Engineer Briefing

Posted on Sun Dec 1st, 2019 @ 7:26am by Lieutenant Mica Rue
Edited on on Sun Dec 1st, 2019 @ 7:48am

Mission: Sounds of Silence
Location: Engineering

=/\= Main Engineering =/\=

Lt Mica Rue took a deep breath, straightening her uniform top. Today was the first day after the face-off with the aliens that all of her officers were reporting for duty, including herself. That meant coordination. And following up on all that may have gone unnoticed with the technical aspects of the ship while they had all been off-health. And briefings...Oh, how she regretted her first official department briefing...

The door to engineering opened. Mica smiled at the hustle inside. Before her, in her department, uniforms were moving back and forth, padds in some hands, tools in others, the shine of ensign, lieutenant and various pips in-between shining off the soft overhead lighting.

Lt Cole, seeing his chief enter, stood straighter. "Chief, all better I see."

Mica nodded, walking into the department. "I am, Lt, though my mental capacity is unaltered." she tapped the side of her temple, laughing lightly. She had heard through idle chatter that Cole had checked up on her after her unorthodox entry only days previously, when nearly all of the ship had fell ill.

She watched the Lt pale and smiled wider. Patting his back, she turned, watching the others.

"I'd like to do a quick introductory briefing. Please send out the order. Is our new second in the department?"

Cole nodded, tapping his padd to summon all the engineering department. "He has, maam. He's been working on the dampeners for much of the morning."

She nodded. "Perfect. I encountered him very briefly, as everything was happening with the aliens, but..." before her, padds were lighting up and the people of engineering were lifting their heads, stepping down ladders, collecting in the main basin of the department space. "Well, time to introduce everyone properly then, Lt." She nodded to him as he left her side to join the others.

Mica raised one hand. The people settled.

"If I can have your attention. Is Chief Petty Officer Thor here?"

A rustling came near the back. The chief nodded once to her side as he approached through the throng.

"Now, although I've been on the ship a few days, I haven't had a chance to meet a lot of you due to the...excitement of our visitors." the engineers glanced at each other. "A lot of us were understandably ill because of that encounter But now that we're all better, it's time to get this show on the road so to speak and clear up everything right now."

Lt Rue stood straighter as all eyes fell on her once more. "I am your new Chief, Lt Mica Rue. It's true that this is my first assignment as chief, as well as my first assignment on a starship. Before this I have been XO several times on a number of bases. I do understand that the rigors of being an engineer on a starship ARE different from that of a base, and will expect some tolerance as I find my footing. But I can assure you all that I will acclimate quickly and will do all I can to be an efficient, fair and effective chief."

She glanced to her side. "Now, this is Chief Petty officer Benjamin Thor. He is your new assistant chief engineer. I will expect all of you to do your jobs well, ask when help is needed, make suggestions when you feel you have better alternatives. But know this. The final sign-off of all engineering changes and decisions will be made by myself and the Chief Petty Officer. If I am indisposed, it is he who runs engineering. Any gainsay of that will have you off the roster so quick..." she didn't finish the sentence. She hated being the hard-ass, but she had seen far too many cases on previous assignments where engineers had made rash, unconfirmed decisions and it had almost been disastrous.

"Now, our first task is to find the alien vessel. The CO has tasked us with trying to find a way to discover where it is. At the same time, we need this department running in perfect shape. We will be handing out assignments right away to run full diagnostics, if they haven't already been done, and more to figure out ways that we can locate the alien vessel, and quickly. Thor, Pierson, Gemini, Tl'Anesia and Sauran, you are with me on the later task. Meet me at the situation desk in ten minutes. The rest, resume your previous duties until Lt Cole gives you other orders."

She glanced at the many faces in front of her, the first officers she was well and truly in charge of, and hesitated. She thought she should say something more momentous, something inspirational. But in the end, that could wait. For now, they had a job to do.

"Dismissed."

The crowd of officers peeled away, chatter striking up again, the few officers Mica had pointed out nodding to her before leaving themselves.

"Lt Cole, I'd like you to hand out assignments - you know these officers and their strengths much better than I. As I said, I want this ship running right, and quickly. Every system that is in question or has not had a diagnostic recently, needs top priority of getting fixed up and analyzed. Every other system can be done after that. Once you have assigned everyone, please send the list to me."

Cole stood straighter, his eyes wide again, this time with the task he had been given. "Yes, ma'am."

Mica turned this time to Thor, who hadn't left quite yet. "Thor, let's have a brief chat in my office."