LtCmdr Salkath - Interlude

[Salkath]

((Sensor Pod - USS Artemis))

There were different forms of relaxation; to each their own. Salkath had several forms of relaxation himself. Like most of the officers who had returned from the pre-warp planet's surface, his first form of relaxation had been a luxuriously long sonic shower. Meditation was the next, and that as well would be one enjoyed by many.

After this, the Vulcan's idea of relaxation probably started to diverge from the mean. Engineering logs aboard the ship in his absence to catch up on. Checking on Starfleet technical bulletins. Participating in the repairs of sensor systems he had assisted in breaking during the previous mission, the task he was currently involved in. You know, wildly interesting Vulcan engineer stuff.

The one thing he would have preferred over all else to do was to conduct forensic analyses on the Tritorian wreckage strewed over several cargo bays and part of a shuttle bay. Yet, this was one thing he was not allowed to do. The wreckage was quarantined for authorized personnel only, ostensibly to protect any evidence of piracy or criminality that the ship and its crew might have been involved in. Once they returned to DS224, the wreckage would be transferred to the outpost for further analysis. 

Perhaps, if Salkath had a complimentary specialty, or had minored in security or intelligence in the Academy, he might have been given clearance to pre-examine the evidence. As it was, it would have to tempt and taunt him from near until it could be transferred over to their home base of operations.

Salkath wrenched on the valve fitting of this EPS tap that was proving problematic, stress warps and wends from their over-juicing of the sensor pallets the root cause. It was a good distraction to be busy, only for the last hour or two remaining until they docked at base and more options for relaxation opened up. Besides the temptation of the pieces of the Tritorian, Salkath had also received a cryptic (for them) message from his parents, advising that they were scheduling a visual call with him for a couple days hence. Such was not common behavior for them; normally it was an attempt to call 'in the moment', so it portended news of note that they would make arrangements in advance. The dual distractions of familial obligations and inspectus interruptus meant that Salkath needed whatever relaxation he could get.

The sensors would be available for tinkering now and throughout shore leave, so for now Salkath would put down his wrench and retire. With docking at DS224 nearing, he wanted to be ready to perhaps conduct some exploratory sorties on the base. New forms of relaxation were occasionally welcome, after all.

END

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Lieutenant Commander Salkath

Engineer, USS Artemis-A

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