A Helping Hand

Posted on 22 Dec 2020 @ 1:29am by Lieutenant Leland Hawksley & Ensign Geoffrey Hale MD

1,163 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: General Sim Postings
Location: Holodeck One
Timeline: Current

[ON]

[Holodeck One]
[Current]

Hawksley was passing by the holodeck, intending to check in on LT. JG Donovan's Tomcat Flight Simulation. Having given no forewarning that Holodeck One was in operation at the time, Leland was surprised to walk in and see another Officer working on a vintage classical motorcycle from Earth.

"I apologize." Hawksley raised his right eyebrow. "For some reason, I didn't see the holodeck in use." He had felt embarrassed by stumbling in on someone's program in use.

"It's alright, I'm not doing anything scandalous right now. But I could swear I updated the schedule when I booked this time." The other officer spoke from where he was standing in front of a workbench, his back to the door. He set down the cloth he was holding next to a tray containing a collection of brushes, and other cleaning implements. Turning around, he flashed a brief apologetic grin to his surprise visitor. "I suppose I might have been in a hurry, it's been a bit of a tough adjustment to make joining the Tomcat. I'm sorry if I've caused you any trouble." He looked down to his grease smudged hands and said "Computer, clean my hands," before extending one in greeting. He noted the two pips on the visitor's collar. "I'm Ensign Geoff Hale, may I ask your name sir"

Leland had nodded. He was the one who had intruded. "Well. Let's be uh thankful I didn't catch you into anything, uh scandalous!" He had laughed. "These things can set the mind in the right mood. But I'm happy to see that you're working on…" He narrowed his eyes, searching the workbench in front of him. "Your working on a classic…" He rubbed his chin, stepping up to the desk. "Easy-Glide, Ultra Classic?" He knew his classic motorcycles from Earth. There was just something about them that drives him and a lot of other enthusiasts.

"You a Harley Man?" He had let a smile come across. Extending his hand and shaking heartily, the Ensigns. "No need for Sir. Leland, Hawksley is the name. CHO." He shook his head. "I'd rather you treat me as a friend. Well, off duty at that." He was surprised to see that the Ensign had some classic engineering knowledge.

"Alright Leland, to answer your questions, you're right about the model, but I myself don't stick to any one make. I just finished restoring a BMW, and there was a Yamaha before that. I'm honestly just starting with this one, I had the computer simulate a barn find. I was in the middle of cleaning the engine parts when you came in." Geoff turned his head to look at the rest of the bike where it rested nearby.

"How has the Tomcat been treating you, Hale?" He had begun to walk around the motorcycle, looking at the Ensign's chosen specs, quite impressed.

"Fine so far, that's not why I say the transition is tough. I put down roots on my last assignment, it's turning out to be a lot harder to pull them up than I thought it would be. Hence I'm putting my energy into something I know how to fix." Geoff Explained.

"I can understand that." Hawksley replied. "It can be tough." He then had walked over to Geoffrey's tool bench. Leland was always interested with classic earth mechanics and tools. "Nice, you've got some vintage snap-on's."

"Yeah, I'm doing this for the experience, period tools and methods are part of that. You can call me Geoff too, at least off duty." Geoff explained briefly in answer to Leland's question. On top of the bench a partially disassembled v-twin stood on grease stained white cloths. Larger tools hung from a board on the wall behind the work surface, each one sitting inside a neat white outline. Beneath the table rows and rows of drawers no doubt held the rest. On the table top itself were only cleaning implements, and the few other tools needed to take the engine apart, arranged neatly in trays.

"Geoff. Of course!" He had nodded. Hawksley pulled up a seat to sit by the bike and Geoff. "So have you met many of the crew yet? I've just been getting to meet a few myself. Wow. There is alot of red heads on here!" Leland had whistled.

Geoff 'hmmmed' as he thought for a moment, the Colonel, and CAG, as well as Lt. Walon all had rather striking red hair, and he'd seen another marine with vivid red locks even if they hadn't met yet. He had a hard time recalling such a distinguishing feature on the men he'd seen. "I suppose you're right, there are some rather striking women on the crew." He cracked a mischievous smile before continuing, "Unfortunately I'm a gentleman and therefore prefer blondes. To answer your question, I haven't socialized much yet, but I probably need to make my way to the lounge one of these days."

"Of course. An Officer and a Gentleman." He had chuckled and nodded. "It would be nice to sit down and meet some people, get to know some people onboard. Maybe sometime if you want a gander to the bar, I could play wingman." He offered.

"I just might take you up on that offer." Geoff Materialized a new chair and took a seat near the bike as well. "If I may ask, where were you before you came here?"

Hawksley replied. "I was transferred from the USS Harrington, as Chief Helm Officer. A great crew and bunch. However, nothing like the Tomcat. It is a nice change of pace." Leland acknowledged. "How about you Geoff?" He asked in return.

"I used to be on the USS Hector, it was smaller than the Tomcat, but the crew is tight knit, and I reached some important milestones while I was there. It has been different serving on a ship that's so tactically oriented, coming from mostly mixed duty, that's something new to get used to as well." Geoff gave his answer, his gaze shifting to a random spot on the ceiling while he spoke, he continued to stare into space for a moment after finishing and then collected himself turning his eyes back to the helm officer "I hope I'm not keeping you from anything, did you need to use the 'deck?"

"Nah, I'm good. If anything some conversation replaced my need for photon entertainment for now. Besides, at least your using the energy for good purpose." He admired the classic, thinking he might just start his own project sometime.

"I should get out of your hair, Mr. Hale. It's been good to talk. See you around the Tomcat. Don't be a stranger!" He then got up from his seat.

"Fair enough, I'll see you around Leland, and let's hope we see most of each other outside of sickbay." Geoff offered his goodby with a light joke.

[END]

Ensign Geoffrey Hale
ACMO

And

Lieutenant JG Leland Hawksley
CHO, USS Tomcat

 

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