Practical Experience

Posted on Thu Aug 15th, 2024 @ 4:02am by Lieutenant Commander T'Laris

905 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 1.01 - "Ad Astra"
Location: Main Engineering, Deck 36, USS Carina
Timeline: Day 01, 1355 hours

Lieutenant Alana Tovan scratched her head. Her current task was to assist with a refit of the Galaxy-class USS Carina, a ship with a Starfleet career that was longer than her own. The ship saw action during the Dominion War, assisted with the Cardassian reconstruction, and had multiple tours of duty patrolling parts of the Federation and putting out diplomatic brush fires. But now she was set to disembark Three-Three-Two on a new mission of exploration, and there was a lot of work that still needed to be done.

Changing over equipment from one mission profile to another was easy. Tovan had done that on countless starships that had wound up in one of her drydocks. But with the Carina being more… seasoned… some of the other aspects of the refit left her very concerned.

“Ensign, I have a list for you,” she called out. Ensign Cliden approached and looked over her shoulder at the PADD Tovan had been working on. “I need you to put in a provision request. And we're probably going to need another technician team if we're going to have this ship ready for launch on time.”

“Is there a problem, Lieutenant?” From behind Alana came a stern voice, catching her by surprise.

Tovar turned to see a Vulcan woman looking back at her. She wore operations gold, and her rank pips indicated that she was a Lieutenant Commander. “Ah, Commander T'Laris. I'm reading a misalignment in the optronic feedback modulators. If the system is not replaced, it could lead to some major issues with your warp drive.”

T'Laris, the chief engineer of the Carina for the previous, and upcoming, tours looked at Tovan's PADD. “Are the modulators functioning withing acceptable operating parameters?”

“Well, yes and no. They are doing the job adequately, but they are not operating within the recommended parameters.”

The Vulcan raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “Based on the recommendation of whom?”

“The… the designers, Commander,” Alana managed to stutter out.

“Those are the recommendations of someone who knows nothing of this ship. No replacement is necessary.”

The lieutenant was taken aback. “With all due respect, ma'am, it is my job to make sure ships undergoing repairs at this starbase are thoroughly checked, and that all issues are rectified. When a system is not performing to manufacturer specifications…”

“I am not concerned with the manufacturer's specifications, Lieutenant,” T'Laris replied sharply. “My concern is with operation of this ship. The optronic feedback modulators are functioning properly for the environment they are in, specifically, this vessel. What you call a ‘misalignment,’ I call ‘practical experience.’”

Alana nodded, not quite sure how to respond.

“Have you ever served as an engineer on a long voyage, Lieutenant?” T'Laris asked.

Tovan shook her head. “No, ma'am. Not on a long assignment.”

“An older ship, perhaps?”

Alana thought back about the Carthage, and the many friends she lost when that ship was destroyed. “I have been responsible for an older ship. One of the station's garrison vessels. She needed constant adjustments and repairs to stay within specifications.”

T'Laris raised another eyebrow, this time with a hint of recognition. “But did you ever give the ship the opportunity to grow, Lieutenant? To find its optimal operating conditions?”

The younger engineer looked back at her, a look of confusion on her face.

T'Laris nodded. “That explains much. You never gave your ship the opportunity to discover herself.” T'Laris turned and started walking towards the warp core as she continued talking. “Older ships, seasoned ships, even ones no older than the Carina, need time to develop their personality. Every ship has quirks, Lieutenant.” The Vulcan ran her hand softly against the warp core safety rail, almost lovingly. “The job of the chief engineer is not to replace every system every time it no longer meets specifications. The role of the chief engineer is to understand their ship. Learn from it. Discover her idiosyncrasies as the ship learns who she is.”

She turned back to Tovan. “The optronic feedback modulators are not misaligned. They are aligned precisely the way they are supposed to be in order to function the way the ship needs them to function. If you had read my maintenance logs, you would have known that already.”

After a moment, Alana swallowed and replied. “My apologies, Commander. I will be sure to review your logs before ordering any replacement work.”

“No apology is required, Lieutenant. I can assure you, my… feelings... we're not hurt.” T’Laris stepped away from the warp core and closer to Alana. “Think of this as a teaching moment. I have reviewed your file, and your work thus far has been exemplary. I expect you will command your own engine room someday. Perhaps even your own ship, if you have such ambition.”

The Vulcan reached out and put her hand on the young engineer’s shoulder. “Just remember, it is not always appropriate to bend a ship to your will. You will almost certainly need to bend your will to the ship.”

Alana nodded, the semblance of a smile threatening to form on her face. “Thank you, Commander. I will keep that in mind.”

“Good.” T’Laris stood back and placed her hands behind her back. “Now, let's go over the rest of your plans in my office, before we begin allocating resources to unnecessary repairs.”

 

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