Fault Lines

Posted on Mon Feb 16th, 2026 @ 11:42am by Lieutenant Commander Shae Tyler & Lieutenant Jera'turak Ros

1,091 words; about a 5 minute read

Lieutenant Commander Shae Tyler stood at the edge of the upper engineering platform, hands clasped behind his back and his posture rigid in a way that came from years of reinforcing discipline through body language alone. The low hum of the warp core filled the space beneath him, a sound he had heard that always found grounding. Below him the engineering crew of the USS Endeavour gathered in loose clusters around consoles and tool stations, their attention slowly pulling toward him as word spread that the new chief engineer was about to speak. Shae took a measured breath as his eyes sweep across the faces below him. He stepped forward, his voice carrying clearly across the compartment as he spoke. “Alright. Let’s bring this to order.”

Conversations died down quickly, tools were set aside and the last few engineers turned to face him.

“I’m Lieutenant Commander Shae Tyler,” he began. “I've been assigned as Chief Engineer of the USS Endeavour.”

There were a few nods, more than a few neutral expressions. No applause, but he hadn’t expected any.

“I won’t waste your time with platitudes,” he continued. “This ship has a reputation. But reputation doesn’t keep systems online, procedure and discipline does.”

He activated a PADD, sending a command to the holographic emitters which projected a series of schematics and schedules into the air.

“I’ve reviewed engineering’s current operational logs, maintenance cycles, and damage reports. Effective immediately, we will be transitioning to a revised maintenance schedule.”

He could feel the subtle shift ripple through the room, tension tightening, shoulders stiffening. There it was, a shift in the crew which filled the room.

“These revisions prioritize preventative diagnostics over reactive repair. We will no longer rely on last minute adjustments or informal workarounds. If a system shows deviation beyond acceptable tolerances, it is shut down, serviced, and logged. No exceptions. That includes systems that seem stable.”

Jera stood near one of the plasma distribution consoles with her arms folded tightly across her chest as she listened. At first, she had told herself that she would stay quiet. There was a new chief, which meant new rules. That was Starfleet. She’d survived worse. But as the projected schedules scrolled past her eyes, her jaw tightened. Preventative diagnostics were one thing, but what Tyler was proposing was something else entirely. This is textbook theory, she thought sharply. Not shipboard reality. She glanced at the warp core readouts, then back to the schedule. The Endeavour was fresh out of space dock, but it had systems that had been tuned underway by people with years of hands on experience. But shutting down entire subsystems at the first sign of variance wasn't caution, it was asking for cascading failures.

“I expect full compliance,” Shae said. “Engineering is not a democracy. If you have concerns, you bring them to me through proper channels. You do not override protocol because you think you know better.”

That did it. Unable to take it any longer, Jera unfolded her arms. “Lieutenant Commander,” she said, her voice calm but edged with a firmness. “With respect, this schedule isn’t going to work.”

Shae didn’t raise his voice as he replied. “Lieutenant,” he said evenly. “State your objection.”

Jera stepped forward a half pace with her chin lifted. “Your maintenance plan assumes ideal operating conditions,” she said. “This ship doesn’t operate under ideal conditions. Some of these systems are calibrated to compensate for micro instabilities we see every day. Shutting them down on first deviation risks destabilizing adjacent systems. You don’t cold cycle a system without causing effects."

“That may be how it was done before,” Shae replied. “But this is how it will be done now.”

“With all due respect, sir, theory doesn’t always survive first contact with reality,” Jera said.

Shae felt irritation flare. It was brief, controlled, but real. “Are you questioning my qualifications, Lieutenant?”

“I’m questioning whether this plan accounts for operational history,” Jera shot back. She knew that she was pushing it, even without a glimpse of another engineer giving her a subtle shake of his head, but she continued because she knew that she was right. “Because from where I’m standing, it doesn’t. This ship isn’t a classroom example,” she continued. “You can’t just impose a new structure without understanding why the old one existed. If you shut down propulsion subroutines every time we see a fluctuation like this, we’ll spend more time offline than operational."

“That’s enough,” Shae's voice cracked through the space like a snapped cable. “You will not lecture me on crisis response in my own department.”

Jera stiffened. “I’m trying to prevent one,” she said, her voice shifting to a tone that sounded dangerous. Silence fell, with the exception of the warp core humming.

Shae’s patience had reached its limit. “This meeting is not a debate,” he said coldly. “You were warned. If you have concerns, you bring them privately. Not by undermining my authority in front of the crew.”

Jera opened her mouth to speak, but she managed somehow to stop herself.

“You’ve crossed a line, Lieutenant,” Shae continued. “Your conduct is inappropriate and insubordinate.”

“Insubordinate?” Jera echoed, her voice filled with disbelief. “For pointing out a flaw?”

“For refusing to stand down when ordered," Shae said as he straightened fully. “Lieutenant Jera Ros, you are dismissed from duty effective immediately, pending a formal review for conduct unbecoming an officer.”

A collective intake of breath rippled through the room.

Jera froze. “What?” she said quietly.

“You heard me,” Tyler replied. “Turn in your duty assignment and report to your quarters. Security will be notified.”

For a moment, Jera simply stood there, shock warring with anger inside her. It wasn't explosive, but rather sharp and cold. She had expected friction, but she hadn’t expected this. “So that’s it,” she said at last. “I'm dismissed just because I spoke up.” Her fists clenched at her sides, then relaxed. Without another word, she turned and headed out of engineering, her boots echoing against the deck as she walked past colleagues who wouldn’t meet her eyes

Shae watched her leave, his expression unreadable. The room remained silent for a long moment before he finally, he turned back to the crew. “This department will function on clarity and compliance,” he said. “If anyone else has objections, they may submit them in writing. Otherwise, you will begin implementing the new schedule immediately. Dismissed.”

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