Miscommunications in the dark

Posted on 20 May 2012 @ 5:00pm by Lieutenant Kiri Cho & Tarishiana Barel

1,783 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo- Deck 5 - Astrometrics Lab
Timeline: MD 04 - 2000 hours

[ON]

The lights were a few settings lower than normal. Kiri was alone in Astrometrics, it wasn't too dark to see but the point wasn't to be seeing the room. The holo display in the middle was the key part. On it was a star map of the area they were passing through, a tiny speck in the middle was the Galileo. In the case of this for once, the stars did revolve around where she was. On this map, Kiri was at the centre of the universe. The main point of interest was the asteroid from a few days previous, Object R45983 which technically she discovered. At least in its current position. This was follow up work based around finding out what exactly had caused this body of rock to reach such a speed that it would be giving a ship at impulse a run for its money. Right now had the route it had likely taken all laid out. Every gravitational body that tugged and pulled at it from several sectors of space. Without a full detailed scan it was unlikely that she could find a real point of origin but it came from the Alpha quadrant, that much she knew.

For once the young woman's dark brown hair was let down, hanging down onto the blue of her science uniform. Pad in hand she wandered around the display checking her working visually. The computer had been able to do most of it. Some however needed more creative answers, not everything could be accessed from the main database and some items had changed. The pit of her stomach told her that it was getting late, most people unless they were on the Gamma shift should be asleep, really she should be as well. To Kiri though it seemed that this was a better use of her time. It was bothering her, this wasn't something that should be possible. Her work showed that. Along this route there wasn't anything that should affect it at all like this. Nothing short of a series of extremely unlikely slight shots around planets or an explosion that would have been devastating. It would have been seen and recorded and she'd more than likely know about it. Unless there was a wormhole involved or something else had speeded it up. Then, maybe her scans were wrong, maybe it wasn't an asteroid at all.

Having catalogued and noted all this she was about to test what the chances of a wormhole large enough appearing in the path of an asteroid that was already travelling at speed when there was an unexpected sound. In the silence even the quiet sound of the door made her turn to look. Rather surprised that anyone else would be here let alone who came in.

Tarishiana had been wanting to meet her new science officer. After the report she had received of the women's discovery she was impressed. When she had asked the other members of her team about her no one knew who she was. The ones that did didn't seem so impressed by her. This was something Tarishiana was going to get to the bottom of and there was no time like the present. "Ensign Cho?" she asked as she stopped outside the holographic display.

Having barely been on board a week Kiri had seen her commanding officer a total of three times. Once when she reported to duty and twice when she had handed in reports in person, rather than just submitting them. The idea of paying a visit just for small talk seemed rather lost on her. So this arrival in what was almost the middle of the night was a surprise. Arms dropping to her side and her body tightening at once she stood bolt upright, standing to attention. Her gaze was in Lieutenant Barel's direction but not making actual eye contact. As of yet the young woman didn't really know how to act around the officer. In a startled, quiet voice she replied, "Yes sir," Was she in trouble? Was she in the way? Or was it something else entirely?

"At ease ensign." Tarishiana said easily. She could feel the uncomfort that her presence was causing in the young trill. "I didn't mean to startle you. I simply wanted to meet you and discuss a few things." She moved through the holographic display until she was standing near the Ensign. "I am Lieutenant Barel." She didn't bother to extend her hand since it was more of a human trait and neither of them were human. She looked around for a moment, "That is the object you identified right?"

While she wasn't human, a point that was a painful one for her, Kiri had spent her entirely life being brought up as one. While she personally wasn't bothered by handshakes she thought and acted as a human. Her home was on Earth, really she had no idea what being a Trill really meant. Relaxing slightly she took a step back and looked towards the display. Her voice was polite and quiet as she returned, "Object R45983 is one of the items I have discovered sir, I'm working further to develop theories on it." That was all there was to be done right now, create more theories.

