Checking in on the Chief

Posted on 27 Oct 2014 @ 1:08pm by Commander Norvi Stace & Lieutenant Elijah Williams IV, M.Sc.
Edited on on 28 Oct 2014 @ 1:32am

1,806 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Chief Science Officer's Office
Timeline: MD -20, 1300 Hrs.

[ON]

The geology lab, at least for Elijah Williams, was a sanctuary. He loved his work, but it tended to be all consuming and he allowed it to be. But, at the moment he was on a different errand. He had another thought on his mind and that was to see how his department head was doing. After checking with the computer to see if Lieutenant Stace was in her office, the computer confirmed, so he made his way there.

He gave slight nods to those he passed to the office and once there pulled at the hem of uniform jacket to straighten it out. He reached for the chime and pressed it.

"Come in," Stace called out over her padd. She smiled as the door opened and sat up in her chair a little straighter. "Ah, Mr. Williams. How are you doing?"

Elijah stepped into the office, hands clasped behind his back, a smile on his lips. "I'm doing alright," he said. The doors closed behind his with a soft hiss. "I though I would come by to see how you were doing. How are you feeling?"

A gentle and warm smile now played across the trill's delicate mouth. "Please, Mr. Williams." She offered the chair across from her with an open hand. "Sit down with me." She stood up and went across to the replicator and replicated a pot of English Breakfast tea and placed it on the table between them. "With everything that was revealed in the mines, I haven't had a chance to catch up with you. And to thank you. You really pulled through for me. Would you like some tea?"

"Sure," Elijah said as he took the offered seat. He settled, but only slightly. He never truly settled, except for in a geology lab where he felt most comfortable. "However, there is no need to thank me lieutenant. You were hurt, I wanted to help. I am sure you would have done the same for me."

"Well," she began, now referring to his earlier question, "I am doing fine, thank you. A little niggle and some trust issues with it, but I'll pull through. The EMH really worked his magic." She stopped for a moment and then smiled a little more awkwardly. "Is everything all right, Lieutenant? You look like you're about to sprain something."

"Oh?" At first Elijah had been confused by the comment and then it dawned on him. "Oh um, I never relax," he said as he shifted slightly in his chair. He looked at his department head and smiled. "It's a habit I have had since childhood, I guess old habits die hard."

"Drinking tea in an upright, rigid position, Lieutenant, should only be reserved for the landed gentry of the British aristocracy. I'm sure that's some history of your world, I think I read at one time or another." She smiled a pleasantry and then poured the black tea into both cups. "Sugar? Milk?" she asked.

"Milk please," Elijah said. He relaxed some into the chair, it certainly helped his back by doing so. The wound had been healed without issue, but he had still jarred his spine. "Human history was never my strong suit, Earth's geological history now that is a different story." He offered the lieutenant smile. "Well, I mean there is art history too, that I am fairly good at. I almost chose art history as a career over geology."

"Well, Starfleet's gain is art history's loss," she nodded, raising her cup to salute him. She paused a little and then scrunched up her nose. "I think this mission has made me realise that I'm not as familiar with the crew, specifically the science department, as I should be. I don't really take the time to get to know the officers and crewmen whom I serve with. And taking tea with you has made this dawn on me. Art history, huh?" she then questioned again with a fascinated expression. "Why the Fleet then, Elijah?"

"Geology was more of a pull," Elijah said. "What better place to study planetary sciences then with Starfleet." What he didn't say was that Starfleet was his means to get as far away as possible from Athens, Georgia. "I suppose Starfleet just has the means to warp wherever and gather as much information as possible about any planet within reach. That's an exciting prospect for a geologist."

"I think for me," Stace continued, leading with his reasons, "that I entered back in Starfleet because of the draw of history. It's what my Symbiont was most recently familiar with and, like you, the thought of travelling the stars and experiencing everything I can is a big selling point." She sipped her hot tea once more and then placed down the cup. "How have you felt on the Gally. She can't be your first posting."

Elijah sipped from the mug, the hot liquid relaxing him. "Actually, this is my first shipboard assignment. After I got my masters degree I spent a year with planetary sciences in the lab, then decided to leave and take a shipboard posting. So far, I have enjoyed being here though it was a little overwhelming at first. It tough to go from a planetary assignment to being confined to a small starship. At least for me it was, but I don't regret the decision."

