Parallel Re-Phasing

[Sorehl 0]

Swapout of Excalibur’s damaged flow regulator had been an expectedly lengthy and intricate process; as will most subsystem refurbishments, the challenge was to identify all the affected hardware for removal. Sorehl had observed that Lieutenant Tr’Lorin, despite admitting it was his first such swapout of a starship-sized plasma constriction device, had done a by-the-book extrication and re-installation. Aside from monitoring the bleed-off of toxic coolant, it had been unnecessary for the Vulcan to offer any additional support.

 

Having completed that primary task, Sorehl left the warp specialists to their work, opting to accelerate repairs on the tactical systems. The ship would soon be underway and would need defensive capability. Admiran had obligingly assigned him to retune and balance the portside phaser coupling. The task had the dual benefit of being one of his specialties and of letting him work individually, where his rank wouldn’t disturb other team members.

 

Although engineers were often able to ignore such distinctions, Sorehl had observed some reluctant to direct or offer suggestions to a senior officer – especially one not from among their crew. Though he had no ego to bruise, he understood their misgivings.

 

Sorehl shifted on one shoulder, shuffling down the narrow access tunnel towards the EPS manifold. Such isolation was another thing he could blame on the Dominion, he mused, flipping a phase inducer in one hand. Had it not been for the loss of his commanding officer at the Battle of Torros III, he recalled, he would have never accepted promotion beyond Commander. The war itself had ushered him into permanent circles of strategic decision-making, diplomacy, and politics. Engineering and science had been the exception, rather than the rule, of his subsequent career.

 

He questioned whether his elevation to such echelons was truly in the best interest of the Federation. The recent mission aboard Reliant reinforced this question.

 

Once their carefully-crafted attempt to retrieve Ambassador T’Salik and the Vorta Eris had been exposed, he had correctly reasoned that they could not risk Admiral Day, the ship, and its crew in a vain attack against a superior enemy force. True to logic, he had decided to abandon the Ambassador. Even when the Scorpiad had surprised them by offering to trade her for Sorehl, it was his command rank that had prevented the exchange. Although the Scorpiad had claimed they wanted to exact retribution against the destroyer of one of their ships, the Vulcan carried too much tactical intelligence and knowledge of classified defenses to be handed over for certain interrogation. Were it not for the intervention of the shapeshifter, putting himself in significant danger, the rescue would have surely failed.

 

He chided himself for the self-indulgent introspection, noting the groan of the induction coil as he tightened the EPS contacts. He eased off to keep from snapping the fibers. Engineering had satisfying checklists, procedures, and protocols. There were challenges demanding elegant, often immediate, design solutions. Invent and create. Repair and construct. Augment and optimize. An appealing rigor, he noted.

 

He slid out from the access tunnel, checking the phasing against specification. There was an even sharper imbalance near the plasma tap. He adjusted the inducer and stooped, pulling himself back in. There was a certain parallelism, he realized, in being an intellect out-of-phase with his own inclinations. He pulled back his sleeves, resolved to confront one challenge at a time.