The Next Work Shift

That morning, Ensign Mai got up extra early and checked her duty schedule very carefully. She was not going to be late again. She noticed she had a staff meeting in the Exploration section this morning. Perhaps she could catch the Commander's attention with exemplary performance of her duties. Just in case that was not enough, she adjusted the front zipper on her uniform to show an extra few centimeters of cleavage. She also trimmed the fit of the uniform to tighten it across her bosom. It may attract the attention of Lieutenant Burns as well, but yesterday's chewing out by Dorgugg should keep him in line.

She arrived in the Exploration section just as several crewmembers, including Burns and Dorgugg, were filtering into the conference room. She followed them and took a seat as near the commander and as far from the lieutenant as possible. She saw Dorgugg glance at her as she entered.

Once everyone was seated, the commander opened the meeting. "We have a busy day today. The shuttle Tycho Brahe needs an overhaul after its last mission into that emission nebulae. There's ionic scoring on the hull to be buffed out, and the electrical system was intermittently shorting on the trip back, so double and triple check it after repairs are made. Lieutenant Burns, you are in charge of this task." Burns grunted at receiving the demanding task. Dorgugg must still be punishing him for yesterday. "Also, we have samples to catalog and other repairs to be made. Chief Perkins will oversee that. The repairs list can be found in the tablet database." Mai noticed the blond grinning sidelong at Burns, out of his sight. She was happy to have an easy responsibility. "We are also starting another inventory cycle. I will start that process. Ensign Mai, you will assist me in the initial steps. Any reports?" Mai tried and failed to suppress a blush; getting singled out in public was embarrassing to her. He scanned the room for a response to his question. When no one said anything, he said, "Okay. Dismissed."

The crew mingled a bit before leaving to perform their duties. Mai moved closer to the commander and followed him when he left the room. He looked back and motioned her alongside him. She took a few trotting steps to catch up to the tall alien. He looked down at her, eyeing her large chest, before looking in her face and saying, "Just paperwork today, Ensign. You did more than your share of effort yesterday."

All she could think of to say was, "Thank you, Sir." She was still blushing a bit, mostly from his ogling of her breasts. Her heart was racing from thoughts that she really had captured his interest. A mental flash of the video images of the draggo male made her short of breath.

The two of them went to his office and downloaded the first portion of the inventory manifest of Exploration section equipment into Mai's Personal Access Display Device (PADD). They proceded to the first storage locker on the list.

Dorgugg and Mai worked for several hours, with the commander naming inventory numbers and items as he found them and Mai checking them off on the PADD. She frequently caught him looking at her chest; the more he did so, the more her nipples popped out. Other than the looks, they both stuck to the work.

At lunchtime, Dorgugg said, "I'll replicate some lunch for us in my office." It took them a few minutes to reach it from the storage locker area. Not knowing what to say to the attractive alien, Mai kept her mouth shut; the commander was not talkative.

"My replicator has a special recipe I appreciate. Its Denebian Pot Roast. Would you care to try it?" the Draggo asked.

"I'll just have a Centaurian Salad, Sir," she replied.

The commander spoke clearly to the replicator and removed his steaming hot plate, and, a few seconds later, her leafy lunch. A Centaurian Salad consisted of leafy greens and small crusteaceans native to Alpha Centauri VII. Mai liked the combination of flavors and high protein content. Ten Forward rumors also indicated that the tiny shellfish were an aphrodisiac. The young ensign hoped that Dorgugg had heard the rumors and would get the hint.

They both began eating.