Inspection (Part 5 of 6)

Posted on 29 Jul 2022 @ 4:24pm by Commander Morgan Tarin & Senior Chief Petty Officer Goldie Brown & Commander Scarlet Blake & Ensign Mimi & Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeysa Zeror & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen
Edited on on 29 Jul 2022 @ 4:29pm

2,833 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 3, Operations
Timeline: MD 06, 1526 hrs

Previously, on Inspection (Part 4)...

The door to sickbay parted then hissed shut behind the trio of command personnel. Another duty station was checked off the list. The cadre was back in the main corridor on deck 3 and Commander Tarin suggested their next stop. "I think Operations is next?" Both the ops office and computer core's upper level were located on the same deck.

Blake's knees were grateful for the break from the Jefferies tubes for the time being at least. She walked them down towards the Ops office, which, as the offices went, wasn't a bad addition to the ship's facilities. It still sported the trademark compact design, but it had everything the Ops personnel could need or want whilst congregated. If she'd been working in Security, she might be somewhat jealous of the Operations office.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Operations Office

Approaching the small door, Tarin tugged at the hem of her uniform jacket once more to prevent it from riding up. She would need to find a tailor soon if this kept occurring. The entrance to the administrative office swished open and she stepped through into a new world of bright, blinking LCARS screens lining almost every vacant space along the bulkheads.

Vansen was leaning over a PADD next to LCARs terminal. He didn't hear the door opening, absorbed in what he was doing more than paying attention to the people entering.

Goldie was at a terminal in the back, checking that the work orders for the shift had been assigned. When she heard the door open, she ignored it, figuring one of the senior officers would take care of it.

Mimi had caught the relatively unfamiliar scent of Tarin closely followed by the much more familiar ones of Jeysa and Scarlet getting closer and closer. She wasn't looking forward to this having already set a somewhat bad impression on their first encounter. As the doors opened she looked up a them "Captain, Commander."

"Ensign Mimi," acknowledged Tarin with a slight nod. Her hands moved behind her back then clasped together to present a professional posture. "I hope we didn't catch you in the middle of a nap?" She looked around at the state of the small office and its personnel, including a tall brown-haired man who seemed absorbed in his work.

Vansen frowned as he heard the talking, catching the last of the Captain's words. He straightened and turned, looking at the woman with a slight frown of disapproval of what she had said to his Chief. But it wasn't his place to speak up, not in a room full of officers.

Goldie frowned. She recognized that voice. It sent an unpleasant shiver down her spine--as did her comment to her boss. Her few encounters with the commander had not been pleasant, and this proved to be yet another such meeting. She hoped she would not bear the brunt of Commander Tarin's attention.

"No... you did not." Mimi said after a moments trying to decide if the Captain's question was rhetorical.

Revealing a subtle smirk to the black-furred Nekomi woman, Tarin shook her head then explained the nature of her presence. "It's in the past. Right now, I'm here for an inspection of your department. Present your staff and show me your workstations."

Goldie's first thought was, Oh, crap. She'd managed to stay under the radar so far. She glanced at the console. Nothing amiss there. She took a slow, deep breath and waited for Mimi to answer.

Mimi took a deep breath. “With me today are Petty Officers Brown and Vansen.” She made small motions towards the two Petty Officers. “Brown is monitoring power allocations, her work stations shows us the current amount of power the warp core is generating and what percentage of that is being used by what systems. As we are at warp most of our power is going to the warp engines and the deflector array.”

Stepping close to the blond woman, Tarin briefly hovered over her shoulder to perform a cursory desk check. The details of the starship's current power allocation weren't her primary concern; her attention was trained on the configuration of the LCARS screen and its various readouts. "Where are the impulse reactor outputs located?" she asked Brown.

"Here," Goldie said, adjusting the power allocation screen to show what power was produced by the impulse reactor and where it was being utilized. At least, that was her interpretation of what Commander Tarin wanted.

Morgan observed the new mini-display of the ship's primary fusion reactor and its power allocation feeds. Alongside the matter/anti-matter assembly, it was the second source of energy generation within the vessel which powered several critical subsystems and utility trunks. "Good. Make sure you keep that display on one of your monitors at all times."

"Yes, ma'am," Goldie replied. She didn't think it was as important as the commander did because there was a power level bar on the main screen to let anyone know if the power dropped. Plus a red light would warn everyone in the room of a problem, and an alarm would sound if it got too low. But if that was what the lady wanted, that was what she would get.

The acting captain straightened her posture then stepped away from Brown's workstation. Her hazel eyes returned to the shorter Nekomi and the other man in the room. "And Petty Officer Vansen? What is his current duty?"

