Engineer to Engineer

Posted on Thu Jun 1st, 2023 @ 5:24am by Commander Benjamin Jamesson & Ensign Michael Sloan

Mission: Sojurn
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: Day 333
2221 words - 4.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Ben was sure that he was starting to imagine things as he saw there trying to rewire a circuit that he was sure someone had been doing just two days ago. The systems were slowly breaking down over and over it seemed or had been with the power fluctuating. Now things were stable thanks to the power line it would allow them to fix it all. He looked around the mess and saw that he was pretty much alone in the compartment again after the dinner time rush. Maybe he should grab something whilst he was there to save time that could be used for other things? He thought to himself before deciding that seeing he had missed lunch and dinner trying to work out the system quirks it would be a wise idea. No one could run on empty. He had just piled some vegetable casserole into a bowl when he saw Sloan coming in. "Hey?" He started before he realised the younger man was looking similar to him in regards to exhaustion. "Late dinner?" He wondered slumping into a chair.

"Early breakfast, second lunch, who knows anymore?" Michael replied as he saw Benjamin in the mess hall. He was not really in the mood to eat but he had promised Beth to take care of himself. Crinkling his nose at the choices, Sloan picked some shredded wheat cereal. Bowl in hand, the Chief Engineer motioned toward the empty spot at the table and asked, "Care for some company?"

“Please.” Benjamin indicated the seat across from him. “I was thinking of going down to the planet after this but I am not so sure I have the energy.” The man said with a smile. Everyone was going to get the opportunity but be was just not sure he had the energy though he could use the drink.

"I know what you mean," Michael replied. His to-do list was probably lengthier than the United Earth charter. "But, it is a good thing to get away and enjoy yourself. Not everything can be about loss and work, holding things together from one crisis to the next," he replied. He had looked at the itinerary a bit but had not yet chosen his own time. "Anything of interest that you want to check out, or just hoping to enjoy time enjoying an alien festival?"

The older man nodded. He was fully aware that mental health and getting off the ship was a great partnership to achieve some balance again, but he was slightly afraid to admit, getting off the ship was a slightly scary step to him. It was not something they often did anymore, and it had been a long time since he had left either version of the Atlantis. “Not really. I am still trying to wrap my head around how much technology they have here. I want to say they are 100’s of years more advance than Earth.”

"I always assumed that the Fermi Paradox and Great Filter meant that we were among the first to venture to space," Michael replied. Shaking his head in amazement, he added, "But these people have to have centuries, if not more, on the most advanced civilizations that we know."

“I never bought into any of that nor what the Vulcans told us. It was impossible to not have bigger and better technology somewhere else out there.” Benjamin ate several bites of his food for a moment before he put down his spoon. “Have you managed to get off yet? I know you have said what you want to do but have you actually gotten off? Could take The Captain on a proper date or get yourself doing something new.” There was so much potential for people there. It would be hard to leave.

"The last time I left the ship, bad things happened," Michael replied as he forced down a few spoonfuls of cereal. The algae world and the future station were two experiences that he would have liked to leave behind. But, the other man had a point. "I saw something in the brochure about ice skating and an outdoor market. It might be a good time if I took Beth," he agreed. "It's better than the state dinner that I've heard so much about anyway."

“Not my circus. Not my monkey.” Ben replied thinking on the state banquet. He had never liked the formal things back at the Academy or Earth Starfleet Command. It was not suited for the engineer at all, he did not want to have to people. “When was the last time you left the ship?” He wonder thinking it would be a good time to discuss the differences between the universes.

"Me personally?" Michael echoed. "Not long before our universes collided. It was a planet with a shorter day cycle and beautiful sunsets." Remembering the peace that he had felt, Michael forced a bite of food down. "What about you?"

“A world that was a desert apart from an old abandoned city. Science had a field day. Will find the details in our pod if that is your type of thing. It was just too sandy for me.” Benjamin added thoughtfully. This was the first conversation he was having since he had his shore leave restricted for four days.

“I’m not much of a fan of desert worlds,” Michael replied. “The sand just seems to get everywhere and it feels like it takes more time getting the sand out of the equipment than the excursion itself,” he replied. Getting to a question that he had been wondering, “I hope I’m not too forward, but I have been curious about something closer to home. What is Earth like in your universe?”

Ben nearly pointed out that his version of Sloan never got to see it but that was something to explore another time it was just nice to have something to "I think it is very similar to yours. I have done a little research in your databanks but there are only minimal differences instead of San Franscio being Earth Starfleet Command is in San Diego. San Franscio was completely lost in an earthquake in 2050. We have a few different cities but I cannot see anything big that would not make it possible to live there if the roles were reversed."

