Full Gravity of the Situation

Posted on 26 May 2025 @ 1:28pm by Captain Bane Plase & Lieutenant T'Lara Ahmad

1,641 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The Festival of Unity
Location: Main Engineering
Timeline: Two days after "Healing"

ON
Main Engineering
USS Cygnus

Plase stepped off the last rung of the ladder and turned around, pulling down on his tunic and letting out a huff at the same time. It had been a while, a long while, since he had climbed ladders, and even longer since he had done so many. He looked down at his body and probably for the first time, realized he was starting to sport a bit of a gut. He had never been a big man -- the Occupation had assured him of that, but he had also never had to worry about being overweight. He made a mental note to visit with Doctor Winters and ask her about a reference to a nutritionist and a personal trainer to get his pudgy self back in order.

The Captain stepped through the doorway from the Jeffries Tube access and into Main Engineering. Cables, tubes, conduits and wires went to and fro, a spaghetti-like logic to it. While Plase had been in command (including being Executive Officer) far longer than he was an active Engineer, he still felt the pull of the engines, components, systems and networks. Sometimes he missed it down in the belly of these great beasts that were called ships. But, as someone once told him, his place was on the Bridge of a Starship. He couldn't argue with that person.

Looking around, he spotted his prey and began towards her. She had not seen him approaching, so when he was within an a few feet, he greeted her.

T'Lara's head shot up when the sudden voice of the CO was directed at her. Since her injury, her ability to focus on a number of things at once had been significantly impacted. A lot had changed in her mind after the damage inflicted...medical had cleared her, but she had not felt normal or right since regaining consciousness. It was quite dissatisfying to be caught so unawares. "Captain. How may I assist you?"

Bane caught her by surprise. "Sorry, Lieutenant, i did not mean to scare you. I came down to see how repairs and refits were going. Do you have time to sit with me and go over everything?"

"I...Yes. Of course, Captain. I would offer my office, but it is currently...under construction. The 'pool table' has been reinstalled, and might prove to be a better environment to converse in given the seating there." She extended her hand in a gesture for him to proceed. Vulcan 'subtlety' was yet again on display.

The Captain's first reaction to sitting at the new pool table was to reject the idea, but Bane thought better of it. It may do some good to have the Engineering and Yard teams seeing the Captain of the vessel deep in the workings of the ship, attempting to do his part. At the very least, it couldn't hurt. The worst that would happen would be some junior enlisted seeing such a high ranking officer in their comfort zone and pausing for a moment, not sure what to do, but Bane knew they would soon get over it and go about their business as usual. So, Bane followed the Chief Engineers direction and stepped over to the new pool table and sat. She sat directly across from them. As it turned out, being out here benefitted the conversation greatly, since Bane could see and touch and reference whatever Ahmad was going over with him.

"I want to know everything from stem to stern. Progress, prognosis, repairs, replacements, upgrades. The whole smash. I was thinking we could dissect the ship into quadrants so as to ensure we discuss all systems and components."

That...that was a lot of data to convey. Had he not been reading the daily updates? T'Lara began to mentally compile the information he requested in her mind.

"Repairs are ongoing; timeline for completion is still on track. I have received the same updates that you have sir...but my active presence in the repairs have not been requested...nor desired, if I am quite candid..."

T'Lara looked thoughtful, but she continued. "Sensors are being replaced, stem to stern; a new deflector dish should be operational within the week's end. Communications are also being completely overhauled - the power fluctuations from loss of warp core and EPS overload has terminally damaged most of the comm hubs. Nacelle replacement is ongoing; I have not been able to visually inspect anything...I have been relegated to my office...but I did get the carpeting ripped up. There might have been an unfortunate replicator accident necessitating its replacement."

For a moment, Bane sat there processing the last thing she said, curious how it fit in with all the other major repairs to the ship. The slow realization that she had slid in a joke on him made him laugh as much as the joke did. "You got me there, T'Lara," Bane said, wiping his eye. "What about the new warp core. I hear it is a class XXIII? Isn't that one way over-powered for a Nebula-class starship?"

