A Change of Heart
Posted on Sat Oct 17th, 2026 @ 5:20pm by Lieutenant Jeanine Jeffries
Edited on on Sat Oct 17th, 2026 @ 5:58pm
524 words; about a 3 minute read
Mission:
Chimera and Deep Space 16
Location: USS Chimera
ON
Engineering was tense.
The room held a quiet energy as the trickiest phase of the overhaul was being conducted. While most systems could be swapped out with minimal interruption of operations, this one was different.
“Transfer primary power to fusion reactors.” JJ didn't have a console in front of her. She stood in the middle of the room, the engineering operations table behind her.
“System now running on fusion reactors. Power levels within tolerance.”
“Very good. Disengage plasma injection manifolds.”
“Plasma injectors off-line.”
“Reduce chamber reaction to one-fifty milicochranes.”
“Bring the reaction down.”
The swirling mass of energy inside the primary reaction chamber of the ship’s warp core slowed.
“Coming down through three-hinfted. Down to two-twrnty-five.”
“Flatten.out the descent.” JJ advised. “I want her to smoothly stop at one-fifty.”
Now the room was truly quiet. Even without activity, she could as always count on the Core for noise.
“Reaction stable at one-fifty.”
“Alert the reception committee.”
“Retrieval team.is on standby. Insertion team.is also ready.”
“Open the hatch.” JJ took a heavy breath. She didn't want to see it go. Didn't want to say goodbye to another core. But, she had her orders.
“Disengage locks. Let her go.”
There was gentle way to release a Warp Core. Every system in.plavevwas there to keep it from moving. Once those were gone, the artificial gravity pulled it down the guide rails towards the now open ventral hatch at the base of the ship.
“Catch.” JJ whispered softly once the very top of the Core had finally cleared Main Engineering. It was always astonishing how long they were.
“Retrieval team says they got it. Insertion team is moving into place.
“Warm up the motors.”
“Traction motors online.”
Inserting a new core was more harrowing than releasing the old one. One slight misalignment, and the traction motors that drew it up into place could snap the core.
That would make a bad day for everyone.
Slowly. Excruciatingly slowly. The new core rose into sight. Powerful motors on the guide rails pushed against the pull of the artificial gravity.
With a heavy thunk, the Core was seated, and the locks engaged.
It definitely looked new. A newer model. With a higher reaction ceiling than the old one. This could handle a higher top-end reaction limit.
“All right. Run a static test. Spin her up to five-hundred milicochranes.”
“Initialising reaction. Bringing it up slowly.”
The swirling mass inside the chamber gained momentum as the reaction output grew steadily.
“Reaction at five-hundred. Indicators clean across the board. I think we're good.”
“Bring her up to seven-fifty and hold.” It was a little lower than standard reaction output at rest, but JJ didn't want to stress-test anything while they were in dock.
“Approaching seven-fifty. System.still optimal.”
“Re-engage plasma injectors.”
“Plasma manifolds online.”
“Charge the nacelles.” JJ still couldn't think about them without removing the moment she had to get cooked inside one.
“Nacelles primed and ready. Diagnostic report clear.”
JJ let out a breath. “Core transplant complete. Well done, people.”
JJ headed for her office. The paperwork needed to be filed, and the Bridge notified.
OFF
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