"I'm doing checks on the Optical Data Network, Ma'am," Vansen said, meeting her eyes for a moment. He should have let his Chief reply, he knew that, but he hated being talked about as if he wasn't there so had responded. Sometimes, Constantin, you're a bit of an idiot. "Just routine since we had to scram so quickly."

Tarin approached the tall yellow-collared man and stood just behind his shoulder to observe his console's LCARS screen. Galileo's primary data transmission network consisted of multiplexed optical monocrystal microfibers which combined to form three primary trunks linked to the main computer cores. Each trunk linked to the multitude of optical subprocessors which controlled and monitored key systems. Morgan scrutinized the display.

"Show me the two secondary ODNs and their partitions," she said.

"Yes Captain," Vansen said, looking at her briefly before he brought it up for her. "I haven't finished doing checks on the second secondary ODN. Computer verified it was all working within parameters, but I am in the process of checking it." The PADD he had been working on showed more detailed breakdowns, and a marker where he had stopped when he had realised that they had the Command staff visiting.

Watching the console's new LCARS sub-screens with interest, Tarin then looked down at his PADD to verify his remarks. She spoke in reply, "How long until you're finished?"

"At my current rate, about an hour, Captain," he said, wanting to be honest about the time he took with it. He had gotten a good portion done, but it always took time for him because he was visually looking at the output for discrepancies. "Not counting for the inevitable break where I believe I missed something, go back, find out I didn't, and pick up again."

"Good, stay on it." Morgan turned back to the feline deputy operations manager while glancing around the office once again. "Ensign, I need to see the computer cores."

"This way please Captain." Mimi motioned to the exit and headed out.

Tarin graciously extended a hand to the two other Command personnel in her cadre indicating for them to precede her. "Proceed."


Computer Core, Upper Level

Blake watched the Nekomi chief as she followed her up to the computer core. This was starting to get out of her field now, but she had the idea that maybe it would be more Tarin's thing. Either way, it actually seemed like the Ops inspection was going pretty well. In relative terms. In comparison to what had come before at least.

Jeysa fell into line behind the officers, she liked Mimi and hoped that at least her department was going to pass this little inspection, though given Tarin's run so far she doubted it.

She led them a few doors down the corridor and into the upper level of the computer core room. "The Galileo has a non standard computer core built just for this class." She began to explain knowing that their computer core was similar to a standard Starfleet computer core but had it's differences.

When Tarin stepped into the upper level of the two-deck facility, she couldn't help but look around in mild awe at Starfleet's technological achievement. This was far from the first computer core room she'd visited. There'd been dozens of mock-ups and holodeck simulations at the Academy, and there were those on her various postings throughout her subsequent career. Yet the feeling of seeing the heart of a starship's computer and its multitude of subprocessors never failed to alter her perspective of that which they so-frequently took for granted while traversing the cosmic expanse.

"Impressive," Morgan commented. "What makes these computer cores unique?"

Mimi's ears twitched, she had hoped Morgan wouldn't ask that question. She knew the technical information she wanted to relay but some of the words were somewhat complex for her vocal structure, she held off responding for a moment to think of simpler words that wouldn't leave her nipping her tongue with her long teeth. "We have 15% more storage capacity than a core of similar size, a more efficient cooling system which is needed as we have more processing power too. The cores are kept in perfect sync so that we have instant 100% redundancy if one goes down."

Motioning for the yeoman to come forward, Tarin held her hand out for a PADD.

"Here Sir." Jeysa said offering the woman her PADD again.

The acting captain tapped on the small silver device's LCARS screen then started to scroll through several pages of dense technical data. "This starship utilizes bioneural gel packs in conjunction with isolinear optical chips for data storage and transmission, right?"

"That is right Sir," Mimi replied. "We are short our supply of replacement gel packs however, the requests were put in but priority was given to the other task force ships."

"We'll have to make due with what we have." Eyes still down in her PADD, Tarin continued to peruse maintenance documentation pertaining to the Nova-class' primary, secondary and tertiary utility systems. She sympathized with the ensign and the nature of the ship's short turnaround. "When was the last time the data storage network was de-fragmented?"

"We usually do it every four months, we had planned to do it during our time docked at Regula but this... incident happened." Mimi answered.

Jeysa frowned slightly, if Morgan followed her usual routine that'd be enough for Ops to fail its inspection.

