"This is insane," commented Ensign Thompson. He had been assigned temporary Chief Engineer while Chief Murphy was onboard the Arizona. He looked over all of the personnel assembled in one of the station's cargo bays. Every one of the gold uniform clad engineers was busy doing something. One was hovering over a piece of machinery with different tools, another doing the same. The objective was to get every ship in the task force equipped with a sensor masking system. The only problem was, with limited resources and more then enough engineers who apparenlty "knew everything."
Jack Thompson watched as two Lieutenants began yelling at each other. From different ships, the two apprently had different views on how to install a circuit panel on another sensor masking unit. A fight began to break out. "Hey! Knock it off!" Jack ran over there, and broke the two up. "What in the hell do you think is goin' on?! You, get over there. You, get over there. You both are to work on different assignments."
"Who are you to say anything Ensign?" one of the engineers retorted.
"Because I put him in charge." The three looked over towards the direction of the cargo bay doors. Garek Loran had just entered the bay to check on progress, and saw the beggining of the heated argument. The three officers stood silent as Garek approached. "I expect to hear of no more problems down here. If that is the case, I will report you to your senior officers, and I'll have them deal with you. Is that understood?" The two Lieutenants replied with a 'yes sir' and they went their seperate ways. "Ensign Thompson, status report."
"Things are coming along sir. Slowly, at best. I'm giving it another week before we've made all of the necessary modifications and repairs and such to the machinery we have already manufactured."
"Sorry to tell you Ensign, but you don't have that time. I want these systems operational in three days. Make sure it happens." Garek turned, and left the bay.
"Um.... yes sir...." Richardson replied to himself. He turned his head, and his body taking in the sights and sounds of the bay. This wasn't going to be an easy job.
The loud whine of the repulsor engines hummed as what was left of the Hawke transports set down on the Marine launch deck. The tractor beam emplacements set down one of the Hammerhead fighters. The other four set down in a neat row, covered in scorch marks and dented panels. Garek made a few mental notes about damage, and how long it would take to make repairs to bring the vessels up to one hundred percent again. He wasn't liking the numbers he was estimating.
Tarik was the last to exit the second Hawke transport. He was limping badly, carrying his Type III rifle in one hand with his helmet under the same arm. "Commander," he greeted softly, conserving his energy.
"Colonel," Garek replied in the same fashion. Garek walked over and slung Tarik's arm over his shoulder, helping him along. "What were the results."
"We took it at a cost." Tarik winced slightly. "I'll get you a full report in the morning."
Boyle joined the two, and slung Tarik's arm over his shoulder, helping the Marine CO out of the bay and towards the Sickbay on the Marine decks. The sweat was glistening on the balding spot of Boyle's head. "I'm getting too old for this," he commented wryly. "Commander, I don't suppose you could give me a very rough estimate on repairs. I wanna get out there and show these sonsa'bitches who's boss."
"I'd relax for a bit Major. Besides, that's a question for Chief Murphy, not me." Garek looked back over his shoulder quickly at the damaged fighters, as the three exited the bay. "Three days."
"Sir?" Boyle asked.
"Three days. I'll get the fighters repaired in three days. Then, I'm going with you next time around." Garek telepathically saw the images of some of the dead bodies brought back from the moon, and saw the savages of their deaths. "Suddenly, I want a piece of these guys too..."
The Next Day: Marine Hanger Bay...
"Hit it again Lieutenant!" Garek walked out from the rear of the Hammerhead fighter towards the cockpit. Lieutenant Lucas West was sitting in the pilot's couch. He then began feathering the throttle lightly, working up to higher engine output. The whine of the impulse engines cut in and out before they died. "Dammit!"
"Sorry sir. I probably feathered the engine output too high."
"No, no. It's not you Lieutenant. It's this damn fighter." Using his telekenesis, Garek floated up onto the wing of the craft and towards the rear fuselage. He looked over to Lucas who watched him in slight disbelief. "Don't ask."
"Aye sir," he replied, still confused. Lucas climbed out of the cockpit, and walked along the the fuselage chine. He then joined Garek on top of the wing. Garek dropped to his knees, and opened the dorsal turret which contained engine systems. "Penny for your thoughts Commander."
"I think the engine tuning is off to put it simply. The engine regulator isn't synchronized to the throttle control and the plasma and EPS inductors. Basically, when you wanna go to half throttle, it's registering full, so you're gonna blow the engine systems."
"Gotcha. Thanks sir."
"No problem."
"Any ideas on how to fix it?"
"I might have a few," a voice from behind the two chimed in. Kim Tycho stood on the deck with her hands on her waist.
"Kim," Garek said with a smile. He again used telekenesis to lift himself from the fuselage of the fighter, setting himself down on the deck.
"I haven't seen you use that trick before," she said smiling.
"You'll find I'm full of surprises." He grinned confidently. "I'll be back later Lieutenant. In the mean time, recalibrate your fighter's phaser 'zeroing' point. It's a bit off."
"I will Commander. Thank you."
The two exited the bay and walked around the corner out of sight. Kim wrapped her arms around Garek's neck and kissed him. Garek brought her in in close until they finally seperated. "I heard you girls have been having some fun with this magical 'green goo' of yours."
"Hmph," she snorted. "More of a nusaince really. I'll explain over lunch."
"Sounds good." Garek wrapped his arm around her waist as the two made their way down the corridor.