A Technical Uphill Challenge!
Posted on Wed Sep 20th, 2023 @ 4:52am by Commodore Tohru Honda & Captain Shimakaze Zh'gero & Lieutenant Commander Brennyn Scott M.D. & Lieutenant Paisley (mUra) F'rar
Edited on on Wed Sep 20th, 2023 @ 4:57am
1,723 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission: The Fast & The Fleet
When it came to these sorts of crew bonding activities, Lieutenant Commander Riv Ch'iqyrol wasn't necessarily the biggest fan. He felt more at home tending to the Haruna's warp core. He still didn't fully grasp why his captain was so obsessed with an old Human sport, yet in a bid to get to know his crewmates better, he had gone to these holodeck get togethers, at first just to spectate, though eventually, with great pressure from his peers, Riv had finally been convinced to get behind the wheel.
He did his research on the cars his crewmates usually preferred, all of which came from the island country of Japan, and chose a 1989 Mazda RX-7, which his crewmates kept referring to as an FC to Riv's great confusion, until it was explained to him that the name came from the car's chassis code: FC3S. Riv had chosen the FC because it was the car his crush, Commander Hatsuzuki Th'gero, had praised to high heaven.
In his first couple of uphill runs (as that was Hatsuzuki's specialty), he found he was absolutely terrible. However, with tuition from the likes of Tyli Sh'veshron, Clyde, Th'rollo, and Riv's crush; Commander Th'gero himself, he improved enough to consider himself 'decent' behind the wheel. Not great by any stretch of the imagination, but the Haruna's Chief Engineer knew how to control these antique Earth ground cars, and carry a good amount of speed while he was at it.
So, Riv wasn't expecting to do well as he was lined up on the starting line for the first true uphill run of the night. As he got out to perform the permitted last minute equipment check, he took notice of his opponent's vehicle as it was lined up on the starting line: A first generation Toyota MR2, commonly referred to by his crewmates as an AW11.
When Riv observed his opponent get out to perform her last minute checks, he noticed that her appearance was similar to that of a Cardassian, yet she possessed the nasal ridges of a Bajoran. Riv folded his arms as the other engineer looked his way.
"I'm Riv Ch'iqyrol of the Haruna SpeedStars." He introduced himself not as the Haruna's Chief Engineer, but rather as a member of the SpeedStars as Captain Zh'gero had said in the memo she had sent out. "And you would be?"
She smiled. "I am Lt. Paisley F'rar. Chief Engineer." She looked him over. She was a woman in a male-heavy job. She was much tougher than she looked, and she was looking forward to this. "I've never done something quite like this. Will you please explain the rules and objective?"
"Sure." Riv said. "This is an old Human sport that our Captain is really into for some reason. The objective is to drive a ground car to the goal ahead of your opponent. The rules, as laid out by Commodore Honda at the start means this will be a one on one battle, just you and me. If a race is too close to call, we'll go into a second round, and any mechanical mishap such as an engine failure or a crash will result in an automatic victory for the opponent."
Riv looked up the road, or rather, the darkness, ahead, due to the program being set at night.
"We'll be doing the uphill run, or the hill climb." He continued. "It's a lot more technical and a lot less luck-based than the downhill. If you ask me, the hill climb is an engineer's kind of run. So, shall we get started?"
Paisley nodded. "I understand. Let's go," she said. She had no idea how to drive a ground car-not really-and so it'd be a learning curve. Still, she was naturally competitive and curious, so she'd figure it out. "Start the simulation!" As it appeared in front of her, she climbed into the sporty looking vehicle. It suited her, actually. Also, the Captain seemed weird, and she was double-guessing this assignment.
Commodore Honda stepped out in front of the waiting vehicles.
"Alright, we're starting the countdown now!" She said, raising her hand above her head. "Starting in 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! GO!"
When Tohru dropped her hand, Riv went into first and was on the gas. He didn't know his opponent's skill level, but he knew his own, and if he was going to have any chance at winning, he would have to take the lead early.
I don't like running away with the early lead, but this is a real battle. Riv thought. And if I have any chance of winning I need to put as much distance between myself and that MR2 as possible.
