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Main Sim - Science Office - Is there Someone to Talk to?

Posted Jan. 7, 2021, 2:19 p.m. by Lieutenant Junior Grade Sharah Fayth (Chief Science Officer) (Jennifer Ward)

Posted by Ensign Matthew Riley (Science Officer) in Main Sim - Science Office - Is there Someone to Talk to?
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Claude entered on autopilot, his face reading the display on the Padd in his hand. He glanced up absently only to find an open seat. Once that task was completed he resumed his reading. He had been reading about synthetic elements and the methods of their discovery. He was truly trying to figure out how they had an asteroid sized naturally forming synthetic element sitting in their geology lab. If he could solve that puzzle, he might be able to find a way to use that knowledge to their advantage.

  • Lt. Genard

The other lab heads had arrived as well. “Genard, have you eaten? It’s been a long shift, and we are all past our normal duty shifts.” She asked the rest of the NEs as well. She did not want anyone confused or off focus because of fatigue or hunger. For herself she was munching on a grilled cheese sandwich.

She took a seat among the rest of them. Her office wasn’t really able to hold a conference table or allow for a circle to be formed, but they were all facing each other. “Alright, we’ve heard the captain’s announcement. It’s going to be awhile before things settle. I want you all to be aware, for yourselves, and those you work with, that one minute we may be fine individually and the next you or someone else may not be. The counseling staff is on board for a reason. Use them.” From someone else that might seem lip service but there was no one in sciences that didn’t know that Fayth had weekly and sometimes more often, meetings with the counselor. It was listed in her schedule so people could find her. “As Mr. Riley reminded me, let’s not talk the numbers. It is what it is, for now. So as much as possible let’s focus on what we can do.” The anxiety in the room was simmering dangerously under the surface and Fayth rubbed her temples absently. She realized she was luckier than others in the room. Some of them had family on board with them, others were alone far from friends and family. She was going to have to do something about making sure the department became family, the whole ship too, or that was a job for counseling and command she supposed, but sciences was her responsibility and she genuinely cared about all of them.

She took a deep breath and took fell into her roll of representing the botany department and civilian crew. “The arboretums are undamaged. We were lucky there. The civilian staff is working in arboretum 3 to try and increase our ‘crop’ production. Resources may be scarce so they are concentrating on providing fresh sources of food. Many of the plants in 1 are starting to bear fruit. I have been asked to collect a list of plant based foods that anyone would want to request. They will check the seeds stores and see if we have it. They have an idea to use the naturally produced oxygen in the arboretums to supplement our emergency systems. And, though it may seem a small non vital thing, when things settle they are going to start revamping 2 for the children, make it new, something to distract them, and I heard rumor of clearing area in 1 for an ‘outdoor’ game area. After the senior staff meeting I’ll be going to the shuttle bay. I know sensors are already being tested but I want to make sure that all the science areas are stocked with whatever we might need.” She looked around, meeting each of their gazes, and nodded in understanding, and waited for them to collect their thoughts and the next person to give their update.
Lt jg Fayth, CSO

Claude raising his hand and waited to be acknowledged before speaking. He was beginning to believe much more has been going on outside of the little bubble he and his team had been working under. Better to focus on what he did know, and hopefully he would get more details as the day progressed.
“My team and I assisted a team from Engineering with the hull breech on Deck 44. The Angel was hit by a large asteroid that did severe damage to several systems in that area. Emergency force fields were erected preventing too much exposure to space. Initial scans showed the asteroid to be rich in boridium. Knowing the properties of that element, I wanted to have it moved to the geology labs on Deck 13. Besides, we really couldn’t leave it in the corridor of Deck 44.”

He waited for the few snickers to subside before continuing, “After conducting several scans, the asteroid is 97% boridium. This is a synthetic element, but seems to be naturally occurring in this galaxy. I have been attempting to figure out how this can be using the knowledge we have. If I can figure this out, we may be able to use the asteroid as a supplement to our impulse engines.”
- Lt. Genard

Riley nodded as Claude spoke about the asteroid, pulling up the data about the asteroid field sensors had detected. “That makes sense,” he said, and transmitted the information to his colleague’s PADD. “We picked up an asteroid belt in this system composed almost entirely of boridium.”

