Fixing things

Posted on Sat Aug 23rd, 2025 @ 8:33pm by Lieutenant Commander Savin & Lieutenant JG Astrja Kyan

Mission: Character Development
Location: Somewhere near the front of the ship
Timeline: MD1, pre-shift
2474 words - 4.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Astrja squirmed further up the tube. There was considerable burned material; it looked like a cascading overload burned out a stretch of the sensors' linkages. "This uniform is ruined," she said as it snagged on another piece of torn panel. "Hand up a number seven insulated pliers and a Laserson probe, please."

Savin just passed the hatch, eyes glued to the PADD as he was just on his way back to his office. He had expertly sidestepped a few crewmen across his path a few times now,but stopped as a message popped up from his speech to text program. "It would help if I knew what a Laseron probe is, what it looks like, and what it does," he answered as he glanced up the tube.

Astrja slithered down the tube and looked both ways down the corridor. "I had an assistant when I started," she said with a smile. "How are things going?" she asked before turning to riffle through her tool satchel.

"They go," Savin answered, following her gaze as she looked up and down the corridor, "including your assistant, it seems. What were you working on?"

"Blown sensor grid relay, we have backups but if you lose too many, you do not have anything," she tried to pull down her torn uniform to make it look a bit more presentable. "So, have to take this section out and fully replace it. Another exciting day in Starfleet," she added with a grin.

"Indeed." The counselor pushed up his sleeves towards his elbows. "Since your assistant decided to magically disappear, perhaps I can be of assistance? Though you will be required to explain everything, perhaps even more than once."

"Sure," she said and produced a pair of gripgloves from her satchel and offered them to him. "You will want these." She handed him the satchel. "Take this too. I go up first, hit the junction and turn around and come back, that way we can be face to face." She tucked the pliers into her pocket and held up an piece of technology. "Laserson Probe, very handy tool, depending on the setting, it can punch a hole in armor plate or pick the crystals from snowflake, one by one. It is currently off." She showed him the safety. "I will need it when we meet up in the burned-out area."

She winked and scurried back up the tube.

Watching her scurry off, Savin pulled on the gloves and attached the satchel to his uniform. With sure steps, he followed her up the tube. "If it is such a useful tool, why is it not standard equipment to all personnel?" He queried as he came face to face with her. "And how does it help to make repairs?"

Astrja's now soot-stained face reappeared from above with a smile. "Because Starfleet classifies it as a weapon and you have to get permission to have one," she answered. "Here, I will be using it to cut away fused sealing clips. Normally, you could just pull these panels out but the heat of the overload has melted them in place." She extended her hand for the probe. "Oh, there are safety goggles in the satchel; you will want to put them on. The flare is going to be intensely bright."

He couldn't suppress a chuckle at her stained face, and obediently put in the safety goggles. "These will impair my ability to see you speak," he warned, "especially when you produce those flares." He handed her the probe, watching her with interest. "Why is it considered a weapon when it is useful to as a multi-tool?" He shifted in the right space, trying to get a little more comfortable.

Astrja unfolded her own set of goggles and put them on. "All tools can be weapons. In old Klingon, the word for disruptor translates as 'shake it until it falls apart tool,'" she said. Astrja checked the settings on the probe, took off the safety, "Beginning now." The probe flared, six times in total. She then reset the safety and set the probe where it would be safe. "Now, let us see if we can get this panel out now."

Savin nodded and shifted closer, trying to pry his fingers between the panel and the wall. It took some effort but together they were able to get it off and slide it aside to reveal the circuitry behind it. "A disruptor does not shake apart," he finally commented, not that he had ever seen a disruptor up close. "At least, not that I am aware of." Ranged weapons weren't his choice of combat to begin with, he preferred melee weapons as he considered them more honourable. That didn't mean, however, that he wouldn't use a phaser or whatever was in hand if the situation called for it. And he was proficient enough too.

"The original disruptors used focused sonic energy, not very useful in space, but effective at close range," she said, shining a light into the circuitry. "This will all have to be replaced. These chips are fried." She smiled at Savin. "It will need a new panel too, let's take this down and free up room to work here. Then I will have to go to the industrial replicator for a new set of parts."

The counselor nodded as he shuffled back, carefully dragging the damaged panel along. As it was situated between them he withheld asking questions as he knew he wouldn't be able to see the answer. He waited until they set down the panel in the corridor. "I will wait here and guard the hatch," he offered, "then you can show me how to repair the unit."

Astrja smiled. "I would be delighted, Savin. I will be back in two shakes of a collinas' tail." She dashes off.

The blank look on the counselor's face was a good indication that he had no clue whatsoever as to what the Andorian had just said. He simply offered a nod and leaned against the wall, patiently waiting for her return after she had dashed off.

Astrja returned in less than ten minutes, which, while not as quick as she had hoped, was very good time. She had a panel on an anti-gravity hanger and a box of clips and isolinear chips. "Sorry, took me longer than I wanted. I will take the clips and chips up and come back down to help you guide the panel up. Will that work for you?"

"Of course. Or we put those items in a utility case and carry it all up in one trip," he suggested as he studied the panel. "Which would you prefer, I guide it up to you, or shall I pull it up?" No doubt he had quite a bit of physical strength on her, even though he knew not to underestimate Andorian strength.

"I'll take the chips and most of the clips," she offered him a box of the clips and touched the rest in her tool satchel. "Though you might want to have some too. I think guiding it up from you to me would be best, the anti-grav will take weight, but no point in risking accidents. The panel is pretty tough, so we should not have any problems. But the previous panel should not have blown either. So, best to be cautious."

