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id="docs-internal-guid-46626cea-7fff-5b40-ee27-90ee72bf4c6a"><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">NRPG: Tying up some loose ends and sending a Cadet off in style.
</span></p>
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style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">
Mission: The Uncaring Stars</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Day: 9</span></p><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Stardate: 2445.10.22</span></p><br><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">(USS Illuminar - Deck 7- High Energy Particle Physics Lab - COps Lieutenant Dieter Gregory and Engineering Cadet Oda Berr -- 1240)</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">After lunch Berr had rushed to his quarters to dig out his personal PADDs that he had been workin on. He did have to take a minute to eat some bread to settle his stomach. That hesperat was still eating through his stomach. And he wasn’t sure when he would be able to taste anything else again. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">However, when had his PADDs and his actual drawn out designs he made his way to deck 7. He stood outside the door for a moment. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ~Don’t muck this up Oda.~ He took a step forward and the door swooshed open. Oda took a step into the lab.</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Gregory was sitting to the side, by one of the analysis stations. He had been inputting some data when Berr walked in. Next to him was a woman Berr had seen before. A Petty officer Ywan, as he recalled. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Come in Mr. Berr,” Gregory said. “Ms. Ywan and I were just finishing inputting the data we obtained when we were over in the engineering room. Why don’t you take station one and get your data loaded up.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Berr nodded and went over to the station that he had been directed to. He put the rolls of diagrams and plans down and they began to escape from their place. He tossed the PADDs down to collect the fleeing plans, and quickly looked to see if anyone had seen. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Once everything was back in place he began to unroll the diagrams. As he unrolled each one he looked at it, considering which he would share and which were just a little too crazy to share. Once it was all organized how he wanted he sat on a tall stool and waited for whoever else was going to join them. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Gregory waited till everyone had settled down before speaking. “As you know, and with the Federation's consent, if not blessing, have been given permission to retrofit the Sharlayan ship with fusion reactors to replace their thousand year old fission drive. Clearly this is a better, cleaner energy source for them to complete their journey.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">He entered some commands into his station, and a holographic display in the center of the room lit up. “We have to invent a way to fit a square peg into a round hole,” he began “using nothing but what we have.” As he said that, a list of resources started scrolling on everyone’s station. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Moments later, the display changed, “As you can see from this model, the proposal has been to place two smaller federation type reactors to separately power propulsion and life support, while providing redundancy as needed. The details and specifications are at your stations.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">He paused, “However, this causes several levels of issues around General Order one, as well as training and operation. Mr. Berr,” he motioned to the cadet, “has come up with a more elegant solution. The purpose of this meeting is for him to present his ideas, while we vet them, make sure the math works and that we have the necessary supplies in store to implement it. Failure, needless to say, is not an option. I need every one of you at the top of their game. We check, and double check, then check it again before we move on. There is no rank here, just engineers and scientists trying to do what must be done. Federation history will have its eyes on us today, on what we do.” </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Mr. Berr, the floor is yours.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">It was a daunting introduction to say the least. Berr mustered his courage and stood up. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“So the problem came to me as a way to create a safer and better source of energy than the Sharlayans had in a manner in which the Sharlayans might have come upon it on their own. Who knows, perhaps the engineering caste of their society had been working on it already. All we would then have to do is give credit for it to someone in their clan.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">He paused for a moment to let that thought settle in, and see if there were any questions. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Well,” he went on, “it seemed the next step was for them to move from a fission generator to a fusion source of power. I know that in itself is not a new idea, but if the Sharlayans had developed fusion power do they have the resources to build the generator?”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">He pulled out the first drawing that he had made. It showed a scale image of a fusion generator similar to those of Earth’s mid twentieth century. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">At that moment, Jaton walked through the door. He looked up as the others looked over at him. “I am so sorry I’m late. Plenty of fires to put out today for some reason. But I’m here now. So how can I help?”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Right now, listen to Mr. Berr’s proposal. After that, help make sure the math adds up,” Gregory replied. