Checking in

Posted on Sun Feb 8th, 2026 @ 9:42pm by Lieutenant Commander Emni t'Nai & Lieutenant JG Thomas Mitchell

Mission: Port of Call
Location: Pathfinder Station, XO's Office, USS Sojourner
Timeline: Mission Day 16 at 1130

**Temporary Officer's Quarters**

The last few days on the station had been quiet. Thomas had already run into his Department Head and direct superior which allowed him to check that box on his list, leaving Medical, Psych, and Command. Typing into his PADD, Thomas sent a request off to the XO's yeoman for the check in meeting, and then sat back awaiting a time and location.

---

"Commander?"

The voice, a yeoman from the pool that frequently took up Emni's tasks and communications, drew the Romulan from her reverie. "Yeoman Piper, I didn't hear you come in." That was true enough, though the young woman's emotional signature had cropped up on her radar a few moments ago. She simply hadn't immediately assumed the woman was looking for her. "How can I help?"

"We've had a request for from," here she turned the PADD she was holding out to Emni so that she could quickly read the name, "a Lieutenant Junior Grade Thomas Mitchell, to report for duty."

Mitchell. Science. Starfleet had chosen their stop in Pathfinder to bring on a number of fresh new faces while filling some of the notable gaps with others. Emni had just met the new Science Chief a few hours ago. "Of course, let him know I'm free at 1130 tomorrow," she advised the woman. "I'll be in my office."

---

[XO's Office]
[MD 16, 1130 Hours]

Emni's office was small. Enough space for a desk with two chairs in front of it, a storage cabinet, and a small display case on the wall behind the desk. She studied the case now. It had been difficult to decide what to display at first, but eventually she'd settled on a handwritten poem that had been gifted to her by Sulli early in their relationship. The poem was written in Rihannsu--a dead language for all rights and purposes now and one that few could read fluently, so it served for most as a decorative script piece. Truth be told she preferred her quarters for meetings with it's more comfortable space, but had taken to trying to add cozier touches to the office over the last two weeks--a bid to rid herself of some of the unpleasantness of their last encounter with Subrek in a space that she felt she could control.

As was always true of new arrivals, the XO sensed his unfamiliar emotional signature before the door chime sounded. Turning she moved to her seat, calling for the individual on the other side of the door to "Come in," as she sat.

That took him by surprise slightly, there was usually a delay in the chime to someone answering. In this case though, Thomas stepped in and looked around while walking to the front of the desk, his eyes catching and cataloguing most of the items in the room. The scripted poem definitely got his notice, as he could speak and read some Rihannsu thanks to being the Academy, even if the majority was lost on him.

"Good morning, Commander. Lieutenant Junior Grade Mitchell, reporting for duty." He held out the PADD with his transfer orders for her to take. Briefly recalling the XO was part Betazed, Thomas took a deep breath and started the mental dampening routine a roommate at the Academy had taught him, to reduce emotional output.

Though the officer's emotional signature wasn't what Emni would have called 'loud', she noticed a sudden quieting. It wasn't that he stopped feeling, more that the expression of emotions that Emni picked up shifted toward a stage whisper rather than the usual volume. With it she caught an air of respectfulness that caused one of her eyebrows to creep upward even as she accepted the PADD from him.

"Mr. Mitchell, welcome aboard," she responded warmly. "Please, sit. Can I get you anything to drink?" She waved in the direction of the small replicator set into the wall--one of the few perks of the XO's office. Mentally she adjusted her own emotional barriers, raising them higher in a respectful response even though she hadn't encountered any information suggesting the new scientist had empathic abilities of his own that she should consider.

"I understand you have an interest in flora," she commented. Her expression darkened slightly with something like grief. "We recently lost our Arboretum, and our principal Botanist. I'm sure the crew would be glad to have a flourishing space back if you're up for working on it. I believe Ensign Ral intends to make a start, but as the adage goes, many hands make light work..."

"Water is fine, preferably right above freezing if possible, Commander. Much appreciated." Thomas responded. He did have a love for basic cold water, remembering drinking it after field work back at the colony.

"If the Ensign has a plan laid out, I'd love to take a look. Maybe add a few plants for food and drink as I'm more an agriculturalist by experience, however Planetary sciences and particle physics are my main areas. At the least, I can always play pack mule for this worthy cause. Might I ask how the ship science facilities as a whole are after the last mission?" Thomas asked with enthusiasm, and concern.

Crossing the few steps to the replicator Emni ordered the water Mitchell had requested and a glass of cold tea for herself. "The Arboretum was the worst damage of the science facilities," she answered as she removed the two glasses from the replicator and resumed her seat, passing the water across to the other side. "The Upper computer core was the other. The usual fallout from issues with damaged ODN access nodes and the like and we were still fixing an issue in the biology lab related to an... unusual... biological entity that got into the works." Her memory of the goo babies left behind by the creature that had originally attempted to pass itself off as their new assistant security chief was hardly a pleasant one, but she knew for many it was much more traumatic.

"Beyond that we've got some systems upgrades going on, but nothing surprising. Really it's the Arboretum that is going to require a full rebuild. Ensign Tor," here Emni pressed her lips together. She'd not known the woman well, but she'd found her kind and soft spoken and easy to be around when they had interacted. She knew that the job of notifying family fell to the Captain and she made a mental note to check in with him.

"Ensign Tor had collected some interesting samples. Unfortunately those were lost, but the records are available for review if you're interested."

"Of course, perhaps with review, we might locate suitable alternates. It would of course, be up to the Chief to determine how to use them, but, who knows. So the Arboretum and biology lab. I didn't see it on the manifest, but do we have a hydro or aeroponics bay onboard, or space to make one? Is there any specific duties I should discuss with the Chief about?" Thomas fired off a few rapid questions in an attempt to distract from the issue of lost crew.

