Sreyler Theb stood over the Main Engineering pool table, paying close attention to the warp intermix chamber. Her eyes flicked across the readings; crystal alignment, containment field stability, plasma induction rate, and finally coolant cycle efficiency. Satisfied, she looked up towards the core itself. Pulses of blue shot down its cylindrical structure in rapid succession, past the dilithium crystals nestled in their central pod. Sreyler approached the railing that ran around the core’s circumference. She held up a PADD containing logged entries of plasma flow discrepancies, accurate to the nearest picocubit. Noting the current readings from a panel on the railing, she duly input the latest data.  

To Sreyler’s right, the small personnel lift whirred, transporting the broad figure of Ensign Telaan from the observation platform above. Sreyler smiled as the Bolian stepped over to the railing with a wave, “Hey Telaan. Thought you’d be getting some rest.” 

“Hey Commander,” Telaan’s nose and eyes wrinkled, smiling back, “could say the same for you,” she placed her hands on her hips and eyed Sreyler up and down in mock judgement, “You must have been on duty for ten hours now.” 

“Plenty to do,” Sreyler wiggled the PADD in her hand, “and thank you Efrosian physiology. Honestly I feel like humans are always sleeping. What’s your excuse?” 

“True about the humans,” Telaan smirked, “Guess that’s what happens when you evolve on a planet that spins too quickly.” 

“Right? It’s so warm in here, too.” 

“Oh I dunno, I’m with them on the temperature. And it might have something to do with the Captain. How else are all the plants gonna grow?” Telaan waved a hand in the general direction of a Sivrelian creeping fern adorning the nearby bulkhead.  

“Captain Greenfingers…” Sreyler said, exasperated, “as long as they don’t get in the way. Whatever. Holodeck’s there if I need to take an ice bath I guess. Anyway. Nice distraction. So how come you’re awake? I believe your shift ended uhmmm,” she made a show of flicking through the PADD, “two hours ago. Got nothing better to do, Ensign, hmmm?” 

“Ugh. Rumbled,” Telaan scowled, “Actually I always think being on duty is better when you’ve got stuff on your mind.”  

“Feel you there,” Sreyler nodded, “and, oh yeah, heading full speed ahead into the Black Cluster after a Jem’Hadar attack ship; part of a giant fleet that’s mysteriously reappeared after thirty years for no reason… That bit’s not so good for the nighttime anxiety.” 

“Nailed it. How did you guess?” Telaan’s blue lips curled into a sarcastic grin. 

“Counselor Theb, at your service,” Sreyler placed an arm round the Bolian, guiding her away from the warp core housing and back towards the pool table, “Let me tell ya what works for me. Nothing calms a racing mind like a warp core diagnostic, and believe me, the Ahwahnee is not the easiest ship on which to run one. ‘Finicky’ doesn’t even begin to cut it with these engines. Double the warp coils, double the fun!” 

“Hmmm, warp core therapy,” a nervous laugh escaped Telaan, “That’s your prescription, Commander?” 

“Never try. Never know,” Sreyler’s eyes turned down again towards the pool table, eyelids half dropped in a smug smile, “Now look at how these intermix couplings are configured. Any idea how long it took to find the right magnetic threshold?” 

“OK now that is out there…” Telaan’s eyes narrowed, focusing, “Kinda reminds me of something they used to teach us in Warp Field Dynamics actually. Mind if I take a closer look?” 

“Go ahead,” Sreyler stepped back, peeping over the Bolian’s shoulder as she flicked through the operating parameters.  

“Yeah, that’s a flux inversion! Specifically recommended for plasma flow efficiency on bifurcated warp cores. Straight out of the Ra-Havreii’s school of plasma dynamics.” 

“Oh,” Sreyler’s eyes met Telaan’s, “so his work finally became required reading at the Academy, huh?” 

“Yeah. I mean, it’s the best theory we’ve got right now for quantum prediction of particle flow. Why the surprise?” 

Sreyler looked away, “Yeah, no. It is revolutionary. It’s just… Ah… Nevermind.” 

“Commander,” Telaan’s expression softened, “I thought this was warp core therapy?” 

“Firstly,” Sreyler sighed, “there’s no one around so you can call me Sreyler. Secondly, Xin-Ra Havreii, yeah… So he’s my Uncle.”  

“Ohhhh,” Telaan looked to the code still displayed on the pool table, then back to Sreyler. 

“And, he’s kind of the reason I’m here right now. That’s what it feels like, at least,” Sreyler added with a shrug. 

“What?” Telaan was incredulous. She turned to face Sreyler, “You know that’s not how it works, right? Starfleet doesn’t care who your family is when it comes to deciding assignments.”  

Sreyler barely looked up, “Sure. And the fact that he’s good friends with the Captain means nothing too then, I guess,” her ponytail thumped the small of her back as her eyes rose to the ceiling, “I can’t believe I’m telling you all this.” 

“Well, I don’t know the Captain, but I’ve worked with you for a while now. Trust me, I know what it’s like to grow up in someone’s shadow. My Dad’s in Starfleet, too. It’s like, there’s a deadline for everything, ya know?” She deepened her voice, “Telaan, you really should be closer to choosing a specialism at this point in your career. Guhhh,” she finished with a heavy roll of her eyes.  

“Ahaaa,” Sreyler half-chuckled. Her shoulders relaxed, “Starfleet Dad syndrome. No stranger to life in the shadow then, huh?” 

“Yup,” Telaan shrugged, “you get used to it though. When you realise that you got here because of your own work, your own achievements and your own freaking perseverance. And that you’ve got just as much right to be here as anyone else who’s earned it, Starfleet family or not.” A long pause was followed by, “Right, Sreyler?” 

“Right.” Sreyler’s head gave a slight nod as she spoke, “You’re right. Now, check out these inversion phase inhibitors!” 

The Bolian gave a single hearty laugh before turning back to the pool table, “Counselor Telaan, at your service.”