By the Numbers

Posted on Wed Nov 17th, 2021 @ 10:21pm by Lieutenant Commander Emni t'Nai & Lieutenant Mothim-Ril

Mission: Starbase Shoreleave
Location: Transporter Room 1, Deck 4 Science Labs and Senior Crew Quarters
Timeline: Mission Day 3 at 1645

[USS Sojourner]
[Deck 2, Transporter Room 1]
[MD3 1645 Hours]

It was a strange thing waiting in the transporter room to greet an newly assigned officer while the Sojourner was still in her moorings at Starbase 2. Much of the crew had opted for partial or full leave over the span of their time here, exploring the station, the planet or both. Emni had spent more time onboard that she had originally planned, the quiet of the vessel around her with so many fewer emotions to sift feeling like more of a vacation than time on the starbase or the planet. There was still time, though, she told herself and perhaps she would yet take a few days off the ship.

"Confirmation from Starbase 2 that Lieutenant Ril is ready for transport," the crewman manning the transporter room advised. He was young and though she had met every crew member assigned to the Sojourner she hadn't immediately placed him. It took her a moment to realize that he must have been on Kennedy's case load when the original crew physicals were completed.

"Bring him aboard," she said to the crewman with a nod, turning to face the transporter pad. She squared her shoulders lightly, tucking them back and picking up her chin, but did not clasp her hands behind her, reminding herself that she was the ranking officer here by title if nothing else. "Energize," she said with a quick clip to the young man at the controls--the golden sprites of the transporter beam formulating on the pad before her moments later.

The figure that appeared inside the transporter beam looked very much unlike the crewman and lieutenant inside the transporter room. Instead he was covered entirely in golden-orange feathers - though he did unhappily wear a uniform - and towered almost two feet above his new executive officer. His solid blue eyes regarded the woman for a moment, taking in the new surroundings before stepping off the transporter pad. Mothim quite liked transporting. It was truly a fascinating experience. Such a mathematically complex process. He gave the Aurelian version of a smile, which to humans and their fleshy lips probably didn't look like much except a slight upturning of the corner of his beak. "Hello."

Emni took in the whole of Mothim in one long glance, head tilting slightly upward as his full height was impressed upon her and added to by the slight step up onto the transporter pad. Emotional guard already down, so expected to be flooded with a new emotional signature, but in stead Mothim's was largely neutral--content limbed with a clear heightened curiosity. Emni's own curiosity was piqued at that, wondering what had the newcomer curious during such a straight forward arrival. The Aurelian's smile caught her attention as a slight shift in his emotional make up drew her attention at the same time.

"Good afternoon Lieutenant Ril, I'm Lieutenant Emni t'Nai, the ship's XO. Welcome aboard," she said with a warm smile.

"Good afternoon," Mothim spoke as he stepped down off the transporter pad entirely. While it didn't completely get rid of the height difference between them, it definitely helped. "I am glad to be aboard. And it's, uh, Mothim-Ril, though. Not just Ril." Clan names meant little to nothing to Aurelians these days, and were considered to be simply part of their given name instead of two separate names, such as the names humans had.

Emni's smile widened slightly. "Thank you for the correction, Lieutenant. I'll make note of it. I've met a number of species, but Aurelians have not been among them. I confess I'm still getting up to speed with some of the details."

She tilted her head slightly so she could meet the taller man's eyes. "Would you like to visit your quarters first so you can settle in or would you prefer the science labs?"

"That only makes sense," Mothim responded. "There aren't too many Aurelians in Starfleet." And for good reason. For a creature used to the freedom of flight, these ships were awfully restrictive and cramped. Thankfully, modern medicine could keep that claustrophobia in check a bit, in Mothim's case.

The scientist took a step forward, looking around the transporter room. "Oh," he looked back at the woman when she continued speaking. "Hm. Whichever is closer. I must confess, I will be thinking about and doing science wherever I am, be it my quarters or the lab."

Emni considered that. "The bio lab is on this deck," she commented, "but the majority of labs are on Deck 4 as are your quarters. Perhaps we can visit the Deck 4 labs first?"

She gestured for the door indicating that the Aurelian scientist should exit ahead of her. Once they were out into the corridor she made a right, heading for the nearest turbolift.

"Do you have any questions about our upcoming deployment to the Delta Quadrant or about the Sojourner in general?" She asked, making polite conversation.

Mothim felt a little wisp of excitement that he would share a deck with the labs. Not only would he be close to the science - a wonderful thing in itself - it also meant less time walking through these awfully cramped corridors. Even now the Aurelian had to watch how he held his wings so that he didn't hit them on any doorway or fixture.

