"Damage reports coming in from all sections." -- SBR: Nova*Beacon

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Date Posted: 16:36:18 09/10/01 Mon
Author: Chief Engineer Muldoon
Subject: "Damage reports coming in from all sections."
In reply to: Ferris Magnum 's message, ""What the h-"" on 16:27:27 09/06/01 Thu

The Chief's face was cast in a very strange light indeed as his display flashed up status reports and system reboot messages. Tapping briefly into the navigational matrices, he ran an expert eye down a line of figures and nodded gruffly. Clearing his screen he gave his report, still working away at the engineering station. Other officers would have turned to face the Captain, but Muldoon was too busy for points of protocol.

"Life support and AG systems are holding. We have hull breaches in three sections, sir, one from Powerline and FawnDoo's entry, and two from stress fractures suffered in the towing. All in all hull integrity is down to sixty percent. Our relative motion to Rugby is........as close to zero as we're gonna get anytime soon. If we are going to collide, it'll take a good few centuries."

Taking a moment for a breath, Muldoon moved from the good news to the bad. "Plasma and energon transfer systems are shot completely. The starboard bow plate has buckled, and the anodyne relays in the computer systems will need to be replaced. Helm control is down. Phase sequencers in the deflectors are offline and the astrometric sensors will need to be recalibrated manually. All in all we're looking at five EVA teams with workbees, and a good few days work to get us spaceworthy again."

Magnum winced at that statistic.

"Of course, we can probably shave a day or so off that. We have main power, that's something. Of course, since it's your fault, you might want to lend a hand."

FawnDoo, to whom this last comment was addressed, drew himself up to his full height. "My fault? You realize that without my plan the last thing to have went through your head could quite possibly have been Tankup's bar?" he couldn't help a twinkle from appearing in his tired eyes, though, as he watched the engineer set to work with a passion.

Muldoon smiled. "Either lend a hand, or so help me I'll strip you for parts and use your head as a plug in the deuterium slush tanks. You think just because you're so tall we have to be afraid of you?"

"It would seem not, no. I'll help any way I can, Muldoon. You seem to have done an acceptable job in repairing my systems, and as they say on Earth, one good turn deserves another. Still........." he turned his neck this way and that, "I think you missed a piece out. There's something rattling back here."

Muldoon, still working away, made to fire back a quick reply involving loose brain modules and sonic screwdrivers, but was interrupted by a cough.

"If you two are quite finished....."

Muldoon snapped back to the moment. "Sorry sir. Give me two days, and I'll have her able to travel again. We can complete the internal repairs en route to our next mission."

Across the bridge, FawnDoo had also fallen silent again, touched by his connection with the Chief. It had been a long time since he had enjoyed such cameraderie - among Shaper's student he had known respect and friendship, but Muldoon's straightforward good humour was something FawnDoo had not seen in a long time.

He's human.......he might not be too quick to make jokes if he knew the truth.

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