A Disrespectful Entry

Posted on Wed Jul 22nd, 2026 @ 4:15pm by Lieutenant Charlotte Averis & Captain Elias McEntyre
Edited on on Wed Jul 22nd, 2026 @ 5:25pm

1,169 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Hunted
Location: Engineering
Timeline: Prior to departure

Charlotte was again alone in Engineering, but it n many ways that was the way she liked it. She could let herself smile for no reason at all, she could dance and twirl to her own music, not just listen to the beeps of the console or the turn of the warp core, which was her purpose today. Of course, the music was already off, now, though she kept humming as she made the final preparations. The crystal matrix was in good shape, a little wear on it, but nothing that would affect the power output, but she created a big red kill switch on an adjacent screen, preprogrammed to cut the antimatter feed if it became necessary.

“Pre-initialization checklist, complete.” She stated to herself, “Matter flow engaged, antimatter…Now.” She used a singsong voice that no one else would likely hear and then pointed at the reaction chamber precisely when she hit the initialization key. It took a couple seconds, but the reaction flickered once, twice, then with a flash of light glowed before it settled into the normal rhythmic pulse that she’d come to expect from the warp core. She vaguely thought she’d heard the door open while she was laser focused, but ignored the fact until this point.

“All right, it’s safe to talk.” She said from her console, watching the readings, her left high heel tapping up and down as she flexed her toe, in the pattern of the warp core, dark stockings almost vanishing up the skirt she wore, but not quite, exposing a small bit of pink skin before the fabric took her.

Elias strode into Engineering. The space felt larger than the small cramped compartment that housed the core on the small Steamrunner class he was use to commanding.

No one was here...save for one lonely engineer. Where was the crew? He ponder as he walked over.

"So...is it normal for one engineering officer to be staffing the department before a cast off?" He inquired to the figure.

Charlotte remained focused on the readings in front of her, eyes flicking to the warp core every few seconds as she monitored the reaction, "It is when I've sent the others to handle other chores while I'm reactivating the warp core. I wanted some time alone with her before I introduced her to the others, even IF they know her better than I do." She never looked towards the newcomer, smiling as the reaction settled down from the initial burst.

Elias stood firm, tall. "It is also customary to stand to attention when an officer of Captain rank comes on to the deck!" He spoke firmly.

That got Charlotte to turn her head slightly so he could see the edge of a green iris making a look over his uniform before snapping back away, “A runaway matter/antimatter reaction doesn’t give a shit about how many pips are on someone’s collar, so when I’m starting one up, neither do I, My Lord.” Her eyes maintained their lock on the rising levels as the glow in front of them grew brighter and steadier, the toe of her high-heeled foot tapping the deck without rhythm.

"Excuse me, Lieutenant?!?!" Elias asked with more sterness in his voice. The voice he didn't like to use but this Lieutenant was a step away from insubordination charges.

"I said wait." Charlotte said in a musing voice as she raised a single index finger in a 'wait' gesture as her other hand adjusted some settings and the glow subsided fractionally and the engineer nodded before dropping her finger and spinning expertly on a single heel before planting her feet directly facing the Captain, legs together and back straight, the unsealed front of her jacket showing the engineering-gold tanktop she wore underneath it, "Now, My Lord, how's this?"

Elias glared. Glared hard. His brow furrowed as he stared daggers at this engineer.

"Do you always make habits of mouthing off to Captains who could have you drummed out the Space Service?' He asked, serious in his tone.

If anything, Charlotte was less impressed with him than she could have been otherwise, "My Lord, I did not 'mouth off', I stated clear facts." Her eyebrows furrowed for a moment, "Except my last comment, perhaps." The fact that he clearly outmassed her by probably at least three times, maybe four, didn't actually intimidate her, "I'm not going to apologize for stating facts, never have, never will, no matter who it is. Engineering is a dangerous enough place as it is, without throwing in silly little things when playing with antimatter."

“Do I look British to you? Do I look like I’ve got a crown?” Elias sternly asked.

“Name and rank, Soldier!”

The look on Charlotte’s face turned from semi-serious to outright incredulous. What the absolute… She shook her head slightly as her body relaxed (without permission) into a more easy stance, “What in the living hells are you talking about, My Lord?” She asked him, “I am not a soldier, I’m a goddamned engineer!”Dhe took a quarter step forward, “I am Lieutenant Charlotte Averis and this is my engineering room and, My Lord, you will treat me with respect when you cross that threshold!” She jabbed a finger at the main doors, “I don’t care if you’re an Ensign, a Captain or a damned Admiral, there is something called mutual respect and another called safety protocols and you’re not showing any respect for either!”

“Respect is earned, Lieutenant. You’ve shown complete disregard and contempt of standard protocol. If this is what your Captain encourages among her officers im in for a really short assignment here.” Elias stood his ground before furrowing his brow.

“And the rank of Captain does not automatically confer respect, My Lord, I can agree with you on that.” Charlotte shot back, “And when in the last four years has ‘standard protocol’ made any difference whatsoever?”

“You will report to the Captain Ready Room to stand before the mast! That’s all Lieutenant!”

“I’ll have my relief here and briefed within fifteen minutes, My Lord.” Charlotte’s words were clipped as she herself didn’t back down. “Safety first, after all.” She gave a slight inclination of her head at him, then whirled and moved back to the console whence she came.

Elias did not like this one’s attitude and approach. If this is how a Department head acted, how does the rest of the crew acts. This is something he would bring up to Akeno as he turned on his heels and departed.

Charlotte sighed as he left, “Sorry, My Lady, at least you can throw me under the bus.” She mused to herself, then gave a sharp laugh before she keyed the comm, “A bard, they were actually right.”

Mission Post by:

Captain Elias McEntyre
Visiting CO
USS Wayfarer

Lieutenant Charlotte Averis
Chief Engineer
USS Wayfarer

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