"Grunt work"
 by Ensign T'Kang

*** Jeffrey's Tube 74 ***

T'Kang cursed in loud Klingon as his head struck the cross 
beam support of the Jeffrey's tube for the third time in a row.  
Billows of steam and heated gasses flowed into the cramped 
access space adding to the pleasure of the Engineer's 
assigned task.  After the acrobatics the Intrepid had just 
been through in the various skirmishes, the Inertial 
Stabilizers were acting up again on deck 13.  T'Kang would 
of much rather preferred to repair the forward shield emitter 
on deck 8, since at least the access tubes there allowed one 
to crawl through at half stance.   The cramped steel grated 
access tube here barely allowed a man of T'Kang's stature 
to pull himself along the flooring on his back.   Making 
repairs was not going to be a pleasant task.

Slowly T'Kang managed to pull himself into position along 
with his satchel of tools he'd carefully rolled up and stored in 
the lapel of his Engineering uniform.  He was still not used to 
wearing the gold trimmed jumpsuit of a mechanic having 
been a Helmsman on his last assignment, the Akula.  An 
assignment he'd rather forget.   Withdrawing a Inversion 
coupler, the Klingon placed it between his teeth as he 
adjusted the polarity of the wrench with a twist of the 
calibration handle.  When he had it just right, he took the tool 
and placed it against the access panel and watched the 
silvery, semi curved plate pop off and into his free hand.    
With a half smile that showed the warriors pointed teeth, 
T'Kang placed the panel to his side while examining the 
delicate circuitry beyond the opening.   Groping for a sonic 
decoupler, the assistant engineer began inserting the 
delicate instrument into the opening of the active circuit 
when his communicator badge sounded off.

+taps+ "T'Kang, you are needed on deck 14.  There is an 
ODN line there that needs repair ASAP."  Came the voice of 
Lieutenant' Gabrial.

The sudden interruption caused T'Kang's hand to waver 
causing a generous electrical shock to travel down his arm.  
The instinct to jerk his wrist back caused the Klingon to 
strike his elbow against the steel grating that made up the 
floor of the Jeffrey's tube he was presently laying prone 
against to access the Inertial Stabilizer control conduit.   The 
Klingon growled in pain as he answered the Bajoran.

+taps+ "I haven't finished what I am doing here!"

+taps+ "Hurry up then T'Kang and then get to deck 14.  I 
want everything back to Starfleet specifications before the 
end of your shift.  Understood?"  Lieutenant' Gabrial replied 
evenly over the channel.

+taps+ "Understood."  T'Kang bit back in the hostile tone of 
an impatient Klingon.

After a short pause, Gabrial responded, +taps+ "Understood 
what?."

The Klingon's face shriveled to a frown.  Once again he was 
being tormented by Starfleet protocol and the ridiculous 
thing the humans called manners and etiquette.  T'Kang had 
the same problem on board the Akula which was likewise 
mostly crewed with humans.

+taps+ "Understood *sir*."  the Klingon hissed through 
clenched teeth while staring blankly at the open access 
conduit he was working on.

Gabrial responded promptly, a hint of a smile evident even 
over the comm channel.  +taps+ "That's better.  Be sure to 
report when you're at deck 14 T'Kang.  Lieutenant' Gabrial 
out."

T'Kang took in a deep breath and released it in quickly 
through his clenched teeth.  Steadying his hand, he began 
recalibrating the faulty Inertial Stabilizer once again, knowing 
that more work lay ahead for him on board the Intrepid.