Something Unconventional
Posted on Mon Jun 19th, 2017 @ 5:35pm by Vice Admiral Diana Francsizka & Commander Leah Sullivan & Lieutenant Tepic & Ensign Kutek Purs
Edited on on Tue Jun 20th, 2017 @ 10:55am
Mission:
Overhaul
Location: USS Protean - SB 343
Japori Sector
Starbase 343
USS Protean - Engineering
Fifteen Days After Arrival at 343
Work on the refit of the Protean had commenced the day after the ship arrived at Starbase 343. Admiral Francsizka had put a priority on the Protean which required four engineering teams from 343, in addition to the engineering staff from the Protean, to begin work immediately on the two big changes to the ship. The first would be an upgrade in the phaser arrays, adding six more arrays for a total of twelve Type IX, and adding one Type X pulse phaser array. The other is an upgraded M/ARA propulsion system which would upgrade the normal cruising speed from Warp 6 to Warp 8, maximum cruise upgraded to Warp 9, and a maximum rated Warp speed of 9.92 for twenty-four hours.
Making the Protean a Nova variant reclassified her as a Scout/Escort which meant she had all of her standard survey ship duties in addition to providing a multi-mission mobile platform for a wide range of scientific and explorative research, and diplomatic projects, as well as providing autonomous capability for full execution of Federation defensive, cultural, scientific, and explorative policy in deep space or border territory. Because of the expanded abilities of the ship, the Nova variant's new role as a deep space explorer, and partly due to the unorthodox success of the Obroran first contact, Starfleet had also opted to add a small diplomatic unit to the ship's roster.
"A diplomatic unit? On Protean?"
"That is correct, Ensign Purs." Lieutenant (j.g.) Tepic had noticed how seemingly agitated his Asst. Chief, Ensign Kutek Purs, had been all day. Purs was almost always in a perpetual state of being 'wound up' and Tepic usually paid no mind to his Ferengi assistant. But today he'd been even less tolerable than usual. "Do you disagree with Starfleet's assignment?"
Both Tepic and Kutek had been in engineering sections and Jeffries Tubes on deck 4 working on the EPS nodes and the dorsal main phaser emitters their entire shift. Despite his shorter stature, Kutek always complained when they had to crawl around in the enclosed spaces. "What do I know? I'm just an ensign. But it seems a waste to me. We're a survey ship. What do we need with diplomatic officers running around taking up more space?"
"As you know, Ensign," Tepic spoke calmly, "this refit reclassifies our ship. We are now on a scout/escort ship, no longer just a survey ship. That means that we may have more opportunities to make contact with other races and require the services of diplomatic officers." He paused, looking at the location indicator on the Jeffries Tube. "Two sections down and take a left."
Had Kutek been on a Ferengi ship, a thought that made him shudder, he would have kicked Tepic squarely in the face. He knew full well where they were going--it wasn't like they were on a Galaxy class! And that was the whole point of Kuetk going first, because he told Tepic he knew where they were going. Yet the Vulcan had mastered the art of being 'Captain Obvious' for many things.
Continuing in silence until they reached their destination, Kutek removed two panels from the bulkhead and checked that the power to the phaser emitters had been cut off before pulling conduits and EPS nodes that needed to be replaced. Tepic, who had been slugging a large case of replacement parts with him, began unloading and setting the new parts aside.
"So," Ensign Purs continued, "do you think we'll be doing more exciting things other than just surveying planets?"
"It would be irrational to speculate on what we would or would not do in the future, Ensign," Tepic said as he began replacing an EPS node. "I can no more tell the future than you. However, due to our overall mission type being changed, it would be acceptable to state that there is...probability that the ship would engage in something you would deem exciting. I prefer to dwell on our present duties. Please hand me the sonic driver and an isolinear spanner."
Tepic turned to see that Kutek was already holding them up to be taken. "Thank you, Ensign."
Two hours later, the two were finished with this section and were heading back to Engineering on deck 7 to resupply and go almost back to the same spot, just another section down, to work on the central main phaser emitters. Kutek grumbled the entire time wondering why they had to take the transporters off-line during this time. Beaming the parts and tools necessary for their task would have saved them quite a bit of time. Tepic, on the other hand, coolly reminded him that the transporters were down for general maintenance and would be out for two more days. Kutek knew the answer, but it didn't keep him from complaining.
