16. In orbit around Earth

[Renekin Skywalker]

"See?" Tawfeek said to Mensk, nodding to Foreman. "This is what I like. Employees that, instead of talking around a problem, get to work solving it."

He put his arm around Mensk to direct him off the bridge.

"It's just a satellite, quit making things more complex, and start getting your gear together." He said. "Oh, and if you can dig up some specs on the thing, that would be far more useful than explosives."

"McKenna, just remember that comets fly in straight lines, too." He added, chuckling.

With that, Tawfeek left the bridge, and Mensk alone to do his work.

[Dome]

Once the captain and the engineer leave Flip motions towards a second chair, "grab a seat Doctor. For now I am going to pushing this ship pretty hard. I need you to keep an eye on the long range sensors in case something crosses our path and I need to make a course change. Got it," he asks her while focused on the controls.

[kurff]

Skills:
Electrical Engineer 55%+5% (circuits and electrical systems) [dice=100]
Mechanical Engineer 55%+5% (mechanical systems) [dice=100]
Electricity Generation (50% +5%) (for the Sats power Core if needed) [dice=100]
Radio Basic 60%+5% (Communication Systems for the Sat) [dice=100]
Read Sensory Instruments 45%+5% (Sensor and transmission for the sat) [dice=100]
Computer Repair 50%+5% (Computer Hardware) [dice=100]
Jury-Rig on to it (25+5%) (Anti-tamper device if any) [dice=100]
Computer Operation 80%+5% (Sats Operating system if it needs to be used to get past ) [dice=100]
Computer Programming 55%+5% (Program to Keep anti-Tamper in check.) [dice=100]

"Gee, I would have never thought to get plan of the sat...oh wise one," He he smirked, "I'm engineer I'm more than aware of what can go wrong in a salvage op..Better to be safe than sorry." he paused, "And in any salvage. especially one where the self destruct fails...its never JUST a sat. on the plus side it kills me you have one less paycheck to sign.." He smiled and started to the Hanger.

Once in the hanger he thought out the details to himself. It probably has an anti-tamper device in it ,explosive or not, a few spare circuits can reroute any surprises it has. Should have that in engineering.

In the bay he sets his hand held computer to find all he could about the specs on the sat's model and manufacturer. It wasn't just a sat, it was sub-components used on its security protocols, power supply set up, any number of things could go wrong. Not all products were compatible and could easily set off the systems and delete the data by crossing the wrong wires. Another issue was that failed Self destruct. it meant there was an unexploded bomb.

As he waited for the Data to come in. He sets up a net to catch him and Stephens if they need to run. The bay door could be opened and scoop up the sat and/or the team in space. A net was a pretty basic concept and should work. A strong mesh meant to slow down objects in Zero-G so when gravity was slowly restored it would lower an object..not drop. In addition he added a series of chain fall to grab or hang the sat should gravity need to be restored quickly. Worse case they could play Volleyball or Badminton. he chuckled to himself.

As the comp system processed he pondered the notion of using Navigation system comp circuits to redirect surges to prevent the self destruct for re-triggering by accident. The power output on a sat even if it was a leftover charge might cook it before it does any good better to use ones rated for ships systems that could easily take the charge. they could fit in a pack and not get in the way.
[rand=63423693083645158798170863923089059560538533588455228627115252186]

[dakota]

McKenna nodded and slid into the chair. " Got it." (read sensory equipment [dice=100] ) "Kind of suprised that he did let me stay. Guess he knew things would be too busy for anything other than work to happen." She paused. " I should shut up so you can focus." she said, going silent. [rand=460539788721378605281385763882856597390891118766135170249558083004]

[Dome]

Flip raises an eyebrow and glances at her out of the corner of his eye, "anything other than work? What did you have in mind," he says with a smirk. "I can multitask. Being a pilot, I have to multitask or I could wind up killing everyone. Got to be able look at the sensor's, monitor engine feedback, control the ship, watch the radar. Talking to the hot doctor, well, as long as you don't mind me not being able to give you my full attention right now, then you can keep talking. Anything other than work," he says smiling as he quotes her words again, "or talking, will have to wait for another time though. So how are you doing Doctor? We haven't really had a chance to spend much time one on one talking. Not really since your ex, was on board."

[dakota]

"I only meant talking." McKenna scolded despite a smile as she shook her head and smiled at reply. " Let's not talk about him, I have enough problems without the past coming back to haunt me anymore. It's just everything has been so hectic that I haven't been able to talk. And I admit I have been avoiding you, and Jess for that matter, because I have a problem. Flip, you know I have feelings for you. Problem is I have the same feelings for Jess." She paused to let her words sink in, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.

