thisavrou_log | Engineering For Dummies

Who: Shepshep (

keelahselai)
When: Backdated to some time after arrival! So April 3rd or so, ongoing.
Where: the engines
What: Shepard was assigned to engineering for her job. Tali is her boss. The wackiest of hijinks will undoubtedly ensue.
Warnings: None, unless Shep knocks out your life support systems.

[Nobody had to be good at everything. People had specializations. Engineering, combat, biotics, support, medical — every piece added up to a well-oiled machine, running perfectly, the sum of its hard-working parts. That was the beauty of a balanced team, the ideal squad.

Shepard, for example, was a Vanguard. A front line, close-combat specialist with aggressive attacks, and a certain disregard for personal safety that had earned her the Star of Terra during the Skyllian Blitz.

But she knew her limits, and one of them was high-level technical expertise. Sure, she'd had comprehensive training for basic survival engineering, and weapon, hardsuit, and omni-tool repair — there'd even been a few classes on hacking that she'd taken to like a Hanar to religion. But anything past that, and she found herself looking towards people she trusted. Tali, Garrus, EDI, Legion, even Joker knew potentially more than her on this front.

So it was lucky, really, that here, in another universe, filled with unknown people and danger around every corner, that of everyone, her boss was the one person she would have trusted beyond compare to teach her about the nuts and bolts of engineering.]

So, anywhere you want me to start?

[Even an old Varren can be taught new tricks. How hard could it be for her?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's been a really long time in Tali's mind since Shepard was her commanding officer - three years and counting, probably, by now. And she's already been on the same crew as Shepard for months - neither one of them below or above the other. It was weird, but...she got used to it.

This? She's not sure she's ever going to get used to this. Hell, there's a split second where Tali stares blankly at Shepard after she asks what do, before realising that yes, this is Tali's job now.]

--Right, yes. Ahh, there's not...really a shortage of things to do at the moment. We had an infestation at the end of last month - metal eating bots, they got into the engines - and when I fixed things up, it was pretty slapdash. Enough to keep us going, but...

[And as she thinks of something, she changes tack entirely.] Do you know anything about these engines yet? There's no eezo core at all, so it's completely different from what we're used to...

[That would have been a good place to start, Tali.]

[Shepard nods as Tali speaks. She'd heard about the metal-eating bot attacks, and was suddenly and heartily glad for her delayed arrival. She had a lot of built-in metal to munch on, and enjoyed it staying where it was — all over her body. But at Tali's question, she almost outright laughs, a smile spreading across her face.]

Tali, hold on. I've got some bad news: not only do I not know anything about these engines, I don't really know anything about engines, period. I fixed the Mako with omni-gel, remember? And Anderson didn't bring Adams along just because he had a pretty face.

Let's start on something small, and I'll work my way up. I'm a fast learner, but not that fast.

[...] ...Oh. Right. I don't know why I just assumed...

[Probably because years later there's a part of her that still thinks that anything she can do, Shepard can do better.]

First, let's not talk about the Mako. I still get nauseous thinking about it.

[Then, and by her ancestors this is going to be the most awkward thing she's ever said, but...] Err... I'm...teaching somebody about engines at the moment. Basic engineering. Starting with the basics. Maybe I could introduce you two and you could...exchange notes or something? I can run you both through the basics.

[That was said quite slowly, every word the product of effort, but then she's talking faster and it's almost like an apology.] I mean, I'm teaching him programming as well and you don't need any help there, and you already know a lot of the basics just because you grew up in a spacefaring society, right? - and I don't think Starflight did, so I don't think you need me teaching you all of the basic basics like I am with him, but it...might help.

[She crosses her arms, frowning in mock offense.]

Come on, Tali! The Mako is the best rapid deployment all-terrain military offense vehicle a girl could ask for. Dependable, versatile, adaptable... takes a few hits to kill your standard Thresher Maw, sure, but nobody's perfect.

[But as Tali's expression grows serious (and boy, is it strange to actually see it happening, instead of behind the mask), she falls silent, giving her time to talk through what clearly isn't easy for her to say. Somehow, I still thought you could do this. It stings, but in her experience, the hard truths generally should. As the the conversation accelerates, however, she holds up her hands in an "all right" pose, smiling easily at her friend.]

It's okay, I understand. Really. And you're right — programming, I've got. Hell, show me a system, and I'll show you an exploit. But engine maintenance? Sounds like me and... Starflight, was it? — should team up.

But in the meantime, how about some repetitive grunt work you need taken care of? I can clean and repair... [And here, her brow furrows, searching for an engine-y word] ...fans, or something, and you can focus on more important things without having to worry too much.

[The sceptical look being levelled Shepard's way isn't visible from behind an opaque visor, and that's a shame, but Tali's long since mastered the art of the tilted-head-crossed-arms-hip-cocked that broadcasts loud and clear that she's not here for your bullshit, Shepard.

But...] Right, ah... Grunt work. [She doesn't really want to stick Shepard with the worst jobs in the room - she has no problem doing them herself - but...she's right. It's probably better. That doesn't stop her from trying to soften it with:] Maybe you could shadow me on something easier at some point. Basic maintenance, that kind of thing.

Right now... [And now she's looking around engineering, arms folded, fingers tapping on the opposite arm.] I need to get some metal fragments out of the cooling system. Those bots reduced some of the metal parts in here to almost nothing, and it's been pulled up into the fans. We can both do it?

[She harrumphs jokingly, but it's only half. They say love is blind, don't they?]

Sounds good to me. I'll keep following your lead 'til I've got it down pat. Any special tools, or are we just picking the fragments out by hand for this?

[She makes an apologetic sort of sound.] Picking everything out by hand, I'm afraid. There are so many small and fiddly parts in there I'd rather not risk using anything else right now. I talked to someone - Luke - about maybe making some tiny bots that could do this kind of thing, but right now, it's just us and our hands.

[As she starts heading for where the fans are, she throws back over her shoulder:] Anyway, I'm a quarian - I'd do it better than any bot.

[There's a chuckle, but it's good-natured.] Truer words were never spoken. I'll try and keep up.

Got any gloves? I need every advantage I can get.

Ahh... Maybe. Tony probably used some when he was here. [Never has a man spent more time in cryo. There's a storage room off the engineering room she beckons Shepard towards instead - it's dim, quieter than the main engine room and mostly full of spare parts, but Tali beelines towards one of the shelves and starts rummaging.]

If you need any extra tools or parts, they're...probably in here somewhere. It's mostly...what do you call it - an organised mess?...in here, so ah... You'll get used to it?

[Pause.] Or maybe we should clean up properly.

Cleaning, I can do. I'm great at cleaning. Haven't you seen my room? [beat;] You haven't. Sorry — but it is clean! You can leave this part to me, at least.

[She moves towards one of the shelves, and stares at the contents. It's familiar, in its own kind of way, yet alien in another. Where would you even start to put some of this together? Tali would definitely know, and it's a kind of gnawing frustration that she can't be of more use on board this ship, sometimes. But she can learn.

Shifting aside a few boxes (empty, as it turns out) she uncovers a pile of gloves, matching pairs jumbled together in a pile. She picks out a matching pair that fits, and slips them on, holding them up for Tali, wiggling her fingers.] Ta-daah. Found 'em.

How about we pick metal today, and I can get cleaning in here when we're done? No supervision necessary for that. [Casting an eye across the "organised mess", she corrects:] Probably.

Engineering For Dummies

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me making shit up

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