Science arrives
Posted on Fri Jan 31st, 2025 @ 12:01pm by Captain Ewan Darrow & Lieutenant Rozha Yarl
Mission:
Take My Hand
Location: ?
Timeline: Before leaving the station
751 words - 1.5 OF Standard Post Measure
Rozha had dropped her bags in her quarters and now made her way to report to her new Captain. No time to waste, there was science to do.
She tapped her combadge, "Computer, is the Captain on duty? If so, where can he be found?"
"The Captain is currently in currently in Engineering Lab 5." The computer responded with its usual clipped and prompt response. One thing you could always depend on was the Computer not to mince words.
Rozha headed off directly for the Engineering Lab, no time like the present to learn the ship. There was a certain reoccurring logic to Federation designs.
Arriving at the lab, it was not difficult to locate the Captain but she did not want to interrupt an experiment in progress so she watched and waited for a break in activity before approaching.
"Lieutenant Rozha Yarl, reporting in," she said. "What are you working on, Captain?"
"Hmm?" Ewan asked as he looked up from the console display, "Ah, Nothing really I'm just going over the numbers on the Vesta's refit. We had an entire new heat sink grafted into the hull of the ship after we melted our last one. The Engineering Corps says the new one should be able to withstand an additional 15% heat over our last composite however we can't really test it properly. Just running simulations."
Ewan took a step back from the console and looked over at the fresh arrival to the lab, "I'm sorry, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what position you're here for. We've had a large number of people transferring in recently due to the extended downtime."
"Science, sir, specialty in high energy physics and metallurgy," said Rozha. "Is the heat sink one of the new Astion crystal-ceramic matrices?"
Ewan nodded as he waved a hand up from the console, bringing the numbers up into holographic form above it, "Astion though they've gone a bit more experimental with the blend, fitting for the Vesta. They mixed in a form of molten sodium cooling system at the base of the fins to try and increase the absorption. Fins absorb it, the liquid pulls it away into a large more standard absorption unit within the hull. I'm not sure the full mixture of the sodium though, thus the display and the tests. Typically they run the sodium through a water system, steam, power something akin to an old nuclear reactor but they've cut out the nuclear."
"I will look at the mix," said Rozha. "The labs on Ardana are working on a similar system using a zenite-sodium mix."
"Please," Ewan said as he stepped back to allow the Lieutenant to approach. "I'll admit, while I helped design the hull, it has been a few years since I was strictly an engineer with nothing else to worry about. I'm a bit behind on some of the journals."
"Crystallography is not my main field but it interacts with metallurgy," said Rozha stepping forward to take a look. "I can locate and send you the studies."
"That would be appreciated," Ewan replied as he watched the holo-display change at the Lieutenant's inputs, "Metallurgy us your speciality then?"
"Combined with high energy physics," she said absently studying the holo-disply. "Has heat build-up been an issue? My understanding of the engine to quantum slipstream interface is incomplete."
Ewan laughed, "You could say that. Compared to the standard warp core, the Quantum Slipstream core puts off tremendous energy and heat. To counteract that the Vesta was designed with an extensive heat-sink system along its spine that also doubles as a heat sink for the rest of the ship. It comes in handy when we need to reduce our heat signature to be sneaky. Anyways, that heat sink can only store so much heat before the core overheats. The Engineering Corps on Earth seems to think this new system that used to be standard in old Earth Submarines will help extend the time until the heat sinks max out."
She nodded. "I will add such to my readings." She made a mental note to learn a bit about these 'submarines' as well. "Thank you. You have given me more work and I hate to be idle."
Rosha stood up straight. "You will not find my work lacking, Captain."
"I expect nothing else for someone assigned to the Vesta. Go, meet your team, Lieutenant." Ewan said with a dismissive wave, "I look forward to seeing what you can think up."
