Posted by Lieutenant Logan Kelleher (Chief Engineer) in Side sim: Getting the Team Together - The Engineer

Posted by Captain Marceau Renault (Commanding Officer) in Side sim: Getting the Team Together - The Engineer

Posted by Lieutenant Logan Kelleher (Chief Engineer) in Side sim: Getting the Team Together - The Engineer
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻
There was someone Marceau had in mind for another position the Sojourner would surely need. The ship wasn’t going anywhere without a Chief Engineer, and Marceau wouldn’t take just any Chief Engineer. He knew Kelleher had been stationed on Earth for a while, so he looked for his old friend at home instead.

Heading up to the door, he knocked and waited. It was late, but this couldn’t wait. He was supposed have the crew briefed by noon the next day and depart a mere two hours after that. Better to just get all this preparatory stuff out of the way tonight. Once he had his crew, he’d board the ship, have a look around for himself. The Captain should probably know his own ship, he figured. Better get a look at the layout tonight. And not just the specs, that wasn’t good enough. Or, maybe he was just too excited and nervous to sleep. That could be it, too.

~ Captain Renault

Logans’ house was a small, two bedroom unit that overlooked San Francisco Bay and at this time of night, the shore line was lit up with a myriad of lights as the city continued it’s activities despite the late hour. It was clear that someone was home, and awake as the house was lit inside by lights, drapes and blinds hadn’t been pulled and several windows remained open. What could be seen through windows would show a sparsely furnished but tidy enough home with the identifying features of a bachelor in residence. A jacket slung over the back of a chair at the kitchen table, shoes discarded at the front door. Pictures and paintings on the wall that were all about old cars, aeroplanes, space ships and seafaring ships along with some that were more about popular holo-shows or paintings only a single guy could love.

“Round the back,” Logans’ voice would be heard calling out, coming from what appeared to be a small side path that cut close to a low fence, built not far from the side of the house so that a person may have access to the back of the section without going through the house.

The back section was lit by bright floodlights that overpowered a feeble attempt by solar lights to create mood lighting throughout the garden that was devoid of plants that needed regular maintenance. There were a lot of cacti and ferns, in fact. Dead center of the back yard was a lounger that was placed beside a low table, a six pack of beer sat beside that in which two beers were missing from the box and on that table were spread an odd mix of metal parts in different shapes and a few tools. In the lounger, facing away from the house and therefore with his back to anyone coming around was Logan, feet crossed ahead of him on the lounger as he looked out over the Bay but his attention was squarely on an odd looking metal part he seemed to be working on with a small spanner. Further off to one side was what appeared to be the frame of a two wheeled vehicle, some kind of antique motorbike probably.

Lt Kelleher

At the sound of Logan’s voice, Marceau headed around back of the unit. The site was something to take in. Cacti and ferns made up the area’s fauna, not surprising to Marceau, a Starfleet officer couldn’t always promise he’d be home in time to water the plants. Also not surprising were the metal parts and tools… were all engineers like that? Idle tinkerers at heart? Marceau had no idea, he’d been a doctor before he went command track.

He missed it a bit, missed treating patients and the medicine. In fact he kept his credentials renewed and good to go even though they weren’t going to be much use to him anymore. But he was incredibly happy and proud to be a Captain, and that was worth it.

Certainly likes his beer, Marceau commented to himself, noting the six pack next to the lounger. Then again, for all Logan knew, he wasn’t doing anything important tomorrow. No reason to hold back on something he liked to indulge in. That was about to change. Coming around the side of the lounger, Marceau spoke up, “Sorry I had to leave the bar early.”

~ Captain Renault

“Marc!” Logans’ head turned as much as it could to greet him but he didn’t get up. “Don’t worry about it, as long as it was worth it, I’ll forgive you.” At that, the big engineer grinned and pointed to a folded lounger lying against the fence. “Grab a seat and join me, San Francisco is bright tonight.”

