Running Errands
Posted on Thu May 8th, 2025 @ 8:55am by Lieutenant Commander Brianne Redstone & Ensign Millicent Ambrose
Edited on on Sun May 11th, 2025 @ 10:26pm
1,965 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Main Engineering - Deck 11 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 1400hrs
El breathed out heavily, and sighed, looking at the list of things for the afternoon. Another boring virtual meeting of chief engineers. Why did she take this job?
Getting up from her office desk in the alcove, she wandered over to the replicator, "Diari blend 43. Extra sweet." she ordered. "The selection exceeds recommended sugar levels" the replicator replied. El tapped a few buttons, and the drink materialised. Smiling, she took the cup "Stuff you", she whispered.
Walking over the main table, she saw Millie, she whistled "Millie, are you busy? I need a couple of favours."
Millie had a wee bit of a smile, having been thinking about her date the night before. Turning she trotted over to where Elen was at. "Hi Elen, what can I do for you? And I've got some time." for the moment the somewhat nervous girl when she first arrived on the Pioneer wasn't there.
"You know the Nova class ship docked a bit over from us? It's a friend of mine's ship. Their computer expert has offered to fix our engineering hologram, just wondering if you could take it over to them? And while you're there could you pick up a package from their science head for me too? I'd do it myself, but stuck in meetings all afternoon." Elen explained, "Oh, who's the lucky humanoid, by the way you're glowing?"
A little bit of a self conscious giggle, Millie touching her cheek, "Well, one of the Marines had asked me out, Sergeant Tyrgius Fry. I met him when I was chasing down a bit of a glitch in the system. I decided to give a try going out on a date especially since he asked me. First true date I had that hadn't been set up for me" her face radiant. "But as you asked, I don't mind going and running the errands."
"Just be careful, OK? Marines can be a bit clingy, went on a date with one years ago, still have him around. He's the XO of the other ship, actually." El smiled, removing a data cube from the wall, and placing it in a power cradle carefully. "They'll follow you across the galaxy if you let them."
"Well I've only had one person who is like that and I hope I never see him again." Millie giving a bit of a shudder. She closed her eyes for moment, then opened them once more. "Other than that, I've not had any trouble where anyone-else is concerned. I will take care though" Millie carefully accepting power cradle from Elen.
"Right, in all seriousness, if you want them dealt with, give the name to Jamie on the Feynman's bridge. While you're there, give this to Taran" Elen motioned to the cube "She'll either fix it, or give you a new one. Also, if they offer you a job, don't take it. You're better than that ship, not letting you go be charge of anything smaller than a Sovereign class"
"I still new on this ship, why would I want to leave? I'm just getting to know the crew, and I like who I have met so far." Millie giving a small smile. "So no taking of a job if offered, and If I want to get rid of a certain someone, I can give their name to the person on that ship." giving a nod. "Okay I'll head on out."
"Enjoy, and thanks for this, Millie, really appreciate this." El answered.
Millie gave a warm smile towards Elen. "You are very welcome, Elen."
Millie arrived at the USS Feynman, and was surprised pleasantly when she was taken up to the bridge. Carefully holding onto the data cube that was in the power cradle. She wasn't certain as to what Taran or even Jamie looked like, she forgot to ask Elen about it. When the lift door opened, Millie looked around in wonderment at the bridge.
A short, ginger woman with matching Trill spots came over from the other side of the bridge holding a padd "Molly I take it, I'm Taran Gryf , I believe that's Bill you're carrying?" she asked, looking at the Padd.
"Hi there yes Millie. Elen sent me here with Bill. yes." Millie holding out the power cradle. "I had no idea he had a name. Its a nice name though Elen says that you would know what will help out for what is affecting Bill."
"Sorry, Millie. On Ellie's note it looks like an 'O'," turning round the padd to show a scrawl that would make a doctor proud. "Yes, Bill's based on real person- The old chief engineer of the Harbinger. We beamed him up once and his pattern wouldn't flush out the buffer, even after Bill rematerialised and wandered around as normal. So we added a holographic matrix, and got a spare Bill, the basis of the emergency engineer hologram." Taran explained.
"The real Bill is happily retired on Nouvo Aires with his boat, by the way. Just celebrated his 75th birthday a couple of months ago." she continued, taking the cradle "Hello, old friend", talking to the cube.
"Take a seat if you want, Millie dear." Taran addressed Millie, motioning to the captain's chair "Just don't press the green button, it's cold enough in here without putting the air-con on."
Her eyes widened, "Wait you want me to sit in the Captain's chair?" Millie taking a seat, lowering herself gingerly. She never thought ever about sitting in the chair of command. It was almost like an electrical shock go through her, feeling rather empowered and thrilled. She was careful not to hit the green button like what Taran had mentioned.