Tarin shook her head with discernment then looked up from her PADD. The subtle details in her hazel eyes betrayed her new thoughts. "Any obstruction in computer memory allocation or retrieval puts this ship at undue risk. Excuses are unacceptable," she reprimanded in a firm tone to the dark-furred officer. "When was the last time you purged the transporter buffers?"

"Their last maintenance cycle, 3 days ago. One of the stations engineering teams performed it." Mimi replied glad she'd had a thorough look through at what the Regula station teams had manged to do in their short time.

"I see. And did they recalibrate the phase transition coils? The molecular imaging and targeting scanners?" Tarin scrutinized. "Did you personally verify their work?"

"Those are all part of the standard cycle Sir, I did not check their work personally but it was checked by Operations staff during the emergency recall." Mimi answered.

The acting captain stared at Mimi. Not in a good way. "...You didn't check their work.." she repeated, glancing to Blake with private annoyance expressed in her facial features. She stepped closer to the furred gold-collared woman. "Ensign, you are an officer and deputy department heard aboard this starship. It's your job to supervise and verify - then re-verify - the work of your subordinates. At all times. Do you understand?"

Mimi's ears lay back slightly as Morgan chewed her out; her tail twitched somewhat nervously, she wasn’t sure why when given their circumstances there had been much more vital things to have done in the time they had available, she glanced at both Scarlet and Jeysa before turning to Tarin.

“With respect Sir, there were much higher priority tasks that needed my and the chief's attention during the emergency recall and the short time we had than rechecking that routine maintenance on the transporter system has been double checked by operations staff.” Mimi paused for a fraction of a second, somewhat surprised at some of the words that were forming in her mouth. “Would you have preferred that to have been done rather than the checking that the life support system is working correctly or that we have left starbase with enough fuel for the ship or food for the crew?”

Jeysa looked at Mimi in surprise, of all the people on the ship to talk back to the Captain like that she never expected it would have been Mimi but was glad that she had spoken her mind, the young woman was sometimes too timid for her own good.

Tarin's eyes narrowed at the ensign. "All of it should have been done," she retorted, not accepting any excuse or justification. "Unless you're suggesting that your department isn't performing up to their potential? That they can't multi-task and ensure none of the crew perishes in a preventable transporter accident?"

"I am saying that emanura ein tilanne.... given our situation." Mimi quickly corrected, she was speaking faster than her mind was thinking in Standard. "It was not possible to do everything in the available time and we were required to make essential systems a priority until we were not in an emergency situation any more."

"Well, I will grant you your additional time right now. I want your team to re-conduct maintenance on the entire transporter assembly. Re-do what you didn't personally oversee, and make sure you are supervising the entire operation. You have until zero-hundred hours to get it done," ordered Tarin.

"Yes Sir." Mimi simply said, quite surprised at Tarin's reaction, she expected worse though she had a feeling she'd get another chat from Scarlet later in the day.

Morgan glanced back at the computer core then exhaled a breath of frustration. The nature of their expedited departure from Regula I obviously necessitated some shortcuts, but she'd never imagined the full extent of it as displayed by the crew. Some of the decisions she'd so far observed were borderline-negligent and could get someone killed. That thought gave her shivers. "Your department has failed inspection, ensign. In addition to your transporter maintenance, I want the data storage network de-fragmented by zero-eight-hundred tomorrow. It'll be a long night for you and your team. I know you can all do better."

Mimi tried not to sigh, if she wanted her supervising all this work during the evening she'd be in no condition for her actual shift during the day which would lead to her getting told off for that which might start a bad cycle. "Aye Sir."

Blake's features remained neutral as she watched Mimi, but she was glad of her response. Tarin's reaction hadn't come as a surprise to her, not with how the rest of the inspection had played out. A lot of officers would be working late. "Are you ready to move on, Captain?"

"Yes. Let's go." Galileo's acting commander turned and quickly walked to the computer core's exit with long leg strides. As interesting as she found the technological achievements of Federation computer systems, staring at walls of sub-processors wasn't an ideal use of her time. The door hissed open and she returned into the corridor, then glanced down at her PADD to ascertain their next destination. "I think it's time pay a visit to our science chief on Deck 4. Number One, you have the lead."

Blake nodded, glancing wistfully down the corridor towards the turbolift. Instead of making her way to it, she found the nearest Jefferies tube hatch instead, opening it up so they could take the scenic route down one deck to the Science team.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CMDR Morgan Tarin
Acting Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Saalm]

PO3 Constantin Vansen
Operations Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

Ensign Mimi
Deputy Operations Manager
USS Galileo-A

PO3 Jeysa Zeror
Yeoman
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Mimi]

PO1 Goldie Brown
Operations Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Sandoval]

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