RP Log: No Caitians Were Harmed in the Making of This Engineer
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| 2022-08-05 00:26 | |
The Chief Engineer steps into the ready room with a small huff, clearly having at least speed walked here. "Sir" he says taking stock of the room. "Something broke?" he asks as though it is most certainly a routine question.
"No, though I predicted you would think so, Lieutenant," the Vulcan says blandly. She might, might, be teasing the Human. Hard to tell. "Lieutenant, this is Ensign Znaiyu, the newest member of your department. Ensign, Lieutenant Gordon LePage, Chief engineer of this vessel." She adds to the Ensign, "which is an experimental ship. So, yes, malfunctions have occasionally occurred."
Rising, Znaiyu salutes her brand new boss. "Lieutenant," she greets him, not without a glance between him and T'Shaav, ears flicking as if trying to decide what the subtext is. Not that it seems to bother her too much.
LePage raises his eyebrows but nods. "Alright then, about time I got some good news... Er, not that I'm not trying to make good news for the both of us sir" LePage amends to T'Shaav. "That being said..." he continues, eyeing those ensign pips. "You must be either a standout Engineer or gotten yourself on the short list of an admiral to be assigned to an experimental ship out of the Academy... You don't need to answer that, just an honest observation"
"See to it that the ensign has an intake examination with visiting Doctor Ch'vyran if he is able," she says. "I have billetted her as a junior systems engineer for access purposes, though you will make your own best departmental decision about that, Lieutenant." She turns to the ensign. "Junior officer quarters are on deck 10. See that you attend to your medical and psychological evaluations as soon as possible. We are shorthanded and mid-mission. So you will be put at once to work. QUestions from either of you."
"Just lucky," Znaiyu says, which is definitely untrue because LePage is right, and even she knows it. She is obviously unable to blush, but her shoulders straighten a little and the corner of her mouth curls, exposing a sharp tooth, in a little smile. Yes, she is pleased with this posting. A moment of consideration, then she shakes her head. "No questions, sir, except when do I get started and what do I get started on?" She includes LePage in those last two. They're really more his field.
"I'll get you settled in, don't worry. Got plenty to do round here, and I can use the help" LePage says to the Caitian. He turns to T'Shaav. "On that note though, how much is she cleared for? The normal stuff or the fancy stuff on this ship?" LePage says, putting some emphasis on the word Fancy to denote it's alternate meaning.
"She is a member of this crew," T'Shaav says, taking the meaning. "and cleared for anything anyone in your department is, Lieutenant. Brief her well. You are both dismissed."
"Aye sir" LePage nods. "On me, let's get you settled in" he says, exiting the room for the corridor.
The word 'fancy' makes Znaiyu's eyes gleam. "aye sir," she says to T'Shaav. And to LePage, a salute, and "After you, sir."
LePage gets them on the way and starts to take care of some business.
LePage taps his commbadge and speaks into it.
[LePage's Commbadge] Sending request for communication to Senior Chief Petty Officer Sanderson.
[LePage's Commbadge] Communications channel to Senior Chief Petty Officer Sanderson open - audio only.
[LePage's Commbadge] Sanderson says, "Whatcha need, Boss?"
LePage smiles. "Chief, oh Chief" he says with no small amount of giddiness. "Break out the new Engineer Kit, we've got a new friend. We'll be down right shortly"
[LePage's Commbadge] Sanderson says, "Not another bangin' green crewman who can't tell the difference between a bangin' plunger and a bangin' driver, ain't it?""
You say, "No telling at this point, but get it ready anyway, heat it up!"
LePage double taps his commbadge
Znaiyu snorts behind LePage's left shoulder. "As if," can be heard.
The Chief and the Ensign enter into the turbolift.
"So then. You specialize in a track in the Academy? Computers, Optronics, Warpfield... Or are you general track?" LePage asks of the Ensign following him as he requests the lift to head for Main Engineering
"General, for the basic academy training," Znaiyu says. "Wanted my options open. I was working on sensor array improvements during my graduation cruise. But I'm fle. Should be good for a ship like this."
LePage nods and strokes his goatee. "General then... Nothing wrong with that, I didn't specialize either. When they say junior systems Engineer, that's just code for you'll do everything under the sun... Does it excite you getting to play with everything?" he says, specific on his wording as they step out of the lift.
"Anything with components and a bit of technical knowledge required," Znaiyu replies, already peering past him into main engineering as the doors open. "And this an experimental vessel, you must have things on board I haven't even clapped eyes on yet."
