Engineering A Tour

Posted on Sun May 22nd, 2022 @ 3:46am by Lieutenant Ashlesha 4827/A & Lieutenant Commander Sandra "Phantom" Risa & Lieutenant Commander Thriss Kla'ren

Mission: *CD*
Location: Engineering

While Grey and Violet set about the arduous task of constructing the bed and installing the two toilets, Green headed for Engineering. She had spent the past few days memorizing the layout of the ship and she had to admit she was impressed. The Akira class was a formidable vessel, and with her slipstream drive Sunfire could travel thousands of light years in an amazingly short time.

She entered Engineering and found it about as busy as she expected, and all at once she felt homesick for Bellephoron and her old engine room. But she took a breath and looked about a moment, then gently cleared her throat behind the closest person.

"Pardon me," she said, "I was looking for the Chief Engineering Officer? Or assistant chief? Commander House said it would be all right if I came down and lent a hand if needed."

Even as she spoke her eyes strayed towards the warp core, looking about for any differences to see if the vaunted slipstream drive was on display...

The Vulcan Ensign looked at the woman and made a short and quick reply. "I believe the last time I saw Chief Kla'ren he was in his office. My logical assumption is that he is still there" he then saw the doors to Kla'ren's office open. "My apologies sir, it appears my conclusion was false."

Lieutenant Thriss Kla'ren exited his office with a cup of Andorian coffee in hand. As he took a sip, he noticed an officer he didn't recognize looking at the warp core with great interest. Figuring she was new, he approached the new officer.

"Beautiful sight, ain't it?" he asked the new officer. His question implied the warp core.

"Hmm?" Ashlesha murmured absently, "Yes, it's...magnificent."

She reluctantly turned her head to regard the person speaking to her and blinked. Then she smiled, "Lieutenant Kla'ren, right? Lieutenant Ashlesha, the new chief of operations. I came down to lend a hand if you need me. I saw the ship needs a little love and care and I'm more than willing to roll up my sleeves and help out where I can."

"Welcome aboard Lieutenant. Honestly, we could use all the aid we can get. We practically lost a whole nacelle on our previous assignment. Not to mention we need to still make sure our experimental trans-warp drive is still operational and can still can be tested for use" the engineer sighed.

"So the drive is still in the experimental stage?" Ashlesha noted as her head turned back to the drive, her eyes taking in the various components, attempting to deduce their purpose as her other two selves paused in the home making tasks, "May I ask how far you have been able to travel so far? And where?"

She once more reluctantly turned back to the CEO, "Or is it still classified? If so I'll stop asking questions." she paused then added sheepishly, "I will try to stop asking questions."

Thriss chuckled. "You're all good. I do not believe it is classified. At least to those of us on the ship. I think if it were, Starfleet Intel would be on my rear on keeping this project a secret" he laughed lightly. "Jokes aside, to answer your question, we haven't actually tested it in space yet. We were going to run it in smaller scales first, but then we got busy on our previous adventure. And now we are working on repairs."

The Andorian sighed and looked at the warp core, the transwarp components, and back at Ashlesha. "We're almost there. I know that it can be completed an put into operation. It's just the question is when."

Ashlesha nodded soberly in understanding. With such a drive the Federation could expand the boundaries of exploration across the galaxy, perhaps create a true organized resistance against the Borg or bring pressure against the Dominion to ease it's stranglehold on the Gamma quadrant. All the places Voyager had visited could be revisited again. With such a drive a galaxy wide Federation was not just a dream but an inevitability.

She visibly shook herself and with a sheepish smile said, "If your people don't mind taking orders from a stranger you can put me in charge of any repair teams you have. And I'm not proud; if you want to attach an experienced chief to me to make sure I don't get lost I would certainly understand."

Thriss nodded. "I mean if you have served on an Akira before then many of or systems are relatively similar minus the trans-warp drive. But I can attach another officer or chief to you if you want, to show you how we are on the Sunfire specifically? Kind of like a tour of sorts."

"That is kind of you," Ashlesha replied, "But that would just be robbing you of a pair of much needed hands. Besides, lieutenant Hadleman seems to have that job at the moment. And while I haven't served on an Akira I'm sure I can make myself useful here and there, at least until my day job pulls me elsewhere."

Should she tell him about her unique nature. She smiled inwardly; maybe it would be best to keep it a secret. While the likes of Hadleman and house knew it was likely no one would believe it until they saw it...

"Well Lieutenant, I thought I might ask. But if you need anything, just give me a shout. Oh, and I apologize in advance about my classic taste in music, it sometimes can get loud in here with classical late 20th and early 21st century rock music" the Andorian Chief Engineer chuckled.

Ashlesha nodded as an enlightened expression crossed her face, "I see. So you're this ship's Twentieth Century Guy."

It seemed almost every Starfleet vessel had one. Be it an obsession with mystery stories, vintage technology, the fashions or music, Twentieth Century Guy popped up, insidious like an untreated fungus.

"Thank you for the warning," Ashlesha replied, "On my old ship Twentieth Century Guy was obsessed with country music. If she wasn't playing somebody named Merle Haggard it was Johnny Cash or Patsy Cline. I swear if I had to hear 'Crazy' one more time it truly was going to drive me mad."

She smiled, "Well, let me know where you need me and put me on your duty roster, I assure you I can juggle both whatever job you throw at me as well as my own duties," the statement almost seemed like a dare...

"Very well. I'll let you know once the duty roster gets updated. In the meantime, I guess I better get my engineers to work" he motioned to the rest of his staff. "It's going to be a long couple of days."

Ashlesha gave the warp drive one last, longing look before reluctantly nodding. She would have given anything to pore over the technical specifications. There were three of her after all and she could-

"I had best be going as well. Thank you for your time, lieutenant," she smiled warmly, "I look forward to working with you," she laughed, "And for you, I suppose, for the duration!"