Taran looked over "Suits you." She took Bill out of the cradle, "Ah. There's the problem, his corner's chipped. Why he won't switch on. Take about ten minutes to put him on a new one if you can wait."
Millie raised an eyebrow at what Taran had stated. "You think it suits me being in a command char? Uh Thank you. As for Bill I've got time to wait while you work on him." debating on whether to stay in the seat of command or move to another spot. "So, do you want me to stay here or move to another seat?"
"Whatever makes you comfortable, honey." Taran answered, looking intensely at the cube.
Millie settled back in the chair, to watch with great interest what Taran was doing in repairing Bill. It was pretty fascinating watching Taran work, Millie watching intently.
Taran finished repairing the datacube enough for it to connect to her computer, "So Millie, big question, what colour do you want him to be? Bill's getting a new cube, this one's too damaged."
Millie was quiet as she gazed at the cube, then she smiled. "How about Sapphire Blue? Like the gemstone. I've been looking at powers of gemstones as of late and well, that stood out to me. Supposedly it enhances mental and spiritual well-being, offering protection, and promoting a sense of peace and clarity. And honestly with how things have been where the ship is concerned. I think the Pioneer needs something like that color."
"Very apt, seeing as your boss is from the Azure peaks of Betazed too. that's it growing now" she pointed to a small silver dish where the crystals materialised into a small mound, and out into a cube shape. "Was it Rabsen's book? One of Gryf's previous host, Aliza, was a jeweller."
"I am not certain, but I do like that color, and its so beautiful. I do like Elen, she's been really great as Chief of the Department. Just something about her has been rather calming. I look forward to working with her for awhile."
"I know." Taran laughed "I used to be her CO, Odrin Gryf, before I was joined with Taran here. She's like the Mom of her group."
"Oh okay, well then. Things I am learning about Today." Millie giving a grin. "Mind blowing as it were. I am hoping I can be as good as Elen, in the engineering department." Millie's eyes being drawn back to the growing crystal.
"As long as you don't blow up the power grid on the ship on your first day, you'll be a better engineer." Taran laughed "Just try your best, and you'll be fine."
"Good words to live by." Millie giving a grin. "I hope that Elen will like the color, but as you said it would remind her of home. " leaning back once more in the seat of command. Could she actually command a ship? Or would she be more into keeping the ship running. Different possibilities.
Taran walked over, "That's Bill fixed, Captain", almost laughing at her own comment "Just plug him back in, and give him about fifteen minutes to reconfigure before putting him to work, otherwise he'll be grumpy, and not do what he's been asked."
"On to other things, that package arrived for El here instead of your ship." gesturing at a brown paper lump on the table behind the chair "Could you pass it over to her, please ? No idea what it is, but it's been with us a while."
"We'll take care of Bill." Millie moving from the command chair to stand by Taran. She accepted both Bill and the package. "Thank you for the experience of being in the command chair. And it was great meeting you." Millie giving a smile.
Millie arrived back on the Pioneer, and went in search of Elen.
"Elen, I've got Bill and I also have a package for you, from Taren. She said it had been on the ship for a little while. Wonder what it contains. Of course, its not my business but hope it is some good news instead of bad news. Taran is a very interesting person."
Elen looked up from a padd and sighed "It's my workshop jacket from home. Mom was mending it. Sent it to my old, old job as Assistant Science Head of Jon's group. Lucky it didn't go to Spacedock, or somewhere like that." She tore open the package and pulled out the cloth, spinning and putting the jacket over her uniform.
Millie watched and it seemed that Elen was quite happy to get that jacket. "its beautiful. Oh and here is Bill." remembering to give him to Elen. "Well I made certain not to accept any sort of position. Though Taran had me take a seat upon the command chair. It was interesting." Millie could feel a wave of weariness come over her and she covered her mouth to hide her yawn. "Sorry, I've been up for a little bit I'll see you later, hopefully you will have fun on this shoreleave." Millie walked over and gave Elen a hug. "Thank you for all that you've done for me. Just your style of commanding Engineering really has helped. And I truly wished to thank you. I'll see you around." Millie turned and headed off to her quarters. She was needing to get some sleep. Before she left engineering Millie turned once more and gave a wave to Elen.
This was a rather interesting and thought provoking day for her.
As Millie left, Elen looked down at Bill's cube, "Well, I know you're in good hands now. Unless Millie runs off to be captain." She tapped the top of the cube "Authorisation Diari zero zero two, release command code. Ownership transfer to Ensign Ambrose."
A Joint Post By
Ensign Millicent Ambrose
Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Elen Diari
Chief Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
RSS Feed