I almost collapsed from joy when I stepped aboard the ship. Baiul caught me and laughed the whole time.

“Now I know how to make your knees weak Mercenary.”

“You’re just mad it’s not your dusky voice and a joint.”

“Da, you’re too much work for a quick lay.” I slap her face plate with a middle finger and she chuckles at my antics. Kneeing my but to get me moving.

So many machines, so many things I could be doing. Come on the fuck! Katie would be proud, but I should be building and experimenting with these un-used toys!!

/Katie, I’ve died and gone to engineer heaven./

/Should I start dressing up as a fabricator in your bedroom./

/ . . . . no. But I definitely want to bend you over one. Universe would that be hot./

/uh, I don’t mean to make this about me Katie, I just get so excited. What would make you happy?/

/We’re about to be in a full-crew muster and you want to chat about what would satisfy me in bed?/

Should I not be?! I can’t control what the Captains and Commanders decide. All I can do is worry about the promises made to me and one of them was Katie’s attentions. /Babe, you’ve been focusing on me a lot lately and I want to make you happy too!/

/I didn’t want to pressure you, but I just want to feel that you love me, Penny. That’s what I need from you./

Well, shit. No wonder she’s seemed distant. I haven’t said anything akin to love since she confessed.

/OMG. Katie, I didn’t mean to make you feel that way./

/Penny, stop. I understand, but don’t. This is something I need to feel, you can’t just say it, okay? So lets just wait to hear our schedule and talk about it later?/

/Yeah, baby. I’m so sorry. You deserve more of my time./

/You’re right, I do./

Fuuuuuuuck. She is so disappointed in me. And here I’m thinking I’ve been neglected and I haven’t even told her I love her. The words aren’t enough now and I’ve so boned this relationship!! I can’t even blame the Russians this time.

Before I have time to simp my girlfriend via chat, a shipwide broadcast hits the receiving bay: Muster per department, orders to follow. Engineering has no raw Seaman, so I’m about the middle of the formation. Chief Baiul and the other Chiefs are in the front row for this formation, and the engineering officers are in position where one would normally be. Then again, engineering would be normally be split by Forward, Aft, and Propulsor but command said Department. And we don’t have the hierarchy assignments set.

“As Chosen by international committee, Australian Captain, Harrison Morris has been selected as the Commanding Officer (CO) of the ISV Copernicus. His Executive Officer will be Chinese Commander Zhao. And finally of the command staff, Chief of the Vessel, Command Chief Takahashi.” Applause rolls around the receiving bay.

I can’t believe that the US let their guaranteed spot go to an Aussie. This reeks of politics, a give and take that will likely show itself in other assignments, and boy do they. The reactor officer is American, Commander Nugent to be precise. Apparently he’s smart and a talented pilot. He apparently covers the officer supervisory for propulsion as well? Oh well. Baiul is promoted to Senior Chief equivalent and is the Leading Chief Petty Officer for all of Engineering. Damn, lady boss. Petra Volkov gets promoted to Chief and is put in charge of Reactor operations, and another Chief Petty Officer equivalents get promoted and assigned to different divisions such as Navigation and Logistics. Most of them are, you guessed it, Russian.

The pattern is obvious once the Chiefs get assigned. Baiul and country wanted control of the enlisted and wanted to influence from there. There are some suspicious spots missing, but the number of chief promotes can’t fill the billets.

Katie gets promoted to LS1 and is in charge of HAB logistics. Sexy lady boss. Her supervisor is a . . . Greek storekeeper from a waste management firm from Earth? Okay, odd, but those asses should know logistics, so I’ll have to talk to the Countess.

Most of my machinist cronies get promoted to MM2, and I cheer for them, but at the end of the department, I hear “Leading Propulsion Petty Officer, and provisional Propulsion Chief, MMN1 Penelope Mercer.” What. The. Flipping. Flonk is this shit?!

/P: Ivanka, did you do this?!/

/I: do not worry Zaychik, you will be looked after./

I have no idea what that means, but she’s looking at me fondly and I worry.

The Admirals had to have something to do with this too. I did get promoted to first class after all. Ugh, this feels shady, dirty and wrong. What does Provisional Chief even mean?!

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Captain Morris calls command staff briefing in the Command Bridge and my name is on the fucking message. I really shouldn’t be mad, but my ideas of being a low-key engine mechanic that got to play with the fabricators is long gone. This is like being disabused of my childhood all over again.

Commander Morris watches me walk in and addresses me “MM1, you are the lowest rank Sailor in this meeting. Do you know why you’re here?”

“I suppose it’s because of provisional chief, but otherwise someone can’t count. Sir.” At least he smirked at that, “Otherwise, I’d say it’s practical favoritism as I know more about these engines than anyone in any Navy?”

Commander Zhao takes a turn, “Don’t sell yourself . . . small? You qualified for everything engineering has to offer and more.”

“[Thank you Commander. It is an honor to serve amongst such elevated officers as these]. I bow with my statement. Her start and surprise at my address in her native language is satisfying.

“[I would be so honored to have the engines and myself perform exceptionally beyond standards. Please await our extraordinary results].”

