From: Ranjani Sabarinathan (rantrek_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Sun Feb 03 2008 - 22:37:09 PST
“New Responsibilities”
(contd from Shawn’s ‘Spark Plugs’)
Location: GS-2
SD: 2.80203.1257
Scene: Main Engineering
Kathryn MacNeil sighed as she stepped off the turbo lift. For the last few hours, the former doctor was occupied with reviewing the academy’s basic engineering materials. Towards the end of the study period, the Scot felt a pounding headache and that was when she had decided to stop. **How is this going to work? ** Kate thought, dismally as she looked for Lt. Crichton.
When the half-Nuimon first joined the academy, she had wanted to major in science, focusing on Archaeology and other subjects that dealt more with the biological and medical side of things as opposed to Engineering. So during her first year, the Scot never took any particular interest in the required physics and engineering courses. Kate remembered she was unable to wrap her head around warp theory or subspace geometry. It had been a long time since the tall woman had been exposed to any form of engineering, barring nanotechnology a course she took as part of her Genetics specialty requirements.
She spotted Crichton, approaching her looking slightly worn out. “There you are,” the young chief engineer greeted with a wry smile. “Did you study up on the basics?” Jake inquired, grinning as he stood in front of the tall woman.
The Ops officer nodded, feeling pretty nervous. “Yes I did.”
“Okay,” Jake waved, motioning her to follow him to one of the empty stations in the area.
Crichton explained as they reached the console. “You will take a 20 minute aptitude test here at this station.” He motioned for the auburn haired woman to take a seat and activated the screen to reveal a set of questions with four possible answers. “And like you’ve wanted, it’s a multiple choice test.”
**How am I going to finish all this in 20 minutes? ** Kate panicked, her eyes growing wide. The half-Nuimon felt her mind go blank all of a sudden like how a lot of students generally would minutes before taking an exam. There were a total of fifty questions.
The station’s CEO informed. “I have to do some work on the cargo freighter that will be our transport to ANDARA.” Grinning, he then added. “I should be back in twenty minutes.”
After the engineer left, the Scottish woman heaved out a huge sigh. “Oh well, I will just have to do my best.”
--------------------------
TI: 20 minutes later
The computer beeped that the time was up. Kate tilted her head slightly downwards and took in a deep breath. Cold sweat flowed from her auburn head and the half-Nuimon’s heart was racing. “Oh well,” MacNeil said to herself, feeling a bit relieved. “At least it’s done.”
Crichton announced, creeping up behind her. “Let’s see how you did.”
The Nuimon hybrid, eyes changing colour from hazel to blue, gulped and moved aside to allow the engineer to take a look at the screen. She watched Jake study the results intently for the next few minutes.
“Hmm…” Jake mused before informing with a dry chuckle. “Not bad for someone whose experience in Engineering is only through having taken basic courses at the academy.”
Kate wasn’t sure how to react to the engineer’s remark. “If only I had more time to prepare.”
Crichton pointed out. “Unfortunately time is not on our side at the moment.”
“That’s true,” the former doctor sighed. “What next? The training sim?”
“Yes.” Jake confirmed. “The simulation should go for a few minutes just to get an idea of where your strengths and weaknesses are in Engineering and your training curriculum will be designed based on those results.”
**I seem to have more weaknesses than strengths here, ** Kate thought, glumly.
“From what I gathered from the written portion, you have a knack for remembering information well,” Jake observed.
Kate quipped, good-naturedly. “Well, I did train to be a doctor.”
Crichton further added, without responding to the other officer’s comment. “Tomorrow morning, I will provide you files containing information, pertaining to the away mission.”
“Understood,” MacNeil acknowledged.
--------------------------
Scene: ExO’s Office
TI: After Katrina’s last post ‘Freeze Out’
Kathryn had accepted Eishnala sh’Kor’s offer of tea and the pair were currently seated in the Andorian woman’s office. The Scot, sipping from her cup of hot, steaming, Earl Grey tea, felt extremely grateful for Commander Kor’s actions regarding dealing with Crewman Moya Neeson’s attempt at insubordination. However she was worried there were others in her department who would harbor resentment over her unfortunate slip up of Daisy’s AOG7 genes.
“Thank you for what you did back there,” MacNeil stated, politely.
Kor shook her head, antennae wiggling slightly. “No thanks are necessary. Crewman Neeson and everyone else here needed to be reminded of their duty as Starfleet personnel.” She took a sip from her cup and pointed to a tray of scones, offering with a tiny smile. “Please, have some.”
Kate nodded her thanks as she picked up a scone and added a layer of butter on top of it. Eishnala observed the half-Nuimon and noted the Ops officer’s personality seemed more subdued than from what she read in her bio. Normally, Kate was a very outgoing and cheerful woman, who also understood the meaning of professionalism very well. Perhaps the Scot was yet to get familiar with her new circumstances and the Andorian woman felt the new chief of operations needed help in that regard.
Eishnala lifted her cup and mentioned, calmly. “The civilians are having a difficult time rebuilding their holdings in the promenade. Many of them are struggling financially with their businesses. Some have decided not to reopen at all.”
“It’s tough times for all of us with the war happening,” MacNeil remarked, sadly as she took another sip. “The promenade is supposed to be one of the liveliest places on this station.”
The Andorian pointed out. “It still is, just not like it was during peacetime.”
“Black markets could be on the rise, if a lot of legitimate businesses shut down due to this war,” the Nuimon hybrid observed.
“Something we must prevent,” the ExO declared, promptly.
Kate questioned. “How?”
Kor brought up after pondering for a moment. “Various charity organizations from all over the Federation have arrived at this station, wanting to provide assistance to those civilian families who lost loved ones in the last battle and are having difficulties reestablishing their lives. Each organization works in different ways.” She paused, glancing quickly at the list of the different charity establishments on a PADD. “There is one charity that caught my eye.”
“Which one?” The Ops officer inquired, curiously.
“This charity is called ‘Rebuilding Life on the Promenade’ and works on helping those struggling financially to rebuild their establishments on the promenade,” Eishnala explained. “In fact the organizers want to meet me to have a discussion on finding a way to get their message across to all inhabitants of the station to see if they could get donations and volunteers to help with the organization.”
Kate commented, smiling for the first time in the day. “That sounds like a good cause.”
“I’m glad you think so, Commander,” the Andorian ExO stated, sounding pleased. “In fact, I would like you to join me in this meeting.”
MacNeil seemed a little surprised at Eishnala’s offer and questioned. “Really? You want me there?”
“Yes,” the other woman nodded.
Kate smiled. “Alright, I can make it.” Keeping the empty cup on the desk, the Scot inquired. “When is the meeting?”
“The individual running the organization should be here in ten minutes,” Eishnala informed.
************************************************************************
NRPG: Just showing how Kate’s managing as Ops officer ;) I’ll write more another time.
Ranjani Sabarinathan
Speaking for...
[/\]o..
Lieutenant Commander Kathryn MacNeil, MD
Chief Operations Officer
GATEWAY STATION- 2
and
[/\]....
Captain Anaqueen Spankryz
Commanding Officer
USS COMMENDATION, NCC-10021 (Non RP ship)
---------------------------------
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