A hard days work...

Posted on Fri Apr 16th, 2021 @ 12:43pm by Lieutenant Nilo Rodis

1,495 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: The Silent Scream
Location: USS Wolff Sensor Pod
Timeline: Enroute to starbase 54

Once he had completed his break, Tobias had made his way out of the room to carry out the rest of his tasks for the day. Whilst he was still amazed at the upgrades that the service had managed to fit aboard the Luna Class starship, he couldn't help wonder what other issues they would come across once the Wolff arrived at Starbase 54.

Collecting his toolkit, Tobias made his way toward the nearest turbolift and entered it when it arrived. "Sensor Dome section," he instructed, as the doors closed.

Having been made aware via the reports he had read that the previous Operations shift had assigned a team to work on damage control and repairs, Tobias decided to take on one of the more obscure tasks that needed completing on his list of jobs. With all of the recent work that had taken place in previous weeks before his arrival, it was clear that a lot of work had taken place in several different areas across the ship.

Checking the duty roster for any officers or crew working from Operations in the Sensor Deck, Tobias saw an Ensign Yosemite as being the officer in charge of the section during this shift. Having read up on her file, he knew that the young Martian officer was a capable part of the Operations team already and wasn't surprised to see she was assigned today.

Having made his way towards the Sensor Deck via turbolift, Tobias saw the young Ensign snap to attention as she spied him making his way towards her station. "Lieutenant Rodis, I wasn't aware that you were paying us a visit up here today?" she offered.

"At ease, Ensign, I'm just here to pick up one of the smaller tasks on my job list that needs completing," Nilo explained as he met Yosemite at the Sensor Deck entrance. "So, I see we have a standard maintenance crew on duty today, I'm not sure that was to be expected?" he asked her. Nilo knew that the young officer was an organised and efficient colleague who attended to her duties well.

"I like to make sure that the maintenance crews onboard keep things in tip-top condition, sir. It's good to make sure that we can help with allowing the Wolff to continue working at peak efficiency," Yosemite explained.

Nilo smiled. "Very well. I'll be in here for a while, can you make sure I'm not disturbed too much?" he asked. He liked to make sure that he wasn't disturbed as he carried out his work, knowing that his report had to be completely accurate, otherwise there could be consequences later on.

"Of course sir, although, should you need a hand, I always carry a spare toolkit. You never know when a Senior Officer could use some help with an inspection," Yosemite added.

It was clear that she wanted to join him and with the list he already had for the day, Nilo smiled and accepted the offer.

"Very well. I'll get started on the primary backups and make my way around to work through the various checklists I have, in the meantime, grab a toolkit and get started on the primary flow sensors from the EPS channels?" he asked. He wanted to make sure that Yosemite was nearby, to be able to have a conversation, otherwise, the work would go more slowly.

Pulling out his checklist and opening his toolkit, Nilo began his inspection, knowing that the next few hours were going to be very busy for both him and Yosemite. Before heading inside, Nilo noticed one of the young Ensigns nearby, looking a little bit lost and decided to step in by handing a coil spanner to him.

"Finish up the work on the ODN access and the LCARS interfaces outside this area and get started on the EPS conduits on deck 36. I will be back later to check on you."

The Ensign nodded and went off to get on with his work. Yosemite let out a small chuckle as she saw what her Department Head had done. “Morano will love you for that sir, he was looking a bit spare.”

Nilo smiled at Yosemite’s chuckle and knew that she wasn’t slow about coming forward. This was also a chance for him to get some maintenance done and get to know some more of his crew.

"By all means, Yosemite, if you have questions, please ask away, I don't bite..."

Knowing that this was a good chance to learn more about her new department head and maybe look at a way of being a more active member of the crew, Yosemite took the chance given to her. "How long have you been on board Lieutenant?".

"Me? Weeks to be honest, but I always find that it good to arrive for a new assignment that is full of challenges and the Wolff is standing up to her reputation very well, with all of the refits and upgrades going on board of what is one of the newer starship classes within the fleet, despite her many years of service," he mused.

"How long have you been in Starfleet?" he heard the young Martian officer ask and thought back to his first day out of the Academy as a junior officer, reporting for duty on the USS Jefferson...

"Myself, I graduated back in 2378," Nilo started, as he worked away. "Served aboard the USS Jefferson as my first posting oddly and ironically enough along the Cardassian Border, ferrying aid to the various planets along there after the end of the war.. I've spent some time at Starfleet Operations before they re-assigned me back into the great unknown by putting aboard the USS Palatine..." he paused for a moment.

"The Palatine toured on patrol in the outreaches of the Beta Quadrant near the Romulan border. Whilst onboard, the predicted Supernova of the Hoban Star in Romulan space took place earlier than expected. The Palatine was one of several Federation Starships that took on board refugees once the event occurred. I then served USS Capitoline, another Vesta Class starship. When the position for Chief Of Operations came up for the Wolff, I accepted."

Nilo left it there as the console he was working on signalled completion. He headed over to the backup console and began a re-alignment of the lateral sensors from the station.

"How about you Yosemite? What brought you to the Wolff in the first place? What’s happened in your career to date to bring you to one of the most exciting posts in the Federation?" Tobias asked, eager to learn more.

Yosemite smiled at the Commander as her Engineering PADD updated with the data from the scans she was running. She stood up and strolled towards the nearby wall console and begun to run a system check. It was a few moments until she spoke again.

"I have just under 5 years sir. I started out as a Warp Core Specialist on the USS Heron," She gazed toward the now inactive viewscreen and tapped her fingers against the console as it lit up once more. The system's data started running again as she started working on the sensor flows.

"I made my way through the fleet, sticking with Engineering, however, I’ve always had my eye on making it to the Command Division one day. I’ve seen other older and more seasoned officers make it and I want to follow that example. I was on the USS Stanton, on patrol duty along the Cardassian Border. We were jumped by a Breen cruiser at the time and the Stanton took a lot of damage and was sent to the yards. I wanted a challenge and knew that the USS Wolff was being refitted at the time, so I received orders here."

Nilo listened to her previous career that led to Yosemite signing up to the Wolff and let out a little chuckle when he said about being where the action is. He finished off his current task before opening his tricorder and starting to scan the operations of the primary backups to the main sensors and began a systems alignment program. "Well I have to say, you’re sure to enjoy this assignment and you’re a fine asset to the Operations team so far."

"Thank you, sir. I won't let you down," she confirmed. Yosemite took a moment and stood up before walking back to the access point she was working in. She entered a few keys and brought up a status display before smiling and moving to the next part of her job.

Several hours later when they had finished the work on the primary back up systems to the Sensor Deck, Nilo thanked Yosemite for her help. Once they went their separate ways for the next piece of work they both had on their own lists, Tobias was happy to have met another member of the crew.

Lieutenant Nilo Rodis
Chief Operations Officer

 

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