She climbed back up and was shortly looking back down at Savin. "Ready when you are."

"We will use the utmost caution," Savin promised as he indicated he was ready. With the assistance of the anti-grav unit, the two alien officers guided the panel up the shaft, shifting it back and forth a few times to avoid damaging the wall. Savin climbed the steps, following the panel up and finally handed Astrja the remaining clips. Shall I hold it in place while you bolt it to the support?"

Astrja nodded as she already had two clips in her mouth as she lined things up, With the precision of long practice, she slotted and mounted each of the clips. Once her mouth was clear she said, "See, straightforward. Most of Starfleet tech is that way, designed to be modular and easy to repair. Did you want to try some?"

The counselor's eyes lit up. "Can I? Though you will have to guide me through this...I have never assisted with actual repairs before. And you have to explain before I do it because I cannot pay attention to you, and to what I am doing at the same time. Multitasking while holding up a verbal conversation is not amongst my skills."

"Understood," said Astrja. She demonstrated how the clips slotted in and twisted to lock. "It is a very good design, adapted from a Tellarite system, I believe."

"I consider it amazing Tellarites get anything done," Savin confessed as he divided his attention between the work and the conversation, "they are so argumentative. You could tell me anything and I am likely to believe you as I know very little about ship systems. Something I am trying to remedy though it seems my method rouses suspicion as those I ask seem to believe I am observing them as a counselor rather than someone with genuine interest."

"Really? I have always found Tellarites very focused once they decided what was best to do," said Astrja. "I love problem-solving, that was ultimately why I decided on Ops rather than tactical. Well, that and the fact that my best friend was in Ops. But you ever want to work together at fixing things, I would welcome your help."

"There are different types of problem solving," Savin answered thoughtfully, "and every department has their own way of doing it. Tell me about your best friend,is he or she on this ship too?" He took to her example and made a valiant attempt to lock the plate in place. Some clips cooperated without fault but the last one was very stubborn and would not lock in place.

Astrja pulled a sonic screwdriver from her satchel and used it to vibrate the stubborn clip. "Try now," she said. "My best friend is Njalia, she serves on the Vesta, in fact, she is their Chief Ops. We have been friends since childhood."

"My best friend is here on the ship. I am certain you have worked with him as he lends a hand in operations as needed. His name is Jerant, and I have known him since I was about ten years old. He was sent to my family to learn to control his telepathic talent, and at the same time, help teach me how to communicate and hone my telepathic talent. It is also thanks to him, that I do know how to speak, and with his help I can function in crowds."

"Yes, I have met Jerant in passing," said Astrja. "Without Njalia's help, I would not have made it through the Academy. Even with her help, I only barely made it," she said with a grin. "Try the panel again, I think it will work this time."

This time, the clip slid into place without issue. "Has it occurred to you that you may have just barely gotten through because you chose the wrong field? What drew you towards operations?"

Astrja grinned and blew Savin a kiss. "Oh, you sweet, summer child. I barely made it through because there were so many more interesting ways to spend my time at the Academy than on classwork." She pulled out a tricorder and started a scan. "But, as to why Ops, problem solving, fixing things, working with people all over the fleet," said Astrja. "I do not have the right mindset for medical or for counselling, like you. But in Ops, I get to help people, see every bit of the ship, and work with everyone at one time or another, because sooner or later, everyone needs help from Ops."

"I am not a summer child... according to my records, my birth occurred during the fall season. On Romulus, anyway. Is wanting to be able to help not that which drives most Starfleet officers, regardless of their field? And what more interesting ways are there, than to absorb that which you need to know?" He hadn't spent most of his time on leisure, only occasionally had he indulged in what his dorm mates would typically describe as fun.

"You need to meet Njalia, she approached the Academy in the same way," said Astrja with a smile. "I see the Academy as teaching you the tools to act within Starfleet and how to find the tools and information you need to solve problems. There is so much to learn that you cannot know what you are going to need to know, so best to master the basics and how to learn what you will need. At least, that was my belief and it has served me well."

"The academy does that, but as I am a doctor, I need to know a little more than just the basics even though I do continue to learn even years after graduation." Her enthusiasm was palpable and he smiled in return. "Everyone has their own method of learning things. Mine was to study, leaving little free time. Given my handicap, I actually needed to pay more attention to my studies."

Astrja nodded. "Sciences and medicine are to demanding for me, my mind does not work that way, I can do deep dives to solve a particular problem, but not consistently as such arts require." She looked at the tricorder.

"I am powering this up, you might want to move back, there is an infinitesimal chance that something will explode when hooked up to the power grid," she snapped out her goggles and put them back on.

Obediently, the counselor sat back in the available narrow space and put on the goggles as well.

"And on," she said, tricorder whirring, as the panel lit up. "Nominal. Everything is good. Thank you for your help, Savin."

"You are welcome," Savin answered, "I am gratified that I was able, and allowed to assist. Now, I probably should return to my office." He smiled. "And perhaps log this interesting experience. Thank you."

"You are very welcome, Savin," said Astrja. "I would give you a kiss in thanks if you were amenable to such but a thanks will have to do." She gave him a wink and made sure everything was packed away.

Savin said nothing and gave a nod of confirmation instead as he helped her pack away her gear. "Perhaps we can speak again later and you can walk me through this repair again, when there time. I will leave you to your duties." Without waiting for a response, he climbed down the tube and continued to his office.