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Jaton nodded, and took a seat next to Gregory, nodding to Berr to continue.</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Mr. Berr, continue please.” Gregory said.</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘Ummm…” Berr collected his thoughts, “well… we were just starting Lieutenant. I was just explaining what led me to the plans for a Sharlayan fusion generator that might solve any prime directive issues with giving them som Federation technology. I believe that Lt. Gregory was looking for flaws in the plan or hello in how we can implement it. You are welcome to help.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I’ll be happy to in any way I can,” Jaton said with a friendly smile.</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">With that said he referred to the plan he had drawn.</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:
center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:276px;height:414px;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/k5wQ0Dj3mJp5EjTNTnSTCAMcnmsZJVwpepwWpqS5VIjzRAsyUJLJPCwHbmVPK7mmZEbamD0G-jfq1cIOmLhGk6SPFqSryLerPbuxvQkIE2Bwx3dWQOXenARNaTv-RsAzo5paLqVG" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;" width="276" height="414"></span></span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“This is a standard plan for a fusion generator. But the problem with these types of generators use lasers to fuse atoms together to create energy. That is a very inefficient method of creating energy as the quantum destruction of atoms is not imminent using lasers. That was why I propose that we use deuterium and tritium infused plasma in multiple cores of the generator.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">He rolled out a second diagram.</span></p><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:
center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:287px;height:328px;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/HOwE4o0PjBHewtQYhmDCnx4NMcALFpvsIvHZ7KlGv86QtVreYqcsXfIITudQX-Zvgi9EeSUO5g0jRHoZ9SSFzVmIsbxdgB84f8zV2L0GbHflv8_JkMH3omUa24OHzVGHQvjgMhxj" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;" width="287" height="328"></span></span></p><br><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“This would be the superconducting magnetic containment unit for the infused plasma. These housings would fit inside the main generator which would contain the reactions. To avoid the problem of the randomness of the fusion, the plasma will need to be superheated to about a million degrees Celsius. The other problem is the production of gamma radiation, which will need to be monitored.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">He paused again and looked up at his superior officers to get a reaction. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Gregory looked up at the diagrams, “Superheating shouldn’t be a problem with the right superconductors, which also offer the advantage of eliminating the two most common problems of plasma systems, in particular VDE. Some questions come to mind.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“First, how do you plan to address the potential of thermal quenching? Second, have you considered adding a FLiBe blanket around the system. It’ll provide additional protection and should modulate the neutron flux outside the system.” He paused.</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Oda nodded and smiled as he stood up, suddenly very excited, “Yes, I was worried about that as well.” He picked up the first PADD and tapped it to life. He turned the display so that the officers could see it as he pulled up the display entitled “Thermal Quenching”. “What I found was injection of large shattered pellets of variable quantities of deuterium and the high-Z impurities of neon into the plasma of the pods demonstrate a control of thermal quenching and current quench properties in mitigated disruptions. You can see here that TQ radiation fractions increase continuously with the quantity of radiating impurity in the pellet, with a corresponding decrease in divertor heating. Post-TQ plasma resistivities increase as a result of the higher radiation fraction, allowing control of current decay timescales based on the pellet composition.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> Berr knew he got very tech specific with that and hoped that the mathematical computations were enough to prove his point. But then again he had spent the last few days trying to explain his ideas to cadets that only really knew about warp cord technology and matter/antimatter reactions. To them this was an archaic and pointless exercise. They wanted to totally replace the present level of Sharlayan technology with something completely alien. These were trained Starfleet engineers. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“As far as using a FLiBe blanket, to be honest I had not thought of that, but it would solve many of the attemperation issues. I had been looking at a Heat Recovery Generator, as well as high-pressure and reheat interstage piping, but that requires constant monitoring and repairs need to be made immediately, and to be honest I’m not sure the Sharlayan‘a are ready for that. The blanket would be a great addition.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">He picked up the PADD and typed in the suggestion. He wanted to figure it out right now but there was more to discuss. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> “The gamma radiation issue is especially concerning,” Gregory went on. ”We just cleaned up their engine space, only to introduce penetrating gamma radiation into the mix.” Gregory looked down at his computer, “I am calculating we’d need to have a shield at least a meter thick around the system.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I was looking into this product called…” he looked on his PADD, “concrete. If we infuse lead into the concrete the shielding required would be significantly less. Perhaps on a third of a meter thick.