In the flickering firelight of Proteau's lighter, Schultz surveyed the lengthy, hand written equation he'd utilized in setting up the EMP explosion.
"Ahh, here it is", he said suddenly, indicating a confusing jumble of numerics on the tattered piece of paper. "You see, I forgot to carry the one." He chuckled softly as he pocketed the
parchment. "That explains it."
"Explains what?", Proteau asked.
"The magnitude of the device's destructive power", the science officer explained. "The area of effect was a bit more than I had previously surmised, not to mention the fact that I was unaware of
the loss one of the area's outer walls."
"How does that factor into it?", Proteau queried.
"Well, as you know", Schultz continued, "an electromagnetic pulse has little effect on shielded areas, and though the NCO Club has that shielding, the ladies' shower does not. Therefore, when the
explosion occurred, it was not contained, but rather escaped, so to speak, through that destroyed wall, which as you may not be aware, shares a wall with the engineering area. Thus", he conclude calmly,
"the shock wave was able to permeate the unshielded walls of the ladies' shower, and enter into the virtual heart of the ship."
"So y'all ken fix it, raht?", Powell interjected.
"Doubtful", Schultz replied, shaking his head. "Given our current situation, I'd say we're dead in the water, to coin a phrase."
"Well, you don't seem ta be takin' it too hard", the corporal observed tersely.
"On the contrary, Corporal, I'm quite agitated", Schultz informed his blandly.
"That's jes great!", Powell shouted. "Now what the hell're we gonna do?!?"
Schultz considered the question momentarily. "Well, to begin with, we should locate Mr. Jeffy."
"What fer?"
"He is the chief engineer, Corporal", Schultz replied, "if anyone can repair the system it will be he..., I mean him." He stood thoughtfully for a moment, lost in some internal debate, then
he began to nod. "No, I was right the first time", he remarked, "it's 'he'."