LePage chuckles, already hearing the excitement in the Caitian's wording. "Alright then. That works. To Main Engineering then"
As the Chief and the new Ensign enter the Engineering bay, it's not quite what Znaiyu might expect. No hustling, no bustling. It seems like nobody is working and everybody has eyes on the pair as they enter. They're all mostly circled around a table with nothing on it. "I had your kit bag brought up from your items in the cargo bay, grab it from Chief Sanderson then stand by. And just follow the lead" he says, pointing to Sanderson and then walking behind the table, facing the small mob of goldshirts.
"Aye, sir," Znaiyu agrees, the first word louder than the last as she steps out into much less work and noise than she anticipated. Blue eyes blink, but then she turns to the indicated Sanderson. "Chief," she greets him, and then lowers her voice. "What are they all waiting for?"
Sanderson nods in greeting to the Ensign and gives a baleful glare at LePage. He says to Znaiyu, "The bangin' Boss thinks it's cute to be all bangin' fratboy, sir." He glares around at all of the others gathered around, "And that just ain't no bangin' way to treat any bangin' officer, especially a bangin' Ensign, ain't it? No it ain't."
"Ain't it not?" Znaiyu asks, with the sort of intonation that suggests she really isn't deliberately using the word incorrectly. But she begins to look a little apprehensive now, glancing between the Terran chief petty officer and her equally Terran chief engineer. The tip of her tail flicks warily. "I suppose it could always be worse!" she decides eventually, still sort of talking low-voiced to Sanderson, half to herself, and straightens her thin shoulders.
"It's not a frat boy thing Chief, it's a tradition. Please, put aside your disdain for officers for one moment" LePage sighs before turning to address the Engineers. They all have their kit bags slung on their shoulders and all seem to be smiling. "The mission of Command is to set the course of the ship and make the tough decisions of how to navigate the stars and all the dangers they hold. The mission of the Science divisions is to document and experiement with all the lovely data we collect over the course of our travels and advance the Federation as a whole. The mission of Engineering... is to keep the lights on" LePage begins, to which there's a wave of nodding. "We support the Commanders and make sure that whatever they're planning to do, they're well equipped to do it. As Chief Engineer of this ship, it's my job to determine if it's Engineers are capable of doing just that. Ensign Znaiyu is poised to join our crew as an Engineer. Ensign, step forward"
"Have I come at a bad time?" Tarun asks of no one in particular as he steps into main engineering, holding a PADD and looking as though he's ... well, on a mission.
An Engineer leans over to Tarun, a Terran Junior Grade. "Hey Doc, just hold on a second. This won't take long, and it's a treat" he says with a smile.
Sanderson peers at Tarun, "No sir, you ain't." He shakes his head at LePage, "Boss, some bangin' traditions should've bangin' died when I was a bangin' crewman. Especially those towards baby officers." He turns to Znaiyu, "No offense, sir."
Brushing back her white mane, Znaiyu steps forward, her own kit bag slung over one arm. She is so focused on LePage and her gaggle of future colleagues that she barely glances back when she hears Tarun's voice, but, seeing him, she smiles a little. Perhaps relieved.
"Ensign. You have been welcomed onto this vessel as an Officer of the fleet. You have yet to be welcomed as an Engineer" LePage says. "Are you prepared to serve in the duties and requirements of the role you will assume, as an Engineer of the ship? Knowing well that in doing so there will be times where the actions you take will mean not only the life and limb of yourself, but the crewmen you serve? Will you uphold the safety and integrity of this ship and the safety of your fellow crewmembers, even at the expense of your personal safety? Are you prepared to serve the hands you work with? Will you keep the lights on?" LePage asks directly of the Ensign, with a serious tone.
Now Znaiyu gives LePage a look, more baffled than Sanderson's baleful, peeks at the CPO and Tarun from the corner of one eye, and then scans the rest of her colleagues, looking for the trick. "Of course. That's what I'm here for!"
The Betazoid looks across the room highly perplex and sidles up to Sanderson. "What in blazes is happening here?" he asks the Chief in a hushed tone. "And why are people getting banged in the process?"
