Nice to Meet You

Posted on Sat Nov 17th, 2018 @ 10:21pm by

698 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: The Emerald Road
Location: Main Engineering - USS Indefatigable
Timeline: After "Caught"

Rebecca entered main Engineering. She stopped a petty officer with a comely face. "Lt. Bradshaw?"

The women turned and pointed to a man with his back to them. "Over there ma'am," she said and carried on with her work.

Rebecca went to the man, "Lt. Bradshaw. Lt. Sandoval. Here's the power consumption report you asked for. Also Commander Yashui wanted me to remind you that she's waiting on that personnel report, so she can complete the duty roster."

Sandoval....not a name that he was familiar with. Then again with them taking over a ship that was originally testing new systems, now thrust into operational service there were many he was not familiar with. "Thanks for that." Then the comment about the report. "Yeah, such is the life of an Engineer, plan for one thing get side tracked by several others." He replied with a scratch of the back of his head as he read her report.

"So, Indefatigable crew, or Dreadnoughts?" He asked.

"Dreadnaught I guess. I just got here. Crazy place huh? And, I know what it's like. Long hours, of thankless work, but you'll hear about it if the captain doesn't get his tea or the first officer ends up taking a cold shower." She shrugged, "Spent my first three years with Starfleet in Engineering on the Washington and the Denver. My dad's not overly happy. Keeps telling me I'm wasting my degrees. 'Anyone can turn a wrench.' You and I both know it isn't that simple."

"That we do." James smiled, even now the whole team was preparing the ship for combat, checking systems and checking them again. He'd spent the last few hours checking each phaser array, even the ones normally hidden when the ship was in one piece. So far everything had checked out but one could never be too prepared.

"Well, the Ascension class is vastly different to anything else Starfleet has, triple cores, longest class in service, Pretty much a warship on way too many growth hormones with the power and punch to back it up. Total ablative armour coverage 30cm deep on top of the already armoured hull. From experience I know she can take it, as well as dish it." James finished rather proud of the ship.

"An engineer who isn't proud of his ship isn't worth being the Chief Engineer," she said approvingly.

"Oh you say that now my dear. Wait till you get to Operations on the Dreadnought.....you thought the Galaxy classes were big." James chuckled. "So did you come with classmates, friends, family?" It was often that some would pair off to the same assignment, little did they know often and quickly reassignment would split everyone up.

"Not really. Lt. Andrews, I'm sure you know, and Ensign Kremick in science graduated with me. And, it's funny you mention a Galaxy class. That was the type of my last assignment."

"Why did you leave it?" James asked, being assigned to a Galaxy class was notable, worthwhile. "Reassigned or voluntary?"

"Voluntary," she said. "It's a long story, but I graduated at the bottom of my class. Despite having doctorates in Warp Field Theory, and Starship Design a lot of doors were closed to me, and I still have to prove myself. But, if I want a command of my own I have to take opportunities when they present themselves. That includes leaving old friends to take a Chief of Operations posting on the other side of the Federation."

Rebecca shrugged, "If it's alright with you I need to complete my operations report, and I'm certain you have plenty to do as well. When you have your damage report for the Commodore you can give it to me, and I relay it for you. I 'm going there anyway. Oh! By the way. If you don't mind I'd like to work on it here in Engineering. It's where I'm most comfortable."

An hour later found Rebecca in a dark corner of engineering. The steady thump of the warp core was soothing. Peeling off her glasses she rubbed the bridge of her nose, and reached for her coffee to sip it while she proof read it again.

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