Posted by Lieutenant Cherp’Eng (Chief Science Officer) in Meeting the Chief Engineer [Side Sim]
Leaving his meeting with Captain Colter, Cherp’Eng stopped by the animal labs on Deck 5 to check in on Ensign Millis and ensure the continued health of his egg. Following this, Cherp’Eng headed down to Deck 18 and the office of Lieutenant Kaia, the Chief Engineer. He heard she was a Raka, a race he had never seen before, but knew that like the Caitians, they were a sentient feline species. He’d also heard that they were very short. He hoped they’d be able to appoint a suitable officer to the role of being in charge of the Mechanical Sciences. As he said to the captain in their meeting, given that section of science works with the engineers, and is on one of the decks adjacent to Main Engineering, he thought Lt Kaia’s input would be useful.

Reaching out a hand, he tapped the chime on the door of the Chief Engineer’s office and waited for admission.

Cherp’Eng: CSO, USS Manhattan

Kaia’s office was adjacent to main engineering, a decently sized window in the corridor outside giving a view of the space, and the engineering team dutifully going about their work. The door slid open, a cheerful, “Enter,” accompanying the swoosh of the door.

The interior of the office was as chaotic as it could be. It was clearly both an office and a workshop, a tall but narrow desk pushed up against a corner along with two chairs - one a regular-sized chair, the other which resembled a lifeguard station with its elevated seat and ladder-lined sides. The rest of the room - the workshop part of it - was littered with projects. Half-finished models of unrecognisable scrap, what looked to be a fully articulated artificial arm, pistons and engine parts and electrical diagrams displayed on padds. And yet, despite all the chaos, it was clean. Not a single bolt, screw, or tool was laying around, each was securely contained within various pouches, drawers, and straps, and the floor was clean, no discarded rags or puddles of oil. There was, if one looked closely, even straps and clamps securing each of the chaotic projects in place, as if the owner worried they might go flying at any moment.

The final thing of note was the gravity. It was not significant, but there was a slight increase, Cherp’Eng’s footfalls hitting just a little harder than they regularly did on the Manhattan. “Good morning,” you must be Lieutenant Cherp’Eng,” Kaia called from across the room, where she was sitting, cross-legged, on one of the worktables. “Feel free to sit on the chair, if you like. There’s probably a stool somewhere around here if that’s more your speed. Welcome to the Manhattan, how was your trip through the wormhole?”

Lieutenant Kaia
Chief Engineer USS Manhattan