If it aint broke, does it still work Right?

Posted on Mon Jan 3rd, 2022 @ 5:08pm by Ensign Edward D'Gracefull

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Main Engineering
Timeline: Season 5: Episode 3: CAPETOWN
1071 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Ed stood over the POOL or as the technical term stated it was the heads up holographic interface control system for the Engineering power distribution and propulsion control system. He had a constant stream of engineering personal coming and going, most of which needed his attention. Of all the people he had on this shift, 75 percent of them were performing maintenance. Some of it being corrective, meaning something broke, or preventive, meaning we didn't want it to break. The remaining 25 percent were watch-standers and supervisors, watching tel-tails, gauges, read-outs and instrumentation looking for trouble, keeping things running smoothly or just keeping their fingers on the pulse of the ship. The computerization of the systems and all of the advanced sensors allows for less people to be required to keep things running smooth, but you still have to have people peeking into the complex machinery just to make sure things run smoothly...

A flashing readout showed a fault in the power distribution system, it was a type I EPS which was the main power. A second class engineering technician was closer and pulled up location. They were not currently at warp, so if it was in the warp system, things were not immediately going to go crazy. Still main power systems having issues was a bad thing. He watched as the tech pulled up the location, crossed it with locations of engineering personnel, and hit the button for the inner engineering comm system. Ping, Em1 Davidson, Main Control, Take your team and proceed to deck 7, starboard, Jefferies tube 7b, junction 34 is showing type I EPS failure, and be careful... Pong, the ending tone indication, was showing the termination of the communication. Ed signed off on the Padd that a tech had signed given him, showing that he was finished with the system test. It was one of the Ship Alterations that the Weapons department had. It was responsible for upgrading the tracking sensor computer system. That one was a pain, it was spread over 34 locations, and over a hundred pieces of gear, and all had to be tested to make sure that one component did not cause a cascade failure of the whole weapons control system.

He would be working with their assistant to do rigorous testing when they had a chance for live fire testing. Watching the status board for any other indications of problems, Ed kept receiving numerous Padd's for work in progress or other status updates. The supervisor the watch of Main Engineering Control received a status com from EM1 Davidson that indicated his repair team had wrapped up their work at that location and were proceeding directly to Jefferies tube 7B.


Ed was still handling the normal flow of work in Engineering. This process was hundreds of years old, and never changed much, any changes were just how long it took to complete a portion of it. Ed heard a ping from EM1 Davidson, indicating that they were on station, and troubleshooting. Ed looked over at the heads up display, the original fault was no longer displaying a red indicator. The amber indicator was just showing that there had been a problem. He kept a constant looking over and listening to the conversations that came in over the main control communication system. There were dozens of communications per minute, due to the constant work and the need to interface with others. With a ship this big, the back up power supplies had a back up. That meant you had three times as many things to check. The noon bell started ringing, indicating that it was the watch turn over time. He watched as the Engineering crew began the age old process of watch relief. This went smoothly, as the people coming on, found out what the people ready to leave, had been up to.

After several minutes, EM1 Davidson, called in reporting no problems found, with either the sensors or the Type I EPS power distribution system at his location. The Watch Supervisor told Davidson to check both upstream and down, just in case the problem was located elsewhere.

His report, twenty minutes later, was no luck with this, at this time. Ed hit the com button, and told EM1 Davidson to report to the chow hall, but keep their tools with them. This allowed him to dispatch his best troubleshooting expert straight to the problem area, if he ever found it…It also told Davidson, eat fast, and don't waste time getting food, but not to wolf the chow down too fast...

Ed walked over to the watch supervisor and said, "Watch, pull up a differential display of all type I EPS power flows, show all anomalies, for type I system. Show normal power flows. Go back one week. Set time compression 60 to one.

He watched as the display showed amber and red spots and the history of the normal operation of a complex starship. There were yellow flashes that popped up here and there, but few red lights. Then there was a red flashing indicator at the edge of the saucer system of the starboard central sensor power distribution network hub. Ed said, “Pause, please!” He pulled up the information about the flashing red light. The data showed a warning for power drain, then an overload, then the all clear. This all happened in less than a second. He said, “Resume at 20 to one.” Then he began to watch for the next problem. A minute later, it happened again. This time it was closer to the center of the ship. He watched as the indicator started moving closer to the center of the ship on deck 5. It was almost like the hunger for power was working it’s way through the ship, going from hub to hub, looking for more energy. ED asked the computer,”Computer, track indicated anomaly. How long till it reaches the main power feeds? The computer replied, [ At current rate of travel, the anomaly will reach the main power feeder on Deck Five, in Four hours.] Ed sighed, then hit his comm badge,”Chief Engineer,AEO, WE have a problem!” He hated bothering the chief during his lunch, but it was better to let him know about a possible problem before it happened, then after they lost main power, and the ability to move, shoot, or any of a dozen of other critical systems. Ed shook his head and said,” What next!”