Rhiana nodded at that as they continued to work on getting the new power system operational."It is good to have your parent's support on what you really wish to do Ensign. We Romulans believe in nurturing our passions. Wither it is for art, swordsmanship, or building new engines for star ships. It actually surprises me that you decided to go in for bridge officer when you could be 'tinkering' down in the basement I believe it is called, if that is truly your passion why do you deny the chance to fully embrace it?" she asked him looking up from her work.
Cyrin couldn’t help but laugh, “EnArrain, I opted for Operations because it was or could have been a fast track to Research and Development for Starfleet. Though I was denied entrance to the R and D department,” a hint of disdain could be heard in his voice. “Engineers fix and are seldom given the opportunity to create. In operations, as you know, we have to think on our feet and outside of the box. To come up with a solution in a very short amount of time; we have to take one thing and turn it into another thing. Engineers do not take one thing and turn it into another…they merely fix or add on. We get to manipulate. Being placed as a bridge officer was par for the task, though to be honest…I don’t want to command my own ship. Yes, yes, I know what you could or might say to that, ‘But Ensign you are still young yet. Things change.’ I agree with that statement, that yes perhaps someday I may want my own command, but what I want more than anything is to be in Research and Development for Starfleet.” He commented as he pushed a few buttons to prevent the EPS from overloading as he slowly brought it back to optimal performance level, “We are currently at forty three point seven five percent of the way there to optimal level.” He reported.
Rhiana was impressed with his answer to her questions and she nodded to him. "I'm not sure about Starfleet R & D personally as you might guess but from some of the things I have seen on federation ships their researchers are impressive. I wouldn't look down on your goal of being a researcher.” she said to him softly and glanced at the indicator on her device, then looked back at Cyrin. "Things do indeed change. Life is full of surprises for everyone, even the short lived races like Humans. I have commanded two ships in my time and it is a singular experience but definitely not for the faint of heart. As an Operations officer you are already feeling what it is like to command, your discussions reflect the Captain's orders. Life and death are but a small button push away, you must admit it is a powerful feeling." she said with a slight smile.
“EnArrain I am part human, though I figure you mean a human’s life span.” He journeyed to guess. Cyrin rerouted power as the EPS was starting to show signs of an overload before turning back to Rhiana, “What do you mean my discussion reflect the Captain’s orders? Surely you jest by referring that what I speak of reflects Captain t’Rehu’s orders?” He asked two questions one right after the other as he shifted on the ground to a more comfortable position, “Would you mind handing me that device there?” He asked pointing towards a tool. “And yes it is a very powerful feeling, a feeling that I don’t trust being in. I am almost afraid that the Captain has ulterior motives for occasionally putting me in command of the bridge. Please don’t say anything.” He commented.
She moved over and grabbed the tool he pointed out, something long and silver by the look of it and then she moved up beside him and handed it over. "You once told me that you were nervous about being in a command situation Ensign. Something you also told the Captain, ever since then you've been given command over the bridge many times. There are two reasons for her doing it. One is of course to make you uncomfortable and nervous, possibly in retaliation for your attempted assassination of her. But the second and most important reason is because she like me sees your potential and wants to see you succeed in your career. You've shown yourself to be willing to take risks and committing yourself to a goal no matter the cost. That is what it is to be in command." she said to him in a kind tone despite his asking her not to comment.
“Thank you,” he said as he took the tool and began to run it along the circuitry of the EPS conduit. “The wishing for me to succeed in my career coming from you I can believe.” He left it at that, “Command for me it is a dangerous word. Yes I command a department, and yes I have the safety net of the Command Team when I am on the bridge commanding that. So you are right I suppose.” He smiled to himself as the computers voice broke his momentary joy. “EPS Conduit overload in ten seconds.”
“Damn it!” He cursed as he flew up and began rerouting power away from the conduit. “EnArrain please disable all codes that allow for a person to reroute any type of power to the flight deck. Except for mine and yours.” He wasn’t happy at the moment, as his fingers danced across the console the EPS conduit not forgotten. “Damn inexperienced operations officers rerouting power to what is clearly a station being worked on!” He muttered to himself.
Rhiana moved up to the stations command panel and quickly punched in her override codes locking out anyone from routing power to this station. She cursed as it took nearly three seconds to input the command, Three seconds that could have been disastrous for the two officers. After a moment the computer acknowledged her commands and her eyes burned with rage as she slammed her hand over her nearly invisible combadge. "This is EnArrian t'Khellian who is the incompetent fool who is trying to kill The Chief Operations officer and me!?" she nearly bellowed.
An almost inaudible voice could be heard from the communications system, “Sorry ma’am, t-this is Crewman Audrey Newlund.” Her voice has fear in it.
