Quid Pro Quo Pt1
Posted on Mon Apr 23, 2018 @ 1:59pm by Lieutenant Marisa Cheshire & Lieutenant Venus Quinnell
Mission:
Falling Star
Location: Officers Quarters
Timeline: MD 33 || 19:00
In the darkness a creature roused from its slumber, huddled up in a ball upon a bed, wrapped up in a blanked which shone an iridescent silver. A weary groan emanated and the blanket writhed as though it was alive. A pale arm jutted out from the bottom and began pawing at the bedside table, retracting when it's slender digits had contacted a PADD, drawing the device in.
Inside the Marisa's protective blanket carapace she activated the device and was, for a moment blinded by the light come from the screen. She squinted as she attempted to make out the time on her lock screen. After longer than she'd care to admit she made out the digits 19:04.
With a sigh she cast off the blanket and lay on her back for a moment with a frustrated sigh. She was still tired, but after the few months as CAG her body had picked up its rhythm. Now she couldn't simply sleep through the middle of the day in preparation for a night patrol.
Again she rolled over and pawed at her bedside table for her combadge. After the deck crew had pride her from her cockpit she'd only asked for the status of her staff before hitting the showers. Once it was in her hand she brought it to her face and activated it with a click.
"Cheshire to flight deck. What's the situation down there?" She asked with a yawn.
=^=This is Petty Officer Marigon, sir. We're mostly code one with the normal round of malfunctions.=^= a voice came back.
"So you're twiddling your thumbs is what you're saying?" Marisa replied with a slightly sadistic smirk.
=^=I-I wouldn't say that.=^= The petty officer replied hesitantly =^=We've still got routine maintenance to keep us occupied.=^=
"I wouldn't begrudge you if you were." Marisa replied with a teasing inflection "Carry on chief."
=^=Aye aye sir.=^=
Marisa placed her badge down and pursed her lips wondering what to do for the next few hours, until her body was ready to rest in Ernest. She slid out of bed and went for a duffle bag, grabbing some gym gear. As she donned her clothing she considered calling Jacob for a session, an idea that she quickly forced out of her mind when she remembered the aftermath of the last session. With the ship at yellow alert she wanted to be able to walk if they were attacked again.
***
She made her way to the gym at a light jogging pace dressed in a black sports bra and yoga pants. They had a pattern of teal lines fanning across the bust and thighs. Over that she wore an unzipped black and red hooded jacket with the Star Fighter Corps logo on the back. She had to dodge other crew members as she pushed through the corridors, each of them walking as if they had somewhere urgent to be. The ship had just been in combat after all.
She didn't think much of it until she noticed a pair of engineers with their head stuck into a burnt out panel. She slowed down and watched them for a moment as she recalled her conversation with the Crew Chief only moments ago. She then walked over to the nearby wall console and pulled up an over view status of the ship.
Finally, with a face full of intrigue she logged out of the console and tapped her com badge. "Lieutenant Quinnell. This is Lieutenant Marisa Cheshire. I know you're probably working overtime but I was wondering if you could spare a moment?"
***
[Main Engineering]
Venus had been surviving on coffee since the initial battle five hours ago. Almost her entire staff were working overtime dealing with an assortment of issues that covered nearly every deck of the ship. It was a nightmare for her first day on the job but she was doing her best to keep it all together.
The repair teams were giving her timely reports and if they ran into a snafu - twelve such teams had so far - she would think of a work around to deal with the problem. She was not above taking advice from her senior staff since the workload was so colossal but she would still have the last word. Her section chiefs were having to get use to that right off the top.
She had to shove the doubt that she had bitten off more than she could chew. Her last starship assignment was as assistant chief engineer on an Excelsior class, a relic that reminded her of her days working in her garage on Nimbus III. Jury rigging became a specialty. The Odyssey class was 100 times more advanced, the tip of an engineering renaissance that she may not have been qualified for.
No, she had worked hard to get to this point. The Triumphant was not going to break her. "Own the space." She whispered again as if it had become her own life motto. Stress was not going to get less with her current assignment and the situation now was an omen.
What brought her out of her spiral was the comm from an officer she was not yet familiar with. Well at least it wasn't the Commodore or the XO demanding updates.
She tapped her combadge after she took a deep breath of calm and collectiveness. =/\= Quinnell here, Lieutenant. What can I do for you? =/\=
=^=Actually, I'm calling because I might be able to do something for you.=^= Marisa replied with a warm, curious cadence =^=My wing didn't take too much damage in the last battle and my Crew Chief tells me we're mostly squared away. Which means I've got a flight deck full of engineering specialists doing busy work.=^=
Venus paused a moment. Utilizing the fighter wing maintenance personnel was sensible considering the workload her own staff had been saddled with. =/\= Lieutenant Cheshire, I accept your assistance as we do have a great deal of repairs. I can have a list of reparations your people can do for us sent to the Flight Deck.=/\= She was multitasking as she stood in front of a console coordinating her work detail as updates came in or new problems developed.
The Chief Engineer noticed the other's accent. As if her mind needed to wander a moment to remain sane.
=^=Oof, and you haven't even heard what I wanted in exchange.=^= Marisa replied with an entertained inflection, though underneath her sadistic amusement there was a hint of sympathy. =^=It's not as simple as that.=^= Marisa continued. =^=In theory the Triumphant is just a bigger ship than what they normally deal with, but I'd assume there are significant differences. It might be better to embed them in your existing teams. Which means we're going to have to sit down for a bit and hammer out the details.=^=
Another pause as Venus took in the request. Nothing was ever easy. =/\= I see, Lieutenant.=/\= The Chief Engineer glanced at a PADD from a subordinate, nodded then continued. =/\= Embedding is not required...however if you feel this is necessary then I will obliged. When would be a good time to meet?=/\=
As she waited for a response, motioned to yet another of her staff. "Inform Lieutenant Gefel I need him in Engineering to oversee operations soon."
=^=I'm free now as a matter of fact.=^= The CAG said pleasantly =^=If you can manage to pull yourself away from the repairs for about half an hour I'm make it worth your while.=^=
Venus glanced around the ordered chaos of her fiefdom. If meeting Cheshire acquired more hands then a thirty minute reprieve would be time well spent. =/\= Very well. I can manage to relieve myself from Engineering for thirty minutes. Where would you like to meet to discuss your ideas? =/\= She was hesitate to leave as if her subordinates would make matters worse but accepted the need for it as part and parcel of her responsibilities.
=^=Well I'm getting peckish but the arboretum might be a bit busy for a working dinner. How about the officer's mess on deck 16?=^=
Venus nodded even though it would not have been noticeable over the comm. =/\= Alright, Lieutenant, I will meet you in the Officer's Mess. I hope this arrangement you are suggesting will be beneficial for both our departments. =/\= She didn't quite come out and say specifically for Engineering but it was implied.
=^=I'll make no promises, but it should do.=^= Marisa replied cheerfully. =^=Just keep an eye out for a blonde sheila in a black and red jacket. I'll try and grab a table near the window.=^=
