History Revisited

Posted on Thu Aug 1st, 2019 @ 11:34am by Galatea & Commander Nathan Hawkins & Lieutenant Commander T'Lisha "Hawkeye" Bishara
Edited on on Thu Jan 2nd, 2020 @ 5:19pm

1,425 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Atlantis
Location: Shuttlebay, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2429-12-02, 14:00

Galatea tugged on her uniform jacket as the Turbolift doors opened to reveal the massive, saucer section Shuttlebay of Starfleet One. The largest single location aboard the ship, the Shuttlebay was an expansive complex that was specifically designed to be able to support the functions of a mobile outpost and carrier starship like the Alliance Class. Taking up the entirety of its deck and several decks above it, the Shuttlebay was one of the most impressive locations aboard the ship.

The hologram glanced up at the massive support vessel attached to the docking clamps above them. While not their destination, the Starship Spock was still an impressive sight to behold. A Redemption Class vessel, the Spock was designed to serve as a mission support vessel that was used as needed to conduct side missions or evacuate the President in an emergency.

Their destination was far more exciting though. Before them sat the ancient looking craft. Their efforts with the Atlanteans had revealed to them that the vessel was known as the AEV Timaeus. It was, in many respects, a replica of an Old Earth Shuttle Orbiter, but they had confirmed that the vessel was outfitted with a rudimentary FTL Drive.

The AI looked at Commander Hawkins, "I will monitor you from out here while you investigate. The Admiral has also dispatched Commander Green to join us."

"Thank you Galatea," Hawkins nodded taking in the sight of the alien craft in front of him. Alien, yet strangely familiar like a long fading memory you couldn't make out clearly. "Shall we see what we can find?" he asked the team.

"Sounds like a fun walk in history?" T'Lisha said.

"Sounds like fun, I know most of the specs, but I don't think any of us expected to be crawling down here," commented Lorina wryly.

Climbing aboard the Commander immediately ducked his head though the hatch and warned the others to do so. "Brace yourselves it smells pretty grim in here," he called back as they filed in behind him in the tight space.

"Ugh! Smells like dead fish or something like it", T'Lisha said as she slid in behind the Commander.

Lorina gagged as the smell hit. "Remember to breathe through your mouth," she muttered to herself before going on.

"Looks like the control centre through here," Nathan pointed. "Bishara you start there Lorina and I will inspect the rear."

"Right behind you Commander. I am curious to see what we find back in the rear," T'Lisha replied following the commander.

Lorina had to stop herself nodding as she replied, "Yes sir, on my way."

Lorina made her way forward, breathing through her mouth to try and mitigate the powerful smell. She saw a small ladder a few yards in front of her.

"Now, Mr. Warp core, where are you?" she muttered to herself.

Galatea monitored the communications, "Directly ahead in the aft section of the craft, Commander. It appears to be built into the furthest bulkhead in the back. You will have to traverse the midfuselage Cargo Bay to reach the engine compartment. A pressure door has been detected separating the section from the rest of the ship. You should be able to access the engines through there."

Lorina looked around, "Ah I see it, thanks Galatea." She moved towards the door and examined it closely, "it looks like two people will need to open this"

"Commander, we are unable to connect to their computer systems wirelessly. Are you able to run an optical data network connection?"

"I'll see what we can find," Hawkins replied as he shuffled toward the rear of the cramped vessel. "When we're connected do us a favour, Galatea and set up some ventilation. It's rather unpleasant in this thing."

Galatea nodded from the workstation in the shuttlebay, "I will see what I can do. Once we have the connection established to their computer systems I will attempt to open the payload door to allow additional air in. Standby."

"I wonder how long our friends were in this craft?" he asked Lorina. "There were originally five on aboard before they had some sort of accident with the FTL drive Bishop reported."

"It's hard to tell, there might be some information in the crew cabin?" she replied.

Galatea checked the readouts on her workstation. Typing on the panel she was surprised by one thing that she saw, "I'm reading a slight imbalance in their FTL. We will need that repaired because their Warp Field could impact ours."

"Thanks, we'll have to sort that out first."

Having reached the rear of the vessel Nathan took a moment to take in the sight. Though cramped was an understatement it was also a marvel just how much tech had been squeezed inside. There was a slight humming sound coming from further inside. "Standby Galatea we're just finding our bearings," the Commander eased himself around the small space.

"Understood, Commander," she answered through the comm.

Nathan glanced to Lorina whom was exploring the space with more a critical eye. "What about you, anything we can use?"

Lorina looked around, "I'm not sure, I'm not 100% familiar with the specifications. I can make a pretty good guess as to what the components are, but relating this technology with modern warp engines is going to be tricky."

Outside the shuttle, Galatea ran a structural analysis of the vessel. The majority of the vehicle was constructed with an aluminum alloy reinforced with a graphite epoxy. The thrust assembly and engine section were made of titanium alloys. It did not have nacelles, rather a combination built into the vessels existing thrusters. That was interesting in and of itself. With most previous vessels that were prototypes for FTLs the engines were nearly as long as the craft itself, this one had no nacelle structure at all. That was an oddity that would require further investigation.

"The imbalance is increasing in severity," the Hologram reported without a change in tone. "I am reading some flux within our own warp field from the interaction. How are the repairs going?"

"Slowly," Hawkins responded to the persistent voice of the AI. Though she was utterly brilliant in every way Hawkins was beginning to wish she'd adopt the silent unless spoken to role his former AI Lance did.

"I've located an connection point which should help speed things up," the Commander gently secured optical data network connection to the rudimentary computer on board to the alien vessel. "You should have access now."

Galatea typed on the workstation control panel, establishing a secured connection to prevent the alien shuttle from interfacing too deeply with their systems but allowing her to access theirs. She typed on the keyboard, interfacing and building a connection, "I have full access to the shuttle and its systems. I have located their homeworld and I have transmitted the coordinates to the helm."

"Good work," the Commander nodded knowing full well Galatea couldn't actually see him. "I'm sure the Admiral will be keenly interesting in their homeworld."

"I'm also opening the cargo bay door to assist you as we discussed," The top of the alien craft started to creak as massive gears and motors separated the vehicle and opened the shuttle to the world around it. "The air should be getting a bit better."

The vibrations of the door could be felt throughout the craft, the sudden rush of clean air was a blessed relief to the officers: "Thanks again, its already improving things in here." Hawkins responded enjoying the cooler air against his perspiring forehead.

With the opening of the shuttle the hologenerators could allow her presence aboard the shuttle now. Activating the appropriate subroutine, the hologram transferred herself from the bay and into the engineering section of the alien ship. An Engineering Hologram appeared alongside her.

The AI looked around the chamber with the hologram nearby, "Work with Commander Lorina to assist with disengaging the Warp Core."

"Adding repair request," the hologram answered as it approached the control matrix. "Initializing repairs. The primary power systems are out of alignment. I will repair."

Galatea looked at the remaining personnel, "I have been able to download the vessel's logs and we have found their homeworld." She handed the PADD to the Helm Officer, "Coordinates to their planet."

"I will leave the vessel to your efforts, Commander Hawkins," she informed. "A science team is on their way as well as additional engineers to begin investigation. If there is nothing else I will return to the Bridge?"

The human nodded: "Thank you for your assistance as always Galatea."

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