Fool's Errand

Posted on 02 Nov 2025 @ 2:19pm by Lieutenant JG Dezran Taalen

877 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Shakedown
Location: Jefferies tube - Deck 18
Timeline: Current

OOC - I know I'm too late for the challenge, but I thought I'd get this out for the fun of it.

:ON:

The hatch opened with a hiss, the Jefferies tube overhead stretching to the next deck in the distance. Dez climbed the rungs, squeezing through the opening. The tool kit strapped over his shoulder caught on the narrow passage, the strap digging into his skin as it pulled taught. Cursing under his breath, he maneuvered awkwardly passed the deck transition, allowing the hatch to close behind him.

"Sure. Head up to Sensor Maintenance, she says. Run some diagnostics, she says. Standard procedure—right. If this ain't hazin' the new guy..." his words fell short. The hatch below opened again without warning. Dez craned his neck to look back from where he'd climbed, seeing another officer emerge.

"Hello up there! Thought I lost you. You climb pretty quick for a big guy," said the Ensign, moving quickly up the ladder.

Dez looked up, cursing under his breath again. The power calibration sequencing he'd assigned Ensign Fallow should have taken more time—at least enough for him to have a greater lead up the tube. He made a mental note to not underestimate anyone else. He'd initially thought that his biggest challenge coming to the Cygnus would be proving himself to yet another new Captain, maybe the XO. Or perhaps the expressly logical Chief Engineer. That was bound to test his will. It was apparent to him now that his unspoken position as mentor and advocate to some of the more inexperienced officers was something he hadn't foreseen.

"So, sensor diagnostics," said Ensign Fallow, his voice reverberating down the tube and decaying in the distance.

Dez looked down at the Ensign who had now become too close for his comfort. He let the silence linger, hoping that the absurdity of the statement would become apparent. It did not.

"Yep," he responded simply.

"Fun. Never done one before. Not in the real world, at least. In the simulations back at the academy—"

Dez stopped listening. The sound of the Ensign's voice became little more than an echo—a dull and constant drone that was enough to be a source of annoyance, carrying nothing of value. He could tell that Fallow was excited, which only proved to further his aggravation. Stepping up the last few rungs, he positioned himself before the access panel. Flipping the outer latches open, the panel released with a hiss. Dez could feel the presence of the other officer below him, the story continuing despite his lack of interest.

Inside the access panel, the reflective interface blinked with multi-colored status indicators, chiming at regular intervals. Dez counted the cycle alerts, confirming functionality. He nodded to Fallow below, responding to the commentary with a well-placed grunt—just enough to encourage the continuation of his narration. He decided that Fallow monologuing was preferred to an interactive conversation.

Staring into his own reflection, Dez breathed evenly before mashing his fingers on the control interface. The console spit back its response, somewhat drowning out the sound of the other's voice. This was strategic—Dez went about his maintenance routine, hurriedly completing the diagnostic. He was just about to button the access panel up again, when the display began to blink rapidly—the colored indicators all turning red. The sound emanating transformed into an alarm that Dez knew too well.

"That...sounds bad," said Fallow from below.

Dez sighed, his eyes closing briefly. "Yeah. That ain't good," he said, replacing the hatch. "But we ain't gonna do anything about it from here."

"So, what now?" asked Fallow.

"Now," Dez said with a pause, "You are going back to Engineering and running a full diagnostic on the Sensor crossover relay. The Chief'll need to see it soon as you're done. Ya got it?" he asked.

Dez hadn't finished speaking when Ensign Fallow began climbing down the tube.

"Aye, Sir! I'm on it," he said, disappearing quickly beneath the hatch.

Dez breathed a sigh of relief as the hatch closed, leaving him alone in the tube. Removing the panel again, he tapped at the interface. The chime of the pressed buttons echoed like a symphony through the Jefferies tube, the harsh alarm soon returning to the evenly paced status indicator. With a crooked grin, he shook his head, replacing the panel and opening the hatch above.

As he climbed upward, he thought about the empty errand he'd sent Fallow on. It'll be good experience for the kid, he thought to himself, the sound of the hatch closing behind him with a hiss. It was a temporary reprieve. He'd work on his inter-personal relation skills later.

As he was about to cross over the next deck transition, he heard the sound of the previously fabricated alert below. It echoed with a shrill and bitter edge, filling the space. Maybe it was karma—or just an ill-timed glitch, Dez thought to himself.

Climbing back down the ladder, he found it ironic. "Looks like we'll be needing that crossover diagnostic after all," he said to the empty Jefferies Tube, releasing the latches and removing the panel once again.

:OFF:

Lt. JG Dezran Taalen
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Cygnus

 

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