"It sounds like there were only a few political differences, but nothing to vastly set us apart. Especially considering the scan of your pod. Did any database or data storage device survive the trip?" Considering his previous life, Sloan would love to take a peak at those differences. Ben's face did bring a pang of guilt to Michael. In some ways, he had always felt responsible for the death of their universe's Ben. Had it not been for his capture, maybe the Vrav would not have pursued them so hard.

"I believe so. The Captain and Gerhard have mentioned it. I am sure you will be able to get a copy if you are interested. I would not say it is sensitive information or anything. I would not deny the opportunity if our roles were reversed." It was not as if it could damage anything here as it was all past information.

"It is a little odd. It's easy to assume that you have the same knowledge and are the same person who was here," Michael started. "But we are here to help, even if we have to get to know each other," he added, a bit awkwardly. While they all looked the same and carried many of the same traits, they really did not know each other. Their Earth's and their Starfleets were not the same.

"So I guess you heard about my troubles on the surface with Cusack?" Ben ventured in seeing the man was his senior officer. It was something that needed to bring up with him when it reflected on Sloan. It was not something he could avoid.

"Only the highlights," Michael confessed. "Care to go over it?" he asked. He knew the punishments had already been handed down, so there was little need for him to double down on the other man's misery. Still, it would be nice to have the details filled in a bit.

"I said something to someone I should not have and Causack punched me. He was in every right to." Ben looked miserable over it but there was only so much he could do about it all now. What was done was done, he would accept the punishment.


TAG

"I'm restricted to the ship for the next three days or so. Lots of opportunity to leave me to do a few things and you can get off." Ben prompted thinking that it would be a good opportunity for the man to get some time away from the issues on the ship.

"I've got a library of PADDs in the office with things to do, "Michael responded with a laugh. "But, I have been meaning to talk to you about something. A possible new responsibility, if you're interested."

"Does not mean you can not get off and enjoy the ship, Sloan. Give yourself a break." He paused at the new responsibility notion. He was trying to stay away from that to give himself some head space to focus on just getting through the day. "I am listening but I am quite happy where I am if you are."

"Oh Captain's orders," Michael laughed. "She's forcing me to trust the aliens and enjoy myself for a change." Shifting in his seat a little to indicate that he was getting to business, Sloan began, "I don't know if you had the same issue in your universe, but Engineering is being overwhelmed. It was long before the warp engine cracked." He placed his hands on two ends off the table face up. "On one hand, we have the repairs to the mechanical aspects of the ship and maintenance of the warp core and the other big equipment. One the other, we are tasked with resource allocation and management. As we are seeing, when we focus on patching a hole in the warp core, sensors may not get the power they need to keep us aware." Looking back up to Benjamin, Michael got to the question, "What I would like to propose is that Engineering creates a department within a department so to speak. We take a group of Engineering, add in some experience from Armory and Science, and train them up on bandwidth requirements, power supply limitations, sensor readouts, the resource requirements to maintain or boost our armament. And I would like you to head that division."

"We had a similar issue." The older engineer confirmed. "We called it operations." He added thoughtfully. They had come to the realisation earlier due to a sector of space that had blown out ships' power conduits leaving him with no choice but to concede to the ideas of other people helping him run things. "But me run it?" Ben was not sure if he was in the correct head space to run something like that.

"Look around," Michael replied. "You are far and away one of the most experienced officers of any kind aboard. We lost alot when we were thrust this far from home," he said. Pointing to himself, Michael said, "I don't know what your Michael Sloan was, but this one was Chief Armory Officer. When we got to the algae world, the Vrav kidnapped me and tried to undo some kind of damage they perceived. That damage was me, or the real me. I am a Romulan engineer who was given extensive genetic modifications and memory grafting to be some Marine. After Chief Carter died, I was promoted while still having flashbacks and a dual personality. If I can make it, any of us can."

Ben took a deep breath. “Do I need to decide right now?” He asked quietly knowing the man meant well but Ben was really not sure if the responsibility would help his mental health or not. It was hard to work out what would help him find a new purpose

"No, not at all," Michael reassured him. "This can wait until the ship is up and running again," He added. "The details have not even been hammered out, and this would still be part of the Engineering umbrella."

The older man nodded. He would interested but he just did not know if he wanted the responsibility of being shifted left into a new department even if he knew he could do it. “Thank you.” He finally said when the silence grew too loud even for him.

"Anytime," Michael nodded. "Being the odd one out is difficult, and I can't imagine what you are going through. But, my door is always open," the Chief added as he stood. "Thank you for the chat."

Ben nodded. He wanted to say that he was fine but he knew he was not. He was going through the motions of life but it was all he had going at the moment. “Same.” He finally settled on. He did not know his version of Sloan but this one seemed to be nice enough and wanting to help. Maybe one day he would take him up on the offer