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Science Lab 7 (Deck 5) - Late Night Research

Posted April 14, 2021, 2:19 p.m. by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) (James Sinclair)

Posted by Lieutenant Kiama Naim (Chief Science Officer) in Science Lab 7 (Deck 5) - Late Night Research

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Science Lab 7 (Deck 5) - Late Night Research

Posted by Lieutenant Kiama Naim (Chief Science Officer) in Science Lab 7 (Deck 5) - Late Night Research
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“Well… and the fact that we are several thousand light years away probably doesn’t help.” Cochrane said with a small smile. “I know this may sound… well… off… but you should suggest to your friend that they look for sewage disposal. They can garner a great deal of genetic material and get solid DNA samples from that particular source. A scientific team I was part of in a pre First Contact mission did that, and we discovered they were actually a lost colony of Deltans. Saved everyone a huge amount of time and trouble.”

Cochrane, CO

“No, it doesn’t,” Kiama replied with a soft and slightly sad laugh. Turning her to look fully at Alex, she continued, “I’ll pass that on. I’m curious to see what a look at their DNA will reveal.” Her head tilted to the side, her eyes slightly narrowed, the scientist fell silent for a couple of moments before asking without preamble, “Have you been on many pre First Contact missions, Sir?”

~Lt. Naim, CSO

Cochrane shrugged. “A few… maybe six? And I’ve been a part of a few First Contact operations as well. It’s always… well… interesting, I think is the best word for it. It was certainly never boring, that’s for sure.” and he laughed.

Laughing softly as well, Kiama replied, “I can imagine!”

“What about you, Lieutenant? Have you done any work like your friend is doing?”

Cochrane, CO

Kiama shook her head and replied, “No, I haven’t. This is still my very first assignment since my graduation a bit over a year ago. And before I joined Starfleet I’ve worked at the University of Betazed as a neuroscientist and led a research team there for a few years.” As she talked, her expression seemed to become more and pensive, only to be replaced by slight smile when she finished, “Who knows what the future will hold for me, this ship, for all of us.”

~Lt. Naim, CSO

Cochrane tilted his head and looked at Naim. “Lieutenant, are you concerned about your lack of Star Fleet experience when it comes to your role here?”

Cochrane, CO

Feeling her blood rush into her cheeks, Kiama bowed her head slightly as she turned her face to look at the screen instead of at Alex; despite the fact that her dark skin would hide her blushing anyway. “To be honest, I guess I am,” she started, her voice low and soft. And before she knew what she was doing, she continued, “And the back and for of which position I hold didn’t help with that feeling.” Turning her head to look at him again, even though it was more from the corner of her eyes, she added quickly, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.” For once she stopped sitting perfectly straight and instead let herself slump backwards, her head resting against the back of her chair as she looked up at the ceiling, wishing she could take back what she had just said.

~Lt. Naim, CSO

Cochrane nodded a few times in understanding. “I get it. Really, I do. And I am still really sorry for keeping you up in the air… and the appointment of K’Sang before you. That was wholly wrong… and I am the one to blame for it, not you and not your supposed inexperience.” and he sighed heavily and then stood up and paced back and forth.

Sitting perfectly straight again, Kiama shook her head. “I know you are. Sorry about it, I mean. I’m not upset. Not anymore. It just hit a very vulnerable spot in that moment. Faye ended up on the receiving end of all my emotions in that moment.” She cringed slightly and felt a little guilty for having dumped all of that on her friend. “Mistakes happen. Please don’t beat yourself up over it.”

“Listen, Lieutenant… you are more than qualified for your job. You have a doctorate with honors in neuroscience. And from the most prestigious university on Betazed, to boot. You then went through the Academy… even though you didn’t have to do all four years… and again… honors. Intellectually, you are overqualified for the job. And how will you get experience, except by doing? Here, in this role, you are learning first-hand how a Science Department works… and you don’t have any bad habits yet to muddle that up. I think your newness to the Fleet is actually an advantage… not a hindrance.” and he sat back down. “It gives you a fresh perspective… and out here? Hell… we need all the fresh perspective we can get.”

Cochrane, CO

Kiama had watched Alex as he had paced the science lab, listening attentively to every word he said. She knew that he was right. That she had earned her place on this ship and in Starfleet. That there was nothing wrong with being new and having to learn. And she loved to learn! And still there was a small, but very insistent, voice in the back of her head telling her that she didn’t belong here. A voice that sounded an awful lot like her mother. A voice she didn’t want to hear. A voice she desperately wanted to stop believing.

When Alex stopped talking, Kiama leaned forward impulsively and gave him a tight hug as she whispered, “Thank you for believing in me Captain.” Suddenly realising what she was doing, she pulled back quickly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I am too impulsive.” Bowing her head slightly, she felt her cheeks burning in embarrassment.

~Lt. Naim, CSO

Cochrane chuckled and put his hands on her shoulders and gave them a friendly squeeze. “Never apologize for showing your true self, Lieutenant. I am honored that you feel you can with me. And hugs are great in most circumstances, so don’t let yourself feel bad about them.” and he dropped his hands to the side.

“Thank you,” Kiama replied as she looked up again, relief obvious in her voice and expression.

“So… back to the work at hand. Tell me… what have you been working on outside of this project of yours? Anything coming up I may want to know about?”

Cochrane, CO

“To be quite honest, not much. With all the reports and paper work after our last mission and trying to get to know everyone in my department better … Let’s just say there hasn’t been much time for anything else. But I have been keeping tabs on the various projects the other scientists are working on. And now that things are a bit quieter, I’m taking some time to plan some team building sessions with my department and I’m planning to try to get to know the rest of the senior staff a bit better.” Kiama laughed softly and gave a small shrug. “So nothing that would put the ship in danger. And thankfully the study by one of the scientists on white and black holes and how one could create them artificially is purely theoretical.”

~Lt. Naim, CSO

“Perfect.” Cochrane replied. “And make sure you are briefing your staff on scan data and whatnot. We don’t know what’s out here, so anything they can pick up, we may be able to investigate. Never know what we may find, right?” he said with a grin.

Cochrane, CO

“Will do,” Kiama said, grinning back at the Captain. “Who knows maybe we’ll come across a new spacial phenomenon or a species that lives in space!” she continued with a twinkle of excitement in her black eyes. “There is so much out there we have never seen, never even dreamed of! A scientists dream!”

~Lt. Naim, CSO

“And so much we have yet to learn about. It’s staggering, almost. But… thats why we are here. To explore strange, new worlds. To seek out new life, new civilizations. And to bol-” and he was cut off by a message incoming. =/\= Bridge to Captain, you asked we tell you when the Event Horizon had cleared the final supply shipment, Sir. =/\= Cochrane nodded and tapped his commbadge. =/\= Cochrane here. Thank you. =/\= and he looked at Naim.

“Sorry. What were we talking about?”

Cochrane, CO


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