Posted by Ensign Kovan ch’Sirhc (Engineering & Communications Officer) in Side Sim: The Officers in the Lift

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim: The Officers in the Lift
Roman had been down in the Computer Sciences lab on Deck 12, helping with a problem. Passing Engineering, he was headed back up to Deck 9, to his office. Despite being the First Officer, he did most of his work in the Chief Science Officer’s office. He preferred it there. Mostly because it was next door to his own lab, the Biology lab. He pressed the button for the lift and stepped in.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

The console beside Kovan cheerfully chirped to announce the arrival of a maintenance request on Deck 9. That chirp, like the trill of some small avian bird species was starting to grate on Kovan’s nerves. Whoever picked that sound to begin with? Chirp, chrip, chirp did the inventor even think of the engineers that would hear that high-pitched and shrill sound all shift? No doubt the sound was selected by a committee who patted themselves on the back for their good work in selecting a bright sound that they didn’t have to listen too.

Kovan answered the request and grabbed a diagnostic PaDD and a basic hyperspanner. He rushed to catch the lift before it closed, stepping in behind the commander. Kovan nodded to his superior officer, but didn’t try to fill the space with idle chat as the lift doors closed and began to move. Except he did speak, “That doesn’t. . .” He said that because he felt the faintest tremor run through the lift. Then that slightest tremor became a noticeable tremor chased by a metallic scream that put those annoying message chirps to shame. Kovan braced himself against the walls of the lift as it rocked back and forth to a slow and shuddering stop.

”. . . sound good.” Kovan finished his sentence. The lights of the lift flickered, but thankfully remained on.

Ensign ch’Sirhc (COMMO, ENGR)

Roman was glad that Kovan didn’t try to fill the space with idle chat. He wasn’t much a fan of idle chat. He gave a respectful nod back. He needed to get back up to the lab. He had work to do. Lab animals to feed. And then the lift began to shake. And then there was a metallic screech, and Roman leaned against the wall as the lift stopped, and rocked back and forth.

This was not good. He was thankfully not claustrophobic or anything, but he really didn’t have time to be stuck in a lift until Engineering could fix it. “Deck 9,” he said to the lift, but there was no response. “Let’s call Engineering, they can get it moving,” Roman said. He hoped anyway. The lift comm shouldn’t have been down just because the lift was, but who knew.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO