Hands on the Heart

Posted on Mon Jan 19th, 2026 @ 7:21pm by Captain Zedd Sykes & Engineering Officer Mei-Lin

779 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Acquisitions & Contracts
Location: Engineering, CL Dutchman
Timeline: Date 2380-01-03 at 0900

Zedd was halfway through his second raktajino in the Dutchman’s compact mess hall, the bitter Klingon brew chasing away the ghosts of last night’s bourbon with his new pilot. Cormus Fletcher had reeled off at 0200 with a sloppy salute. The ship hummed with potential, but engineering still echoed empty—a nagging void that made the whole vessel feel off-balance.

The comm panel pinged softly.

“Captain, incoming hail from the docking umbilical,” the computer announced in its flat, emotionless tone. “Visitor: M. Zhao. Clearance requested for engineering billet discussion.”

Zedd arched an eyebrow. Direct access request—no shuttle, straight through the berth’s sealed link. Bold or efficient?

He keyed approval. “Let her in. Route her to engineering—I’ll meet her there.”

Minutes later, the umbilical hatch hissed open on Deck 5, admitting a compact woman in faded coveralls. Black hair pulled into a simple ponytail, brown eyes alert but kind, a scarred toolkit slung over her shoulder like an old friend. She stepped into main engineering with the quiet assurance of someone who’d boarded more ships than she could count.

Mei-Lin Zhao.

Zedd waited by the warp core, arms crossed. “Ms. Zhao. Captain Zedd Sykes. Impressive—most applicants take the shuttlebay. You must know your docking protocols.”

She offered a small, warm smile—genuine, with a hint of relief. “Old habit from yard work. Saves time. Thank you for seeing me so quickly, Captain. Mind if I take a look around?”

Zedd gestured broadly. “Be my guest. Show me what you’ve got.”

Mei-Lin moved through the space methodically, her steps light but purposeful. She paused at the core first, ear tilted toward the hum as she read the output displays, and her fingers brushing the housing. “Warp core’s stable, but it’s pulling uneven—starboard injectors are compensating for a micro-fracture in the port assembly. Could lead to efficiency loss at sustained warp seven, maybe five percent drop over long hauls.” She knelt, peering into a diagnostic panel below. “And the plasma conduits here… they’re rated for another decade, but the seals are showing early wear. Probably from inconsistent resupplies.”

Zedd watched, intrigued despite himself. She wasn’t showboating—just stating facts, her voice soft but steady.
She straightened and nodded toward the central console. “Computer core’s another story. Legacy model—pre-2370s, I’d guess. The computer’s outdated, which explains the lag in subroutine responses. It’s functional, but integrating modern upgrades could be tricky without a full overhaul. You’d gain ten to fifteen percent in processing speed if we swapped the primary matrix, but that’s not cheap.”

Zedd uncrossed his arms, leaning against a bulkhead. “You found more than I did, sounds like she needs some work. Posting’s for engineering officer. Long-term with profit share. A small crew with independent runs, no red tape. You interested?”

Mei-Lin’s eyes met his, a flicker of quiet determination there. “Very. I’ve spent years keeping worse ships flying. This one has potential—I’d like to be part of that.”

“Terms,” Zedd said flatly. “Profit share, net, open ledgers. Two-point-five percent to start. You prove you can keep us from shaking apart mid-jump, we revisit.”

Mei-Lin blinked, her soft smile fading into thoughtful consideration. She wasn’t offended—just calculating. “That’s… a bit low, Captain. With respect, engineering’s the backbone. If I’m handling the core, upgrades, and whatever patchwork we need out here, three-point-six feels more balanced. I’ve jury-rigged Orion freighters through subspace storms—kept crews alive when systems failed. I don’t break ships; I make them better.”

Zedd rubbed his beard, testing her. “Three’s my ceiling. We’re lean—everyone pulls weight.”

She hesitated, then nodded slowly, her voice gentle but earnest. “Three-point-three? It’s not just about the number—it’s about knowing my work’s valued. I’d give this ship everything I’ve got. I did go through Star Fleet Academy and mastered in engineering. This will be like a second home to me”

Zedd studied her a moment longer—the scars on her hands, the quiet intensity in her eyes. No pushiness, just honest advocacy. He extended his hand. “Three-point-three. Locked in. Welcome aboard, Engineer Zhao.”

Her smile returned, warmer now, as she shook. Thank you, Captain. I won’t let you down.”

He showed her to quarters on Deck 3—close to engineering, as she quietly requested—then left her to unpack. Faint sounds of tools soon echoed from below: a panel unsealing, a calibrator whirring, Mei-Lin murmuring softly to herself.

As Zedd paused on the bridge, the ship seemed as if it was feeling steadier already.

 

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