Diagnostics, Interrupted, Part II

Posted on Wed Sep 30th, 2026 @ 3:32pm by Captain Percival "Percy" Tapper

1,521 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Escape Velocity
Location: Cochrane Shipyards, Alpha Centauri
Timeline: 11 Days Before Launch

Previously...

Percy grinned. "Through personal experience, yes. However, that hardly lends itself to command. I find I must surround myself with people I can trust to solve the more technical issues when it comes to starships, and those are even further afield from simple solutions."

He watched the Denobulan work and still felt a sense of calm around the officer. Despite his messy coif of hair, the Lieutenant seemed efficient in his work and easy to interact with.




'Hmm,' the Denobulan hummed absently as he half-listened to the answer, engrossed in the technical readouts the PADD as he was. 'It's seldom a good ship that's commanded by someone who thinks they have all the answers.' He held the PADD closer to his eyes, nose crinkling as he concentrated. 'Yes ... yes, the phase cannons are overdrawing.' Looking up at the captain he asked, 'was there another system in use at the same time? This doesn't make sense in isolation.'

"The tactical system itself--I'm very sorry, I'm not very technical."

'No, no, that's fine,' Malax replied with a wide Denobulan grin, 'I was mostly making conversation. The PADD itself can do the diagnostics just so.' He danced his fingers across the PADD, connecting it to the Main Computer and pulling a timestamped flow diagram of the power grid.' With a trained eye, Malax charted the 'course' of the phase cannons and their power draw. 'Hn,' he grunted. 'Grid Section Kappa-Two-Aft-Seven, and Grid Epsilon-Thirteen-Midships-Four. It looks like there's some sort of faulty hook-up or cross-junctioning in the grid. The phase cannons draw on those power nodes too.'

He handed the PADD back to Tapper and picked up a maintenance kit. 'Shall we?'

Percy smiled. "Lead the way, Lieutenant."

He fell in behind Malax as they made their way deeper into the crawlspace, eventually having to move on all fours before arriving at an important-looking junction of power conduits.

"Tell me, Mister Malax, how long have you been assigned to the Bonaventure project? You certainly see to know your way around..."

'Let's see now ...' Malax muttered as he pulled tools from his maintenance kit. 'I returned with the Kentucky in Seventy-Eight, and was assigned as part of the Denobulan delegation to the group about a month after returning.' He smiled, waggling the spanner in his hand, 'so long enough, I believe is the phrase.' He popped open the panel, setting it gently down against the bulkhead behind him. 'I've spent a good part of my life hopping from ship to ship, learning how each of our neighbouring species outfitted their craft. The Denobulans have always been curious about Earth, and then the Federation, even if we were, hmm, politically stand-offish, so part of my task was to see what could be improved on the ships of our own defense fleet.'

'Denobula felt that amalgam of knowledge would help with the Bonaventure project, though I'm far from an expert. It was a pleasure from my perspective to get in on the ground floor and build something truly collaborative with people from across two Quadrants.'

Placing the hydrospanner down, Malax pulled out his diagnostic tricorder, zeroing in on the problem. 'How about you, Captain. How did you get assigned the Eventide?'

Percy couldn't help but grin, almost ruefully. "I had one foot out of the door when Starfleet came calling."

He remembered being on an archaeological expedition on Sautranis Three when the initial calls started. He watched Malax continue his work and once again felt a calmness in the area they were standing. Perhaps that's why he continued speaking.

"I ignored their requests to meet for a few weeks but when I learned more about this ship and it's mission, well, I couldn't knew I couldn't say no."

Percy noticed the Denobulan was trying to remove a panel and knelt down to assist him in removing it.

"I suppose you have quite a background as an engineer?" the Commander ventured.

'Not strictly speaking,' Malax replied, smiling to himself. 'I'm the equivalent of an Armoury officer by training - tactical analysis and the like. But the Denobulan navy was small, so we learned to multi-task. And, like I said, I've spent most of my career as an exchange officer - Centauri, Earth, you name it - so I had a side-line in breaking down different tactical systems in order to, uh, make them useful to Denobula, if you catch my drift.'

'After the Eventide launches,' he continued mildly, picking out a micro-wrench as he zeroed in on the problem. 'I'm out of a job. We'll have ironed out enough of the problems like this one,' he twisted the wrench gently, detaching a piece of the circuitry. 'Ah yes. Look,' he twisted the board so it reflected the light better, 'these have fused. The waste reclamation power circuits to the phase cannons. No wonder they were drawing down more than they should.'

He reached into the maintenance kit, fished out a board, peering at it for a moment before nodding in satisfaction and slipping it into place. 'This should do nicely,' he said, fussing with it as he installed the circuitry.

"Amazing," Percy breathed, watching how Malax had found the source of the problem, identified what had caused it, and executed a solution.

Percy reached up and rested his forearm on a strut. "You say you're out of a job when Eventide launches?"

'Yes, for want of a better phrase,' Malax grunted as he hefted the panel cover back into place, snapping it back with a firm click. 'With the launch, my work on the Bonaventure class will be done - it will be up to the crew to put her through her paces in deep space while I get to read any updates that come my way while Starfleet finds me my next assignment.' He gave a smaller, sadder smile as he packed the maintenance kit. 'I envy the crew, to go out among the stars this way ... '

The Captain looked at the replacement board, then at Malax, and found himself considering the difference between knowing a ship and merely serving aboard one. That distinction seemed academic when he had initially accepted command of Eventide. Now, standing in a cramped passage, it seemed rather more important.

"You envy them," Percy said.

'Well, yes,' Malax replied, surprised that this wasn't self-evident. 'I don't think that many who join Starfleet do it out of a desire to patrol their home system or be assigned to a board room.' He chuckled, 'we want to go out there, blaze a trail like the pioneers before us. Etch our names on the tablet of posterity.'

"Eventide could really benefit from someone with your breadth of knowledge, Lieutenant. Join us."

Malax looked at the Commander, a bright note of hope in his eyes. 'You're authorised to pick who you want? No interference? I ... I noticed that you hadn't yet filled the Chief Armory Officer berth. I have experience there ...'

Percy smiled again at the Denobulan officer. "Armoury, Engineering--wherever you want. Starfleet Command has given me carte blanche in terms of selecting crew. Within reason, of course. I'll speak with my Executive Officer and have him prepare the necessary paperwork."

Looking to the deck, then up at the Captain, Malax smiled. 'Thank you ... it's appreciated I assure you.' He tapped the hull. 'The Eventide is a special ship, Captain. She deserves a crew that will care for her. I will do that to the utmost of my ability.'

"Of that I have no doubt, Lieutenant." Percy again felt the calming energy of Malax. He felt confident in extending the offer and knew the reliability of an officer like him.

Percy had turned to leave but had a thought. "Lieutenant, I'm sure you're already aware, but I would be remiss if I didn't remind you that we will be several weeks--perhaps months--away from Federation space for an extended period."

Shrugging in response, Malax smiled, 'Commander. I'm happiest aboard ship. My children are grown. My wives have partners. They understand.' He crouch-walked in the direction of the Jeffries tube hatch. He chuckled, 'I'd be more of a hindrance at home moping for my next assignment than being whisked off to deep space aboard this vessel.'

"It sounds like we have that in common," Percy said with a grin. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you, Mister Malax."

'Likewise, Captain,' Malax replied with a wide, disconcerting Denobulan grin, 'likewise.'





Captain Percival Tapper
Commanding Officer
USS Eventide


Lieutenant Malax
Chief Armoury Officer
USS Eventide

 

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