In Character Conference Engineering Seminar Stardate 10406.27 1300 Pacific Terran

Speaker: Ensign Pirak Kell, CEO – USS Dublin

Subject: Keeping Your Ship in One Piece

Synopsis: Ever wonder how you would keep the warp core online in a fire fight?   Are you the type of officer that can strip down a plasma manifold blindfolded?  Ever have questions about just what really goes on down in main engineering?  If you can answer ‘yes’…or even ‘maybe’…then this seminar is for you!

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Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Turok:  Greetings ensign.  Are you enjoying these lectures?

Ens_Turok says:
Kell: Very much so.

CDT_Gordon says:
:: takes a seat::

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
:: enters and nods to Ensign Kell before taking a seat::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: Hello everyone please take a seat and we will be starting shortly

LtJG_Calma says:
:: walks in a takes a seat near the back::

Ens_Turok says:
:: taking a seat in the front row::

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
:: wanders in, coffee mug full again, and sits, getting PADD ready for copious notes::

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
CEO: Yes I am ... thank you.

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
:: sits next to Turok::

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
Kell: Tell me CEO, are you assigned to a small vessel, or were you crew-critical? It seems odd to see a mono-pip like us as a CEO.

CDT_Gordon says:
:: sees Captain MacLeod and waves to him to come and sit near::

LtJg_Harris says:
:: walks in and takes a seat::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
:: Walks to the front of the stage:: All: I am Pirak Kell, CEO of the USS Dublin.  Yes two things, this is a engineering lecture and yes I am a Cardassian.  Now that you know you are not about to be captured lets begin:: smiles ::

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
:: chuckles::

Capt_MacLeod says:
:: takes a seat near Gordon and sees Pirak at the stage, thinks "Oh boy"::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
TO: No ensign I serve on a Norway class.  It was my abilities that got me promoted to the chiefs spot.

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
CEO: Congrats on getting the big spanner.

Capt_MacLeod says:
:: nods in agreement::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: In fact I see that my captain has come to check on my lecturing skills .

CDT_Gordon says:
:: watches their every move::

Capt_MacLeod says:
:: smiles::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: Starfleet command has handbook:: holds up padd::  that every engineer is taught at the academy.  Now if there is a book why do you need some ensign telling you about engineering?  Because you will find that the book and real life rarely agree

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
:: Self- This Handbook is only a guideline... should you actually experience these conditions in the field, call us, because it will be a first:

Capt_MacLeod says:
:: recalls his time as EO::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: The manual will tell you that hull repairs must be done at star dock.  That only raw materials used by Starfleet will work for repair.  In reality this manual is useful as recyclable material in the waste management system.

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
:: chuckles::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: You will find or may have found times when repairs must be maid with primitive supplies by primitive people on far away worlds.  These are the lessons that every engineer should learn.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: At this point does anyone have just such an example of making repairs to their ship with non approved supplies?

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
:: raises hand::

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
CEO: We were trapped in a nebula and our power was slowly failing. I suggested bringing the shuttles online in the bay and using their warp cores as APUs until we could solve the problem some other way.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Regnum: Yes commander

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
In a recent encounter with the Gorn the Scorpius was nearly ripped to shreds, over 43% of the outer hull was damaged or destroyed.

Capt_MacLeod says:
::listens intently::

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
I had to do a great deal of patchwork repairs in order to make the ship stable enough to even limp away

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
:: as TO thinks THAT had to sting a bit::

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
You'd be surprised the raw materials I was using

CDT_Gordon says:
:: writes everything down on his padd for further studying::

Capt_MacLeod says:
:: wonders if Pirak will tell them about how he did get rid of a certain force field::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Regnum:  What did you use commander?

