Bridge/Ready Room repairs

Posted on 04 Feb 2023 @ 8:38pm by Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Lieutenant JG Riley Ames

Mission: Through the looking glass
Location: Bridge/Ready room
Timeline: After events of "Touched by a dark fire"
940 words - 1.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Ensign Riley Ames had taken stock of the damage that had been done on the bridge and in the Ready room, it looked like there needed to be some updates, refurbishing of both areas. The redheaded scottish engineer scratched his head looking at the work orders. The ready room was actually the Captain's personal space and the bridge could even be considered that as well. He needed to know what the Captain wanted. Tapping on his comm badge he contacted the Captain.

"Captain Reynolds, this is Ensign Riley Ames of Engineering, I've got some work orders for repairs on the bridge as well as the Ready Room, do you have the time to meet with me and go over any ideas you would like to have done?"

"If you give me five minutes Ensign, I can escape sickbay for a bit and come meet you in my ready room," Jon said. Harper was going to be out for hours yet and he needed something to keep his mind of her in surgery right now.

"Yes sir I will meet you there." Ensign Ames responded and closed communications and headed for the bridge.

Five minutes later, Jon entered his bridge and winced at the sight. Even though engineering were working their magic his bridge felt tainted now. Three deaths. One in his arms. His girlfriend with a back injury. It had not been a good day.

"Ensign Ames I assume?" he directed at the male red head seemed to me waiting for him. "Come in."

"Yes, Captain I am Ensign Ames. Thank you for the meeting." casting a gaze towards where the rest of the engineering crew were working.

"I assume you heard about the chief?" he said taking a seat behind his desk. "Im sorry I haven't had time to come down in person yet but I will address the department and get started on planning a suitable send off. He was a hell of a man."

"Yes I heard of Lieutenant Hawkins' death." his sadness was palatable from the man, it showing in his eyes, but that was all. "And its quite alright sir, I heard that you had been injured as well." Riley stated. "Lieutenant Hawkins and I were very good friends, I knew him back in academy. " a slight smile of memory. "he had taken me under his wing when I was just a new cadet. It did hit the engineering hard when word of Michael's passing came to us. However life has to go on and the ship to be repaired. "

"Well it seems one of his last actions was to send me the recommendation that you be promoted to Assistant Chief Engineer. He certainly had a plan to nurture your career and saw potential in you," Jon said locating the report Hawkins had sent a couple of days back. "Of course life has a funny way of knocking plans sideways doesn't it?"

He copied the report from Michael to a PADD and passed it to him to read over. "He really believed in you."

To say the least, Riley was stunned, and reading what Michael had written about him, he was rather moved. "He wanted to promote me to Assistant Chief of engineering..." his voice faded away and then looked up at Reynolds.

"Its a horrible time and I'm very sorry that this is sudden but I am in need of a Chief Engineer now and Hawkins, also who I called a friend says your the best. Do you think your ready to take up the mantle?" Jon asked seriously. Grief would have to wait. The ship needed full repairs as they were about to jump through an inter universe alien gate.

"Yes Captain, I will do my best and then some." Riley's shoulders straightened up and had a determined gleam in his eyes. "I love this ship, and want what's best for her." the redheaded engineer shook his head in wonderment. "That old so and so... " Riley had a determined grim smile on his lips. "Don't worry Captain, the engineering staff are on the job right now. Still need to find out what you want done to here and the bridge. Or will a full refurbishing take place once we get home?"

"I think for now lets get the view screen fixed, and all the fixtures and consoles damaged safe. Refurbishing can wait until we are in a much safer position," Jon said.

"Before you go," he stood up and went to fetch a box out of drawer. "Again I'm sorry this is not in more happier circumstances but know that if Michael believed in you, I do too. And he did hint at you had earnt this. I was going to have Commander Fox and the Counselor sign off on things crossing the t's and i's but in the circumstances ... I certainly think one of my chiefs needs to be befitted in a higher rank than Ensign."

He opened the small box and walked over . "I hereby promote you to the rank of Lieutenant and all the rights and privileges that that rank holds." He placed the pip on his coller next to his other one.

Stepping back he nodded. "Congratulations Lieutenant Ames."

Riley gave a firm nod and saluted Captain Reynolds. "Thank you sir, I'll do my best for the ship and the crew. " He locked gaze with Reynolds for a moment then dropped his hand. "I best be off, still got work to do. And thank you once again. May I be dismissed."

Jon nodded. "Dismissed."

OFF:

Captain Jonathan Reynolds
CO, USS Andromeda

Ltjg Riley Ames
Chief of Engineering
USS Andromeda