Posted by Gamemaster Wombat (Gamemaster) in Science Station - Mess Hall - Tag All
Snip

Catt flicked an ear at the commander, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She wrapped her tail around her chair leg tightly to keep it from betraying her again. She wasn’t sure she would be alright. But she wasn’t going to insult the commander by looking like she doubted his statement. But this time it was her left ear that betrayed her inner turmoil. It flickered from upright to flat in a nervious tic that all her training in body language could not suppress. This lack of control. These overly emotional outbursts. It was why she wasn’t on the diplomatic division like most Caitians. It was why she was posted alone on the Challenger. Well not alone but without another Caitian for support and comfort. But all that wasn’t something she could Express to an alien. She made her best effort to be attentive and chipper, but she knew she was broadcasting distress like a beacon. If.. If there was any other Caitian to notice. But then if there were that would be worse.

“Feral.” She said softly, involuntarily as she expressed what truly bothered her. The word horrified her as she realised she had said it aloud, and said it to an alien. she deflated. Embarrassed and unable to look at the commander.
“I am sorry commander. I am… Alone. It makes everything , hard. I will contain myself and make my best efforts. “, she sighed and finally composed herself. Putting on a I meant to do that look that was all the emotion most Caitans let others see.

Cadet Catt Bennet. Sciences. USS Challenger.

Ooc: Sorry about the deluge of internal dialog. I’m still defining the character to myself.

OOC: No worries! Nothing wrong with some extra character development!
IC:
Max noticed Korczak off to one side talking to one of the cadets, and started making his way around the room.

“So, do you think we are finally going to find out what is in that box we carried all the way here?” Max said as he got to them.

Cmdr. Harkness - XO

OOC: No worries. It’s a good read, and this is the place to develop the character!

IC: Janusz looked at the XO and replied easily and informally. “Hello, Commander. I certainly hope so. It has been the source of much anxiety and consternation among the crew since it was brought on board.”

Korczak smiled a warm and friendly smile, and looked intently at the young Caitan. “Being alone can drive one to behaviors that would otherwise lay dormant, Cadet. It’s completely understandable. But you must realize quickly a very important aspect of life in Star Fleet: You are never alone. Your crew is your family, your home, and your culture. They may not look like you. They may not come from the same planet, system, or even quadrant. But they are there for you, and they expect you to be there for them. No, you are most certainly not alone…”

Korczak, CNS

OOC: Sorry! Just saw the XO’s post, correcting to incorporate a response.

Catt like almost every Cadet was of the opinion that ship Captains were divinities on their ships. Pretty much every instructor had said so at the academy and who was she to doubt that opinion. If that was so then the ships XO was the divine right hand , and here he was the XO in person. A man she had to meet and make a favorable impression upon strolling up just as she had completely humiliated herself.
So she looked at the Commander she had been speaking with realizing she didn’t know his name. Nor for that matter could she remember telling him hers.
“Cadet Catt Bennet. Science department. Sir.”,
She said standing to attention. That she hadn’t done so earlier for the Commander was a unforgivable oversight of protical and bad manners. There was a comfort in the ritual greeting even if it had been delivered late.
And of course that is when one of her shed strands of fur settled across her nose causing her to both go cross eyed and to sneeze.

It was a Tlny cute sneeze as her room mate at the academy had told her. But then everything about Catt had been cute and tiny to her room mate. Alpha Centari generally stood a foot taller than humans. So To Catt she had been a true giant.
Catt couldn’t help letting a defeated sigh escape her. She looked to the two officers and offered.

“This day is truly cursed. Sorry sirs.”
In her most polite whisper and looked between the two with her best wide eyed lost kitten who knows it’s done wrong look.

Catt Bennet. Sciences.

“Don’t worry about it Cadet. It is good to meet you.”

Gordon limped over to join them. To the new cadets, he looked like the average human male, except that he had a limp on his left leg. He also looked like the left side of his face got into a fight with a blender and a flame thrower. There were scars all over the place with skin that looked at one point to have been badly burned.

“Truer words were never spoken Cadet.” He said in his deep voice. “Lt Gordon, Chief Engineer USS Challenger.” He introduced himself to the Cadet, smiling as best as he could.

-Gordon, CE

“Welcome Lieutenant. I was about to start a pool on what might be in the container. Do you have any guesses?”

Cmdr. Harkness - XO

Catt looked at the Engineer. And couldn’t help wondering why medical hadn’t rebuilt his face. The protoplaser was designed with just such jobs in mind. But she wouldn’t ask. There were cultures that honored scars after all. Klingons came to mind immediately. Her own people she reflected honored being civilized and would permit no blemishes however minor to exist.
Her personal demons tried to rise in her mind again but she remained in control. In control and civilized.
And about then she realised she was staring at the Engineer the whole time she was wallowing in her own thoughts.

"Sorry sir. "

She whispered in a voice quieter than was normal even for the normally quiet Caitans.
Her ear flickered defensively in her distress at having possibly caused offence yet again.

Cadet Catt Bennet. Sciences. USS Challenger.

The station commander smiled at his assistant and then at the new captain of the Challenger before slapping his meaty hands together in an attempt to get the crowd’s attention. “Cadets, a moment of your time before I turn this over to your esteemed Captain.”

He then walked over to the box and put his hand on it and patted it with a large grin. “First,” he began, “I must apologize for Fleet Captain K’hal’s duplicity. You see he is a paranoid man of sorts but also he was evaluating this crew on its abilities to follow orders along with several other dimensions. Owing to the fact that you have delivered me an intact box and not a pile of rubble I am going to assume you were good officers and didn’t do anything untoward.” He grinned again before he winked at the crowd, leaving off the part where he knew full well that they had certainly tried something.

“Now! As good cadets surely you were all taught to hum the anthem, correct?” Jackson said. “Surely at least one of you can otherwise we may never be able to get the box open.”

GM Wombat

OOC: Bump