LtCmdr Salkath - Step Into My Workshop

[Salkath]

((Main Engineering, Deck 15 - USS Artemis))

The lights flickered off in the distance of the main engineering space, where a few panels still did not have their EPS feeds calibrated. Salkath entered the anomaly to his mental list of tasks to be assigned. The list was understandably long; and longer by the moment. Each direction the engineer looked, there was more and more to add to the list. An endless list. If one were prone to fits of despairing ennui, it would overwhelm the senses and shut down the mind. However, if you had a dispassionate, analytical bent, all you did was catalogue each fault and place it in its hierarchy of importance on that mental list.

One item on that mental list sat higher than all else today. Normally, the Vulcan would consider that the needs of one crewmember, a personal request, would rank very low over tasks that would benefit many or all the members of the Artemis. Whether logical or not, however, this request from Ensign Gnai overrode that hierarchy. Salkath had a certain affinity for the Galadoran scientist, and if it weren't improper to say so due to the differences in their rank and roles, he would consider it a friend.

Salkath made sure he was present at the agreed-upon place and time, near the research alcove that he and Gnai had once tested the limits of it's now-destroyed suit. He was suitably impressed that it and its temporary carrier, Dr Sadar, was promptly on time as well.

Gnai: ::to both:: ~ Commander! Thank you for agreeing to this. ~

It was disconcerting for Salkath to hear the alien thoughts within his head, but not unpleasantly so. Like all Vulcans, Salkath had a measure of telepathy, though it took either intense training or a strong mental counterpart for one of his kind to have more than just basic touch telepathy. Due to its species' unique biological and societal background, Gnai was able to project well enough for the engineer to read its 'speech'.

Salkath: ::trying to project mentally as well as verbally:: It is my honor, as I have stated before, to assist in your request. 

Suitably vague, while giving side-eye to Sadar, Salkath tried to suppress his anticipation and, well, excitement in being able to assist Gnai. Side-eye, because he had made a solemn promise to Gnai to hold their dealings with it's suit in the strictest confidence, and he did not know how involved Gnai had made the doctor in that knowledge.

Gnai: ::to both:: ~ Thank you, also, Lieutenant Sadar. For getting me ::partial:: here. ~

Sadar: response

Gnai: ::to both:: ~ The suit wasn’t… able to be recovered from the saucer section of the Kitty Hawk. It was too damaged. ~

Alas, if only Salkath had access to the sensor readings taken at the time of destruction! The simulated non-destructive testing they had done together held, at best, only an approximation of the metallurgical and materials properties of the Galadoran engineering marvel which was Gnai's suit. and now it was lost to history. They would need to start nearly from scratch, with only Gnai's own knowledge and their base readings to work from. Not to mention the limited replication and materials resources aboard the Artemis after, well, after Frontier Day. Enough said. Eager to get to work, he looked dismissively to Sadar.

Salkath: You may hand me the ensign and be on your way, Doctor. ::sensing her hesitation, he responded haughtily:: I will take suitable care of it, rest assured. You are dismissed. Unless there are medical concerns?

Sadar: response

Gnai: response

((OOC: Yes, he's a jerk. No, not because I'm a jerk, I hope, haha! Expand as much or as little as you like to get out of the scene at your leisure, Michelle :D))

It was probably for the best that Salkath was useless at social cues, as it was certain he had trampled all over them in his hapless dismissal of the good doctor. However, he was much too preoccupied with the single-minded goal of starting on the planning of Gnai's new suit. He looked awkwardly into the strange containment unit that Gnai resided in currently, wondering how to start.

Salkath: How would you like to interact with this project? Can you function for any length of time outside an aquatic enclosure, or am I to be your only tool for physical manipulation during this process?

Gnai: response

The engineer stroked his chin in concentration. There was a hint of stubble upon it, yet another personal shortcoming precipitated by too much work and not enough hands nor time. He would have to seriously consider cleaning that up before it became a goatee. He didn't need the suspicions.

Salkath: Power is limited for, well, frivolous use, but we may be able to replicate an environment in the holographic bay here for you to function at your peak potential. I will need all the expertise you can provide for this project, and I would prefer you face as few constraints as we can muster.

Gnai: response

Salkath: Alright. We can make that so. But! Before we start, I want to be very clear that our first attempt will likely be a substandard suit, possibly only a temporary one at first. Resources are scant, and I want to ensure that both our expectations are suitably tempered. Is that fair?

Gnai: response

TAGS/TBC

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Lieutenant Commander Salkath

Engineer, USS Artemis-A

A239111MT0