Posted by Lieutenant Commander Akirel Ros (Chief Engineer) in Meeting the CE

Posted by Civilian Brooklyn Halsey (Quartermaster) in Meeting the CE

Posted by Civilian Brooklyn Halsey (Quartermaster) in Meeting the CE
Posted by… suppressed (11) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Brooklyn walked down the hall and entered the turbo. So far she had met several of the staff of the USS Athena on her rounds. By the end of the month, she would probably have met at least half the staff. Holding the box in her hands, Brooklyn did something she never did. She shook it. It was rare to get engineering boxes this small. Normally they requested things much larger. Stepping off the turbo she made her way down the hall and entered main engineering. Walking around the place as if she had always been there, Brooklyn looked around for the shiniest neck.

Brooklyn Halsey Quartermaster

“Hey, ah, you looking for someone?” The voice came from a young engineer wearing the pips of an Ensign on his collar, standing by a console that was in various states of disarray and disrepair as he was in the middle of doing something to it.

“Today yes. Brooklyn....Brooklyn Halsey,” she nodded at the Ensign. “I am the new Quartermaster and I got a package for Ros. I figured I would take a walk around and get my bearings so…here I am.” Lifting her hands up as if to show the parcel, she wondered if the Ensign was going to help or chat. She didn’t have a problem with either. It was not like being a parcel clerk was exactly in her job description.

“You, probably shouldn’t be walking around in here by yourself, it’s not safe.” He added, leaning against the console in a clear attempt to look ‘casual’, but succeeded only in knocking off a large calibrating tool of some kind which he half caught as it clattered to the ground. Awkwardly placing it back on the console and coughing lightly to clear his throat, he looked at Halsey half in the hope that she had completely ignored him and missed his clumsy attempt at trying to look interesting.

Ensign Leon Fletcher, Eng

“Neither is standing next to you,” she let out a small laugh watching the man trying to be slick but slipping down that slope instead of reaching the apex. “And you are,” she put the box on her hip and looked at Leon.

Brooklyn Halsey Quartermaster

“Clocking up extra time after shift or maybe a stint as a Janitorial Technician.” Came a voice from behind Halsey, and not too far away. “Eyes on the prize, Fletcher, that console has to be running a diagnostic in 40 minutes and that’s not going to happen with you throwing my equipment around Engineering as you take in the scenery.”

“Are you going to let him say I am not a prize,” Halsey shot back with a grin. “Most people are all excited to see me. I am a cross between Santa and a football player doing a hail mary.”

That made the man pause and look at her with a confused expression. “You, ma’am? Uhhm.” Leon bit his lip and was clearly trying to picture an image of Santa doing a hail mary.

Standing a few yards behind Halsey, Ros watched the pair with a raised eyebrow and a smirk that went at odds with his threat of extra duties. “What Fletcher here means is that you aren’t his prize, unless you come bearing the latest in AR, or Augmented Reality headsets so the lad can live his best life in his quarters instead of the holodeck rescuing maidens from dragons. Ensign Fletcher here is the Engineering Departments HR mandated gaming nerd. Right Fletch?”

“Yes, Chief,” Fletcher half saluted, then stopped as he remembered that he didn’t need to, then apparently took some time to decide that his half raised hand could end up scratching at a badly grown mustache that clearly refused to grow evenly to hide his half-salute attempt. “Uh, Lieutenant Commander Akirel is behind you, ma’am,” he pointed out before turning to the console, knocking the calibrating device off a second time in his rush to get back to work.

“Should I be scared,” she said in a low whisper with a smile on her face. Giving Fletcher a wink she turned around. “Lieutenant Commander Akirel Ross. I have something you might be interested in.”

Ros turned his attention and his grin on the woman who had so taken the attention of one of his underlings. “We only just met and you already know me so well,” the grin turned ever so slightly to a smirk that seemed to radiate heat. “Either that, or you say that to all the boys.”

Placing the tricorder he was holding aside on a nearby bench, he turned back to Halsey. “Nice package you got there,” his eyes moved down to what she was holding and back up again.

“Are you sure,” she cocked her head to the side slightly. “Because I am pretty sure I heard you tell ol’ Fletcher here that he was to keep his eye on the prize and you were referring to a console.”

“Of course, why would I willingly invite competition? Deal with it early, stake your claim. Lick it if you have to. So What brings you and your box into my engine room?” Ros tilted his head towards the box in her hands but his eyes remained locked on Halseys.

