A New Boss?!

Posted on Sat Oct 31st, 2026 @ 2:49pm by Lieutenant Connor Turner & Lieutenant Commander Kenji Mori
Edited on on Sat Oct 31st, 2026 @ 4:23pm

1,517 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Mission 6 - Candy Leads to Cavities
Location: Engineering
Timeline: MD01 -1100

Connor could hardly believe his eyes. He read the the message on his PADD. He was getting a new boss. A new Chief Engineer! He could hardly believe his luck. It had been what? A couple of years that he was acting as the Chief Engineer.

He did not mind handling the position. He was more than capable. However, he would rather not manage the people. He wanted to talk to the computers. They made much more sense.

Though, occasional contact with beings was not horrible. In fact, if he was not going to be the Chief Engineer anymore, then he would have the time to find a way to ask Sitka out for a meeting. Maybe they would be a match. It was so hard to get into another relationship. After Candy, nothing really stuck.

He waited in Engineering, steadying himself and waiting to hand over command codes.

Lt. Commander Kenji Mori had found Engineering with the ease of someone who had read the layout and specs of a place before he had actually set foot on it. He had also taken the longer route from the Captain's office, just to get the feel of the station. It has been years since he had served on one. It was a different beast from a ship, but complicated, with different...aspects that could be just as strenuous as having a Captain on a bridge ask for extra power. The doors opened for him and he saw a tall man standing there, wearing...what looked like spectacles. He had never seen anyone outside of the holodeck wearing them. But he made an assumption that this was Lieutenant Connor Turner. "Lieutenant," he said, walking over to him. "I'm Lieutenant Commander Kenji Mori."

"Greetings," Connor replied in an Exeter accent. "I am Lieuteant Connor Turner. Very good to have you here. It has been a couple of years since we have had a proper Chief Engineer," he explained.

"I understand that they've had you," Kenji said easily as he met his eyes, his own face serious. "And everyone appear to still be alive, so you must have done a good job."

"The computers and I like each other," Connor answered easily. "We have an understanding. As long as you are nice to them, they will do everything you require."

Kenji nodded, taking in the words. For him, it was more about the mechanics of things, rather than the computers. It was good. He needed experts around him. "Tell me about the power system on the Faltan," he said, although he had read the specs. But specs couldn't tell him which bits stuck, what was sluggish and what needed new lines.

"Well, everything is still maturing on this station. Been nearly 8 years since we moved from the planetary base to here," Connor started. "So, most of the systems are quite well behaved.

"The Power Core is functioning well and as usual, takes up nearly two levels." He pointed at the horizontal shaft that should be patently obvious and also stretched nearly hull to hull. "Deuterium and antimatter tanks within the lower part of the docking bay feed the core. When the reactants reach the core's reaction chamber they'll react and power will be sent through the power transfer conduits and the Electroplasma system. The power transfer conduits carry the load first; this allows greater efficiency over the long distances it must travel through the station. This also allows for a greater amount of ships to be powered directly by the station's main core."

Connor continued, "Primary and Secondary systems have there own dedicated consoles. Secondary systems are on the walls, while the primary systems have table-monitoring stations. They are grouped by Power Generation, Environmental, Tactical, Ship Support, and Repair & Maintenance."

The Engineer looked at his new boss. "We'll see how they behave when everything gets to their tweens but right now, everything is as smooth as silk."

"And what redundancies?" Kenji asked as he looked at him, then gave a small smile. "Apologies. I am thinking too far ahead. I take it that the emergency power shut down procedures are practised...relatively frequently? Given the amount of power being generated to support the extra strain."

"Yes, it is and we have regular drills on turning this into the command center, as well," Connor answered. Well, as often as the Captain is not napping, he thought to himself.

Kenji nodded, considering it for a moment before the smile widened a little. "So you have in other words been running a tight ship and kept on top of everything. Good. I prefer it when I am not going somewhere and have to start from scratch. Now i just need to make sure not to...upset the anti-grav cart."

"That happens all on its own here," Connor informed Kenji. "Trouble seems to reside around here."

"Yes?" Kenji looked at Connor at the words, leaving space for him to...elaborate if he so wished. He remembered what the Captain had said, that she had not been sure how Connor was after this Candy's arrest. It was none of Kenji's business unless Connor made it so.

"Yes," Connor answered simply. "There was the attack on the station when it was planetary. Those who survived were quite lucky. Then, the Captain got demoted associated with that and we had someone new. Then she was re-promoted...." Connor stopped. "That's the tip of the iceberg. I try to stay out of it."

"I try staying out of politics too," Kenji admitted as he watched him, straightening a little. "I also know I belong in Engineering, not the Captain's seat."

"That is good to know," Connnor answered honestly. "I would have a difficult time turning over my computers and systems to someone that did not intend to treat them well." He firmed up, having made a decision. "Would you like me to transfer the command codes now?"

"If you'd like," Kenji said, with a small smile at the words. It all seemed very formal, even if it was standard procedure. "I'll make sure not to misuse them. But until I get used to how things work here, I need you to guide me, Mister Turner."

Connor blinked once. He seems trustworthy. After all, he did make a promise not to misuse the codes and he was not ordering the immediate transfer. For an answer, Connor spoke, "Computer, if you would please, transfer Engineering Control Codes to Lieutenant Commander Kenji Mori, new Chief Engineer of Faltan Station on my authority, Lieutenant Connor Turner, Acting Chief Engineer, authorization code, Turing-Scott-Tesla-Alpha-Omega-5-6-2-3."

The computer obediently replied, "Authorization recognized. Engineering Control Codes are transfered to Lieutenant Commander Kenji Mori."

Connor gave a meek smile at Kenji and inquired, "How should you need me to guide you, sir?"

"You know the station," Kenji said and motioned around, his eyes on the other man. "You know what works, what doesn't, what needs replacing and what shouldn't be working but by some miracle still is. That is invaluable. And while I learn everyone's names and habits...I need you to help me with the things that remains hidden for anyone who has not worked here for over a year."

"There is always room for improvement," Connor answered. "The station is only eight years old and when we came here, it was barely more than a skeleton, so I did happen to make some tweaks when it was easiest to do so," Connor finished with a small smile. "The staff that we had has been inconsistent, so much has fallen on me, not that I would complain. The computers are rather pleasant."

Kenji bowed his head in acknowledgment of his words, thinking about it. "Inconsistent in their experience, performance or duties?" he asked, as his mind latched on that bit. The staffing.

"Inconsistent in staffing," Connor replied flatly. "Seems just as we get anyone, they're gone."

"Such is the will of the Admiralty," Kenji said with a soft sigh that voiced that it was indeed a common problem. "There is not much we can do about that, but it is not a burden you shoulder alone anymore."

"I appreciate that, sir," Connor replied earnestly. "Is there anything else that you would like to know?"

"At this moment? No," Kenji shook his head, considering it. "But perhaps we can talk more later on it. I'd like to have a walk around, just to get to know the space if that's alright?" he met Connor's eyes for a moment.

"But of course," Connor replied stepping aside slightly. "I would do nothing differently if I were taking over."

Kenji nodded before he smiled, taking a deeper breath. "I look forward to working with you, Turner," he said, wanting him to know that.

"As do I with you, sir," Connor answered honestly. Now, with a new Chief, he could simply talk to the computers. It would be refreshing. He might even be willing to risk meeting a certain individual.


Lieutenant Connor Turner
Acting Assistant Chief Engineer
Faltan Station

Lieutenant Commander Kenji Mori
Chief Engineer
Faltan Station

 

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