Parts

Posted on 22 Feb 2026 @ 10:09pm by Lieutenant Commander Leland Hawksley & Lieutenant JG Faith Benson

1,992 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: S04 Episode 02 The Hackers Backdoor (Incidentals)
Location: Tomcat, Main Engineering
Timeline: Current

[ON]

[Main Engineering, USS Tomcat]

In Main Engineering aboard the USS Tomcat, Lieutenant Leland Hawksley crouched near the Impulse Propulsion System in Main Engineering aboard the USS Tomcat, his hands deftly adjusting the IPS command coordinator node. The hum of the engines filled the air as he fine-tuned the connections, his focus sharp yet calm. Hearing footsteps, he glanced up, spotting Faith Benson stepping into the bay. Wiping his hands on a rag, he stood, offering a reserved but warm smile.

“Faith Benson, right?” he said, his voice steady as he stepped forward. “Welcome to the chaos of Main Engineering. I’m Leland Hawksley—caught me mid-tweak on the IPS node. Hope you’re ready to dive in.” His tone carried a quiet confidence, inviting her into the heart of the ship’s operations.

Faith glanced up at the voice, away from the PaDD she was carrying. "Oh, hello, Lieutenant. I've been here before, and been using on of the labs..or was."

“Yes, I… recall,” Leland replied playfully regarding Faith's suit incident. “Things happen!” He shrugged, wiping the gallinium tri-coupling grease from his hands onto a rag.

“What do you think of the new complete retrofit?”

Faith gave a little shrug, "Would have done a couple things different but over all, we did good."

"What you got there? What can I help with?" Leland always an easy-going, ready-to-help, hands-on kind of guy, much like his XO, Andorian Thex, and El-Aurian Todd.

"Well....I need..these parts," holding the PaDD out to Leland to look at. It had a few things outlined, and did show part of what she was building.

“Industrial replicator. This is some pretty dense alloys you're ordering… You're not reviving your?” He stopped and held a pause finger. “This could be fun. But I won't let you get killed!” He shook his head. “Somers agreed to this?” Leland was ready for some fun with Benson.

"Now just who said that?" Faith gave Leland a toothy grin. Waiting a minute since he held a finger up, "Who said I ever stopped, or that I agreed to permission?" Did Faith do so, sorta, but she also was not just going to give up on this. "Oh I'll be fine."

Classic Faith move—skirting the line just enough to keep it fun."

Hawk leans against a console, smirking "You’ll be fine you say? Famous last words!" He guffed.

"Alright, I’ll get you the parts—can’t have you blowing up the ship trying to DIY this. But I’m keeping an eye on you..." Leland rubbed his chin thinking things through. "This project’s got potential. Deal’s this: you keep me in the loop, and I’ll make sure you don’t end up as a cautionary tale in the engineering logs! Sound good?" Hawk extended his large, scuffed engineering hand to shake Benson's.

"Well we wouldn't particularly want that now would we?" Faith smiled lightly and leaned a bit. "Hmmm...I suppose we can make that deal. I'm not even suppose to still be working on this in a practical manner, just the holodeck, so now you know, you're going to end up in as much trouble as I am over it, but it's got vision."

"Like I said. I'm here to keep an eye on you. Not to build your toy." Leland shook his head with a bit of a grin. I mean, know he was glad he knew what Benson was getting back into.

"First moment, I don't like it, your operations halted," Leland added.

An eyebrow raised, "What's not to like? It's perfectly fine." Faith grinned.

“Perfectly fine…” Leland lifted his head with a grin, turning away, stating, “Until you're ejected into a conduit bulkhead!” He growled, eyeing Benson.

“It took me two days, devoting extra teamwork to replacing that… that mess of a miscalculation. Did you realize that you had thruster ejector plasma kits installed on that… contraption of yours? What were you thinking? Other than flying, of course?” Leland shook his head. He gestured for Benson to come take a drink with Leland in the Engineering office.

“Come on. Let's sit down. Tell me how you're going to make sure this suit doesn’t ignite. I want to see your technical specifications.”

Faith reached into her tunic top and then her bra and produced a slip of gold pressed latinum. Taking his hand and plopping it in his palm. "That should cover it. -- It has to be able to withstand a hit, I mean from phasers, disruptors, melee weapons. Mobile and manuverable." She moved to sit down, grabbing a PaDD and pulling up her personal server to show the specs.

Leland stood up. He was being bought. Or being told to shut up and just do what she wanted. Either way. It was ignorant and a stupid move for a Starfleet Officer to make.

At the highest voice he could temper without shaking the windows of his office. "Thats it. I want you out of my Engineering Right Now Lieutenant. That's an ORDER." He growled, never so enraged. "Don't pull that crap with me. Take your gold with you." His eyes fuming at Benson.

"What? I was just trying to offer something for your time. I..Fine." Faith snatched the PaDD and left out, she could come and pick up what she left later.

Hawksley grumbled. He blew off his steam and kicked his steel toed Engineering shoes at the new carpet. He shook his head. "F**k, Leland...." He spat, now angry at himself.

