#shaith vodran

[allatariel]

Excerpt from the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story novelization by Alexander Freed below the cut.

TL;DR—Fourteen emails between Galen Erso, Shaith Vodran, and Orson Krennic regarding excess radiation buildup resulting from modifications to the reactor core of the Death Star in order to reduce primary laser recharge times at Tarkin’s directive which eventually leads to the approval of Galen’s exhaust ports solution by both Krennic and Vodran.

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: BATTLE STATION ENGINEERING NOTES

[Document #YM3884L (“Waste Radiation Distribution Solutions”), timestamped approximately eighteen months prior to Operation Fracture, sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso.]

Erso: I had the droids generate a new Systems Safety and Compatibility Report incorporating your team’s proposed adjustments to the reactor core. The new plans triggered a dozen subsystem warnings and spat out one blazing red stain on the line labeled “Hypermatter Annihilator Unit.” I didn’t bother asking my astromech how bad that could be—a redline on a critical system speaks for itself.

Why are we even making reactor modifications this late in the game?

Have your engineers check their work better next time. Suffice to say, no changes are approved.

[Document #YM3884M (“Reply to Waste Radiation Distribution Solutions”), sent from Galen Erso to Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran.]

Vodran: Sincere apologies. I fully agree that this is unacceptable. The modifications are intended to reduce primary weapon recharge times to satisfactory levels (I’m sure you saw Tarkin’s directive) but sloppy work is sloppy work.

I assume you alerted Director Krennic to the report as well?

More as soon as I’ve spoken with my team.

[Document #YM3884N (“Reply to Waste Radiation Distribution Solutions”), sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso.]

Director Krennic is copied on all SSCRs, but if he wants oversight on these particular modifications, it’s your responsibility to brief him on your problems.

[Document #YM3884O (“Reply to Waste Radiation Distribution Solutions”), sent from Galen Erso to Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran.]

Vodran: I alerted the director personally, at your suggestion.

I also spoke to my team and we identified the problem. The reactor core modifications are resulting in radiation buildup, which in turn has the potential of interfering with the hypermatter annihilator.

The buildup is caused by the inner shield actively reflecting excess particles and metaphorically “cooking” the reactor core. Had the shielding team’s research not been so heavily compartmentalized this might have been avoided.

Nonetheless: The reactor core modifications must remain as-is. Therefore, we are left with three possible ways of avoiding radiation buildup.

Option one: construction of a particle funnel and recycler. This is known and tested technology. I am confident it will function. Physical requirements mean the recycler would need to replace existing noncritical mechanisms under the northern command sector, but I estimate the needed disassembly would take under two weeks.

Option two: further refinement of our reactor technology to reduce waste particles. I have several team members keen on this possibility. They are excited about the potential for a technological breakthrough.

Option three: construction of manual venting shafts and thermal exhaust ports. This should reduce particle buildup to a degree I find personally acceptable. In addition, adding venting shafts risks additional incompatibilities with noncritical systems.

Please alert me if you have concerns.

[Document #YM3884P (“Reply to Waste Radiation Distribution Solutions”), sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso.]

I oversaw construction of the northern command sector myself. Tarkin has already toured the facilities. If the particle funnel and recycler can’t go anywhere else, stick with options two and three.

You might want to give Krennic the final decision. He’s concerned about the timetable.

[Document #YM3884Q (“Particle Buildup”), sent from Galen Erso to Advanced Weapons Research Director Orson Krennic.]

Director: As we discussed, attached are preliminary reports on two methods for reducing particle buildup. I made my preferences clear in person, but I defer to your judgment.

[Document #YM3884R (“Reply to Particle Buildup”), sent from Advanced Weapons Research Director Orson Krennic to Galen Erso.]

Galen: New research and technological development is out of the question at this juncture. Work up a full proposal for the exhaust port solution and send the plans to Vodran for SSCR.

[Document #YM3884S (“Venting Shafts”), sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso.]

Erso: What is this trash? The Systems Safety and Compatibility Report quit running after two hundred redlines. I only reviewed the first dozen, but it looks like you’re flooding half the station with radiation?

