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PreSIM: Hiya, Boss! [CO Check-In]

Posted March 29, 2021, 2:47 p.m. by Lieutenant Junior Grade Namid Argimeau (Scientific Intelligence Officer) (Trin S)

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in PreSIM: Hiya, Boss! [CO Check-In]

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Namid Argimeau (Scientific Intelligence Officer) in PreSIM: Hiya, Boss! [CO Check-In]

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in PreSIM: Hiya, Boss! [CO Check-In]
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Tenez vos chevaux, Ami!

Their mother’s voice rang like a klaxon at the back of their mind. They tried to ignore it - rid themself of her needless advice for two seconds - but they knew she was right. It’d been less than thirty minutes since they’d boarded Manhattan, long enough to shrug a bag from their shoulders and change into a clean uniform, and they were already en route the bridge. Namid was far from a leisure person. Shaking their head, they pulled down their uniform and stepped into the turbolift. “Bridge,” they whistled.

Namid’s eyes widened upon slipping from the turbolift onto the bridge. They paused for a moment, briefly dragging their gaze before they managed to stagger back to reality. ‘Focus,’ they thought. Curiosity infecting every fibre of their being, Argimeau tore their gaze starboard and found their way to the Captain’s briefing room. They palmed the chime.

Questions wafted through their mind, threatening to derail their train of thought, but they let them linger in the background- quiet and ignored. They were patient for now. But in time, they hoped to earn a better understanding of what they were doing here.

– Namid Argimeau, Scientific Intelligence


Translation: ‘hold your horses, Ami!’

“Enter.” came a man’s voice with a slight accent, British maybe.

The door silently slid open to reveal the office beyond. The office was organized, but had the feel of both authority… and peace. Two bookcases on one wall stood with shelves lined with actual books behind their glass doors. Pictures and holos had been mounted around the room showing both places and people, many of them featuring the same person. Various odds and ends graced places here and there. Displayed prominently, however, alone on a shelf high up on the wall directly behind the desk that sat opposite the door, was the lone figure of a gold Ox. Lighting had been directed so that it drew the eye of anyone who came through the door almost immediately.

Namid’s gaze - a sea of onyx eclipsed by a whim of inquiry - drifted to his lone Ox. They lingered for a second, pondering its significance to the Captain, and continued in their inspection. They gravitated to the books, then to the pictures ornamenting the walls like testimonials to Cochrane’s humanity, and paused. They peered closer. Careful not to snoop and get caught, Argimeau pulled back and shifted their attention to the Captain.

Seated behind the desk was a human male in the red uniform of Command officers. He looked up as the doors opened. His hair was black, making the bright blue eyes beneath the well-groomed hair even more intense. He had a youthful appearance, somewhat more so than the Captain’s pips at his collar would seem to indicate. He looked up and nodded.

“Lieutenant JG Argimeau, I believe. Do come in and have a seat. I take it your trip out was uneventful? Wormhole, not withstanding.” and he smiled. Traversing the wormhole from the Alpha Quadrant to the Delta was always… interesting… to say the least.

Cochrane, CO

“Wormhole, notwithstanding,” Argimeau echoed with a piddling grin. They etched a path to his desk and plopped in the seat across from him. “I’m not a wormhole aficionado, but I’d say the trip was a dream, compared to seven hours trapped in an air-tight runabout with a Ferengi who thought he was funny,” they reflected on the first leg of their journey from a desolate outpost to a Federation starbase. Their eyes glittered with amusement. “It was nothing short of entertaining, sir.”

“Jokes aside,” they extended a hand in a mannerly greeting, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, Captain.”

– Argimeau, Scientific Intelligence

Cochrane took the offered hand in a sure but not overly-aggressive grip and shook it twice. “Likewise, Lieutenant. Now then, I take it you have been briefed on your new role and how it will work aboard the Manhattan?” he asked pointedly, but with no kind of hostility.

Cochrane, CO

Namid returned the firmness in his shake.

“I understand the role employs science as an instrument of strategic defence,” they summarised the basic information yielded to them. “But beyond the standard ‘collection, evaluation, analysis and interpretation’ elements, I cannot suggest I’m entirely versed on the subject.” Argimeau adjusted their stance and offered a brief, albeit intrigued look. “At the risk of sounding ignorant, do you mind explaining it in more depth?”

– Argimeau, Scientific Intelligence

Cochrane nodded and said “Of course. And I will endeavor to give you a bit of background as well. First, this is a wholly new avenue of scientific approach developed by Star Fleet Sciences. The ir reasoning, as explained to me, was to have qualified and dedicated scientists on the forefront of discovery. A dedicated asset who is capable of both scientific and risk assessment is key. Far too often in the history of the Federation has a discovery been made and the possibilities of said discovery are ignored due to other constraints. The Scientific Intelligence Officer, you, will address that. Your job as described to me is part scientist, part risk assessor, part futurist. When we discover a new technology, a new life form, a new anything that we can’t categorize and have a clear understanding of from jump… your job will be to analyze, investigate, and then extrapolate from your findings whether or not the subject presents a threat to us, our allies, or any member species.” and Cochrane leaned back and looked at thenew arrival.

“Basically, you will scientifically determine to the best of your ability whether something or someone we find gets talked to, sampled, left alone… or destroyed. Coffee or tea?” and Alex stood up and went to the replicator.

Cochrane, CO

Namid narrowed their gaze at his mention of other constraints. Too often, scientific excursion had been ignored for regulation or the Federation’s concept of what was ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. Frankly, they didn’t believe the Federation should have a say without – first – understanding what they were facing. It didn’t make sense. To say they were enticed by the opportunity to evaluate the potential or cause for further investigation – without a bureaucrat breathing down their neck – was an understatement. They smiled.

