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Episode 89. Patching Things Up

Book 1 - Episode 89 - Patching Things Up

Context

Coordinated Universal Time
Sunday, August 11, 2024 - 04:16
Location
  • Unknown Space
  • USS Enterprise
  • Captain's Office
Timeline
Schak'Irra Timeline
Previously

After its warp escape, USS Enterprise drifts through unknown space, far from Earth and any known civilization. Back from an almost miraculous coma, Captain Agnes Rodriguez has resumed command, restored the hierarchy, and unified the crew with the survivors from Schak'Irra and what remains of the NATO Army. Deprived of a general staff, a base, and propulsion, they have no choice but to rebuild on their own. Agnes establishes a survival plan: restore Enterprise and adapt to this new cosmic void.

Characters

Name Affiliation / Branch Title / Rank Species Timeline of Origin
Agnes V. Rodriguez NATO / Special Fleet Captain Human Schak'Irra Timeline
Angie Chen NATO / Special Fleet Commander
Acting Captain
Human Schak'Irra Timeline
Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi Starfleet / Temporal Division Commander Andorian Prime Timeline
T'Met Starfleet / Temporal Division Captain Vulcan Prime Timeline
Robert Gomard NATO / Army Colonel Human Schak'Irra Timeline

Manifest

USS Enterprise
Affiliation NATO
Location Unknown Space
Captain Agnes V. Rodriguez (Resting)
Angie Chen (Acting)
First Officer Angie Chen
N/A
Pilot Eric Corda
Communications Emilie Flores
Operations Charlene Savea
Tactical Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi (Unofficial)
Science T'Met (Unofficial)
Advanced Weapons Eros Vitos
Sickbay Victor S. Calpel
Counselor/Consultant Manu
Custodian Manu
Passengers Robert Gomard and his squad
4 Vulcan survivors from Schak'Irra
Emmanuel Macron
Lingua (Packed in a box)
Detainees Vladimir Joseph Putin and his bodyguards

TL;DR

Enterprise is badly damaged: no propulsion, a cracked intermix chamber, and engines out of service. As Agnes and Angie discuss possible solutions, Tarsi reveals that equipment from VSS Schak'Irra was recovered at Area 51, including an intermix chamber. This revelation triggers a pointed exchange between Agnes, surprised to learn that her crew went to Earth while she was in a coma, and T'Met, who admits to having performed a mind meld to help her heal. Faced with the emergency, Agnes makes the call: T'Met and Tarsi will supervise the installation of the new chamber and of Lingua, the artificial intelligence recovered from Schak'Irra. While Gomard and his men handle structural repairs, Angie fumes at the idea of being reduced to a technical assistant.

Story

With the management problems resolved, I have not forgotten that Enterprise is heavily damaged and that we are lost in the middle of nowhere. As the officers' reports reach me one by one, I can only take stock of the extent of the damage and of how difficult it will be for us to become operational again.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Engineering informs me that we no longer have propulsion and that the intermix chamber is cracked.

Cmdr. Angie Chen (Acting Capt.)

That says it all, Agnes. Those are repairs that need to be done in dry dock, and we do not have the components to replace that chamber.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Can our shuttles tow Enterprise?

Cmdr. Angie Chen (Acting Capt.)

Yes, but to where?

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Heeey, yooo-hooo, we can help you.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Explain yourself, Tarsi.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

We recovered equipment from Schak'Irra when we went to Area 51 with Angie. Granted, the components may not be compatible with your technology, but we have an intermix chamber for propulsion.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

What do you mean, you went to Area 51?!

Cmdr. Angie Chen (Acting Capt.)

Do not snap at Tarsi. I am the one who organized an exploration mission there.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

What got into you?

Cmdr. Angie Chen (Acting Capt.)

When you were in a coma, T'Met probed your mind. It showed that you were considering going there.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Probed?

Capt. T'Met

Captain Rodriguez, I performed a mind meld on your person with Captain Chen's consent in order to guide you toward recovery. Three words emerged intensely from your thoughts: Angie, Koala, and Area 51. That is why we went to Area 51.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Unbelievable. By any chance, did you see anything else, like a religious oligarch, for example?

Capt. T'Met

No. I focused primarily on synchronizing your mind with your physical body.

Col. Robert Gomard (Army)

Ladies, how about we get back to our priority concerns?

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Yes, Robert. Uh, Tarsi, you were talking about an intermix chamber. Can it be installed on Enterprise, and how long would that take?

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Yes, it can be mounted quickly. However, it will take several weeks to fabricate the parts and make the connections.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

All right, I understand, Tarsi. Do you know how to install this apparatus and clean out the engines?

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Uh... no. Neither T'Met nor I are qualified for that type of work, but I know someone who can guide us.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Who?

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Lingua.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Lingua? Who is that?

Capt. T'Met

Lingua is Schak'Irra's AI. She could prove useful in solving many of Enterprise's problems.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Well, uh. Okay. And where is this AI of yours? Do we snap our fingers to make her appear?

Capt. T'Met

No. I need three days to install her on Enterprise and several weeks for her to familiarize herself with your systems.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Commander Tarsi and Captain T'Met, you have my green light to begin installing the AI and the intermix chamber. Robert, you will lend a hand and also supervise repairs to the hull breaches.

Col. Robert Gomard (Army)

My men are at your disposal, Agnes, but do not forget that we are soldiers, not qualified engineers.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

I know, but given our situation, everyone has to pitch in.

Cmdr. Angie Chen (Acting Capt.)

On my end, I will work with Eric so we can locate ourselves.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Angie, do not waste your time. Lingua will handle that once she is connected to Enterprise.

Cmdr. Angie Chen (Acting Capt.)

Oh really. And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?

Col. Robert Gomard (Army)

Just grab your blowtorch and come with me to repair the hull. Ha ha ha.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

There is no shortage of work. If Lingua is as capable as you say, let her handle it. The crew will keep busy with slightly more manual tasks.