Bumbling along

Posted on 06 Jun 2020 @ 1:35am by Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari & Captain Jonathan Reynolds

Mission: Mission 4 - Race against the machine
Location: heading to and in science
Timeline: MD3 15:00 following Meetings an Unstoppable Object with Limited Force
1126 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

“Lieutenant,” Ron Bumble raced after this Trill counterpart. “I thought it would be nice to get some time together just us two. What did you really make of all that then?” He asked after darting his eyes round to check no one was going to hear him.

"I think it's nuts," the Trill answered honestly, "I don't think using tractors on that monstrosity will work at all, we'll burn out the engines. We don't have enough torque. What do you think?"

“That it’s also certifiable but your engineer seems very convinced in these plans. We haven’t exactly got much else to try I suppose,” the ginger haired man shrugged. “It will play out how it plays out. Would I be out of bounds to ask to see your science department?” He asked. “I’ve never been on a galaxy class before. It’s very impressive.”

"Well you saw the office the chief engineer confiscated for her plans," Aidan shrugged then gestured ahead towards a replicator. "How about we'll have a tour after we get something to drink? We can talk and tour on the go. My department isn't very big. My wife is on my own staff, actually. To be honest, while I'm happy managing a department, I'm not a scientist myself. My field is linguistics, though I suppose science is a kind of language of its own right?"

“That sounds good. I’m not married myself,” Ron found himself offering. “What’s your favourite language?”

"I'm not sure I have one. I grew up speaking Andorian, and of course Trill." He ordered two coffee and handed one to Bumble. "What's your area of interest?" he then asked, as they started walking back to the science department. "And how come you aren't married? No time or interest, or simply just not met the right woman, or man yet?"

"No one I have liked has been interested in me," Ron said sadly. "I'm an exobiologist by trade but ended up thrown into the position of chief. For now. Not that I think we are going to find any aliens on that thing. Well never say never. We don't know what's past that shell."

"I know that feeling. I often feel very much out of my league which is why I'm glad I have a team that does know what they're doing. I'd rather send a probe into that thing and see what we can learn from there, but it doesn't seem like it's my call to make."

"Cant you make a case for it anyway? The Federation might not get another chance. Its not going to take too long to launch one before we did the first suggestion is it?" Ron suggested.

"Oh I will be. Even if it destroys the probe I'm sure there's things we can learn from it." He led the man into his office. "Shh Sherlock, quiet we have a guest don't scare him please," he said, seemingly talking into thin air. "Anyway... how long have you been chief?"

"Not long and as I understand it, its a temporary measure until we can get a more experienced person in. That suits me fine," he admitted. He watched the strange creature carefully. "What are you?" he asked curiously. "I have never seen anything like you."

"You don't want to be chief then?" Aidan asked as he coaxed Sherlock down onto the desk. "This is Sherlock." The blue chirped and hopped forward. "He's a firelizard though everyone seems to think of him as a mini dragon. Don't worry, he doesn't breathe fire, I don't think he knows how and neither do I. He's very friendly. He stays either in my home, the arboretum or my office. Captain doesn't want him flying around the ship, so he won't."

“Pleased to meet you Sherlock,” Ron nodded. “You are fascinating,” he smiled.

“Oh be chief. Oh gosh no. All that paperwork. And I’m clumsy. So clumsy. There’s a running joke on the Europa. If anyone’s going to bumble things it’s Ron,” he stated. He meant it as a joke but it did hurt sometimes.

Aidan could sense the hurt, but said nothing of that sort. "Everyone has their faults," he said diplomatically, "I never thought I'd be science chief either. I tried intelligence chief but I seriously wasn't cut out for that. Lying and scheming is beyond my scope of abilities you see..." he paused. "My shortcoming is that I can't lie, though I don't really see it as such. It's a fault, but one I pride myself in."

"Oh I get that. I couldn't do that either. I'm far too honest. Not got the temperament for that kind of life," he agreed. He seemed a nice fellow he decided. "So, shall we write a proposal for the probe?" he asked. "I think if we can get all 3 ships science departments to do the same your Captains gonna listen."

"He'll listen. We need all the information we can get. All data we can muster on this monster, we can use against it, I hope." He looked at the man a second time. "What was your field of expertise again?"

"Exobiology. Yeah I know not the most interesting scieintific field but I do know how to write a proposal. And besides we have no clue what's beneath that shell. What if there is life?"

"Then we need to study it. Perhaps you should talk to my wife, Lieutenant Safford, I bet she'd love to have a word with you about this theory. I mean, what if something or someone is operating that thing, be it of free will or not?"

"Fascinating," Ron agreed. "And yes I would be honoured to meet your good lady and get her thoughts."

Aidan chuckled. "Tell her that and i bet she'll be flattered you call her that," he smiled, "she should be on duty but she may have taken a break. She's ah... very pregnant."

"Congratulations," Ron answered back. "Wow is it your first?"

The Trill nodded. "Yes. I'm both very nervous and very excited about it."

"Yeah I can imagine. I'm sure you will be fine though," Ron said. He left the words ... if we survive the planet killer unsaid.

Aidan chuckled. "We'll see, I can only try my best can't I?" He gestured ahead to a console. "We best go program that probe now, won't we?"

"Certainly," Ron smiled. "Already started composing the request. I'll do it alongside helping with the probe."

"I can use all the help I can get," the Trill chief smiled.

OFF:

Ron Bumble
Acting science Chief
USS Europa npc Jonathan Reynolds

●● Lieutenant Aidan Datari
Chief Science Officer/2nd Officer
USS Andromeda