Kovan checked the right, then the left. All clear. He crossed the intersection and headed down the hall towards the deck 7 escape pods. Pausing every few meters to listen for the sound of foot steps or chatting crewmen. No one close enough to spot him and that was good enough for him. Kovan pulled his hyperspanner from his back pocket and gently pried off the maintenance panel for the escape pods.

The hardware system that managed the pods was soon due for a physical examination and upkeep maintenance. Kovan checked over both shoulders before getting to work. Why the sneaking around? Because he’d very recently been put under a work suspension for two days. Meaning, he was put on forced R&R (and not for the first time either). No one should be working on the pods for a few days yet and few crewmen ever wandered by the pods. Kovan figured it was his best bet for off the record work. Two days with no work. What did they expect him to do? Play board games in the lounge all day and learn an instrument?

The suspension wasn’t fair to begin with. Who cared if he worked “too many” shifts in a row or if he didn’t take enough “off time”? Don’t work so much Kovan. Stop getting into arguments with your crewmates in your off time. Go take a break, Kovan. Go be social. Oh, not that social because you’re as pleasant to be around as a wild Gorn.

En ch’Sirhc COMMO/ENGR