trans_9 | Even rubber bands aren't this tense (OPEN)

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Even rubber bands aren't this tense (OPEN)

Well, the joy of meeting new engineers certainly didn't last long.

A grouchy-looking Billy emerges from a strenuous training session in the Sensoriums, face coated in sweat and grime. Stacy's suggestions to go out and get some rest had begun to sound perilously similar to threats, and so he had reluctantly obeyed.

Now he intends to proceed directly to Special Weapons and begin work on the sampling equipment they had so sorely needed on the last mission. His mind is churning out idea after idea, straining to find a reasonable way to convert their very limited scrap material into vials and air-tight containers. It probably wouldn't hurt to fashion waterproof gloves either, if they could.

After a quick race through the tubes he's holed up in the laboratory in comfortable solitude, securing his glasses as he makes his first attempt to synthesize a containment material. In his mind, to defend his worth as a member of this crew, he absolutely must succeed. Superficial things like exhaustion and aching muscles won't stand in his way.

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Oh, so he's dealing with another curious scientist. Billy's favorite kind of people. Most of the time, anyway. He knows better than to be rude, though, so he also pushes aside his problems and continues on. Setting his project aside for the moment, Billy examines the 'primitive hydro-vent' as well.

"That's one of the engineering department's challenges. We're working with engineers from a wide range of time periods, and unfortunately I seem to be on the more primitive end of the scales." He look around the mess of a laboratory (he really needs to clean that up---he always leaves the lab cleaner than he finds it, so someone else is obviously to blame) and reaches for one of the more advanced pieces left by his fellow engineers.

"Do you think it would be possible to update this equipment to your time's standards, or at least beyond its current efficiency?" Yeah, asking questions is the opposite of making him go away, but Billy will be reasonably happy if he finds more work to do.

If Billy wanted his peace, all he had to do was ask. When Pavel became focused on something it was generally hard to tear him away from it. "It is possible," he said slowly as he studied the piece of something that Billy was handing him. "I am not zhat skilled as Mister Scott, er, Scotty, or Sulu are at different areas of study, but ve have to know much for our wessel."

Looking up he offered the older man his hand. "Ensign Pavel Chekov."

He nods, finding himself fascinated despite the annoyance stubbornly clinging to him. "If you're interested, you're certainly welcome to join Engineering. It isn't urgent, but your expertise would be valuable."

Billy wipes his hand on the leg of his plantsuit as discreetly as possible before shaking Chekov's. Sweaty engineer? Not a good first impression. "Billy Cranston, pleasure to meet you."

His smile doesn't quite appear completely relaxed as it normally does, but it's the closest he's going to get today.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mister Cranston." At the chance to join the engineering department? He got another wide grin from the seventeen year old. "Ah! I vould like to do zhat! I am also a nawigator so if zhere is anything planet vise zhat you need.. zhere is a chance I could be of greater assistance."

One more glance about left a warm smile on Pavel's face. "Is zhere anyzhing I can help you vith now? Or projects I can zake off someones hands if zhey are ower burdened?" For the most part he understood the mission most of the crew had just come back from had been... taxing. Over working ones self was not something he would encourage anyone to do.

"I believe that more than qualifies you. Welcome aboard, Mister Chekov", he says simply with a slight smile.

"There's no need for you to begin right away. The only major item on Engineering's plate right now is creating reliable sterile equipment with which to take samples from the planets we visit. I believe I can handle that much on my own. But feel free to contact me on the communication rings or send a message if you find something of interest. I'd like to assemble a database of our inventory and all accessible resources on board." Billy picks up his materials and begins the synthesis process again---not to shut him out, but to attempt to get this done before he crashes.

Chekov nodded his head, glancing between his PADD and the stuff about the room. "Is zhere a vay to keep zee things recorded and not have to vorry about.. ah.." With a motion of his hand about the ship he indicated Stacy. Not that he was going to say it out loud and possible get some bad stuff going on in the lab. "Because, if not, I can offer zhis for any documentation purposes."

With a little wave of the PADD he watched as Billy worked, falling silent soon after. He didn't want to distract the man you see.

Stacy. Billy had almost forgotten about her, engrossed in his work as he was. He doesn't think she's privy to the communication systems they'd designed with security in mind, but it helps to keep your options open.

