When you least expect it ...
Posted on Sun Apr 12th, 2015 @ 2:55pm by Chief Petty Officer Miles Watt [PNPC: Kennedy]
Mission:
The Night Cries
Location: Main Engineering [USS Farragut]
Timeline: 2278.45: 2320hrs
Most of the refit crew had disembarked soon after the Farragut arrived in orbit of Cestus III, but Chief Miles Watt remained behind to tie off some loose ends and take one last look around.
For the last two years he had been working on the refit, overseeing the new warp drive installation and testing. It was hard to invest so much blood sweat and tears into something and not develop an attachment. He looked up at the warp core, glowing an incandescent blue as it throbbed along in a low powered readiness state. Watt remembered the day the core was installed and how excited he and the team were. He also remembered the two months of overtime they all put in to make the damn thing work properly.
But from tomorrow his warp core would be under the protection of a new chief and a new crew. Watt had his handover memo complete and ready to go. He hadn't been told who his counterpart on the permanent crew was yet, but they were all going aboard tomorrow morning at 1100 following an assembly planetside. He was sure he'd meet whomever was taking his place there.
With one last look up at the warp core, Watt turned to leave main engineering for the last time. Like the ending of any chapter in life, it was a moment filled with nostalgia, but no regret. He had left his mark and now this ship would go on to do great things, of that he was certain. For Miles Watt, though, it was time for a new chapter. He and his family had decided to make the move to Cestus III to be part of building a new world.
It wasn't starship duty, but it would be interesting. Challenging. Safe.
As he approached the turbolift stop the doors opened and out stepped a young Andorian in one of the terrible new maroon and tan NCO uniforms. He had a white shoulder tabs and a metal rank device that Watt didn’t recognise on his left sleeve. It was smaller than the one he’d be wearing when he put on the new uniform so he guessed this fella did not outrank him.
“Chief Watt?” the Andorian asked as he stepped off the turbolift.
Watt nodded and said, “Yeah. Who are you?”
“Petty Officer th’Leshinjthanankin,” the kid replied. “I’m with the Starfleet Administration Centre here at Cestus Three.”
“Well, aren’t you a lucky one, then?” Watt shot back with a grin. “What can I do for you, Petty Officer?” he added, not even attempting to pronounce the name.
The Andorian held out a PADD. “New orders for you, Chief,” he said.
Watt frowned as he took the PADD and examined it. He hadn’t arranged for a discharge, or put it for reassignment yet. He planned to figure that out after he’d handed over, but he had a sneaking suspicion his days in uniform were numbered.
The orders on the PADD were short, concise and changed everything.
To: Chief Petty Officer Miles Watt
By request of the commanding officer, I am pleased to offer you a position aboard U.S.S. Farragut NCC-1729 as Warp Drive Chief.
Your earliest possible response is required.
Yours
Lieutenant J.P. Keohane
Assistant Head of Personnel (Enlisted)
Office of Starfleet Personnel
Starbase R-6
Well, Watt thought as he stood in front of the turbolift stop with the petty officer waiting patiently. This changes everything.
Chief Petty Officer Miles Watt
Engineering Supervisor, Shakedown Crew
USS Farragut
