Coding for a Friend

Posted on Fri Nov 1st, 2024 @ 7:54pm by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Crewman Thyra Kevensdotter

2,553 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Interlude 1 Gamma Quadrant
Location: Firebird Computer Lab

[ON]

“Gudz demn ett!” Thyra swore out loud, her native accent coming through in her frustration. The computer’s rendering of the parchment and charcoal rendering of the battleaxe she designed was too angular. It lacked the fine curves and well defined runic inlays that she had envisioned.

"You having some kind of problem or a seizure?” a gravelly voice asked in an ingratiating tone.

Thyra looked up from the display of the computer console that she was working at to observe a Njordlinger…No…Ferengi was the Federation name for the species. This one was wearing a Star Fleet uniform so they must be part of the crew. It was such an unusual combination that she could only stare at the petty officer for a moment before speaking.

“I am unable to get the computer to accurately model what I have drawn,” Thyra complained. She noted that the Ferengi’s lobes were smaller than the few that she had ever seen and concluded that this one had poor business acumen, hence the decision to join Star Fleet.

“Why do people always blame the machinery?” Fhiri said with a sigh. She wanted to keep walking but she knew as a Petty Officer she was supposed to help the lower enlisted. "Fine. I'll help you."

“i blame myself as much as the machine,” Thyra replied to the offer, “but I do not have any gold-pressed latinum.”

The Ferengi grimaced slightly at the assumption before objecting, “Oh that's just perfect. I suppose the next thing you'll say is that I shouldn't be wearing clothes either, right? Despite what you think, not every Ferengi is obsessed with amassing a pile of latinum.”

Thyra was surprised. All the Okinskus tales of the Njordlingers were that they were money-obsessed gold diggers who would sell their own mother’s liver if the price were high enough. Thyra needed assistance with the computer so she was inclined to accept. Still, she would be on her guard against being tricked into selling her spemalot for a bag of magic acorns.

“Then I will be happy for any assistance you can provide,” Thyra said as she moved over to allow the Ferengi to view her display, "But I am confused as to why you think I would say you shouldn't be wearing clothes."

Fhiri hissed through her teeth as she looked over the display with which the crewman had been working. "On Ferenginar, traditionally female Ferengi are not allowed to wear clothes. Obviously, I am not a traditional Ferengi. My father keeps trying to kidnap me and take me home but, I just keep shooting him with my phaser," Fhiri said, a toothy grin crossing her face as she thought of the last time she'd shot her father.

"Sounds like a reasonable course of action," Thyra replied matter-of-factly.

"Hmm. Ok so tell me what you are trying to do with this art that you made," Fhiri said.

"I am designing melee weapons to augment our armory," Thyra replied, "I drew several designs and have been trying to ask the computer to create a 3-D model that can be replicated. But me and the computer have been unable to communicate with each other. I explain what I want, and the computer draws what it thinks I want, but the result is unsatisfactory. I am running out of vocabulary to clarify for the computer."

Fhiri nodded. "Yeah the computer can be a real pain in the lobes sometimes," she said. "Don't get me wrong, I love computers. But sometimes they don't listen as well as I do."

She picked up the drawing, admiring the runes. "Ferengi use runes kinda like these. Anyways, I can help you. What we need to do is do a high-resolution scan using the scientific topographical scanner. The officers think the scientists need everything but the truth is, they don't use half the stuff they get. They like to use their big toys instead. You know how to use one of those?"

Thyra shook her head. "I doubt that I would be able to properly identify one of those scanners if I hit my head on it," she confessed, "The science and engineering disciplines are not my strong suits."

Fhiri nodded. "Well, they are my strong suits. The only real challenge is that the Science Department keeps things under tight control. We're going to have to be creative. Follow me," Fhiri said.

[Jeffries Tube, Deck 6]

Fhiri scuttled forward in the Jeffries Tube. She hated to admit it but Harlan's incessant ramblings about Jeffries Tubes were partially true. She'd taken some time to explore them a bit and used them when she wanted to get from place to place without dealing with anyone else. She looked over her shoulder.

