Preparing

[Kallah Ramson 0]

With a quick mechanical whirl the workbee latched onto the last of the cargo containers. The deck crews hurried about their jobs checking and securing the cargo for transit. Ensign Ramson and crew chief Sakaki turned from their careful watching of the procedure. Behind them the cargo laden workbee lifted slowly from the deck and started towards the open spacedoors.

 

"That's everything." Sakaki said as she stepped into an area of large crates that had become a makeshift office for the cargo bay turned flightdeck. With one hand she turned the desktop monitor around. "Here's a full manifest of all parts we're sending over to Excalibur."

 

"Good, I'll deliver it personally to their Chief Engineering." Kallah held her PADD out infront of her and turned slightly so the other women could see it's ID number. With a quick keystroke on the desktop unit the information began to scroll onto the PADD. Watching it's content Kallah nodded as it completed the download. "That should do it."

 

"We'll start sending over the customized parts as they're fabricated."

 

"Let Camelot's crew focus on that. I need you to get the rest of the fighters up and running. Squad two needs to be up and out on patrols with squad one by tomorrow. Use a spare frame to make up for what we're sending to Excalibur and have squad three ready for action as quickly as possible."

 

"Understood. I'm assuming we're going with wartime configurations."

 

Kallah nodded, "I'm afraid so. It's quantity over quality for the moment." Ramson paused for a moment. "I need something else." There was a hesitation in her voice.

 

"Ma'am?"

 

"I need you to submit a list of all your crew that have flight clearance. As soon as a fighter is available, transfer them to flight crew."

 

Sakaki paused for a moment. "Are we doing that badly?"

 

"The pilots scheduled to arrive ...... haven't. Whether they ever made it into the quadrant is unknown. I've filled some spots from the fleet but they're running thin on personnel too. It looks like it's just use."

 

The crew chief looked down, fidgeting with a random tool pulled from atop one of the crates. "I'm worried."

 

"You're afraid."

 

Sakaki lifted her head up with a look of momentary realization towards the telepath.

 

"I'm just as scared. We all are, trust me." She smiled and tapped her temple lightly. "But we have what we need to make it through this. I trust you. I've seen you do more with less."

 

"I'd just rather have more." Sakaki let a smile form on her otherwise troubled face.

 

"You get me those fighters up and running and I'll get you you're more. I'll give you every ship in the Alpha quadrant if I have too. All I need are those fighters to keep this base safe until then."

 

"I can do that, ma'am."

 

Kallah Ramson smiled and nodded in return. She just hoped she could keep her side of the promise.