Title: Routine Duties
Author: Simon Biggs
Location: All Over The Ship
Time: Before the crisis on Bajor
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Ensign Biggs had the usual routine assignments ahead of him today. He walked over to his locker to gather his things: hand phaser, tricorder and PADD. He checked his list of areas to inspect: first cargo bays, then shuttle bays, damage control centre and finally guest quarters.
He walked out of security to start his rounds and headed towards the turbolift " Deck 4 cargo bay 1" The turbolift came to life with a light hmmm and stopped at deck 4.
The doors opened with a hiss, and Simon walked towards the cargo bay doors. They opened and he walked into a large room, seeing cargo on the shelves and a crewman on the computer console working away.
"Crewman, anything to report?" Biggs asked.
"Nothing to report, Ensign." was the response.
Simon walked off and took out his tricorder and scanned for anything unusual. He strolled slowly through the bay, making sure he didn't miss anything strange. He was relieved to find nothing out of the ordinary and he returned to the crewman.
"Everything is ship shape. Carry on."
The crewman just smiled and waved as Simon left cargo bay 1 and headed towards his next destination shuttle bay 1.
He exited the cargo bay and walked along the corridor . The doors opened with a whine and the ensign entered the bay, looking over the two shuttles it contained. The bay was empty and quiet for now, and after checking everything over thoroughly, he was satisfied everything was in order and moved on.
After ticking off the areas he had checked on his PADD, Simon wrote out the standard report and then sent it to his CO. Next, he headed towards the first of the two large main shuttle bays which contained not only shuttles but a few runabouts as well. He saw crewmen and crew women working on the some of the shuttles, and Simon also saw an ensign in the bay's control booth. He walked past and acknowledged the fellow officer with a wave.
"Anything to report Ensign Carl?"
"No Biggs, everything is as it should be."
"Good. I'll just be taking a quick look around, I need to complete my security checks."
"Be my guest."
"Thank you." Simon walked off towards the lift, riding it until he reached the launch deck.
He passed the first shuttle after scanning it and then moved towards the second shuttle, which had one of its nacelle covers missing.
*The crew must be working on this shuttle, but I better check it out* Simon thought to himself as he walked over.
"IS ANYONE WORKING HERE?" Simon shouted and a familiar voice replied.
"Yep. I've been having some complaints about this shuttle's thruster controls. Lt. Commander Lair instructed my team to take a look, and we found that they need recalibrating."
"BURNS !!!" Simon was delighted to see his friend again. "I didn't know you worked in the shuttle bay!"
"I was just transferred from astrometrics."
"Are you enjoying your transfer?"
"Yes I have been enjoying my new post here. Course, my original major at the Academy was engineering, you know. I got bored with my previous assignment, stuck in a lab all the time so I requested a transfer and got assigned here. I love the fact that we get to test out new engine modules, make repairs on the shuttles, runabouts and sometimes even the Starion." Burns explained.
"Sounds interesting. I have been considering asking for a transfer," Simon said thoughtfully. "but my skills lie in Security primarily, since I can spot things most people would not spot and I have very good reflexes."
A beep sounded on the shuttle's engine control panel. "Excuse me Simon, but I need to get on with this. I'll see you later in Seven. We'll see if you can spot anything out of the ordinary there." Burns teased his friend a little.
Simon walked towards the next shuttle. "I had better inform the captain you were the one who's been making adjustments to those engines, just in case." Simon teased back as he departed.
As he moved through the last shuttle bay on his route this morning, Simon was pleased to find everything and everyone there were in their proper place. Proceeding on to deck 21, he stopped mid-stride as he heard his name being called over the com.
[Margolis to Biggs, please respond.]
"Biggs here, is there a problem?"
[Could say that. Miss Pieffer, the ship's head teacher,] the Ops officer began.
[Youth Education Professional!] Simon heard a matronly voice snap, interrupting in the background. He also detected a hint of a sigh as Margolis tried to keep her temper.
[Youth Education Professional,] Fox stressed each word for emphasis, [Just reported that one of her students has gone missing, somewhere around your current location, Ensign. Apparently he got away from the group while they were on a field trip to the science labs and vanished. By last report, someone saw him getting out of a lift near you. Please scan the area and advise.]
"Right away, Biggs out." Simon swung into action, guided by his tricorder readings. The blips on the screen got progressively more focused, until he followed the trail they gave him to the end and found a boy unconscious beneath a cargo container. His arm was apparently broken, he must have reached up with it to try to deflect the object without success as it fell over.
"Medical emergency! Cargo bay 2!" Simon called for help, while ripping a piece of his uniform tunic off to secure the child's arm in place. Within mere moments, the medical team arrived, moved the child onto an anti-grav stretcher and had begun first aid treatment as they took him towards Sickbay.
"I'll be sure to mention to your commanding officer the speed with which you acted in this matter," the medic in charge told Simon. "Great job."
Simon nodded in appreciation, starting to help the other security officers who had come to the area after Margolis' call to put the containers back where they belonged on the shelves above.
"Make a note to the crew not to stack these any more than three containers high in the future." Simon instructed. "Too dangerous."
Realizing it was time for lunch already, Simon allowed himself a short break for a bowl of chicken noodle soup and cup of tea in Seven before returning to his rounds. In the quiet of the nearly-deserted restaurant, Simon tried to calm his nerves, finding that his adrenaline was still high after the rescue of the injured child.
After finishing his checks of the damage control centre and insuring that guest quarters were secure as they should be, Simon returned to the security office to take up his assigned position for the rest of his shift, which was monitoring internal security displays.
He still felt the adrenaline coursing through him and wondered what he was going to do with it all if something didn't happen soon to help him run some of it off.
He had no idea that he would soon find out the true meaning of the old saying "Be careful what you wish for.. . ."
Ensign Simon Biggs
security officer
USS Independence