Posted by Lieutenant Jarred Alindor (Chief Engineer) in Starbase - Requisitions

Posted by Ensign Kalani Kane (Scientist) in Starbase - Requisitions

Posted by Lieutenant Jarred Alindor (Chief Engineer) in Starbase - Requisitions
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
“I said I needed 25 mm jackets, not 2.5 mm!” Jarred shouted at the burly Catian reparation officer. He was trying to get everything the Saracen needed for their mission but was finding people forgetting how to do their job properly.

“I am sorry sir, but this is what your staff sent us. It’s going to take time to get the order fixed.” Ensign Crag said, not seeming to enjoy being shouted out by Jarred but not wanting to step on an officers toes who out ranked him. Spacers, always think you can push around the Basers he thought as he he nodded at one of the men to begin making the change.

Kalani looked up from her seat at the men talking. While both men were holding PaDD’s, one of them was in charge and the other was not. Rank didn’t really matter here. When you needed supplies even a crewman outranked an Admiral. You never knew what was behind the door the men in yellow guarded like their lives depended on it. The men in yellow could have a thousand of your item or two. You had no idea so manners and finesse were always needed. Kalani thought of these encounters like a delicate diplomatic situation and the Lieutenant clearly had not taken the academy class Diplo 201: Overview of Hostile Species. Requisition officers could go from friend and ally to enemy and combatant with a single officer’s glare or angry comment.

“Quit while your ahead. Apologize…apologize,” Kalani said under her breath watching the situation unfold.

“Oh don’t push this on my time, I have the order here.” Jarred said, bringing out the PaDD which showed a clear request 25 mm jackets as his time had requested. “I mean just admit the mistake but don’t pass the buck, you are better than that…” Jarred said as he shook his head, he didn’t want to yell at the man, it was an honest mistake but he wanted to get back to the ship as soon as he could. Growing up on a Starbase he never felt right coming back to them, like returning to the home of a relative who passed on.

“Look, we have the time, and I am sorry for shouting but can you at least expedite the process?” Jarred asked Crag who nodded.

“No no no no don’t tell them to hurry. You will never get your stuff and you are going to hose up getting mine,” she grumbled taking a sip of her drink but never letting her eyes leave the two men half talking and half arguing. “God whatever you do please be on a different ship than me. At least it will give me something to break the ice with when I ask you how my order is going.”

“I can get it done faster, just give us space okay?” he gruffed, he was glad the Lieutenant wasn’t trying to push to hard but he didn’t feel like having a circular conversation either.

Nodding Jarred looked back, the place was bustling everyone inspecting their cargo and materials. Jarred did find a striking figure north of him, medium build light brown hair, blue uniform leaning against the wall.

Jarred found himself going to the replimat near the cargo requisitions area, it was a small area to relax for their teams and he didn’t feel like exploring the rest of the base. Having a coffee and doughnut was going to do well enough to keep himself satisfied.

Alindor, CE

Seeing the man take a seat, Kalani walked towards the man with the PaDD hoarding all the treasures everyone in the room sought. “Hello,” Kalani said a bit more sweetly than was probably necessary. It helped tremendously that the Ensign was male and she was female. Even if she wasn’t his type, men were men and a smile often went a long way.

“Ensign Crag,” Kalani said with a soft smile. Shameless yes but she also let her eyes dart away a bit shyly for effect. “I am sorry to bother you but I was hoping that you had some information on my supplies,” she let her eyes slowly meet his.

“Yes, Ensign Kane,” he said a bit gruffly. “I do and you are not going to like it.” Kalani’s brow crinkled some in confusion. “You do not have a signature from your CO, XO, DH or the engineering chief regarding these supplies and before you say anything,” he held up a hand to silence her opening mouth, “the signature you do have doesn’t count. You are no longer on the Ark Angel so Lt. Sadie’s signature does not count,” he turned his back to Kane.

“There has to be something I can do. I need those materials,” Kalani said almost desperately.

“Him,” Ensign Crag pointed to the Lt. sitting at the replimat. “You can go talk to Lt. Jarred Alindor. He’s the engineering chief and if you get him to sign off then you get your ....why do you need that much transparent aluminum, steel plating, sand,” his voice rose a bit questioning the list he finally had actually glanced at.

“Him,” Kalani pointed cutting the Ensign off.

