LtCmdr Salkath feat. NPC Voor - The Most Important Repairs

[Salkath]

((Captain's Ready Room, Deck 1 - USS Artemis))

((Timeframe sometime before the captain's post "New Suit"))

There was always something zen about wearing a standard issue Starfeet EV suit. The subtle yet unmistakable hiss of atmosphere recycling, the echo of respiration within the helmet, and the almost inaudible hum of the grav boots all combined to provide a meditative environment. Lieutenant Commander Salkath, as an engineering specialist, did not receive very many opportunities to don an EV suit, but he savored those opportunities when they did arise.

Right now, he was just over the threshold of an emergency forcefield separating the atmosphere of half the captain's ready room and the bridge beyond from the second half of the room, explosively decompressed into space. Most of the cleanup in the interior had been completed, with the captain's consultation. Any personal effects she had stored in the room were mostly lost or irreparably damaged, though it was up to MacKenzie to make that determination. Once that was done, the work had started in earnest.

The Artemis was not a particularly old ship, but the Luna-class vessel had been around long enough that authorization was given to retrofit the ready room with enhancements now standard on newer vessels. As such, a complete gut job and full repair was on tap, and most of these enhancements were at the ready for implementation. All that was being waited upon was to seal the hull breach.

This was why Salkath found himself in an EV suit, standing within the ready room and staring through a hole in space at a workbee. Within was Crewman Voor, and Salkath could see that the Bolian technician was eating a sandwich. How he could manipulate the precise controls of the workbee and still balance the sandwich was beyond him. Perhaps the tomato slices and condiments smeared on the voluminous front of his uniform tunic proved he really couldn't.

In space, nobody can hear you sigh.

Salkath: =/\= Crewman Voor. I defended you once for consuming in public. I do not think I can condone it again. =/\=

Voor: ::muffled voice as he talked with a full mouth:: =/\= Not to worry Commander! I am in full control! Well, except for a bit of a tummy ache. Hopefully just nerves? I am ready when you are. =/\=

The Vulcan engineer had just completed a clean cut of the bulkhead and hull where the new viewport of the ready room would be. As per Captain MacKenzie's request, the viewport was 157% larger than the previous iteration, and this was made possible by the size of the hole made in the hull during the Frontier Day events. In the grasping pincers of the workbee was the new sheet of transparent aluminum that would be framed in the gap. Transparent aluminum was a precious commodity in the current climate of materials and energy scarcity, so Salkath was hoping Voor would treat it with appropriate reverence as he manipulated it.

In fact, there was such a scarcity that Salkath had already purloined some remnants of the previous viewport to use in a personal project. It was tethered outside on the hull, out of the way, ready to retrieve once this task was done.

Salkath: =/\= Alright, Crewman, bring the panel in, slowly and surely. =/\=

Once the viewport was put into place, Salkath would secure it from the interior of the ship while Voor would secure it from the exterior. It was a delicate operation, one usually conducted with the support of an entire space dock, but they would make do. 

Voor: =/\= It's awfully warm in here. Oh, sorry, sir, here she comes! =/\=

Salkath observed as the Bolian engineer maneuvered his small utility vessel in minute increments, bringing the transparent aluminum slowly towards its target. Despite his earlier reservations and the engineer's apparent distractions, the senior officer was mildly impressed with Voor's ability to operate the vessel (despite the sandwich and the possible hypochondria). With the required amount of precision, the panel slid into place with no excess friction. Micrometers of clearance were involved, and they were accommodated perfectly.

Salkath: =/\= Keep it in place while I secure it on my end, Crewman. =/\=

The Bolian did just so as Salkath ran his plasma welder, tacking the panel in place before sealing the inner bulkhead with trim plates standing by for the purpose. Once he was done on his end, he signalled Voor to do the same on his side of the hull. The specialized arms of the workbee, equipped with the necessary attachments, made short work of the job.

Voor: =/\= I think I'm done here, Commander. And I'm feeling quite faint - carbon monoxide poisoning, no doubt. Can I be excused to go visit Doctor Sadar? =/\=

Salkath: =/\= Are you certain it isn't just indigestion from that sandwich? Regardless, I believe you are finished. Just bring those scraps of transparent aluminum back to the shuttlebay with you, then you are excused to visit sickbay. =/\=

He watched the workbee fly away through the brand new viewport, rising a brow in Vulcan bemusement. Finally, it was time to pressure-test the room. The computer was ordered to equalize the pressure on both sides of the emergency bulkhead, as well as normalize the other environmental parameters. Salkath stood idly observing the viewport's welds while it complied.

Computer: Equalization complete. Integrity of the viewport and surrounding bulkhead 99.86 percent.

Salkath removed the helmet of his EV suit, wincing against the brace of cold as the temperature still worked to warm the room from the near absolute zero it had been just minutes before. The tang of ozone from the repair work still tinged the air.

Salkath: Computer, disengage emergency forcefield.

The subtle flickering glow in the periphery of his vision disappeared as the forcefield was dropped. He nodded in self-satisfaction, though there was still plenty of interior work to be done. After all, he had grown rather fond of the Artemis' first officer and would hate to see him airlocked because there was undue delay fixing the ready room...

END

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Lieutenant Commander Salkath

Engineer, USS Artemis-A

A239111MT0