[Dome]

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to bring up any bad feelings by mentioning him was just using it as a point of reference time wise," he says in response to her mention of the ex.

He listens to the rest of what she says, and stay's silent for a few minutes. He takes that time to look at the sensors again and then makes a minor course adjustment to make sure they are still on track to the satellite.

After a few minutes of silence of not responding he says, "uh, so you have feelings for me and Jess...She's an attractive woman, I can kinda understand that," he says solemnly.

"You have this same conversation with her yet," he asks not really betraying his feelings. His voice steady and calm, the voice of pilot trying to remain collected while trying to dodge enemy fire.

[dice=100](4)Sensory Equipment 45%
[dice=100](33)Navigation: Space 45%
[dice=100](20)Pilot: Spacecraft: Heavy 60%
[rand=0318841156498578258652168271407109347434269108148930286133872725984]

[dakota]

"You're angry with me." McKenna answered in a hushed voice. She turned around as something caught her eye, suddenly realizing Jess was still there. " Jess, I.... I thought you wer gone with the captain... " She wanted to run out as her face reddened and she felt queasy. Burt she had commited to helping with the bridge. "Oh, this is awkward." she paused again. " Yes Flip, I did tell Jess first. Opportunity came up, and I wasn't telling either of you in front of Tawfeek." He sighed," this would be so much easier if the two of you both said okay and I could drag the pair of you back to med bay ... god, it's been so long since I had sex with a partner..." she let out a nervous chuckle.

[Mierin]

Jessica had started to leave the bridge, but stopped when MJ started talking to Flip. She stayed where she was, not wanting to attract attention to herself, given the topic of conversation. However, once MJ noticed she was still there, Jess smiles politely and nods, "Sorry. I'll give you two some privacy. I need to head to my workshop anyway to get ready."

[Dome]

Flip says, "I'm not upset at all MJ, just trying to process this. Jessica, if you have a minute you might as well stay sounds like this concerns us both. No matter what though, going to medbay now isn't an option. This mission is top priority, and the captain would have a fit," he says again, still not looking up and still keeping a steady calm voice.

"If you don't mind me asking Jessica, how did you respond to this revelation," he asks as he once again checks sensor readings.

[dice=100](27)Sensory Equipment 45%[rand=26526544326261864385907770188929329343757411540866156024219017946]

[dakota]

McKenna looked at Flip in surprise, her breathe relaxing a bit. "I know the mission comes first. You know what I meant." She turned and looked at Jess, wondering what her answer would be.

[Mierin]

Jessica keeps her face neutral as she replies, "I already knew that something was going on between you two." A small smirk appears as she adds, "I'd be a poor security officer if I didn't pay attention to what is going on around me." Jessica continues, "I knew I was attracted to MJ but didn't want to interfere with anything going on with the two of you, plus I didn't know for sure that the attraction was returned so I was a bit surprised to find out it was."

[Dome]

Flip nods. He remains quiet for a moment and then says, "I had no idea bout you two. This is a complete surprise. I don't know when it started for you both, but had I known before, I would have just backed off and stayed out of the way. Now, I don't... I mean...look I don't want to give anyone a hard time over anything. We all work together and live together. I mean I know how I feel, but I have no idea what to do now."

As he keeps his eyes and hands locked on the controls Flip thinks, 'I was right at the beginning of all this, mess around with someone on ship and something will go wrong and cause problems. It always happens, although I did not expect this...I mean, MJ and Jess...together...man I can't help but wonder how far things have gone between them,' his face turning red slightly as the mental picture passes though his mind.

[dakota]

McKenna merely put her hand over her head as she lowered it to the console. She knew she had made a mess of things and this wasn't going as she had hoped. All she managed to say was to eke out, " I'm sorry, both of you."

[Dome]

Flip turns from the controls to look at MJ. He says, "don't lean on that console sensors and what not."

When she picks her head back up he says, "no need to apologize to me. I'm not upset with you. You told me what you wanted. You never led me on as to where we were going, so I have no reason to be angry. Just confused maybe, definitely surprised."

He looks from MJ up to Jess then back, "maybe we all need some time to think this over and figure out what we want. Like I said we all live and work together, so we just have to try and think of the others involved. We don't want things to get to tense between the three of us. The Captain would probably kick us all off his ship," he says before turning back to his console.