From: MGOTO@indiana.edu (Masako Goto) Date: Wed, 26 Feb 1997 17:03:05 -0500 (EST) Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: Science Department Gets Rolling
SD 90226.2000 ---------------- Main Science Lab ---------------- MD 1.1230 For the first time, Anne was grateful for the large open space that called itself the Main Science Laboratory. The staff could all fit into the space comfortably. No one looked squashed, and Anne quickly counted the number of people present. One hundred twenty, including herself. All right, everyone was here. She captured everyone's attention with a look, then began the proceedings. She introduced herself, gave them a brief background of her own history, told them about the various divisions that would be in operation in their department, and ended with the "Gratuitous Parental Advice" that Jon Dameon used to include. "Any questions before I assign positions?" she asked. There was just one. "Do you mean, sir," said a young man named Derek Fielding, "that you expect us to be *asleep* by a certain hour?" His voice conveyed estreme surprise. "With respect, sir, we're all adults here... well, most of us are." "True," said Anne calmly, "but no one ever said adults can't lead healthy lifestyles, too. Of course, I won't *enforce* the GPA by any means -- you're free to ignore it, if you like -- but I would strongly encourage you," she said, her expression commanding obedience, "to follow it." There was silence in the room. "Any other questions?" she asked. There was none, so she proceeded to her next task. She finally got through the tedious task of listing, individually, the chairman and specialist of each division. She asked for questions, answered a few, and dismissed the group. "Sir," said Fielding, approaching her after the others had left to go grab a late lunch. "Yes, Mr. Fielding?" asked Anne, looking at her newly-assigned assistant CSciO. "About the Gratuitous Parental Advice..." "Yes?" Her eyebrows slowly climbed up. "Where did you get them?" "My former superior officer," said Anne. "He used to give us a speech every other month, and he always, *always* included the GPA. We called him Jon, but he was our father." She shrugged. "And we were his children. I can tell you, Mr. Fielding, that we took the GPA extremely seriously." "They're good advice," said Fielding. His eyes were asking her a question. Anne nodded and drew over a chair. She brought another one from the neighboring console and invited Fielding to sit down. "I'm... I'm overwhelmed, sir," said Fielding. "The Chief I worked with before didn't even talk to us half the time, he just nodded and made sure we were working. He was a good man... he just didn't..." "He didn't tell you to eat plenty of vegetables and not to overindulge on plomeek soup," said Anne, her usual stern voice gentle. "Exactly." Fielding nodded. "It takes a little... getting used to, if you know what I mean." "Yes," said Anne thoughtfully, "it certainly will. But I hope that it will be time well spent, Mr. Fielding. I meant what I said at that meeting, you know. I want to keep track of every person in this department. I want to know each of you personally, and I want you all to know that you can come to me if you have... any sort of problem at all." Her voice was strangely intense. "Will you promise me that, Mr. Fielding?" Fielding stared at her for a second before he responded. "Yes, sir, I promise." He looked at her, his expression puzzled. "Your superior officer used to counsel his staff, too, I take it?" he asked. "No," said Anne, slowly standing up. "No, he didn't. That was the only thing wrong with Jon. He never knew what was really going on when he wasn't looking... or when a mountain really wasn't a small hill." Fielding sensed that their conversation was over, and he stood up as well. As Fielding headed for the mess hall a few minutes later, he was still trying to figure out what in Terra the CSciO meant by a mountain that wasn't a small hill. -------------- CSciO's Office -------------- MD 1.1430 <> "Lieutenant Murray, I believe?" He smiled. "Daniel Brennan, XO." He stepped into the office, then extended his hand over her desk. "Good to meet you, sir," Murray replied, shaking the proffered hand. "Anything I can do for you?" "No, just checking in." He indicated the PADDs with his eyes. "I see we've put you to work already, in any case." He put his hand on a chair in front of the desk. "May I?" "Please. I'm sorry I didn't offer." "Not a problem." He sat down, as did Murray. "So... how are you settling in, Lieutenant?" < > "Quite well, thank you," replied Anne, looking over the XO cautiously. He seemed friendly enough. She wondered if she should say somethinng else, and the seconds ticked by. It reminded her disconcertingly of something she'd rather