Test Jitters

Posted on Wed Dec 27th, 2023 @ 12:13am by Lieutenant Tracey Walker Jr

Mission: Christmas Cheer
Location: Spacedock
Timeline: Current

Off:

Further developing my character.

On:

[Spacedock – Engineering]

Trace had spent the last few days cramming for the officer’s test, a series of holodeck simulations designed to test engineering knowledge.

He stepped into the holodeck and took a deep breath. “Computer, begin test”

The walls disappeared and was replaced with a simulation of the Defiant class Engineering. The ship was at yellow alert, the dilithium chamber lit up as the ship flew along at what was clearly above cruising speed.

“Sir, the engines are at their limit, but the Captain says we have to keep this up this pace a bit longer!” One of the engineers, an Ensign by the rank on her collar, shouted above the din.

Trace swallowed, hard. “Right, we’re going to pull power from the shields, transfer through the EPS conduit to maintain warp field integrity.”

“But sir, won’t we need full power to the shields?” She asked.

“No, we’ll need power to the shields, but cutting it by 10% won’t be missed unless we’re in a fire fight, and then we won’t be at warp. You have your orders, Ensign.”

“Computer, pause program.” Everything went still as one of his exam administrators stepped out from one of the alcoves.

“Ballsy move, but not incorrect.” He said, making marks on his PADD. “Computer, begin next simulation.”

Engineering disappeared and he was in a jeffries tube, laying in front of a capacitor junction. A voice crackled over his comm badge.

“Transporter buffer is failing, Chief, what do I do? I’m going to lose them.”

Trace stared at the jumble of isolinear chips and spotted the missing ones. “One sec,”

“I don’t have a sec!”

He slotted the correct pieces then tapped his badge. “You should have power back now.”

“Yes, got em! Man, that was a close one.” The Jeffries tube disappeared.

His test administrator grinned. “Well done. You even remembered to bypass the life support safeties.”

“All right, Lieutenant, I’m satisfied. You’ll receive your test results within a few days but from where I stand, you’re qualified to serve on an Engineering team. Of course, it will be up to your Captain as to whether or not there’s an open position.”

Trace heaved a sigh of relief an let go a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.

Off:

Lieutenant JG Tracey Walker
Security Officer
USS Chuck Norris