You've Been Keeping Something From Us Part I
Posted on Tue Sep 22nd, 2026 @ 7:51am by Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble & Ensign Connor Turner & Ensign Millicent Ambrose & Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Edited on on Sat Sep 26th, 2026 @ 5:43am
2,579 words; about a 13 minute read
Mission:
Episode 18 - The Edge of Darkness
Location: Main Engineering - Deck 11 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD001 1400 hrs
Just after her lunch with Colonel Tremble, Millie went to look for Connor.
When she found him Millie greeted him.
"Hello Connor, has anyone approached you to be working with the Marines, on their...Marvel suits?" Millie leaned against the wall where Connor was working.
That was enough to intrigue Connor enough to look away from his computer. He blinked twice before asking, "Marvel suits? Like from comic books? What is this that you are talking about?"
"The armored suits that the marines utilize when they go out on a mission. They are something to behold." Millie responded with excitement lighting up her eyes.
Millie moved to where she could meet Connor's eyes. "I had a lunch appointment with the XO and he asked me if I had been approached by the chief engineer, Hunter, about working on them. This includes a couple of engineers to get their own suits in order to go with the Marines on missions when needed."
Giving a slight scoff, "Imagine my surprise when the colonel had asked me that. Anyway, I plan on going in and talking to Hunter, and see about being a part of that. Are you interested in being a part of something like that?"
"Do fish swim?" Connor asked. "They would think of building something like that without me? A computer specialist?! They probably designed them all wrong and were not nice to the parts. I'll have to fix them," Connor determined.
"Okay, let's go see if Hunter is in his office." Millie leading the way.
They certainly needed to find out information, and the only way to even hopefully get onto the roster for being on a project such as this was to find Hunter.
Connor strode along side by side with Millie. His impression of the Chief Engineer was getting worse and worse.
Entering in the Chief Engineering Office, Millie moved forward then stopped suddenly. There was something different, and rather sad about the situation. She looked around then looked at Connor.
"Um... Connor, can you check the data base, while I investigate something...." Millie went around to the other side of the desk taking a look around. It was clean, too clean..
"Oh.. no way, not again." Millie groaned out. "What is this, was it my deodorant?" she asked, taking a sniff of herself.
Connor checked the database and discovered that they were once again short a Chief Engineer. "Right?" Connor asked. "Perhaps the Commodore feels that we are both competent enough to work without one? Though, between us...." He shook his head. "No, that would be untoward. I shan't say it."
Millie looked at Connor. "Okay, just say it. It's just us right now." She decided to sit on the edge of the desk, folding her arms over her chest.
"Why are you crossing your arms like that?" Connor asked, starting to squirm slightly. What was it about that look that unsettled him? "Rommie could be listening." He then stroked his chin and said, "Of course, she could be listening anywhere."
Putting his hand down and then making a small stomp with his foot, he said, "Fine. You win, Millie. I did not get on well with the last CEO. I found him...." Connor searched for a word and finally settled on, "disagreeable." He then finished, "So, I do not mind him having cleared out."
"Rommie...you know Rommie?" Millie was going through her mind to see if Connor had mentioned meeting her.
"And as for my crossing my arms, I am actually a bit upset about the CEO leaving!! Maybe his spider senses were tingling, realizing that I was going to quiz him."
Rommie created a data stream into the CEO's office, then it switched to pink and white wispy smoke and she materialized wearing what very much looked like a pink and purple silk harem costume. She assumed a parade rest stance, glancing at the two Ensigns, one eyebrow quirking as she said, "Yes masters?"
Connor was about to tell Millie, "Of course I know Rommie," when Rommie appeared out of nowhere, wearing her harem costume. He could not help but stare at Rommie. Words came slowly, as he tried to pick his jaw up off the floor. "Um, Rommie, uh, what, uh, what...well, what exactly do you think, um, you're doing in that, um, well, attire? Or, um, calling us, um, masters?"
The Warrants eyes blinked slightly as her programming twitched and she murmured, "Oh bother." Before her image rippled, being replaced by her customary uniform skant, piped in marine green.
