Title: Getting the Job Done

Contact: deviltwinfastmail.fm

Date: 21 August 2004

Series: ENT

Rating: PG-13

Code: Hess, OC, Tr

Part: 1 NEW

Summary: And you thought you knew who was running the ship?

Disclaimer: Paramount possesses everything. I don't own nothing except a crazy imagination.

Getting the Job Done

"Are you sure he'll be okay, Hess?" Jordan asked his friend. With a tilt of his head, Jordan indicated he was talking about Cmdr. Charles Tucker, III. They had all been busy working in engineering since early morning.

Lieutenant Hess looked up from her work to the area where Trip was working. Commander Tucker was busily punching buttons on his control panel and several indicator lights blinked in unison.

"Yep, no problem at all. You see I rigged that panel myself. Looks authentic, right down to the lights, nuts, and bolts, but in reality, it's just a dummy."

"Ah, so all the buttons and lights, but no matter what he does, he won't mess anything up! You're brilliant!"

Hearing the last two words Jordan uttered, Trip looked up and smiled broadly. Humoring him, Hess and Jordan grinned back and waved.

"Hey, it's either that, or I'll be the one having to endure all of the captain's stories at dinner. Believe me I'm much better off!" Hess said softly while still smiling innocently at her boss.

"How many people know about this?" Jordan questioned, keeping his voice low.

"You mean aside from the entire engineering crew?"

Jordan nodded.

"Well, there's Admiral Forest -- actually he was the one who suggested it."

"Why's that?"

Hess chuckled as she returned to her task of repairing the manifold. "Something about having Trip around helps to keep the Captain busy and happy."

"Does anyone else on the ship know?"

"Well there's Lieutenant Reed."

"Reed? Why? Because it's a matter of ship's security?"

Hess tightened a bolt with a wrench and then shut the access panel. "Not specifically. It's just that he's just too damn observant. Figured it out almost before we left space dock."

"So why does he keep it a secret?" Jordan wanted to know.

"Put it this way. Aside from that one time last year, have you ever seen him dining with the Captain?"

Jordan tilted his head to one side and look upward, pondering the question. Finally he shook his head. "Nope, can't say I have."

"Exactly, and there's a reason for that. He always has an excuse when asked. Because if Tucker, and the Vulcan are dining with the Captain all the time, that provides Enterprise with the opportunity to have a real 'captain' sit in the big chair."

"So while the Lieutenant is sitting in the Captain's chair . . ."

". . . he has a chance to correct any of the Captain's oversights or omissions."

"Shrewd."

Jordan nodded.

A sharp yee-haw cut through engineering. Looking up Hess and Jordan saw Tucker turn towards them and punch his fist in the air. "I did it! I fixed it!"

Hess smiled and nodded. "Congratulations, sir! I knew you could do it!"

Jordan groaned very quietly. "So what are we going to do if Lieutenant Reed ever gets his own ship?"

Hess grinned broadly at her friend. "Transfer."

"Now that's shrewd!"

End.

AN: Okay you can hit me now -- don't worry, I can take it.