Brooklyn looked at Ros and took him in. He was tall, handsome, had rank, and oozed a cocky confidence like a broken console oozed gel packs. The rank might make some pause but Brooklyn was the Quartermaster and the great equalizer. Whether you were a captain or a crewman, supplies came through with the same speed, unless you were part of the Halsey Haulers as her family called it. It was too early for Halsey to decide if Ros was trying to be casual or authoritative.

Akirel Ros, CE

“What took you so long to come down from whatever hatch you were half sticking out of and claim it? I assume you were in some hatch or up some ladder. Engineers are always stuffing themselves into a tight space or saving the day with a can of WD-40 to make us mere mortals think you are gods among men,” she shifted the box to her hip. “Wanna know where you get your can of miracles....Brooklyn Halsey,” she stuck out her free hand.

Brooklyn Halsey Quartermaster

Ros took her hand and shook it, firmly. His grip was strong and his hand warm, but not sweaty. “Call me Ros, Halsey. If you have need for something official you can use Chief. I keep the rank for special occasions only.” As Ros shook her hand, he covered the top of it with his free one for just a small moment before letting her hand go. It was a small movement, and an unusual one amongst some people but it served to add a little more familiarity or comfort to the hand shake when other forms of on duty greeting were frowned upon.

Halsey shook his hand once and then put her hand over Ros’ as if they were playing some child’s game of whose on top. She had no idea if it was a playful or cultural. Since the man was Bajoran she would bet money on the former but it did show a less formal side to the man.

“Now as to where I was, no ladder or half-finished job. I was doing standard run of the mill crew evaluations.” He stuck a thumb over his shoulder pointing behind him, and if Halsey looked she would see a dark haired, tall woman walking out of the CE’s office and closing the door behind her. As she walked she adjusted her hair and then paused, seeming to adjust the fit of her shoe as she leaned against the wall for a moment. “She met my expectations and does good work. No WD40 needed.” Ros smiled and his eyes seemed to flash with bright humor

“Come take a seat in my office and I’ll get you a coffee. You look like a woman who likes it hot and strong.” Ros turned and motioned towards the closed door, “you want me to take that off your hands or do you have some kind of paperwork ritual I need to perform to take it?”

Akirel Ros, CE

“Will it require me to remove my shoes?” Brooklyn gave him a wry smile.

“Only if you want to,” Ros smiled lightly back. “I can work either way. Depends how informal you wanna make it.”

“I mean I have heard of people removing their shoes entering their quarters but not necessarily to an office. If you are a germaphobe I would suggest....hold this,” she handed the box to Fletcher as she tapped out something on the mini PaDD from her pocket.

“W..what?” Fletcher said as he found a box suddenly thrust into his hands, causing him to step back and knock the tool off the console once more.

“Re-mov-it,” Brooklyn stated as she handed the mini Padd over to Ros. “It gets a four-star customer rating and works like a shower curtain. You hang it on the inside or outside of an entrance and when its sensors are tripped it turns on a series of ultrasonic light beams that would to disinfect anything that comes into contact with it. It has been reported to have a noticeable effect in air quality and is different from an air purifier. Purifiers only have a set radius but that little guy sends light beams that bend and refract so it covers a larger surface area.”

Ros paused now and looked from her to the PaDD, then held up the PaDD even more closely and looked at the thing that was shown on the screen. “Huh?”

“The woman leaving your office was adjusting her shoe. I thought you might require it to keep down…whatever you have around here.” The engineering room, contrary to popular belief was spotless. People always wanted to think that engine rooms and warp cores were messy and dirty but ships were far from the diesel and grease machines from the mechanical past. In fact, the room was so clean, Halsey surmise emergency surgery could probably be performed on any of the consoles and it would be almost as sterile as a field sick bay.

“As to my coffee I prefer it light and sweet. I have never had to make do with black due to supply issues because,” she paused and looked at Ros as if to finish her sentence.....” I am the supply officer.”

“You know black coffee isn’t just a supply shortage of milk, right?” Ros asked with a smirk. “Some people actually like to have their coffee taste like coffee instead of diluted with unnecessary additives. But I’ll give that purifier thing a pass,” he handed the PaDD back to Halsey. “I think we can handle a shoe or two being removed when needed.” Ros continuing grin was now accompanied by a wink.

“Oh I like coffee-flavored coffee but sometimes one bean choice makes it more like a weak tea. Cream and sugar hide bad beans because there is such a thing as a bad cup of Joe.” Most coffee drinkers joked that there was no bad coffee but there was and Halsey had had some. Most of the time it was alien races that felt like they could harness the power of the Earth bean in whatever brown water they passed for coffee. Pretty much all the time alien races were wrong in this endeavor.