“Yep…good luck,” Crag handed her the list back and turned to complete the orders that were piling up.

Letting out a deep breath, Kane walked over to the man sitting at the table. “Lt. Alindor,” Kalani asked approaching the table. “Are you the chief engineer on the USS Saracen?” Before she broke into begging a stranger to sign off on something she needed to make sure he was the right person.

Ensign Kalani Kane

Jarred looked up, seeing the girl he had noticed before. “Yes, and you are?” he asked, he hadn’t ever see the young lady before. Still, she had a pleasant face and didn’t really hate the distraction.

Alindor, CE

“Help me Obi Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope,” she said hoping the line would make him smile or confuse him slightly. Either one would work. If he snorkeled, which was what her dad called a snort and chuckle, it meant he knew the archaic movie quote and was a perfect icebreaker. If he didn’t then his mind would secretly have an inner conversation about her sanity which meant he could only half pay attention to her request.

Ensign Kalani Kane, science

Jarred eyed her up and down slightly bemused as she said the line. He remembered seeing the movie, it was a picture in cultural appreciation back in the academy. Not many people really cared about the movie in the day age they lived in but he always had a soft spot for the flick. “Well, aren’t you a little short to be making requests.” he said with a small wink as he kicked back a chair for her. “How many I help you doll?” he asked her, his smile wide. He hadn’t a clue what she needed but she made him smile and that could go a long way in any day.

Alindor, CE

“No, it is just the uniform. I’m Kalani Kane and I am here to rescue you,” she said taking a seat with a smile. Whoever this guy was he had a sense of humor and knew one of her favorite movies. It would go a long way in helping her in the long run. Staying with the movie theme she wondered if he knew the movie or just a few of the famous one-liners.

“So apparently the Death Star plans are not in the main computer,” she said putting a half frown on her face. Okay equating her plans with the Death Star schematics might not be something a chief engineer wanted to hear was going to go on his ship but it was one hella icebreaker.

Ensign Kalani Kane, Science

“Oh you are giving me some mixed signals here, isn’t that a line when the angry helmeted guy chokes a guy to death? I mean we just meet but I guess I can help you out and choke you a little if you are into that.” he said, face dead pan not showing anything before he broke out into a hearty laugh.

“Uhhh,” her mouth dropped open for a second not sure exactly what to say. It was probably how Leia felt when that floating droid with the hypodermic needle starting floating towards her. Kalani rarely was unable to come back with an equally witty response but this was one of those times.

“Okay don’t look at me too weird I just wanted to have fun, Vader was always that kinky BDSM guy all leather never knowing anyone’s safe word. So many officers went down cause he didn’t know how to do it just right… but I digress.” he said as he couldn’t help but smile wider as he thought on what she said again.

Kalani broke out laughing hard. “Okay in all my years or movie critiquing, I have never once heard of Vader like that. Up top,” she said raising her hand for a high five. She would file that away in the ‘lines to use at a bar’ section of her brain. “And my safe phrase is simple. Use the Force insert name,” she said looking at the replicator and debating when to get more coffee. The banter was at a high point. Leaving now might stall it. “So are you going to help me get my plans off the starbase or let them fall into the evil clutches of Darth Crag and his happy helmeted henchmen.”

“Plans? What do you mean doll? You trying to get something built? If so I assume on the Saracen cause I hate to break it you but here they just look at me and tell me these are not the droids I am looking for, or that big brute over there. He might as well have told me that he has changed the deal, pray that I do not alter it further. That would make me Fett though and he always had that sweet armor. I guess I can live with that, you are on the Saracen right?” he said bringing it all back to his first question.

Alindor, CE

Using one hand under the table Kalani found a bit of inspirational music. Activating a link she found on Gaggle, she began to play the track as she spoke. “Mr. Alindor did the Jawas just hand the droids over? Are we going to sit by and let millions of oysters suddenly cry out in terror and then be suddenly silence? Did the Ewoks crawl into their treehouses and sing the yub nub song of victory because they wanted the Empire to win? No, sir they did not. So are we going to sit back and let the mean-spirited men in yellow dictate our future…our destiny?” Although this was not at all the approach Kalani had planned to take in getting Alindor to help her, a rousing rebel speech just might work. If not the song should at least make him grin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np6vAuS0KNs

Ensign Kalani Kane, science

“You don’t have to work so hard to sell me, I’d be happy to.... wait did you say Oysters?” Jarred said as he looked at her more intently. “That’s not the line, why would oysters cry out in terror?” he said with a puzzled look. “You… you do know it’s not oysters and just are trying to be adorable right? If so it’s working wonders, if not… well then I insist after we get you settled you come to my quarters have dinner and watch Episodes 4-6. Make sure you are as hip and in the know as you claim you are.” he said, smiling as he in many ways just asked her on a date. To Jarred though it was none of the such, he just loved the chance to re-watch them with someone who could enjoy the classics.

