She Looks Yar...

Posted on Thu Oct 21st, 2021 @ 4:59am by Captain David Tonelly [Reece]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 3: CAPETOWN
Location: USS Elysium, Deck 25, Shuttlebay 2
Timeline: MD 1 / 1245 hours
1771 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Following the Green assault, and his requiring medical treatment, David resumed his medical leave, though, he promised the Colonel that he would have a resolution soon. Baeryn was busy at work, which left David home, alone. After a while, he decided to see if Kaden was still serious about allowing David the opportunity to help work on his ship.

Kaden was sitting in the engine room of his ship making modifications to the Romulan cloaking device chamber hidden in the floor. The cloaking device was not exactly the state of art it was actually really old about 30 years old. His ship wasn't exactly fast the Elysium could easily outrun her as could most ships the cloak was something to give him an edge.

Reaching the open gangway, David called into the ship. "Anyone home?"

Kaden perked up like a deer sensing trouble before quickly tossing a sheet over the cloak and walking over to the ramp where David was. "Hey, old-timer."

The El-Aurian chuckled. "Permission to come aboard?"

Kaden waved for him to come on in. "Sure, just making some adjustments."

David grinned. "Oh? On what? I mean, that's why I'm here, to help you with this old girl."

Kaden's face suddenly turned red he wasn't exactly sure how David would react seeing a Romulan cloaking device. "Uh, help? Are you familiar with this type of ship?"

David grinned. "While she is an original, as you said, I see enough similarities to her cousin ships that I feel confident enough to say yes. Why? What secret surprise do you have under the tarp there?"

Kaden quickly stepped between him and the cloak. "Are you asking as Starfleet or what?" He questioned.

David halted and gave Kaden an odd look. "Does it matter, since we are on a Starfleet vessel?"

"David, I need to know if I can trust you is all and not go rat me out to Security." Kaden began. "Look okay I admit I have trust issues with people I just wanna know you are here to be friends and keep secrets between us."

David grew very serious as he replied. "Before I reply, Kaden, you should be forewarned. The woman that I love more than life itself is on this ship, and she is carrying our unborn child. If you have something on this ship that poses any form of danger to either of them, we are going to have a problem." The El-Aurian's tone left little doubt that he would do whatever is necessary to protect his family.

"Okay," Kaden began before he grew serious himself. "Then know I too have a special woman on this ship that means more to me than life itself. In my past life, I have done things to many people that could you can never possibly fathom. That woman I love saved me helped give me a new purpose in my life and I won't hesitate to go to great lengths to protect her."

Kaden kicked the sheet off his cloaking device. "I have no intentions to harm anyone, David, I have hoped we can be friends but if you feel I am too dangerous to be around." He pointed back to the boarding ramp. "Then get the fuck off my ship." Clearly, he was offended and he liked the old-timer grabbing a plasma welder and shield he went back to work.

David was silent for a few beats. Then, looking at what Kaden was working on, a bemused smile started to cross his face. "You put a weld point there and you'll short out the whole thing."

Kaden stopped welding and flipped up his faceplate. "Oh? Then where should I weld?"

"May I?" David indicated that he'd need a closer look.

"Be my guest, David," Kaden replied climbing out of the area he was working.

David nodded his thanks and climbed in. Slowly, meticulously, he scrutinized every square centimeter he could see. The whole inspection took about twenty minutes. When he was done, he looked up at Kaden from his position in the workspace. "Okay, first, you were hiding a second-gen Romulan cloaking device?" He chuckled. Starfleet has seen this model inside and out, so, not sure what the big deal here, on the Elysium it is. Second, I've played with grammar school toys more complex than this antique. Third and fourth, have you been having issues with it for a while now and who installed it?"

"No, the cloak is fine I am upgrading the tachyon scrubbers to help reduce the tachyon emissions. Second not exactly sure our security chief would like the idea of a random civilian puke like myself to have that thing."

"You sure?" David said, looking back down at the device. "See down here, under the manifold coupler? You've got a buildup of carbon. If you keep using this unit, I'd say, you'd get maybe thirty operational hours out of it before it shorted out and that computer inside turned to slag." He pointed to a few other weld points. "Whoever put this in here, cut a lot of corners." He looked at the mess in front of him and shook his head. "It's going to need to be completely cut out, cleaned, have a proper mounting assembly built from scratch, and then put it all back together correctly." He looked up at Kaden and grinned.

