Sounds Like...?

[Caelan Fletcher 0]

Maintenance Log – 0618.08 - 17

Data Type: Audio Recording

Date Recorded: 0616.08

Date Filed: 0618.08

Type of Maintenance: System/Electrical – Shield Generators

Location: Primary Module, Deck 12, Jefferies Tube 12-D

Recording Officer: Mid. Caelan Fletcher

 

Begin Audio:

 

Buzzing in the background can be heard – an electrical hum, occasionally punctuated by a momentary change in pitch and the fizzle-cracks of a welder working nearby. The mechanical cacophony is accompanied by steady breathing, the repetitive squeak of sweaty palms peeling forward on the metal floorboard and the reverberating thud of knees trailing behind. “Sterdate…zera…shix…wan… pfft…” The sound of spitting is soon followed by the clank of metal on metal. “That’s better…Stardate zero six one eight, zero six. One of the Lieutenants said I oughta file a maintenance report before I finish working on this section. Never been a fan for that sort of…formality, but no one listens to these anyway…right?” An audible pause seems to convey Mr. Fletcher’s answer to the rhetorical question.

 

The noisy environment couldn’t hide Caelan’s Appalachian accent. Though it would leave few guessing where he’d been raised, his speech could be understood easily enough. “I won’ t bore you’all with the details of the repairs…there’s a damage report filed somewhere. Suffice it to say, we took quite a beating.” The sounds of repair work began to replace those of movement. “We lost our shields in the attack, but hey – at least we’re all alive to see another day and file more of these maintenance reports.”

A minute or so of sounds familiar to engineers pass by – the ohms and ahms of scanning devices, the loosening of hinges and braces, and the reluctant sigh of damaged equipment being forced out of its place. “There’s two of us down here on deck twelve. Midshipman Goon’s manning the welder, replacing some of the damaged paneling around one of the shield generators. Say hello Goon!” An awkward silence passes, bringing no new voice to the recording. “Meh…you’re no fun. Mr. Goon’s a bit uptight, if you ask me. I’ve only worked with one of the other engineers - Garrett, and she was much better company…a little strange though…but, uh…in a good way. She keeps things interesting.”

 

The scuffling sound of crawling returns, “Anyway…I’ve finished a preliminary check up on the shield system located on this deck. There’s more testin’ to do, and I’ll probably be in here for another few hours repairing what I missed on the first look, but it’ll get done…eventually. I imagine all the generators are in the same shape or worse, so I can’t even estimate how long it’ll take before they’re back up.” A long pause, “Uh…yeah…so I guess that covers everything.” The recording unceremoniously clicks off.

 

End Audio