LePage largely ignores the Betazoid, seeming to be locked in his current task. As the Caitian calls her response, LePage grins. "Good answer" He says, now warmly. "Chief Engineer's Mate Sanderson, the seal" LePage says, referencing a long wooden box which Sanderson is holding at this point, albiet it appears largely reluctantly. "Ensign, present your kitbag. Lay the flap out on the table here"
Sanderson mutters quietly to Tarun, "Bangin' ritual, sir." He gives LePage a baleful glare as he continues to speak quietly to Tarun, "Sometimes carried too bangin' far with recruits or ensigns." He hands the box to LePage, still muttering under his breath, "The bangin' seal, Boss."
Znaiyu is still looking for the trick, but since nobody is actively tittering behind their hands or anything, her search is more out of curiosity than concern. Sanderson's dire commentary taken into account though, she places her kit bag as bidden on the table and then withdraws both hands. You know, just in case.
LePage opens up the long wooden box and withdraws a long silver rod, with a grip at the base. If anyone were peering into the box, they'd see a pair of circular metal pieces, one larger than the other. LePage withdraws the larger one and attaches it to the end of the silver rod. He clicks a button at the base. "This bag carries the tools necessary to execute your duties at an Engineer. It also carries the special trust and confidence of the crew of this ship. You are an Engineer, the one who fixes things. They count on you to keep them on the right side of the vaccum" By the time he's pontificated this far, the large circular piece is glowing red. "And of course, this is extra special. Your first ship is one you never forget, the one you cut your teeth on. This is the moment you become... And Engineer" LePage says, pressing the brand down into the flap on the kit bag, smack dab in the middle. It smokes gently and when he pulls it away, it reveals the circular ship seal of the USS Buran. "Welcome to the Buran, Ensign Znaiyu. And welcome to Engineering" as he finishes, there's a rowdy cheer from the mob along with clapping. As it dies down, LePage waves out. "Alright, that's it, get back to work. Ensign, stick to me" he says, disperssing the crowd.
"I'm glad you branded the bag and not the livestock, as it were," Tarun says flatly, casting a half-horrified glance toward LePage that darts between Znaiyu and LePage a couple of times. Sanderson gives Znaiyu a smile, "Welcome, Ensign." He then turns a glare on all of the gathered engineers, "Bangin' work ain't getting bangin' done while standin' here, ain't it? No it ain't."
Blink, blink. Znaiyu watches the hot brand stamp her bag, then go back out of sight, tosses back her mane and laughs. She was clearly anticipating something different, and snatches the kit bag back with a shake her head. "You scared me!" she half complains to Sanderson, slinging the kit bag over her shoulder. "The smell of burnt fur takes absolute ages to get out of a cabin, unless the air recirculators are better on this ship than I'm used to."
"If you think that pit in your stomach is bad, wait until you've got a compartment that's somehow on fire and depressurzied at the same time, and you're gonna fix it" LePage chuckles. "Councilor! I apologize, how can I help you?" LePage says
Tarun holds up a PADD as an explanation of his visit. "The Captain has asked I assist the X-O in procuring and storing as much food, water, and medical supplies." A beat. "I can't tell if it's for the Dreonians or for the Cardassians," he begins, "but I need to replicate much of it to ensure it remains shelf-stable."
"Any fire you can walk away from in the end is a success," Znaiyu says to LePage, gaze flitting around the room again, focusing on the master console, and then shifting back. "Maybe you can tell me the full story sometime. For now, where shall I start?"
"This sounds like a good place. You're untasked and more than that I barely have enough Engineers that aren't specialized. Sounds perfect for you" LePage says, taking the PADD, looking it over. "This looks doable, we'll get this done as soon as we can" he says to Tarun before handing that PADD to Znaiyu. "You can use the mobile replicating rig from Cargo Bay one and move it to two, I'm done using it for the fertilizer for Dreon. Follow the ratios on the PADD and don't forget you'll need to organize it for distribution, so don't just make a pile of stuff. Good with this tasking?"
"Er, thanks," Tarun says as the PADD is taken from him. Looking toward Znaiyu, he adds, "Please let me know if you need any clarification about what we need."
"Aye, sir." Znaiyu takes the padd, although it must be said, not without one more look at the master console. Time to explore and poke about engineering itself later. She turns to Tarun. "This shouldn't take long, I'll let you know when the first batch is done so it can be stored or shipped off. Will there be any specialised food requirements the Captain didn't list here?"
LePage nods. "Report to me for questions on how to do the job, Tarun for your parameters. Welcome aboard, I'll be in my office" he says, stepping away, allowing the two to finish working out the details.