Personal Log - Ensign Lacy Underall - SD230201
I was in the middle of doing my rounds when Chief Barbosa pinged my comm badge and ordered me to report to her office immediately. She couldn’t keep the smirk off her face as she told me she had an assignment that was certain would make full use of my talents. I listened attentively. Hopefully, it wouldn't be yet more Operations work.
“Underall, we need to complete an upgrade on all of our phaser pistols and phaser rifles. We are going to need a supply of self-sealing stem bolts. I want you to go to Engineering and get a carton of them.”
I smiled and nodded. Haze the new girl. I got it. “Aye Chief, I will get on that immediately.”
“Dismissed,” She told me curtly.
I took my time getting down to Engineering. I knew that there was such a thing as a self-sealing stem bolt, but I had never seen one, and I didn’t know anyone who had. It was part of Starfleet academy lore.
As cadets, we looked it up in the master catalogue, and, sure as heck, there it was
Starfleet Stock Number 09-00-7345199 Bolt, Stem, Self-Sealing, 15mm x 40mm. Unit of order: Box of 24. Source: Ferenginar. This product contains chemicals known by the State of California to cause cancer.
I visited Engineering, and I spoke to the duty Engineer, who smiled, told me that they had none in their inventory, and suggested I check with Operations. I smiled back and made my way to Operations, where a Lieutenant told me that, no, they had none, but perhaps someone in the life support section could help. From life support, I went to the docking bay, diligently following the orders the Chief had given me to locate stem bolts.
I went from location to location, ignoring the smirks. I made sure I stopped in Ten Sideways for a coffee and a snack, and of course, I checked with the bartender to see if she had any. Finally, it was suggested by a grinning medical officer that the one who would be the best for knowing where stem bolts could be found was the Commanding Officer, Captain Maven.
I had heard stories about the CO, and I considered whether I wanted to beard the lioness in her den. A lioness who perennially seemed to have a sore tooth, a thorn in her paw, and a severe case of mange when I interacted with her. My encounters with the CO so far had been limited to doing something really stupid when she happened to be watching and then having her look at me with those cool brown eyes and slowly shake her head.
I summoned all my courage and made my way to her office on deck two. Her door was open - she claimed to have an open door - or open den - policy, and I could see she was sitting at her desk working. I rapped at the metal door frame, took a moment to nurse my sore knuckles, then hit the announce button instead.
She looked up. “Enter.” She studied me as I stepped into her office. “Ensign Underall. What can I do for you?” Her tone was neutral.
Wow, she knew my name. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.
I stood at attention. “Ma’am, I have been ordered by Chief Barbosa to acquire a supply of self-sealing stem bolts to assist in an equipment refit, and after considerable searching for this item, it was suggested that you might know a source. Ma’am.”
“I see. Where have you looked so far, Underall?”
I listed them off. I saw her mouth quirk when I explained my search of ten sideways, the dining hall, and behind the furniture in my quarters, just to be thorough. I could see she was trying not to laugh.
“Underall, I do have a suggestion on a place you may be able to find this item.” She tapped at her console for a moment, looking something up. “There seems to be a pattern of assigning new crew members to this task, and I don’t think it's an effective way to meet our stem bolt requirements.
“Ensign Underall, In twenty-five minutes, the shuttle leaves for the Lyonesse colony. I want you to take the shuttle down, get accommodation, and be sure to do a thorough search for stem bolts at the beach club, and the Starfire restaurant. I also want you to search the Lyonesse Art Gallery and the Lyonesse science museum. I want you to keep receipts for all costs that you incur. Once you have searched all these venues, which I anticipate will take forty-eight hours, I want you to bring back all the receipts and submit them to Chief Barbosa. You will tell the Chief that all costs for this search will be paid by her department budget. You will need a swimsuit for the beach club, to enable you to search in the water. I am sending orders assigning you this special duty to your PADD.”
“Aye aye, ma’am,” I grinned at her.
“Get going. The shuttle won’t wait for you.” She waved her hand and shooed me out of her office.
The Chief’s meeting with the CO in her den - I mean office - didn’t seem to go very well. The Chief wouldn’t talk to me for a week.
There was an unexpected consequence to the search. I’d neglected to put sunscreen in my bag. Ouchie.
And so, the adventure continues,
End Log