Opening Exercise
Just a SciFi Exercise
The HUD stopped flashing, the red lights faded back to dull amber and “Engine Core Stable” was the only readout left. A harrowing few minutes that felt so much longer when they could have been the last few minutes of all of our lives. After a pause just long enough to take a breath the captain gave the order, Take her full out to port, Jockey.
The Jockey switched the leavers set power. Then nothing, the engine core had the power it just wasn’t going anywhere. The captain unbuckled his harness and went to investigate, floating down the long access way to the engine bay. Meanwhile the jockey remained in his seat searching through diagnostic readouts. Engine power was reaching everywhere but the thrusters. Whatever was wrong it wasn’t triggering any sensors. Then the captain called, Get down here and bring the repair kit.
The jockey unhooked the safety harness, found the repair kit, and made his way down to the captain. The captain pointed to a blackened fuse, The power surge before nearly took us out a blown fuse saved is. The captain left the jockey to replace the fuse and returned to the bridge. As he opened the kit the jockey felt something must be wrong. A blown fuse was a basic malfunction but it wasn’t on the diagnostic read out. Something else was wrong. The last power surge nearly killed them. One more might do the trick. Tracing back the line he found the issue. A hairline crack in the housing. Small enough to close and not trigger a warning when cold. When hot it would open and cause another short. The jockey called up to the captain to report. Fixing the housing and fuse would take twenty minutes. Then they would be off.
Back in the jockey seat, a final systems check, safety harnesses buckeled, and destination set. The jockey and captain felt relief as this time they were pressed into the backs of their chairs. Finally ready to run through the planetary blockade.