2 Days before launch... Lieutenant Scott Fogleson was running a tricorder over the power relays to make sure they could start transferring power. At the station nearby Lieutenant Rana Erbrun was standing waiting to transfer power to her science section.

FOGLESON "Looks good. Go ahead."

She imputed the power.

ERBRUN "Thank you, Lieutenant."

FOGLESON "My pleasure."

Fogleson was an average height man with dark curly hair, light brown eyes. He used to be rather heavy but he lost weight and is working on losing more. He did need to fit in Jefferies' tubes and access crawlways after all. Erbrun on the other hand was athletic, taller than most women, jet black hair, deep blue eyes. Fogleson had heard she was quite an athelite. She was rather attractive and intelligent which Fogleson preferred the latter but he couldn't complain about the visual stimulation either.

While he was musing the door opened and the bane of his existence entered. Oser walked into the engine room and walked over to them. Erbrun inclined her head to Fogleson.

ERBRUN I appreciate the help with the power relay. If you'll excuse me."

She walked up to Oser.

ERBRUN "Lieutenant Commander."

OSER "Lieutenant, everything alright?"

ERBRUN "Had a minor fluctuation in the power relay in Science Lab two but we managed to get it under control."

OSER "Excellent."

She left and Oser turned his attention to Fogleson.

OSER "Mister Fogleson, what's the status on warp drive?"

Fogleson was caught off guard for a moment but he hoped it was subtle enough that Oser didn't see it. Fogleson hated not having an answer right away.

FOGLESON "We will have warp four point five first thing in the morning, sir."

OSER "The Captain wants us at least warp six by the end of tomorrow night."

FOGLESON "Sir? What about the quantum drive?"

OSER "We won't be needing it for our first mission."

FOGLESON "Oh...I had been working on my algorithm not really worried about warp drive."

OSER "You can keep working on it on the voyage to our mission. We need better than four point five when we leave. If we can't do that we might as well bring out an NX class out of mothballs since they can do warp five."

Fogleson knew this was Oser's way of getting under his skin. He stopped him while he was ahead.

FOGLESON "I'll, I'll figure it out, sir. She will definitely be spaceworthy when we leave."

OSER "Good, I'll inform the Captain when I bring him here."

FOGLESON "When will he be here?"

OSER "I'm on my way to the shuttlebay now. He'll want as many people as you can spare in the shuttlebay when he arrives."

FOGLESON "I don't know if we have anyone to spare."

OSER "I'll pass along you and the team's regrets."

FOGLESON "I appreciate that, sir." Oser nodded at Fogleson as he stepped away and left Engineering. As soon as the doors closed Fogleson muttered.

FOGLESON "Flyboys."

He did respect the chain of command. He really did but he was an engineer not a grunt who just followed orders and made the impossible happen despite what people like Montgomery Scott would say. He was a theorist not a damn grease monkey. Wherever Commander Gage was Fogleson sure hoped he was having a good time at his expense.

FOGLESON "Harrison. Harrison! Get your backside over here!"

Lieutenant Junior Grade Harrison moved over there at a jog. Harrison was a tad bulky for an engineer with short blonde hair and blue eyes.

HARRISON "Sir?"

FOGLESON "Get the rest of the team who isn't currently working on something on the warp drive. We need to get us to maximum warp as soon as possible."

HARRISON "What about the quantum drive?"

FOGLESON "New orders."

HARRISON "But, sir..."

FOGLESON "I know Starfleet wants to play with the new toy. Honestly, I'd love to play with it but we can't right now. The Captain told the First Officer he wants warp drive. The First Officer told me what the Captain wants and now I'm telling you. Let's make it happen. Get to it!"

HARRISON Yes, sir."

Harrison turned on his heel and left. Harrison was a smart guy, but he could be a bit too focused on something and not want to change tasks until you basically beat him over the head with it.

FOGLESON "Whoever is the Chief Engineer on this ship will be in for a rude awakening...poor bastard."

Fogleson went to work.