Exchanging Pleasantries
Posted on Fri Mar 15th, 2024 @ 6:13am by Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren & Lieutenant Junior Grade Narin Valen
Edited on on Sat Mar 16th, 2024 @ 8:05pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 15 - The Evil That Lies Beneath
Location: Chief Science Officer’s Office - Deck 8 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 0900 hrs
Narin patiently lingered outside the door of the Chief Science Officer’s office, having already announced his presence, he waited for a response. During this moment of anticipation, he reflected on the past several weeks aboard the Poseidon Station. The opportunity to detach from the daily rigors of starship duty was a welcome change, however it was now time to refocus and dive back into work.
Alyssa was going over paperwork. While it was electronic in nature, she was still used to the old-fashioned method as electronics could not always be relied on in the field. "Come in," she said, saving her place to greet the newcomer.
When she saw Narin, she smiled and took a moment to observe him. "Welcome. Please come in and have a seat."
As the door hissed open and she welcomed him inside, the nervous energy that had built up dissipated. "Thank you," he said, stepping into the office. "I'm Lieutenant Narin Valen," he introduced himself.
The chief science officer recognized another telepath and smiled. "I'm Alyssa Maren. Welcome to the Pioneer. Would you like something from the replicator?"
"Sure, Jestral tea," he replied. It was a blend from a Jestral plant on Betazed, similar to that of Earth's chamomile. It was his and his mother's favorite. It had taken him a very long time to be able to drink it again as it reminded him of times that used be. He stood near the chair she offered, waiting for her to return to her seat before sitting down himself.
She got them each a cup of Jestral tea and put them on a tray with a container of sugar, then brought it over to her desk. "Tell me something about your background."
"Thank you for the tea," Narin expressed with a nod of gratitude as he settled into the chair. “My last assignment took me to the Gamma Quadrant aboard the USS Van Atreides.” He met her gaze from across the desk. He pondered discussing his professional background. Most of it was documented in his service record however steering the discussion in this direction served as a protective barrier. Narin was hesitant to discuss much of his personal history during the first encounter. “Our mission was a five-year mission, and it primarily focused on exploration and scientific inquiry.”
Reflecting on his past mission, he smiled. “Our vessel was among the first Starfleet ships to venture into uncharted territories of the Gamma Quadrant. We encountered breathtaking nebulas, stellar flares, gravitational anomalies, exotic radiation phenomena, and remarkably diverse planetary ecosystems. Moreover, we had the privilege of engaging with alien civilizations and exploring ancient ruins.”
"That sounds like an incredible tour." Alyssa smiled. She'd worked with Federation sciences to check on various archaeological sites across the alpha quadrant, but she'd never been to the gamma quadrant. "So why the Pioneer?"
“Thank you, it was quite the adventure,” Narin replied with a smile. He picked up the closets cup of tea from the desk. He took a sip, savoring the familiar taste, before refocusing his attention on Alyssa across the desk.
“The ship was scheduled for a refit. The work was scheduled to take a year,” he explained. “Most of the junior officers received orders to report to other vessels.”
She took a sip of her own tea and nodded. "Makes sense. Especially if the refit will take a year. We're glad to have you here on the Pioneer. The science department is small, as is the ship, but we manage to keep busy. Tell me, what is your specialty?"
“Thank you, I’m glad to be here,” Narin replied with a grateful smile. “My specialties lie in exobiology and planetary sciences. Recently, I’ve also delved into exoarchaeology, finding that the two fields complement each other quite well. What about yours?”
"History, archaeology, anthropology, social science, and linguistics. Like you, I feel they all support each other and give me a better understanding of the past. That's where most of my focus lies. I've had the opportunity to work on several archaeological sites throughout the quadrant, but now I'm looking forward to more exploration. We can definitely use your skill set here."
"That's quite an impressive set of disciplines," Narin remarked, pausing to take another sip of his tea. "I once spent a year stationed at a scientific outpost myself. It's a valuable experience, but I found it lacking in excitement. That was before I spent five years in the Gamma Quadrant. I am still drawn to adventure and exploration."
"I'm a bit of an overachiever," Alyssa admitted. "I love learning and I love research. Most archaeological sites are a study in patience. You can work for six months in primitive conditions and find nothing. But when you do, it makes everything else worth it. But I agree that exploring has a potential i find appealing, too."
She paused to drink more of her tea while it was still hot. "As we're a smaller ship, there are more options to get involved. You'll work beta shift, for the most part. Unless the captain needs us to do something. Then we work as needed." She had a feeling he would fit right in. "As long as you don't have a problem with that, you should be fine here."
“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never work a day in your life," Narin quoted Mark Twain, pausing to take another sip of his tea. “It’s clear that you’ve found your calling.” He added placing the empty cup back on the desk. “As for the beta shift and occasional adjustments, I'm completely fine with that. Adaptability is a key skill in our line of work, after all." He smiled, feeling confident about his decision to join the Pioneer crew.”
"Yes, yes it is." She liked that particular quote from Mark Twain. "We've just opened a vertical garden in one of the cargo bays. Until we come up with a better name, it's the garden cube. Feel free to have a look and let me know if you have any ideas for it. We have sections for herbs and edible plants and a section for crew members and their kids to learn how to garden. It's still a work in progress, but anything to bring real plants onto a starship is good. Beyond thta, I don't have much. Not until we start surveying. I definitely want you involved with that."
“I’ll definitely visit the garden cube,” Narin said with a smile, finding the name amusing. “Perhaps we can brainstorm some ideas for a better name.”
“Is there anything I should know about the ship, the science department, or even yourself?" he asked, hoping to gain valuable insights into his new environment and the people he would be working with.
"The former chief of science made sure the Pioneer had a top-of-the-line astrometrics lab. It's impressive. And the captain is very accommodating. If we need something and it doesn't take away from other departents, he'll do what he can to help us. that's why we now have a garden cube." She smiled. "Apart from that, probably not."
"Great. I plan to visit all the science facilities on the ship to familiarize myself and meet the crew," Narin explained.
He looked across the desk at her and asked, "Is there anything else you'd like to know about me?"
"Not at the moment." Alyssa smiled. "Hopefully well have time to get to know each other as we work together. For now, get settled in and have a look around."
Narin nodded. "I'm looking forward to it. Thank you for the tea."
Alyssa smiled. "Any time. Welcome to the Pioneer."
"Thank you," Narin replied, and stepped out of the office.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren
Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Nalin Valen
Assistant Chief Science Officer, USS Pioneer
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