Making Connections

Posted on Thu Dec 10th, 2020 @ 11:28pm by Senior Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Stoun

1,920 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - Echoes Of An Empire
Location: Engineering
Timeline: MD 1 1600

Tamaska looked at herself in her new uniform, she considered her reflection feeling like she had stepped into the twilight zone. She never thought she would be in this position. Well it happened and she accepted Keiben's spoken offer and his silent plea for her to be at his side as his number one. Adjusting the upper tunic, Tamaska thought she looked sufficiently presentable. Now to go find the new crewmembers and beging to make more connections with them. First up is the new Chief of Engineering, Stoun.

Tapping on her commbadge, Tamaska spoke.

"Holt to Stoun, what's your location?" she could have asked the computer to locate him, but, why not just ask directly.

"Main engineering office, deck 7." The Chief was sitting in the chair trying to get the adjustment just right. Up, then down, slightly reclined, versus locked. With all the technology at his disposal of getting several several thousand metric tonne starship moving faster than light but can't get the chair in the right spot.

Tamaska arrived shortly there after, making her way to the office. She stood in the doorway watching Chief adjusting the chair. "Those can be rather tricky." she stated, with a smile. "Came to see how you are doing in your new digs."

Jon was staring down at one of the chair adjustments when the XO entered. He looked up and almost fell out of the same chair. He stood up. "Oh excuse me Lieutenant, I was, well" He stammered for a moment, looked at the chair and then looked back at Holt. "I'm getting along ok I suppose. Taking a bit to get used to things." Jon looked over the Lieutenant.. "Lieutenant Holt I presume?"

"Yes I am, we met when Haistro asked us to take different positions. I wasn't quite expecting to be asked to be his XO. And if I recall right you weren't expecting to be asked to stay on as Chief Engineer?" She chuckled, "I'm glad he decided to um... acquire you for the Copernicus. Especially since you were one of the angels that came to rescue us. You have my undying gratitude for coming to get us."

"Oh your right, I'm sorry, I didn't get a chance to really talk to you during the meeting. I'm glad you came down to say hello" Jon rubbed his head. He had been a bit ragged with all of the repairs. "Can I get you a coffee or something? Just got the replicator working in here."

"Coffee sounds great, and Chief, you look exhausted. Have you been getting any sleep?" Tamaska asked, thinking of how tired he looked. He must have been working nonstop since the Copernicus was brought into the space dock.

"Computer, 2 Coffees." The replicator whirred and two cups materialized in the machine." Jon grabbed the two cup and handed one to the Lieutenant. "Few winks here and there, too much to be done though we are getting to the end of it. I have the time to mess with my chair so that is a good sign." He sipped on the coffee, it was a bit off but it was hot, black, and resembled a good cup. "What brings you down to engineering?" He motioned to the chair on the opposite side of the desk.

Holt accepted the cup of coffee, and sat down in the indicated chair. Holding the mug in her hands enjoying the heat. "Well wanted to get to know you and, you said you had some requests of things that you needed." giving a smile, before taking a sip. She made a wry face at first, blowing into the mug to help cool the contents down.

"Well, mainly supplies and extra sundries I suppose. I can send you the requisition. The new crew is coming on and I'm trying to get them up to speed as quickly as I can, especially considering I'm still learning my way around the ship as well." He grabbed a PADD from his desk and thumbed through it. "Most of the things on the ship was either destroyed, cobbled together or as fodder to repair and limp it back to space dock. The main thing I'm worried about is the short turn around time to get her back into space, normally something like this would require a six month dry dock berth, I am doing my best to make sure we don't miss anything." He handed the PADD to Holt. "As for me, umm." he paused. "Shoot."

Tamaska looked over the items, "It looks like you are getting things covered magnificently." She looked up at the Chief. "Something wrong, Chief? Tell me what your concern is?"

"I think I just need to take a break I suppose." He rubbed his face. "I've been pulling upwards of fourteen or fifteen hour shifts to help get everything all ready. And maybe a stiff drink." The engineer took a drink from his coffee. "As silly as it sounds, I'll probably get a chance to take a bit of a break when we head out for our next assignment."

"Stiff drink, some personal time, which you deserve especially since you've been working those long hours." she blushed at that. "I feel...like I've just been sitting on my hands doing nothing. Forgive me for not coming to help you out on those details. When you need the help, call for me, I'm not afraid of getting dirty. And I just feel like I'm just running to catch up on things." Tamaska said ruefully.

