Rising Above the Embers

Rising From the Ashes

 

Captain's Log

Stardate 85735.85

We were successful in our endeavor to convert the damaged materials obtained from the bridge module and other residual pieces of remaining components into a viable trove of replicable resources to create the science upgrades to the ship. Fleet Captain Samji even located other discarded items around the Starbase to literally add into the mix. Fortunately, this has had the affect of nullifying our initial resource limitations. 

Progress is continuing on refitting all of the preliminary components created through this experimental process into areas of throughout new ship, but we are still implementing these items throughout the ship and are in the negotiation phase of determining all of the remaining ones.

I am going to take a brief tour of the ship to meet with arriving personnel along with the new department heads present before I announce our first bridge officers meeting.  This will provide me with the opportunity to get current feedback regarding progress and requirements from each department before this meeting occurs. But first I need to complete a report to the Fleet Captain about current vacancies in departments still existing throughout the ship. We cannot launch this vessel without the essential crew members aboard and positioned accordingly throughout departments and shifts. Without an operations officer assigned or aboard, it is my responsibility to complete this task.  

 

As Syntron was updating and noting the slowly emerging crew manifest in his usual meticulous manner of approaching tedious tasks, he heard the sound of the familiar chime indicating that a guest was awaiting just outside of his new Ready Room aboard the USS Phoenix. There was an overwhelming amount of factors to be dealt with in preparation of his new commission and for this vessel. He really did not have the time nor inclination for additional distractions or disturbances while all of these issues awaited some level of attention and eventually resolution.

Without looking up from his viewscreen he merely projected a vacuous response as he continued to gaze at the view screen.

"Enter"

He heard the swishing of the door parting from the center, but had not yet looked up to see who had entered; even after it had closed.

The door slid shut to frame a medium-height, slim silhouette in a blue-collared and grey-shouldered black uniform, lieutenant-commander pips on the right side of his neck. But the eye was immediately drawn to the shiny bald-shaved head, the perfect features, the sparkling smile and especially the mesmerizing purple eyes that lighted this whole handsome face.

The voice that came out was as melodious as that of the best tenor Earth had ever produced, but with a softness and a glint of joyfulness that was nothing short of soothing despite the very formal address it gave.

"Dr Elliago Nasaro-Myth, reporting as Chief Medical Officer, Captain Sir. "

Standing in correct posture of attention, hands at his back, the self-announced CMO was almost drawing all the light in the room to him with his charismatic presence. But that was because he was much more than just a handsome, charming man.

He was Deltan.

The captain looked up immediately with a masked expression of surprise. He had served with the Deltan over the past years throughout all of those dangerous missions, and knew full well of the CMO's extensive medical qualifications... along with his rather interesting sense of humor.

As he immediately stood up, he exclaimed "Doctor Nasaro Myth... I have to say that I am quite... surprised and most gratified to have you serve with us here on the Phoenix. I am rather perplexed to a degree that Captain Kheren has allowed you to... wander away from his grasp aboard his new ship."

"Not as much as he was, my dear Captain, " Elliago said with the bantering tone he was so well known for by the Vulcan. " But Captain Kheren is a big boy now and he certainly doesn't need me to pester him about his health and fitness when he now has not one but two wives to do it! "

Then with a bit of a twinkle in his eye the Vulcan added "But as the old Terran expression goes... his loss is certainly our gain."

He then gestured to the CMO.

"Please have a seat Doctor and enlighten me with what has transpired since we last spoke."  

"Well to be honest, I have been looking for such a posting since I got back from my sabbatical on Delta IV. I answered the call of duty when Operation Horizon was launched... but, I am a xenologist and I crave to study new life forms in the field. The prospect of managing nothing short of an entire hospital on that flying starbase of a flagship, collecting medical files instead of collecting samples... That was enough to have me rush to any science ship available. I thought I would get posted on one of those small Nova class science ships Starfleet is sending everywhere... but when I heard about the Phoenix, I couldn't pass it up... Especially knowing that you would be her commanding officer. So, here I am... behold and tremble! "

Syntron acknowledged the rationale of his CMO in regards to selecting his new posting here on the USS Phoenix, along with a glimmer in his eyes in reaction to the Deltan's quirky theatrical closing remark.

"Well then Doctor Nasaro Myth, it would seem that our arrangement here to be rather mutualistic... in the symbiotic sense."