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
Well our cargo bay was destroyed in the attack, so I didn't have much spare duranium, I found myself dismantling hallways in the inner part of the ship in order to get materials to patch the outside, one hole was patched with the top of a desk and a force field

CDT_Gordon says:
:: laughs so hard that he drops his padd on the flour but he manages to control himself::

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
Yes, I found it humorous too Cadet when I was doing it

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
Sufficient to say that wasn't a very critical hole

Capt_MacLeod says:
:: grins::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: The commander did well.  You must use the materials at hand to get the job done.  If you have a hull breech take the tables out of the mess hall and weld them to the inside of the hull.  Use what is at hand.  :: looks at his hand :: And that may very well include your own hand. The Dublin was severely damaged the Urlathians helped in the repairs, but cross controlled many circuits.  I found myself cross circuiting a control panel with my bare hand to keep from being suffocated by a force field

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
LtCmdr_Regnum: You could always dump all the wreckage in the replicator and recycle it... yours and theirs, and I'll bet the Command Chair would look really cool reupholstered in Gorn Leather. ::winks::

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
Hembrook: At the time I was more worried about getting away, the Gorn were not destroyed, it was a race to see who could get repaired first, them to attack us again, and us to get away

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
:: Thinks I'll bet THAT smarted a bit::

Capt_MacLeod says:
:: shakes his head at the sight::  CEO:  I don't know if I'd have done the same...

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Hembroook: Remember ensign replications takes power

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
CEO: Of course they do, but as long as you have power and you just lack parts it's the optimal solution.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
CO: It was that or suffocate captain.  What is it the Terrans say, sometimes it costs an arm and a leg :: smiles :;

Capt_MacLeod says:
Kell:  Aye.  And I'm glad you're fine...  and back!  :: meaning their last mission::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Hembrook: But as the commander told us the ship was using force fields to contain itself, power needed

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
CO: My dear captain if I had not returned who would keep things interesting on your ship :: grins ::

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
Kell: In that case toss all the debris in a heap and melt it down into a plate with a phaser.

Capt_MacLeod says:
::grins::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
:: laughs :: All: Now do not discount what ensign Hembrook is saying altogether.  If the ship was stopped and not pressed for time.  Making plating with phasers or replicators would be the best way.  But in a battle when the first who can move and fight wins, the power and man power needed is too costly

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
Kell: I'm a TO, our motto is Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome :winks::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Hembrook: Ah yes the way of a soldier.  To fight, to follow, and to die in a loud grotesque military manner.  I knew there was a reason I wanted to be an engineer

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
Kell: Well, someone has to keep the OPFOR busy while you keep the ship running or get things fixed. Besides, if we didn't run around wrecking things, you would get bored. :: chuckles::

Capt_MacLeod says:
:: laughs::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: And there will be times that you cannot save the ship.  If that is the case the only thing left is to take what is valuable and portable and leave.  As the captain can tell you :: points to Macleod ::  There are times when ships don't come home

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
ALL: Actually, I had the idea on our ship to cross train my whole department as damage control teams to do non-technical stuff like firefighting and sealing hull breaches, so the Engineers could focus on repairing systems. I'm still waiting for the Command crew to respond to my suggestion.

Capt_MacLeod says:
::nods, remembering about the Gryphon::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Hembrook:  Cross training is essential to a properly run ship.  If only one engineer knew how to repair one particular system you would never get the ship operational. But ensign you will find it easier to train your tactical to work on weapons related systems.  The systems they use everyday.  Engineers are more easily cross trained for any position because the repair all systems and have a basic familiarity with the whole ship

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
Kell: I'll make a note of that as well.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Hembrook:  And by the way ensign you suggestion about using the shuttles as APUs was resourceful.  But if the nebula is drawing on the power systems the smaller systems of the shuttle would have been depleted far before the ships main source

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
Kell: I thought that if we got enough of them plugged in they might be able to break even at least, it was worth a try.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: I do give the ensign accolades in her attempts to solve the power drain.  Power is a precious commodity on a starship.  But there are many systems on these ships that can be deactivated to supply more power.  Replicators, lighting on the crew decks, even life support on the crew decks.  It is easier to power life support in the emergency evacuation areas then to power entire decks.

