===== Main Engineering, USS Chimera ===== There was still one pleasant duty to perform in Shane's day shedule and he looked forward to it. Slowly he began to fear that the 'Pie lady' will refuse her task ... but knowing Athena, that wouldnt be the case here. Unfortunatelly, LT. Blackburn was still unconcious and could not perform his duties as Chief Engineering officer. Not happy about the thought, Shane slowly had to think about appointing someone to take care of Mike's responsibilities, till he will be healthy again. But that would wait for later. Entering the Engineering, Shane noticed the the noise level drop ... like was often the case when the CO entered a room. It was not common that Bretam or Guzman visited the engineering, so every visit was accompanied with everyone's try to look busy ... ::grins:: The man Shane was looking for could not be overseen, then he was the sonly one andorian in engineering ... and Shane went straightly over to Ens. Idrani. Gaalen rubbed his hair again, he was approving maintenance checks from all over the ship, as the standard operating procedure was to double check everything once a mission was 'complete' prior to engaging in another one. Always be ready for anything. He noticed the face of the crewman waiting for him, he was staring behind him. Gaalen turned about, expecting a superior officer Shane noded: "Ensign" he started, "i know that our initial meeting was somehow strange, but i hope that wont affect your duty relations with me or anyone else on the ship" Gaalen chuckled. "Don't worry sir, if we where all affected by that pollen, We could not all control what we did or how we reacted. There is no hard feelings, and there wasn't none to begin with, even with the Kinsi crew." Shane smiled and noded: "Good. What I came down her for originally ... I wanted to ask you about your feeling of our engineering deparment. I know, you are not very long here, but I am sure you have already looked 'behind teh corners' and can maybe tell me your thoughts" Gaalen decided to be truthful, even if it would hurt. "I have seen most of the dark corners of the ship, and granted almost all maintenance request by the engineering staff. But I definetly thought that if something came to happen to the CEO, that the ship already had a department second in command, but to my surprise it seems like I'm that man. It's quite a challenge to be doing that kind of level of work. I find myself doing much more paperwork than repairs, like I thought I would. It's a challenge I could live with, if you ask me." Shane looked at the Andorian for a while, admiring his open mind and the straightnes in his words. Gaalen was not a type of man to 'have a honey mouht' to get a desired post or a promotion. He said what he thought ... quite straightly, even to the Acting CO of teh ship. Shane knew that such action could bring sometimes troubles to him, but for himself, he liked Gaalen's way. And well, he spoke the truth. The ship's CEO, LT. Blackburn was still unconcious from the pollen effect and even Rangi could not tell when he will wake up. If even ... Other truth was that Engineering lacked good leadership at the moment. Sure, there were several skilled technician, with enough experience and rank to lead the department for the time beeing ... but all hinted that they lacked the most imporant skill ... leadership. Shane noded slightly and said: "The situation in engineering isnt the best at the moment, thats true ensign. Its really very unfortunate that LT. Blackburn is out of duty and in the sickbay. He is a great engineer and the deparment lacks his presence." He smiled a slight smile at the blue andorian man: "Well ensign, as you have already taken some of LT. Blackburns responsibilities, it looks to me that it would be nice to continue this way" He paused for several seconds. Looking directly into Gaalen's face he continued: "I am willing to give it a try. But there is one problem i still see. I can hardly offer the position of deputy Chief Engineering officer to an ensign. Maybe you could give me a counsel here as well Mr. Idrani, cant you?" "Well..." He seemed to lack the words. He did not understand how it could happen so fast. He was still fresh out of the academy and if he thought correctly, he was going to get a promotion. That could not be it, it was definetly in an acting fashion, until his time was served or the CEO returned or they found a replacement. "I am not currently the highest ranking officer around, there are still other ensigns, yes. I would guess getting a field promotion as acting Ltjg would be a solution, a temporary one until Lt Blackburn returns or a suitable replacement is found." He replied. He knew he could do the job as ensign, but apparently to Commander Guzman, it was not suitable and the only 'solution' he found was this one. He had other things to take care of before thinking about a permanent promotion. Shane noded slowly. "This might be the way we could handle this situation Mr. Idrani, but" Shane pulled a blue velvet box out of one of his pockets and looked at it, "by some chance it happens that I have THIS box handy so ..." he looked at Gaalen again and said in an official manner: "Attention Ensign Idrani" As Gaalen's body froze in the attention status, Shane opened the little blue box and pulled out a single hollow pip. "Ensign, I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant junior grade with all the priviledges and responsibilites that comes with this rank." He added the hollow pip on Gaalen's collar to the old full one. "With that done, I assign Lieutenant Junior grade Idrani as Deputy Chief engineering officer" He extended his hand to Gaalen and said: "Congratulations Lieutenant and godspeed to you" Gaalen shook the hand warmingly. "Thank you, commander. I shall not disappoint you." He replied, still in the shock of the promotion. He definetly had not expected this on a poermanent basis. It made him smile. Shane smiled at Gaalen and said: "I am glad to have an officer like you on board. How engineering will work permanently is a point i need to discuss with Commander Summers, but till we do a decission, its you Mr. Idrani who is in charge here. Your task is clear ... this ship must always be in an excellent shape ... in a shape that would allow us to pursue an borg sphere anytime and anywhere." "Your ship is in good hands, captain. We are ready for anything at this point, simply running routine maintenance and checks." The newly promoted Andorian replied. Shane noded and said: "I am glad to hear that Lieutenant. One more thing ... we just received 20 mostly teenage children as guests on board. I want you to take care that none of the children will get hurt down here." Galen nodded, already thinking about sealing off engineering, but he found that option, although understandable, a bit overzealous. "I doubt these children would be interested in the theoretical workings of a matter/anti-matter reactor assembly. I have no fear." He said, grinning. "If there is nothing else Lieutenant, I have other duties to atend to. Congratulations once again" Gaalen noded and watched his acting CO walk away, leaving engineering officially in his hands, until a replacement was found or he was made permanent at the CEO's position. Frankly he would not mind the latter. ===== end of log ===== Cmdr Shane Guzman Acting Commanding Officer USS Chimera & Ltjg Gaalen Idrani Deputy Chief Engineer USS Chimera __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? 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