“Then be grateful you ran into me hun. I don’t come with bad beans, and if I do, they are bad in the good way.” Ros smirked lightly and gave a very slight, almost imperceptible wink.

“Mr. Ros you are not a bad bean but I am positive you are probably more of a spicy pepper. You know the kind that you look at on a tray and think yum, that looks delicious but that first bite bites you back. So do you bite,” she asked casually looking over her cup with a slight smirk. Ros was easy on the eyes, maybe too easy. He could be the type that flirted for the fun of it without any substance behind it but then again there was a saying about judging a book by its cover. Akierl Ros however was someone Halsey would not mind flipping through a few chapters on before making any firm opinion on the man.

“So if I need anything brought on-board without any paperwork, you’re my girl. Got it.” Ros turned for his office.

Halsey let out a laugh and followed him toward his office. “My last ship made me a t-shirt that said Halsey Haulaways because I could always bring in the haul so in a nutshell I am your girl. You name it and I got my finger in or my network does.”

“You got anyone with an in to the Lupidian Snail racing scene? The latinum is going hot at the moment I hear. Asking for a friend.” Looking back at her, he smirked and opened the door, standing aside to let her go in first.

“No, but if you give me more info and what you need exactly I will deliver.” Pausing she looked at Ros and scrutinized him. The man was well built, well spoke, and entirely charismatic. She realized this all in the hot minute she had met him. She also was starting to see his sense of humor was well defined. To Halsey, this was the hallmark of a good superior officer. “Unless you are looking to start snail races which I would suggest hitting up the bio labs before sinking money into the Lupidian Snail racing scene. I mean it’s a snail. How much faster can a Lupidian snail be except when it is trying to run from a fork and a vat of butter?”

“You’ve never been Lupidian Snail racing before have you Halsey?” Ros asked her.

“Can’t say that I have but I did chase one around on a plate before. Never doing that again,” she let out a laugh, “although I am hoping we don’t have to eat the loser of the race. I would feel the guilt of even picking one for the win.”

“You’re gonna be in for a treat, it’s fun and I bet you’re the kind of woman that’ll try anything once for a good time. My treat for the next racing meet, interested?”

“As long as I am not eating last place....yes,” she said with a smile. Ros had a great smile. It was slightly flirty but also neutral enough that it made one wonder if it was directed to them for more than just a friendly gesture.

“Great, in that case I’ll make it a date. We’re in the vicinity of Lupida so I’m sure they won’t mind a small shore leave for a weekend of high speed, jaw clenching snail racing.” Ros paused and turned around to face her, leaning in close as he lowered his voice. “It’ll get your blood pumping.” Smiling as he leaned back again, he turned once more for his door.

“The snails or you,” she leaned back looking at him. Point and serve, she thought lobbing back a flirtatious smile. It had been a long time since she had free time. Being new on the Athena afforded her some playtime until things got busy.

Arriving at his office, Halsey leaned in as if surveying the place. This was what she did expect, however. The office was exactly what she had expected from a chief engineer’s office.

“No germs, I swear. What do you think goes on during crew evaluations?”

“I don’t know but I am rather curious to find out. I am sorta imagining a science fair type thing where your officers bring in thier experiments and a few of them go, poof, where you get that smoke ring around the mad scientist googles and your hair is all askew.” Halsey leaned against the door with a smirk spreading into a smile.

“It’s far less show and tell, mostly oral.” Ros shrugged casually.

Giving Ros a small smile, she moved in front of the large wall PaDD like they were back in primary school. Placing her hands behind her back she looked eyes with Ros. “My name is Brooklyn Halsey. I am 27 years old and a Scorpio. I like delivering mail and do it with a smile.” Turning her face she gave Ros a fake and cheesy smile. Pulling a PaDD from her back pocket, she held it out to Ros. “Now show me how much you like me by telling the Padd. Just sign at the bottom and it would really help for you to hit me with a five-star rating.”

“It’s something I created for myself. Starfleet doesn’t care but it just makes me feel better to say I give five-star service but I am gonna need your signature and you to color in those stars before I let you actually take ownership of the parcel. I may not look it, but I am wirey and will wrestle you to the ground for it.” Halsey winked at Ros and waited for him take the PaDD.

