Human Edge

The gantries had been mostly assembled, but work was still well underway when Alexei finally got the chance to come outside and survey his engine.

It was a sight to break any heart - that bent and mangled metal, partially melted away, partially ripped by the raw energy at play. He and the chief met, saluted, and then walked the length of the gantry, surveying the lot, as the chief gave his initial assessment. "It was definitely an overflow, boss. Something went wrong in the fuel line and the regulator didn't keep things under control. It tried to funnel the entire reactor out this pod - if not for the S.A.F.E. cutoffs, we'd have lost the entire pylon, and probably the ship."

Alexei took the news in silence, and then nodded. "Good work catching it, Chief. Let's see if we can piece the thing back together... and figure out why the feed lines failed."

After the man had left, Alexei leaned against the gantry railing in silence, surveying the damage.

Dr. Reinhart is out for a quick walk around himself, enjoying the non-canned air for a moment. He is currently carrying two mugs and as he approaches where the Captain is resting he offers one over.

Alexei took the offered mug with a raised eyebrow. "Do you normally carry two mugs when you walk about, Doctor?"

The question was clearly double-layered.

Were you looking for me?

He smiles, "No not normally, but I heard you might be out here, sir. " He chuckles to himself and looks up at the drop ship, "My work is mostly theoretical but if there is anything I can do in my off time to help, I am more then happy to. I also came across something in the hold while looking for our missing cargo boxes that I wanted to make sure you were aware of."

The captain lifted the cup toward his lips but paused as the Doctor said that.

Something about his frame radiated tension.

"What would that be, Doctor?"

"Where you aware you have a crate of Star League Defense Force Naval Uniforms in mint condition in your hold?"

The captain didn't move for a long moment, and then lowered the cup.

"I am... is that all?"

His tone was bland. Yet the mysterious tension remained.

He shakes his head, "Sorry I thought it might be a surprise. Well if you knew about them then you know their value. i apologize for disturbing you"

The tension seemed to bleed away.

"Ah, yes. They came with the ship. They belonged to the old crew, before she passed on to... well, to private hands."

Alexei straightened, and then inquired, seemingly at random, "How much do you know about Dropship engineering, Doctor? Or about Fusion engines?"

"I took courses in engineering, fusion physics and aerotech mechanics in University, so I have a good basic grasp, Jan would likely be better to be honest."