Alindor, CE

“Done and yes I said oysters. I mean they do have voices and if you come to my place you can hear them scream,” Kalani took a sip of her coffee and then gargle spoke the reply, “fank ewe Ahwidor.” The coffee dribbled a bit down her chin. It was a very unladylike maneuver but she was not looking for love. She was looking for a man that was good with his hands to build tanks, add support trusses and wire a butt ton of electrical systems in water without getting electrocuted. Wiping her chin with the back of her hand she leaned back in her seat. “As for dinner will there be pizza and can I bring a friend?”

“Yes there will be pizza, and you can bring whoever you want.” Jarred said, excited at the idea of having a group of people just geeking out. “Just let me know cutie and I will set it up.” he said giving her a wink as he took a sip from his coffee.

“Sir,” Ensign Crag walked over to the table. “We have the jackets you requested but working on getting you the correct quantity. Your order should be ready in the next 10 minutes.”

“Perfect, thank you Ensign and I want to buy you guys a round on my credits. You talk all the crap we dish out you deserve some recognition here and there.” Jarred said,

Hearing that her chance to get the supplies she needed woud soon me gone, Kalani decided to move things along at warp nine. “Okay Mr. Alindor since you were so gracious in offering to help me, could you add this to your list,” she said sliding the PaDD towards him.

Looking at the PaDD Jarred would find she needed:

11 panels of transparent aluminum 5.5 feet wide by 8.5 feet tall
22 bags of 10-pound high-grade sand
100 yards of fiber optical cables.
56 light bulbs 60 watt

Ensign Kalani Kane

“That’s all good and well, but I don’t even know what you are trying to build, nor have you once confirmed if you are even on my crew. So lets just back the bus up, you are on the Saracen right?” he asked her, trying to get this girls focus to stay in one conversation was a bit of a task, but he couldn’t help but geek out just a little bit with her so he didn’t mind too much.

Alindor, CE

“Yes, I am on the Saracen. I just transferred from the Ark Angel but I am not on your crew,” she said pointing the blue shirt. “I’m the real scientist and not one of the lesser ones. People all want to treat the physicists like the star quarterback and chemists like the best running back but I can tell you that the kicker is where the real heroes lay.” Leaning forward onto her elbows she looked at Jarred and then his donut. “You eating that pointed at his donut?”

Picking it up she did not take a bite but stuck her finger in the center. Pulling out she smiled. “Yes,” she said looking at the glob of red sticky filling coating her index and middle fingers. “I am so glad you are not the Boston cream type. I mean who wants pudding in a donut. Pudding goes in cups and jelly goes in bread or donuts in this case.” Listing lazily to the left, Kalani leaned down and fiddled with her bag on the floor.

“So football analogies,” she said picking the conversation back up where she left off. “I am the kicker, the all-star, heck if I wanted I could be the eeeeeevilllllll scientist of the sciences. she let her voice take on a horror quality. “Everyone discounts the kicker until you need the extra three points to win the game. That is what biologists are the scientific community. We are discounted until you need us. Can we breathe? Can we drink the water? Is this parasite going to kill me? Is this berry poisonous? The questions never stop.” Kalani continued to talk as she leaned over the table. “I would even go to say that we are the best at creating havoc, destruction, and mayhem. Sure the physicist can make a honking space gun that rains fire from above and wipes out a planet but then what do you have,” she looked at him as if wanting an answer but continued. “A charred plant no one can dominate or control. Now a bacteria can do the exact same thing but leave the planet in pristine condition for one to then reappropriate assuming you have the antidote to neutralize it’s effects.”

Sitting back up, Kalani, picked up his napkin and tried to get the residual stickiness off her fingers even though the looked like they had been licked clean. “So about those supplies,” she said to Jarred.

Ensign Kalani Kane