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Attempting to read a book (Open)

Posted April 15, 2023, 9:51 a.m. by Lieutenant Thaddeus "Tad" MacKenzie (Doctor) (Brian Richards)

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Attempting to read a book (Open)

Posted by Lieutenant Thaddeus “Tad” MacKenzie (Doctor) in Attempting to read a book (Open)

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Attempting to read a book (Open)
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Dr. MacKenzie sat comfortably in a corner of the ship’s lounge, sipping on a glass of Talisker, a single malt Scotch whiskey from the Isle of Skye – a nod to his Scottish roots. He had chosen a quiet spot, away from the hustle and bustle, hoping to enjoy some peaceful solitude. In his hand, he held a worn-out hardcover copy of “The Andromeda Strain” by Michael Crichton, a classic science fiction novel that he enjoyed revisiting occasionally.

As he immersed himself in the story, he couldn’t help but overhear snippets of conversations from fellow crewmembers around the lounge. A group of ensigns excitedly chatted about their latest training simulations while a couple of senior officers discussed an upcoming diplomatic mission in hushed tones. Dr. MacKenzie paid them little mind, instead focusing on his book and savoring the taste of his whisky.

At one point, a junior officer accidentally knocked over a tray of drinks, causing a loud crash that momentarily disrupted the lounge’s relaxed atmosphere. Dr. MacKenzie looked up from his book, a hint of annoyance flickering across his face. However, as the embarrassed officer quickly apologized and cleaned up the mess, Dr. MacKenzie’s expression softened. He remembered his own struggles with fitting in during his early days in Starfleet and how he had learned to persevere in the face of adversity. Even if the adversity was, in this case, some drinks that had to be remade.

With a sigh, he returned to his book, taking another sip of his whisky. Despite the minor interruptions, Dr. MacKenzie found solace in the simple pleasure of reading and enjoying a well-deserved break.

–Dr. MacKenzie–

There was far too much paperwork when Roman was acting Captain. There was nothing Roman hated more than paperwork. He needed a break, to stretch his legs. To keep his eyes from going crosseyed. To keep his hand from cramping anymore than it already was.

So, he was walking the ship in a bit of a spur of the moment spot inspection. Roman was decently familiar with the crew, he at the least knew everyone’s names. Even the medical staff despite his.... distaste for medical in general. So, when he came across a face he didn’t recognize he paused for a moment. Yes, he had seen paperwork for a transfer of a medical officer, hadn’t he?

He smiled and in his thick posh English accent he said, “Ah, you must be the new medical officer. Doctor…?” He left a pause, he couldn’t quite remember the name on the paperwork. Then, “I’m Commander Alden, the ship’s first officer.”

~ Roman

Thaddeus looked up from his book and whiskey, his eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded the approaching officer. He noted the rank insignia on the man’s uniform and took a moment to size up the man, Dr. MacKenzie grumbled a response, clearly not enthused by the interruption.

“MacKenzie. Dr. Thaddeus MacKenzie,” he replied gruffly, his Scottish accent thickening with his irritation. “And you are…?”

Upon hearing the introduction, Dr. MacKenzie’s gaze softened just a touch, though his tone remained brusque. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Commander Alden,” he said, though the sentiment didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Now, if you don’t mind, I was just taking a bit of a break from the incessant demands of the sickbay. I’m sure you understand, being the first officer and all.”

–Dr. MacKenzie–

He nodded, seemingly unphased by the doctor’s attitude. “Of course. I’m currently doing three command jobs on the ship. I’m out here for a bit of a break as well.” He thought it was funny, the way the doctor’s accent thickened the same way Rand’s sometimes did. But he kept that thought to himself. “Scottish, eh?”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Dr. MacKenzie raised an eyebrow, taking note of the commander’s additional responsibilities. His tone softened ever so slightly as he acknowledged the shared need for a break.

“Aye, Scottish. Born and raised in Inverness,” he replied, his voice still gruff but tempered with a hint of camaraderie. “Sounds like you’ve got your hands full, Commander. It’s a wonder you’re not locked away in an office somewhere, buried under a mountain of paperwork. Well, take your break while you can. You never know when the next crisis will come knockin’.”

– Dr. MacKenzie –

“That’s where I’ve been all day, I’m taking advantage of the time while my yeoman handles something.” Roman took a seat and grouchiky grumbled something about the amount of paperwork Captains do, and that XO and CSO was more than enough paperwork for him. He knew they supposedly had another CO on the way, but in his mood, it wasn’t soon enough. He huffed approval to the doctor’s statement, “In my line of work, the next crisis usually involves something going wrong in my labs.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Thaddeus couldn’t help but agree with Roman’s sentiment, having dealt with his fair share of paperwork as well. As he listened, he felt a slight twitch in his prosthetic arm, a minor malfunction he’d been experiencing lately with the micro-serveros interfacing improperly with the artificial muscle tissue. It was nothing serious, but it was an annoyance he’d been meaning to address.

“Aye, Commander,” Dr. MacKenzie replied, attempting to hide his irritation at the small glitch in his arm. “The nature of our work means there’s always something waiting to go wrong. Though, I must say, having a functional medical team can certainly help mitigate the damage when crises do arise.”

“Functional medical teams are generally necessary on star ships.” Roman commented. If anything happened to any of his officers, he preferred competent medical staff able to help them. Especially when his work often involved venomous or dangerous animals.

He paused for a moment, rubbing his prosthetic arm unconsciously as if it were still flesh and blood as the glitch seemed to subside. “And in my line of work, sometimes the crisis involves a malfunctioning limb,” he added with a hint of dry humor. “But it’s all in a day’s work, I suppose.” The doctor finished as he set his book down, faced the Commander, and took his final sip of whiskey, that man now having Tad’s full attention.

–Dr. MacKenzie–

Roman rubbed his right leg, the urge inspired by the doctor’s comment. It was something he hadn’t felt the need to do in a long time.... Not since the Kelmao incident. That was a rather unpleasant memory. Though he’d love to return to study that planet. “Count me glad I’m not in your line of work.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Dr. MacKenzie gave a wry smile as he replied, “Aye, I suppose we all have our roles to play.” He thought about the potential dangers of Commander Alden’s work with venomous and dangerous animals and acknowledged the risks involved.

He noticed the Commander rubbing his leg, and it reminded him of the importance of good medical care for the crew. “I can understand your sentiment, Commander. Each of us has our own set of challenges to face, and I’m sure your line of work is no walk in the park either. That’s why it’s crucial for all of us to do our jobs to the best of our abilities. Keeps the ship running smoothly and everyone safe.”

Dr. MacKenzie maintained a more amicable tone, acknowledging that he was indeed the new kid on the block so to speak, and if the First Officer was taking the time to talk to him, making enemies within the first week was probably a bad idea.

–Dr. MacKenzie–


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