JP - Ens. Conner Dewitt & Cmdr. Karrod Niac - Stoke The Forge PT1

[Tim]

((Main Promenade, Starbase 224))

Connor went over his requisition list for the building of the foundry one last time. It was split into two parts. The first contained parts that would be passed by Starfleet for a vessel like the USS Arrow. The second part contained two industrial size replicators and lab equipment for isolinear works. The kind of equipment Starfleet would at least ask questions about, but most likely not approve for a small ship like the Arrow.

The list looked complete. He had discussed almost everything with Keneth and was sure that this must be complete. With some taps against the back of the PADD he raised his glance to look for a certain Commander Karrod Niac of the USS Excalibur. A memo was issued to all Arrow officers that the requisition would be assisted by the Excalibur. A ship that seemed to be quite familiar to some of Connor's fellow crew mates.

The computer had given up the location of the Commander to be at an establishment named Tea-Hee-Hee. Connor caught himself being quite excited to be on the station. The Arrow was not the best place to be when it came to recreational activities. This was his first visit to a promenade deck in quite some time.

With slow steps he approached the part of the café that was on the promenade deck. Several small tables were arranged to invite guests to spend some time and order from the menu filled with different sorts of teas and baked goods. But that was not why Connor was here, although he had to admit that the smell was quite inviting. He spotted a yellow-shirted Trill in the rank of a Commander with broad shoulders and quite an impressive beard.

Connor felt his heart pounding in his throat. He felt doubt about the project, about what a Commander of another ship should think about it, about what light that might shed on him. The doubt tried to take over and tried to get him to return to his quarters. The voice of the greeter Gareth-6 returned to his mind.

Gareth-6-Echo: oO This is of your own mind! Oo

The young engineer nodded to himself, took a deep breath and approached the Trill he thought must be Commander Niac.

Dewitt: Commander Niac, Sir?

Looking across the top of his padd towards the voice, Karrod found a blond young Ensign standing at attention so rigid it made his own back ache.  He put down his copy of ‘Tall Ships and the Taller Captains Who Mastered Them’ and met the young mans gaze.  

Niac: That’s me, son.  Do us both a favor and take a breath before you crack a rib.  What can I do for you?  

Connor tried to smile to cover up his nervousness. This was the first time he wanted to ask a fellow Starfleet officer to bend the book a little.

Dewitt: I am Ensign Connor Dewitt, an Engineer aboard the USS Arrow. I believe you're helping to oversee the resupplying of the Arrow?

Karrod nodded, his attention shifting from the logistical matters of rope and sail to the logistical matters of antimatter and duranium sheeting.

Niac: Indeed I am.  Looking to add something to my ever growing list?  ::Karrod nodded towards the stack of padds loosely arranged on the small table.  It looked to have grown while he wasn’t paying attention::  At this point I’m starting to think I may as well just replicate a whole new ship.  

Connor had to laugh and was glad that Karrod was easing his tension. The young engineer pointed on the empty chair at Karrod's table.

Dewitt: May I?

Karrod pushed a few of the padds to the side and nodded in the affirmative.  He raised a hand and gestured towards one of the nearby servers.  

Niac: Of course.  Want something to eat?  Drink?  This place does a ulaberry tart that one of my past hosts claims is ‘nearly right.’  Trust me, from him that’s high praise.  

Dewitt:  ::smiling:: Sounds good. ::into the direction of the server:: I’ll also have a black tea. Something strong, please.

Karrod nodded to the server and asked for a refill of his own beverage, a strong mint tea.  When both men were sorted out and the waiter stepped away Karrod nodded towards the padd the Ensign was anxiously clutching.  

Niac:  So are you going to tell me what’s on that or are you going to make me guess?  

Dewitt:  ::looking down at his PADD:: Yes… right… ::recalling the words he had laid out for himself before coming here:: As you know, the Arrow is an old ship. We have a lot of systems that are outdated and need overhaul and little time in port. We decided to build a small foundry to be able to do basic works while being out in space. The engineering department could shift from just plugging holes to improving the ship.

Conner made a small pause as the waiter brought their food and beverages. Karrod sat back and listened as Ensign Dewitt laid out his request, questions forming in his head as he did so.  

Dewitt: ::into the direction of the waiter:: Thank you! ::returning to Karrod:: I’ve compiled a list of everything we need. I think most of it will be no challenge. But there might be an unofficial part at the bottom of the list. We would need two Mark XIV industrial replicators, the smallest size, as well as isolinear lab equipment.

Connor handed the PADD over to Karrod who took a moment to study it.

Niac:  Hmm..that’s a pretty big ask, Ensign.  I assume you’ve talked this over with your CO already?  Captain Shayne, right?  

Dewitt:  He’s seen the official part of the list and approved it. ::pause:: For the unofficial part… I hoped to get a source before bothering him or Commander Rodan with it.

Now that his PADD was gone, Connor did not really know what to do with his hands and started to eat the ulaberry tart. It tasted delicious and nothing like anything Connor had tasted before. The sweetness of the dough and the fruity freshness of the ulaberries.

Dewitt: This is delicious. Your previous host seemed to be a culinary wise man.

Karrod chuckled and inclined his tea cup in salute.  

Niac: First host was a master chef….something I used to think of as a wild and pointless anachronism.  I mean, I still do…but I have to admit the guy knew what he was doing in the kitchen.  

He smiled. The Commander had something calm and placid about him that Connor found soothing. Something he wanted to feel himself one day. Listening to the Commander’s answer it was only now that he got a grasp of what it must mean to a Trill to become joined and have this memory of several life times.

Dewitt: How can you tell whether it’s your memory or the one of a previous host?

He got a little embarrassed as that question came out of his mouth. He wished that he had bit his lip and not confronted somebody he just got to know and who he wanted to bend the rules with such a personal question.

Dewitt: I am sorry, if that …

Karrod hid a small smirk under his beard.  

Niac: To be honest, it’s not always that easy.  Normally Joined Trill get a whole bunch of training before they get their symbiote…in my case I got a week of rushed counseling and a bunch of holovids I still haven’t gotten all the way through.   

Dewitt: It must be a tremendous resource of experience and it must give some reassurance in the ups and downs of life. ::taking a sip of tea::

Karrod put his tea down and leaned back in thought.  His relationship with Niac had evolved since his rushed and mostly unplanned Joining but it had been a while since he’d really allowed himself time to introspect about it.  When he found an answer he realized it wasn’t as cut and dry as he expected.  

TBC!

============================

Ens. Connor Dewitt

Engineer

USS Arrow

A239901CD3

&

Commander Karrod Niac

Chief of Operations

USS Excalibur - NCC-41903-A

Commodore Kali Nicholotti, Commanding

V239509GT0