Engineering Operations

Posted on Wednesday 10 March 2021 @ 22:42 by Lieutenant Breana Rathburn

Mission: A Cry from the Darkness
Location: Engineering
1351 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Mathias adjusted his new uniform having gone from being the bluish coloration denoting him being in science, to the gold of Operations. He went to Rathburn's office to see if she was in. He also wondered just what sort of music she'd be listening to currently. It all depended on what she was feeling and what life was handing to her.

He stopped an engineer for just a moment. "Where is Lieutenant Rathburn, is she in the office?"

Before the officer could reply Bree had stepped around the corner and into engineering area herself. Though clearly she'd already been on duty for a little bit as she had a work bag over her shoulder. Keeper, the young Assie pup was padding along beside her, tethered by a leash to her waist. Smirking slightly as she spoke. "No, I wasn't in the office, but can head that way now if you need me for a moment."

Mathias smiled at Breana, then his eye was caught by the pup she had tethered to her waist. "Actually I was wanting to meet up with you, and who is your charming escort? He or she is beautiful." He looked at Breana, "May I pet your escort?" it was always best to ask before just assuming a person could just pet a person's pet.

A touch of fingers to the Australian shepherds head brought the young pups attention to her, and after a couple of hand signals later and Bree nodded as Keeper sat nicely and stayed. "You may pet him now, Rathburn said after a moment. "And then we can head to my office to meet up and chat."

Mathias crouched down to where he is eye level with the pup and gently held out his hand, palm up at a nose level, letting the pup get his scent and then once that is done, he then moved his hand to where he gently stroked Keeper's head. "He is absolutely beautiful." One final stroke then Mathias rose and looked at Breana. "Chatting sounds good. Were you working on something earlier?"

As Mathias finished giving Keeper some attention, she smiled and gave a light pat to her leg, the motion letting the pup know she was moving. Taking that first step to walk with her fellow officer to her office as they spoke. "Thanks, and yeah, just had a couple small issues that had came up. And I like to get out and tackle things myself sometimes." As they stepped into her office she unhooked Keeper and gave a motion of her hand, the dog then bounded over to his toys without a care in the world. "So, what's up?"

Watching Rathburn with Keeper, Mathias gave a nod, then turned his attention to her. "Well for one thing, I've changed departments and am now Chief of Operations of which I am most certain you have already noticed. And due to that, want some help on any projects?" giving her a bit of a smile. "Besides what we're about to be dealing with soon enough."

"I noticed and congrats on the change, though I'm curious what made you decide to do it?" Breana asked as she moved to get a cup of java, , a slight glance to the water bowl in the corner of the room before looking to Mathias. "You want anything to drink?" After taking care of McPhee, she moved to sit down and settle in for the chat.

After taking a drink and pondering a moment. "There isn't really anything right now that I can think of to work on, unless you want to help me with a side project."

"Please tell me more." Mathias accepting the drink. "As for the change, it seemed to be a good idea to do so. I wanted to polish my skills, and go into a different direction. I do love science don't get me wrong. However, I do love working with my hands as well. So operations, to me, will open the door for me to expand my horizons. I don't mind getting dirty when it comes to working on what needs to be done." taking a drink of his tea.

"I get it, I minored in science... but like you I found I enjoyed this department better. They both have their challenges, but something about Ops just... drew me." Rathburn said after listening to Mathias. "As for the side project. There are a few of us on this ship that have dogs, so I've been trying to think of a way to have like... an invisible screen door or gate. Something that you can attach to the doors of people who want them, and then there animals wear a collar, or tag or something that when the door is activated the animal can't go though, but everyone else can... if that makes sense."

"I can understand that, and it makes sense. I remember a friend who had a pet, back at home, the pet was to stay inside but always darted out once the door was opened. Countless time had been spent trying to find said pet. And we don't want to have the pets get stuck out in the hall or get lost. Especially in a ship. Maybe something that is keyed to the animals biometrics and collar which will allow the human to leave, but not the animal. A gentle push or just the sense of a barrier there."

"Exactly, that's what I've been trying to figure out how to set up. You would think it wouldn't be that hard to do, yet with everything else going on it's on the back burner. So, that's the side project to get done. For me, I would need two sets of them, one for the office and one for my quarters. Set for two different species of animals." Breana responded with a smile as she thought about this idea and how much of a help it could be for those of them that had animals.

"Well I am very willing to help out and get things sorted out." giving an answering smile, and an eager gleam in his eyes. "I can get also readings from the other pet owners. Lets see you now have, Keeper and then there is your cat. I don't recall the name of your cat."

"Snowball." Bree replied with a smile. "See... I figured with our minds on building things, and a bit of science into the mix we should have no problem doing this."

Mathias gave a nod. "At times it takes two brains to come up with different things. Sometimes even three brains. Am glad to help you out." another thought occurred to him. "You know, maybe we could make a mini repulsor modify it to do what we're talking about, then adding to it, the biometrics?"

"That sounds like an idea that could work well." She said as she reached for a Padd and jotted these new notes down. "Alright, so we have a starting point for this project."

Mathias's eyes sparkled, with excitement. "I am really enjoying this and it makes me even more glad I decided to go into Ops, I love talking about inventing things with you." grinning from ear to ear.

"Well, perhaps we can come up with more things to make in the future." Bree said with a smile of her own. "In the meantime, we both probably should get back to work on the important stuff."

"You are right Bree, we do need to get back to work. Too much time on our hands and very little to do." giving a quick wink and a laugh. As he knew full well that those in Operations and engineering never had too much time on their hands. "Will probably be seeing you later on." Mathias said before giving a wave to her pup and a smile towards her, before heading out.



●● Lieutenant Breana Rathburn
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Merlin


●● Lieutenant Mathias McPhee
Chief Operations Officer
USS Merlin