Plans For Getting Off The ship

Posted on Sat Sep 24th, 2022 @ 6:38pm by Captain Rueben Gregnol & Chief Engineer Michael Burnstein

Mission: Mission 16: Hysperia
Location: Hysperia Dock - Engineering
Timeline: MD 01 10:00
1381 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Gregnol had never ever seen his ship in so many pieces or so many people working on things that he did not know. No one of them other than the Engineers he selected for his crew knew how much work had happened to the ship nor how much work the ship had ahead of it trying to do some good in a universe that was quickly becoming more like the wild west. He glanced around the Engine room and saw Jeassaho bent over a terminal but she did not look up or acknowledge him other than the light caress he felt inside his mind that he would never be able to describe to someone who asked that was purely her saying hello. He smiled watching her for a second longer before he moved passed the dark warp core looking for Burnie. The ship was looking in much better shape but there were still so many pieces he did not know what to do with it all and hoped that Burnie did and that despite how nice the thought of the Hysperian modifications could be it was not needed. He sighed to himself it was hard to distinguish who was who when they all wore similar protective clothing.

“Burnie?” He called finally giving up his search and just decided to call out his name.

The person who looked up at that was Liha. Looking around, she spotted Burnie. Having work with him long enough, she could see the tell-tales despite the protective clothing - like the way his head bopped a little side-to-side, a sure sign he was blasting some of his loud ancient tunes. "Over there!" she called to Gregnol, pointing. "He's got his earbuds in."

The Captain gave her a salute as a thank you for letting him know. That made sense as Gregnol was not at all being quiet about his prescence in engineering at all. He knew the man blasted music far to loud, how he still had his hearing intact. He stepped further along and tapped the chief engineers shoulder.

Burnie was in the zone, listening to his old earth collection and humming to himself as he found and replaced each fried isolinear chip. "...Another one bites the dust. And another one gone and another one gone, Aanother one bites the dust! Hey-"

At the tap on his shoulder, he keyed the music off and turned around. "Captain, what can I do for you?"

Gregnol could have carried on watching the man amused but he had little time to waste if he wanted to actually get what he wanted to that day to be able to enjoy the torchlight procession that night. “Hey… I just wanted to catch up to find out how things are now that you are back. Is everything how you expected?” He knew Jeassaho and Liha could handle stuff but there was nothing like having Burnie there handling stuff.

"It's going well," Burnie replied. Putting a hand on his hip, he pursed his lips as he looked around the engine bay. "Not sure I expected to be dealing with 'dragon-fire' techs and 'lightning' routers, but once I got my," he tapped his head, "mental Hysperia-to-normal engineer translator working it's all working out. The engines have had a complete overhaul and they've given us some pretty sweet upgrades on weaponry." He grinned, then dropped his voice for Gregnol's ears only. "Though we may have to take a run through the systems later and make sure the terminals are showing terminology that's not straight out of a D&D handbook."

“Should be more than pretty sweet. Should impress even Liha. But… so only my executive officer, Engineering Chief and one of the crew from operations would be able to read the anything onboard due to their shared love of D&D.” He could really see the irony of that but just settled for shaking his head. “Please make sure that is done.” He finally said to shake the terror that he was going to have to learn quickly how his ship now spoke.

"Actually, Liha could probably decipher it too. I've managed to drag her into a few D&D games, and she wouldn't put up not breaking a code anyway," " Burnie replied with a wink and a grin. "But I'll have Ops go through it all make sure everything is non-nerd readable."

"Well, four out of a crew of 50 or so is not good odds so I would appreciate it if Operations look through it all." He laughed relieved that the man was at least trying to joke and lighten the mood. It gave him a bit of hope that things were at least going the correct way and that the ship would eventually leave port. "Speaking of D&D have you actually got off the ship much?"

The engineer shrugged. "I dropped down to Hysperia for a bite to eat a couple times, but mostly I've been here." He looked around engineering, a smile working onto his face as he thought of all the progress since they'd limped into dock months ago. The tear down had been hard to watch, but Burnie off all people understood creative destruction though he'd been sure to be keep an eye on it to ensure nothing was torn out that shouldn't be. Connie's were historic ships, legendary even, but that didn't mean you could expect most techs to know them the way they would a modern ship. And Rosie had had a host of specialty work done over the decades. "Couldn't not here be for the refit. It would be like a doctor dropping his kid off for surgery and just going off somewhere until he could pick them up after discharge."

“Just as I thought.” Gregnol felt similar but Ford was right they al needed a little bit of escape from the ship if it was at all possible. “Well we all having time out for the festival. Ford’s orders and I am even listening to it. The dock workers will all be off so it makes sense for us to get a little bit of down time if we can.”

"I know, and seeing as we're almost down to just finishing touches and I do owe Nollel some real time together, I was planning on taking it." Burnie grinned. "Besides, how could I pass up a chance to see a real fire-breathing dragon?"

“Why I am alarmed that you did not get there before now.” The Captain admitted with a laugh as he looked around again from Jeassaho but could not see her now so she must have already headed off for lunch. “Please make sure Nollel is off the ship for awhile. I really need her off my case about paperwork.” He teased. They both knew that woman was efficient to the point of decrement of her health sometimes. Everyone needed a break.

"Hey, her staying on top of paperwork is why we're this far long now," Burnie reminded him. "But she does deserve some serious R&R." The observation was followed by a smug smile. "Turns out you can't have a fairy tale planet without a good spa - all appropriately old timey with hot springs and herbal wraps and natural oils for massages - where everyone's treated like royalty. Which Nollel is, as far as I'm concerned anyway. So I made some arrangements."

“I know but I need a night or two without it. Please help me out.” Gregnol grinned. He knew Burnie would have already sorted something out but even he was impressed with the thoughtfulness that went into it. Maybe he should investigate something like that for Jeassaho?. “And you yourself need that too.”

"Don't worry, I've got plans too." A somewhat manic grin - the kind that generally did make people worry - crossed the engineer's face. "I've got directions to a dragon nesting site."

Gregnol did not know whether to be scared or worried more but finally decided on saying: “I will look for a new chief engineer then…” he said in jest shaking his head. “Just try and come back alive from your hunt.”

"I plan on it," Burnie laughed. "Nollel would never forgive me if I got myself flashed fried by a dragon."