Halsey rose on her toes and looked down at the PaDD in Ros’ hand. “Yep there you go. Just tap each star once until you get to all five.” She spoke slowly and in a slightly sing song encouraging tone as if coaxing the chief to cut the red wire before the bomb exploded.

Ros leaned on the door and tilted his head towards Fletcher. “You want the lad to bring the box?”

Ros, CE

“Um yeah. Just because I delivered it doesn’t mean I know what is in it and I am rather curious about you Mr. Akirel. Your Bajoran right so last is first and first is last?” Halsey did not wait but proceeded to move into Ros’ office and swipe a corner of his desk clear of PaDD’s. Patting it she let out a whistle as she tapped the desk and looked at Fletcher.

Brooklyn Halsey Quartermaster.

Fletcher placed the box where directed then gave Halsey a smile as he exited the room, and at the same time Ros was fetching coffee from the small exploratory in the office.

“Yeah, my family name is Akirel (he pronounced it Ahh-kee-rell) and my given name is Ros. Call me Ros unless someone bigger is watching or you really want to use my rank.” The corners of his lips twitched in a smirk again before they relaxed as he worked the replicator.

“Got it. Higher food chain around and you are Ahh kee rell vs. the grease monkey crewman’s Ahh Keer eil.” Halsey could not help by work to stiffle her grin. She was going to have fun with the man in front of her. Her mind briefly wondered how often and for how long he turned that sly smile and heart skipping gaze on the fairer sex. Since he was without any indication the was spoken for it was probably until the next sultry senior staffer or coy civilian batted thier eyes back at him: yet for now she might toss batting her eyes into the rink.

That replicator had a small plaque above it that read If ye make anything other than coffee through this machine, may yer soul be cast to the monsters of the deep when ye walk the plank. Coffee only, don’t taint me coils with ye needless carbs.

“Creamer and sugar right?” Ros handed her an oversized cup of bean juice, while his own was a large metal flag on of pure black coffee, the aroma of Rhodes Foundation Roast number 5 strong from it.

Ros

The coffee smelled amazing. It reminded Halsey of the first whiff one had when waking up. It filled her with a sense of calm and happiness. Taking the cup she inhaled it deeply and let out a sigh. Raising it to her lips she paused and looked at Ros over the rim. “If I drink this are you going to make me walk the plank since I tainted your coils?” Ros seemed to be on the edge of flirting with her. Halsey thought she would lob one back. The man was easy on the eyes and if it went out of bounds so be it. Life was not lived if one colored in the lines.

“Yes, but I think I can handle my coil being tainted a little by you,” Ros didn’t bat an eyelid as he caught her lob. “If you asked for pumpkin spice latte though, you wouldn’t even get the pleasure of walking my plank, I’d probably just have to go straight to keel hauling you.”

“Ohhh can I be blindfolded while you hum a dirge matey,” Halsey added with a smile. Brooklyn whistled out a series of notes that sounded more like a trumpet being crushed by a trash compactor than the classic pirate tune one would associate with a dirge. The look on her face showed that on some plane of celestial existence she felt her rendition would pass for the tune was going for however it was not in the celestial existence Ros and her were standing in.

“So whats in the box,” she tried not to sound as eager as she felt. Ros was interesting and while it was probably just a wrench or some other engineering tool, Halsey was interested enough to risk the disappointment it would not something to tell her more about him.

Halsey Supply officer

“Nothing important,” he grinned wide now. “I’ll open it later away from prying eyes. A guy has to maintain an air of mystery don’t you think? I mean what if its’ only a box of hand made socks from my mother? A guy has a reputation to maintain right?” With a laugh, Ros sat on the edge of his desk facing her.

“You might go up a few points on the bring him home to momma scale if it is socks and you wear them,” Halsey taunted them.

“What about you, Halsey.” Ros leaned forward and placed his elbow on his knee as he spoke, taking a drink of his coffee. “What was the last thing you received, yourself? Not for anyone else here but just you? You look like the kind of girl that collects something.” As he said that, his eyes shifted to the box she had brought him then back to her again. She probably would love what was in the box but now wasn’t the time to open it. He could do that later and for now, he was more interested in opening the first few layers of what made Halsey tick.

Akirel Ros

“Stars,” she shot back immediately eyeing the PaDD she had given to Ros. “Specifically five. I love stars. Like Luuuuuuuvvvv ‘em.” Jerking her head to the right she gave him an encouraging smile as it daring him to try something new and exciting. “Go on. Give it a try. See how it feels. Betcha it will make you feel good,” she taunted him with a sing song voice.

Halsey Quartermaster