Promotions

Posted on Wed May 10, 2023 @ 11:10am by Captain Richard Winchester & Lieutenant Commander Ziq Chura

873 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Season 1 - Prologue
Location: Main Engineering

Chura sat at the main console in the engine room of the USS Columbia and rubbed his forehead. The complete overhaul of the ships internal comms system had started to take it toll.

The work wasn't difficult just long minded and labor intensive. Not helping the problem was the lack of a chief engineer. Ziq was a more than capable engineer but the lack of main leadership seemed to be making the job longer.

The Captain passed through the main starboard doors of the Columbia's engine room, he nodded to a young Cadet-Ensign who was transiting it in the opposite direction. They had a stack of data-slates about 12 inches high. 'I hope they're not for me,' Winchester thought as he progressed further into the room.

The Columbia's engine room was surprisingly small for a ship her size. The Warp Core and associated machinery sat at the far end of the room, expanding vertically through the starships mid-section, and two large conduits ran out through the rear bulkhead of the section in the general direction of the warp nacelles.

Richard took the small trio of steps down into the Main Engineering pit, a lowered area that contained the central engineering command station - more commonly referred to a the 'pool table' by staff. This is where Lt Ziq Chura was currently positioned.

"Lieutenant, just the person I'm looking for." Winchester approached the opposite side of the pool table to his Engineer.

"Captain." Ziq said with a smile as he stood as a sign of respect. "Im sorry, sir, the comms upgrades are taking longer than expected. I know you wanted them up and running for testing but the swap over from [the previous version] to this new version of comm badge is just a little bit more tricky than we expected."

The Captain nodded understanding the pressure the Engineer had been on. The refits to the Columbia weren't major, but there were so many of them required that there was a noticeable pull on the departments resources. The Captain couldn't help but think the brass back at Fleet Command had made an error in timing to rotate the majority of the crew out for new personnel when so much work was ongoing.

Many of the incoming staff had never worked on a Tier 1 starship before let alone a Diplomatic Heavy Cruiser like the Columbia.

"Don't worry Lieutenant. I understand the pressures you're all under, and to be honest they seem to be working relatively okay for the most part. In my experience, it's the new features that we seem to be having issue with. I wouldn't want to using one of these as a transporter beacon just yet." He smiled relatively widely.

The Bolian matched the Captain smile with one of his own. "Thank you, sir. We'll get it done, however, it'll be a bit weird not having a communicator in your pocket any more. We'll spend a good 5 minutes trying to find it before we realize it's on our chest." Ziq said with a chuckle.

"Captain Garret," he paused for a second, "may she rest in peace, had described badge communicators to be a game changer in her previous report. I'm not sure I like the style of this prototype mind you. The version the Enterprise-C was running with was a modified from the current Starfleet emblem." Unconsciously he raised his right arm to rest on new badge that adorned his left breast.

"I suppose change was inevitable." The Bolian replied. "Its just a shame they had to change it to an ugly design."

"Ziq, you've been Assistant Chief Engineer onboard the Columbia for as long as I've been Captain. I think it is time you took over the reigns from our departing Chief and made this engine room your own." Richard smiled as he handed over a glossy-narrow rectangle box that he had been trying to discreetly hide in behind his back during their previous conversation.

"Sir?" Chura said both shocked and surprised. He did know the ship like the back of his hand but he was expecting to work with the new chief being them up to speed on Columbia's inner workings. Not take the reigns himself. "I...I don't know what to say."

"Well, " he let out a chuckle, "that's a first Mr Chura. You might not want to say anything, because at this time you're also Acting Second Officer. Don't worry, that's not a permanent appointment unlike Chief Engineer. I just need someone until I can get a feel for this new crew."

The Captain nodded to the ships new Chief Engineer. "Well, if there is nothing else Chief, I'm needed on the bridge. We're due to depart in twenty four hours. Let's make sure this ship is purring like a kitten before then."

"Its an honour to serve as Columbia's Chief Engineer and Second Officer. Thank you, sir." Chura replied with a broad smile. "Oh she'll be ready, sir."

The Captain nodded, and without any further words turned to exit the section. He decided to take the scenic route back to the bridge.

Ziq watched the Captain leave Engineering. As the doors closed behind him, the Bolian looked around. "Alright everyone, let's get this ship space worthy!"

 

RSS Feed