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I wonder,” Gregory added, ”however, if we can take advantage of the gamma radiation in another way.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“How so?” Berr asked. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“There were some studies done that used gamma radiation to heat up lead and use that to generate electricity by coupling it to a more traditional steam generator. I don’t remember the specifics, if we shield the habitable side from the gamma, and use a reflector type setup to guide them to a specific point, we might be able to harness additional power.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“That would be amazing,” Berr sounded excited again. “I think I recall it had something to do with using silicon semiconductor cells made of p-type Si single crystal wafers. I can do some research into that.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Other preliminary questions for Mr. Berr?” he asked, looking around the room. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I know that we’re still skirting around the Prime Directive,” Jaton began, “but can’t we just use the most recent declassified shielding technology we have and just adapt it to use the Sharlayan power grid?”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Actually,” Berr said, “that will be essential. The one thing that is going to be necessary in order for this to work, and to give the impression that the Sharlayans came up with all of this is to get as much Sharlayan participation as possible. Granted, the Engineering clan of Kal’Shar was all but wiped out by the accident six years ago. However, their progeny are still viable alternatives. I went through the manifest and found that the entire clan wasn’t wiped out, but their families, their children are now of age to take their parents' roles as the new engineers of Kal’Shar. If we can train them now this could all be theirs. They should already have a basic knowledge of how their own power systems work.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Jaton nodded. “So we should definitely be focusing on the training. But I suppose the best we can do in this meeting is figure out how far we can actually go without getting a ticking off from the captain.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Berr smiled, “At the academy we would always say it is easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Jaton returned the smile. “I’ve heard that too, cadet. I think your plan is sound, if a little conservative for my taste, but when it comes to the Prime Directive that’s inevitable. Now we just need to iron out the details.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Gregory looked at Oda, “The elephant in the room remains. The success of this plan requires that the Sharlayan people learn to run this themselves. It’s not going to happen overnight. We can technically get this setup in a few days, with lots of long hours, someone will need to stay with the Sharlayans and train their clan. Are you willing to be that person?”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Oda’s eyes opened wide. His mouth begs to move but words didn’t come out at first. Finally his body caught up with his brain. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Me sir?” Was the first set of coherent words he could get out. “I would be honored. But what about my studies, and the fleet?”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“We will have a ship following the Sharlayan vessel for a bit where you can get access to necessary material for your studies,” Gregory said. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“It would be a huge undertaking that would take me a few years to get done. But I would appreciate the opportunity. Thank you Lieutenant.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Gregory stood up and walked over to where Berr was seated, with petty officer Ywan behind him. Turning to her, she handed him a PADD and a small box. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Attention to orders,” he called out. Waiting till everyone was standing, he looked down at the PADD before speaking. </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Mr. Oda Berr. In recognition of your completion of the proscribed course of study at Star Fleet Academy and your exemplary performance on your cadet cruise aboard the USS Illuminar, it is with great pleasure that you are promoted to Ensign, junior grade with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities appertaining thereto. Effective Stardate 2445.10.22. Signed by Captain Sekal, Commander, USS Illuminar.”</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Handing the PADD to the Ywan, he took the small box from her, opened it up and took out the Ensigns pip. He removed the cadet rank on Berr’s uniform, placing the pip on his right side.</span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">He took a step back. Ywan called out, “Hand, Salute.” </span></p><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">With a smile, Gregory saluted the newest Ensign. Dropping his salute, he reached out his hand. “Congratulations Mr. Berr. You have a heck of job ahead of you. I have the utmost confidence in your abilities.” </span></p><br><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">(Reply none)</span></p><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">(Posted by:</span></p><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-indent:
36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Al -- Oda Berr</span></p><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Tim - Dieter Gregory</span></p><p
dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-indent:
36pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">Spencer - Jaton Alyl</span></p><br></b>
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