As he slowly returned to the seat behind his desk, the Vulcan took a moment and looked at his crew manifest on the screen. He scrolled down the list until he came to the name of the CMO and marked his status as present on the ship. After which the commanding officer turned his attention back to the CMO and continued his dialogue.

"Please conduct a thorough inspection of the medical facilities throughout the ship Doctor and send me a report of anything that is amiss or lacking. We have the next seventeen days until our scheduled launch to correct, modify or replace all key equipment throughout the ship. We also have the opportunity here to replicate any additional consoles or equipment that you deem requisite in your duties as the chief medical officer."

" I already took the liberty of doing so beforehand, Captain. As a Deltan, I am able to diagnose and even treat most lifeforms without any instrumentality, through the use of our natural pheromones and sympathetic touch along with natural methods of healing. Of course, modern resources have their definite benefits, especially in case of large scale medical situations, but what is already planned for this ship will prove adequate, especially considering that I am bringing along all my Deltan colleagues from our late, great starship Artemis. "

It was well known in Starfleet that Deltans had special dispensations to get large communal living quarters and similar posting. Deltans were a very gregarious species and needed one another's companionship to keep their sanity on long space assignments among what they called " sexual immature  species..." which was almost every sentient species known in the galaxy, with the possible exception of sturdy, emotionally intense Tellarites, morally free Risans and four-gender Andorians. It was therefore not surprising that a well-respected medical officer like Nasaro-Myth would drag along several of his kind on his assignments.

Syntron then thought for a moment before he added "We also cannot precisely ascertain specifically what we will encounter on our upcoming missions Doctor, therefore you may need to... speculate needs yet unknown. I realize that this sounds rather contradictory. Nevertheless, anticipate these possibilities to the best of you ability."

The Deltan looked intently at the commanding officer of the newest Lotus Fleet vessel.

"In that regard, Captain Sir, it will be most important that the chief engineer confirms that the EMH programming has all the required fail-safes now demanded by Starfleet and the Federation Science Council. With the full competent staff we will have on board, we will hardly need it ever... unless we run into some large scale catastrophe. Nevertheless, even with undeletable safety protocols now hardwired into their matrix as with all holographic systems, we certainly do not want to be responsible for the emergence of a sentient being and be stuck with all the moral and legal nightmare that would ensue, as it did with the Doctor on the USS Voyager. "

Captain Syntron then slightly shifted the topic.

"Acknowledged. Once this task however has been confirmed to be addressed, you will need to begin preparations to oversee the required physicals on the entire crew.  With your experience Doctor, I am confident that you will work out a thorough and efficient manner to accomplish this task."    

"That is the easy part, Captain, " the Deltan said with a most charming smile so typical of him. "With the time required for all the work you ordered to be done on the ship, we can use the transporter to make a preliminary full biometric scan, then use internal sensors during work to monitor and record vital signs during work and rest.  A few minutes after work to complete examination in sickbay and properly meet everyone will finish the job without affecting work and minimizing the traditional fear of doctors Starfleet officers are so prone to experience."

The last was half joke, half observation of actual behavior from many officers, particularly those in command positions. but stating it so would now make those officers even more reluctant to play their classic avoidance game with the CMO... 'less they now ended up with being branded a coward or at least a timid; not something that would inspire respect and obedience from subordinates. The approach had worked well with his former Captain... and with a certain well known officer by the name of Reginald Barclay, back at Starfleet Medical.

His smile became coy as he dated a wink at Syntron.

"How about starting with you, Captain Sir? "

Syntron gave an immediate emotionless response of "Proceed Doctor" but buried deep in his thoughts, the Vulcan noted that all doctors, regardless of their species, appeared to derive some sort of delight in the resultant squirming of their patients about to undergo any type of diagnostic analysis or treatment.

He would provide no such reaction.   

"Then, please allow me, Sir..."

The Deltan then used his own hands to prod the Vulcan. It was a gentle touch, like when someone touches something to feel if it is hot, touching first the center of the Vulcan's chest, then his lower left side before finishing off with his lower maxillary, his temple and the back of his skull. There was a very curious sensation, not quite a telepathic contact but more than a sensitive touch that left Syntron very intrigued. During his tenure on the Artemis, he had been examined only once by Dr Nasaro-Myth and it had been a very standard tricorder scan and biobed session in sickbay, the kind routinely done on every Federation starship. This was entirely new and obviously typically Deltan in nature.

The Vulcan was hypothesizing a combination of anatomical knowledge and bioneural sensitivity through physiological nexus points similar to Terran acupuncture when it was over in merely a minute.

