Damage Done Part 1

Posted on Tue Jul 17th, 2018 @ 3:53pm by Jeassaho Kea (*)
Edited on on Tue Jul 17th, 2018 @ 4:01pm

Mission: Mission 7 - Sabotage
Location: Port Nacelle, SS Rose
Timeline: MD02 21:00
1437 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Even though they had tried to shut the port nacelle down over twelve hours ago smoke and steam could be seen billowing out of the primary coil assembly at over half a dozen points blanketing the whole area a thick white mist. There was just no way to turn the ship off. Deacon struggled to make himself think over the wrapping of the blower trying to clear the service tunnel.

“Tzao gao!” Deacon cursed, “Jea, I’ve three more cracked coils over here!” That made twenty damaged drive coils in all. That didn’t worry Deacon too much, Rose could have lost more than seventy coils before her warp speed was too badly affected. But they had lost three of the shaping coils, with another two on their way out. The ship could technically run what they had, but their safety margin was razor thin, the misshapen warp-bubble already giving them a ride like a rickety roller coaster.

Making his way back to the Betazoid, his smile reflected his frustration, “How do the plasma conduits look? Anything we need to worry about?”

"No, but if this crazy ride doesn't stop soon we are going to be in deep trouble," Jeassaho said coughing against the thick mist that was all around them. How the hell had someone got that deep into the systems that they had gotten the ship first offline and then got the ship back online. Jeassaho kicked the coil that was at her booted foot as she looked her arm over for the small plasma burn she had.

Deacon spotted it before she did, Gingerly taking her arm, he pulled back the tear in sleeve revealing the cauterized wound. The ugly scar was only three centimeters across, small and painless for now. Deacon knew how badly Jea's arm would soon be throbbing, "Ok, I'm calling it, back to the pod, before one of us loses something that won't grow back" he growled, "We'll let the DRD's handle maintenance from here on out."

Deacon and Jessaho carefully made their way back to the observation pod, dodging the gold colored footballs whizzed around the tunnel. Each of the DRD's were chirping to one another as they tired to keep ahead of the microcracks forming throughout the assembly. While Deacon wasn't comfortable letting the maintenance drones 'off the leash' he knew without them they would have been dealing with major breaches instead of small cracks.

When the two got back into the pod, the RIgellian tossed Jea a hypospray, "For the arm," he said ,"No more than 2 cc's, I know it's going to hurt like a bitch, but I need you conscious," he signed heavily, as he flipped open his communicator, "Bridge, engineering, Just finished our visible inspection, estimate eight hours till systems failure, will continue to try an extend that. Deacon out" he didn't bother waiting for a response as he sapped the cover shut.

Looking over at Jea he winked, "Let's take a five minute breather before going to the next fire." closing his eyes he leaned against the relatively cold console, "So, which of the following impossible problems do you want to help me solve; Changing out charged warp-coils while in flight, or helping me understand why you need to keep the fact you and the skipper are knocking boot so quiet? I'd prefer the second one to be honest with you, I'll have to owe you the beers."

"It would be impossible to change the coils... we need the ship to stop," Jeassaho said simply having stayed quiet the walk back flopping into her own chair looking over the master console for the Engineering readings. They were all starting to creep higher and higher the longer the ship was under someone else's control. "Why do you want to know that?"

Deacon mopped the sweat off his brow and shrugged as he considered his response, "Don't know, something to take my mind off the gauges red-lining for five minutes, I guess." he answered honestly, "None of my business, but you guys look good together don't see the reason for hiding it. No worries though, Jea. I can play 'Mickey the Dunce' with the best of them." he added assuring her of his discretion, then he snorted a laugh, "Ok then, how about 'What's the likelihood of getting blow out an airlock over Reessem?' "

"Well it isn't so much we look good together... we are married." She admitted biting her lip turning to look at him as she pulled out a chain from underneath her boiler suit with a wedding band, a human tradition. She would go back to the Reessem comment later on.

Jea's comment took him so much by surprise, Deacon coughed out half of the warm stale water he'd been drinking, "WHAT??? MARRIED??" He asked, that being the last answer he expected, and he laughed at the absurdity of it, "Sorry Jea, maybe I'm a bit confused but don't husbands and wives in human culture traditionally sleep with one another in the whole 'damn we're going to have to change the sheets again' form of sleep?" he asked narrowing his eyes now completely intrigued in whatever response she could come up with.

Jeassaho looked at the man confused. "I don't understand what you are saying at all." She said clearly confused as she put the ring back under her clothing to keep it safe. It amused her that Reuben wore his out in the open and no one had commented once on it.

"That's right, I keep on forgetting your Betazoid, so maybe it different somehow." Deacon said thoughtfully furrowing his brow, "I mean in terms of intimacy, I thought Betazoids are, well very matter of fact about that. Kind of like my people. It just seems like you guys are very," the Rigelian struggled trying to put a word to it. "covert? No that's not right," sighing he looked at his fellow engineer. "Let's put it this way, you could tell how surprised I was. Why the secrecy?"

"Secrecy isn't a bad thing and sometimes it is needed. Me and Reuben have known each other for a very long time, we should have been married a few years back. I thought him dead and then a lot of crazy stuff has happened recently. Don't you want to keep to you and Rees secrete to enjoy it?" She said turning it back on him.

Deacon stared at his water bottle, thinking about what Jeassaho said. The importance of privacy, especially in a small crew, where the novel concept was a practical impossibility. How far would he go to keep that little semblance of normalcy, a little island of freedom to be oneself. He eyed Jea carefully, finding more and more to respect about the depth of the woman sitting beside him.

Deacon was sure she enjoyed the privacy of the relationship with her husband. However, what she gave up in her ability to talk with others about the stress and pitfalls of any relationship let alone one with a ship's Captain, was mind-boggling. But she still gave that release valve away, most likely because of her husband was, a Captain. A man alone, without even fellow fleet officers to commiserate with. Clicking his teeth, he handed her the rest of his water, "I apologize to the Captain wife for sticking my nose where it didn't belong. I just hope he realizes the incredibly wise woman he's married."

"Please do not call me that." Jeassaho snorted slightly as she shook her head at the water offer. She was going to go to the crew bar and get some more water for them both as soon at the watch keeper appeared for the next ship. "You are the only one who has noticed." She admitted thoughtfully.

With a twinkle in his eye he nodded taking the water bottle back, "I shall henceforth never refer to you as 'wise' ever again my dear Rosencrantz," He said with a wink, then with a sly smile added, "You know any lesser man might be scared you'd bypass any decision you..."

OFF:

Deacon Kane
Chief of Engineering
SS Mary Rose

Jeassaho Kea
Engineer
SS Mary Rose
(PNPC Gregnol)



With a heavy heart I have to go. Real life is calling have to answer the call
Will miss writing with each and every one of you
The Rose is a great ship because of her Captain and Crew
Hopefully I can pop in to say "Hi" sometime, till then enjoy your adventures and enjoy each other

Steve Hayes aka Deacon Kane