"I think the biggest thing I have to remember is I'm not a wrench jockey anymore, I know I haven't been in a while, years really but that is more on me." Stoun smiled at the Lieutenant. "I promise, there will be plenty of fun to go around." He paused for a moment while taking another drink of coffee. "So, tell me a bit about yourself, I always like to know who I am reporting up to."

Tamaska had just taken a drink of her coffee, when Stoun replied, she peered over the rim of her mug towards him. Then swallowed the liquid. "Well.. I'm an onion." she said at first with a laugh. 'I've got many layers, well I think I do. Let's see, I have a family on Earth, was a companion/body guard for an ambassador's daughter. I went into Star Fleet at the age of 19, then served as part o the security team on Star Base One and became chief of security for the Copernicus a couple of years back." she smiled then took another drink from her mug before continuing.

"On a more personal note, there are a few things I like to do. I play the flute, continue to train in martial arts. Love to do outdoorsy activities. Loves horse back riding, do Archery. And I love to cook."

"How about you? I'd like to learn more about you." Tamaska stated with a grin.

"Archery huh? I tried it once, didn't hold my arm at the right angle and didn't use a guard, the bow string went right down my arm and had a black and blue mark for a week." He laughed at the memory. "It was to try and impress a girl, oh yeah, I've done this before which translates really into I saw it once in a holonovel. That didn't go anywhere. Computer, pot of coffee, black." He finished up the last in his cup and went and grabbed the carafe.

"Well, I like coffee obviously. Been in the fleet since seventy, fought through both wars, fought the Borg, been working on research and with the corps of engineers since then. I've been Chief Engineer in more of a teach people how to do it capacity for the last several years, but this is my first Starship in more of a Chief Chief engineering in that capacity." He poured himself another cup of coffee and then sat back in the chair. "Ummm, I don't know personal wise, never had time for a family, kind of went all in on the fleet thing, I like models, I've built them since I was little. What else" He paused as he tried to come up with a few tid bits that may be interesting. "I like camping, I used to get dropped off on an M class planet and told them not to come back for a week." He smiled. "Music is nice, I don't know, pretty basic I guess. I have been known to box. Never got into martial arts, just straight boxing, maybe we could go a few rounds sometime."

Tamaska winced about the bruise from the bow string. "A bruise from the bow string? I can vouch for that hurting. If you want, I could show you some pointers?" she drained her cup dry, then poured herself another cup as well. "I won't mind going a few rounds with you with boxing, in fact, perhaps you can teach me some of the techniques? Just because I know martial arts doesn't mean I know everything." she grinned. "You and I need to go camping sometime, if we get the chance."

"Yeah, I would be interested in that. Been a while since I've had the opportunity to go and do that." The engineer grinned a bit. "Though if we get into a ring, I'm probably going to get my behind handed to me if I get in the ring with you, I'm guessing you've probably got a bit more pep in your step then I do at this point." He paused for a moment, "So what can I do to help you get up on your feet. I know I'm new here, but I want to make sure I am helping out as much as I can, beyond tightening bolts and making sure bulkheads stay intact."

"You're already doing that, Chief." raising her cup up in a sort of salute to Stoun. "Already helping out. You are definitely someone I'd be trusting to take care of the heart of the Copernicus. I'm certain that the Commander thinks so to. Plus, you're certainly someone I can talk to." she took a drink of her coffee. "Plus, you've got to show me some of the models you've made."

"Ohhh well, umm.. maybe I'll put up a few in here." He gazed at the spartan office. "Kind of too sterile for my own good. I'm sure that won't last, there will be design schematics and manuals all over the place soon." Jon stopped for a moment. "I've got a Constitution class one that I'm proud of, and a Centaur class, maybe I'll find a way to hang them from the ceiling or something." He flapped his arms above him trying to indicate what they'd look like.

The chief lifted his coffee towards the Lieutenant. "Well my door is always open, mainly because I haven't gotten around to fix it yet. If you need to come and talk, I'm here for you."

Tamaska nodded, "I certainly will come talk to you." then drinking the last of her coffee. "My doors open if you want to converse as well, and to bring up any difficulties you might have." giving a smile. "I best be getting going, and I am looking forward to seeing your models." Looking up at the ceiling imagining them hung there. "Yes definitely looking forwards to see this office with your own personal touches." rising to her feet. "I'll see you later on."

END

 

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