"You are perfectly fit for duty, Captain, " declared Elliago with a smile. "The nervous tension you are repressing will disappear once you get enough time in the command chair. In the meantime, avoid complex hydrocarbons and drink plenty of fluids. Allow yourself daily time periods for relaxation."

With a slightly elevated Syntron brow merely uttered "intriguing" as the doctor completed his examination.

This was not akin to any Federation examine that he previously experienced; even on the Artemis.

"You have ascertained my fitness without any medical diagnostic tools, Doctor" the Vulcan confirmed as he unconsciously stretched out a few muscles in response to the stimulus.

"Will a similar method to this be employed when examining the entire crew of approximately one thousand?"  the captain inquired to the Deltan physician.

" Well let's see... eight hours standard shifts, a proceedings that takes around three minutes... with three Deltan doctors now assigned... examination of the entire crew would be completed in less than three days with my team. But using tricorders and biobeds is easier for all, of course, especially if we want all medical examinations to be completed by our entire staff in, let's say, a single day. Then again, we can do it just as fast with Deltan techniques if  all three shifts of any given day are shared between us... all this assuming, with our without tools and  added help, that you can order the entire crew to line up for their mandatory examination, Captain Sir.  "

Elliago could see the raised eyebrow on the Vulcan's face. He smiled in return, as he saw that he had made his point; their medical department was every bit as efficient as Starfleet expected them to be... and even total failure of equipement would not hamper them as significantly as the captain's ability, or lack of, to enforce rules and discipline could. 

In short, with Elliago as the CMO, they were more than ready.

"Point taken Doctor" Syntron responded with a mere wisp of a grin.

"I leave such medical decisions in the very capable hands, both literally and figuratively, of you and your qualified staff."

Then reflecting for a moment, the captain added  "I also have a comprehensive medical posting set up for you on our bridge for when your presence is not required in sickbay. This way you will be readily positioned for any encounters that we come upon requiring your medical expertise. It is similar yet somewhat more extensive than what was designed on the Artemis. You'll have full access to all data gathered from the ships sensors in addition to an array of  interactive and diagnostic tools that are tied directly into sickbay and the ships main and backup computers... available for you to access in any rare instance that lies beyond the capacity of your exceptional touch."

"Ah yes, the infamous Medical Command Chair... Well, since I was the first to ever test it and provided the improvement report following its use, I am quite familiar with it. Rest assured, captain, I am not one of those nostalgic, old-fashioned, tradition-bound doctors who hides in their sickbay waiting for people to get hurt. And this not James T Kirk's ship of two centuries ago; we have a full complement of doctors aboard,  able to handle everything but maybe some of the most delicate medical tasks. We have an EMH program that can act instantly all over the ship, thanks to the now standard shipwide hologrid. On the bridge, I alone can therefore provide full leadership and coordinate assistance to both sickbay, any part of the ship and all away teams or even other ships and installations, provide expert analysis on biosignals and internal sensor sweeps to you without delay and be on hand to take care instantly of all the senior staff right here at their post in critical situations."

Elliago winked at his commanding officer.

"I'll be at your left side, captain Sir... Just don't ask me to command the damn ship. Once was enough for me."

The Deltan was referring to the last phase of Operation Horizon, when Captain Kheren had left with his first officer, Syntron himself, to pilot what was left of the ship inside the anomaly, while the detachable bridge module of the Artemis evacuated the skeleton crew with the highest ranking officer left to command it; Elliago. Finding himself afterwards in a combat zone and a tense diplomatic situation, even as happily concluded as it turned out, had not endeared command to him.

Without even the slightest pause Syntron responded.

"As you have experienced Doctor, we never quite know what type of situation that we may be encountering in the future. So with you posted conveniently by my side, there is always the possibility that your recent command experience may be called upon once again... in one capacity or another."

The Vulcan commanding officer utilized his acute peripheral vision to covertly watch the beaming smirk on the Deltan's face begin to fade as he processed that response, before continuing with his thought.     

"However Doctor, if this circumstance ever did come to be... there is no need to be concerned about commanding a mere bridge module. This ship was not designed to engage a saucer separation. Therefore, you would have the fortune of holding the entire ship under your command... if this were to occur that is."  He added as he now glanced back directly the Deltan chief medical officer.

"Oh, joy..." simply said the Deltan. "Well then, if I may take my leave of you, Captain Sir, I might start preparing myself for the worse by familiarizing myself with the electric chair."

A little smirk appeared on the Vulcan's expression.

