New Chief Old Ensign
Posted on Thu Jun 25th, 2026 @ 2:27pm by Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack Hunter & Ensign Connor Turner
Edited on on Sat Jun 27th, 2026 @ 8:12am
1,108 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
All Our Yesterdays
Location: Main Engineering - Deck 11 - USS Pioneer
Connor was happy. As far as he was concerned, his life was complete. He had a girlfriend that seemed to understand him, even if she was somewhat absent. He had his video games. However, best of all, he had all of his computers in engineering to himself. That meant that he could take the time to talk to the computes and see what else he could coax out of them.
Thus, he headed over to look at the isolinear chips. When the rows of them appeared, he started scanning with his tricorder. "Good morning chaps! How are my favorite nanoprocessors doing? Are we all feeling well?" He continued to inspect his tricorder for even the smallest blip, while continuing to address the chips in this manner.
Jack walked into engineering as he read over his data pads and was immediately surprised by an Ensign very near the entrance working on something. He realized he had not met this gentleman. Jack walked over
“Excuse me, Ensign, I’m Lieutenant Hunter, I don’t think we met.” Jack extended his hand to shake.
Connor refrained from jumping, having not expected anyone else to be in engineering with him. When he turned around to see who touched him, he was relieved that individual was a man. Immediately, Connor took his hand and shook it, "Ensign Connor Turner, Sir. Are you the new Chief?" Connor wondered aloud, his Exeter accent coming through clearly as he spoke.
Jack smiled at Turner with delight and shook his hand.
“Yes, sir, I am the new Chief. Nice to meet you Ensign. How’s things going here? I see you’re doing something?”
He remained smiling and excited to meet a new member of his team.
"Just checking the nanoprocessors. All routine at the moment."
"That's great," Jack said with a smile holding onto his data padd. "Hey, you mind if you join me in my office for a few minutes? I like to have a little meeting with my staff when I start a new position, if that's ok with you. If you're busy here, I understand."
Jack waited for his response with a smile. He totally understood if he was busy, but he really did like to gauge first impressions and all.
"I have no issue joining you. My babies will wait for me for a bit," Connor told Jack.
"Appreciate that" Jack gestured in the direction of his office. "Come, please."
Connor did as Jack asked.
Jack led Turner to his office. The office was located in the rear of Engineering and slightly messy since he had just joined two days ago.
"Pardon the mess, I need to sort this my things."
He sat down next to a pile of papers he had to to sort. "Please, have a seat." as he pointed to the chair directly in front of him.
Connor looked around at the mess and wondered at how his new Chief could sort anything out. However, the stoic engineer said nothing.
"Please, tell me about yourself" I want to make sure I know every one of my engineers.
An introvert at heart, Connor merely answered, "There's nothing particularly interesting to tell you. I am a computer specialist. I briefly served as the Acting Chief Engineer when all of the Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs disappeared."
"Disappeared? How did that happened?" Jack said intrigued.
"I am told that it was some pocket universe timey wimey thing. I was too busy trying to keep the ship from falling apart to consider much more," Connor explained. "Millie, er, Ensign Ambrose was my acting ACEO. She was brilliant, as well."
"Does this ship normally get into pocket universe timey wimey thing-a-ma-jigs?" he responded with intrigue.
"No. Sometimes we get dragged into combat with things out of phase and defending species that don't want us to remember them," Connor answered flatly.
Jack chuckled at his response, “Sounds like the normal things Starfleet experiences day in and day out.”
Jack grabbed a cup of water next to him that must have been sitting there for two days. He paid no mind to its age. He was thirsty.
“And what about you? How do you feel about the Pioneer? Do you like it here? Do you enjoy what you do?"
"Um, well, the computers and I get along quite well," Connor answered. "I think that is rather important. Then again, I have an affinity for many computers. Just don't tell that to the Pioneer or Romey."
Jack laughed at the joke. “Well I don’t think the Pioneer is going to become alive all of a sudden and demand you to work the machines like the Borg.”
Connor was not certain why Jack laughed. He was serious about his statement. "I would rather work cooperatively with them," Connor answered.
“And who is this Romey you speak of”?
"Romey is the ship's AI. Have you not met her yet?"
"AI? Is that separate from the computer?"
"Yes," Connor answered simply and as if it was the most obvious answer in the universe.
Jack grabbed his computer and started searching for this AI. How had he not been aware of this? He finally found confirmation.
“Oh interesting. Yes, I see it now. No, I have not met her. Can you arrange an introduction?”
"Why?" Connor asked curiously and slightly defensively. "I'm certain that you can inquire of her yourself."
“Well, there is no I in team. Bonding with the crew, especially those on my team, is on my priority list. If you still have an objection, I will respect it.”
"Romey is not on our team," Connor explained. "She is technically a marine."
Curiousity spiked in Jack’s head. “Do you like marines?”
Connor looked hard at Jack and asked, "What is the purpose of that question? I do not understand."
Jack had something in mind but thought maybe it was not a good idea to share it. Maybe another time. Jack now had hundred other things to do and needed to finish up.
“You know what, never mind. Do you have any final things for me? Questions or issues you want to share with me?”
"No, thank you, sir. You called me here," Connor told him.
Jack nodded.
“Very good, Ensign. If you need anything, let me know. Dismissed.
Jack went to his personal computer and started to research.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack Hunter
Chief Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer
RSS Feed