Benson was only offering recompense in the way she knew how. She was... Well odd that way. It... He never should have become that angry. Maybe it was his sexual tension building up, since Lilli's impending pregnancy. Kisses just weren't enough anymore...

"BENSON." He broke off in to a jog, reaching Faith around the hallway corner... He called again as she didn't seem to stop. "BENSON. Listen..... I...." He swallowed his angered pride, now cooling down... "I didn't mean it. I am sorry...... Please. Stop."

Faith was still calm, oddly enough, regardless of what was said. Slowing her walk down to a crawl. Finally stopping and turning around to face Hawksley. "For?"

Hawksley slowed to a halt. His face usually a mask of command poise, cracked with raw regret... eyes downcast, jaw tight as he rubbed the back of his neck, searching for the right anchor in the storm of his temper. oO Idiot. She's not the enemy here. Never was. Oo

"For snapping like that," he said, voice low and rough, stripped of the growl. "For the order, the... everything. You didn't deserve it, Faith. I know you were just trying to help, in your way. And I let my own crap... stress. Whatever... turn it into a battlefield." Leland met her gaze then, steady despite the flicker of vulnerability. "I want to help with your project. Forgive a thick-headed chief engineer?"

She sighed a little bit and gave him a smile. "It's okay, sir. I should have explained it better. You know you can always talk to me. Aint know as a race of listeners for no reason." Giving a nod, "I forgive you."

Hawksley exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, the tension in his shoulders easing like a pressure valve finally hissing open. Her smile. Small, but genuine... cut through the lingering fog in his head sharper than any laser cutter. oO El Aurian ears and all. Lucky for me, she's got 'em tuned to mercy today. Oo

"Explained better? Nah, Faith. That's on me for jumping the warp core without a systems check." He managed a half-grin, rueful around the edges, rubbing his neck one last time before dropping his hand. "Appreciate the ear, though. And the absolution. Means more than you know from a listener like you." He nodded back, sharper this time, the poise creeping back in. "Now, about that project of yours... walk me through it again? Slower this time, before I short-circuit something irreplaceable. Deal?"

Faith smile warmly again and nodded, "You're very welcome. I never mind listening." Shifting a little but, "Yes, the combat suit." She motioned a hand back to the table they had been at, "I've got it all laid out here, mostly trying to get the thruster stabilizers working correctly and not slam me into a wall this time."

Hawksley smiled. "Alright. Let's do this." He replied. Why the hell not?

She looked back at the pieces and moment and then over her shoulder, "Again I'm sorry for my wording."

Leland scoffed it off. 'PsssSsSSSSHHhhhh!!! Ain't no worry, Benson. I'm a chief. You think all I hear is rainbows and puppy dog names all day with engineers?" Leland couldn't help but use foul language at times, breaking into laughter.

"So what materials, what amount of time, and what amount of industrial replicants will you be needing, bio differentials, and finally a compounds analysis report from the ship's main computer?" Is all the red tape Leland would need to sign off on for this project aspect for Benson?

"Can I get back to you on that, because it's a long list?"

"Benson... Benson... Benson..."

"Long list... Oh cummon!?!" Hawksley breathes outward, largely annoyed, shaking his head. "My office." This could easily be started on the list today; it wasn't rocket science when it... Well, it came down to intra-phys-dimentrical analysis of the suit alloy bi-dimensional matrix precast assembly.

"You'll get nothing done by not starting something to GET DONE!" Brandon looked at the record padd he had just given to Benson. Leland reached for his mug on the desk in his office, with a bunch of suckers in it. He offered Benson one and then took one himself. As he read, he liked a candy.

"So you can forgo the pre-check of the industrial replicators, I've just run over their updates 2 weeks ago...
Keep the assessment of the material scope of use, that's just for inventory pur..." He stopped and looked up at Benson. "No, I don't think you will be worried about that part. But you don't need to worry about those papers, I'll sign those out to get you closer to your unit..."

"So far, so good." Leland toyed with his sucker and tasted the cherry, his favourite. "Ok. So here it is, all signed off by me! Thank you! You're so welcome for making this like ready to do tomorrow Hawksley!"

"Ouch..What's with the yelling." She shook her head a moment. Having followed Leland into the office. Ooo! Lollypops! She took five. Sorting out the watermelon to start with first. Sticking it in her mouth after appropriately discarding the wrapper in the bin.

Her nose scrinched cutely for a moment, "So what are we looking at? I already pretty much have the propulsion system figured out and built...thrice...We still need the programming done before anything else so we know that the computer will integrate into the suits systems and acknowledge the users inputs. Not only that, but I want it to be able to anticipate situations, not take control but give suggestions where we can just say. Yes. And it will do it."

"Well." Leland looked down at his PADD. There was an incoming from Commander Dodd. He was to combine both projects and assume Faith's with his.

"We're shutting this down," Leland replied quickly. As he then handed the PADD to Faith. "You are to assume your project to work in conjunction with some suit that Dodd is already working on, apparently. Fancy that. Both of you are making superhero suits." He shrugged.

"Well...whatever works, then again you knew I have a beautiful mind." Faith winked.

[OFF]



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