of writing it down,” Cora said. She came around the chair and he made room for her as she sat in his lap. She wrapped one arm around his neck as he shifted so they both could both see the tablet.