Close Encounters of the Worst Kind

[Rachel E Garrett 0]

Midshipman Rachel Garrett

Engineering Personal Log

Sky Harbor Aegis

 

Close Encounters of the Worst Kind

 

Rachel had been in her quarters and was just getting out of bed when the call came for their first formal meeting with the new chief – in two minutes.

Two minutes? How the heck did he think they could get down there in two minutes? It took that long just to wait for the lift, then probably another ten to let it move and stop and let someone off and move and stop and….

 

Rachel switched her brain to off, grabbed her gear and hightailed it out of her quarters wishing she had slept in the J-tube so she wouldn't be so darned far away from the cubby they called main engineering. After her encounter with Chief Metapresence she wasn't looking forward to this at_all. Already late, she slinked into the room, glanced around for a friendly face, then looked for someone big and scary, figuring that would be "The Chief."

One tall, broad-shouldered Romulan stood imposingly by the master status board, and when he turned, Rachel's eyes widened. She had seen Romulans before – passing through the station – but this Romulan seemed… well… really different. And scary. And large. His height made Rachel feel smaller than her actual 5'3" and his eyes seemed to slice through to her soul. She shivered. Rachel had thought she would feel relieved to have a real person in charge rather than the nebulous metapresence they had dealt with for the past few months. Now she wondered if she could actually face this person without withering away to nothing. He was the new chief of engineering, and he was the one who had caught her sleeping at her post.

 

Oh, Gees.

 

"We've all had our heads in the guts of this station for the last several weeks," the Romulan began. "Time to get back on track. I'm fully aware in that time most of you have not even met me. I am Centurion Jorahl, your Chief. Remember that."

 

Whoa. Rachel shifted her stance, scooting closer to and a little behind a friendly face.

 

"I want the EPS systems shored up. The steam pot you call a power source isn't worth the metal it's made of but I know it can work better than these readings."

 

Steam pot? Gees….

 

"But it's time to finish the Ambassadors' sandbox on pylon two. What are we expecting in regard to timetables on opening the new sections?" He eyed the group for all of ten seconds, then continued gruffly, "Hmm, the pride of Starfleet in front of me, I'm sure. The timetable will be SOON!"

 

Most of the group jumped. Rachel shrank into the crowd a little more.

 

"The former chief's logs are a shambles and that hole up there has been a disgrace for too long. All primary shifts will be devoted to its completion. I'll hire Cardassian engineers and bring them in here if I have to. Coleridge, you're on the computer systems. Garrett, finalize the EPS grid. Fletcher, oversee the "trim work" so it looks all pretty for the little Ambassadors. Those assignments may change as I get a better idea what level of a mess we have up there. Deadlines have passed, but I won't start throwing people out airlocks for at least one week. Work together. Get the job done. Show some pride in your work. Try not to blow up more than you repair. Dismissed."

 

Cardassian engineers. EPS grid? Out the airlocks? For a second Rachel experienced total brain shutdown. Then she turned to escape.

 

But it was not to be.

 

"Garrett. A moment please."

 

She stopped short and spun on her heel, taking a quick mental inventory as she did so. Tool bag… check. Uniform… check. Slept in a bed… check. Total screw-up… how?

 

"I've looked over your bio. You are a relative...and I assume namesake to the Captain of the Enterprise-C?"

 

The question totally took her by surprise. In fact, it was so bizarre she had to stop and think, but she finally found the answer. "Uh . . . yes, sir. She was my Gran."

 

"I had the pleasure of being one of the engineers to help take apart Enterprise-C. A very impressive Captain and ship. That is all." He raised an eyebrow then calmly turned back to the status board.

 

The shock was immeasurable. Rachel stood there totally numb, rolling his words around in her mind, fully understanding but not believing she had actually heard him say what he had said and how he had said it. He had the pleasure of taking apart the Enterprise-C? A very impressive Captain?

 

What the hell? He was there? He killed her?

 

Rachel backed slowly towards the door, tears welling in her eyes, oblivious to her surroundings, bumping into engineers who had stood by watching and listening. Her body missed the door and backed into the bulkhead. She leaned against it, mouth agape, her eyes fixed on Jorahl as he so very calmly went about his business. Her left hand fumbled for the door. She stumbled into the corridor when it opened and sank to the floor wanting to die.

Edited July 1, 2008 by Rachel E Garrett