She could tell by Ensign Turner's vocal timber that he was slightly transfixed, so she let the transformation happen slowly.
Including the bosom reduction.
As her boots formed around her feet, she cocked a glanced at him and said, "Ensign Ambrose vocalized a request and I appeared, Ensign. I have no recollection of calling anyone master. Are you alright?"
"Quite alright," Connor answered, not certain if Rommie was referring to him. "But you definitely called us 'masters.'" He shook his head slightly. "Um, maybe I need to, well, look at your programming, Rommie?"
Millie raised an eyebrow at Connor's remark.
"I think you'd have to get the Colonel's permission to do that and especially Rommie's permission. That to me is getting a bit too personal and maybe bit invasive." Millie unfolding her arms and giving Connor an icy gaze. "Perhaps you should rephrase what you said."
Rommie regarded the Ensigns for a moment, and said cooly. "You do not have the authorization to look at my anything Ensign Turner. Should you have a problem with me or my coding, refer questions and comments to Colonel Tremble. Now, if there is nothing else."
While they outranked her, the last thing in her directives was for Rommie to answer questions of her functioning to persons out of her command structure.
She began to fade back into her datastream.
Connor's eyes bugged. Did he say something untoward? If so, he had no idea what it was "All I wanted to do was help Rommie and find the bug.... I am a professional computer systems engineer, after all...."
Giving out a slight huff, Millie responded to Connor's question. "Rommie is under direct command of Colonel Tremble, apparently you didn't realize that. She is his attaché', his aide de camp. And she is also part of security measures."
"And what she had said, neither you or I have the security clearance to touch her programming. And I wouldn't dare to do so, unless I were asked." Millie's voice softened "Granted, from the reaction you are giving, you weren't aware of who she truly is."
Actually, I knew most of that, Connor thought to himself. I just want to help Rommie, as there's obviously something wrong.
Millie's shoulders drooped, as something came to her mind, this particular incident may have made things where neither of them would be able to help out the marines.
That though wasn't the current issue, there was something more important that needed to be done. The two of them needed to apologize to Colonel Tremble and through him to Rommie. Also they needed to report the disappearance of the Chief Engineer.
"Connor, we've got someplace to go, we need to go see the XO." Millie said firmly.
"I agree. Perhaps then I could get the clearance to help Rommie," he told Millie in the most concerned voice that she had ever heard from Connor.
Heading towards the exit of engineering, Millie asked, "Connor, do you have a crush on Rommie? Granted she is pretty but with her being who she is, I can understand why you, could be attracted to her."
Millie wasn't making fun of Connor, she just wanted to know if possibly her observation was accurate. She still had issues of second guessing her own observations.
In the meantime, as they were walking Millie sent a message to Tremble.
Sir, may we have a meeting with you in your office, me and Connor? We need to talk with you
Connor looked at Millie, completely aghast, "A crush?! On Rommie?! Why in the world would you say that? And what are you saying? Being who she is? I'm simply fascinated by her and her programming. I also do not like the way that she is treated, even if she does not care."
After a minute, Rommie responded to Millie. The Colonel has twenty minutes free on his schedule in ten minutes. I'll pencil you in, Ensign. May I list a subject for him?
Chief of Engineering, you and the suits, me and Connor. Millie being direct.
She wasn't one who was going to beat around the bush when talking with Rommie.
After returning the message, Millie looked at Connor.
"Well then that is certainly something that we will be needing to talk with the Colonel about then." Millie answered directly. "And most definitely in the privacy of Tremble's office."
Connor looked wonderingly at Millie. When did she get so forceful? She was not like that before. And, how did I get in the middle of this? he wondered. Nonetheless, his feet continued to carry him towards the XO's office.
She was on a mission, and that was to get things settled where engineering was concerned. Plus what was the deal with Connor? He seemed worried about Rommie, and the fact that he was thinking that Rommie was being mistreated?
When they reached the XO's office, ten minutes had passed by. Millie pressed the chime to announce that she and Connor had arrived.