forget... "Is the department fairly settled?" asked Commander Brennan, breaking the silence. Though he hadn't spoken very loudly, Anne nearly leaped off her chair in surprise. This was most upsetting, Anne reflected. Perhaps she *was* losing her marbled after all! "Yes, sir, I believe it is," said Anne, quickly regaining her composure. Her face suddenly took on a Vulcan look. "We had our first meeting just an hour ago, and all assignments have been made." She searched for a PADD, found it, and offered it to the Commander. "These are the current assignments, sir," she explained. Then she paused, debating whether or not she should ask the next question. Oh, what could it matter? She would have to ask *eventually*, she decided. "Would it be possible, sir, to install *something* in the Main Science Laboratory?" she asked, her expression rather pained. The actual change was barely perceptible; but with genuine green-blooded Vulcans just yards away, every slight change in expression seemed to have more effect than usual. "Install *what*, Lieutenant?" asked the Commander, glancing up from the PADD. "Anything," said Anne desperately. "There is nothing in that room but a double line of computer consoles and chairs, sir... it's not... *natural* for a science laboratory. Even the addition of a single long table would be an improvement!" "I don't know, Lieutenant," said the XO, keeping his expression carefully neutral. "There must be some good reason for the lab being set up the way it is... but I'll see what can be done." "Thank you, sir," said Anne, relieved that he hadn't demanded an explanation of what made a laboratory "natural." Commander Brennan apparently thought that a change of topic was in order. "Have you planned any special research programs, Lieutenant?" he asked, apparently well aware of her interest in basic and applied research. "Although," he added, casting his eyes over the pile of PADDs on her desk, "I rather suspect that you won't have much time to oversee them yourself." "As a matter of fact, I have, sir," said Anne. "I appointed the research committee at our meeting earlier today. We have one team working on the Multiple Universes Theory, and we have another working on the analysis of all data available concerning the Guardian of Forever. We also have a team working on Multiple Systems Interface. And, of course, we have our ETHOS program." She knew she was talking too much, but the prospect of the research programs excited her. "I see." The Commander nodded. "The ETHOS program?" he asked. "Experimental Tracking of High-Order Systems," said Anne. "Lieutenant Serak proposed the program. From now on, all our department meetings will be recorded and analyzed by the..." -- she nearly said "the Picasso of science" but decided against it -- "the Mathematics and Logic Division," she finished. "They will attempt to discern behavioral and linguistic laws as well as logical laws that operate within our communication system in the department." "Interesting," said the Commander affably. Anne couldn't be sure whether he was really interested or not. At least, she thought, he's being nice about it. Commander Brennan nodded, smiled, and handed back her PADDs. "I'm afraid I must be going," he said, standing up. "I will let you know if anything can be... installed in your main lab." "Yes. Thank you, sir," said Anne, standing up also. After the Commander had left, she went back to staring at the PADDs. Personnel file updating was a tedious job, but someone had to do it; and after her experiences, she was going to see to it that she kept a personal eye on *everyone* in her department, even if it meant reading every single communique concerning personnel herself. Respectfully submitted, Masako Goto Lt. Anne Murray, Ph.D. CSciO USS CHESAPEAKE NCC-31813 *NRPG* Takako: I hope I didn't misplay your character too much. Anne is really flipping out about the weird lab, so I thought she'd probably ask for something right from the start. By the way, "CSciO and the Vulcans" *does* sound like a '50s group. :) I think the funniest thing is that they're probably the least likely members of the department to start singing. James: Not to worry, Anne is *not* out to steal your job! She just had a rather unpleasant history with her last Ship's CNS and is making sure that she is accessible to her staff to avoid the same thing happening to *them*. All: As unlikely as it may seem, and as weird as Anne may seem to be, she is *not* out of touch with reality, she *does* genuinely care about every person in her department, and she *will* settle down eventually (and stop getting overexcited about every little thing... I just have to rein in that side of my writing a bit, so please bear with me...).
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