==/-\== HOLODECK (Weapons Test Part 2of 2) ==/-\== "Certainly Sir", Cortez said then paused for a second before continuing in a loud clear voice, "Computer, initiate USS Gott Training in standby mode, main engineering, two Xchi. In an instant the four men were standing inside the engineering bay of the USS Gott. Both Xchi were visible on the opposite side of the room. He then turned to look at General Bretam. "Compromised air structure?", he said with a confused look on his face, "You mean like what if theres a gas leak?" Keylor nodded, " Marine. This ship has been inhabited by 2 meter tall insects. You think they clean up after them selves?" he said bluntly. "Computer. Using terran grasshoppers as a reference, extrapolate air conditions inside a nova class ship after 7 months of habitation by at least 300 X'chi. then use that information to simulate the airquality in the simulation." he ordered. Richard nodded his head and pulled out the expended canister on the weapon and replaced it with a new one from his pocket. Taking a few steps closer to one of the bugs he then ordered the computer to begin the simulation. Instantly both bugs began charging at Richard from the far side of the room. Once they were in range of the flamethrower he pulled the trigger and aimed it in a swivel motion back and forth hoping to hit both of the bugs at the same time. The flame engulfed one of the bugs and as if it was covered with oil it immediately whent up in flames. The second bug was quick to react to the flame and jumped to the side. However it seemed disoriented and was using its mandibles to cover its eyes. Cortez quickly closed in on the giant insect but with its speed it was able to allude the fire and run to the back of the room. At this point the flamethrower was running out of pressurized gas and the flame started to get smaller until it was completely gone. Once the bug saw that the flame had disappeared it again began charging Richard who was now quickly trying to reload the weapon with his last full canister. As the bug came closer Richard displayed the coolness that he was known for and was able to reload the weapon with about one second to spare and pulled the trigger. Click, Click, Click, "Fuck", Richard said as he realized the weapon wasn't firing. Terek was watching silently the demonstration and was really impressed with the effect the weapon had on the X'Chi. But when it came to the enviroment situation, it was beginning to be obvious that they would have probably done something wrong. It seemed that in the narrow corridors of the ship, the flamethrower would be most useful, but in the larger areas it would give those bugs possibility to keep it avoiding until they run out of gas....but as Terek was thinking about how to avoid this complication, he saw that another problem arose. Corporal Cortez despite that he managed to change a gas tank he wasn't able to fire. Something was wrong with the gun...He hesitated for awhile, but as it seemed that the weapon got stucked, he shouted only: "Computer, freeze program!" and it the moment the bug abrupted in the middle of jump towawrds the Cortez. As this happened, Terek saw all eyes to point towards him. "Eh... I'm sorry to interupt you, but I've got an idea." said appologeticaly with a smile to the group. Cortez let out a slight sigh of releif when Terek halted theprogram. Checking out the weapon he realized that the electricalignition, failed to ignite. When he saw, that no one else has objections, he took a deep breath of the spoiled air inside the room and began: "After that first test on the X'Chi in the cage I was thinking about how to defend a team during the attack of more individuals in some wide space. With corporal, we've been talking about strong light. Though I wasn't sure, that it would have an effect on those bugs, but after when I saw, that this second one was disoriented with the light and heat from the gun, I've got an idea." and without further explanations he said: "Computer, create a portable, strong source of light. As an emitter, use an natrium electrode with output of .... 10 kilowatts. This combine with infrared source of light of the same output." [Specify light shape parameters.] "What about a rifle attachable flashlight?" And with a quiet beep a larger flashlight appeared next to Terek's feet. It had two mouths and or the wrist. Terek lighted the normal light and the darkness around a perimeter of about four meters was drawn away by very strong cone of blinding white light. With satisfied smile he turned it off and switched on the infrared light. Despite that nothing happened, Terek pointed it on the ground in front of him and after about ten seconds of exposition, he turned it off and crouched. He tried how warm the ground was, but apparently he wasn't satisfied, because he put the flashlight on the ground again and ordered: "Computer, increase output of infrared source by another ten kilowatts" [beep...The increasing of energy output will cause a reduction ofeffectivness.] "Explain" [The source will overheat after 30 seconds of using] "How long before cooling down?" [Estimated time of cooling... 