[A Meeting of Minds] -- [c!Scotty and Kirk]
There had been an idea brewing in Kirk's mind for several days, something half-focused on in the wee hours of the morning on Risa but unable to fully develop. So, finally, when the idea came into focus (at least the verbal concept of it), Kirk made his way down to engineering. He had a definite idea in mind on not only this, but on how to get to know and bring into the crew the strange other-verse Scotty that had ended up as a part of their crew.
It wasn't hard to find the young man, greet him, hide his amusement at Scotty refusing to call him Jim despite them both being off duty, and ask the young Scotsman if he wanted to take a walk through engineering. Okay, maybe he couldn't completely hide the bullshit grin on his face. He wanted this to work. He didn't know if it could be accomplished, but if it could...
Kirk: *quiet voice* So tell me something. You been exploring Engineering?
Scotty: Aye, sir. Well, some. There isna much fer me t' do right now, what with th' ship just bein' repaired in drydock.
Kirk: There's a project I want to see get done, and I'm looking for someone that can think outside the box about how it can get done.
Scotty: :::he probably wonders why his counterpart isn't being approached, but he figures that the Captain is the Captain and has his reasons::: Aye? What c'n I do for ye, sir?
Kirk: *looks ahead, looking thoughtful* Our shields... we bring them up, they surround the ship the best we can manage, but they're spread out.
Scotty: :::frowns a bit, pulling up his own universe's Constitution-class in his mind::: Fewer inline emitters? 'Cause th' shields in our universe, leastwises as well as I ken what with bein' unschooled yet, are a bit like... workin' in a mirrored box. We have th' central array... :::he draws with his hands in the air::: ...then power's sent out t' the emitters themselves t' build 'em. An' there're quite a few o' those, too; ye can afford t' lose a decent number afore ye lose shields in whole. Yer ship doesna have quite so many? More centralized?
Kirk: *follows the concept Scotty is building, then gestures a little* More centralized. Here's what I want to do. *starts gesturing with his hands more heavily as they walk, laying out his idea in mind* Right now, if we come under attack, forward navigation finds the projectory of either missles, torpedos, or anything else that's gonna hit us. All that information ends up between weapons and the helm, either to hit or evade what we can. Following me?
Scotty: Aye, sir.
Kirk: What I'm thinking... what if that information could be diverted to the shields as well?
Scotty: Aye, it probably could be, but relyin' on trajectories like that's still a somewhat risky venture. I'd propose, if it was my call, t' first add a whole new slew o' inline emitters, which'd give ye more control over th' shields an' more power to 'em, then set up a system like th' one ye're talkin'. An' isolate it, so if somethin' happens to it, ye'll still be able t' manually adjust yer shields. But t' be able t' fine tune shields like that t' work on an automatic computer calculation o' trajectory, ye'd need t' have a bunch more inline shield emitters; it'd give ye th' fine control ye'd need. Like all o' the difference atween a scalpel an' a hammer, right?
Kirk: *nods* I want to set up a system like that, then. Specially because no matter how good whoever is at Navigation, they're only human and can't be everywhere at once with shields and weapons. I'm thinking that the computers can back them up at least somewhat if they can't get it all at once.
Scotty: Aye, it's a good idea. Ye'd probably have t' bring it up with yer Scott, though; I dinna ken yer systems well enough t' even try that kind o' design, aye? I can give him rough concepts, based on th' way ours are set up in our universe, but he an' th' other proper engineers would have t' actually do the finalized designs. I could probably help with installation, though.
Kirk: We don't have a system like the one in your universe, so you're going to have to help get it all started and with installation. ...of course, if you're up to it.
Scotty: I... suppose. I can do concepts, but like I said, they'd be rough at best. Take me probably a week, or so, since I'd have t' study power outputs an' actual ship structure t' best figure where ye're additional emitters would go. An' I'd have t' see what sort o' computer system it's all currently on.
Kirk: You've probably wondered why I didn't go to the other Scotty about this, right? Because you can devote yourself to it. He can't.
Scotty: Well, I've got my shift in th' galley, an' then my tech shift in engineerin'... ::he frowns a little, studying the ground::: ...I c'n work at it when I'm nae on duty. I dinna ken what... what yer Scott'll think, though. I'm nae even trained as an engineer properly; I just had a few semesters at the University o' Aberdeen's Engineerin' School.
