"The call of battle"
 by Ensign T'Kang
 Chief Engineer - USS Intrepid


The next several hours seemed to pass quickly on board the 
USS Intrepid.  It was funny how that always seemed to be 
the case when there was work to be done.   T'Kang was 
proud of how the Engineering department had responded to 
the crisis.  Each officer putting forth the extra effort to get the 
Intrepid ready to assist the April and the Cortez as a second 
offensive was being prepared against the enemy.

Cadet Salek had proven his worth as an assistant engineer.  
Having run all of the diagnostics on the Intrepid's Multi-
Vectored Assault Mode, he'd confirmed that the 
Prometheus-X class starship was prepared to go into battle 
and split off into three separate Vector assault vessels at the 
Captain's command.   The Vulcan's efficiency and 
knowledge of the Intrepid had impressed T'Kang.  He looked 
upon the new Engineer as a valued member of the 
Engineering department, possessing knowledge and skill 
beyond his experience as a Starfleet Cadet.   T'Kang knew 
he was the right Officer to assign at the Engineering station 
on the Intrepid's main bridge.

The Klingon had taken up the station in Main Engineering.  
Should the Captain call for a MVA Mode separation, T'Kang 
would control the engineering systems of Vector 3, the 
engineering portion of the Intrepid.   T'Kang had sent Ensign 
Hartley to man the engineering station on the Battle Bridge, 
located on deck 5 of the Vector 2 section of the Intrepid.  
Hartley had proven himself to be a levelheaded Engineer 
when the pressure was on, despite his small stature and 
quiet demeanor.  For a human, he was quite an excellent 
Engineer.

Finally Lieutenant Commander Davis called out, checking in 
with the various departments about the USS Intrepid.  With 
Celchu out of commission, the Executive Officer had 
assumed command of the Intrepid.  With recent events 
aboard the ship, it seemed every department was one way 
or another out of sorts on board the ship. With the Captain 
out and the XO acting as Captain, that left Doctor Matthew 
Desmond as second in command.   T'Kang only hoped the 
Doctor had more competence as acting executive officer 
than he did when it came to Trill physiology.

When T'Kang heard Desmond's voice over the comm 
channel asking for all departments to report, the Klingon was 
the first to respond.   "Engineering is prepared." The Klingon 
declared proudly.

Desmond continued to gather reports from the rest of the 
officers about the ship.  With so many injuries and officers 
being relieved of duty, the ship was virtually being manned 
by people new to their positions in all departments.  T'Kang 
inclusive since he'd only just learned of his appointment to 
Chief Engineer after Hannoyh tendered her resignation and 
left the ship while the Klingon was away at Frainar III.

T'Kang continued to monitor the Intrepid's systems on the 
master situation monitor.  Warp and Impulse engines were 
standing by at 100 percent efficiency.  Weapon's systems 
were set to standby with a full charge stored in the energy 
cells.   All that was left was for the word to be given.

The Klingon could feel the call of battle pulsing through is 
veins as he waited . . . .