Lieutenant JG Rachel Morgan - Everyone Must Wear Sunscreen
Martin Tucker
Like most, Rachel’s shore leave was cut short. She’d been enjoying relaxing in the sun, reading her book, and sipping mai tais. For as red as her hair is, she didn’t burn, thanks to the sunscreen she was wearing, which was like industrial strength. So she did pick up some ‘color’, but her complexion was still pasty white. Now she was standing over the Pool Table, watching the engines perform 10% better than before they were parked at Lolagi IV. Commander Tucker had done something; she just needed to pick his brain.
Everything seemed to be running at peak efficiency at the moment; she wasn’t privy to what was going on and why they’d burn rubber when leaving Lolagi IV’s orbit. Standing with her at the Pool Table was Chip, who had just finished a level 3 diagnostic on the redundant secondary EPS grid, which passed with flying colors.
Chip: Any idea what’s going on, Lieutenant?
Rachel crossed her arms across her chest.
Morgan: Not a clue, above our pay grades.
A lot of things were above her pay grade, but there was less she had to worry about. She could concentrate on the Ronin’s propulsion system, which was her specialty. She built warp engines for a living before being assigned to the Ronin. Sometimes she missed the routine of the shipyard, but she had grown accustomed to life aboard a starship.
Rachel looked up to see Ensign Wren approaching.
Morgan: Have a good time on shore leave? Even if it was short?
Wren: Response
Rachel nodded, her messy bun bobbing along.
Morgan: I completely understand. I was out on my private little beach, enjoying the sun and water. I almost wished I’d kept my comm badge back in the bungalow. I was drifting off to sleep when the damn thing went off.
Wren: Response
Morgan: Well, right now, Commander Tucker is in a briefing on the bridge. I’m sure we’ll hear soon, as the meeting is over, what’s going on. As long as it doesn’t have to do with saving the timeline or things like that, I’d be okay with it.
She hoped it was something a bit more chill than something that wasn’t absolutely life-or-death. Whatever happened to mapping gaseous anomalies? Life aboard the Ronin since she’d come aboard had been anything but boring.
Wren: Response
While Wren was talking, Rachel noticed the Ronin’s newest engineer, Lieutenant Cabrillo, headed their way. There wasn’t anything pressing going on at the moment; no, not everyone was standing around staring at the Pool Table. Engineering was very busy, as it was the day shift after all. It’s not like the Delta shift, which she preferred. Quite, just a skeleton crew, she got a lot done at 0200 in the morning.
Morgan: Lieutenant Cabrillo, come join us, as we wait to hear from the Chief, who’s in some sort of briefing at the moment.
Cabrillo/Wren: Response
Chip turned to Cabrillo, as they hadn’t met yet.
Miller: Lieutenant, I’m Ensign Miller. ::he extended a hand:: But most just call me Chip.
Cabrillo/Wren: Response
Rachel felt her cheeks flush just looking at TK. They’d worked on the Spiderbot together. She really had enjoyed working with him, though she hadn’t seen him since. Opposite shifts will do that.
Morgan: How was your leave, Cabrillo?
Cabrillo/Wren: Response
