Vega Log Team Mk 1.7

[RedEclipse]

Vega Log Mk 1,7
Log Report 14
James Mace
Position: Vega captain; Lyra Defensive Wing technical supervisor
Topic: Powerplant start

The next shift restored the dismantled supporting structures and reestablished the integrity of the compartment, because after unloading and installing the reactors in their places, the through hole into space was no longer needed and only hindered subsequent work on connecting and fine-tuning all systems with the new "heart." Objectively speaking, working without spacesuits would greatly simplify the final stage of connecting all power and control systems from the new modules.

So, by then, the compartment was sealed, and all supporting structures were fitted into their grooves and secured. All life support systems remained active, and our team mostly focused on screwdriver assembly and subsequent adjustment and integration of all systems and subsystems with the new reactors. Upon entering the compartment, we immediately began disconnecting the power systems-arguably the most labor-intensive task-since routing cables through multiple 90-degree bends is no trivial matter. Our installers masterfully used hydraulic stops to manage these bends. Additionally, when connecting the power circuits in general, no major problems arose; within half a day, we laid and secured all wiring at designated points. The wires were tested for leaks and stray currents-no issues were found.

Next, we connected all liquid cooling systems. Vega, in addition to the built-in cooling circuits within the reactors, had extra "clean" circuits inside the ship itself. Given their enormous size compared to those integrated into the reactors, these circuits will mainly be used during normal operation; internal cooling is only employed during maintenance or in emergency situations. Afterward, our installation team divided into subgroups for connecting low-current systems: dispatching, control systems, and multi-level security systems. Due to the complexity of this work-and to speed up reactor startup-we allocated an additional team to thoroughly test these systems beforehand. Since any deviation from design could lead to disaster during testing or reveal defects during operation, thorough testing was essential.

All tests were successful-except for a few secondary safety systems. The new reactor design uses a slightly different communication architecture between reactors and the ship itself. Currently, it's impossible to create a module that's fully compatible because manufacturing, testing, and certification could take months of painstaking work. Moreover, since these components are made exclusively for Rheinland Military needs, finding ready-made solutions is impossible; thus, this issue has been postponed until we arrive at Livadia Shipyard. The question of synchronizing both reactors has also arisen; current controllers do not support synchronous operation.

Once all installation and configuration work was completed, we began initial-and cautious-testing of ship systems-not involving every system from the deckhouse but focusing on individual components. Special attention was given to reactor safety systems: verifying their correct operation under various scenarios-from hardware failures at different levels to simulated damage and normal operation. Then came the climax: Vega disconnected from power and life support systems for the first time since docking with Carthage-and began operating as an independent unit. Although many decks remained sealed and hull integrity had not yet been fully restored, structural testing of all major systems had been successful-and the crew was ready to start up the reactors and switch power from backup sources - the massive batteries deck. The voltage on the bridge could have been "eaten with a spoon," but all indicators signaled readiness for reactor startup. As captain of the ship, I took responsibility for initiating this process.

After pressing the button, the reactor module started up smoothly-without any issues-and Vega switched to power mode, signaling that everything was functioning properly. Although it idled at nominal levels-which would suffice for initial test loads-we planned to further calibrate its operation in virtual simulation mode.