A Hand Perhaps?

Posted on Tue Apr 24th, 2018 @ 11:20pm by Lieutenant Renee Salchin

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Main Engineering

Basically the only thing sticking out of the wall was a set of legs, stockinged legs and yes, the skirt as well, feet too, in heels of course, if you were being picky about it, but the major point was that it was the humming from inside the console that would have gathered any attention within Engineering. Of course, the humming wasn't a completely abnormal thing, given who it was half inside the console. A wiggle and the body was eaten by another inch by the wall-console monster, "Ah ha!" The humming stopped as Renee finally spotted what she was looking for, then a hand reached out and patted the floor where her carry-all with her tools should be sitting, the micro-welder sitting on top just for this probability. But it was TWO inches out of reach.

"Oh, come on!" She swore, eyes fixed on what she'd finally seen, not wanting to even blink if she didn't have to, to not lose sight of it. The hand flailed about in an arc, scrabbling to try to find the damned bag, where was it?

T'Ponga was on her way to meet her boss when she nearly fell over feet sticking out of the console. "Jumping gee whiz, what...rather who the hell is under the console?", she almost bellowed. Then she saw the hand groping for something. "Excuse me, but what are you looking for? Maybe I can help", she said, dropping to her knees.

"Welder, should be right on the top." Renee didn't recognize the voice, but it was someone right there to help and that was what she needed at this moment. "Small little thing, almost looks like a soldering gun." She didn't know if it were an engineer, hence the little explanation, "I can't look away, I'll lose it."

"Ok", she said, smiling as she found the tool and put it in her hand. "Here you go", she said. Standing up, she waited for the engineer to finish what she was repairing.

It only took a few moments and a slight flash of light came from the exit hole before the little welder got put off to the side and a jar of some goopy substance was grabbed from the spot where Renee, by God, HAD put it within easy reach. It too slid out after a satisfied "Hmm.." From the ensconced engineer, then the blonde engineer began to emerge, finally coming out of her shell entirely and sitting up, "Bio-memitic gel," She gestured to the jar and the slight sheen on her fingers, slowly dissipating, "Takes and metabolizes the weld material into the whole, sealing it and making it as if nothing at all happened." She smiled, "Moisturizes the hands, too, no need to wash or wipe it off. But with the bio-neural circuitry, really avoids a bunch of issues. One of the semi-newer things to come out, you might have seen it before, might not have. It finished advanced field-testing last year." She used the console itself to lever herself to her feet, "Thanks, by the way, I didn't want to lose the fracture, it was damned hard to find in the first place. Renee, by the way." She stuck the hand with the nearly vanished gel on it out in greeting.

Taking the out stretched hand, T'Ponga shook it, "I am T'Ponga Shemara, Lieutenant, and your new ACEO. Nice to meet you Renee. Hm...bio-memitic gel? I thought that was illegal", she stated.

"Thank God... I don't have to hold down that slot anymore, gives me a chance to really get back to what I'm doing and want to do." Renee sagged slightly in relief, shimmying her feet very slightly to settle back down on her heels a bit more and she was very aware that the extra inch and a half made her essentially five foot ten inch height tower over T'Ponga's five foot five. "Bio-mimitic gel is, bio-memitic isn't." She gestured to the jar, "Memitic takes the form provided to it from the surrounding base materiel to heal it, 'digesting' the intermediate material and making it as if no damage had ever been done. The bio-mimitic does just that, mimics it. Used primarily in body-mods to impersonate someone, probably what Gul Kasella used to impersonate Commander Bowman. They have some similar 'ingredients' in common, but only a few." The human smiled, "Memory versus Mimic is the really short explanation."

"Ok...that is a different way of putting it I dare say. But I was wondering by what you meant by 'glad I don't have to hold that position down' ", T"Ponga asked.

"it's nothing bad." Renee waved it away, "It's just that basically having the Assistant job meant longer hours, which doesn't really matter, but more watch-standing dealing with the more boring things. I had to put a few projects I have going on hold just because I didn't have enough time for them and getting in a fair amount of leisure time. I've started singing on a semi-regular basis at the Prancing Mythical Creature, that's our local bar, by the way, and I'm really enjoying that too."

"The Prancing Mythical...I do hope they have a good vintage year for bloodwine. I could use a belt every now and then", she said. "As for watch standing being boring? Hm...it doesn't have to be boring you know. Before I left Starfleet to raise my twins, I was the ships CEO and I found that if everyonr had an assigned specialty, no one was bored with their work. I was on my way to see the Chief, so lets see how that goes first. Then maybe I can make some suggestions to him after that. But, if after your shift you would care to join me for a drink, I would be pleased if you would join me", T'Ponga said. Just then Bear, who was sitting quietly taking notes, suddenly let out a screech and ruffled his feathers. "Bear...you scared the targ out of me. What's up?", she said...

The ruffle of feathers was Renee's first and only warning, the motion to the dark shape that she'd assumed was some sort of ornamentation that had not moved at all. Feathers. Bird. Renee yelped and took half a step back, hand scrabbling to her belt where she pressed the top button of the ornamental belt buckle. An egg shaped translucent bubble of a forcefield of some kind surrounded her as she took another half step backwards, "It's a- a bird, oh birds and I really don't get along at all, they poop on me whenever they get the chance and sometimes it gets in my hair, or worse! On my uniform! Do you know how long it takes to get it out of a uniform? And the smell doesn't go away, like, ever and I can't have that in my clothes, no way, shape or form." She was taking panting breaths now and she waved a hand at her face, fanning it, "And oh my god, is it just me, or is it hot in here?"