"We're almost to the Science Labs. Once we get there, I'll use a systems check subroutine to shut down all the sensors. We'll have about four minutes to find the topographical sensor. I think I know where it is. Remember, it looks like a thin, silver box with a small type-six sensor array on the end of the actuator arm. Got it?" Fhiri asked

"Thin, silver with an arm. Got it," Thyra repeated as she crawled behind Fhiri. She was glad that she didn’t have her hand axes to get in the way. She probably wouldn't need them in the Science Labs but she felt compelled to ask, "Why are we creeping through the Jeffries Tubes? Why not walk into the lab like proper people?"

Fhiri stopped crawling and craned her neck so she could look at Thyra. "Technically these scanners are supposed to be used to analyze and catalog new minerals, substances, gases, you know, all that science stuff that doesn't do anything practical but gets officers promoted. Also technically, only officers are supposed to have access to them. Since it is late and all the officers are asleep, we are going to just borrow one for a few minutes," Fhiri said and then started crawling again.

The two made good time, making left and right turns, and crawling up and down several ladders. Eventually, they were stopped by a heavy grate with a security access panel. The faint scent of chemicals wafted through the grate.

"I'm going to open the grate with this panel," Fhiri said, pulling out two tools from her belt kit.

Thyra appreciated the skill with which the Ferengi wielded her tools to manipulate the grate's locking mechanism and followed her silently to the deck.

"I will disable the monitors. You look for the scanner," Fhiri instructed.

Thyra noted the location of the door to the hallway as she began circling the room looking for something silver, thin, and possessing an arm.

The laboratory was filled with mysterious devices whose purpose was inscrutable to Thyra, but she wasn't having any luck finding what Fhiri had described. This one was thin and silver but lacked any arms. Other there was a fat, silver box with multiple arms. Then one that had one arm and was silver, but it was an orb, not a box. And she didn't even bother to look at the devices that were a different color.

She was on the verge of giving up when Fhiri joined her and pointed out a machine in one corner. "That's what we are looking for," she told Thyra.

It was silver and flatly thin, with an arm tucked up against its side. Thyra had no idea what a class six sensor thingy was or what it would look like but even if she did, she was likely to have missed this unobtrusive device sitting quietly, minding its own business.

Fhiri left Thyra behind, confident that she would take care of business. She settled down next to the access panel that monitored the space. She'd used at least a minute of their lead time and had to work fast. Her orange fingers weren't elegant but they were strong and she moved quickly, revealing the interior of the control column that monitored the science bay. She'd memorized the layout from her last venture inside the space and had no trouble tracking down the right data junctions and placing bypasses on them. A long bead of sweat rolled down her right lobe and landed on the floor. She ignored it. The light on the interior control switch blinked green, then red, and then back to green."

"Override in place," Fhiri said and stood up. "Let's get that scanner and get out of here."

"Wait!" Thyra held a hand up, "We aren't using the scanner here? We are stealing it?"

"I prefer to think of it as a long-term, no-interest loan," Fhiri replied.

True to the stories of the Nordlingers, Thyra thought as she moved to pick up the scanner, this one's ethical sense was flexible. Still, if it allowed her to replicate the weapons in the manner that she most desired, the ends justified the means.

The scanner was lighter than Thyra expected as the two of them lifted the device. "Which way now?" she asked.

As anticipated, Fhiri indicated the Jefferies tube opening with a nod of her head but before they could move that direction, the lights in the laboratory turned on. Both women dropped behind a long table with built-in cabinets that hid them from view. "Damn," Fhiri cursed, "I must have miscalculated how much time we had."

"I will create a distraction," Thyra replied, "You get the scanner out." And then she scurried off on hands and knees before Fhiri could object.

A science officer had entered the lab but seemed unaware of the presence of either woman. He whistled as he went about work at one of the adjacent benches. So engrossed was he that Thyra doubted she needed to be quite so stealthy but it was best to be careful. She quickly and quietly circled around to the door and activated the opening. The man didn't even look around.

She walked up behind him less quietly and when she was three steps behind him, she cleared her throat.