Kirk: *holds up a finger* I don't want my Scotty to know until you've got me those rough concepts down on paper, padd, or however you feel about getting them done. *grins* I want you to bring them to me when you're ready to show them.
Scotty: :::looks over at Kirk, wide-eyed; you can bet he's probably thinking that the other Scott's gonna be more'n a bit pissed about that.::: ...sir?
Kirk: I want to take those to Scotty, and put them down for him to look at. Not gonna tell him who did them, or anything about it. Just want to get his opinion on them. ...Get it? No misconceptions then, no potential problems... just his honest opinion.
Scotty: ::geez, the kid practically wants to break into a cold sweat at the idea. And not really a good kind. But he nods, after a hard swallow::: Aye, sir.
Kirk: *reaches up, squeezing his shoulder* Besides, I want to see what you can do. *raises a brow* You think I just let anyone on my crew?
Scotty: No, sir. :::not quite making eye contact, though. Mostly because, well... it's not that he's afraid of actually designing and concepting and coming up with ideas. He's done that before. But given his myriad issues with the other Scott, and his issues with just about everything -- and a still serious fear about disappointing people -- it's a really nerve-wracking situation::: I'll give it my best, sir.
Kirk: Any idea how long you think it'll take you to get something together? *just smiling easy*
Scotty: Probably a week, sir. A week an' a half at the outside, provided nothin' comes up in an emergency. :::which means that, if he works extremely hard, he'll probably have it done in four days. Amusingly, people called his original self a miracle worker for that kind of estimating, but all engineers build in 'worst case scenario' room; it's common sense, not subterfuge:::
Kirk: *smirks* Awesome. Let me know when you're done. I'm not expecting a miracle from any of you, but... it could save the ship someday. Lives, definitely. I'm sure of it.
Scotty: :::ha! No pressure::: Aye, sir, I will.
Kirk: *grins* Maybe someday I'll convince you to call me Jim when we're off duty.
Scotty: :::a slight little smile:: I dinna think so, sir.
Kirk: *laughs* That sounds like a challenge!
Scotty: No, sir, never. :::still a little amused, though naturally, probably more anxious about the project he just agreed to take on.:::
Kirk: *laughs again and nods* I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with. *another quick squeeze of the shoulder, just as physically touchy as his counterpart, and heads back*
Scotty: Aye aye, sir. :::takes another breath and watches Kirk head off, then gets to work in his mind trying to start on that project:::
It wasn't hard to find the young man, greet him, hide his amusement at Scotty refusing to call him Jim despite them both being off duty, and ask the young Scotsman if he wanted to take a walk through engineering. Okay, maybe he couldn't completely hide the bullshit grin on his face. He wanted this to work. He didn't know if it could be accomplished, but if it could...
Kirk: *quiet voice* So tell me something. You been exploring Engineering?
Scotty: Aye, sir. Well, some. There isna much fer me t' do right now, what with th' ship just bein' repaired in drydock.
Kirk: There's a project I want to see get done, and I'm looking for someone that can think outside the box about how it can get done.
Scotty: :::he probably wonders why his counterpart isn't being approached, but he figures that the Captain is the Captain and has his reasons::: Aye? What c'n I do for ye, sir?
Kirk: *looks ahead, looking thoughtful* Our shields... we bring them up, they surround the ship the best we can manage, but they're spread out.
Scotty: :::frowns a bit, pulling up his own universe's Constitution-class in his mind::: Fewer inline emitters? 'Cause th' shields in our universe, leastwises as well as I ken what with bein' unschooled yet, are a bit like... workin' in a mirrored box. We have th' central array... :::he draws with his hands in the air::: ...then power's sent out t' the emitters themselves t' build 'em. An' there're quite a few o' those, too; ye can afford t' lose a decent number afore ye lose shields in whole. Yer ship doesna have quite so many? More centralized?
Kirk: *follows the concept Scotty is building, then gestures a little* More centralized. Here's what I want to do. *starts gesturing with his hands more heavily as they walk, laying out his idea in mind* Right now, if we come under attack, forward navigation finds the projectory of either missles, torpedos, or anything else that's gonna hit us. All that information ends up between weapons and the helm, either to hit or evade what we can. Following me?
Scotty: Aye, sir.
Kirk: What I'm thinking... what if that information could be diverted to the shields as well?