"That's good to know," Stace replied with a smile. "And aside from the work, how well have you established yourself on board? Like you've said," she continued, "she's a small tin can in space. There's not a lot of room to be shy and lonely."

"I've been trying," Elijah replied. "The shy and lonely part kind of has gotten in the way of that, but I am trying." Which he really was. He got to know a few people, Keval, Abbey, and Andreus, he felt that was a good start. "I didn't have much time to settle in before we arrived at Lyshan Three, but I suppose in a way that was a bit of a bonding experience for us all."

"Indeed," Stace replied with a flash of a smile. "Well, if you need anything or just want to go for a drink some time, I'm not completely opposed to intra-departmental friendships." She smiled more widely now and scrunched up her nose. "I think that we all work a little too hard sometimes on this ship."

Elijah nodded. He was glad that Stace wasn't totally against inter-departmental friendships, especially since he considered Andreus Kohl a friend. "Thank you for the offer," he said as he smiled as well. He wasn't much of a drinker but it almost felt like it was needed at this point. "As for sometimes working a little too hard... well, it certainly seems like it. I feel like I haven't slept in days."

"I think that we all feel the same, to be honest," she replied genuinely, raising a hand up to her face to wipe away the constant tiredness that had claimed her features. "This shoreleave will be a welcome rest, I'm sure. Have you any plans for it?"

"No, nothing planned," Elijah replied as he shook his head. "I just want to relax and maybe wander around the starbase. Maybe get to know more of the crew in a more social setting. How about yourself?"

"Well, I'll still be on board for most of it, ensuring that prototype deflector array is installed properly and integrated into the ship systems, but I'll grab some downtime too. Maybe wander the station a little; take in the sights. I haven't been to this part of space before. If I get a few days off I may even take a shuttle somewhere."

"That would be nice, to explore the region I mean," Elijah replied. "Maybe I will do the same thing, though I don't have a lot of piloting skills. Still, I hope you do get to get a chance to relax and enjoy any time away from the ship."

"You can just grab a transport vessel somewhere. It doesn't need to be far. I just want to walk with natural gravity again, feel the wind and the rain on my skin."

"Ahh natural gravity, I do miss it and I haven't been without it that long," Elijah replied. That was one thing he had to get used to with starship life, everything was artificial. Not to mention, it was all so closed in. "Does the Galileo get many chances at shore leave, or is it mission after mission?" His question was a legit one since he wasn't sure how starships really operated in that regard. This time, the mission was a tough one and the Tribble infestation made it even worse.

"It all depends on the severity of the mission, and what we're put through," Stace replied honestly, casting her mind back through the past several days. "A ordinary planetary survey mission? We'd receive orders straight after and shoot off. But as you can imagine, after what we've been put through we need a little time to collect ourselves and refresh before tackling something else."

"Seems prudent," Elijah replied. He was just going to assume most missions were easier then the one he just partook in. "I guess I still have a lot to learn about starship life and the missions starships partake in. When you are in a lab on Earth, it almost feels like you are isolated from the outside world of Starfleet."

"And for science, sometimes being locked away is all you can ask for." She cut Williams a look and winked. "There's not really that much to learn, to be honest. You never know what's around the corner and that's what being on the edge of the frontier is really all about. How can you push the boundaries of existence if you don't at first live on them."

"I suppose that is one of the reasons I am here, to push those boundaries," Elijah replied. "And to find as many alien rocks as possible." This time he smiled and chuckled.

"Well, as soon as any rock-shaped discovery lands on my desk, I promise that you'll be the first person I'll call." She stood up and smiled to him. "It's been a pleasure getting to know you a little more, Williams," she exclaimed, her white teeth peering through her lips. "We should make more of an effort in the coming missions to interact a little more. What do you say?"

Elijah stood as Stace did. "I would like that," he replied. "It's been a pleasure as well, I'm glad we got a chance to actually sit down and talk."

[OFF]

Lieutenant JG Elijah Williams, IV
Geologist
USS Galileo

AND

Lieutenant Norvi Stace
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

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