Ensign T’Fearne - It’s Probably Illegal
teayl.thorn
(( Main Engineering Warp Core - Reactor Main Level, Deck 11, USS Ronin - En rout to the Alpha Isles))
The request for help was genuine and struck the security officer as a fair trade for asking for the fiery-haired lieutenant’s time and expertise. T’Fearne took a breath, her voice smooth and even.
T’Fearne: I would be happy to assist, Lieutenant, though I should admit, I’m no engineer. If I were, I wouldn’t need you for my project.
The engineer seemed pleased as she clamped a tool in her mouth and disappeared back into the depths of the console. To T’Fearne, who was wary of engineering-related things at best, the sight of the console, with its panel open, blinking lights and cabling guts sprawling out onto the deck, looked like some primordial beast that had just devoured 70% of a Starfleet engineer, illuminated ominously by the underwater glow cast by the warp core.
oO I hope she doesn’t expect me to carry equipment in my mouth like that! Oo
Morgan: ::she dropped the spanner out of her teeth:: Grab that plasma torch would ya? I’ve got to seal off this EPS conduit and stop a leak until I can replicate the parts, and the way things are set up now, we would normally have to drop from warp. So that wasn’t an option.
The request was slightly muffled by the console, but the Vulcazoid’s keen hearing picked up a lot of vaguely familiar-sounding words.
T’Fearne: Right, plasma torch…for the leaky conduit:: staring blankly into the toolbox:: or we drop out of warp? That sounds serious.
Her brow furrowed. T’Fearne felt a prickle of apprehension trickle down her spine. She hooked a finger into her collar to loosen it a bit. It was warm in engineering, so close to the warp core. Heat rarely bothered her, but a bead of sweat began to gather at the Vulcazoid’s temple. If only she could tell which device was the plasma torch! Had she ever handled one before? Possibly. For some reason, all the tools together in this context seemed intimidating. And the lieutenant was waiting on her. A second bead of sweat gathered.
There was some clanging inside the console, and a high-pitched buzzing sound she associated with EPS conduits grew louder.
Morgan: Can you hand me that plasma torch?
T’Fearne’s eyes darted over the array of tools. She picked up something with a long handle shaped like a Romulan persuasion device and hesitated.
T’Fearne: This one…?
The engineer emerged for a moment, blowing the fiery curls out of her face. The Human's eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement.
Morgan: Not that one, ::she pointed to the torch this time:: That right there. ::she smiled::
Morgan motioned to a specific tool to help with the selection.
Handing over the tool beside her original guess, T’Fearne winced as the engineer began using the end she had been using as a handle to weld metal. The white-blue light flared to life, welding the metal together with a hum of energy. T’Fearne crouched lower to get a better look, impressed by how deftly the engineer worked.
T’Fearne::: Nodding thoughtfully:: That is useful to know how to do.
As the engineer finished and emerged from the maw of the console, she stepped back and replaced the wall covering. The mess of cables and lights quickly vanished behind a neatly reassembled wall. That’s what T’Fearne preferred her technology to look like.
Morgan: So what do you need help with Ensign?
T’Fearne: Have you ever seen a Ferengi Energy Whip? :: Lower voice:: They’re somewhat rare. I’ve been thinking about a similar concept... something small, portable, with a power system that could deliver an adjustable level of stun.
Morgan: Response
With the tools gathered, the security officer stood, plucked her Akai sticks from her pocket and offered one to the engineer. With the one still in her grasp, she gave a graceful flick of her wrist and let the momentum activate the telescoping feature. The short stick was suddenly nearly a meter in length with a satisfying click.
T’Fearne: This is a standard Akai stick used in Tassa'Akai, basically a Betazoid fighting stick for close-quarters-combat. The ones for tournaments and all legal competitions are like this, but the ones the Betazed government use for military, private protection and underground fights are heavily modified with extra features. Betazoid Security Division has Akai sticks with low and high voltage settings. It is probably an illegal modification for me to make as a private citizen on Betazed, but I’m here and looking for ways to give the Ronin an edge. :: wry smile:: I wouldn’t bring them to polite society.
Morgan: Response
T’Fearne::: Slight hesitation, thoughtful expression:: Well, not just that… I need it to be effective enough for combat, but not so that it knocks me out when I use it. I’d rather not incapacitate myself in the middle of a fight. Can you help with the power modification?
Morgan: Response
T’Fearne: I am relatively new to the Ronin, and this is my first assignment out of the academy. I fought aboard DS33 with the ships and station security personnel. In this duty post, I got a very close and personal look at what frontier battles can be like. We are heading back to the Alpha Isles, and:: softly:: I want to be better prepared.
[Tag, You’re It! / TBC]
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Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14