[snip]

Another little short while after Kord and Tia had left, and Captain Glen arrived on the Bridge from Sickbay. He was wearing what appeared to be a patched together spacesuit, with a the back pack containing the temporal ‘anchor’ machine and personal power supply. With the naked wiring and tubing he looked like a miniature version of the situation in the Cargo Hold at the moment. It was very bulky and uncomfortable, but the anti-grav belt made it light enough to carry around easily. In simulations it didn’t interfere with any equipment, and it should work as planned to allow the Captain his freedom once again. It was, however, too large to fit within the Captain’s chair.

The Captain could see from the viewscreen that they were already deep with the nebula and had begun collecting gases. Not seeing Kord on the Bridge and unsure which officer had been left in charge he just asked generally for a status report.

Will stood up, he hadn’t yet bothered to take the central chair as he had enough to mind on his station, that combined with the fact that he generally disliked being in charge “We’ve just entered the Hromi Nebula at the edge of the affirmation Hromi Sector, sir” Will announced, taking a step forward and examining the suit with interest “We’ve started gathering the necessary materials with the Bussard collectors and we should be done shortly” The scientist continued his visual scan of the Captains suit “Commander Kord and Chief Ezial are discussing the new specifications in the Ready Room” He hadn’t noticed anything odd with that “Uhm, sir, why are you wearing… that?” He didn’t really have a word as spacesuit or EVA suit didn’t really fit.

“This is the machine that Doctor Grunch has designed for me, to tether my body in time, and to prevent me from having those temporal fluctuations that were making me ill,” the Captain replied. “Or something like that. I’m a pilot not a scientist! Except for my archaeology that is! I’m sorry but I don’t really understand the science behind how it works. Anyway, Grunch will be taking your job soon if he keeps this up. He looked back through historical records and apparently, something similar has occurred before. More than a few times actually! He examined all the old science and medical cases and then he designed this. Well, when I say designed, he seems to have knocked it together from what looks like some old junk and an EVA suit, but I still think it is an extraordinary medical achievement. Just don’t tell him that I said that!”

“It’s good to see we are already collecting gases in the nebula. When will we know when we have collected enough?” Glen asked.

William turned around slightly, looking at his console “ENgineering will notify us when we’ve collected enough, it shouldn’t take long, this place has ample resources for us to utilize” He turned back to the Captain

“And you say that Kord and the CE are discussing ‘specifications’? In my Ready Room?” Glen added.

“Uhm yes.” William smiled briefly, a joyless polite smile “Lieutenant Ezial said the Commander had requested to see some…” He paused “Specs” He quoted.

“You may want to call them to see what their status is, Sir,” Hal suggested, in an attempt to be helpful. “I’m still scanning for any potential threats to the ship. With negative results.”

CoS

“I’m not sure this thing will get through the door,” replied Glen. “I’ll wait until they’ve finished!”

Will looked at the bulky suit “Well it does seem… Inefficient” Although he’d ignored the Jab about the Doctor taking his job he had heard it “I’d suggest having someone with practical experience help design the next one.”

CSO

“Noted, Mr. Grey,” replied the Captain. “I’ll just find a place to stand… more out of the way.”

The Bridge was, as usual, a very busy and noisy place, with all of its familiar cacophony of electronic hums and whistles. Glen felt good to be back once again after his long period of isolation in Sickbay. As Glen stood near in a space between consoles near to his Ready Room door, the voices of Kord and Ezial were clear, loud and recognizable above all the other extraneous hubbub, although it was impossible to hear any actual words.

“Did I just here a Growl?” Glen asked.

Glen, CO

With a series of beeps the NE at the engineering station reported they had the necessary helium and hydrogen in the amounts Daniel had requested.

GM CockRoach