"Interruptions and investigations" by Ensign T'Kang ** Main Engineering ** The whir of the repulsion wrench could be heard across the engineering room floor as the last of the retaining stem bolts was removed from the warp core casing. "Step aside and make room for the injector unit." T'Kang growled in an authoritative Klingon tone. The engineer with the wrench quickly complied with the order as Ensign T'Kang gave a hand signal to the two engineers up on the service banister to aid in guiding the unit out. Crewman Darla O'Donald had returned from getting her wrist attended to in sickbay and stood to T'Kang's right, helping to steady the weightless anti-grabs they were using to handle the massive unit. "Careful now. Pull it back in one slow, even motion.." T'Kang ordered in an intense voice. When the unit pulled away from the towering warp core cylinder a bright neon blue light flashed from the opening, casting an intense light on the engineers and the surrounding engineering room as they continued to extract the unit. Most of the humans present winced and squinted their eyes, but not T'Kang. His face seemed to illuminate in wonder as the gazed into the brilliance of the plasma flow. "Ensign T'Kang?" came a familiar feminine voice from behind the Klingon. T'Kang's look of awe at the warp core plasma flow quickly turned to one of surprise as he pivoted and saw the medic from sickbay, a Trill holding a tricorder and waiting patiently for the Assistant Engineer to respond. "You shouldn't be here." He growled sourly. Jezra swallowed at the Klingon's rude response over the open tricorder she took a moment to read before answering. She could see that T'Kang was supervising the removal of the warp core injection unit. There were half a dozen engineers assisting in the operation, including crewman O'Donald whom she treated just a short time earlier. "I was hoping I could have a word with you Ensign." Donal explained. T'Kang's expression went from that of surprise to full annoyance. "Can't you see I am busy?!" the Klingon howled rudely, giving no thought to the company surrounding them. The Trill nodded, checking the tricorder again before snapping it closed and placing her arms behind her back in official fashion. "I have been asked to conduct an investigation and will require a few minutes of your time T'Kang. It shouldn't take very long and then you can return to your duties." When Donal mentioned the word investigation, Darla O'Donald's eyes involuntarily flashed to the Klingon as a chill went down her spine. Not coincidentally, the same thought flashed through T'Kang's mind as well. "I am almost finished here." T'Kang snarled back showing his pointed teeth, "Give me five minutes to finish this operation and I can see you then." He practically shouted. Jezra nodded. "Five minutes will be fine. I will wait for you in the Chief Engineer's office. Oh, have crewman O'Donald join us. This concerns her as well." T'Kang watched as Donal turned on her heal and walked away towards the Chief's office. The Klingon's expression tightened, his eyes narrowing in contempt. Twisting, he glared at the young engineer Darla O'Donald, convinced that she had reported him for injuring her wrist earlier when he forcibly grabbed it. His nostrils flared when he exhaled a disapproving sigh before returning to oversee the final stages of the warp injector unit extraction. Darla's eyes grew wide and fearful. All she wanted to do was make friends and learn about how to be a Starfleet Engineer. Now she'd managed to get on the bad side of a Klingon who already was about the most unpleasant fellow she'd ever met in her life. She wasn't looking forward to explaining what happened. No matter what she were to say, T'Kang would surely think she was the one who instigated the investigation. The removal of the injector unit was completed with out any complications. T'Kang ordered that the block off plate be installed on the warp core opening per Starfleet regulation to help avoid any possible plasma accidents that could endanger the matter anti-matter reaction chamber. As the engineering crew finished their work, there wasn't a person present that couldn't notice the `cold shoulder' treatment T'Kang was suddenly subjecting miss O'Donald to. "That should do it." T'Kang finally declared in a passionless tone. Somehow the thought of a pending investigation had drained all of the wonder out of the masterful work of machinery the Klingon had been given the pleasure of working on. "Hartly, please notify Lieutenant' Hannoyh that the warp injection unit has been successfully extracted and we are ready to proceed with the repairs to the unit." The engineer nodded at the Klingon, responding with a curt "Yesir." Turning T'Kang faced engineer Darla O'Donald as he removed his clear protective face shield and gloves in disgust. "Come. Let's get this over with." The Klingon hissed before turning rudely and marching like a bull towards the Chief Engineer's office and the waiting Assistant Medical Officer, Jezra Donal, to answer her questions. Like a guilt ridden victim of which she was, Darla removed her own gear and followed T'Kang to the office. She felt embarrassed, humiliated, and frightened all at the same time. But mostly, she felt ashamed and she didn't know why. <>