Configurations and The Like

Posted on Mon Jul 31st, 2023 @ 9:44pm by Lieutenant JG Jenna Jade & Lieutenant Rebecca McMillen

Mission: Which Came First, The...
Location: Engineering

Jenna carried Rebecca in her hands as they left the conference room. It was most certainly not the most convenient way of carrying the minescule officer, but sticking her in a pocket was absolutely out of the question and there was just really no other way that she could think of. They were in the turbolift in no time, and she keyed to main engineering, "You know, ma'am, Ah'm really gonna have to get started on that transportation system for you. Don't get me wrong, Ah've got no problem with carryin' you this way, but Ah can't believe it's all that comfy for you and anythin'. Ah know the Captain's been takin' you around, how does she do it?"

"I mean honestly it's not terrible. I'm more concerned with your arms getting tired." she smiled upwards, pat pating Jenna's hand, "Besides, you obviously take care of your skin so, it's nice and soft." she giggled. "While I wouldn't call it COMFY, it beats getting bounced around in a hip pouch."

"Now, as for how the Captain carries me, well..." and Rebecca made a mime show of unzipping her front, and then dangling something over her 'exposed cleavage' before dropping it in. "She carries me in her front pocket. Call it the Treasure Chest if you want." she giggled again, hiding her blush, "It's not terrible, just a bit... you know... bouncy."

And warm. So warm.

Jenna's face went beet red as she understood precisely what Rebecca had meant. Cally put Rebecca between... Oh my God... That was just- "Ah, um... Ah think.." She couldn't meet Rebecca's eyes, "Ah don't think that's somethin' that Ah'd do with you, Ah mean, Ah don't have that much there for one, but not just that, it's kindof a personal way of doin' that? Ah'd far rather just carry you!" The heat radiating off her cheeks was immense, "Or, or, or maybe put a pocket on the outside of my jacket, or you know, figure out somethin' else!"

Rebecca gave a good laugh, "Okay okay, okay. First off, FIRST OFF... you don't get to say 'Well I don't have that much there' when talking to me." she motioned to her own chest. With that out of the way, she composed herself, "And no. I'm certainly not asking or expecting a ride in the bounce castle from everyone. That'd be rude, forward, and just plain.... rude!" she giggled again. "So look, don't you worry, don't you fret. However is comfortable for YOU, is perfectly fine by me." she punctuated this point with a pat pat to Jenna's palm. "We good? Need a minute?"

"Ah'm good, Ah'm good." Jenna shook her head as the door slid open in front of them and she was imminently thankful that they hadn't been overheard in the turbolift. She bustled her way into Main Engineering and used one hand to wave off a couple of the enlisted personnel as her other cupped Rebecca horizontally up against her... Chest. Her face flushed again as she skipped a step while trying not to dash to the center table and placed the mini-officer down gently, "Ah, um... Ah just need a moment to sync the table to your PADD so you can use it as an interface." Her fingers danced and twitched as she entered the commands and also brought up the sensor suite's diagnostics at the same time.

Rebecca did her best not to make a big show of the trip. Once on the table she stepped lightly off of Jenna's hand and brought up her PaDD in miniature for access. Waiting, waiting, waiting, there we go. "Ahh, perfect. Thank you kindly. Okay so there, there, and then that and... perfect. Alright, diagnostics are running. Once that's finished we can run another full spectrum scan and compare the results against the previous run, adjusting for distance of course."

"And since we're going to be to the edge of the thing about the time those diagnostics are done, we should also launch a probe to collect a sample and bring it back, get an actual analysis of what's in it." Jenna also activated an external view in another window, "Standard sensors are indicating that there's only about ten thousand kilometers of visual range within the cloud. That's definitely not normal, Ah happen to know that nebulae are supposed to still be really diffuse."

"Too goopie. Too thick and, fuck no better word for it, too chowdery." Rebecca commented. "Yeah, this has all the marks of a Not-Nebula, and yet here we are. Yeah, ready a probe. You know what, ready two. I want the second probe configured with the same parameters as the probes used to study fluidic space." she noted.

"That's too thick. If it stops the first probe because of particulate resistance, I want the second probe ready to dive into the ocean, nevermind cruise through this soup nebula." Rebecca looked at the readouts. "Minimal visibility, minimal scanner range, what the actual hell is it?"

With a quick search of databases, Jenna pulled up Voyager's old information on fluidic space and mused over them for a few moments before setting the configurations on the second probe, "Would almost be interestin' to take the Waverider in the hanger into that thing.. If it acts so much like a liquid, it might actually be the best option if we get the chance?"

"Possibly, depends on what the probe tells us." Rebecca offered, not wanting to commit to a trip that wasn't safe. "Be like swimming in the Dead Sea at that point. Or at least trying to scuba dive in it. I mean, before it dried up."

Jenna’s lips pursed and then turned down into a moue, “Never mind then.. Best we don’t clog up any of the ports. And the maintenance we’d have to pull after that? Let’s pass on that.”

"Yes please, let's not clog the intake ports because let's face it... it's me that's going in there with a tiny mop to clean them out. Knowing the Captain she'll insist I wear a little maid uniform or something cute too while I do it." she giggled, clearly having fun. "But, until we know more, I think it best to limit our thoughts of leisure." a smile.

"She would do that, wouldn't she?" Jenna rolled her eyes, "Ah swear, she doesn't take much of anythin' seriously unless she absolutely has to! It's like talkin' to a kid at times... God only knows what she's gonna do when we bring a sample on board, probably try to eat it or somethin'."

"You've known her longer, I've known her..." Rebecca cleared her throat, "... closer, but yeah let's not leave anything to any chances. We treat any physical samples under isolation until we know more, and we illustrate clearly and precisely that no, please do not eat the cosmic phenomenon." the diminutive Science officer giggled.

"Contamination protocols, got it, ma'am." Jenna agreed, wondering where to make notes, but then deciding to trust her own memories, "Probably use one of the science labs for the containment? Ah know the initial scans aren't showin' anythin' toxic or dangerous, but if my organic chemistry is remembered right, there can be some seemingly harmless interactions that aren't obvious."

"There's a really really broad spectrum of 'Harmless'. Imagine if consuming this substance, say, removed inhibitions. Not dangers, but then give it to a criminal. Or a psychotic. Or the Captain." the diminutive offer countered. "I'd say that if everything looks normal and not dangerous, we should worry a little more. Some of the most dangerous things in nature look cute and harmless." she offered, then gave Jenna a smile. "Cute and harmless, right?"

"Only when we want to be." Jenna agreed, bringing both herself and Rebecca into the description, "But Ah'm sure that the both of us could wreak some havoc if it all came down to it. You with all of your knowledge and samples and the sort, me with control of all the systems." There was a beep from the console and Jenna's eyes went from Becca to the display, "Probes are configured, first is in the launch tube ready to go on your command, ma'am."

"Oh yeah, you and me could be a hell of a team. ARE a hell of a team." Rebecca corrected, then turned to the display that caught Jenna's eye. "Consider the order given, you may launch when ready."

"Launchin' now." Jenna agreed, transmitting the launch order to the first of the probes, "Now Ah guess we just have to sit back and wait for a few minutes... Do you play any card games?"

"I'm a little out of practice on account of the cards being almost as tall as me, but other than that I used to play a few." the diminutive officer giggled. "Now, though, I can live in card houses." she teased.

"Well, that's why electronic cards really have some sort of advantage, ma'am, easier to resize to proper sizes on a screen. What shall we occupy ourselves with while we wait?" Jenna asked, settling into a chair.