"I've heard that this ship is fairly recent commission," the scientist commented. "It hasn't experienced any temporal anomalies, has it? Do you know where our first mission within the Delta Quadrant will be to? About that, I am quite excited. A chance to experience something new~" the Aurelian let out a little lighthearted trill. "Also; are we absolutely, a hundred percent required to wear uniforms while on duty? Traditionally, Aurelians don't really wear clothing, and these things," he tugged at the collar of his uniform, "aren't really designed to be worn over feathers."

Emni chuckled at the scientist's enthusiasm. "No temporal anomalies yet, but she's only a few months out of drydock so I wouldn't count them out just yet." She stopped in front of the turbolift doors, gesturing for Mothim to precede her into the lift. "Deck 4," she advised, the hum of the lift kicking in as it whisked them off to their destination.

"Our first mission is, tentatively, within the Nacene Reach," she offered, continuing through the rapid fire list of questions Mothim had asked. "And yes, unfortunately, uniforms are required while on duty. That said, perhaps here or on Pathfinder we could check for a tailor who could adjust it for you? Surely there are some things that could be done to make it at least somewhat more comfortable?" The Romulan woman craned her neck up to meet the other man's eyes as she said that, wanting him to understand the offer to help was genuine.

The doors of the lift swished open then and she stepped out, heading right and pausing them only a short distance down at the first of a series of science labs. "If you'd like to do the honors?" she said, gesturing to the door to the Astrophysics Lab.

Uniforms were required. Unfortunate. Expected, but unfortunate. "I've already had a tailor look at it," Mothim responded in defeat, only half thinking about the conversation as his mind tried to picture what the science labs would look like.

The Aurelian smiled as they reached the door of the astrometrics lab. He nodded in response to the mammal's gesture, stepping in front of the door. It slid open to reveal a relatively round room, mostly taken up by a curved screen. The screen was dark right now, as the lab was empty with most the staff on shore leave, but Mothim could picture all the graphics and charts and numbers that could go up on it. It was probably meant for star charts, and big, organic views of space, but if he were in control, it would have more usable data on it, like graphs and patterns. The Aurelian always felt a child-like sort of joy whenever he saw a new lab. "It's pretty," he responded simply, turning towards the shorter officer.

"I'm glad you like it," Emni replied, a smile on her face. The Aurelian's joy was infectious, flowing over her like warm bright energy. "Physical Sciences is next," she remarked, heading back out into the corridor and moving them down the space to stop before the next door.

Mothim nodded, stepping out of the room and making his way to next lab. The physical sciences lab was a bit different than the astrometrics lab; while it did have a smaller curved screen, it seemed more like a traditional lab, with a few desks and workstations. "I have to say, I am quite excited to see the folk I will be working with. Science is just fascinating; and everybody has such fascinating ideas. Like, no offense to the other departments. But there's really only a couple of ways to do security. Whereas every scientist had a different thesis, different research track... different passions. And I love hearing about it. This is a nice lab." He finished that off with a compliment. He intended none of such as an offense, he was merely thinking out loud as he often did.

Emni chuckled. "We have a great group of scientists on the Sojo," she remarked. "I'm sure you'll meet them all soon."

She ushered the new chief scientist back out to the door and down the hall. "The remaining labs line the hall here, but unfortunately I'm due on the Bridge in a moment. Would you mind terribly if we moved to your quarters next? You're more than welcome to return to the labs once I've got your room assignment set.

"I wouldn't mind at all," the Aurelian let out a little chirp of agreement, stepping out of the door.

"Thank you Lieutenant. I appreciate your understanding." The Romulan offered a warm smile, taking them a bit further down the corridor before turning left at a junction. She stopped them a moment later before a door and tilted her head up meet Mothim's eye. "This will be you," she said before facing the door again.

"Computer," Emni said, directing her voice to the open air in front of her, "Recognize and set lock for Mothim-Ril-8-Zeta. Assign to Senior Crew Quarters Deck 4, Room 2." The computer chirped its confirmation and the doors parted, whooshing open to reveal the living space beyond.

Mothim paused for a moment, looking inside. The tall scientist ducked a bit to clear the doorway, then turned around to look at Emni. "Thank you," he opened his beak in a grin. "I'm looking forward to working with you."

=/\= A Joint Post By =/\=

Lieutenant Emni t'Nai
Acting Executive Officer

Lieutenant Mothim-Ril
Chief Science Officer