Paisley was quick to figure out the controls. It was much like operating a shuttle-a task she'd only done a handful of times, but still. She moved the gearshift and felt the engine start. Ooh, this was thrilling! She pushed down on the gas pedal...it was the gas, right? Yep, she pitched forward a moment. After a second, she realized what she needed to do, and pulled off with a ZOOM! noise. Once she got the hang of it, the noise and speed calmed down to a reasonably controlled pace. She could see why these things were popular on old Earth.
Remember, Riv; don't let the lights in your mirror affect your own driving. Riv told himself. Just drive like there's nobody following you, and you'll be fine...
Riv led Paisley through several corners. Though he wasn't paying any heed to what was going on in his mirror, he was beginning to pull a gap on the MR2.
Frankly, I'm not sure why rotary engines got a bad rap back in the day. Riv thought, glancing down at his tachometer as he upshifted. These things were practically made to be redlined!
Paisley was able to maintain her speed quickly, and fast figured out the braking system and how to switch gears. She realized it worked much like the flight panels on shuttles, and even the Ship itself. Once she had figured all that out, she was able to keep up, at a good and steady pace. She pulled up next to Riv, and waved at him, remembering to focus ahead. It wouldn't do for her to run into something or flip over. How embarrassing would that be?!
What the? She caught up to me?? Riv thought. No, easy there, Riv; if you let the opponent's actions get to you, you'll do something stupid...
The two cars were running neck and neck heading into the next corner, but Riv was further in front, and as such, he was able to guide his FC into a drift right across the path of the MR2, retaining his lead. Such a maneuver was definitely risky, especially if the other engineer wanted the lead badly enough that they were willing to make body contact.
Paisley was many things-a big risk taker wasn't one of them. She'd gambled enough in this life-taking this job, for one-so she let Riv have the lead. For now. Instead, she decided that subterfuge was the best solution. Engineers were tricksy. She slowed down speed, exiting to the opposite side of Riv's driving side and then gunned it. She waved again as she passed him, then slowed just enough to not lose control.
So, she's a serious competitor, then. Riv deduced. It's too early for a counterattack: If there's anything Hatsuzuki has taught me, is that unless there are only a few corners left before the goal, it's important to study how the opponent handles being in the lead. It's how you'll find their weakness and exploit it: Fortunately, I've been overtaken only about halfway up the course, so I'll have plenty of time to devise a counterattack before the goal...
She maintained her lower rate of speed, careful to not be reckless. She had no intention of crashing and hurting herself. Or anyone else. She shifted the drive into neutral, and then sped up a tiny bit-an extra two miles per hour of speed.
After several corners of observing, Riv discovered a pattern in his opponent's rhythm; she seemed to be on the gas through neutral, as the other car revved higher between gear changes. It could be a pattern he could exploit if he played his cards right:
The last valid opportunity to pass was a couple of corners before the goal, and it would be where Riv would make his move:
When the corner in question came up, Riv used the remaining straightaway before the corner to pull alongside Paisley. The corner banked to the left, and that would give Riv the inside line.
Slow and steady wouldn't win THIS race, apparently. As Riv pulled alongside her, she gunned the engine, gaining an advantage! Admittedly, it was a big thrill.
But Riv didn't back down either, and for the final set of corners, the two cars ran neck and neck. As they crossed the finish line, it was too close in real time for the naked eye to tell.
It took several minutes of examining replays frame by frame, but at last, the winner of the Engineers' round was decided:
"Winner: Riv Ch'Iqyrol!" Tohru declared. "Score: NightKids - 4, SpeedStars - 3!"
The final race of the regular crew rounds was that between the counselors; Varao Zh'rotin, and Brennyn Scott. The outcome of the rainy mixed uphill/downhill was a more solid victory for the SpeedStars than even Osytha's victory over Commander Churchill:
Compassion might haver been in Varao's job description, but from the off, she went all out, leaving Scott in the dust. So far in the dust that she reached the turnaround point and blasted past Scott still going uphill while Varao was going downhill on her way to the goal.
And as such, the regular crew rounds ended in a tie; with the score being 4 all.
Posting by
Commodore Tohru Honda
Task Force Jomo Commanding Officer
Lieutenant Commander Riv Ch'iqyrol
Chief Engineer
USS Haruna
Lieutenant Commander Brennyn Scott
Chief Counselor
USS Myogi
Lieutenant Paisley F'rar
Chief Engineer
USS Myogi
Lieutenant Varao Zh'rotin
Chief Counselor
USS Haruna
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