"How does that device function? Can you describe it without..." He jerks his head to the side, indicating the eyes that saw almost everything.

"Zhey are designed to be sort of like a hand held computer," Pavel explained, offering it toward Billy for him to look it over. "Zhey are generally able to connect to a larger netvork, but seeing as in how zhere isn't here, per say, it acts as a personal storage dewice."

It was simple in design, a palm size device that was rather thin and lightweight with a touch screen for retrieving files, movies, logs, or audio recordings that may be on it. This one, though, was more of a working device than a personal one. "It's design is wery basic and easy to nawigate. If is somezhing zhat you zhink vould be useful, zhere may be a way to recreate more."

"Exquisite!" Nothing distracts Billy from his issues faster than a new shiny piece of technology to examine. It's sleeker than the omnicoms the team had crafted before, and that advantage could be useful later.

"We've recently outfitted the crew with omnicoms that function similarly, but are more restricted in their capacity. Your device could easily serve as a template for an upgrade to our existing system." He makes a few mental notes to keep in mind for the upcoming engineers' meeting.

For now, though, he returns to work---but he'll try to get acquainted with his coworkers on the way, because doubletasking is necessary if you're keeping yourself as busy as Billy is. "Did you have any particular engineering specialties?"

"Zee omnicoms.. zhey are like PADDs?" that got an impressed look from the seventeen year old. If these people were able to make anything out of half the parts that were scattered about the ship.. Inwardly the geeky side of Pavel tried to bubble out.

"Ah.." Reaching up a hand, Chekov scratched at the back of his neck. "I vas top of my class in stellar cartography and transporter theory. My adwanced theoretical physics is not so bad either from vhat my professors said." Truth be told he wasn't sure if any of that would be helpful at all- but it was there all upon the table if any of them needed it. "Other zhan zhat, I vill try my hand at anyzhing zhat you need me."

"I worked with teleportation technology myself, using an external power source only available at home, but I wonder if it'd be possible to construct a similar system here for emergencies. We also have several cartographers, who will no doubt be needed to help us navigate alien planets---provided we can obtain the necessary information." Billy's mind starts to wander into 'fantasizing about possibilities' mode, and he quickly brings himself back down to the present.

"For the most part, though, I believe your physics knowledge will be more than useful in rounding out our team's capabilities. I specialize in the construction process, with solid grounding in the theory of physics and chemistry. I'm passable in biology, but that remains my weak point." Just ask the exploding plants he unleashed on his team a short while ago.

"Most of our current projects revolve around robotics and weaponry, if you'd like to look those over."

"Zhere may be a chance zhat zee teleporters could be made here. Mister Scott vas more knovledgeable about zee abilities to send objects and beings from.. vell.. anyvhere. Ewen a moving starship." Already Pavel's mind was working like Billy's. If the supplies were there he could possibly formulate a transporter that could possibly work for emergencies like were used in Starfleet. Spock's help would be required, though, and if Scotty ever showed up then they would all be set. Depending on what they had to work with.

At possibly rounding out the team, though, Chekov actually ducked his head and blushed a little. "I vill do vhat I can do assist. Anyzhing to prowide zee people here vith items to better protect zhemselves."

While robotics and weaponry were not his skill area (the latter mostly falling to Sulu), Pavel nodded his head. "Da. I vould like to look at zhem vhen giwen zee chance if I may. And zhis omnicoms- if zhere is one to spare zhat I can tinker vith?"

Billy smiles slightly upon seeing the other engineer's blush, then politely looks away. He's already confident that Pavel will be an excellent staffer. If only the rest of Engineering shared his cooperativeness---but hey, that's Billy's next task. Crew cohesion.

Back on topic---"You can take one, as long as we make sure it can be repaired and returned later. Our supply levels are adequate, but we certainly don't have an excess." Reaching over to the omnicom production unit, he lifts a spare and hands it over.

Taking the omnicom carefully into his hands, Pavel was already studying it. "Oh. Da. I vill make sure zhat it vill be back in vorking order vhen I return it." Shifting the item in his hands eagerly the youth was all but bouncing on his feet. "I vill see if zhere is a vay to make it close to zee PADD if it is possible."

And to see how it works exactly. It was, as the Commander would say, fascinating.

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Even rubber bands aren't this tense (OPEN)

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