Flourish through industry

[Seiben 0]

"Are you coming with us, sir?" asked one of the workers. "No, you guys go ahead" said Seiben. "I'll catch a later ride" "Okay then, sir" the worker said and exited Engineering. Within a few minutes, Seiben was alone in the Challenger's Main Engineering room. There was a certain relaxing quality standing here in silence. Seiben was left alone with his thoughts and didn't have to worry about his crew or the project.

 

Seiben climbed the stairs up to the warpdrive. It was still incomplete and nowhere near assembly. Seiben and his crew worked long and hard to get it up and running. All in all though, progress has been good in engineering, until today when Seiben and his crew hit their first snag in the Challenger project. Seiben ran a hand across the smooth metal surface of the panel, and sat down on a chair. He took out his thermous of cofee and poured himself a cup, thinking back to today's events...

 

The day started off rather ordinarilly aside from the memo from Commander Moore stating the longer hours and 10 minute lunch break. He could tell from the looks of his crew that they weren't too keen on that idea. Quite frankly, neither did Seiben. How could one consume their lunch in only 10 minutes? Seiben had little doubt that Moore will be receiving alot of complaints come tommorow morning.

 

But anyways, Seiben and his crew start their shift for the new day. They finish securing the drive to the floor, and begin work on installing the warpcoils and display monitors. At about 1300 hours, was when they got set back. "What do you mean 'not compatible'?" Seiben asked one of the workers incredulously. "I'm sorry Mr. Seiben, but the warpcoils the company sent us weren't meant for the Challenger" two of the workers picked up a coil and placed it on a table for him to see.

 

Seiben walked over to the table and inspected the coil. True enough, these weren't the right ones. These were the coils used for the smaller Warp-3 ships like the Intrepid or Saratoga. Damnation! Thinks Seiben. How could something like that happen? Frustrated, Seiben walks over to a communications panel and calls up GE headquarters.

 

Instantly, Seiben was patched through to a receptionist handling deliveries. "I am sorry, Mr. Seiben. The orders have been mixed up via computer error. The Challenger's coils were sent to Alpha Centauri by mistake." the receptionist said. "Ahh, poopy!" said Seiben. "How long will the parts be sent here?" He heard some tapping and immediately got a response. "3 days."

 

Argh! Seiben thought. That's not what I wanted to hear. Seiben thinks. Seiben then pressed the "talk" button again. "Do you have any more NX-Class coils in stock?" the receptionist at HQ did a check. "Yes, we do. It's supposed to be for the Columbia" Seiben smirked, then chuckled. "The Columbia, eh? Yeah well the Columbia project is so far behind schedule, I don't they'll mind if we'll take theirs.

 

Don't worry, I'll get the ball rolling on that" Seiben reassured. "When would the coils arrive, if you sent them over right now?"He asked. "It should arrive within 4 hours, sir" replied the receptionist. Seiben thought about that and nodded. "Very well, make it so" said Seiben. "Alright sir" the receptionist replied. "And thanks. You're a lifesaver" said Seiben. With that, Seiben presses a panel terminating the connection.

 

Seiben pressed the comm again summoning Admiral Forrest. He was patched through by his secretary almost immediately. "Yes, Mr Seiben, what is it?" Forrest replied. "Well, sir. We had a little mix up in the factory and the warpcoils for the Challenger have been sent to Alpha Centauri by mistake. Now, we can either wait three days for the Challenger's coils to arrive, or we can use the coils meant for the Columbia which can be sent in 4 hours. While the Columbia will get the Challenger's coils in three days"

 

In his officer, Admiral Forrest pondered for a sec before coming to his decision. "Ok, Mr. Seiben. You can use the Columbia's coils. Priority is getting the Challenger finished in the three month deadline,and right now warpcoils aren't high on the Columbia's priority list" Seiben smiled and nods. "Right thanks sir. That's all I wanted to know"

 

"Okay then, Forrest out" the Admiral responded. The Admiral quickly terminated his connection. The balls were in Seiben's court now. So he and his crew worked on intsalling the control panels and display monitors to pass the time. Hour by hour, the warpdrive and engineering were indeed starting to look like what they were supposed to.

 

Soon enough, a delivery man entered Engineering with the coils. Seiben signs for them and gives the man the incompatible coils. "Thank you very much" Seiben said. As the man left, Seiben ordered his team to get working on the coils. By now, he and his crew were really behing schedule. So Seiben and the worker worked long into the night installing each of the coils.....

 

Seiben yawns and sips the last of his coffee. It's now about 0030, and Seiben is the only person left on the Challenger. It has been a long, hard day and all Seiben wants to do now is go to bed for seven hours of uninterrupted shut eye. Seiben looks around the dark corridors of Engineering one last time and takes in the silece. He then walks out of Main Engineering and to the docking port to the awaiting shuttle that will take him blissfully to his bed and some much needed shut eye.

Edited June 4, 2004 by Seiben