Part 1: Ecologically Speaking

Posted on 18 Sep 2016 @ 10:30pm by Lieutenant JG Braxton MacKenzie & Alethea Coleman Ph.D
Edited on on 24 Sep 2016 @ 10:59pm

1,822 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 12 - Recluse
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, CSO Office
Timeline: MD -02

[ON]

Braxton had finished meeting Marika and Sigrid and now Coleman was on deck. He'd read her record and he knew that this would be a tough one. Sighing he prepared himself for the next meeting. He had five minutes to call upon all the Vulcan training he had. He'd have to stay cool during this one.

Dr. Alethea Coleman shuffled into the man's office. Her expression was blank, and with the deep set frown wrinkles besieging her forehead she looked as if she were not very impressed with just about anything at all. Which of course wasn't true. She was actually in a fairly good mood. Of course, no one could ever actually tell when it came to Dr. Coleman. Her white civilian jacket did nothing to reveal her body shape in any discerning way, but unlike the Starfleet uniforms, hers at least had pockets for her to jam her dirt crusted fists into. She didn't say anything in greeting, just simply waited to see what the CSO wanted.

"Come on in Dr. Coleman and have a seat. I'm Lieutenant Braxton MacKenzie, the new department head. It's great to meet you." He held out his hand.

Coleman rolled back on her heels and then forward onto the balls of her feet and flashed a very brief smile at the CSO. Brief was probably the wrong description as it was more of a flash. The wrinkles on her cheeks momentarily stretched and vanished as if she was not normally one to smile often at all only to spring back into the deep set frown that normally graced her face. To her it was a very warm greeting; so far the man hadn't annoyed her so he was already one up in her books.

She pulled her hands out of her pocket and showed him the dirt on her fingers to excuse why she didn't shake the man's hand. They disappeared within the depths of the fabric again with a jab of her fists. It was a convenient excuse to use rather than explain she didn't like physical contact. People always seemed to think she was rude, and she'd yet to figure out why.

"Nice to meet you," she said enthusiastically. At least it was enthusiastic to her despite the fact her tone was the same bored monotone that never seemed to change.

Braxton smiled. "You don't have to hide your hands. Please have a seat. It's nice to meet you as well. Can I get you anything to drink?"

Because the man had asked her twice now to sit she felt it was probably best just to acquiesce, if reluctantly. She pulled her hands out of her pockets and lowered herself into a chair with a slight sigh. It was difficult to ascertain whether she was annoyed at sitting or if her tired old body protested about it.

"I'm not thirsty," she said flatly. You'd think the woman was Vulcan the way she stared at him with her blank expression. She raised both eyebrows briefly and added, "but thank-you." She said it as if it were a coached afterthought rather than a pleasantry.

Brax smiled recognizing that he was much like her in social situations. "Okay well I know you are busy so this won't take long. I'm new and I wanted to meet the crew a little one on one to be brought up to speed on what you are working on and to set expectations you have of me as DH and I have of you. We'll be doing a large staff meeting soon this is just a sort of meet and greet." He paused a moment. "I've read some of your work. You are a brilliant writer and ecologist so I'm glad to have you here."

There wasn't a question within the CSOs words so Coleman simply stared at the man. Everything he'd said was fact rather than inquiry so she waited. The silence may have dragged on for awhile when she suddenly realized that his last sentence was perhaps meant as a compliment. "My critics tell me my writing is both dull and provocative." She scoffed, which for her was close to a laugh as she found the juxtaposition of the reviews were hilarious. She wondered briefly if the man had actually read any of them.

"Well provocative is good in science sometimes it leads to new discoveries and frankly some of your theories showed people a side of themselves that they perhaps didn't want to acknowledge. Now I realize that I never posed a question. Apologies. Tell me a bit about what projects you are working on the Galileo."

"Ducks," she said simply. This was going to be an easier meeting than she thought. Though seeing the man's expression she squinted trying to identify it. Was he waiting for elaboration? Did he expect a full listing of her research projects? Could she not just say ducks and be done with it? Why were expressions so difficult to figure out? In the end she decided he probably just wanted a brief synopsis; he'd correct her if he wanted more.

