Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in Starbase 237 Promenade deck - Leviathan scientists summoned to meet Captain Cobb

Posted by Ensign Jackson Pryce (Scientist) in Starbase 237 Promenade deck - Leviathan scientists summoned to meet Captain Cobb

Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in Starbase 237 Promenade deck - Leviathan scientists summoned to meet Captain Cobb
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
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Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Jackson noted Cobb’s smile, his own inquisitive expression dropping back into its standard blankness, apart from a smidge of added interest at the Captain’s proffered refreshment options. Aware of himself with no hesitation, yet also aware of others, Pryce’s inner dialogue continued. Not easy to hide things from, but a man from whom not everything should necessarily be hidden.

“A Martian Cabernet would be fantastic, thank you.” The truest combination of Pryce’s past, his request seemed like a safe bet. The Californian Cabernet of his birthplace had never been a favorite, but the lightness added by the Martians’ lifted it up his ranked preferences.

Cobb nodded, plucking the plain glass bottle from a cluster of more ornate ones. Clearly Pryce was a man who possessed confidence in his own choices. Such clarity would serve him well on the Leviathan.
The bottle uncorked, Zachariah allowed pause to appreciate the aroma, murmuring “Mulberry. Redcurrant. A hint of…pomegranate, perhaps?” before pouring for the scientist and handing him both the glass and the remaining bottle.

“A good nose, indeed. Though it’s cranberry, not pomegranate. Different in stature, but remarkably similar in taste.” He took a sip and allowed himself to feel the chill of the gusts always running through the broken vent in his old lab.

A short stroll took him to the edge of the promenade deck, fragile railing the only visible boundary to deep space. “The ARU considers science and research the preeminent specialisation. By hunting down and containing these anomalies, we protect all from immediate harm. But only in the studying and the understanding of their abilities do we prevent perpetual chaos.”

Left elbow resting on the barrier, Zachariah turned to face the two scientists. “I know enough to respect what it is that you both do. So tell me, how are conditions in the Leviathan’s laboratories? Anything of interest to report?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

“I must apologize, Captain,” T’Mara said. “I have only recently arrived on the Leviathan and have not had the opportunity to become fully acquainted all the projects my staff is working on. My predecessor’s records were thorough and well prepared. The laboratories are well stocked and the equipment is up to date and fully functional. One of the departed science officers was doing work with time crystals that I have to be particularly intriguing and if time permits I may follow up on that work.”

LtJg T’Mara Michaels, CSO

“Time crystals, eh?” Cobb’s eyebrows raised. “Fascinating. But risky too, I don’t doubt. I’d be interested to hear more on this work if you continue.”

A pause, the captain’s eyes once more scanning the horizon. “I understand from your record that you majored in exobiology, Lieutenant? I have a curious anomaly, a stowaway from our previous mission, that might interest you. Seems my new chief engineer has welcomed him as some kind of pet.” Amusement signaled by hearty chuckle, before stoicism took hold once again. “He might hold information of some value to me. “

Cobb drained his glass. “So what else interests you, Lt Michaels? Inside the laboratories and out?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Alison held back as the captain and her fellow scientists talked. After she had left the labs she went to check on Audrey. Something had been off with the way she was acting. But she couldn’t pin point what it was.

After she left she had the strangest feeling something was wrong and she couldn’t shake it at all. She knew not to ignore the bad feelings, but for now she had to.

She listened to the exchange between the CSO and the Captain and hoped everything was okay on the ship.

Lt. Alison Kane (scientist)

~ Ensign Pryce - Scientist

“A ‘pet’ in Engineering? No. I was not aware of that,” Michaels said. “In general, I strive to avoid interfering in the affairs of other departments. I am curious as to the use of the term “anomaly.” The number of ‘animal’ species within Federation space that have not been fully analyzed is estimated to be 1.376 trillion. Which leaves the question of what distinguishes an anomaly from a species we have not yet catalogued. Perhaps there is no significant difference.”

T’Mara took a sip of her spiced tea and pondered whether it would be appropriate to begin a discourse on time crystals. She concluded that doing so would not serve any logical purpose. Her thoughts quickly returned to the issue of anomalies. Would Lee, her morphite friend, qualify as an anomaly? Its species was certainly unusual. She pushed that thought aside as non-productive.

