Maintenance downtime

Posted on Mon Oct 9th, 2023 @ 6:25am by Captain Addison 'Rico' Leyton

Mission: Season 6: Episode 3: Far From Home
Location: Main Shuttlebay
Timeline: MD 05; 1930 Hours
650 words - 1.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Dressed in a dingy Starfleet Starfighter flight suit whose top was pulled down and tied around her waist with a grey tank top and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Leyton strained as she pulled on a handle belonging to the deuterium regulator in her Gryphon Class starfighter-bomber that had several opened panels and parts lying on shop cloths on the deck next to the fighter. She hummed a tune she had learned as a child called 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight.' Finally with a grunt, the deuterium regulator finally pulled free of it's housing and she set it on the deck.

She set down on the cool deck next to the part, letting out a sigh. She looked over her shoulder at her fighter-bomber. It had been over-due for a maintenance overhaul that got delayed due to being marooned on an ice planet in unexplored space.

"Captain?" came a male voice belonging to her Trill crew chief, Petty Officer Second Class Tevian as he approached her. "What are you doing? I was going to have my crew go over your fighter first thing in the morning."

"Oh, it's no bother, Tevian," Leyton waved dismissively. "It's something I learned from early on in life--if you want to be a good pilot, then you should also know how your craft works."

"I don't hear many pilots say that," Tevian commented as he looked over the parts lying on the deck. "Many pilots are only interested in flying and their technical knowledge normally stop at the Preflight checklist."

"Well it helps that I come from a military family with a long line of pilots," she chuckled. "I can trace that line all the way back to Earth's Third World War."

"That's impressive," Tevian commented as he examined a control module. "This is going to need to be replaced...I'm amazed it didn't fail on you."

"That makes two of us," Leyton agreed with a nod of her head as she watched Tevian.

"Looks like you need some help, Captain," Tevian commented as he set the control module down.

"To be honest, that would be great. Else I'd fear I'll be here all night," Leyton replied, letting out a chuckle.

"Of course. The fighter is mine after all. I just allow you to fly it," he grinned.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Can you grab me a new control module?" she asked as she got to her feet.

"I'm on it, Captain," Tevian said, turning to head for the maintenance supply bay.

Leyton began picked up the deuterium regulator, standing it up on the deck as she grabbed a phased degausser and began to clean the part. Quickly, the tool began to remove buildup of deuterium in the regulator which is the result of operating in artic-like environments for extended periods of time. Leyton was glad they at least had engine heaters planet side or else the fighters and shuttles would have eventually succumbed to the weather.

"So, have you heard about the new alien on board?" Tevian asked, approaching Leyton with a new control module.

"Yeah, I heard the scuttlebutt about a new visitor. Apparently, his ship ran into trouble while he was scavenging," Leyton replied. "I think that's his ship over there by Lot 10-J."

Tevian followed Leyton's gesture and let out a slow whistle. "I'd love to get a look at that."

"You and every engineer on this ship," Leyton grinned. The ship did indeed appear to be nicely designed. "Besides, I'm starting to feel jealous."

Tevian turned back to look at Leyton, smiling. "Of course, it will never compete with you, and this ol' girl, Captain," he patted the Gryphon hull affectionately.

"That's good to know. Now let's say we get this ol' girl back together," Leyton replied as she continued to clean the regulator.

"Aye, Captain," Tevian smiled as he began to install the new control module.

 

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