“And on what grounds am I to determine risk?” Risk had many implications. The risk to one’s health, the risk to the immediate environment, the risk to the balance of the universe– there was a lot to consider. “Or are we on an as-long-as-it-doesn’t-wind-up-killing-everyone-aboard kind of basis?” There an edge of mild sarcasm licking their tone, but it was masked in part by their concern. They assumed Federation Standards would come into play – General Order 01, ‘do not harm’… all that jazz. But a part of them hoped this was a little more based on science than pre-determined morals.

“Guava nectar,” they returned with absolute sobriety.

– Argimeau, Scientific Intelligence

Cochrane retrieved the drink and looked at it curiously for a moment before turning and coming back to the desk. Setting the drink in front of them, he said simply “Thats up to you to determine as the Scientific Intelligence Officer. There are many different kinds of risk, of course. And varying levels within those types. Its your job to analyze and determine what kind and what level… and to help determine a course of action in dealing with it. And when you aren’t doing that, you’ll perform duties as assigned by the Chief Science Officer, who you will be reporting to. And expect a lot of that, by the way. We are, after all, the largest science vessel in the Fleet.” and he chuckled and sipped his coffee.

Cochrane, CO

“I can get behind that, sir,” Namid’s dark gaze glittered with almost child-like enthusiasm. “I doubt I would’ve entertained Biomed if chaos was at all daunting.” They chuckled. Lifting their glass to inspect the pinkish nectar sloshing against its metal, they drew a quick sip. Argimeau hailed from a rainy province, overcast by the Olympic Mountains, where warmth was a blessing reserved for the summertime. It was unlikely they’d ever indulged guava before that moment. And they were gravely disappointed. Wrinkling their nose ever-so-slightly, they set their glass down and nonchalantly turned back to the Captain. “..so I’ve heard.” Namid nodded.

“Speaking of science.. or botany, I suppose, I understand there’s a functional arboretum on board?” A flicker of intrigue passed through their eyes. They’d heard of aeroponics bays and simple gardens, but something of Manhattan’s grandeur was news to them. “Are there any other unique spaces devoted to science?”

– Argimeau, Scientific Intelligence

Cochrane smiled slightly and took a drink. “Questions about that will best be asked of Lieutenant Calloway. She designed and built it. And its not a science facility. It’s for the while crew. Individual plots for crew who want to grow… well… whatever. Calloway runs it, so get with her. What other questions do you have?”

Cochrane, CO

bump

OOC: Thank you!
IC:

“Duly noted,” Namid’s smile grew a smidge. They contemplated his question, mulling over their thoughts for any pressing concerns aching for resolution; they found nothing. Cochrane’s explanation had covered the big picture. They trusted they could pick out and scrutinise the minor details when the time came, but it was difficult to anticipate every question when they hadn’t yet given a shot at the job.

So, they went simple on the off-chance it might tap into the subtleties they couldn’t yet identify. “Beyond the standard expectations,” Argimeau jabbed their thumb to the left in an indication of his earlier explanation, “is there anything else I should be aware of? Or any other expectations you have of me, sir?”

– Namid Argimeau, Scientific Intel

Cochrane smiled over his cup as he took a sip. “As far as what else to be aware of? Well, I would say that you need to be prepared for good deal more contingencies than normal. And for that, I might recommend that you meet with the Security Chief Lieutenant Wyatt. Some additional training in Away Team operations and basic self-defense never hurt anyone. And as far as expectations go…” and he took another sip, “… I expect you to be on point and taking the lead with any new technologies and such we encounter. If we pick up an anomaly on the scanners, I expect you to be connected at the hip to the CSO. Because at the end of the day, it is you determining our risk parameters. So… you had better be ready to make bold recommendations and to think quickly on your feet. Thats the only way you are going to be successful.”

Cochrane, CO

“Learn to kick some Delta Quadrant a$%, get comfy but not too comfy with the CSO,” Namid clicked their tongue and struck a finger for every item weaselling its way onto their to-do list, “and embrace bold to the fullest extent.” They paused. “Understood.” Despite the humour tempting their words, there was little more than severity and drive chiselling at their tone. Argimeau was seized of the gravity behind their work, and they would do well to appreciate it. They couldn’t afford anything less.

Savvy and inbred with a whim for the candid, Argimeau had no reservations with the nature of their responsibilities. Self-defence and away team operations were new, but it didn’t scare Namid as much as it intrigued them. It seemed curiosity was equally convenient as it was damning. Drawn silent by their thoughts, Namid glanced back at Cochrane and offered a swift, albeit sure: “You can expect nothing less of me, sir.”

“I have no further questions,” they asserted. “Unless there are other pressing matters to discuss, Captain, I would like to get started on this..” they searched for an appropriate word but ended up with the first that popped into their head “..venture.” And they grinned.

– Namid Argimeau, SIO

Cochrane nodded and set down his coffee. “Dismissed, Lieutenant. Please let me know if I can be of assistance. This is a new role for Starfleet, let alone you. Hiccups are to be expected, but let’s meet them head on.” and he stood and held out his hand. “Welcome aboard.”

Cochrane, CO

“Will do, sir.” Namid mirrored him and grasped his hand in a firm shake. “I look forward to this new role.. hiccups and exigencies included.”

Arigmeau released his hand and imparted an amiable grin before excusing themself beyond his ready room doors.

– Namid Argimeau, Scientific Intel


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