"It is reassuring to have you and your team aboard to see to the medical needs of our crew... and  by all means Doctor Nasaro Myth, you are dismissed."

Syntron then added before the Deltan walked away "Just remember Doctor, replicating medieval-like devices is forbidden by Starfleet Regulations; even under the most extenuating circumstance."     

"My dear Captain; even in this day and age of computer diagnostics and biomolecular compounds, leeches are still the best natural tool for open-wound disinfection..."

And with a last wink and dazzling smile toward his stoic commanding officer, the Deltan doctor exited the ready room.

As the doctor exited, Captain Syntron once again focused his attention on the task illuminated on the screen before him. He estimated that he could have the manifest updated in approximately thirty-seven point two minutes. He would then send an update to Fleet Captain Samji, with a special emphasis on finding a chief operations officer and determining the whereabouts of the CSO that has not even checked into the starbase, let alone the ship.

 

*                  *                 *

 

 "Energize"

 Commander Rogers beamed onto the transporter pad and, puzzled, stepped down to address the transporter chief at the console.

"This is not transporter room 2 ensign ...?"

'Dontae sir. No sir, all incoming boarding is routed here to transporter room one commander. Security orders sir.'

 Nodding agreeably David smiled at the young ensign and exited the room. Looking left and right, he tried to recall the way to the turbolift.

 'I'm on deck three, so ... this way I think,' David thought.

Striding quickly he found and entered the lift. As the doors swooshed shut behind him, he tapped his comm badge.

"Computer? Locate Captain Syntron."

'Captain Syntron is in his ready room.'

"Is he alone?"

'Captain Syntron is not alone.'

'I'll report later,' David thought to himself, 'once I've made sure engineering is up to specs.'

"Main engineering."

The lift hummed quietly to life and dropped eleven decks, then laterally the meter's forward to main engineering. The doors opened to allow him exit and David stepped out and stopped, Ahead of him was the view into main engineering of the Avenger class star ship. It looked ... 'like home,' David thought happily.  A good dozen crew were busy moving throughout the deck, some at panels and a few around the pool table, the main engineering console for the entire ship. David recognized only one man there, at the head of the table. He strode directly toward him, skirting the left side and glancing once at the master systems display to note any warnings on it. The man noticed his approach and looked up to meet Davids gaze.

'Commander! Glad to see you!,' Lieutenant Sean Andrews said happily.

Taking the proffered hand in a firm shake, David greeted his assistant chief engineer warmly. He was glad the man had accepted transfer from the Spectre along with himself, and David knew he would need Sean's expert aid aboard this new ship. But practicality and duty should come first so David got right to it.

"Glad you could join us Sean. So ... status?"

Grinning at David's business manner, of which he was accustomed, Sean took on the same serious demeanor.

"Aye Commander. As we are on station power, warp systems and thrusters are off-line. Level one diagnostics are about ninety five percent completion on those. Mary's diagnostic completed. She  is at ninety-eight point seven efficiency rating."

David smiled at Seans' continued use of the first person vernacular of Mary for the Matter/Anti-matter Reaction Assembly, but allowed him to continue while glancing over the system's display on the table before them.

'Of note sir: Chief of security left a note to run level one diagnostics on all the ship board security sensors. I think he wanted a second one done to augment his own, because power spiked from his section seventeen hours ago and I think it was running the same diagnostic. Regardless, I ran that for you and it is on your desk.'

Looking at the display David noted the power usage allocation being sent throughout the ship. Most usage was running through the main and secondary computer core's and he surmised that all the departments were running similar diagnostics upon their relative systems in preparation for a captains briefing. David nodded thoughtfully and turned his attention to his assistant again.

"Okay lieutenant, once the diagnostic completes on the drive systems let's set up a level two diagnostic on the main navigational deflector and those sub-systems. Then we can get on to the main and secondary computers once they are drawing less demand. Set that to run on the gamma shift if possible. I'll be in my office for a bit, then we'll call a meeting for all engineering crew heads in about half an hour. Good work Sean, I knew you were invaluable to me."

Grinning slyly, David walked back around the pool table and returned the dozen or so steps to his office and took his seat behind the desk. The indicated PADD was front and center on his desk where Sean had put it, and beside that was a smattering of other pads he would have to go over. Crew manifests and engineering department heads. Picking up the prominent one, David enabled it and gave it a thorough read. Security sensors were almost all performing at peak operational efficiency, excepting for two in cargo bay three. David noted that Sean had dispatched a team to repair or replace them.

