A New Wrench in the Works

Posted on Sat Oct 28, 2017 @ 9:04pm by Commodore Michael Aravan & Lieutenant Daniel Mills

Mission: Strange Matter
Location: Commodore's Office
Timeline: MD 31 || 1400 Hours

Daniel had not long stowed his things in his new quarters before heading to report in officially. PADD in hand with his transfer orders, he took the surprisingly long journey to the Commodore's Office, a testament to the impressive size and scale of the ship. Not having reported to a Commodore before, he was a tad nervous that protocols and everything should be the same.

Standing in front of the office, Daniel fixed up his uniform, ensuring there were no flaws or creases. With the slightest moment of hesitancy, he pressed the door chime to inform the person inside someone was there.

"Enter," Commodore Michael Aravan called his seat at the head of a huge black-surfaced table which dominated the center of the room which had a dozen chairs around it. Plants were at the corners of the room and most of one wall was filled with shelves which contained over a dozen species of bonsai trees, some elaborately sculpted around tree houses, some made to look like homes built into the ground and others that looked like they were just starting. Another table off to one side held a decanter of strong black coffee with several cups around it, a bowl containing sweetener and another for some type of cream.

Taking a few steps into the room, Daniel stopped, unsure where to head next. "Lieutenant Daniel Mills reporting in Sir, from the USS Steadfast," he took a few steps towards the desk and began to offer out the PADD, "On your acceptance, I should be your new Chief Engineer."

Michael stood up and accepted the PADD and set it on the table. "Computer, transfer contents to LCARS," he said. The surface of the table lit up and the Lieutenant's full record came up on it all the way back to his Academy days. The Commodore took a look at it and then back at the man in front of him.

"It looks like you've taken the fast track in Engineering to get as far as you have, Lieutenant," he said after a moment. "Can you tell me something about yourself that isn't in your records?"

"What it won't tell you is how good I can be," Daniel stated, very much as a matter of fact, "You don't get moved up quickly without skill, strength and knowledge of your field behind you. What it won't say either is my more unique way of seeing things. I don't arrive to the same solutions as everyone else. When it comes to my ship and systems, when I get to know her, or him, I've been able to anticipate their needs. I understand the ship as another living member of the crew." He took a moment to compose himself to add a moment of levity, "I also make some killer cocktails," before he added a, "Sir."

The Commodore listened quietly before he responded. "Do any of those unique solutions involve following the Chain of Command?" he asked
before he moved over to the coffee set and looked back. "Would you like a cup of coffee, Lieutenant? It's the real thing and not replicated at all."

"I'm not a coffee lover, Sir, but thank you," he said. "And yes, the Chain of Command is followed at all times, but I would hope when it comes to Engineering my ideas would be listened to. I would certainly appreciate that and have the chance to make the position my own. This ship is an impressive ship and needs only the best at her disposal."

Michael poured himself a cup and added a spoon of sugar before he returned to the table. "I asked that because you bypassed the Chain of Command when you came to me instead of Captain Weisz," he said. "Do you plan to make a habit of it?"

"Not at all Sir," he blushed ever so slightly, "You were listed as the Commanding Officer and previous experience taught me that was protocol. I apologize for overstepping, Sir."

"While I am the commanding officer of the Triumphant, Captain Weisz is my Executive Officer and generally handles new crew, reports from department heads and acts as my liaison with the crew," Michael said. "However, I appreciate your enthusiasm and desire to report in as quickly as you have. Next time, though, please go to Captain Weisz."

He paused to take a drink of his coffee before he set it down. "Have you ever worked on a triple warp core before or a transwarp and quantum slipstream drives?"

"I shall, and I apologise once more Sir," his blushing settled somewhat from a potential rose red to a slightly flushed pink. "Triple warp cores were a major part of Academy training, and while the ships I served on may not have benefited from them, I have kept up to date with the best practices both through theory and holodeck experience. Quantums were something I was working to install on my last ship. Someone decided it was a good idea to take a few ships out of mothball and see if the technology could be adapted and installed."

"What about transwarp drives?" Michael asked. "I need someone who knows about everything when something goes wrong."

"Something I can become very confident with quickly, Sir," Daniel explained, "Not something most ships I have served on has had. However, I am a believer that a good engineer knows his own ship's systems well, but a great engineer...a great engineer learns all he can. Who knows who we would meet out in the vastness of space in distress and could need our help?"

"For the moment, we're not on assignment, so I could be persuaded to take a short jump to the Gavarian Corridor or Deep Space Nine to let you get a feel for it," the Commodore said. "We've used them before and I have to tell you...you can feel it when the transwarp drive kicks in anywhere on the ship."

He pulled up a holographic Master System Display of the Triumphant and isolated Engineering before he blew it up to hover over the LCARS table. "Here's your domain, Lieutenant. Decks thirty-eight through forty-one is almost exclusively Engineering, but you'll have two hundred personnel working under you to help run things more smoothly."

The young Engineer's eyes widened like a child who received a present they had always longed for, "Any assistance would be much appreciated Commodore, holodecks can only take you so far. That department is bigger than some ships out there. First thing will be looking at the personnel files and duty rosters. Knowing the staff and their skills and interests will help the ship run as smooth as possible."

"When the rest of the crew returns from Deep Space Ten, we'll take her out, then," Michael said as he watched the younger man's expression. "Just promise me that when I need every bit of speed you can give me, I'll have it."

"If I need to get out and push the ship myself to get more speed, you will have that too, Sir," Daniel replied with dedication and no doubt in his mind.

Now the Commodore leaned forward over the table and swiped the holographic display out of the way, his eyes intense. "There is one more thing," he said. "Never, ever sandbag me to make yourself look like a miracle worker. If you say it'll take three hours and you can do it in an hour and half....I will tell give you half the time you say you need the next time."

"Understood Sir, but please be assured that is not my style. If I am to earn that title it will be so honestly, through hard work and determination, not messing with how long something may take. I shall be nothing but honest with my assessments and reports," Daniel stood tall, his conviction true, too often Engineers were accused of that, it was even half expected. Dishonesty for the sake of reputation was never the way he wanted to work.

Michael stood up to his full six feet four inches and gave a nod. "Good. Let's keep it that way," he said. "Now, do you have any questions for me?"

"None Sir, other than," Daniel paused, "Would it be proper to now also introduce myself to the Captain as well? I don't want to do things incorrectly again."

"It would," Michael said. "After you see her, your quarters will be assigned by Operations if they already haven't been and you'll be starting Alpha Shift."

"Thank you Commodore," Daniel said, thankful the meeting had ended up somewhat positive and waiting to be dismissed.

With no further questions from the man, the Commodore gave a nod. "Dismissed and welcome to the Triumphant."