"Cool." Tarishiana said with a grin as she looked at the display. "I have to admit...I am more of a mathematician then an astronomer...have you come up with anything yet?" She asked lost in the moment of the display.

The answer to what she said was very unexpected. It almost made her visually stagger as she interpreted it. After a few seconds of silence where she tried to gather herself Kiri she replied, glancing between the hologram and the officer, "I haven't yet. But I have ruled out almost every cause that I can think of, leaving me with some very strenuous possibilities. Because of that I am starting to think that it might not be an asteroid at all." The girl paused after saying this, out loud it seemed a lot sillier than in her head. But how else was it going to be going so fast? Then feeling the need to explain she added, "I have used a lot of mathematics in this forecast to extrapolate the prediction, I've checked it several times to make sure it is accurate." Numbers and the rules using them that governed the universe were a staple of her work, and most modern science.

"Oh I have no doubt." Tarishiana said with a grin. "I hope you didn't think I was trying to interject myself into your work." She looked around the hologram. "I know you are a more then capable scientist. Just know that the offer of assistance is always there." She wasn't sure if the science officer would accept but the words needed to be said. She let out a quick breath, "Ensign Cho, I wanted to talk to you a bit about your posting here. How do you think you are fitting into the science department?"

This question was quite unexpected for Kiri. How was she fitting in? Did that effect her performance in any way? Was she fitting in? The look on her face clearly one of apprehension she replied, "I have had limited contact with the other members of the division sir, as of yet my duties haven't required other peoples involvement, nor has my involvement been requested. I have been focusing on scans and the discoveries I have made." From the way the question was asked she could read a little into it, "Has there been a problem?" Somehow she felt more comfortable talking about this in the dark rather than a well lit room.

Tarishiana shook her head. "Not to my knowledge." She tried the smile in the dark room but she was pretty sure the other women wouldn't be able to see it. "To be honest, when I asked around about you I got the feeling that you were a solitary personality." She looked over in the direction of Ensign Cho and could feel the apprehension coming off of her. "I appreciate and understand how you might feel the desire to keep to yourself...but on a ship this small...it won't be as easy as you might think." Her tone was as supportive as she could manage.

Kiri didn't really know what to say to that. She didn't like people speculating about her, she tried her best not to do it to other people. It was rude and mean, in this case she felt it was wrong. She wasn't solitary was she? Working with people was always better than working alone, social situations were another thing. They were chaotic and unknown, changes she didn't know about, it made her uncomfortable. The young scientist's face changed from one of uncertain confidence to that of a worried little girl, "I," The pause was a painful one, "Have a difficulty in abstract interaction and don't tend to participate. However, when it comes to my work I will do whatever is needed." That was the answer that came to her but, there was something wrong. She couldn't let the lieutenant have a misinterpretation about her. Slightly calmer now, "I, like people. I just don't have much time to talk, when I'm working."

"I hope you didn't think I was judging." Tarishiana started with an apologetic smile. "I simply wanted to make sure it wasn't something that I was missing." She paused for a moment, "I hope that if you find yourself in need of anything you will let me know."

Kiri was used to doing things for herself, but she rarely hesitated to ask if she really had to. Taking a silent step back in the dark she replied, "Yes sir," What was there more to say to that? She shifted her weight slightly, still a little uncomfortable.

"Well I will leave you to your work." Tarishiana said simply. She could feel the discomfort radiating off of the young officer.

Kiri felt rather confused by the whole process that had happened so far. Without any real answers to any of the questions that were now buzzing around in her head. Unable to put forward anything other than agreement at a superiors orders she replied, "Yes sir," again.

[OFF]

Lieutenant JG Tarishiana Barel
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

and

Ensign Kiri Cho
Science Officer
USS Galileo


OOC: What are your thoughts on the title and the timeline?

I can't do it at M6, I think that M4 2000 is the best time for me and was about the time it first started.

Works for me...I will get it posted!

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