"I did structural engineering for a few decades, so, I know what I'm talking about."

"That bastard, okay take it from me when a Ferengi offers his ship in a game of tongo...run." Kaden took a seat next to David. "This ship is special to me though helped me travel around to hone my craft as a bartender.".He smiled sightly. "Everything on this ship has a story take that cloak for example got it as a gift from a Romulan I worked with at a bar on Vidal Prime."

David nodded as he listened. "Well, I can certainly help you get her refurbished and up to date, while still keeping her looking retro. And, we might even add a few more extras, if you want them."

Kaden's ears practically perked up. "Really? What sort of extras you got in mind, old-timer?"

David smirked. "Well, for starters, I could update this cloaking device. As for the rest, I'd need to look over the rest of the ship."

"Maybe I should disclose a few things first, this ship was a smuggler's vessel and so there are a series of secret compartments that I am using for safekeeping. Not to mention I think we both know these old girls came standard with Nuclear warheads back in the day so don't be shocked when seeing some." Kaden told David calmly.

Nodding slowly, David replied. "Yeah, I figured as much. Of course, the question is, do you want to turn this ship into something else, or keep her as a smuggler? As for the nukes, no worry there. The Ship's computer already logged them in when you came aboard. Avalon is keeping an eye on them as we speak, I'm sure.

"Honestly I am just trying to make her what she was designed for, to fight but also to haul if needed. Kinda like the Millennium Falcon from the Star Wars movies." Kaden was about to start working again before pausing. "Wait, who the hell is Avalon?"

David chuckled at the mention of the old science fiction movies from the 20th century Earth cinemas. "Yeah, I saw those three movies in the theaters when they were released. "That was always my favorite sci-fi ship." He thought for a moment, then added, "ya know, aside from a few differences, such as warrior monks wielding laser swords and the entire galaxy being run by a superpowerful bad guy monk, those stories are pretty close to life now."

Kaden grabbed a cutting torch and some safety glasses. "Well, I think with your help we can make this old girl a retro style modern beast like she was originally designed for mostly."

Taking the offered tools, David grinned and nodded. "It'll take a while, but, I think we can get pretty close to what you are looking for."

"You know, call me strange but I could use a guy like you that is quite knowledgeable on these kinds of ships and I like to put together a crew. Would you like to be my Chief Engineer? Could always learn a thing or two from you on stuff like this." Kaden said as he turned to his side and looked over the areas David pointed out.

David hadn't expected an offer like that. "Well, I am flattered, Kaden. However, right now, I'm in the middle of figuring out a lot of internal stuff. Once my medical leave is over, Ill have a better handle on what I want to do with my life. There is a part that finds the idea of working on this girl, full time, is very intriguing. However, I'm in a committed relationship, with a baby om the way, as I said earlier. Wherever my path tries to take me, it won't be away from them." He took a beat and added, "But, if you were looking more for a mechanic that stays here, I might be able to help you out."

Kaden stopped to face the El-Aurian. "Look, Old-Timer, this isn't a full-time job for either of us you got your family to look after, I got my bar. I am asking you to come with me when we are asked to help out the Elysium or make a cargo run. But 95% of the time you and I will be here with our loved ones and my bar." He grinned. "Besides, I'll make sure you be paid well, you are my friend after all...I mean if you want to be my friend."

David grinned slightly. Then, he twisted up his face, shoving his lower jaw forward, to both give him an underbite and a frown. Speaking in a voice that sounded raspy and quiet, he shrugged and said, "Meh, you make me an offer, I cannot refuse." He returned his face to normal and grinned. "Now brace this assembly while I cut it free."

Kaden took hold of the assembly. "First let's ask around for some side gigs we can find then we can talk numbers, what do you say Godfather?"

David made the face again and replied. "We can do business together. You're a good boy."

Kaden put on his safety goggles as he pointed to the assembly. "Ok, Don Corleone, let's get work on fixing this mess shall we?"