A Hard Days work...

Posted on Sunday, 9 May 2021 - 2:38pm by Lieutenant Raith Kolani

Mission: Operation: Neu Reich
Location: USS Standing Bear, docked at Starbase 24

With his free time complete on Starbase 24, Raith had made his way to the Standing Bear to carry out the rest of his tasks for the day. Whilst he was still amazed at the upgrades that Starfleet was still working on to get pushed through, he couldn't help wonder what other issues they would come across once the starship left the dock.

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

Having been made aware via the reports he had read that the previous shift of Starbase Operations had assigned a team to work on the starship the night before, making sure that all was ready for Raith's visit and subsequent inspection. With all of the recent work that had taken place in previous weeks since the Standing Bear had arrived from her previous issues, it was clear that a lot of work had taken place in several different areas across the ship and some of Raith's time would be taken up signing off the work that was completed.

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

He made his way towards the docking hatch and saw the Ensign snap to attention as she spied him making his way over. "Lieutenant Kolani, I wasn't aware that you were paying us a visit down here today?" she offered, already knowing herself that she was prepping the ship for his arrival.

"At ease, Ensign, I'm just here to make sure that the work done by starbase Operations passes inspection," Raith explained as he met Yosemite at the Sensor Pod 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. Raith 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 Standing Bear to leave port at a moments notice," Yosemite explained.

Raith 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 a starship could be rendered out of action until it was cleared for duty.

"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, Raith 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, Raith began his inspection, knowing that the next few hours were going to be very busy for both him and Yosemite. Before heading inside, Raith 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 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 CO had done. “Morano will love you for that sir, he was looking a bit spare.”

Raith 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 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? Oh a good long while now, but I always find that its good to arrive for a new assignment that is full of challenges and the Standing Bear is standing up to her reputation very well, with all of the refits and upgrades going on board of what is one of the smaller starship classes within the fleet," he mused.

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

"Myself, I graduated back in 2386," Tobias started, as he worked away. "Served aboard the USS Palatine as my first posting for four years before she was hauled in for a refit. They re-assigned me back into the great unknown by putting me aboard the USS Capitoline..." he paused for a moment.

"However the USS Capitoline was part of the fleet assigned to the exploration duties in the Alpha Quadrant, before being re-assigned to the Cardassian Border. When the position for Chief Of Operations came up for the Standing Bear, I accepted." Raith 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 Standing Bear 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 Standing Bear was being refitted, so I received orders here."

Raith listened to her previous career that led to Yosemite signing up to the Standing Bear 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 Pod, Raith thanked Yosemite for her help. Once they went their separate ways for the next piece of work they both had on their own lists, Raith was happy to have met another member of the crew.