Scotty: Aye, it probably could be, but relyin' on trajectories like that's still a somewhat risky venture. I'd propose, if it was my call, t' first add a whole new slew o' inline emitters, which'd give ye more control over th' shields an' more power to 'em, then set up a system like th' one ye're talkin'. An' isolate it, so if somethin' happens to it, ye'll still be able t' manually adjust yer shields. But t' be able t' fine tune shields like that t' work on an automatic computer calculation o' trajectory, ye'd need t' have a bunch more inline shield emitters; it'd give ye th' fine control ye'd need. Like all o' the difference atween a scalpel an' a hammer, right?
Kirk: *nods* I want to set up a system like that, then. Specially because no matter how good whoever is at Navigation, they're only human and can't be everywhere at once with shields and weapons. I'm thinking that the computers can back them up at least somewhat if they can't get it all at once.
Scotty: Aye, it's a good idea. Ye'd probably have t' bring it up with yer Scott, though; I dinna ken yer systems well enough t' even try that kind o' design, aye? I can give him rough concepts, based on th' way ours are set up in our universe, but he an' th' other proper engineers would have t' actually do the finalized designs. I could probably help with installation, though.
Kirk: We don't have a system like the one in your universe, so you're going to have to help get it all started and with installation. ...of course, if you're up to it.
Scotty: I... suppose. I can do concepts, but like I said, they'd be rough at best. Take me probably a week, or so, since I'd have t' study power outputs an' actual ship structure t' best figure where ye're additional emitters would go. An' I'd have t' see what sort o' computer system it's all currently on.
Kirk: You've probably wondered why I didn't go to the other Scotty about this, right? Because you can devote yourself to it. He can't.
Scotty: Well, I've got my shift in th' galley, an' then my tech shift in engineerin'... ::he frowns a little, studying the ground::: ...I c'n work at it when I'm nae on duty. I dinna ken what... what yer Scott'll think, though. I'm nae even trained as an engineer properly; I just had a few semesters at the University o' Aberdeen's Engineerin' School.
Kirk: *holds up a finger* I don't want my Scotty to know until you've got me those rough concepts down on paper, padd, or however you feel about getting them done. *grins* I want you to bring them to me when you're ready to show them.
Scotty: :::looks over at Kirk, wide-eyed; you can bet he's probably thinking that the other Scott's gonna be more'n a bit pissed about that.::: ...sir?
Kirk: I want to take those to Scotty, and put them down for him to look at. Not gonna tell him who did them, or anything about it. Just want to get his opinion on them. ...Get it? No misconceptions then, no potential problems... just his honest opinion.
Scotty: ::geez, the kid practically wants to break into a cold sweat at the idea. And not really a good kind. But he nods, after a hard swallow::: Aye, sir.
Kirk: *reaches up, squeezing his shoulder* Besides, I want to see what you can do. *raises a brow* You think I just let anyone on my crew?
Scotty: No, sir. :::not quite making eye contact, though. Mostly because, well... it's not that he's afraid of actually designing and concepting and coming up with ideas. He's done that before. But given his myriad issues with the other Scott, and his issues with just about everything -- and a still serious fear about disappointing people -- it's a really nerve-wracking situation::: I'll give it my best, sir.
Kirk: Any idea how long you think it'll take you to get something together? *just smiling easy*
Scotty: Probably a week, sir. A week an' a half at the outside, provided nothin' comes up in an emergency. :::which means that, if he works extremely hard, he'll probably have it done in four days. Amusingly, people called his original self a miracle worker for that kind of estimating, but all engineers build in 'worst case scenario' room; it's common sense, not subterfuge:::
Kirk: *smirks* Awesome. Let me know when you're done. I'm not expecting a miracle from any of you, but... it could save the ship someday. Lives, definitely. I'm sure of it.
Scotty: :::ha! No pressure::: Aye, sir, I will.
Kirk: *grins* Maybe someday I'll convince you to call me Jim when we're off duty.
Scotty: :::a slight little smile:: I dinna think so, sir.
Kirk: *laughs* That sounds like a challenge!
Scotty: No, sir, never. :::still a little amused, though naturally, probably more anxious about the project he just agreed to take on.:::
Kirk: *laughs again and nods* I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with. *another quick squeeze of the shoulder, just as physically touchy as his counterpart, and heads back*
Scotty: Aye aye, sir. :::takes another breath and watches Kirk head off, then gets to work in his mind trying to start on that project:::