Just Another Day

Posted on Fri Feb 7th, 2025 @ 5:07am by Lieutenant Vereyn Kiiz

515 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Resistance is Necessary
Location: USS Jane Addams - Main Engineering

Vereyn leaned against the railing that circled the warp core, sipping a raktajino from a thermos he may or may not have permanently “borrowed” from the mess hall. The core pulsed steadily, filling the room with its familiar blue glow. Everything was running smoothly. For once.

“We’re cruising at warp six, efficiency at 99.3%,” Ensign Talera reported from the master systems display. “I’d say we’re running smooth as silk.”

Vereyn smirked. “Smooth as silk? You been hanging around Lieutenant Graves again? Next thing I know, you’ll be calling this place a ‘well-oiled machine.’”

Talera rolled her eyes. “Fine. We’re running like… a finely tuned warp drive. That better?”

“Much,” he said, taking another sip of his drink. Around him, his team was relaxed—still keeping an eye on things, but without the usual frantic energy that came with battle damage or emergency repairs. The ship was on its way home, and for once, Engineering didn’t feel like a pressure cooker about to explode.

Over by one of the consoles, Petty Officer Raines and Crewman Dohl were deep in what sounded like a very intense debate.

“I’m telling you, a Nausicaan with a Tegolar Sword would wipe the floor with a Klingon!” Dohl said, arms waving dramatically.

Raines scoffed. “Yeah, if they were fighting like mindless drones. A Klingon fights for honor. Passion beats programming.”

Vereyn turned toward them. “If you two are going to argue, at least make it about something important. Like the best way to recalibrate a plasma manifold without shutting down the EPS grid.”

Talera snorted. “Oh yeah, that’ll really get people going at poker night.”

“You joke, but I guarantee someone in this room has strong opinions,” Vereyn said, glancing over at Lieutenant Kellen, who had been quietly working at a console, pretending to ignore them.

Without looking up, Kellen sighed. “If you don’t shut down the grid, you risk overloading the auxiliary relays. You have to shut it down. End of debate.”

Vereyn grinned. “See? Passion.”

Before Talera could fire back, a soft chime sounded from one of the nearby consoles. Nothing serious, just a minor fluctuation in the warp field. He glanced at the readings, frowning slightly.

“That’s weird,” he muttered.

Talera stepped up beside him. “What is it?”

“Slight power variance in the plasma flow to the starboard nacelle.” He tapped a few controls, adjusting the plasma injectors. “There. That should even it out. Probably just a calibration drift from all the speed changes we’ve been making.”

The readings stabilized, the warp core continued its steady hum, and Engineering settled back into its usual rhythm.

“See?” Vereyn said, flashing a grin at Talera. “Perfectly smooth warp field. Like silk.”

Talera groaned. “I take it back.” She turned her face back into the console she was standing at.

Raines and Dohl were still arguing, but now Kellen had somehow been dragged into it.

“You’re all wrong,” Kellen said, sighing. “The real winner? A Vulcan with a lirpa.”

Vereyn chuckled, shaking his head. Just another quiet day in Engineering.

 

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