Need To Recalibrate

Posted on Fri Apr 25th, 2025 @ 7:01pm by HoD Kalja & lagh B'mala & Lieutenant JG Franklin Skoda

Mission: A New Challenge
Location: Loqat Shipyard

As their shuttle moved through the dockyards, Kalja noticed the presence of Federation worker vessels busy at work. Several K'tinga class ships were in the process of conversion into cargo haulers. Several other warships were receiving sensor upgrades. In the center of this activity, the Ro' Jach was swarmed with Federation worker Bees.

"Is that our ship?" B'mala asked from a rear seat.

"Yes." Kalja replied. "And remember to address me as 'Captain'. On the ship you are my crew, not my niece."

"Yes, Captain." B'mala replied with an undertone of truculence.

Kalja ignored B'mala's petty disrespect act. The shuttle entered the busy aft hangar. Everywhere shuttles and tugs were dropping off cargo. Human and Klingon technicians scrambled to disperse the cargo. As Kalja and B'mala stepped out of the shuttle, no one seemed to take notice of them.

"Did they know you were scheduled to arrive?" B'mala asked. Kalja gave B'mala a sharp look. B'mala bit her upper lip trying in annoyance. "Did they know you were scheduled to arrive, Captain?"

"No, they did not, Ensign. That, however, is besides the point. There should be some one supervising this hangar." Kalja explained.

"So now what?" B'mala asked.

"Stow your kit in your quarters and go to the bridge to inspect your duty station."

"But I do not know where my quarters are, or how to get there." B'mala complained.

"Are you going to be suckling at my tit your entire tour on this ship, Ensign? You are a KDF officer. Use your initiative." Kalja scolded B'mala.

B'mala sheepishly picked up her luggage and with padd in hand, left the shuttle hangar. Kalja had been harsh with B'mala, but the KDF was a hard environment. Better the young Klingon learn things now in the safety of port than the unforgiving field of battle.

Kalja had studied the Ro' Jach's layout before arriving. She wanted to know her way around the ship without thinking about it. All ships had a certain feel to them. When the ship's engine vibrated the hull, the ship felt alive. It was a subtle reminder to the crew that there existence was dependent on the health of the ship. As Kalja walked the corridors, she couldn't feel that vibration.

The ship's engines were off line. Power was provided by a dry dock power source. Kalja was not pleased. The ship's engines should be online. She quickly dropped off her personal things and headed to engineering.

The Ro' Jach's engine room was dimly lit. There were tool kits scattered around the large compartment. It was empty of people save for a pair of legs clad in a Federation uniform underneath the engine's control panel.

"What is the status of the engines?" Kalja loudly asked.

"Busy." Came a human male response from under the panel.

"I want a report now." Kalja was loud but cool.

"Told ya, busy." The voice dismissively answered.

"You will stand up and report to me know or I will pull you out be your feet and beat it out of you." Kalja cooly threatened.

"How am I suppose to get anything done with all these distractions?" The man started to get out from under the control panel. "Don't threaten me. This tech needs more attention than the backwards machines you have."

A young Federation officer with gold trimmings on his uniform and annoyance on his face stood up. He then noticed the rank on Kale's uniform. His annoyance turned to embarrassment.

"Oh, sorry about that." He quickly apologized. "It's just that so many Klingon techs have been asking me that, I just thought you were one of them. You're not the commanding officer are you?"

Kalja nodded.

"What a mistake to make." The engineer told himself. "I'm really sorry. No one told me you were arriving."

"I am Captain Kalja, your commanding officer. Who are you?" She asked.

"I'm Lieutenant Skoda, engineering." He replied.

"Now, Lieutenant, report on the ship's engine." Kalja asked.

"The Starfleet engine needs more adapting to Klingon systems than we thought. I'm making the modifications now. They should be done in a few hours." Skoda reported.

"Very well. Report to me when they are ready." Kalja replied.

"can I get back to work, Captain?" Skoda asked.

Kalja nodded. "Yes. Please remember Lieutenant, our technology is not as advanced as the Federation's. We Klingons know that. We do not need reminding."