In the same bored monotone she said, "Anatidae the waterfowl family of ducks. Specifically how their behaviour and community organizational structure is impacted by the stresses of an artificial environment in a Starship setting. I'm writing another book currently that contrasts the findings with my hypothesis that the ecology of individuals or crew members are affected by similar artificial environments and how that affects the ecology of the ship as a functioning synthetic ecosystem. I have yet to present a proposal to the researching department and am currently not using ships resources for my research. So perhaps a more appropriate answer would be, 'tending the garden'."

He smiled, "Well if you need help let me know. Now what do you, expect from your DH?" He asked. Taking a notebook and pen to write it down.

Coleman found herself staring at the pen and notebook for a few silent seconds before her eyes lazily made it back to Braxton's. She continued to stare at him until finally she said, "I don't understand the question."

"Well you work under the science department here and as a scientist I understand that you've met many department heads. What makes a good department head in your opinion?" He rephrased.

She thought about it for a moment. She still didn't really understand the question. She didn't expect anything from anyone other than to do their job. She hazard a guess as to what the man wanted her to say and said, "competence?"

He smiled. "Well yes but what kind of management style do you prefer is there anything other department heads have done that you don't like for example being too bossy, micro managing...stuff that annoyed you or stuff that you liked to see." It was like pulling teeth...yet he as the same way too.

Coleman's pointed gaze bore through the man. A lot of thing annoyed her, but she thought it wise not to start listing things off. Mostly, she was just thrown off by the antiquated writing utensil he was using. She found herself trying to recall the last time she'd ever used one, if ever. After a few long seconds she remembered he was waiting for a reply so she cleared her throat, "Um..." Was what came out instead. "Pointless meetings, I suppose. Would be one. Meetings that can be contained into a memo but are instead drawn out into a hour long session has always seemed...unnecessary." She flashed him a smile then added, "Not like this one, of course. But others."

Braxton chuckled. "I see. Alright. Well I do run meetings once a week that are quick just a sort of catch staff meeting to update quickly and I have large meetings once a month for questions and concerns. I also tend to do team building to make sure everyone gets a long. So they will never be pointless." He really liked this woman. "I see that you're a bit...put off by my pen and paper I prefer to write out notes an then put them on a PADD. It's always been that way. This will really throw you though...I've obtained a whiteboard for the meetings and dry erase markers! So don't get shocked when you see that."

Alethea was shocked, thoroughly. Though the same blank look hadn't changed so there really was no way for Braxton to know it if she were.

"Now then do you have any questions for me?" He asked.

"I do not," Alethea said quickly.

He studied the woman. "You are not very comfortable with people are you?"

"Ecologically speaking, lieutenant, I study people on a daily basis. How could I not be comfortable with them?" Coleman knew what he meant, she was just being obstinate. With a bored sigh, she said, "I just don't like very many people."

He looked at her and smiled. He was grateful at times like these that he was part Betazoid. "Well some people deserve not being liked others...we need to get to know. You know that sometimes our fear of getting hurt or putting ourselves in a vulnerable position keeps us from letting people see how amazing we are. I'm sensing there is a bit of that too with you. "

"Indeed," was all that Coleman replied. She didn't agree with his assessment, but she didn't agree with most people's assessments of her. Counselors had put a name on it by the time she was a teenager. Aspergers they told her. Autism spectrum or whatever they wanted to say about her. To her, she was just Alethea, and people just got what they got from her.

He smiled. "Well I'm going to tell you what I tell everyone. In here everyone is equal, no one person is better then another. I want everyone to feel comfortable and understood and if there is anything that you need to chat about I'm always here to listen. Never be afraid to ask for help and always know that I back my staff up as best as I can. Feel free to call me Braxton or Brax or Mac everyone does. If you have any questions never be afraid to ask. Now that being said do you have any questions?"

"I do not," she said again quickly. She placed her hands on the arms of the chair to help lift herself out of it. She stood and gave the man a 'is that all?' look.

"Alright. Well you have a great day. Thanks for the chat." Braxton said watching the woman stride out. She seemed a bit anxious to leave. He wondered if it was something he said.

[OFF]

*******
Alethea Coleman Ph.D
Ecologist
USS Galileo

&

Lt. JG Braxton MacKenzie
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

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