"Sir...I do not believe you understand the entire scope of the ongoing repairs. Given the extensive structural damage from the explosion, someone decided to structurally upgrade Cygnus' infrastructure to accommodate the class XXIII." She was rather nonplussed over the whole thing. Decisions were being made about her ship that T'Lara did not find overly agreeable.

She was right; Bane didn't realize the entire scope of the situation. This upgrade was something Captain Bane had explicitly told Commodore Xaeralan he didn't want. "Uh, how far along into that process are we? You know what," he said, waving his hand dismissively, "It doesn't even matter. Even if they are one day into it, it would be too far to back out now. I tell you, Lieutenant, apparently I am out of the loop on the upgrades and repairs too. Ok, so we will have an overpowered warp core. What else are they doing to our ship? Tell me they are upgrading the structural integrity field and inertial dampeners, too."

"They are upgrading the structural integrity field and inertial dampeners too." T'Lara replied, giving her response exactly as he had 'demanded.' "Captain...there is something else. I am not 'rated' to maintain this class of warp core." T'Lara reached into one of the many 'secret' pockets her utility jumpsuit housed and handed him a small personal PADD. "I have supplied a number of qualified engineers and their credentials for your review." It was not agreeable to do so, but logic dictated that Cygnus should be equipped with qualified personnel...Although still conflicted given the loss of her recent memories, the thought of leaving her ship was less than ideal. Her future rested--quite literally--in Bane's hands.

He took the PADD that she had all but pulled out from nowhere and read it. "Hmm....ohh....yeah...uh huh," he muttered as he read it. He then tapped on it a few times, then handed it back. "Looks like an Engineering Extension Course is in your immediate future." The screen displayed a warp theory and application course. A ghost image of Starfleet Academy appeared behind it." With your memory being Brecht cheese, you may have forgotten this is a thing, and that further education from S.E.S. is required for all command officers and department heads."

T'Lara took the padd back from Bane and looked down at the highlighted course he had brought up. It would definitely give her something to do; as the competencies for this newer warp core were rather comprehensive...but it could keep her from having to 'relax.' It was an acceptable compromise. "I would still keep that padd, sir. There are a lot of requirements to satisfy; and our time here is limited. I will endeavor to complete the courses by the time we are ready to depart from starbase, sir."

"Please do," Bane responded. "Don't worry about the training and quals. We all have to go through retraining and certifications all the time. Stafleet knows this. They won't pull you from this assignment, so long as you are making strides to keep up to date. I have nothing but faith in you."

T'Lara did not feel confident enough to verbally remind the captain that to become rated for different Warp engines took more than just...reading a few padds.

It did not matter, ultimately. Bane had given his orders; she would become rated for the Class XXIII warp core. Her eyes sparkled in otherwise unexpressed bemusement. Commander Bast had strong-armed her into going down to the surface, but this was a most serendipitous development. "So noted, captain. It will provide me with something meaningful to do while planet-side."

Plase nodded. "Good, good." He changed track. "Any update on when the new Pod will be delivered?" He had been dismayed when he had learned the pod that had been brought back (albeit torn away) was a total loss.

"I have not been specifically told. I believe the words that were used were, 'We have everything in hand, and are currently on track to complete all repairs by the deadline.' They too recommended I go to the surface to 'relax.'"

Bane had to laugh, in spite of himself. "You know, that's good advice. Guess we can put all this on hold until further notice," he said, referring to anything resembling work. "Guess I'll see you down there?"

Her tone held a resignation that could not be concealed. "I have been given my orders, sir. I will comply."

Plase shook his head with mild humor, leaving her office and heading out.

OFF

A JP by

Lieutenant T'Lara
Chief Engineer

And

Bane Plase, Captain
USS Cygnus, Commanding
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