LT Edac - Welcome To The Jungle
Emma Banin
( Maintenance Corridor Near Aft Torpedo Launcher, Deck 11, USS Khitomer ))
Her arrival onboard the Kihtomer hadn’t been what one might call ‘by the book’. In her mind she would arrive onboard, be given a tour of the ship and met by the friendly Captain who completely understood her reticence at meeting others and would totally understand when she elected to remain in her quarters unless required for her shift.
Well that is how her arrival had played out in her mind. Truth be told she knew it wouldn’t actually be like that. Regardless of her early childhood on a devastated Cardassia where playing meant largely on imagining and pretending that her and her friends were having the most amazing adventure whilst they went just running through crumbling streets and buildings, her imagination wasn’t so wild as to lessen her grip on reality.
Whilst on Deep Space 33 she had been able to hide away, to merely get on with her work, retreating to her quarters when she wanted to. She knew that life onboard the Khitomer would be different and the chances to keep herself to herself would be few and far between. She was however not expecting that her arrival onboard would entail dropping her holdall in her room, and barely unpacking before Ensign Ginny Lacy grabbed her to help try and keep the ship in one piece.
Edac: Lead the way Ensign.
Lacy: Response
She turned to see a tall man, perhaps a foot taller than her, with tanned skin and piercing blue eyes standing there like one of the characters from the trashy holonovels she never admitted to reading but always actually did. Before she could prove her complete lack of social skills by attempting to open her mouth and speak he ‘heroically’ shouted at them.
Martz: Don't move! :: Steadying aim. :: It's right behind you, sirs!
Edac: :nodding her head almost mechanically: Uh huh.
Lacy: Response
Martz: Clear! :: Exactly four thumping beats while taking off an earmuff, muscular hands flexing. :: One hull breach down, a hundred to go. :: Two more beats :: Sorry, you were saying, sirs?
Edac: :pointing to Lacy, her eyes wide with surprise: I was h h helping her.
Michaels: =/\= Michaels to Ensign Lacy and Sparks. =/\=
Lacy: =/\= I read you, ma'am. =/\=
Michaels: =/\= Stress levels have reached 95% of critical on hull plate TS-4276. We need to mobilize damage control team bravo to that location with emergency forcefield projectors to seal the impending breach. =/\=
Lacy: =/\= Almost done here, Lieutenant. There next. Lacy out. =/\=
Kishe shook herself from her almost mesmerised fascination from the tall Edo gunnery sergeant before them. They had a job to do, and standing there open mouthed whilst others got on with the vital tasks before them, would not only not help the ship, but do a disservice to her fellow crew.
Edac: What’s the next ‘fire’ that needs putting out?
Martz: Response
Lacy: ::To the two engineers:: You know where 4276 is? Go now. We’ll catch up.
Lacy: Everything you thought Khitomer would be, ma'am?
Kishe surprised a smiirk, She liked this Ensign. Maybe if she could force herself out of her quarters she could actually see herself having a drink with her, forming a friendship, which I after all exactly what her loving mother and father had wished for their formerly gregarious but now somewhat insular daughter.
Edac: Is it always this dull?
Martz: Response
The new found comradery was interrupted by the sound of another power coupling finally succumbing to the forces exerted upon it and the accompanying alarm that sounded the small explosion that followed. She turned to Lacy. Whilst Kishe was technically the ranking officer she would a fool to choose this time to exert that authority. This was Lacy’s team, and not only was the woman entirely capable at her role but she knew the ship, Kishe didn’t.
Edac: You lead the way Ensign, just tell me what you want me to do.
Lacy: Response
Kishe nodded a curt but well mannered response. Turning to Martz she gave what she meant to be a solid and responsible order.
Edac: You look like you know how to handle your weapon. You can protect my rear.
Lacy/Martz: Response.
She wanted the ground to swallow her, for the floor to give way so that she could fall through to the next level and not have to face the acute embarrassment she felt coursing through her and no doubt showing through the slight blushing of her normally grey skin.
Edac: I err meant…
Lacy/Martz: Response.
They were already moving along the corridor on their way to the next emergency. She had never been more grateful for a diversion . There would be time enough to hide under her bed sheets, and curse herself for her unintentional double entendre. Now they had work to do, and it made no exceptions for anyone, least of all her.
Her PADD lit up, a cacophony of alarms eliminating from it so loud that she took a step back.
Edac: Ensign, Gunnery Sergeant, Im reading a build up in the bulkhead before us. :beat: Something”s going to blow! Hit the deck!
Lacy/Martz: Response.
TAG/TBC
Lieutenant Kishe Edac
Ops Officer
USS Khitomer
NCC62400
A239810JA2Q