Kilgary stopped laughing and tried to respond in a serious tone. "Jacob is actually a very good mechanic, Captain. He's a wonder with machinery."
"You're kidding."
Chief Meyer shook his head. "No, sir, Captain. Jacob can fix damn near anything, even stuff we're not supposed to be able to fix. He's one great mechanic. Absolutely clueless about everything else in the universe, though."
"You don't say. Chief, try to give him plenty of work so he stays on the ship instead of wandering around bumping into police and nice drug-running female 'guys.' Are there any other cases?"
Sharpe shook his head. "No, sir."
Senior Chief Kowalski grinned. "The crew knew we were only going to be out for a few days, sir. Even the trouble-makers didn't want to risk being on restriction when we got back to Franklin."
"Good." Hayes headed toward the hatch, but paused his movement, hanging before the entry, to raise one arm and swing his extended finger across the whole group like he was aiming a weapon. "And don't you people ever do something like this to me again. I'm going down to sickbay to make sure I didn't get a hernia from trying not to laugh."
"Attention on deck!" Sharpe called out. After Hayes had left, Kowalski and Meyer started laughing again.
Paul waved to Sharpe as he left. Sharpe shrugged in response. "Better luck next time, Mr. Sinclair."
"Maybe this'll scare Fastow straight."
Sharpe didn't hide his skepticism. "I'll believe it when I see it, sir."
"I've always admired your faith in human nature, Sheriff."
"I'm a cop. If you want faith in human nature, call a chaplain."
Franklin station loomed not far away, looking like a hollow discus, its rotation seeming leisurely from this distance. Paul glanced over at Lieutenant Sindh. "I hear your relief will be waiting for us on the pier."
Sindh smiled. "So I understand."
"This might be the last time you bring the Merry Mike into Franklin."
"Ah, the grief overwhelms me." Her smiled widened. "Bosun mate of the watch, notify all hands to prepare for entering port. Paul please notify the captain and the XO that we're ready for final approach on Franklin." Her fingers ran over the controls in front of her. "Lots of traffic out here, as usual, but it's all keeping clear of our approach lane."
"Captain's on the bridge!"
Hayes settled into his chair and fastened the straps. "Going to take her in, Sonya?"
"Yes, sir."
"Try not to scratch the paint." Hayes grinned, looking over as Garcia and Kwan pulled themselves onto the bridge. The three senior officers huddled, Hayes' smile fading into annoyance.
Paul leaned toward Sindh. "That doesn't look good."
"No. But we can't worry about that now, Paul. Pay attention to the maneuvering situation."
"Right. Sorry."
The Michaelson eased in toward Franklin at an angle, her thrusters firing to match the station's rotation. On the maneuvering displays, curved lines showed exactly where the ship was and where she should be. Sindh ordered the thrusters fired each time the Michaelson drifted off the right vector, almost seeming to know when to fire the thrusters before the ship's automated maneuvering systems did. "Send across line six."
"Send across line six, aye," the bosun mate of the watch echoed, transmitting the order.
A line shot out of the Michaelson 's hull, aimed right for the contact plate waiting at her berth. The magnetic grapnel hit and sealed itself to the station. The bosun sounded his pipe. "Moored! Shift colors!"
More lines went across, fixing the Michaelson 's mass to Franklin station, then very gently bringing the ship in toward her berth. The ship settled in firmly as Paul tried to readjust to a feeling of constant gravity again.
"Quarterdeck access seals are extending," Paul announced. It was all very superfluous, but he'd quickly learned that saying things over and over again, and announcing things anyone could see on the displays, made certain everybody knew what they needed to know. "Seals matched. Pressurizing. Ready for quarterdeck opening."
"Very well," Lieutenant Sindh replied. "Open quarterdeck hatch and match the brow to Franklin."
"Open quarterdeck, aye. Quarterdeck hatch opening. Brow matching. Quarterdeck reports they are ready to assume the watch."
Sindh looked over at the Captain, who nodded. "Very well. Transfer the watch to the quarterdeck. Secure the bridge watch."
"The quarterdeck has the watch. Securing the bridge watch, aye."
Hayes unstrapped and stood up, slightly unsteady himself on his feet. "Good job, lieutenant. But you might get another chance to do this after all." He headed out.
"Captain's left the bridge!"
Paul unstrapped and stretched. "What do you suppose the captain meant by that?"
Sindh shrugged. "Apparently we may be going out again in the near future."
"Sorry about that."
"I'm still short, Paul. They can keep us in space every day until I'm scheduled to depart the ship as long as get to leave that day! Just be glad we don't have duty tonight."
"I am. I just hope Jen doesn't have duty, either."
"Good luck."
Paul was just leaving the bridge when Kris Denaldo appeared in the passageway and held up her data pad. "Got a brief transmission in comms on the back channel."
Paul read "P- Fogarty's — J." Jen wanted to meet him tonight at the bar where the officers usually hung out. "Thanks, Kris."
"Thanks, he says. Me, I've got duty. I pass romantic messages for people even though I'm stuck on the ship tonight while certain other officers go gallivanting off to suck face with certain other officers."
"Not that you envy Jen and me or anything."
"Not at all. Come back one second late from liberty and I'll make sure your butt's hung out to dry." She paused. "I think I'm joking. You probably shouldn't test it, though."
"Understood. Can I bring you back anything in the morning?"
"Not unless it's a male willing to devote his life to satisfying my every desire." Kris paused again. "A halfway decent-looking male. Of the human species."
"You shouldn't be so picky."
"I know. I should just settle for whatever comes along like Jen did."
"Hey!"
"Kidding! Kidding! You two have fun tonight. Just don't tell me about it in the morning."
"Thanks, Kris." Of course, he couldn't just waltz off of the ship. Not until the ship's workday ended, and not until liberty call went down. I could ask Garcia for early liberty… nah. Who am I kidding? And I couldn't take off early anyway while my sailors have to stay aboard and work. But I don't feel like really working at the moment, not right after coming off watch. He headed for the wardroom, thinking of coffee and maybe conversation.
Lieutenant Mike Bristol, the assistant supply officer, was there along with another officer Paul didn't recognize. "Hey, Paul. Any word on when liberty's going down?"
"You tell me. Supply always knocks off work the earliest."
Bristol grinned. "That's just a rumor we encourage to ensure a steady stream of new recruits. Have you met Lieutenant Isakov?"
"No." He extended his hand. "Paul Sinclair. CIC officer."
Her shake was firm enough. "Val Isakov. I'm Lieutenant Sindh's relief."
"Oh. She'll be very happy to see you."
"I bet." Isakov smiled, a very quick quirk of her lips, then focused back on Mike Bristol. "Right now I need to get check-in done."
"Sure." Paul got some coffee and left. Not the friendliest soul, but I've had my share of bad days, too.
Colleen Kilgary was outside her stateroom and flagged Paul down. "Hey, you seeing Jen tonight?"
"I'm planning on it."
"Good. The Maury had that SEERS thingee installed during their last overhaul. Can you ask Jen how it's working out? We're supposed to get it, too."