Deck 1 - Captain's Ready Room
Leah had been slowly redecorating the ready room, still feeling somewhat grim in removing Dwight's personal items, or at least the ones that still remained. She had been in contact with Dwight's wife, Edith, regarding her husband's personal effects soon after his death. She only wanted images and very specific items to be sent home, everything else could stay with the ship, if Leah wanted them, or they could be recycled at a replimat. This left the room littered with ship statues, some random paintings, and a few other decorations that Dwight had found to decorate his office with. Instead of just making them all disappear, however, Leah decided on keeping two items: the bronzed statue of the Nova class ship and a painting of a nebula that had hung by the door. She decided to allow the senior staff an opportunity to take any items they wanted with Edith's blessing.
As she pulled the painting down so she could move it to another wall, her console chimed an incoming message.
It took her a few moments to gt the painting down so she didn't damage it, and then back to her desk. When she activated the viewer, she was greeted by Admiral Francsizka.
"Leah, dear, did I catch you at a bad time? I was beginning to think they'd sent me to the wrong room."
"Sorry, Admiral," Leah said, wiping a strand of hair from her face. "I was in the middle of redecorating and in a somewhat precarious position. What can I help you with?"
"You're finally getting around to redecorating? Oh, that's wonderful! I know it must be hard for you, having been so close to Commander Clayton, but you really must try to make the ship your own now. But enough of that, down to business." Diana tapped a few commands into her own console. "I've just sent you the file on your first officer, a Lieutenant Commander Gwilym Bevan. He's coming from the USS Gryphon serving as their chief tactical and security officer for six years, so he's familiar with smaller ship tactics. He was also something of a star during his Academy years, much like you."
Leah had to access the Federation database to find the Gryphon. "An Akira class. Smallish, I guess. Still over double the size of a Nova."
"Hmm, yes," Diana replied, "but that was while serving as a department head. Now he'll be first officer and this is a good fit for his talents."
"I trust your judgment, Admiral."
With a laugh, Diana smiled at the monitor. "Oh, you beautiful, naïve young lady. While I do happen to know what I'm doing, don't be so quick to trust anyone's judgment, even mine. And don't worry, I'll remember this conversation just in case you feel the need to politely question me in the future."
That comment made Leah chuckle. "Yes, ma'am."
"So, he arrives in two days. He is to report to you immediately and what you do with him after that is up to you. Any questions?"
Leah had questions, like the mystery of the Admiral and the Master Chief, which still had yet to have been addressed, but that was likely better queried at a later time. And then there was the question of why the admiral was so familiar with Leah, but she actually kind of liked it. It also may have been that out of the ten ships in Admiral Francsizka's task force, only one of the ships was commanded by a woman, so maybe the admiral was just happy to have another female in charge around here.
"No questions."
Diana nodded. "I also see that the refit is going smoothly. I have to say having your crew working so closely with the base's engineers has helped immensely. It might be because they know the ship so intimately, being only seven decks, or you just have a particularly bright crew."
"I actually hope it's both, Admiral. I guess I'll find that out for myself soon."
"That you will." Diana opened her mouth as if she had something to say, but closed her mouth in a change of mind.
"Anything else, ma'am?"
"No, my dear. Oh! There is," she added with a chuckle. "While I appreciate you submitting the names of crew members you'd like to promote, you don't actually have to do that as long as they meet the standard criteria--well, or during exigent circumstances. Anyway, if you still want my input, I approve of the list. And you've made some good choices as well."
"Noted, and thank you."
"And how about dinner tomorrow night? Informal, my quarters. Just some girl talk and some wine."
"Uh...I--"
"Listen, Leah, you still seem to be struggling a bit with your new position. I'm not trying to cast some hoodoo spell over you and, yes, I know it's a bit odd to dine in with admiralty like this, but this is my task force and I do things the way I want--usually unconventionally. I just want you to feel a little more confident in this new undertaking. If that means throwing some tips your way, I'm all for it. I've captained my share of ships too, you know. I know a thing or two." She smiled.
"I'll be there."
"Good! I'll message you the time. See you then." The screen went blank.
Leah looked at the blank screen a few more moments before getting up. Admiral Francsizka was right, it was a bit odd and she was struggling with the new position. But she did like having Francsizka as her boss. She was very unconventional.
Diana, on the other hand, sat back in her chair and sighed. "That woman has so much promise, she just doesn't see it yet," she said, speaking only to herself. "And is she ever going to stop calling me ma'am and Admiral?"
