Crystal Worship

Posted on Tue Apr 8th, 2025 @ 4:29am by Captain Qierress & Lieutenant Ikuyo Kita

1,630 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: 1 - Third Contact
Location: Engineering
Timeline: MD01 - 0600

One thing was certain about Starfleet ships, they understood the importance of running a ship with dilithium crystals. How other races and species could be so crude as to run a ship with atomic power or fossil fuels, she did not know. Crystals were worthy of worship and dilithium crystals were no exception. It was critical that she showed them her appreciation and worship, so she headed down to Engineer.

Engineering was not yet humming with a great deal of people, so she did not expect to draw any attention as she made the dilithium crystal chamber visible. She bent her head towards them and started humming as she meditated before them.

"Erm..." A red-haired lieutenant said from behind her. "Excuse me?"

The Gelrakian Captain did not move she merely stated, "You are welcome to join me in the worshipping of the crystals."

"Well... Actually Captain. I think it would be best to put the crystals back into the intermix chamber..." The engineer said nervously. "We need them to control the flow of the mixture...."

"Of course we do," the Captain responded. "However, viewing them causes no interruption normally, especially when the ship is not in motion. We are not heading to warp at this moment. Giving them their proper worship will give the dilithium crystals strength and fortitude to carry us through our missions." She sighed, stood up and faced the Chief Engineer. "I am Captain Qierress. Given your protectiveness, should I assume that you are my Chief Engineer?"

The red-haired Lieutenant nodded. "Yes. Lieutenant Kita," she said with a cheery smile.

"Good. Just know that I will be coming down every day, at least once a day, to pray to the crystals. So, you will likely see me quite frequently. Perhaps it will comfort you to know that I too was an engineer."

Kita smiled. "Well, OK then..." she said slightly nervously. "So, apart from praying to the crystals, what else can I do for you Captain?"

"You could tell me about yourself, Lieutenant Kita. Is that your full name? As I am Gelrakian, and we are newer to the Federation, I do not know all the...." The Captain stumbled as she started looking for the proper word. "Nuances? I think that is it.... Nuances of other species within the Federation."

Kita couldn't help but smile. "Well, my full name is actually Ikuyo Kita. However, I prefer going by my second name." She explained. "I... guess I'm just you're average engineer. This is my first assignment as Chief though."

"Everyone has a first time at something and if Starfleet put you here as a Chief, it must have felt that you were ready for the challenge," Qierress answered confidently and decisively. "So, Lieutenant Kita, I cannot imagine you are average. Also, you have not told me more about yourself. We are going to be working together for some time, I think we should know each other better, do you not?"

"Well, I guess..." Kita said with a smile. "What exactly do you want to know?" she asked, her smile seemed to shine with little sparkles and stars that would blind the person asking.

"Hobbies...interests...family.... Your love for crystals.... That sort of thing."

"Well..." Kita started. "I love to sing. I can play guitar. I'm a bit of a 'closet geek', so yeah..." she said.

"Closet geek?" Qierress asked, trying to determine what exactly Kita meant by that.

"It... doesn't matter..." Kita said nervously shaking the question off. "It's not really important...."

"Why do you say that?" Qierress asked tilting her head and leaning in towards Kita. "Do you think that I would ask you a question that is irrelevant? If I thought that it was not important, I would not have asked," Qierress confirmed.

"Well... it's embarrassing that's all. I didn't mean to mention it. But I'm good at singing!" Kita replied changing the subject.

"Why do you think that it is embarrassing to be good at singing?" Qierress asked curiously. "I think I should like to hear you sing. Perhaps the entire crew would enjoy that."

Kita turned a bright shade of pink. "I'm not that good!" She protested. "Plus, I don't want to be up on a stage in front of everyone just yet... You know how it is right?"

There was a long blink. "How what is?" Qierress asked. "If you have the gift of song, then you should share it with everyone." The Captain thought for a moment. "If a crowd makes you nervous, then perhaps you should just sing for me at the moment." Qierress waited expectantly.