I thought these venting shafts were supposed to solve the problem.

No changes are approved.

[Document #YM3884T (“Reply to Venting Shafts”), sent from Galen Erso to Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran.]

I repeat myself, but: I apologize.

As you know, an engineer may be single-minded in his or her focus on a particular task. I, along with my team, have fallen victim to the sin of hubris.

Of course I should have warned you that your droids might register dangers. The venting shafts are designed to expel the majority of the heat and particle buildup, but some radiation leakage is inevitable. We estimate that human crewmembers stationed in any of fifteen sections would—in the event that the battle station fires the primary weapon three times within one hour—be placed at increased risk for a wide variety of long-term health problems. The SSCR, of course, detected this in those “two hundred redlines.”

I am instructing my team to look into all options. To expedite matters, I must request the use of your droids in running several alternative scenarios.

This will be an inconvenience, I realize, but the safety of the battle station’s crew is paramount.

[Document #YM3884U (“Reply to Venting Shafts”), sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso.]

Are the command sectors or officer quarters in the affected radiation zones?

[Document #YM3884V (“Reply to Venting Shafts”), sent from Galen Erso to Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran.]

No.

[Document #YM3884W (“Reply to Venting Shafts”), sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso.]

Send me your final plans. I’ll declare the droids in error and override the next SSCR.

I’m not burying Krennic in redline reports while you figure out how to keep a handful of stormtroopers from developing a cough.

[Document #YM3884X (“Reply to Venting Shafts”), sent from Galen Erso to Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran.]

That’s not necessary. I’m certain we can resolve this. Even if a technical solution fails, we may be able to alter crew rotation schedules to mitigate any health risks.

[Document #YM3884Y (“Reply to Venting Shafts”), sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso.]

You may be too obtuse to realize it, Erso, but I’m doing you a favor. This project needed to be done weeks ago.

Send me the final venting shaft and exhaust port plans. I’ll bypass SSCR and submit them for production, manufacturing, and installation.

Changes have been approved.

[narkinafive]

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, by Alexander Freed

wow. i know we like to joke about imperial office antics, but wow. that is some pure, intense, “not my problem” half-assery. i’m almost impressed

i bet shaith vodran feels real fuckin foolish right about now

[mouser26]

Supplemental Data: Battle Station Engineering Notes

This is an excerpt from the novelization Rogue One A Star Wars Story by Alexander Freed. TLDR: The Death Star was Sabotaged via Email Bullshittry of the highest order. You go Galen Erso.

[Document #YM3884L(”Waste Radiation Distribution Solutions”) Timestamped Approximately 18 months prior to Operation Fracture, sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso.]

Erso:

I had the droids generate a new Systems Safety and Compatibility Report incorporating your team’s proposed adjustments to the reactor core. The new plans triggered a dozen subsystem warnings and spat out one blazing red stain on the line labeled “Hypermatter Annihilator Unit” I didn’t bother asking my astromech how bad that could be- a redline on a critical system speaks for itself.��

Why are we even making reactor modifications this late in the game?

Have your engineers check their work better next time. Suffice to say, no changes are approved.

[Document #YM3884M(”Reply to Waste Radiation Distribution Solutions”) sent from Galen Erso to Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran]

Vodran,

Sincere apologies. I fully agree that this is unacceptable. The modifications are intended to reduce primary weapon recharge times to satisfactory levels (I’m sure you saw Tarkin’s directive) but sloppy work is sloppy work.

I assume you alerted Director Krennic to the report as well?

More as soon as I’ve spoken to my team.

[Document #YM3884N(”Reply to Waste Radiation Distribution Solutions”) sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso]

Director Krennic is copied on all SSCRs, but if he wants oversight on these particular modifications, it’s your responsibility to brief him on your problems.

[Document #YM3884O(”Reply to Waste Radiation Distribution Solutions”) sent from Galen Erso to Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran]

Vodran,

I alerted the director personally, at your suggestion.

I also spoke to my team and we identified the problem. The reactor core modifications are resulting in radiation buildup, which in turn has the potential of interfering with the hypermatter annihilator.

