=/\= Deck B - Sensor Pod =/\=
As he had spoken his last sentence Thomas had been thinking of how he was going to motivate the science crew behind him. Not wanting to fail in delivering the competitive streak inside him insisted it had an idea. The glint that would have likely appeared in his eyes would easily betray that he was up to something.
"Sir in the interests of getting this task completed in time, maybe a bit of friendly competition here could help…that is unless you have a more important task than fulfilling the Captains priority order to science?" As he spoke Thomas attempted to adopt a serious pose as he suggested what he hoped was a rhetorical question.
They were on the potential brink of destruction, and yet that exact situation was downplayed by his departments jubilant spirit. He remembered back to a few months ago, when he had addressed his department for the first time as their new Chief of Science. All those speeches always seemed to sound the same, but Nathanial had not followed that route. Instead he had made it short and sweet, and talked about the enjoyment of Science.
Looking back at it now, he imagined it to be kinda corny, but that said, looking at the men and women working away in the cramped confines of the sensor pod, he must have been doing something right and un-corny to have them working so efficiently and positively in such a situation.
Nathanial turned to Thomas and replied "Well I was going to practice my stern and commanding voice, while watching you work. But I am intrigued, what do you have in mind Ensign?"
"Oh and you still may Sir. Everyone here already understands the gravity of our problem and is doing their best. However offering a bit light at the end of the tunnel could help us all." He explained his rationale first before proceeding.
"Anyway I have been thinking about breaking the crew into two groups and running a bit of a challenge, 10 probes each see which can knock them off first." He continued.
"Anyway as we have been working here one of the crewmen mentioned that you don't know your way around an Isolinear Phase Inverter." A bit of a lie but the Ensign couldn't help but indulge. "So with you back I thought you might want to prove them wrong and add a bit of a wager for the group that finishes first."
Nathanial chuckled, Thomas was growing on him, and what he proposed was right up Nathanial's ally.
"Alright Ensign, your on. I'll take the Beta shift team, and you can have the Alpha shift team. First to finish 10 probes. Winners get a hour of holodeck time each."
The rest of the science crew upon hearing this gave out a cheer. Nathanial smiled upon hearing that, right now keeping those spirits high was paramount.
"Aye sir, you might still have to help them rub the sleep from their eyes I think today's tumble interrupted their beauty sleep." He said loud enough for the room to hear.
Nathanial headed over to his 'team' and gave a short pep talk, anyone overhearing would have lifted an ear at the mention of 'pomogranite' but be unable to hear distinctly much of what else was talked about.
As soon as he had finished he got himself stuck into the work with his men by his side. Nathanial was no fearful kid when it came to manual labor, and driven by the thought of competition only fueled him more.
Thomas beckoned his group in, the lieutenant's mention of alpha and beta made him realize the time, they were about into the Beta Shift now if not already there. "OK First, you Crewman." Thomas pointed to one of the Enlisted Scientists who was dragging his heels. "Coffee, I don't care where or how but I want you back here with a pot for us in 10 minutes, go."
"Specialist Brody Secure Probe 3, Cadet Tenal Probe 5." He gestured the rest of the group to follow him, there were 8 Probes out and Thomas knew those two were the most progressed. As he walked over to where they would be working his order was simple. "Ok half of us get something extra out of this, lets make sure it's those putting in the double shift. We still need quality, we'll win this by doing the job once and right, everyone for now stick to your assigned job, lets go."
Both teams were pumped, they worked side by side, even with the competitiveness they were still a single department all working towards a singular goal. Friendly rivalry kicked in, When Nathanial's team noticed the coffee, they organized their own, when Thomas' team noticed a lateral pod placement to improve space they also adopted it. Back and forth, the competitive nature helped spur on ideas and time cutting, and before any of them had noticed, two hours had past, and both teams were down to thier last probe.
The Alpha Shift crew had worked wonders, there was a lot of bustle around the single remaining probe and the Ensign took the opportunity to take a step back, they had made excellent time, in fact less than half of what he had expected.
With the friendly 'race' at its final stages there wasn't much prompting required, the closeness of the event driving people who had been through over 8 hours of life threatening peril, a sense of excitement in place of what could have easily been dread and despair given their scenario.
Taking a PADD he double checked all the work. Anything as a stopgap from losing the control that was necessary to be displayed from an officer on duty, he didn't want to get swept up in his own excitement.
If the situation was not one of duty nor as threatening as their current predicament he too would still be shoulder deep in the probe with the rest of them rather than just encouraging it. He couldn't help but smile to himself.
Nathanial took a step back from his 'team', they had made excellent time, he watched them as they worked on the last pod diligently. It took him a second to notice Thomas standing next to him.
"Well Ensign" He started looking at his watch. "It seems that we have exceeded our expectations"
"All without any Temporal assistance either Sir." Thomas couldn't help but keep the idle joke running.
Nathanial turned to face Thomas fully, leaning over he quietly continued. "I noticed an interesting, umm lets say 'modification' to the probes, I am 'hoping' that it came from you."
The Ensign smiled and replied. "Well they were only just going to float around out there otherwise, even if their sensors are clear enough in this nebula to work out I couldn't see them compromising a warship, however they could trigger another visual aid as well as give them a surprise."
Nathanial lifted the PADD he was holding, they both looked at it intently. "So I have to ask, with these calculations, are you sure that they will not target the Charon"
"No, our emissions do not come near to matching the required molecular markers to trigger the protocol. See here is the Charon's engine signature compared to what they are looking for." Thomas brought up a comparison of the markers to the Charon's emissions for his superior to look over.
"Hmmm, even if it does malfunction, with our dispersal pattern, its highly unlikely that one will end up near the Charon, good thinking Ensign"
"Well only if it works Sir." he shrugged back.
Two near synchronous cheers interrupted their discussion. They both turned to see the two teams cheering at finishing their probes.
One of the cadets turned to Nathanial. "So Lieutenant, who finished first?" Nathanial looked to Thomas who shrugged with a small grin.
Nathanial turned back to face the two teams, both eagerly awaiting his verdict, no one other than Thomas knowing that neither him or Thomas had actually seen who had finished first.
"As always, you all make me proud in the work and spirit you put in! The winners this time, to not be corny are the Charon for your fine work, and honestly it was too close to tell, so an extra hour of holodeck time for everyone."
A cheer went up, Nathanial smiled, even though the hours would come out of his allocation, he believed each hour to be worth it.
"Congratulations are in order Lieutenant Doyle." As he spoke Thomas offered his hand. "Do you think it would work again to set-up the temporary Stellar Cartography?" he said with a laugh.
Nathanial grinned at the comment but changed the subject abruptly. "I need to contact the captain and inform her of our work, I will leave organizing the probes to the launchers in your capable hands" He finished while taking the hand Thomas offered and shaking it.
"Aye Sir." He responded nodding.
Nathanial headed down the hall to a quieter location and tapped his comm badge. "Nathanial to the Captain. I am pleased to report that all twenty probes are configured, and are ready for launch, when you need them."
<End>
Lieutenant Nathanial Doyle
Chief Science Officer
USS Charon
&
Ensign Thomas Clipper
Assistant Science Officer
USS Charon
