Winston Chronicles:Qob/Tranquilty Universe

[Mitar Precip 0]

2413

 

Three weeks later...

 

Back at the yard....

 

Starbase 57; Spacedock, above Vesta

 

Daniel Winston piloted the CRAB starship servicing vehicle closely to the inspection point, the port strut nacelle of the USS Axiom segment 7, hull access port 3. His normal EVA operational officer, Commander Baxter, watched his every move from one of the many command stations inside the gigantic orbital spacedock in orbit of the planet Vesta, collectively along what is known as Starbase 57. The Axiom , despite its size as post Dominion War replacement design for the Galaxy class, could easily have three of her sister ships docked alongside her in the cavernous interior of the “The Ketchup Bottle,” as Winston liked to describe the dock. Fortunately for Winston, the Axiom was the only ship in the dock. Problem was, it was the fourth starship in two months where a ship’s CENG had insisted the ship be brought in for structural analysis.

 

“You know, Daniel, on this one the CENG threatened to resign on the spot if his Captain didn’t put his ship in for repairs,” Baxter commed.

 

“Really? Gutsy engineer. I had it that Captains had the final say on the matter these days. Maneuvering Crab into position.” Let me guess....

 

Both officers answered simultaneously “Too many high speed warp runs.”

 

“Well... let’s see what we got here....” Winston began putting the small CRAB through its paces using all its mobile arms, the two largest to remove the large hull plating to access the area of attention inside. A CRAB really looked like a crab from earth with all her robotics deployed.

 

“How is Mark doing?” Baxter chimed in casually. He knew Winston was the best dock man at the Starbase - and probably the best engineer as well - yet you could talk to the mechanic and not seem to bug him.

 

“Well, nothing new since last weekend’s visit, aside from admitting he had a crush on a girl and thinks he’s too small to impress.” Winston maneuvered the CRAB’s larger arms away with the hull plate to give the image recording arm a full view. “I tell him don’t worry, you’ll be taller in time. Still, it’s what’s inside that counts. He’s twelve years old and already wanting to date.” Winston chuckled.

 

“If your son is half as smart as your skill set is he won’t have any problems. Although every time you bring him up to visit here he seems more interested in the bone yard.” Baxter was curious. “He isn’t into engineering is he?”

 

“Like I said, Sean, he’s only 12, so he’s got an interest in history. I can’t swing him to become an engineer at his age. Stand by for transmission from the eyeballs.”

 

“Copy,” Baxter replied. “Yeah, who am I to tell your kid what to do? Mine are in the fleet now... protecting the Federation. Receiving data.”

 

“Back to the bone yard,” Daniel spoke up. “You mind if I take Mark to visit some of the old ship bridges and other historical fleet parts up here?”

 

“Take a shuttle out. I have no problem with that,” Baxter quickly replied

 

“Actually, I was thinking of taking him on board a few of the hulls. I am quite certain he’d enjoy seeing how things have changed on starships and such.” Daniel Winston made his move.

 

“Whoa...You are talking about EVA! That’s something completely different. A twelve-year-old EVAing in a wreck? I can’t sign on to that. Plus, he’d need certification. No way.”

 

Daniel had to pause his work. “Sean.... I’d be right with him. He wouldn’t have any problems. I wouldn’t allow him to get into any problems. He’d be just looking around, touching old computers that have no juice whatsoever.”

 

Baxter’s tone changed. “What if he pukes in his suit? You can’t take a kid on an EVA. He has no zero-g experience and lacks certification.”

 

“He does have zero-g experience. He plays in the holodeck at the base in zero g sims.”

 

“Under Safeties.”

 

“Yeah, but he can spin and yaw and rotate around and not get sick. He also can pass certification. He’s seen the test, and...."

 

“He’s seen the test? You really expect me to sign off on this....”

 

“Rotating imager 30 degrees. Yes, I think you will, Sean. He can do it. And don’t tell me you haven’t a suit his size.”

 

Baxter swore on the comm. “You are a schemer, but I want to see the kid himself get into gear. I certify him, not you, Mark. You understand that. He can’t find a switch on his suit, he deal is off. He can’t find a....”

 

“Found our issue. Transmitting now, all spectrums. Sean. Commander. He can do it.”

 

“Darn you Winston... darn you and your gene pool for having enough intelligence to even make me consider this. I.... Oh.” Baxter stopped his tirade in its tracks. “I am sorry... Rachel... I didn’t mean to....”

 

“He does have his mother’s eyes. Check our image out: strut alpha six through alpha niner.”

 

Baxter took a look at the screen capture sent from Winston’s probe. His thoughts were shaken. He had just besmirched his friend’s late wife, the one Daniel Winston’s son had no memory of. What a knucklehead. ”Okay I copy the image. Classic micro-fracture and alloy fatigue tell all. I’ll advise the Captain that he’ll need his vessel tugged to have the strut replaced.”

 

“Copy.”

 

“Bring Mark when he’s ready. I’ll test him for EVA certification.”

 

“Thanks, Baxter. And by the way... we need to put in a note for that engineer.”

 

“Copy. I’ll handle it. I’ll handle everything.”

 

Daniel Winston smiled as he piloted the CRAB away from the Axiom. “Understood.”

 

Now he needed his son to pull through for him for the plan to work.