Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Posted on Sat Sep 14th, 2019 @ 5:52pm by Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Kincaid & Lieutenant Ciara Perlit
Edited on on Sat Sep 21st, 2019 @ 8:46pm

1,201 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Mission 0 - Pre-Sigma Iotia II
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: 2167/07/10 1810

Nick Kincaid had had a productive first day. He had settled into his quarters, he'd met the Captain and the Chief Communications Officer, and started getting to know his engine room. After a long day at work, it was finally time for dinner. He returned to his quarters to change into some off-duty clothes, a black t-shirt that hugged his muscular frame and khaki pants, and made his way to the mess hall. It was mostly empty at this hour, so he grabbed a plate of pasta and settled into a seat. Over the next ten minutes, the room began to fill as more people got hungry.

Ciara had been semi-bored during her shift. Mostly diagnostics and random sensor sweeps. But she was getting hungry and amazingly didn't have any plans with anyone. Oddly, this included Gary. So instead, she went and changed into something far more comfortable. Her off duty outfits were normally lower cut, and this time it was also formfitting. A simple casual dress that sat just above her knees. Once she got to the mess hall, she found a seat that was open, occupied by someone she didn't know. "May I join you?" she asked in a thick French accent.

Nick looked up to see a lovely lady in a tight dress. He smiled. “Please!” He gestured to the seat across from him. “I’m Nick Kincaid. First Officer and Chief Engineer.”

Taking the seat, Ci smiled. "Ciara Perlit, or Ci as I'm called. Chief Science officer." She took a sip of the drink she'd brought along. "I did wonder when we would get a new first officer."

“Wonder no more,” he replied with a smile. He sipped his own glass of water before returning to his food. “What kind of scientist are you, Ci? What’s your specialty?”

"Hmm, nearly everything. I do like ze bridge work, but I also like ze labs when I get to zem." She sighed as her accent came out stronger. All these years and she still couldn't get rid of some of it.

Nick nodded. “I feel the same way. Bridge work is enjoyable sometimes, but I prefer working in my engine room. Ever since I got certification on matter/antimatter drives, making them run has been my greatest professional joy.”

"Certification on matter/antimatter drives? I do not have ze thought processes for something like zat." Ci grinned. "We are lucky to have you though, someone with zat type of knowledge."

"You can't exactly run an engine like ours without knowing how it works," Nick said with a smirk. "Uncertified people in my engine room is a great way to get us all killed. But thankfully we're well trained." He took a bite of his food. "So have you been aboard long enough to make any friends yet?"

Ci smirked, "I have known ze captain for quite a while. He is quite a person to say ze least."

"I only met him this morning," Nick admitted. "But you've known him for a while? Anything I should know about?" He grinned. "Anything embarrassing that I might find useful later?"

"Er, you don't want to know him ze way zat I know him, Commander." She bit her lip and gave a small shrug.

“Ah,” Nick replied after a moment of consideration. “I won’t pry. We’re all entitled to privacy, I suppose.” Well, the pool of eligible partners has just shrunk by one. Oh well. He picked at his food another moment. “So what do you want to get out of our mission, Ci?” he asked after finishing a bite.

Ci smirked, "I know zat look. And it iz nothing exclusive between myself and ze captain."

First, Nick raised his eyebrows the...forwardness?... of her comment, and then grinned widely. “Good to know. But seriously, I’d love to know what you want out of this mission. New discoveries? Your name on publications and a Nobel Prize? Just to see the wonders of the galaxy?”

"Last one on ze list. I don't care about ze fame, just the exploration."

“It’s a good motivation,” Nick agreed. “Imagine what we’ll see over the course of five years. Who we’ll meet. What we’ll do.”

Ciara grinned, "So many things. So many discoveries. So many things that will keep me busy the whole entire trip."

“Keep all of us busy,” Nick corrected. “Keeping the ship running and the people safe is a full-time job for most of the non-science crew.” He took a sip of water. “I for one am looking forward to seeing new and strange planets from orbit. Each is beautiful and unique.”

"Zat too. Always amazing to be ze first to set eyes on a planet, something I have always wanted to do."

“Well,” Nick considered, “I can make sure you take a handful of bridge command shifts? You might have the conn when we drop out of warp one day. Or maybe your cabin is forward-facing, so you’ll be among the first to lay your eyes on a planet from there?”

Ci looked at him over her food, "I..I don't mind being in command but...it iz not my favorite thing to do, Commander."

Nick waved off her concerns. "I don't mean in any sort of crisis, Ci. I mean the occasional night shift. We'll arrive at new planets at any hour of the day. If there's a crisis, you call me without hesitation, but if there isn't, you're the one who gets to say 'On screen' and see a brand new planet."

"Oh!" Her face lit up, "Those...Zat sounds amazing."

"We'll make it happen," Nick said with a charming smile. "Not just you, of course. Being among the first to see new and amazing things is probably what brought a lot of crew aboard. This will be a privilege for all to experience."

"Well, of course, Commander." She smiled back at the charming smile, "Everyone should be allowed to experience zat."

Finishing his meal, Nick craned his neck to look at the dessert offering. "You've been here longer than I have, Ci. Any recommendations on dessert? Anything particularly good?"

"Dessert? Oh, many things are good that are here. Normally I'd recommend ze cheesecake, but without knowing what it iz you like, I do not know what to recommend."

“Cheesecake sounds great,” he said, “I’m going to take one back to my cabin. It was nice talking with you today, Ci. Let’s do this again sometime.”

Ci smiled. She could have said other things, but this commander was nice, and sweet. "Cheesecake iz over there. And same to you, Commander. We shall have to do it again."

“Until then, or until next bridge shift,” he replied, standing up. “Have a good night.” He carried his empty dishes to the recycling area, grabbed a plate of cheesecake, and a fork and headed out of the mess hall.

Staying where she was sitting, she watched him leave for a moment before taking a sip of her drink. There were so many people now on board that she didn't know, but maybe she would be able to get to know them...later.

 

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