Yeeni Engineer trying to contain their horny after getting the chance to study and poke the human machines in an academic setting and failing utterly.
"For dedication to duty, bravery in the face of danger and outstanding technical competence, I am proud to announce that Zakkroc of the Stream has been selected as the research representative from the aft engineering sector of the
Void's Passage. Zak, get up here."
Zak blinked up at L-IV3 as the engiseer in the blue-and-white of the Star-Mechanicum smiled crookedly down at him from her perch atop the engine-throne. Her mechadendrites nodded where her head could not, and he rose from his seat.
He'd been confused when she'd summoned all of the technicians and attendants of the great engines that drove the
Passage through her namesake. They were a motley crew, made only more motely through the long passage of time. The
Passage was an old ship, a first-model Taurus with eclectic engines that required careful care. Zak had been thrilled to be assigned to the old troop-carrier. It was technically a second-line posting, which meant he qualified for it despite being a Yeeni and not-yet-kin. It's engines and frame was old, but that just meant it needed more care. Care that Zak was
thrilled to give.
The real victory in his assignment was the refit potential. There'd been mutterings around the fleet that they'd refit the old Tauruses up to the modern standard. Bigger ship, bigger guns, more crew space,
bigger engines. Every time Zak thought of the possibility of being part of a refit crew, he had to suppress his musk. To not just
fix this lovely old ship, but to
refit it? Rebuild it from the bones out, to a more modern, newer spec? What a... fantasy. He had prayed that it would happen within his lifetime. But even if it did, he wouldn't be around for
These thoughts swept over him as he walked up to stand next to L-IV3, the eyes on him jealous and sad both. He looked out over the crowd of friends and colleagues, and felt a pang of sadness. He wouldn't be part of the
Void's Passage engine crew any longer. He wouldn't get the chance to sleep over the portside thruster that vibrated
just right. Or use his gloves to tighten those thermal couplings that squeaked just so. What awaited him was even better.
"Go, and make us proud." L-IV3 said, a dendrite handing him the printed orders. "You're the best of us. Make the
Passage proud. I hope to be installing your developments soon."
Zak saluted as his kind did, gloves pressed together in a five-fingered touch. "I will."
--
Months later, Zak was finally escorted into the workshop he'd been assigned, and found himself light-headed. Before him was a series of type-977 Five Star bomber thrusters in various stages of disassembly. He wasn't particularly familiar with them, but he'd befriended some hanger techs and watched them do maintenance a few times. The Five Star was a sexy, sexy piece of machinery. And for Zak, that meant great engines.
"Hey, you! Yeeni guy!" A digitized voice called out from his left, and he turned to see a human in robes that had once been blue and white. Now they were black with grease, and the blue-glowing eyes within were fixed on Zak. "You are reporting?"
He brought his hands together. "Zakkroc of the Stream, joining propulsion team nine as ordered."
The blue eyes flicked up and down in a jerky nod. "Yes, yes. Good experience, good reviews. You'll do. I am Zo-99. Go help Wind-whisperer, she's trying to figure out how to increase the thrust-angling of the maneuvering nozzles. Consider that your task until I reassign you."
Zak nodded, following the pointing dendrite to a dark-skinned Kil'drabi fussing over one of the engine units on display. He hesitated, then turned to follow orders. An outstretched dendrite blocked him.
"You have questions? Ask."
He worked his mouth for a second, working to suppress his musk at all of the beautiful mechanical internals around him. Losing control of himself would be a bad introduction to his new team. "I... Zo-99. What are we doing here? I can maintain an engine, but... what are we doing?"
An illuminated blue smile appeared underneath the eyes. "We are
inventing things. You are an excellent machinist and experienced in keeping engines in top condition, no matter their age. Wind-whisperer is an expert in thrust dynamics and design profiling. You will become a team, and make the type-977 engine
better than it is already."
Zak breathed shallowly, closing his eyes briefly, then nodded. He didn't trust himself to speak evenly at the moment. This was beyond his wildest dreams.
--
"Zak, get your hairy ass over here!" Zo-99's amplified shout echoed through the workshop, sounding over the din of hundreds of engineers at work.
Zak looked up from where he'd been fitting in the latest iteration of the turbine blade. He patted it fondly as he stood, working his hands inside the tool-gloves. The new turbine was a beautiful peace of work, able to automatically adjust to different atmospheric pressures. It didn't have a single electronic part to it and would simply be most stable at the correct angle.
Crossing the workshop in full swing took a moment, as Zak had to avoid dozens of teams that were busily fabricating and testing various engine prototypes. He had to still his breathing at passing by Wind-whisperer's latest project, which was a new type of thrust nozzle for jump-packs that resulted in greater stability.
Eventually he reached Zo-99, calling above the din. "What's the fire, boss?"
The blue eyes narrowed, and Zak frowned. Zo-99 and he were friends now, after two years working together. They'd been informal before. Had the type-977 design schematics been rejected after all?
The tech-priest let out a frustrated burst of static, then handed him a set of orders. "You're leaving in two weeks. Finish up the project, then get ready to
teach. You're getting your own shop. "Congratulations."
Zak was stunned, looking up at Zo-99 with ears back and eyes wide. "What - what will I be working on?"
The animated blue smile appeared once more. "Whatever you want. The new program is meant to boost our best up, to enable them to explore what
they think best. Get used to writing grants, and teaching." Zo-99 paused to see if Zak had a response, then continued when he didn't. "It is time to
explore things. We are on the edge of knowledge, and it is time to push it further." The blue eyes intensified, the glow blinding in Zo-99's excitement as he began to rant. "This is only the beginning. Train your students well, for they will broach unto knowledge unknown to either of us. I dream of Academies, where the brightest minds from across the Glimmering Federation are gathered to unlock the secrets of the universe worlds. As the Choirs study the aetheric, our... Symposiums will study the physical."