The door to Neil's office went clear, on his end, as the Ensigns arrived and Rommie announced them. The personnel reports he'd been maintaining faded as he waived a hand through them and he looked at the Warrant. "Turner and Ambrose. The bad pennies from Engineering? Alright let's have them." He decided to leave the ships data, intel briefings and the rest streaming on his walls. Rommie would monitor and flag anything and he found the constant stream of dull green on black comforting.
The door dissolved in front of the engineers as Neil took up a rest stance and said, "Come in Ensigns. What can I do for you?"
Connor looked up at Neil and said, "Um, well, I think we are both concerned about the lack of a Chief Engineer, and well, there is the Marvel suits, and Rommie...."
"Er ,yes, Rommie, she is most definitely someone I wanted speak to you about and that well." Millie looked over towards Connor "An apology is due for Rommie." her cheeks turning dark pink.
"Something happened and well... I feel there needs to be an apology made. Since she is your Aide, this needed to be handled officially." Millie added wryly.
Neil frowned and regarded the two, then glanced at the Warrant and processed. "The Chief Engineer position is likely once more in flux," he said, thoughtfully. "Should I be blaming you two?
That actually hit Millie hard, visibly flinching at Neil's remark.
Not that it could be, her fault but-- Millie went quiet as she thought deeply upon this. Lowering her eyes and looked at the floor.
Some emotions rose up inside, and part of her started to get peeved.
Lifting her head up Millie looked Neil directly in his eyes.
"Sir, if the chief engineer left because of us, then they were just a snowflake and can't take the heat. Tell me straight. Sir. Do you really think that we actually chased off the Chief Engineer?"
Her posture stiffening, a determined set to her jaw.
Connor's jaw dropped. "I mean, I could not scare away a fly! Why would you say that? I only assumed the Chief position once when all the chiefs and assistants went missing...." He then let his eyes hit the floor.
He then looked at Millie, "And what does Rommie need to apologize for? Something is obviously wrong with her and I would like to help her...."
Neil eyed the two with a straight face and said, "Because. Ensigns will be ensigns." He let it hang for a minute letting silence wash over them and then continued. "But no. I actually don't think you two caused the Chief to leave. But how you both reacted to that questions tells me some things." He considered for a moment longer and said, "For right now, till we get a new chief, you both will be managing Engineering. I don't know that the Captain will be appointing someone to acting Chief. You'd both do it anyway, but me telling you keeps the command team linked in. I'll make a point of meeting with you both everyday and if something goes haywire, get Lieutenant Kolok and Commander Maren involved immediately."
Neil looked between the two then said, "And what's this about Rommie?"
Millie drew in a breath, when she heard Neil's words, then she nodded.
"Contact Lieutenant Kolok and Commander Maren, most definitely."
Millie looked at Connor. Her voice softened. "Connor, its not that Rommie needs to apologize to us, its more on account of, you wanting to look at her programming, I am talking about us apologizing to Rommie. Also how you stated it, it sounded rather wrong. It was like you wanting to see her unmentionables. And looking at her programming when we do not have the security clearance, that isn't, that didn't feel right at all."
Millie turned her attention back to Neil "Sir, I want to enter an official apology for, discussing something about Rommie that I feel was a rather sensitive subject. And most definitely not something to be discussed openly in engineering."
Connor wrinkled his nose at Millie. "Since when have you ever known me to be some sort of pervert?! You know that I'm the best computer specialist on this ship." He immediately looked away from Millie, blushing furiously. He never gave himself credit or proudly asserted anything about his abilities. However, here and now, the normally introverted engineer did.
What in the world is wrong with me? he wondered as his feet hit the floor. "But, yes, um, Colonel. I understand your instructions. Millie and I will run Engineering and we will contact Commander Maren or Lieutenant Kolok if something goes awry."
"Connor it was just how you had stated it and yes you are not a pervert its just how it came out," having turned her attention back to Connor.
She also found it interesting that Connor actually stated confidently as to how he felt his skills in computers was. And yes he was rather good.
Connor told Millie, a pout in his voice, "Well, then you should have known whatever I said was not meant that way."
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Battalion Commander, The Cure
Ensign Millicent Ambrose
Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer
Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Artificial Intelligence, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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