[Commander Loran. Make yer way up to the bridge please.] It was Commander Jeffreys. Lieutenent Commander Garek Loran rolled out from underneath a fusion reactor assembly. He pulled out a rag from his tool belt, and wiped off his hands. He then touched his commbadge.
"Aye sir. I'm on my way up."
"Might I be of assistance?" A non-commissioned officer stood off to the side.
"Yes, Murphy, you can be. You're now standing in fusion reactor grid four. This, behind me, is reactor 3 of 5, one of the most tempormental pieces of machinery onboard this thing." Garek smiled. "I've got to go up and see the Commander. Do you think you can try and bring this thing up to spec?"
Murphy grinned. "I'll damn well try." Garek handed over his tool belt to Murphy and made his way to the turboshafts that led to the Bridge.
The door to the turbolift opened and Garek stepped onto the bridge. Commander Nevar Pol was hovering over different personnel.
Commander Jeffreys had left him in charge before he made his way to his office. Nathan Call was the only senior officer on the bridge manning communication while other crewman occupied the other stations.
"Welcome to the bridge Commander," Nathan said, looking up from the Communications station.
"Thank you Call," Garek replied with a smile. "The Commander in his office?"
Nathan nodded in reply. Garek waved, and made his way up to Jeffrey's office and pressed the door chime.
"Come in," Jeffrey's replied.
Garek entered the CO's office and let the door close behind him. "You wanted to see me sir?"
"Aye, I did. Take a seat." Garek walked over to one of the chairs and took a seat. "Yeh want anything to drink?"
"No sir, that's alright."
"Well Commander, I asked yeh up here to do somethin for me. The USS Hood is having problems making its way through the Briar Patch. I need you to take your ship through the plasma and guide her to the base."
"Of course sir," Garek replied. "What's wrong with the ship?"
"Captain Jennings told me that it's a problem with their short range sensors."
"Alright. I'll bring them in safe sir." Commander Jeffreys nodded, and Garek stood up, making his way to the Lambda Flier.
[Lambda Flier, this is Docking Control. You have clearence for departure to the outer rim of the Briar Patch. Good luck.] The voice was that of Chief Greg Edwards. Garek had the opportunity to meet the man behind the communications the day before. He was a fairly tall man, about six foot three. He was of average weight and build. He had to be getting close to his early forties Garek estimated, do to the grey starting to form at his temples. All in all, a very nice, quiet guy.
"Thanks Chief. Lambda Flier departing." Garek disengaged from the docking collar that he was docked at, and brought the shuttle up to full impulse. He then continued on his journey through the red and orange plasma swirls of the Briar Patch.
After nearly an hour and a half in transit, a large grey shape was starting to take form. It was definately the USS Hood. The long warp nacelles took shape behind the smaller primary saucer section. It had changed a bit since Garek had last seen it. The older style nacelles were replaced with the newer standard versions, with the flux pollution inhibitors fully integrated into the nacelle itself. A phaser cannon had been installed under the primary hull, and a few scorch marks could be seen, indicating that the ship hadn't been to dock in a while. Garek pressed a button on the control panel, signaling the Hood.
"USS Hood, this is the Lambda Flier, Lieutenent Commander Garek Loran in command. I have been ordered to guide you through the Briar Patch to the station."
The small communications viewscreen activated on the side wall.
[Commander Loran, this is Captain Jennings of the Hood. I appreciate you flying all the way out here to guide us through this maze. No doubt, you've heard that we've been having problems with our short range sensors.]
"That's what Commander Jeffreys tells me. Captain, if you'll just link up your ship's computer with mine, I'll feed you my sensor info as we go along, so all you have to do is just follow me."
[Much apperciated Commander. We'll do just that. Jennings out.] The comms channel closed, and Garek brought the shuttle into a loop, and then a half roll to straighten himself out. A signal beeped confirming the linkup between the two craft's computer systems, and then Garek hit the throttle, accelerating to full impulse. The Hood soon followed. Within a matter of hours, they were arriving at SB901.
Upon arriving at the station, Captain Jennings closed the sensor feed from the Lambda Flier and Garek layed in his course back to his docking position.
[Commander Loran. The special landing bay for your ship has been prepared. Please make your way to the main landing bay.]
"Understood control." The shuttle dove, and flew through the space doors into the bottom docking section. There, a set of lights were flashing repeatedly, with another set of small space doors opening. It appeared to be a Runabout maitnance shed, however this one was much larger in width and height. Brining the Flier in, Garek lowered the landing skids, turned the shuttle around, and set her down gently. The doors then closed, with the MAGCON field deactivating. Garek walked out the rear egress hatch and down the small ramp into the Lambda Flier's new home.
It was one of the cleanest hangers he had ever seen. Maitnance carts were at the rear wall with equipment and spare parts. Different other pieces of equipment were set up in different parts of the bay, and a multipurpose viewscreen had been installed on one of the walls. Garek walked forward and went through the only door in Lambda Flier's hanger. The door opened to Garek's office in Main Engineering. With a huge smile on his face, Garek entered his office, and began looking around. Truly, this was his dream assignment. His office was merely a brief moments walk down the hall from Main Engineering, and his ship's hanger could only be accessed from a door on his office. This truly was the perfect assignment. He would have to thank the engineers that came up with this setup. Truly content with what was set up, Garek returned to where Woodrow Murphy was working.