The buildup is caused by the inner shield actively reflecting excess particles and metaphorically “cooking” the reactor core. Had the shielding team’s research not been so heavily compartmentalized this might have been avoided.

Nonetheless.

The reactor core modifications must remain as-is. Therefore we are left with three possible ways of avoiding radiation build up.

Option one: construction of a particle funnel and recycler. This is known and tested technology. I am confident it will function. Physical requirements mean the recycler would need to replace existing noncritical mechanisms under the northern command sector, but I estimate the needed disassembly would take under two weeks.

Option two: further refinement of our reactor technology to reduce waste particles. I have several team members keen on this possibility. They are excited for the potential for a technological breakthrough.

Option three: construction of manual venting shafts and thermal exhaust ports. This should reduce particle buildup to within tolerances but not to a degree I find personally acceptable. In addition, adding venting shafts risks additional incompatibilities with noncritical systems.

Please alert me if you have concerns

[Document #YM3884P (”Reply to Waste Radiation Distribution Solutions”) sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso]

I oversaw construction of the northern command sector myself. Tarkin has already toured the facilities. If the particle funnel and recycler can’t go anywhere else stick with options two and three. You might want to give Krennic the final decision. He’s concerned about the timetable.

[Document #YM3884Q (”Particle Buildup”) sent from Galen Erso to Advanced Weapons Research Director Orson Krennic]

Director:

As we discussed, attached are preliminary reports on two methods for reducing particle buildup. I made my preferences clear in person, but I defer to your judgement.

[Document #YM3884R (”Reply to Particle Buildup”) sent from Advanced Weapons Research Director Orson Krennic to  Galen Erso] 

Galen:

New research and technological development is out of the question at this juncture. Work up a full proposal for the exhaust port solution and send the plans to Vodran for SSCR.

[Document #YM3884S (”Venting Shafts”) sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso]

Erso:

What is this trash? The Systems Safety and Compatibility Report quit running after two hundred redlines. I only reviewed the first dozen, but it looks like you’re flooding half the station with radiation? I thought these shafts were supposed to solve the problem.

No changes are approved.

[Document #YM3884T (”Reply Venting Shafts”) sent from Galen Erso to  Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran]

I repeat myself, but: I apologize.

As you know and engineer might be single-minded in his or her focus on a particular task. I, along with my team, have fallen victim to the sin of hubris.

Of course I should have warned you that your droids might register dangers. The vents are designed to expel the majority of the heat and particle buildup, but some radiation leakage is inevitable. We estimate that human crewmembers stationed in any of the fifteen sections would- in the event that the battle station fires the primary weapon three times within one hour- be placed at increased risk for a wide variety of long-term health problems. the SSCR, of course, detected this in those “two hundred redlines”.

I am instructing my team to look into all options. To expedite matters, I must request the use of your droids in running several alternative scenarios.

This will be an inconvenience, I realize, but the safety of the battle station’s crew is paramount.

[Document #YM3884U (”Reply Venting Shafts”) sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso]

Are the command sectors or officer quarters in the affected radiation zones?

[Document #YM3884V (”Reply Venting Shafts”) sent from Galen Erso to  Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran]

No.

[Document #YM3884W (”Reply Venting Shafts”) sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso]

Send me your final plans. I’ll declare the droids in error and override the next SSCR.

I’m not burying Krennic in redline report while you figure out how to keep a handful of stormtroopers from developing a cough.

Document #YM3884X (”Reply Venting Shafts”) sent from Galen Erso to Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran]  

That’s not necessary. I’m certain we can resolve this. Even if a techncal solution fails, we may be able to alter crew rotation schedules to mitigate any health risks

[Document #YM3884Y (”Reply Venting Shafts”) sent from Engineering Operations Manager Shaith Vodran to Galen Erso] 

You may be too obtuse to realize it, Erso, but I’m doing you a favor, This project needed to be done weeks ago.

Send me the final venting shaft and exhaust port plans. I’ll bypass SSCR and submit them for production, manufacturing, and installation.

Changes have been approved.