How much Zig-Zag could you give me?

Posted on Tue Sep 1st, 2020 @ 5:08pm by Lieutenant Chadrick McNier & Lieutenant JG Alexandra Campa
Edited on on Mon Feb 1st, 2021 @ 5:11am

1,288 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Mission 2 - Encounters of a First Kind
Location: Bridge console Helm
Timeline: 2168/07/29 0930 hours Zulu

ON

The Horizon was making time; the guests were guiding the ship towards a place in hopes of the Crew getting resources needed for the ship; star charts, Engine Parts and various other systems. The Captain and science Chief were more busy with the repairs and the Science Chief trying to get his priorities straight.

McNier saw potential passing him by; billions of particle samples from the Solar winds that were; like a soft breeze, blowing just outside the hull and warp envelope.

There were some minor; infinitesimal actually, course corrections that would expand the sample that were needed. Also the one sensory grid that McNier is allowed did not always align well with his scans and collections. Now if the Helm could see fit to; Juke it' just a tad the sensors would get a better view and the collector some satisfactory samples.

McNier made his way to the Bridge when Officer Caqmpa was at the Helm to make his request, Padd in hand he waited until the Officer seemed more relaxed in the chair before approaching.

"Lieutenant Campa." McNier had his polite smile that he had used before when trying to get resources from the Command; the instructors, or anyone that he wanted to be nice to. "I am Science Officer McNier, and I was hoping for a moment or two of your professional time?"

"Certainly," she said crisply. She double checked her controls and instruments to make sure nothing needed her immediate attention and then turned towards him. "What can I help you with?"

"I was hoping that you could make some minor course corrections while in flight?" McNier began. "The present course has not allowed for better sensory and sample gathering. A minor lateral; I believe the term is Juke' of only a degree of the ship alignment would allow for an 47% sensory improvement."

"We're also in a situation where we don't know about our energy supply," she points out. "It's a very small thing you're asking for but I'm worried we might need to be watching every joule. I've been having serious conversations about hot air balloons even."

"I was wanting to get the adjustments is to get a reading on the gravitational factors and particle movements that is often called the Solar Winds." McNier took up a similar subject. If we can get a handle some of the earlier ships used solar winds and I know an alien race that their first ship were..." He was rambling. "Correction, a balloon turned sideways could be like a sail and help with some of the movements as well as rigging a Solar Sail that might help with power." He looked to her. "I am willing to talk balloons and possibilities if you like?"

Alex was smiling, a bit amused as she noted McNier's penchant for rambling, but she shook her head. "A balloon turned sideways would not have nearly the area to function as a solar sail. I know the old nation state of Japan made some use of them in the 21st century even in our own history but they were hundreds of meters..." She shook her head a little. "It'd have to be something different. I was only thinking of a balloon for on the surface. We could save shuttle fuel if we could leave it parked and then use a balloon for atmospheric flight. But if you think you can do a solar sail, give us some extra propulsion," she glanced back at her controls and grinned impishly, "I guess I can give you a little wiggle."

"That would be helpful in learning the Solar Winds and kind of like currents in oceans there are micro-particles that we could use to propel is or at least cut the drag upon the Wqarp Field envelope." He scratched his chin. "It is the Friction of reentry that we would need the shuttle..." He pondered. "From the upper atmosphere if is a chute decent and the 'Ballon would be for achieving altitude saving fuel in a low orbit and drop down just to pass by Baloon and pick up passengers would save significant fuel as landing and take off eat about ..." He tried to calculate. "30-40% of fuel is wasted in those two operations..." He shook his head and looked at the woman's eyes. "You would be better at that calculation but your idea had quite good merit... let me think of the air density and breathing gear..."

She shook her head. "Hot air balloons are a little archaic. Maybe we could make some advances over the most recent models used, but not by that much. It could maybe get us 5% of the way to orbit. The idea was for further exploration of the surface." She smiled almost apologetically. "So you wanted a zig-zag?" she asked as she turned back to her controls.

"Yes, .5 to .7 of a degree on the 'X' axis port and starboard would give better readings and sample capacity to better figure the viability for use of a Solar Sail." He said most candidly and paused. "What about Kiddie Baloons..." He said suddenly. "Like the para-Gliders only a Balloon that can be attached to the heating mechanism and a single occupant. A small propellar and you have powered flight and should be light enough to break down for site survey and then redeployed when distance needed?" He looked to the 'Balloon Expert. "Single occupancy?"

"That's an interesting idea," she said. "The shuttle does need to be powered in atmosphere or even in low orbit and each of these would need its own power and its own trained pilot. Ultimately, I don't know if we'd save enough energy to be worth the increase in time and risk. We'd need the raw materials. We'd need the time. The shuttle would still have to go down if someone were injured." She shook her head and then she smiled suddenly. "Although...although, the captain did mention the potential utility of other fuel sources. If we can design suborbital vehicles that run on fossil fuels, we might be able to harvest more in this galaxy. Now I'm rambling."

She laughed and worked her controls. "You have your wiggle, sir. More seriously, we might be able to make suborbital craft with enough time and resources, though I don't really think a balloon makes much sense as any part of them, unless you really just want to say you got one into orbit. I don't think we're in a position to do anything on that scale now, especially if we're going to be working on an emergency solar sail. My proposal is a more modest one. A conventional hot air balloon to be used from a base camp. I'm worried even that might be impractical. It's still additional time and risk with a limited energy savings but I do think it would cut back on unnecessary shuttle take offs and landings, at least within a certain range."

"Maybe for ground survey from a base camp Balloons might be practical for short aerial survey rather than flying a shuttle." He shrugged. "I do enjoy the stimulation of your viewpoints it does give inspiration for new vantage point Lieutenant Campa and thank you for the course corrections."

"Thank you, sir. I also enjoyed it." She smiled to him and then looked back to her controls. "You go from idea to idea so quickly. You remind me of a professor I had at the Academy."

"I will take that as a compliment." he smiled. "I suppose that Doctorate on my Office Wall is well earned." He chuckled. "Again I thank you for you raid and hope to see you around for more stimulating conversations Lieutenant Campa."

"You as well, sir."

END

 

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