"Computer, send diagnostic report to security chief ...."

'Damn, who is chief of tactical security?', David thought to himself, but the computer interrupted his thought as he thought it.

'Diagnostic sent to Lieutenant-Commander Vincent.'

'Thank you madam computer,' David thought jokingly, then pulled his personal padd from it's holster on his right hip.

'Time I got the names of my co-workers,' he thought as he activated the unit.

 After half an hour of study, David felt he had his personnel of the Phoenixs' engineering staff nailed down and was about to check on the status of the current diagnostics when a movement drew his attention to his office doorway. A tall but stocky human male stood framed there awaiting his attention.

"Sorry Ensign ... MacGyver Is it?"

'Yes sir. Ensign Dave McGyver. Computer systems specialist. I have an, uh ... interesting development sir.'

'Coming from an engineer,' David thought with slight alarm,'could mean problems.'

"What is it ensign? Core breach?" David smiled to indicate the jest.

Returning the smile only slightly, McGyver continued forward and handed David his PADD.

'No commander. It seems the science department is installing a whole new computer in astrometrics on deck three and routing power to it.'

 Thinking slightly, David recalled the deck three logistical layout and put forward an observation.

"Alright ensign, and are the power requirements for this new computer hampering the shield emitters or amplifiers?"

'Yes, they are,' McGyver added frustratingly. 'I was going to attend to it myself, but thought it best to bring it to your attention first.'

"Yes, good plan ensign. Let me download your specs here and I'll look into it. You can continue with the main and secondary ship's computers' diagnostics with Lieutenant Andrews."

McGyver nodded and retrieved his PADD after the transfer was complete, then left David's office. After holstering his PADD, David stood and made his way from his desk out into main engineering, noting the bustle of activity. The main core pulsed lightly in a power down mode, supplying the ship with it's needed supply for docking purposes. Walking around the core sensor stations aft, David took hold of the ladder leading up to deck thirteen and stopped momentarily to look over the core from there,.then continued upwards to deck twelve and stepped onto the catwalk there. From here he could look down the entire length of the core. All five decks reflected the pale blue throb of the core's pulse's. David took a moment to bask in the simple beauty of this unique perspective, then turned and made his way to the exit to deck twelve proper.

Looking around as he progressed toward the nearest turbolift, David noted the main sensor array monitoring station was fully manned. His people were on the job and that pleased his engineer persona well. Finding the turbo, he entered the empty lift when it opened for him and stated his destination.

"Astrometrics"

The doors sighed shut and David was whisked through and up nine decks in a matter of minutes. The doors parted to let him leave and David stepped out onto deck three. The same deck holding transporter room one where he had first stepped foot aboard the Phoenix. Noting the security team near the transporter room, David merely nodded toward them in passing and continued onward towards stellar cartography; then past that and into astrometrics. A bustle of activity denoted Ensign McGyver's concern and David walked slowly toward a small group and took a somewhat stern stance behind them.

"Ok people, who's been messing with my EPS conduits?"

He placed a particular emphasis on the word 'my', to indicate his status as chief engineer, in case anyone missed the point.

 The three young officer's, slightly startled, straightened up from their crouched positions in front of a polished and obviously new computer LCARS panel hanging in front of an equally newly installed computer core. It's internal gel packs were glowing various hues of pale yellow's and blue's, obviously fully powered and awaiting whichever tweaks the three science officer's were undertaking at that moment. They all simultaneously glanced at Commander Rogers and the outer pair looked expectantly at their center comrade,  a thin red haired human, thus denoting his superiority within the trio.

'Lieutenant Jarn sir, assistant chief science officer. As ordered, we're installing this astrometrics computer.'

 David allowed a brief scowl to cross his features as he looked over the installation behind the trio, then addressed the speaking lieutenant, ignoring the other two equally ranked science officers.

"You've tapped into the EPS power grid supplying the shield emitters and amplifiers lieutenant. If the ship went to a full battle alert, are you sure your little computer will handle a full power drain from it's system when that happens? And when that alert ends, will the returning power be measured to prevent blowing your new toy out of the wall?"

 The left most lieutenant, also of junior grade, stepped forward to answer David's questions.

'Lieutenant Stoeia commander. Yes, there are checks in place. First thing our chief insisted on sir.'

 David looked at the young Deltan man as he spoke and nodded agreeably, then turned his attention to the equally young looking Ferengii woman at the right of the group. "And you are ...?"