The scientist held up a hand as he continued to look through the lenses of the microscope or scanner or whatever it was that he was using. Finally, he turned to Thyra and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you the same thing," Thyra retorted, "We received a report that the sensors in this lab had been deactivated. As everyone else is off-duty, are you up to anything nefarious?" Over the man's shoulder, Thyra could see Fhiri moving with the scanner. She needed to keep his attention away from her partner-in-crime.

"What?" the scientist asked in surprise, "No! I am just working on a pet project."

"Something that will get you promoted?" Thyra asked with a cynical tone.

"Well..."

Thyra turned to the device that Fhiri had used to disable the monitors. She pretended to manipulate the controls before saying, "Yes, I see that you have disabled the monitors. Didn't want anyone to know what you were doing, eh?" She gave the scientist a conspiratorial wink.

"No!" the scientist objected, "I mean, I don't want anyone to know about this project and try to steal my idea...but I wouldn't disable the monitors to do so.

Thyra approached the scientist with purpose. "I suppose that my silence could be purchased," she suggested, "and as we are quiet alone..."

Without warning, Thyra reached out and grabbed the slight man by the front of his tunic and pulled him towards her. She expertly placed her mouth upon his and thrust her tongue between his teeth. The man made a muffled objection that was unintelligible as Thyra waved a hand frantically at Fhiri for the Ferengi to move.

Fhiri made a disgusted face and bolted towards the access port to the Jeffries tube. She scurried forward and then waited, just out of sight.

"Humons are so disgusting. Rubbing lobes, now that's the way to do it," she said a little wistfully.

Seeing Fhiri make it to the access port, Thyra pulled back from the kiss and slapped the science officer across the face. The man gave an exclamation of pain and Thyra said, "How dare you. You kiss like a three-day-old fish!" She spun on her heel and departed the lab, leaving a confused scientist in her wake.

They had not discussed a contingency for it they were split up but Thyra assumed the Fhiri would head back to the computer lab, so she started in that direction.

[Computer Lab]

Thyra was waiting in the lab when Fhiri exited the Jeffries tube with the borrowed scanner.

"Crewman, you have real potential as an asset acquisition specialist. If you ever want to change jobs, I'll take you in engineering," Fhiri said as she stood up, waving the liberated scanner with satisfaction.

"Thank you but I am quite happy in security for the time being," Thyra replied.

"Ok now let's see those drawings." She moved over the the original console that Thyra had been working on and powered up the scanner. It was twice as long as her forearm, which made it bulky but she knew that the electronics package in the things was beyond complicated.

She made four slow passes over the materials, watching the pulsating green scan rays wash over the drawings time and again. The cycle finished and the new ultra-high-res images appeared on the display. Fhiri could tell they were much better than what had been there before. Everything looked crisp and clear.

"That look better?" She asked with a smile.

"Much better, thank you," Thyra acknowledged approvingly, "There are some additional refinements that I would like to make here, here and here."

The two women worked for the next hour on scanning the images and making additional modifications that Thyra desired. When they were finished, Thyra had a data stick with the computer models suitable to begin replication.

"I thank you, Petty Officer, for your assistance and creativity in overcoming the obstacles I faced," Thyra said, "I wouldn't have thought a Nord...a Ferengi would be so helpful."

Fhiri waved a hand at Thyra. "Don't go telling everyone. The last thing I need is half the crew asking me for help. The truth is, I was a crewman not too long ago and I was lucky to have some people help me along. You seem like you've got a good set of lobes on you and you're quick on your feet. I can always use people like that in my life. Plus, I know I can count on you in acquisitions," Fhiri said. "Anyway. I better get going. If I don't make sure Lopt does what he's told, he will probably injure himself."

Thyra reiterated her gratitude and an obligation to assist the Petty Officer in the future. As she was departing the lab, however, she was reminded of something her father had said. If you think you've made a deal with a Ferengi, count your limbs, then your digits, then your relatives.

[OFF]

Crewman Thyra Kevensdotter
Security Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

Petty Officer 2nd Class Fhiri (NPC by Llwyedd)
Computer Systems Specialist
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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