=Deck 9 Corridor= =U.S.S. Chimera= Rick left main engineering and was now heading for the cargo loading area where the ship’s new equipment was being sent over from the starbase. As he walked, he looked over the data padd in his hand. The things that they were going to be doing to the ship were highly irregular. That was the way of starfleet sometimes, though as Rick realized, and the SSF more so. He arrived at the cargo loading area just as the first piece of equipment, pertaining to the modifications that engineering was suppose to make, arrived. Rick examined the first piece of equipment throughly as a first lieutenant, most likely from the starbase, walked over to him with a smug look on his face. “What do you think you’re doing, ensign?” the marine asked sternly, emphasizing the word ensign. “Following orders, sir,” Rick said in a polite manner as he continued to examine the equipment. “What orders?” “Those from the deputy chief engineer of this ship,” Rick said. “Well, you’re not authorized to be here, Ensign ...” the marine said. “... Rodgers,” Rick said, finally looking up at the marine. “And I believe I am. With new equipment like this is being brought on board the ship, I’ve been ordered to oversee the transfer. Of course you can ask Lieutenant McTaggert to conform those orders if you’d like, sir.” “I don’t have to ask anybody, anything,” the marine said. “This is highly sensitive equipment. If it’s so important to oversee the transfer, why didn’t Lieutenant McTaggert come here himself?” Rick was getting a little annoyed with the rough-looking marine lieutenant. “Perhaps it’s because he happens to have a ship’s engineering section to run, sir,” Rick said as a matter-of-factly, trying to remain calm. “Besides, I’m more than qualified to be here, despite how young I may look.” “That’s irrelevant,” the marine said. “My guess is that you don’t have the security clearance to be here. Now I’m going to have to ask you to leave, ensign.” “Sorry, lieutenant,” Rick said, finding it hard to be polite. “But I have my orders, which supercede any orders you may give. If you have a problem with that, then you can take it up with my superior, which happens to be Lieutenant McTaggert.” “Ensign, do I have to have you escorted out of here?” Rick slightly bite his tongue and counted to ten backwards in his head. He then gave the marine a serious stare. “Like I said, I have my orders, sir,” Rick said. “The only way I’ll disobey those orders is if they’re countermanded by either the commanding officer of this ship, or the first officer. Maybe the second officer. But definitely not because you told me to. So, do what you must lieutenant and I’ll do what I have to do.” Ensign Rick Rodgers Assistant Engineering Officer U.S.S. Chimera