New Toys

Posted on Thursday, 14 January 2021 - 5:01pm by Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt & Commander Soral & Lieutenant JG Maximus Mackenzie

Mission: Operation: Trail of Tears

ON:

Soral had asked Baciami to meet him in the cargo bay with Mackenzie He wanted to ensure that all the new security features were installed and it would take both of them.

Adrianna walked in wearing civilian attire, though there was a a slight cut in her lelf sleeve. She pulled down her face covering and smiled a little, "afternoon, sorry it took me so long. How can I help?" She continued unwrapping her hair and face from the same scarf.

Mac walked in shortly after. "Sorry...I was delayed."

Soral was worried about Mac. He'd been quiet as of late. "I require both your assistance. We are going to make some changes here. I have discussed them with Zilith and he will be assisting too. He had a tactical meeting and thus cannot be here today."

Adrianna nodded as a greeting to Mac then looked back to Soral," what can we do?"

"The ship has received some security upgrades for both your departments. I wish you to both be proficient in them." He turned to Adrianna, "You as the head of your department, and Mac as the most senior in the department next to Zilith. He is the chief but he will be relying on you to bring him up to speed on the tech." He looked back at Adrianna. "Some of this..technology is fairly new so I will expect you both to get to know it well."

Adrianna nodded. She was curious and intrigued as to what they were, "sounds good."

"Good. Tactical wise our shields are a little different."

"May I ask, before you go into detail about what has been upgraded," she paused, trying to formulate the right way of asking, "have we had these upgrades because of events, or are we predicting something?"

"Both. They are stronger and they are set on random phase shifts. They can also be a little more tailored." He looked at them. "Also our ... phaser strength is a little increased."

Adrianna looked over some of the panels, "are we heading into a sharks nest in the near future?"

"Of a kind." He said. "There will be a briefing soon." He looked at Adrianna. "I have also arranged for you to update your database...somewhat."

"What do you mean?" she asked for clarity.

"A contact within the V'Shar. He may be able to help but to a point. Also...some intelligence from Betazed."

Adrianna looked intrigued but nodded, "yes, sir."

"Alright. I will allow you two to get things started. Keep me appraised. We have 72 hours to get it all in place."

Adrianna watched him leave, before turning her attention back to the panels. There were more than just a few upgrades. Clearly the times were changing.

Mac sighed. "Well I guess no sleep for some time. We may need some engineering help."

"Might I suggest brain food too, like pizza?" Adrianna asked though clearly engrossed.

"I...oh gods I haven't eaten since...yesterday. Yes...food."

She looked to him and smirked, "seems that everytime we talk, you've been starved."

He sighed. "Yeah...with Haru and helping care for him there has not been much time for anything."

Adrianna smiled a little then wandered to the replicator. She soon turned with two pizza boxes. One extra large, one small. She handed the large one to him, "food is the cure for you."

"It seems. Capellan Metabolism ensures no weight gain." He paused. "How'd the brig thing work out?"

Adrianna chuckled, "I'm jealous." She the nodded, "well, you know, found a bitch, made toilet wine."

"Sorry?"

"Jealous of the inability to get fat and as for the other, it's an Earth stereotype of prisons. Sorry. I wasn't there long. Everything got resolved."

"That's good." He studied her. "How are you really doing?"

"After today's final trip to Italy," she paused trying to find the words to satisfy the emotion she was feeling, "I still need to piece my feelings together, before I can answer that honestly. One emotion I'm feeling right now is 'relief': relief that Soral didn't murder me for getting his wife hurt. Either way, I should be asking how you are."

He smiled, "Ohhhh he wouldn't murder. He'd really make life hell but..." As to her second question he sighed, "I don't know. Haru's pushing himself but....nothing. He can't walk...he's...frustrated."

"Better to have someone who is pushing too hard than giving up completely," Adrianna offered with a small smile.

"I am exhausted and emotionally wrung out."

"It wouldn't be wrong of you to take a break, you know," Adrianna mulled on the idea herself for a moment, "you'll eventually crack if you don't."

"There is no time for that." He smiled. "I think Soral gave us our marching orders." He looked back at the equipment. "This will take the entire day won't it?"

"One evening won't kill you," Adrianna nodded, "I should tell Leopold that I won't be home tonight."

He gave a nod. "Sounds good. Eyelaya is staying with Haru." He looked down. "WOW."

Adrianna looked up from the panel to him, "hm?"

"I can't believe I finished the entire pizza."

"You want to finish mine? I'm full," she asked handing him the pizza box.

"No...No I'm good." He sighed. He was not looking forward to all the work, for the first time in his life. "Lets get this going." He smiled. "I think if we work at it we can get a lot done today."

Adrianna sighed, "I already feel like I've achieved a lot. Why can we not do as Earth's Spanish do-- mañana." She groaned and pulled up a chair.

He sighed. "Well we could but... we have our orders." He grinned. "Come on. Let's work and then drinks are on me, as they say."

"Spoil sport," Adrianna chuckled, "let me contact Leopold and ill be there."

He gave a nod. He was glad for a break but felt guilty that he wasn't with Haru. He would wait until Adrianna was back and then he'd ask her something.

Adrianna wasn't long, seconds really, she came back and looked back to the console. She asked it, though inanimate, "where were we?"

"Just about to start." He said standing. "Can I ask you for a favour?"

Adrianna considered telling him she was talking to the panel. She looked up to him and answered as she would anyone, "Depends what you need."

"Will you come and meet Haru? I have been hoping that meeting more people would... motivate him."

Adrianna took a moment before answering, "I'm not saying no, but you know me-- I'm not exactly a welcome wagon. You've thought this through, right?"

He smiled "Absolutely. You would get along."

Adrianna nodded. She smiled welcomingly, "set it up then."

"Great."

They began by reviewing each and ever bit of equipment. Mac, for once, was glad that Starfleet assumed that all its personelle were idiots. They sent detailed instructions. What surprised Mac was the heaviness of the equipment. He whistled low. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"I'm seeing a lot of extra baggage for one tiny thing," Adrianna looked confuses, "is it made of vulcanised lead?"

He sighed. "Not that I can see but might as well. Soral and the Captain might be expecting trouble where we're going." He sighed. "As always, we're the last to know."

"To be fair, if they told us the whole truth, I don't think we'd do this willingly," Adrianna muttered, teasing, "Still, I think we're heading for war or unknown. You don't suit up for a leisurely stroll."

"That's true enough." He sighed. "Well at least they sent instructions...although I do think they were in a foreign language, now looking at them."

Adrianna snorted, "standard isn't my first language but this could be written in Italian and I'd still be none the wiser. I think manual writers need to remember we're not that kind of smart."

"Yeah." He sighed. "Alright. Well let's just start fitting things were they look like they go." He grinned mischievously.

Adrianna chuckled, "please break it first, I don't want to be blamed."

He laughed. "Alright. Off to work." They began gathering the equipment and together the worked making connections testing the shield strength and all that came with it. They worked without stopping for hours. Finally they managed to tame the equipment.

Mac stood and stretched. "I thought the shield modulator would never fit. Damn it!"

"I told you that a smack would help," Adrianna teased. She yawned, "think we can call it a day yet? My bed is calling our a search team."

He sighed. "Yeah...I should get back to Haru."

"Let me know when you want me to meet him," Adrianna reminded, "or double date. I'm sure Leopold won't mind."

He gave a nod. "Thanks for your help on all this."

"You make it sound optional," she teased.