A candid conversation with Polonia Prime’s legendary Senior Engineering Warrant Officer
[The interview takes place in the engineering section of the new Błyskawica. Bosman Król insists on conducting it near his beloved engines, occasionally pausing to check readings or make minor adjustments. He’s brought two thermoses of coffee – “The good stuff, straight from Polonia Prime,” he insists.]
Q: You’ve served on multiple ships throughout your career. How does the new Błyskawica compare?
[Król takes a long sip from his thermos before answering, a thoughtful look in his eyes]
“She’s something special, this one. Not just because of the technology – though God knows we’ve packed enough alien wizardry in here to make my old engineering professors have heart attacks. It’s the way everything comes together. The hybrid systems, the integration of human and alien tech… it’s like a symphony when it’s running right. Of course, when it’s not…” [He chuckles] “Well, that’s why they pay me the big bucks, eh?”
Q: Speaking of hybrid systems, how challenging is it to maintain both human and alien technology?
“Challenging? [Laughs heartily] That’s like asking if space is big! The alien tech, it’s… well, it’s not just advanced, it thinks differently. You have to unlearn some things you’ve known your whole career. But here’s the secret – underneath all that fancy alien engineering, the basic principles are the same. Energy is still energy, thrust is still thrust. The trick is understanding how they approached these principles differently.”
Q: Can you give us an example?
“Take the bubble drive. Conventional wisdom says you need massive energy expenditure for FTL travel. But the aliens? They found a way to… how do I explain this… they found a way to whisper to space-time instead of shouting at it. It’s elegant. Beautiful, even. But maintaining it? [Shakes head] That’s another story. You need to develop a feel for it, like an old sailor reading the weather.”
Q: How do you train new engineers on these systems?
[Król’s expression becomes serious]
“Very carefully. I start them on conventional systems first. Need to know the basics before you can dance with the advanced stuff. But more importantly, I teach them respect. These systems can kill you if you get cocky. I’ve seen too many hotshot engineers who thought they knew better than experience. [Pauses to check a reading] The key is understanding that even with all this advanced technology, the fundamentals of engineering still apply. Murphy’s Law doesn’t care how advanced your technology is.”
Q: What’s your typical day like?
[He laughs again, pouring more coffee]
“Typical? In this job? Well, let’s see… Morning starts with systems checks and diagnostic routines. Then there’s maintenance schedules to oversee, crew rotations to manage, and about a thousand small adjustments to keep everything running smoothly. And that’s just when everything’s working normally. Throw in a combat situation or an emergency, and suddenly you’re juggling plasma containment issues while trying to squeeze just a little more power out of the systems without blowing us all to kingdom come.”
Q: What’s your most memorable moment as Chief Engineer?
[Król’s expression becomes somber, and he takes a long moment before answering]
“The old Błyskawica… [shakes head slowly]. That last battle. We’d taken massive damage, half the crew… [pauses, taking a deep breath] Lieutenant Ostrowski – Waldek – he came up with this crazy idea for the bubble drive. The kind of thing only someone with his particular genius could devise. The safety protocols were screaming bloody murder, but we were dead anyway if it didn’t work. I helped him implement it, but it was his show. That jump saved the survivors, won us the battle… but the cost… [stares at his coffee]
“The ship was beyond saving afterward. Too much structural damage, systems fused beyond repair. But Waldek’s calculations were perfect – gave us exactly what we needed, exactly when we needed it. [looks up, pride evident in his expression] That boy… he grew into one hell of an officer. Still does some crazy things with technology, but now I trust his judgment. Sometimes innovation comes at a terrible price, but that day… that day it saved everyone who could be saved.”
[He falls silent for a moment, clearly remembering lost comrades]
“You know, on this new Błyskawica, I’ve made sure to incorporate some of what we learned that day. Not just the technical lessons – though there were plenty of those – but the human ones too. Sometimes the best engineering solutions come from the most unexpected places. You just have to be willing to listen, even to the young ones.”
Q: Any advice for aspiring engineers?
“[Nods thoughtfully] Three things. First, respect the machinery. These aren’t just systems and circuits – they’re the difference between life and death out here. Second, never stop learning. The moment you think you know everything is the moment you become dangerous. And third… [holds up his thermos] Always keep good coffee nearby. You never know when you’ll need to pull an all-nighter to keep your ship flying.”
Q: What’s your opinion on the Caliphate’s attempts to reverse-engineer our technology?
[Król’s expression darkens]
“[Spits] Amateurs playing with forces they don’t understand. It’s not just about copying the designs – it’s about understanding the principles, the interactions, the soul of the machine. Their reverse-engineered systems are like cheap knockoffs. They might work, but they’re unstable, dangerous. And not just to their enemies – to their own crews too.”
Q: Finally, what’s your proudest achievement?
“[Smiles warmly] Every time we come back home safely. Every time my engines do what they need to do when they need to do it. But mostly? Training the next generation. Seeing young engineers grow from nervous cadets into confident professionals who understand and respect these systems. That’s what makes all the long hours and grey hairs worth it.”
[A warning light starts blinking on a nearby console]
“And speaking of which… duty calls. These systems won’t maintain themselves, though sometimes I think the alien tech tries to. [Stands up, checking his tablet] Remember what I always say: in space, the difference between life and death is often just good engineering and better coffee.”
Bosman Jan Król has served as Senior Engineering Warrant Officer on multiple Polonia Prime vessels and is currently chief engineer aboard the new light cruiser Błyskawica. He is renowned for his expertise in hybrid human-alien technology and his mentorship of junior engineers.