Ensign Talon Morda: The most pressing question for bridge duty
Eston Melton
(( Bridge, Deck 1, USS Khitomer ))
Morda: Thomas, how’re you doing?
Melville-Kilpatrick: Just about got it--making sure nothing interferes with it.
Dewitt: ::a small nod:: Good, Ensign Melville-Kilpatrick. Take the time you need. A clean lock is worth the time.
Melville-Kilpatrick: How's it going with the tractor?
Its rotation arrested, the beam now pulled the craft in an inward semi-spiral that would shift it from below the ventral hull, behind the stern, and up to the shuttlebay. The yardmaster, with a bit less freneticism, commed that a recovery crew for the cargo and an engineering team for the craft would both arrive in about 10 minutes.
Morda: Smooth, but monitoring. Shuttlebay tractor's ready for a handoff, and it should be in our hold in about five minutes. Starbase teams will be here five minutes later for recovery.
He caught a series of taps and slides on Melville-Kilpatrick’s console before he spoke again, sounding relieved and satisfied.
Melville-Kilpatrick: Alright...::concentrating:: Got it. Should be in...now!
Nice. One down.
Dewitt: Good work, both of you!
Morda: Thank you, sir.
Melville-Kilpatrick: I wouldn't call it just yet. What's the status of the hazmat now?
Good catch, that. He hadn’t reported out on the biohazard.
Dewitt: Good thinking, Ensign. Delegate that. Initiate containment protocols and inform the deck officer. Give them some time to get a hold of the situation and supervise it from the bridge.
Morda: Aye, sir. The cargo appears intact. ::To Melville-Kilpatrick:: Thomas, I’ll pipe down to make sure the deck crew sees the lading information and knows the starbase is sending folks. I'll also send that to medical.
Morda keyed a comm string and sent it to the shuttle control bay watch officer one deck below, and likewise to the medical officer on duty. He half-supposed that in the tomblike silence of the berthed starship, they might just hear the various notification warbles from belowdecks.
Melville-Kilpatrick: Response
Dewitt: Yes, do not hesitate to check in with them after your shift. That’s what a good officer does.
Morda: Aye, Commander.
Considering he hadn’t yet been to the shuttlebay, yes, a visit on his way off the bridge in, oh, four hours or so might be appropriate.
Melville-Kilpatrick: Response
The XO's voice changed direction, and from the left he heard a welcome invitation.
Dewitt: So who of you is team coffee and who is team tea? Or have you made your peace with being tired?
Morda almost spoke over Dewitt at the first glimmer of an offer.
Morda: Coffee. Always coffee.
Melville-Kilpatrick: Response
Morda happily accepted the proffered mug and took an eager sip. Then, with an ear open for any status change signal from the tractor system, he swiveled in his seat to face the former engineer. A vexing question had quietly emerged the last time he was on the bridge, while the team was mapping out a scheme to outwit the Lattice forces. Circumstances had forced it aside, but the question emerged again.
Morda: Commander, in your experience as an engineer, and as a leader … ::He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring into his coffee to gather his thoughts, then looking up from the cradled cup.:: … why put a replicator on the bridge but not have a single flat surface to put a mug on? ::Gesturing, careful not to spill:: This console I’m at almost has a corner parallel to the deck, but everything else is curves and slants and angles. I get not wanting to tempt fate and let a stray elbow cause a spill … but these consoles are waterproof, and in a pinch,you might lose time running to the replicator to demat something, and the alternative is to just lay it on the deck.
Dewitt/Melville-Kilpatrick: Response
Tags/TBC