Marceau headed over and grabbed the lounger, setting it up a couple feet from Logan’s. Then he plopped himself down in it. “It was worth it.”

“I didn’t stay long myself, I was only out for a drink and to grab dinner after work. We’ve been putting in some long hours at the research lab.” At that, Logan took a mouthful of the beer he held in his hand and put it down on the table. Although there were two bottle missing from the box, there was only one on the table and that was hardly touched. The missing bottle was clearly gone from a previous night.

Logan Kelleher

“It’s always been popular with Starfleet officers. I figured I might run into someone I knew there,” Marceau said, giving his own reason for being at the Smuggler’s Cove. “Do you like the research lab? Or would you rather work somewhere… a little further from home?” He flashed Logan a quick grin. Judging by Logan’s comment at the bar, he already knew what the news was. Marceau wouldn’t let him take all the fun away from telling him though.

~ Captain Renault

“It’s work,” Logan replied as he focused for a moment on a small spot of metal that his spanner had been working at. “I gotta say some of the stuff they are working on is going to be game changing when it comes out.” Logan paused for a moment then and looked up, his eyes narrowed and he glanced at Marceau. “What do you mean further from home? I hear the beaches on Jupiter station are absolute trash this time of year.” He hid a smirk himself, only the edges of his mouth twitching. “And since that incident with Harris’ son, anything but the research lab has been beyond my reach. What are you talking about? What happened with Starfleet HQ?”

Logan Kelleher

“I’m sure it is,” Marceau commented passively. Engineering was… not exactly his strong suit. “Jupiter station is lovely, if you don’t like air.” He shrugged off the comment about the incident that had grounded Logan earthside, too. “A Captain’s request can override that little… dilemma, can it not?” He smiled, he knew it could. “Your sentence on Earth is the result of Harris’ grudge. Your record is clean.” Finally, he couldn’t hide his smile anymore. “I will be the Captain of the new SS Sojourner. And her crew happens to be missing a Chief Engineer.... so, you interested?”

~ Captain Renault

“Dude!” Logans’ reply exploded immediately as he came forward in his chair. “You’re gonna captain that thing?” He paused for a moment as the news set in. “I was sure they had you pegged for the Chief Medical Officer position!”

Marceau gave him a look. “Chief Medical Officer? No matter how great a doctor I may be, they don’t usually assign Captains the role of a department head.”

Slumping back, he ran a hand over his jaw and the light beard that rested there. “I’ve worked on a couple of the other LR class ships as part of the research Division, installing test equipment and upgrades so I know her as well as anyone I guess. Okay, you’ve got your guy buddy. Captain. There’s no way I’m going to turn down an offer to head back to space. When does she ship out?”

Logan Kelleher

“I’ll be flying up tonight. I don’t really have the time to lounge with you too long. I need to pack. Helena will be flying a shuttle up to the ship at 0030. If you want to catch it, don’t be late. Otherwise, someone else can fly you up. You’ll need to be aboard by 1100 tomorrow, she ships out at 1430.” Marceau said. “The city is very nice tonight.” He commented, gesturing to the view Logan had mentioned earlier.

~ Captain Renault

“When the clouds and rain give way, yeah it is. You got a good night for it.” Logan grinned. “There is a supply shuttle heading up at 0700, we had it pegged for essential parts that her Engineers can install themselves but I can tag along with them. I’ll need time to sort my affairs here anyway, maybe get that bartender from last night to water the plants.” He waved his hand towards the cactus’ in full knowledge that they didn’t need watering.

“So you and Helena, you seem close?” Logan looked over at Marc now and grinned.

Logan Kelleher

Marceau shrugged, “We’ve been friends for years. Just like you and I have. She is the best pilot I know, you are the best engineer I know. No one else I’d rather go into deep space with.” He let his accent get a little heavier as he answered Logan’s question. “Why do you ask?”|

~ Captain Renault