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<OOC - Forwarded for my CEO. Anna><div><br><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div style="clear: none; ">Main Engineering, Challenger</div><div style="clear: none; "><br></div><div style="clear: none; "><br></div><div style="clear: none; ">The engineering tactical officer had kept McDonald up to date on the fleet situation 'outside', which appeared to be far more dire than it had earlier.</div><div style="clear: none; "><br></div><div style="clear: none; ">"A minefield? Are we changing course?"</div><div style="clear: none; "><br></div><div style="clear: none; ">A nod answered him, but the crewman didn't have the heart to elaborate. McDonald turned back to the main panel. Although the ship had taken damage, it was not as bad as some of the earlier battles in years past. He had cooled the reactor back to 90%, which had been accompanied by a marked decrease in the temperature in the large bay. All structural damage that had penetrated the hull plating had been reinforced, and one remaining damage control team was doing a survey throughout the ship for any problems that had escaped notice, being led by Chief Martin. The fumes had been vented, which allowed the engineering department to remove their respirators, which now hung in bags from their sides. The hectic atmosphere had gone back to a nervous calm, which McDonald was very grateful for - at least they didn't know what was going on on the bridge. In many ways, it was better that way.</div><div style="clear: none; "><br></div><div style="clear: none; ">"Tactical monitor, restrict your reports to me, please," the chief engineer said in a lower voice. The others would be told what they needed to know when they needed it.</div><div style="clear: none; "><br></div><div style="clear: none; ">"Aye sir," the sweating young man said from behind him.</div><div style="clear: none; "><br></div><div style="clear: none; ">Fortunately, no one else was passing between them at the time, as both kept to their duties, waiting for the captain's next move to extricate them from certain death.<br></div><div style="clear: none; "><br></div><div style="clear: none; "><br></div><div style="clear: none; "><br></div><div style="clear: none; "><br></div><div style="clear: none; ">Lt Cmdr McDonald</div><div style="clear: none; ">Chief Engineer</div><div style="clear: none; ">FCL-04 Challenger</div></span></div> </div></body>
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