“What indeed?” Cerulean eyes sparkled at the question’s challenge. “I dare suggest that the Admiral can formulate a more precise definition than I. But for me,” he stepped forward and locked eyes with the Vulcan, “it’s the sensation. That feeling, in the churning pit of your stomach, as every hair on your body is pulled onto its end.”
He paused to regard each of them in turn. Had they felt it? The freezing, creeping sense of horror and dread?
“Have you ever had a dream,” he attempted elaboration, “that you are falling? That in a blink the ground disappears beneath your feet, leaving you to plummet, unstoppable, into the void? It is a similar sensation with anomalies. The world is upended. The reality that served as our anchor is now as intangible as sea mist. We’re not in Kansas any more, Lieutenant.”

Jackson took another sip, seemingly unfazed, though his eyes showed a sort of glaze as the gears of his mind ground away. Ah, that old Earth saying. A mystery, this. A combination of so many people… as if his personality is unique in its sharing.

~ Ensign Pryce - Scientist

Behind them, the Admiral loudly cleared his throat. “Ah, the ARU definition is an entity or phenomena that operates outside the known laws of nature. One that is un-natural. Supernatural.”

“I make the Mountaines shake”, Zachariah recited with whispered breath, “And even the Earth it selfe to grone and fearfully to quake. I call up dead men from their graves: and thee lightsome Moone I darken oft, though beaten brasse abate thy perill soone.”

“One of my other interests could be described as all things Vulcan,” she said a moment later. “It is a world and a group of cultures that I do not know as well as I should.”

LtJg T’Mara Michaels, CSO

In that moment, Cobb’s eyes fell on Alison Kane. “You know this sensation that I speak of, Lieutenant,” he called out to her. “And something tells me it was recently, at that.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

OOC: Amanda, if you want to add a reply for your character then feel free to insert it here. Otherwise, I’m going to move on…

IC: Cobb studied both Michaels and Pryce. “As scientists, you work with quantitative hypotheses and facts. Does it unnerve you to be involved with matters more metaphysical? More…” hands grasped at the air for an appropriate word, “…eldritch?”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Jackson paused a moment before replying. “Unnerve is a big word there, Captain. I wouldn’t say many things unnerve me. I can only look forward, but I would suggest that your question is flawed.” He thought back to some previous escapades, one of which hit his hippocampus especially hard - the white sands of Mhol Cave. Ah, a remembrance for another time, he told himself.

“Hypotheses and facts are still of use, you see. The only difference is the limits, which are now nonexistent.”

~ Ensign Pryce - Scientist

“Aye, there’s truth in that.”
Pryce was sharp as a tack. One to watch. Particularly with the anomalies. “Not all are comfortable with infinite limits. Our ancestors sought sanctuary in tiny spaces with well defined exits and solid walls. It takes confidence to sit easily at the precipice of the unknown. To trust that, while answers remain beyond our fingers, they move ever closer to our grasp.”
So much more he wanted to ask. On Alini. On anomalies. On time and existence and everything inbetween. Another time.

“I shall watch this department with great interest,” he brought their conversation to close. “And great anticipation for what might be unearthed along our path. But for now, we have anomalies to secure and a ship to prepare. Thank you all for your time and for such enlightening conversation. If there is nothing else then you are all dismissed.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

Jackson gave a slight nod before turning back towards the Leviathan, eyes briefly pausing on Michaels and Kane.

A smart man, he thought. Observant, though that can be exploited if done so carefully. He walked another few moments, hands hanging by his sides, face blank, mind empty - the last a rarity for Pryce, though it usually stemmed more from having too much to think about than too little. Cobb - an interesting name, that - one of those men with a penchant for philosophy, for how now relates to yesterday, for how we see rather than what is seen. Difficult to predict in some ways, oh so very cyclical in others. The scientist’s stride slowed for a moment, and the smallest of smiles crossed his face. A good captain, indeed.

Pryce continued the rest of the way to his quarters in silence.

~ Ensign Pryce - Scientist