Back In The Game

The Hellcat limped at full thrusters towards a hiding place. Any would suit but the battle ensued around her. Chief Shale was on the Bridge forced to pilot the craft by hand, which was a very hard task due to the fact that the gyros were almost non-existent. At least he had a direct line of sight out into space through the windows of the Hellcat. Ensign Gordon was in Engineering trying to get as many of the ships systems back online. That too was proving difficult because of the damaged main computer core.

[Captain, I have found the nebula. We are going to encounter it in about forty-five seconds. However by then we will have burned up all our thrusters power. I am seeing that the nebula is a type six nebula. So we will need our primary graviton stabiliser. If we don't we will have a difficult trying trying to fix this thing feeling about two hundred pounds heavier.] Shale said.

"Chief get down here at once. The both of us working together should get at least most of the damaged systems back online." Janet sat back down at the main workstation and took a deep breath.

[Acknowledged.]

After Shale arrived Gordon pulled out a Padd and handed it to the Chief. "Ensign, are you sure you want the weapons back online now. We should first get navigation and helm control up and running so that we can get back to the Leviathan." Shale said noting his discontentment with list priorities.

Janet saw this and quickly and respectfully tried to put Shale in his place. "Objection noted. Just do it." She saw that her outburst had shocked the chief. "Chief, what good are we to the Captain if we can't cover him. I realise you're not an officer and have never been through the Academy. So let me say this.... I'm in charge ! I say what needs to be fixed."

Shale gave a mean look and slammed his hand down then got a few inches in her face. "I have been in countless scrapes and know one thing and one thing only Sir, that's survival. If we can't fight them how do we run ?"

Gordon stood her ground and looked at him in his eyes and said. "I have been in this battle and this battle only so far. Captain Devore orders are clear. We must not fail. Now I don't care if you have been fighting all your life, but I will succeed in this mission. Mister Shale. I know you're scared and so am I, but we must put our fear aside and do our duty at hand. Now I say what is to be fixed and when. Do I make myself clear Chief ? If you'd excuse me I have worked to do as do you." Gordon said not waiting for a reply. She grabbed the toolkit and went to work near the primary sensor relay and the deflector controls.

Shale did his work and then worked on the second thing on his list which was the shields and targeting array all in silence.

"Chief, lets take a five minute breather, grab us some coffee from the replicator. It's about the only system that was not affected in the battle."

"Fine." Chief snapped back. The two sat down next to each other quietly because there was no where else to sit. Shale feeling some what bad about what he had said tried to bring up something.

"You're wrong. I attended the Academy, from 2367-71, resigned in 72. I know about orders but I am used to protecting my own six. I am sorry." Shale extended his grease covered right hand. Janet grabbed it and shook and then said.

Six ?" She asked.

"That's an old fighter pilot's slang for his rear end." Shale explained reaching for a hypo spray to relieve his pain his shoulder.

"Well we should be ready to go in about three hours." Gordon said fixing the gyro stabiliser.