(no subject)

[camwyn]

Well, I went to NJ, and I'm back, and so far I'm all right. Haven't used one of my test kits yet but I'll worry about that if I develop symptoms.

Happy belated new year, y'all.

Comments

[chanter1944]

Welcome back. May viruses have avoided you and yours entirely.

So, unrelated, I either owe you one or have you to blame, possibly both. Long story, but remember those references Freeman and Vance made to an engineer's vow, by blood and cold iron, because of Milli-circumstances? The ones that ended with their wedding rings being made of genuine iron, forged from the downed decoy Freeman's crowbar? Well, for whatever reason, the darn phrasing is now sneakily incorporating itself into a *second* story of mine! Evidently, it's not enough for my muse that Janice Rand riff off it mentally in a fic. Wait, did you know she'd done that in one of mine?

[camwyn]

Heh. Given that the original engineer's oath with the 'by honor and cold iron' phrasing was written by Rudyard Kipling, it's not really a wonder that it can get into your subconscious for later use. The man had issues and was a product of his time, but wow could he ever turn a phrase.

[chanter1944]

Honor and cold iron! Well, shells. I've gone and messed it up. :s Blood and cold iron *did* apply, in the situation Rand was in (first movie, transporters and repairs to the same) but still. Frak.

Ooh, is that where and who the original came from? I wasn't aware. That's the kind of skill with phrasing I aspire to, but with the way I tend to bend things toward the lyrical...

I still have you to thank for my knowing it at all.

Here's the full text.

[camwyn]

I, (engineer’s name), in the presence of these my betters and my equals in the Calling, bind myself upon my Honour and Cold Iron, that, to the best of my knowledge and power, I will not henceforward suffer or pass, or be privy to the passing of, Bad Workmanship or Faulty Material in aught that concerns my works before men as an Engineer, or in my dealings with my own Soul before my Maker.

My Time I will not refuse; My Thought I will not grudge; My Care I will not deny towards the honour, use, stability and perfection of any works to which I may be called to set my hand.

My Fair Wages for that work I will openly take. My Reputation in my Calling I will honourably guard; but I will in no way go about to compass or wrest judgment or gratification from any one with whom I may deal. And further, I will early and warily strive my uttermost against professional jealousy or the belittling of my working-brothers, in any field of their labour.

For my assured failures and derelictions, I ask pardon beforehand of my betters and my equals in my Calling here assembled; praying that in the hour of my temptations, weakness and weariness, the memory of this my Obligation and of the company before whom it was entered into, may return to me to aid, comfort and restrain.

Upon Honour and Cold Iron, God helping me, by these things I purpose to abide.

[camwyn]

For what it's worth, the oath in question was written at the prompting of a gathering of past presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada, as part of their response to a bridge disaster caused by a combination of engineering error and corporate cheap-assness- sorry, 'economizing'. They wanted to create an engineering standard of ethics and reinforce it through a ceremony and a physical reminder. The engineers who swear that Obligation are given an iron ring to wear on their working hand, as a constant reminder, at the end of it. Popular myth has it that the rings are/were made from the girders of the aforementioned disastrous bridge, but that's not the case- I think, however, that Gordon was unaware of that part being a myth when he filled Alyx in on what he knew of the whole situation. So I expect there's that bit of something ringing in Rand's situation as well.

I'ma drop a link on you

[chanter1944]

Please forgive what's essentially self-promotion, but I wanted to share. I know you know Trek canon, and I *believe* you know Young Wizards canon. This is the first in a fandom fusion series of mine, still in progress. I basically wanted to show you what I did with that particular phrase (and a few alterations) and Rand's evolving situation.

And good *gosh*, but both the vow and the story behind it give me the shiveries! Say what you will about Kipling, because you're not wrong about the man having his faults, but I am in complete agreement with you when I say *wow*.

Its Continuing Mission (1783 words) by Chanter
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Original Series (Movies), Young Wizards - Diane Duane
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Janice Rand/Hikaru Sulu, Janice Rand/James T. Kirk, Pavel Chekov & Ilia (Star Trek), Christine Chapel & Leonard "Bones" McCoy, Janice Rand & Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Characters: Janice Rand, Christine Chapel, Kevin Riley, Pavel Chekov, Sonak, Leonard "Bones" McCoy, James T. Kirk, Ilia (Star Trek)
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, wizardry, Star Trek: The Motion Picture spoilers, an engineer's vow, Minor Character Death, poetic narrative devices, Wizard's Oath, poetry quotes, minor character injury, Away Mission Gone Wrong, hero of another story, how Janice got her wings, how Chris got her wings, Riley has a heart, Chekov is as genuine as he seems, canonical transporter malfunction, vivid imagery, Crew as Family, Canon Character(s) of Color, Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country spoilers, Star Trek: The Original Series spoilers, Star Trek: Voyager spoilers, Angst with a Happy Ending, Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Competence
Series: Part 1 of These Are The Voyages
Summary:

No one said only senior officers could take the bright Oath, after all. These are the further voyages of the starships Enterprise and Excelsior, and their motley overlapping crews of wizards.