5 minutes.] "undestood, make it so.." The flashlight disappeared and reappeared and after another heat test on the ground, Terek straightened up and turned to the others, with the device in his hands. "This should be some personal deffense device in case of the X'Chi would get too close as in this case. Simply you will activate both sources and a light of magnitude of half of hte sun combined with heat of approximately 200 degrees should be able to scare the X'Chi off for some time." He paused and with a sour sight he added... "but as you've heard, the infrared source will overheat in 30 seconds of using so if it'll work we can try to modify it or you will have to suffice with this." Then he turned to the Cortez. "So Richard, do you think it would be possible? Should we try it?" said with smile, awaiting some reactions form the others... "Interesting idea", Cortez began, "especially since everyone onthe team could carry one". As he said this the doors to the holodeckopened and Specialist Lynch entered the room. He arrived at the Holodeck slightly out of breath. Richard had told him to meet for a flamethrower test, but since Aidan had been working till late on his own little creation after helping him assemble the weapon, he had overslept. "No big deal" he muttered to himself, "It's only Rich after all,he wont mind". The Holodeck door slid open, and Aidan entered with a wide grin. "Allright, Richard, how many bugs have you toasted alr..." Aidan swallowed his words as he saw a much larger group then expected, Major Walsh and General Bretam among them. "Allright, mates" was all he could come up with in his surprise, while he turned to Cortez. "I didn't know it was an official testrun, Richard, you could've warned me, couldn't ye?" he murmured to him and turned back to the group. "Ok, so... how far are we then?" he asked with a smile. Cortez smiled at Lynch as he walked toward the group and brieflyexplained what was going on. Watching Ens. Terek and LCpl Cortez from near by, he was startleda bit when Aidan lynch entered the room. {Ok this is truely a party,and he was in on this? I wonder how many firestarters we have on thisship. At least we will have no shortage of voulenteers to start abonfire when we get stranded on some isolated planet.} he though.KEylro remained silent and watched the others. After listening to the short explanation, he looked approvingly at the add-on Terek had come up with. "Not bad at all, aye" he said nodding. "What about adding a cooling unit to the flashlight? We can use hidrogenized gel with a small cooler. Don't take much space and works wonders. Say roughly double the time?" he proposed, tapping on the console, as the modifications took place on the holounit. Terek watched as the ODA members examined his device and then hadonly to agree with the cooling modification that was made by themarine that came right now. He looked curiously on the modified devicewith added cooling unit.... "Hmm that gel wouldn't come to mymind...." he murmured for himself making a mind note to studysomething more about cooling possibilities... Cortez picked up the new device and examined it, "I like it, wewouldnt have to worry about setting off a methane explosion either". He said waiting for General Bretams reaction to the new device. Keylor looked on as the unlikely team changed gears. "Good. I washoping there were other options. After all we are to BRING back theship if possible. I am sure that Starfleet will appreciate you nottrying to turn the ship in to charcoal. Any ways it was only a matterof time that the fire supression systems would douse your flame. andther eis no telling what shape the internal systems are in until weget a team on the bridge." he smiled. Upon hearing General Bretams positive response Richard took a fewsteps to the control panel and ended the simulation. "Allright then,I guess we've found our toy," he began, "I'll make sure all of therifles are equipped with them." he said, a little dissapointed thathe wouldn't be using the flamethrower after all. As the simulation faded back into a gray colors of the holodeck room,they all started to go after their duties. Terek saw general Bretam intalk with the ODA major. As they left the room, he approached corporalCortez and with a little smile he told: "I'm sorry, that flamethrowerdidn't work. It was a good idea...." said as he saw that he's a littledisappointed. Surely he was looking forward to fry some bugs....Terek waited for his response, then nodded to the others and they allwent after their appointments. In Terek's case it was finally somesleep. Aidan frowned. He felt somehow tricked out of a neat toy. Richard hadthought it through, but the General had jumped onto the second optionas if the flamethrower was worthless."Allright, ladds, hold on for a few" he intervened. "That flashlightis a secondary weapon. An option if the flamethrower fails, so tospeak. It's the famous plan B, or so I understood it. Burning thosecritters is still the main defense we have. We just have to make sureit doesn�t backfire... literally... but it is still where we shouldfocus." He looked around waiting for backup. Jack looked up from the PADD he was reading. He had to admit heliked the idea about the flame thrower, he didn't really give a toss aboutwhat state the ship was in when they got it back. "Well Specialist,regardlessof what we need, you haven't got anything viable for us today. I suggestyou and Mr Cortez get your heads together and bring this back to usif you're really dead set on getting this weapon of yours approved." heglanced slightly towards the General, he could tell that Keylor didn'treally like the idea a whole lot. Aidan couldn´t avoid grinning. Major Walsh knew how to back up histeam in his own way. He stood at attention and saluted."Aye Sir. Cortez and myself will take this back to the lab and improveit, Sir" he stepped back and nugded Richard. "You heard the man,Operation Bugzapper is still on." he said between the lips to him. Cortez smiled and let out a slight chuckle as he and everyone elsebegan filtering out of the holodeck. ==/-\== END LOG ==/-\== Ensign Terek WeranisASOUSS Chimera + BGeneral Bretam KeylorCaptainUSS Chimera + Major WalshODA COUSS Chimera + Specialist Aidan LynchODA ESUSS Chimera + Lance Corporal Richard CortezODA WSUSS Chimera