Though Emni sensed the distraction her expression remained neutral to it. She'd had a few weeks to come to terms with what had happened and though it was still an ache, it didn't bowl her over. "We do have some limited hydroponics aboard, but I confess to a limited knowledge of them. You're certainly welcome to discuss space allocation for more with Commander Cross. She can assist with procuring anything you may need as well."

Pausing, she brought her own drink to her lips, sipping on the cool tea to consider the scientist's last question. Finally, returning the cup to her desk, she laced her fingers in front of her. "Resupply, of course, is a key part of what we're doing while repairs are completed. So I'd prioritize that in discussions with Mr. tr'Ragnar. I'd also suggest a review of our findings from Shaddam IVa. It's our understanding that the Kazon Maje that we recently encountered has used some of the materials from that moon to strengthen shields. Our team has been studying its properties. I'm not yet sure we know enough for it to be useful to us at a ship-wide level and the Kordra-Lisrit has since self destructed. It may be that we won't encounter a ship with this augmentation again... but we can't be sure."

Something in the XO's expression shifted slightly, a curiosity rising in her eyes as a thought dawned on her. "Have you met Lieutenant tr'Ragnar yet?" she asked. "He's newly coming aboard as well and has been on Pathfinder Station. It wouldn't surprise me if your paths had crossed at some point."

"We actually did meet and had a lively discussion as we have similar colonial type backgrounds, agrarian setups. He's more specialized in that area than I am, since I caught the bug for planetary sciences and stellar physics during my academy time, with a light brushing of particle physics. I'd be glad to look in with Engineering to see what we can find about that material, sounds like a refined product." Thomas responded thoughtfully, the notion of a new problem picking up his interest.

A grin crossed Thomas's features as he considered the comment about speaking to the Operations Chief. "I will definitely have to get with the Commander then, as I do happen to have both a coffee plant and a tea bush I would love to get established here, along with a few other more engineered hybrids for hardiness. Would you happen to know if there is availability to make food on our own? "

Emni chuckled, unable to miss the enthusiasm of the scientist across from her. "I am certain a coffee tree would be particularly well received," she said with a small shake of her head. "And Debbie Gless would be the one to talk with about hand made food. She runs our eatery and does quite a bit of her own cooking. I'm certain she'll be interested in any edible plants you have in mind. Maybe have a few suggestions of her own too."

She could imagine that the matron would have not only ideas, but might also pull Thomas into the kitchen to make good on preparing food.

"Excellent, I will have to look into that for sure. Would you happen to know if the Security chief has anything for weapons or hand to hand combat refreshers available? I prefer to be prepared." Thomas asked suddenly, remembering what he had been briefed on about the ship and it's last encounters.

Until that moment Emni had been grinning. The new assistant chief's particular mixture of enthusiasm and professionalism was infectious and she was pleased to find that she was enjoying a conversation that, sometimes, felt almost performative to her. At the mention of Good and her training sessions she frowned, though, a momentary regret for a missed connection flitting across her features. "Lieutenant Good actually held such a training just yesterday. I don't know if she plans to do additional trainings as a group, but it could certainly be worth reaching out to her for a one on one session. I think a few of our folks were hoping to do something like that in addition to the group training.

"Understood, I'll make my inquiries. Any other hiccups or quirks I should be on the alert for as I complete my check-in's, or areas my skill could be of use?" Thomas smiled softly as he redirected the conversation to a safer topic.

With a tilt to her head Emni considered the question, but nothing specific came immediately to mind. "I can't think of anything at this point," she answered frankly, but if that changes I won't be shy. I suppose same question to you after a fashion. Anything you would like to know or that I can do to help with the transition aboard?"

"I read the last few mission logs. Any sensitive topics or things I should avoid saying, or let others bring up first?" Thomas asked her seriously, knowing the Counselor would be the best person to get info out of on the ship's personnel and general mood.

Though she remained professional, the XO's eyes softened at the question. It was a kindness and she recognized not only the intent, but the sincerity behind it. "Knowing you're caught up, I would be sensitive, where possible, to those who knew and worked with Ensign Tor. She was well liked and I know that we have several crew members grieving her loss not just as a crewmate, but as a friend. Repairing the Arboretum, for many, will be a healing process. Some may want to talk about her and others may struggle to do so. Counselor Qo may be able to give more specific guidance there, but her loss most closely affects the Science Department. We lost 3 in engineering as well, including our Acting Chief at the time. I have less of a grasp on how well Lieutenant F'Rar had integrated, but she was a roommate with Ensign Tor and Ensign Ratthi. I suspect Ensign Ratthi may be doubly impacted as a result.

Emni considered a moment longer, tilting her head slightly to the side as she thought. "There isn't much else that I can prepare you for on that front, though. The crew has had two weeks to process what happened. That is both a lot normalcy and very little at the same time. And for some I understand this has reopened older fears and wounds. It's hard to say how that will impact things when we get back underway. What I can tell you is that there haven't been any true red flags amidst the crew. Just the usual grieving that comes with significant loss and unplanned trauma." She paused and met Mitchell's gaze with a question in her expression. "Has that helped or created more questions?"

"It helps. I just need to watch things and learn the lay of the land emotionally, basically. Nothing new for the fleet. So, am I mentally and emotionally fit for duty?" Thomas asked her with a grin. Running a list of plants of herbs she might enjoy from his stocks that were still in stasis.

Emni chuckled at that, wondering for a moment if the man had read up on her enough to know of her background in medicine. "Yes, Mr. Mitchell, you are," she said, rising and offering him her hand. "Welcome aboard."

--
A post by

Lieutenant Commander Emni t'Nai
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Junior Grade Thomas Mitchell
Assistant Chief Scientist