'Lieutenat Kalani Fopic sir. Computer security analysis. All is above board here commander, really.'

 David nodded toward the young woman and then nonchalantly tapped his comm badge. The small chirp denoted an open access to the ships central communications grid, and he stated his request.

"Ensign McGyver; Chief petty officer Kennedy; report to astrometrics on the double!"

 Continuing on with the three science officers, David began to admonish them.

"You are aware of the color of your uniforms lieutenants? You are aware of the potential damage you three could do to my couplers? NO! Don't answer rhetorical questions!", David interrupted, as lieutenant Jarn was about to speak.

 At that moment, his requested crew arrived from engineering. Chief petty officer Lucy Kennedy, an engineering crewman; And Ensign McGyver, his computer systems specialist. David motioned toward the, to him, offending equipment in the wall and told the two to proceed.

"McGyver, take over here and you two check this new ... toy... out a hundred and ten percent. Make sure it will in no way interfere with the shield systems, then report back to me."

 Turning to the young science crew again, David laid down his authority again.

"You three may assist my crew, but keep you engineering opinions to yourselves. Got that?"

Not waiting for a reply, David about faced and left astrometrics, muttering to himself on the way out.

'Damn people, think they can fool around with my plasma systems. Everyone on this ship thinks they're a damn engineer these day's ...'

 

His mutterings trailing behind him, David made his way toward the turbo lift. Time to go see the captain and get some answers. He had no problem with new installments to the ship, but no one had informed him about the tap into the plasma distribution manifolds, and that was a potential danger to unqualified people. Not to mention the drain to the emitters that could affect shield quality. Entering the lift, David stated his destination rather gruffly.

"Bridge!'

 

I believe this cat-and-mouse game is getting good. Now the CSO can be drawn into the chase along with the CO and XO!

-------------------------------------

 

Josh looked in the mirror, scanning over his fiery hair and the scar on his eyebrow. His eyes finally settled on the new pips on his neck, two gold and one black. New rank, new captain, new ship. This is going to take some getting used to, he thought.

His thoughts were interrupted by a chime at his door. That must be Nidiri. Josh walked to his door and opened it to find his beautiful brunette assistant waiting in the corridor.

"Hello Ensign, how are you liking our new home," Josh said as he stepped into the corridor and headed for the turbolift.

"Are you demoting me sir?" Nidiri replied with a smirk.

"What? Oh, sorry Lieutenant Junior Grade," the security chief replied, blushing at his mistake. "I can barely remember my own new rank, you don't expect me to remember yours too."

"If I can remember both, Commander, you bet I expect you to also," Nidiri shot back with a smile.

The two officers stepped into the turbolift as they talked.

"Deck seven," Josh ordered the turbolift, then turned to Nidiri. "Are all newcomers being routed to transporter room one as I asked?"

"Yes sir, and I've sent Ensign Graalvin to check each arrival against the crew manifest," Nidiri responded. "Why all the precautions? We aren't facing any threats now."

They stepped out of the lift and headed into the chief's new office. Josh sat in his chair and Nidiri sat across the desk from him.

Lokking at Nidiri with a serious face, Josh said, "I dont want to take any risk of having infiltrators on this ship. We've both had enough surprise enemies for a while. How are the tactical and security systems looking?"

“All tactical systems are ready to go, and may I say that I am excited to see what the new plasma-phaser arrays can do,” Nidiri replied.

“They were designed to fight the Borg, so I suspect they’ll keep us pretty darn safe out there,” Josh replied. “What about the internal sensors?”

“Engineering hasn’t sent a report on the sensor diagnostics yet.”

As Nidiri finished speaking, Josh’s PADD beeped to life with a new message. Josh looked at the message, then relayed its contents to Nidiri.

“It appears that our chief engineer heard you and sent the report,” Josh smiled. “Internal sensors appear to be working, except for two in cargo bay three. A team has been sent to repair them, but I’d like you to head down there with Chief Park and make sure nothing strange is going on, just to be sure. When you’re done with the chief, send him up here so that we can go through the armory inventory. And see if you can find our senior tactical officer, I’d like to run through all of the new systems so that we can familiarize ourselves with the ship before we head out.”

“Aye sir,” Nidiri replied. She stood from her chair and turned to leave the room. As she exited into the corridor, Josh picked up his PADD and pulled up background information for the next name on his crew manifest, PO2 Randy Deloit.

Okay Randy, let’s see if there is anything funny in your past, he thought. Any reason that you may want to take a shot at my captain.

 

 

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