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
Kell: For that matter, use the Life Support on the shuttles to filter air on those decks the shuttle bay is on, just leave the corridor access open, and shut down life support to those decks.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: Can anyone tell us why that possibility will not work ?

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
Kell: You'd have to find a way to circulate the air through the decks, but portable fans would do it, and still cost less power, as you could run them from the shuttles power supply also.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Macleod:  Captain I am sure you remember you engineering days, please tell us

Capt_MacLeod says:
Pirak:  All ideas are well developed, but I really can not say if that would work.

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
:: raises hand again::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Regnum: Yes commander

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
The air recyclers on the shuttlecrafts are nowhere near as efficient as those for the ship, they have to create breathable air for only about 20 to 30 cubic meters of cabin area

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
if you ran them at top power, with the doors of the shuttle open, trying to circulate the air throughout the ship, there wouldn't even be enough particles of oxygen per cubic meter to fill the shuttle bay, let alone the deck

LtCmdr_Regnum says:
You might have some success evacuating members of the crew into the shuttles and having them breathe in the shuttles themselves, but using the shuttles to make a deck breathable would be impossible

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: Very good commander.  Starships have life-support systems that use power to ionize and restore the breathable mix.  Shuttle craft still use a CO2 scrubber system.  The shuttles would be making poison air very quickly

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
Regnum: I wasn't trying to replace a lost atmosphere Sir, just scrub out the CO2 in the short term to save power. You'll die from CO2 in a closed environment before you breathe up all the oxygen. It was only a stopgap.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: Life-support also means heat. Does anyone know how cold the inside of a starship can become in orbit without life-support?

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
Kell: The outside in a hard vacuum is absolute zero, 240 C below

Ens_Turok says:
::Brrr::

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
All: The worst part about a hull breach isn't the oxygen loss from decompression, it's the loss of atmospheric pressure, causes your body fluids to boil off, and the cold, absolute zero. You'll be a frozen mummy before you experience brain death from loss of oxygen. An ugly way to die.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: That is correct.  In just over 4 hours time your ship would be so cold that all life would stop.  The blood would freeze in your veins

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
All: While 33.5 Kelvin may be beneficial to a superconductor is downs little for the crew of the ship

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
Kell: Indeed... a ringing endorsement to keep the hull in one piece, the lights on, and the heat and air running.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
ALL:  We seem to have used the time given for this lecture already.  I thank you all for comming.  It was a most enjoyable discussion

Capt_MacLeod says:
::stands and claps::  Pirak:  Good job, Ensign!

TO_Ens_Hembrook says:
CEO: It was very interesting to bounce ideas around from outside my field of expertise, thanks for the talk CEO, and good luck in your post.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Macleod: Thank you captain

LtJG_Calma says:
::chuckles to himself from the anecdotes:: Kell: Certainly some good advice there, Ensign.. I'll have to keep it in mind.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
TO: Good fortune for you also ensign

Capt_MacLeod says:
Pirak:  Now, with your excuse, I'll attend the Command Seminar.  I'll see you back on the Dublin.  ::nods and leaves::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
:: nods to the captain::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Calma: Thank you lieutenant

Ens_Turok says:
Kell: another excellent lecture.

Ens_Turok says:
Hembrook: Off to the command seminar.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Turok: Thank you ensign

Ens_Turok says:
:: quickly walking out of the room::

LtJG_Calma says:
Kell: Well, I'm just waiting to get posted to a new ship.. I put in for an Engineering post; thought I'd get a jump on the game.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Calma: Preparation is essential for an engineering.  I was promoted to CEO as a trial by fire as it were.  Good luck lieutenant

LtJG_Calma says:
Kell: Thank you. And the best of luck in your travels, as well.

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
:: smiles ::

LtJG_Calma says:
Regnum: Commander. ::turns and leaves the room::

Host CEO_Ensign_Pirak_Kell says:
Regnum: After you commander.  There is another lecture waiting to take place in this room ::motions towards the door :