Parker: Orientation

Scene: Deck 13, Recycling Plant

  

Russ took quick notes while Traamon walked him through the last day's orientation of the ship's Operations systems. Although the Screean had only been on board a handful of months, he was the only officer in the Ops department, and had had to learn most of his duties through technical manuals and scribbled notes from the long-gone Chief of Ops, a scattered Bajoran.

"THIS IS THE WASTE STREAM PROCESSOR," Traamon shouted over the loud machinery. "IT TAKES EVERYTHING FROM GALLEY SCRAPS TO REPLICATOR MALFUNCTIONS TO CREW WASTE AND TURNS IT BACK INTO ENERGY. I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN SIMILAR SYSTEMS BEFORE. I CAN GO OVER THE SCHEMATICS WITH YOU BACK IN THE POD."

"GOT IT," Russ shouted back, "WHAT IS THAT SMELL?"

Russ thought back to his first day. Walking into the main Operations Control room, Traamon had welcomed him to 'The Ops Pod.' True to the nickname, the room was large and oval-shaped, with stations to control everything from weapon and shield power distribution, the main deflector dish, replicators, gravity plating, life support, turbolifts, internal communications, transporters, and auxiliary and backup systems. Most of the stations were empty, all having been long since rerouted to the supervisor's panel, which could also be controlled from the Bridge. The workspaces were cluttered with reports, notes, and manuals. Judging by what he'd seen so far, Russ could tell Traamon was clearly gifted intellectually, but had a long way to go in housekeeping skills. Because of what he'd heard about Screean males, Russ decided to let it ride until he'd established a good rapport with Traamon. The rapport was well into solidifying, but since that first day Russ found out first hand why nothing was put away: there was simply too much work to do.

The two officers were rounding a corner toward the compartment hatch when Russ accidentally kicked over a large bucket beneath a leaking framework of pipe. He said an expletive he thought would be inaudible in the din.

"YEP, THAT'S WHAT IT IS," Traamon responded. The men laughed. "HANG ON, I'LL GET A COUPLE MOPS."

Ensign Russ Parker

Operations Officer

USS Arapaho