Getting to Know You (Part 2)

Posted on 29 Sep 2018 @ 2:43pm by Commander Marisa Wyatt & Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater
Edited on on 29 Sep 2018 @ 2:53pm

1,157 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Science
Timeline: MD141

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

Sofie nodded only half understanding the analogy "My homeworld was already mapped out from orbit before the first settler even set foot on it." She sighed almost feeling a bit homesick for the certainty of life at home but quickly pulled herself together "Off the map is probably where the most new and exciting things lie though."

]NEW]

Marisa grinned. "It is. Some of the best discoveries come when you venture into the unknown. That applies equally to science and exploring. It's what brought me to Starfleet in the first place. But it does take some getting used to."

Raising an eyebrow and continued her questioning eager to get at least something of a real answer "Nobody goes out exploring without some sort of goal though - sure we might not have a map of where we're going but there must be a reason we're going there. Exploration isn't an end to itself and surely you have some idea of why we're going where we're going even if you don't know where?"

"All I know is what the captain told us," Marisa said. "We're going to the Pleiades Cluster. Regula I will be our base. You're welcome to look it up in the Astrometrics lab. We have a very nice 3-D holomap."

Sofie looked a tad unsatisfied that the Lieutenant hadn't risen to her barbed implication but it was as much could be expected in a professional environment she gave a smile of sorts and responded in something approximating cheer "I may well do that. I'm sure all will become clearer when we get there."

"That's generally the case," Marisa replied cheerfully. "If the captain has additional information, she'll tell us when we need to know." The ensign would soon learn that it wasn't unusual for the captain to simply give them a direction. Especially when they were in the less-inhabited areas of the quadrant.

Sofie nodded, trying to project understanding and confidence. "I don't suppose that's how you will tend to run things here in science though? It would seem bad practice to just tell us to run some scans or such without telling us what we're doing it for. Especially with science you benefit from having a full understanding of context."

"Not at all," Marisa assured her. "We'll have several months of travel before we get to our destination. Once we arrive, we should have a little more information." Although in exploring, it was often that they didn't know what they were going to look at until they ran across it, but even then, there would be specific assignments. "Take advantage of the time to get to know the crew and get in some training, if you need it."

Sofie gestured nonchalantly to the PADD and machine she'd been working with before Marisa had popped along "Well its definitely something I need. Not all of the equipment is too familiar to me and I'm still getting to know everyone. Its kept me busy so far."

"Busy is good." She nodded to the machine. "I can help with that, or you can work with the computer. There are some good training files in the science database." She paused for a moment. "You know, with such a long journey ahead of us, it might be a good opportunity to have some social activities for the department, to allow us to get to know each other."

Sofie grinned - now we're talking! She may not be the best scientist ever but social activities were exactly her sort of thing. "That's be great! You can definitely sign me up. What sort of things do you have in mind?"

"To be honest, I'm not sure yet." Marisa grinned. "Suggestions are welcome."

Suggestions were running amok through Sofie's mind but she tried to reign them in a bit departmental opera night was probably not the sort of suggestion that would go down amazingly among the staff. "If we were on a planet I'd say we should go hiking. I'm not sure the holodeck really does justice to the experience though. As a bunch of scientists I imagine we'd make a great pub quiz team, though I'm not sure our opponents would be too happy with that sort of arrangement."

"And now you see why I haven't decided yet. Scientists are not themost social of creatures. I'll probably end up with a mix and mingle. Although I am considering group training to help with weapons recertification."

Sofie grimaced at the thought of weaponry, a reaction she imagined most of the science staff would have. "You could always start by maybe organising an officers dinner. I haven't had a chance to meet the other commissioned officers yet but I think there's also a Lieutenant Plumeri? That might be a nice way for us all to get to know each other, you could always invite the people from Planetary Sciences too." She smiled hopefully, at the very least it would mean she could get all the introductions out of the way with the senior members of the sciences department.

"I should. It's a small enough ship that we could easily have a dinner with all the officers in science." She smiled at Sofie. "Thanks for the suggestion."

"Another thing you could consider," Sofie continued as her mind leapt from idea to idea "If you haven't got one already that is, would be a reading group. We could pick a specific topic to meet up and discuss the latest papers to come out in it. Also if its something that none of us specialise in it could be a good exercise in broadening our specialities."

"I'm not sure how well a reading group would go over, but having a luncheon once a month with an address by one of our specialists would be interesting," Marisa countered.

The corner of Sofie's moth curled up into something only half resembling a smile "Best of both worlds - Dinner and science, eh?" she shrugged and half turned back to her work. "I look forward to participating in whatever it is that you eventually end up deciding on though."

"Thank you. And thank you for your suggestions." She gave the other science officer a half-bow. "I will leave you to your work. I look forward to working with you."

Marisa didn't want to linger and make Sofie feel like she was being watched, so she turned and went on to talk with another scientist.

Sofie nodded and smiled politely but as soon as her superior left she let out a sigh of relief. Hopefully she hadn't made an awful impression. She picked up the PADD she'd be working with and got back to trying to understand these technical details. Clearly this posting was going to be no easy ride.
____
OFF

Ensign Sofie Ullswater
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

&

Lieutenant Marisa Sandoval
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

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