T'Ponga let out a Klingon belly laugh, "Lt. Salchin", she said laughing still, "Bear wouldn't dare poop on you or your clothes. He bathes regularly and he has this thing about not pooping unless he is in his pooping area" she said, looking at the startled Lieutenant. "He is genetically enhanced and is a very intelligent bird. We both communicate telepathically and verbally. Bear gets along with everyone I introduce him to", she said looking at Bear. "He will not attack or hurt anyone unless he is told or threatened or if I am in any way threatened or hurt he will only do what is necessary to keep any harm from himself or myself", she added. Still looking at Bear, she sensed the Lieutenant's apprehension and smiled. "Lt. Salchin relax. Bear will not leave his pad or my shoulder unless he is ordered to. He has been through thick and thin with me and he has also saved many lives while with me", she said proudly.

Renee was outright breathing heavily now, the bubble still active and obviously affecting something around her, "So it's not hot..." She shook her head,"He's going to stay right there? Not fly near me?" She got an affirmation, then pressed the button to the side of the first she'd hit. The bubble vanished and a wave of palpable heat and carbon dioxide exuded from her location and she took a pair of deep breaths, "Not a forcefield." She got out between breaths, "Actual personal shield, like the ones that are around a starship. Can basically shrug off any sort of energy until it's equalled to the power available. Way better than forcefields, but one major drawback: It doesn't breathe. The air you have in the volume of the shield, is the air you have, oh and it keeps in heat, so your body keeps overheating." She stood back up straighter, "Particle shielding too, I can go over the whole physics and design behind it in detail at some other point if you like."

The human female took half a step towards T'Ponga again, eyes locked on the bird still, "But," She cleared her throat, "There's no need to have a talk with The Boss about me, as I said I've been standing the extra watches, but I'm more of a generalist and if anything, damage control specialist. I tend to think really quickly and creatively when required." She gave a hesitant smile, tracking her attention back and forth between T'onga and her bird, "But mostly, I'm a Research and Development engineer, complete with a Masters in Theoretical Engineering and the general trouble-shooter of some of the new tech we've been coming up with. I've definitely got a specialty, but I like toying around with just about anything and everything."

"Renee, you have nothing to fear from me. The chief is my boss and I am your boss", she said , smiling warmly. She was trying to ease Renee's apprehensive state. To prove her point of obedience by Bear, "Renee watch and don't be afraid", she said. Making a slight movement with her hand, Bear took off gracefully and flew just over where there was enough room to make a hairpin turn and return to his pad. Once back on the pad, he took his customary bow and nuzzled her cheek for the usual treat she always had for him. "See Renee, I told you he is a cool character", she said, handing him is treat.

Renee's hand flinched back towards the button again, but a force of will kept her from pushing it, "I'm neither afraid of you or him, I just don't want to get pooped on and no offense, but not gonna take your word on it. It's like the statistics of someone saying 'My dog doesn't bite.' Numbers show you're actually MORE likely to get bitten by that dog than if nothing was said in the first place." She gave a half shrug with her off-shoulder, "And strictly speaking, you're my supervisor? The Boss is my boss and well, I'm not really good with having a true boss-boss, my work is rather irregular in what I have to do with it after all."

"Not to worry Renee, I was Chief Engineer before I transferred from the Demon. I know the feeling and believe me, I do know what it feels like to have a new Assistant CEO looking over your shoulder. Been there and done that", she said, putting her hand gently on her back.


Renee edged away again, the bird, it was watching her and that could mean she was being sized up for a target. Eternal. Paranoia. "Dunno what that has to do with what I just said, buuuuuuuut, okie dokie lokie." Renee chuckled, taking her eyes off the bird for a few seconds, "Again, no offense, but I've been used to having Captains and Commanders looking over my shoulders during some of the real stressful times, so this ain't no thing, chicken wing. No, seriously, I have, even a Commodore on a couple occasions."

"I know the feeling. When I was an Ensign, my boss was always looking over my shoulder too. Made me uncomfortable as well. After a few months I grew accustomed to people looking at what I was doing and it felt good to have them there actually", she said, laughing slightly. "Well Renee if you would be so kind as to direct me in the general direction of where the Chief is, I will leave you to your work", she added.

“I never said I was uncomfortable, honey, just that I’m used to having them over my shoulder. No reason to be incomfortable around them, not if you’re good enough and you know you’re good enough.” Renee smiled softly, “But the Boss is where he hates to be, last I checked, his office. He’s an engineer’s engineer, loves to do what we do. Also, can’t miss him, blue, weasel looking, one cybernetic arm. Good guy, the Boss, but...” She gave a look to the bird again, “Well, he’ll be happy to have someone else experienced!”

"I am sure he will at that", she said smiling. "Well Renee I am sure you and I will be working together soon. Thanks for the chat and the directions to the chief", she said, as she turned and headed in the direction of the Chief's office.


OFF:


Lt. T'Ponga Shemara
Assist. Chief Engineering Officer
USS Wellington

Lt. Renee Salchin
Engineering Officer
USS Wellington