Chapter Text
Scotty said nothing about the meeting. In fact, he said nothing at all until the two of them were safely in the shuttle pod that would take them back to the Enterprise. He’d also volunteered to pilot the pod so that they’d be able to have a confidential conversation if the captain so desired.
And the captain did. Flopping down in the copilot’s spot, Decker exhaled loudly. “That went well, wouldn’t you say, Scotty?”
He considered is words carefully. “Aye, I suppose ye could say that.”
“A little brogue and a little reticence. What would you say then, given your capacity as chief engineer and chief designer in charge of the redesigned redesign?”
Steering the pod towards the drydock holding his beloved ship, where even now there would be work crews doing things that would have to be redone. “I would say that half of what’s been done will have to be torn out and started over, sir. I’d also say that after having sat waiting for three months for the design team to finish compromisin’ and then waiting nine more on deconstruction and reconstruction that isna worth a damn, the new 18-month timeline we’ve just agreed to isna possible, but yes, somehow we’ll get it done.” He kept his face straight. “Further, I’d say that there’s a large bottle of scotch hidden in what’s left o’ my quarters which the two of us need to drink in its fullest right after you’ve given all of the construction crews a three-day pass.”
“That seems very generous of me.”
“Aye, sir, it may seem that way at first blush, but we’re going to need that long to sleep off the hangover and then come up with a plan to actually get us on track and make the Enterprise the flagship she’s supposed to be at the end of the build. Your crews will take the news of their newfound job security better after a long weekend.”
“If we skip the scotch, we’ll miss the hangover and be a day ahead.”
Shaking his head, Scotty made a small course correction to bring the pod straight in towards the new engines. Those, at least, they’d keep. Pretty enough, he supposed, but he still wasn’t sure he like the new streamlined look. “Aye, you’d think so, but I can assure you that’s not the case. Perhaps I can even scare up some Vulcan logic in my defense.”
Decker laughed. “No need, Mr. Scott. Like so many other things, I’m more than willing to take your word for it. I’ll give the order as soon as we’re aboard. Just get us to the ship in one piece is all I ask.”
“Aye, sir. That I can most certainly do.”