PHD #182: Looking for the First Time
Looking for the First Time
Summary: Triantafilou visits Project Heavy Raider HQ for the first time and gets roped into working on the engines project.
Date: 27 August 2041 AE
Related Logs: None.
Players:
Bannik Triantafilou 
Repair Bay - Port Side Hangar Deck - Battlestar Cerberus
When engines need to be rebuilt or other heavy but short-term work needs to be done, this is where it happens. Large, red hand-mobile cranes are situated along the wall beside stacks of toolchests. Carts with various computers and electronics are dispersed around the area for quick access. A very conspicuous yellow locker at the rear holds a sizable amount of firefighting gear, as well. Sturdy metal stands are available to hold all sorts of parts from gun systems to the FTL drives of a Raptor. Big enough to accommodate quite a few Vipers and Raptors at once, this area see's extensive use and is usually attended by at least one crew at all hours of the day and night.
Post-Holocaust Day: #182

In the whirl of changes in engineering staff — poor Penelope Paris is dead now — the memo landed on Triantafilou's desk. The Deck was looking for an engineering officer with experience in engines to work with them on the Cylon Technology Integration project and the Ensign's number was up. He was sent to look for a Specialist Tyr Bannik down in the Hangar Bay.

And when he comes, there is, indeed, Bannik, standing near two large, engine-like contraptions that have been up on a large work-bench for inspection. He's in the standard orange deck coveralls of the Deck, looking over a clipboard or some such.

The ensign heard of the raider, however, he himself has never seen it. Most of his free time since the decimation of the Colonies and the attacks has been spent helping repair teams keep the ship working at prime condition. Or at least attempting to keep the ship working in prime condition. The Ensign enters, sleepily buttoning his uniform, appearing to have been awakened to see this. When he takes a look at the raider and the engine components on the table, his eyes open wide as if caffeine has been administered directly into his veins. "Shit," is all he can say in a whisper.

"First time seeing her, sir?" asks Bannik with a wry smile, looking up from his clipboard and over at the fellow in officer blues. He makes his way over, shifting his clipboard and offering his hand. "Specialist Tyr Bannik. I've — somehow become the Deck's expert in all things Cylon technology." He gestures towards the Heavy Raider frame — long since stripped down on the inside by Deck teams — that still sits in the Bay. "We recovered her at Parnassus Anchorage. But we've had a hard time keeping focused on some of the tech projects."

"Linus Triantafilou." He doesn't mention his rank, offering the man his hand while still looking at the machine. He finally shuts his jaw in amazement and regards the Specialist. "I heard we had one on board, but never got a chance to take a look at. Other things have been put on my plate until now." Linus sniffs, feigning drowsiness. "I was told that you needed me to look at the engines?"

Bannik shakes the hand firmly, nodding. "Yeah. Basically." He takes a sheet off of the clipboard and hands it over. "Here's our initial finding report that gives the overview. Command's been on us about 'integrating Cylon technology' into our own operations to get a leg up. To be quite honest, I don't think they're listening when I say how over-our-heads some of this stuff is. But the Engines are one area, I think, where we might be able to make some improvements to our birds."

Triantafilou looks over the readouts, shuffling paper on the clipboard. "Integrating cylon technology into the ship's systems?" He looks up at Bannik, offering an eyebrow raise. "Some people might object to it. Maybe even find it a bit heretical." He sighs, "Fortunately for you all, I don't believe in heresy." He nods, "Well, the engines are tylium fed. And judging by the strip down over there on the table," he gestures, "That looks like an FTL reactor. I guess the brass wants me to figure out why they're so fuel efficient so we can apply it to our own fighters?"

"That's the idea." Bannik nods. "It's not the sexiest project — enhanced fuel efficiency — but I think it's the most plausible one right now. And, heck, if we're out here for the long run, it might be useful to cut our fuel use by some." He sighs, waving at the engines. "But honestly? That's one of the few systems that I can tell you that even looks like ours, you know?"

"The wiring reminds me of bio neural circuitry. Of course, such crap hasn't even been developed, only proposed. A professor that I had at Delphi Institute of Technology suggested that maybe one day, we should integrate circuitry similar to what's in our nerves into computers. It would increase date speed and efficiency. Of course, he was laughed at. Said it sounded like something out of the movies. But the engines do look like something we can at least chew." He sighs again, running a hand through his hair. "I'll have to run some engine tests in a lab. If we can calculate the amount of tylium it consumes depending upon what I tell the engines to do, I can at least try and figure out how to integrate it with our fighters. It will take a lot of nights and lots of coffee. Problem is we regressed so much in computer technology and aerospace after the first war. I wouldn't be surprised if the secrets to most of these questions laid in the way cylons use their computers."

"It might be," allows Bannik with a nod of his head. "And the problem is their computers are so future-tech, that I can't even begin to figure which way is up. I mean, I can tell you what some parts /do/, but I can't break them down to basics for you." He gestures around the Bay. "Anyhow, sir, the repair bay's yours to do work if you need it. And I'm around plenty, too. I'm mostly an electronics guy, not mech, but I can at least try to wrangle you some help if you need it."

"My degree is in computer science. But, I had to work on some aerospace projects at DIT." Linus runs a hand over the engines, "Before dismantling, did your team activate the raider? I know that is a stupid question perhaps, but in the very least, I could do some tweaking and try to hook this up to a raptor. It isn't that much different. And if we can't do much, maybe we can get the aerospace factory to reproduce the engines."

"We did. But it's just a lot of gibberish. It's all in the memo — we could start to decipher the functions of the various displays, but not really crack the language behind it." Bannik taps his clipboard. "But, yeah, that seems as good of an idea as any. I'm not sure if it'll interface, but might as well see if you can try, right?"

"I remember my next door neighbor was really into cars. He literally built a replica of a vintage Caprican Hailey Griffon from scratch. You know, those pre-war cars with really horrible fuel efficiency, lots of room to get frakked in, and huge spoilers. Cherry red, too. It was one pimped out car. Anyway. Except he didn't have the engine parts. So he used stuff from his girlfriend's model M sedan. Pissed her off royally. But he got it working. Might take some drilling and juryrigging. I'm just hoping when I flip the switch, the raptor doesn't blown up," Linus remarks.

Bannik considers this, as if figuring out how to respond to the idea of a Raptor blowing up when the switch is flipped. "Use a circuit breaker?" he suggests. "But at least if it does, someone wearing blue did it, not me." That seems to give him some solace.

Triantafilou shrugs, "Perhaps. Anyway, let me take a look at the schematics and then I'll get back to you.”

"Thanks, sir." Bannik grins. "And if you need anything, give a hollar, okay? Not sure how, but it turned out that an eighteen year-old kid is in charge of one of the biggest technological finds we've ever made. I control all the inventory of parts and stuff." He takes his clipboard and tucks it under his arm. "Good having you on board, sir."

Triantafilou nods, "Good to have you around too. Electronic Engineering isn't my forte. We need all the help we can get, even if it is from eighteen year olds."

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