Kita shook her head. "I think we should perhaps not do that here." she said. "After all, we're on duty, right?"

"I don't recall any regulations that prohibit singing on duty," Qierress mused. "So, go ahead."

"It's not that. It's... well.. embarrassing," Kita said in response. "Plus, I'm the chief engineer. Got to look good and all that...."

"I suppose that appearances could be important but why fear what your subordinates will think of you? They are, after all your subordinates. I do not think that any one of them will be acting like this is a Klingon or Romulan ship and killing you to take your place. Do you?"

Kita let out a sigh. "Maybe another time..." she said with a smile. "There's still a lot of work to be done...."

"Such as?" the Captain asked curiously and skeptically.

"It's a long list," Kita said in response. She trotted over to a nearby console and tapped on the control panel. "See," she said pointing to the display.

"I see. Why do you not have a bunch of the new crew, especially the ensigns working on it? They could use the experience. Besides, this is a new ship. It should not need too much maintenance, right?"

"True, but you want it just right," Kita replied. "There's bound to be gremlins!"

"Gremlins? Are those some sort of creature that need to be eradicated?"

"No, it's an old engineer saying. New ships get small problems, like when things haven't yet been 'run in'. These are called Gremlins." Kita explained. "It's a thing that happens."

"I see but I don't see," Qierress answered. "I understand small problems and fixing them, but I cannot understand why a new ship would have any problems at all. Do the engineers not know how to properly do their jobs?"

"No, it's not that." Kita explained. "Many of the ships systems were built separately. Theoretically they should all be fine when put together, but they need calibrating and minor tweaks. Every starship is different I guess." She wasn't quite sure how to explain it. "Don't worry, we'll be ready to go soon."

"How soon?" the Captain asked. "I'm certain that we will have a mission shortly. I have no desire to be late to our first assignment."

"Give me a couple of days, just to make sure everything passes regulation." Kita replied.

"You have one at most," Qierress answered. "First Chief briefing is tomorrow, too."

Kita sighed. 'Starship Captains...' she thought to herself. "Yes Captain. I'll do my best to make sure everything is up to specification."

"Great! I will be here to witness your perfection tomorrow morning when I come to worship."

"Yeah... about that. Maybe not come and play with the Dilithium Crystals every day..." Kita said nervously. "I know you worship crystals and everything Captain. But these are 'working crystals' they can't be easily pulled out and such. If the core was working you could have caused a breach, and we can't risk that every day ok..."

"And the fact that they are working crystals means that they are in need of even more of my worship. However, I will try to stay considerate of them and you. Perhaps every other day...."

"Perhaps... once a week. When we do core maintenance. When we can take them out safely for you, without blowing us all up?" Kita suggested hoping that the compromise would keep the crystal worshiping captain out of her engine core.

The Captain stood still for a few moments and asked, "Do you think they would be offended by so little worship?"

Kita pondered for a moment. "Not at all." She replied. "In fact, if you keep taking them out without the proper procedures, they could crack or even shatter. That would be not only a disaster for our power, but you would hurt or even... kill... them!"

Qierress thought for a moment. "I have no desire to do that. Once a week, but I will leave offerings on the other 6 days. Perhaps a little altar...."

"I have an idea." Kita said. She trotted over to one of the engineering console stations and pulled out a PADD. "How about this instead? A live feed to the visual sensors inside the articulation frame. You can leave blessings from your ready room then," she suggested as she tapped on the PADD and held it out to the Captain. "An altar would prevent access to the warp core. If you want the ship to run properly, we'll need that access."

The Captain smiled at Kita. "Yes! A live feed! I like this idea! This is why you were made the Chief Engineer, I see now."

A wave of relief washed over the Chief Engineer. She suddenly felt like a small boat entering into a safe harbour after braving rough stormy seas. "So, that'll do then Captain?" she asked. "That will be sufficient enough for you?"

"With the once a week maintenance, yes. Thank you, Lieutenant." She started to back up. "I should get back to the bridge and prepare for the briefing. I will see you there."

Kita nodded and gave the Captain a polite bow. "Aye Captain."

 

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