“Enough of whatever that is.” Morris interrupts. “Many of our missions include putting propulsion through its paces. And since you have already proven that you have the drive to speak up and the expertise to take corrective actions in engineering, you appeared to be the only one recommended for the job, despite not being a Chief Petty Officer. You will still take orders from Senior Baiul and Commander Nugent, but you’ll work with one of the division officers to run Propulsion.

“To the real reason I wanted you all here. You’ve all heard that the crew is getting mandatory rotation through the HAB to experience gravity. What you haven’t heard is that the people in this office won’t have the luxury of months off-site at a time. While we do have an extra compliment of crew to ideally handle this, we don’t have two full crews, and until each of you are satisfied that there is another person that can do your job as well as you can, someone you trust to handle an emergency in your stead, you get to be voluntold to participate in experimental tech. You can technically opt out, but think about how that would affect your ability to do your job.

“Scientists from Japan and the European Union have developed a version of the gravitic propulsion system that has more effect on smaller masses, and can be used to attract as well as repulse and miniaturized it so the system can fit in something the size of a shed. Meaning, we’re testing an artificial gravity module in lieu of rotating out some of our critical crew.”

Holy shit! This is amazing news. When they found out that the use of the drive wasn’t made for open space, that they would research in this direction. Oh god, nerd gasm as a shiver of pleasure races down my spine.

“The Goat Locker in engineering forward has been converted in its entirety, berthing, lounge, and loo; are all under the effects of this tech. The other Chiefs in engineering have the option of berthing there in their crew time, but as the tech has not been tested for long term effects on humans, this is optional. Mercer, don’t go waiving this privilege in anyone’s faces or I’ll put you in regular crew berthing and will have your lounge time scheduled.”

He stares at me as though waiting a response, I give him an “Aye Sir” and hope it’s enough.

“For the officers. The second crew CO and second crew XOs state rooms have been connected and converted to officer berthing with the gravity test module. If Commanders Zhao or Nugent feel that other officers should be kept off rotation, there are a few additional racks than those present. The Goat Locker will be full up each rotation if no one opts out. Any questions?”

Nearly everyone present looks at me. Sigh, I do have a question. “Yes sir. I would like to have access to the human testing data on this project. Would that be possible?”

A mixture of annoyance and grins ripple across the room. One of the grinners is Captain Morris. Oh shit. I bet I just volunteered for something.

“I was hoping you would ask, Mercer.” Fuck me. “Those same scientists want us to continue their study. As a former scientist yourself, you would be ideal for such a request. The data and the forms have already been sent to your onboard data storage.”

I nod at being outmaneuvered, realizing that everyone in this room as been labeled “indispensable” so it would make sense they are all smart, clever asses.

“One last bit of administration, before you are free,” Zhao says. “In three days, we will begin requalification watches on this equipment. Both navigation and engineering will be using thrusters ONLY for requalification, so propulsion will not be fully qualified until we begin maneuvers past the asteroid belt. The goal is to thrust past the Moon during this period with the intention to begin our journey toward Saturn in three weeks, with fully qualified watch teams. Much of the crew has performed simulations onboard that are sufficient to get us underway. The intent is to put Copernicus through her paces before two years elapses so that we can focus on our science missions for the remaining three years.”

Oh crap. Now that’s a schedule. I’m not going to get a full night’s sleep for at least a year. I know this is payback from the Universe for letting me get what I wanted from the last year. Fair played cosmos, fair played.

Captain Morris dismisses us and I follow Ivanka and her shapely butt as we propel ourselves toward engineering forward and the Goat Locker. Ivanka engages her mag boots before opening the door and clomps through the door to a moderate sized table and chairs and five doors attached to the common room. I follow her lead, but stop my mag boots as soon as I feel the down pull in my knees.

“You’ll be with Petra and me across from the bathroom door. Come.” She opens the door and there are three racks stacked on top of each other with a person-sized space before a wall with hooks on it for our suits while we sleep. On the wall opposite the door is a display, a light panel and a ship’s clock. Cozy, but not much room to move past someone.

“This used to be a larger 6-man bunk with a wider passageway, but they split it up when they asked a group of chiefs if they wanted slightly more space or slightly more privacy. We now have small private storage spaces behind our berthing.” She reaches into the thin bed and shoves up the wall behind it to show an additional six inches of space for personal effects as well as the compartment underneath each bed. This is definitely more space than I expected. I also don’t think I could fill it up with the gear I brought aboard. Speaking of gear.

I walk over to the console and requisition a data tablet and a box of earplugs so that I don’t have to hear that damn electronic whine while I’m sleeping. Before I can turn away from the screen, it pings with confirmation that my order was filled and the location of which supply my order can be picked up at. Apparently, the main supply shop is in engineering forward and the satellite shop is attached to a storage module on the axel of the HAB.

“Hey, Ivanka, Supply is open, do you need anything? I’m going to pick up a data pad and some engine room safety shit.”

“Oh, yes. Ahead of things as always Petra and I would like a pad as well and those over ear silencer devices.” She nods.

“Oh, I can actually place those orders for you. That doesn’t seem safe?’

“Why do you think I chose a room with the two people I trust most? None of us will abuse this. I will be in Engineering aft when you return. You should meet us there to review your spaces.”

“Aye aye Senior.” I snap a salute while saluting. She rolls her eyes with a smirk I know that means “Ridiculous American.”