Cyrin turned to Rhiana, his face showed rage as his hand slammed against his own commbadge. “Crewman Newlund, you are damned lucky that you didn’t kill us! You are relieved of duty until you are properly trained in operations protocols!” He nearly yelled, as he ended the conversation. “If you’ve anything to say to her, feel free to state it.” He said in a much more clam voice as he tapped his commbadge again, “Ensign Ro report to the bridge for operations duty on the double.” He ordered. “We at least diverted the overload EnArrain.” He announced as he wiped some sweat from his brow, “This isn’t the first time she almost killed a staff member, the boatswain had a conduit explode on him because of her incompetence.” He told her.
"Crewman Audrey Newlund this is apparently the second time you have almost killed a fellow officer. You are an utter disgrace to Starfleet training and rest assured if this was a Romulan vessel I would have you shot immediately for your gross incompetence. Your commanding officer Ensign Dicari is being very benevolent by allowing you to retain your freedom and not bringing you up on charges. Sometimes mistakes are made but there is no excuse for such inept behavior TWICE! You are in debt to your commanding officer now NEVER forget that." She said in an icy tone remnant to how Rehu spoke when she was enraged.
Cyrin stood there monitoring the situation with the EPS conduit more closely than what he would have done as Rhiana chastised the Crewman. Perhaps it would take the Romulans words to get through to her. He pushed a few buttons listening to the icy tone that reminded him of t’Rehu and a shiver went down his body. ‘She is almost worse than the Captain…almost,’ he thought to himself
Finally she stopped berating the young Crewman and looked back Cyrin moving up to the console once more. The tricorder she had used was now fully drained and completely useless. She unlatched it from the Device and placed it on the edge of the panel they were working on."How bad had it been damaged Ensign?" She asked him hoping their work wasn’t set back to far by the incompetence of the Federations soldiers.
“Luckily I was able to reroute the power in time. Had I have been a second later, the EPS conduit would be in pieces and we would be back in sickbay.” Cyrin rerouted a bit more power slowly to help decrease the time it would take to bring the conduit back to optimal level. “With careful manipulation and power transfer we are at seventy nine point one three and steadily rising. If I can keep this constant we should be at full level in five minutes EnArrain.” He announced with some delight in his voice.
Rhiana nodded at that and began to help him reroute the power relays into the console. "I have to say Ensign you work with Romulan dedication and diligence. When you see a problem you quickly and efficiently tackle it until it is no more." she said to him with a tone of admiration for the young boy. "The Device is fully charged, Console power to Eighty five percent. Perhaps we will actually get this done in the expected time after all." she grinned at him as she checked her chronometer.
“Thank you EnArrain.” He smiled to himself as he slowly increased the power to the EPS conduit. “We may get it done in a timely manner, however we could have finished it an hour ago had things been done properly. That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed working with you. On the contrary I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you.” He stabilized the power intake so it wouldn’t overload “Where are we at now?” He asked.
She pressed the readout once more and glanced at the numbers as they flashed before her eyes. A soft smile formed on her beautiful if still slightly bruised lips from Ch'Tan's kick."We are now at one hundred and ten percent capacity. Above projected operating parameters it looks like we've got it.” she said to him and then looked up and over at him. "I have also enjoyed working with you, not something I normally say to a non Romulan. Would you like to do the honors once more?" She asked him and offered the black fully charged Romulan transponder.
Cyrin smiled at the number she had told him. ‘One hundred and ten percent, that was twenty percent above what is protocol.’ He thought to himself as he disengaged the power that was being rerouted to the console. A part of him couldn’t help but feel proud that a Romulan…an actual Romulan admitted to enjoying working with him. “I would love to,” he said taking the Romulan transponder and placing it back into the spot where it had initially been placed. “So far so good it seems.” He announced, “I believe you can initiate it now.” He added.
Rhiana tapped in the command to activate the Device. This time there was no power surge and the faint hum of the EPS relays working filled their ears."Device activated operating at two hundred terajewls of power. We did it Ensign." She said with a grin as she looked over at him. She looked the young half Betazoid over noticing his pleased look. Yes he had done well."This will please Lieutenant Sakkara I believe. Her shuttles are now ready for entering the Nebula.” she said with an assured nod.
“Yes, yes we did it.” He repeated. “And yes Lieutenant Tyrax will be most pleased.” He added. Tapping his commbadge, “Ensign Dicari to Lieuteant Tyrax, the communications device has been installed in the shuttle.” A sense of pride resonated in his voice especially seeing as he had just got to play with Romulan technology for the first time in his life.
=/\=
EnArrian Rhiana t'Khellian
Chief Communications Officer
U.S.S. Charon
&
=/\=
Ensign Cyrin Dicari
Chief Operations Officer
U.S.S. Charon