“Alright so we have naturally forming boridium. The how would be fascinating, but right now, Genard I need to know if you can break it down into a usable state of matter so we can use it as an energy source. How long would that asteroid last us? If we can convert the impulse engines to use the boridium then it will be worth going back to the asteroid field to get more. Also do you think we could use it to power back up life support systems or other non-essential systems? If we can divert the power drain from our main engines they might last a little longer. Get with engineering and collaborate with the on it. I’ll mention it to Lt Miz’uki at the senior staff meeting.”

He paused in thought. “It makes some sense we’d see naturally occurring elements we don’t see in our own galaxy, considering the age of this one.” His eyes lit up. “It likely means there is stellar phenomena occurring here we’ve never seen before.” He noticed then that everyone was looking at him, and he looked back to his PADD.

Sharah could totally sympathize with is enthusiasm over having the chance to study and discover new phenomenon, and the smiles from the other staff reflected their excitement as well. But as Sharah could ‘feel’ it was tempered by worry and anxiety of what had happened.

“Anyway, stellar sciences has done a rundown of all our probes, and tested the ship’s sensors and auxiliary craft sensors as well, to be sure we’re not blind out here.”

  • Ensign Riley, Science

“How are our probes doing, Riley? Anything that needs to be replaced? Also we need to keep track, it’s not like we can just stop at a starbase and get more probes, so we only use them if we have to.”

The other labs chimed in with various updates. Mostly that some minor equipment was damaged or broken when the ship when traveling beyond comprehension. “What about the fire? Anyone get hurt? Any complications from that?”

“Alright so standing orders for the moment: do not waste anything. We are all used to tossing lab equipment into the recliamators to be recycled, no more of that. Good old fashioned soap, water, and disinfectant to clean the equipment and reuse it. Our energy stores are at a premium. We don’t know when we’ll be able to resupply. There will be life out there, but how much effort will it take to convert what they can give us to what we need? Anything that can’t be saved make sure it goes to the reclaimators so we can reuse it. So those burn bulk heads, make sure they get recycled. Ecology I want you working with the arboretum staff and seeing what we can do about maintaining life support on board in an emergency. Folks in chemistry and the general labs, we’ll be working with medical very soon, I’m sure, on stabilizing our stores of medicines. Also the Andorian Frost Lilly,” and there were loud groans from the chemistry folks, “makes a caustic solvent. Let’s see if we can make it less dangerous so we can actually use it. Genard, you and your geology folks work on that asteroid, see what we can do. Riley, keep mapping, but while you are at it let’s get sensors scanning for raw materials that ship uses on a regular basis. We’ll need to stock up as much as possible.”

“I need a couple folks to go with me to check the supplies on the shuttles and runabouts after the staff meeting. Also,” she paused, “Riley and his team picked up a communication signal. There is intelligent life out there. Computer sciences and communications people, I want you on that signal. The UT hasn’t been able to translate it yet. It looks like a commercial and a news report. Keep looking for more signals. The more we have the sooner the UT starts working. Also I want a full list of raw materials that each of your labs uses so we can add it to the list for the sensors to scan for.”

She looked around at all of them. Leadership was not something she had a lot of experience with. “This is not going to be easy. But Cpt Andone has a reputation, so believe in that. Some of us have family on board, and some of us do not. But we are all, now, a unique family. And remember, Ark Angel was made for this, deep space, extended missions. We have the crew and the knowledge and experience, we just have to use it. Every single person in every single department is going to be pushed to their limits on this. Watch out for each other and yourselves. My door is always open.”

She waited to see if anyone had any other questions or information to contribute. “Alright, dismissed.” After they left she compiled the information she had and headed to the bridge for the senior staff meeting.
Lt jg Fayth, CSO


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