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In theory, Monitoring is the beating heart of the Energy Management department, from where highly qualified and ever-alert engineers with decades of experience patiently watch over Barter's energy security, efficiently manage the flow and distribution of power across its energy grid, and upon noticing a problem, immediately dispatch field technicians to resolve it before it threatens the smooth operation of the station - and the residents' ability to make a profit.
In practice, it's six desks in a barren, poorly ventilated room lit only by the glow of the wall-sized screen that displays a constant stream of information that is sometimes accurate, and staffed by stimulant-addled desk jockeys who've learned most of what they know about electric systems from a manual, or talking to field technicians. There are no people with practical experience in Monitoring. Because field techs don't get promoted to Monitoring. Because Energy Management needs them out in the field actually fixing shit.
The guy from Command is immediately obvious - he's the four-armed kasath in the pseudo-military uniform and wearing a sour expression as he immediately heads in your direction when you enter.
You drop back a step and let Kou deal with him as you instead turn toward the ratlike ysok with patchy fur who occupies the nearest desk.
"Heya, Pekk. So what's this crisis I'm hearing about?"
The ysok gives you a bleary-eyed, but relieved look.
"Elne, you're finally here! We're bleeding power, Elne. Starboard battery banks are down to fifty percent and no one can figure out where it's all going."
"How fast, Pekk? Can't do much with one data point."
"Uh... they were at sixty seventeen minutes ago."
Welp. Kou wasn't being a panicky ass for once. A bit less than two hours till disaster.
"What's the overdraw at?"
"Dancing between point five and one point seven."
"What?" That doesn't make sense. "How long we've been in overdraw?"
"Uh... three hours and five."
"And you've sent techs to check why at least... two battery banks aren't discharging properly, right?"
He gives you a blank look.
"Stars above," you roll your eyes. "Do it now. That's at least two more hours of power we're missing for some reason. You!" you raise your voice and point at another chair warmer. "Get all that crap off the screen. Leave only the full node map."
(cont)
