From: Live Long and Prosper <mgoto@indiana.edu>
Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 19:08:54 -0500 (EST)
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: Time for Dreams
SD 90504.0225
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USS SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Observation Lounge
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MD 1.0900
The senior officers had gathered for the mission
briefing, bright and early. Anne, for one, was wondering
if she should have checked on one more thing before
leaving the Science Department, but it was too late for
that now. She sat down at her assigned place and looked
around her.
The CO, Captain Bell, was sitting at the head of
the table, coolly watching the rest of the officers. Her
brown eyes missed nothing, her own expression unreadable.
Anne admired her Vulcan appearance, then shifted her
gaze to the XO.
Commander Fielding was, as it turned out, the
petite woman whom Anne had pegged as someone's child on a
special visit. She was talking most animatedly to one
of the other officers and seemed completely devoid of any
sense of dignity of rank.
Lieutenant Commander Wilson, OPS, was almost the
antithesis of her direct superior. Her gaze remained
firmly fixed on her PADD, never looking around at anyone.
Her auburn hair was as curly as Anne's own; her green
eyes, however, held a glint of ice and steel that Anne's
own didn't quite possess.
Lieutenant Fremik, CEO, bounced happily from one
officer to the next, exchanging greetings and general
bonhommie. He was supposedly a Vulcan, but Anne secretly
thought that Captain Bell made a more convincing Vulcan
than the outgoing CEO.
Lieutenant Doyle was currently speaking with the
rather excited XO, his large frame dwarfing her dimunitive
one. They seemed to be enjoying each other's company,
however, and Anne supposed that if the XO enjoyed speaking
with the rather imposing man, it was her business.
Ensign O'Graeach was sitting quite contentedly in
his seat. He seemed to be listening to something that no
one else could hear; but, of course, Anne surmised that
this must be her imagination. The FCO was many things, or
so she'd heard; but auditory hallucination was just too
strange to contemplate.
Lieutenant Carlisle, the CMO, was watching the
company speculatively, her eyes scanning the group, then
resting on Lieutenant Doyle. She was quiet, but she
emanated an air of confidence. No fooling around when
one dealt with Dr. Carlisle.
Ensign Stenford, too, watched the company with
a clinical air. The half-Vulcan was the youngest of the
set, but that did not seem to faze her. Anne was rather
annoyed to find that the Counselor was looking at her and
on the point of saying something. Anne quickly shifted
her gaze to the SOO/MCO.
Lieutenant Commander Ulfsson was quite friendly.
He and Lieutenant Doyle had exchanged some amicable words
a few minutes earlier; now he was speaking with Lieutenant
Wilson, who seemed to be quite uneasy with the whole idea.
Anne watched with mild amusement until Captain Bell called
the meeting to order.
"Good morning, everyone," said the Captain, her
voice as cold and commanding as her gaze. It wasn't,
thought Anne, exactly *heartless*... rather, it was
*emotionless*. Just like a Vulcan, she concluded with
approval. "We are, as you know, now on our way somewhere.
For the specifics of our current mission, I turn the
meeting over to our First Officer. Commander Fielding?"
So saying, the Captain turned over the meeting
to the bubbly XO. Anne narrowed her eyes. She wasn't
at all sure that she trusted the woman with the childish
appearance and the exuberant manner. She much preferred
the logical and unemotional approach of Captain Bell. Oh,
well... she was not the one calling the shots.
Fielding stood up and proceeded to walk around the
table, depositing a PADD in front of each person present.
Leaning over the FCO's place, she whispered something in
the Ensign's ear. Ensign O'Graeach squeaked briefly,
but there was no other commotion.
"We have been ordered to make preliminary
observations of a society in the Beta Psi system," said
Fielding when everyone had a copy of the mission orders.
"The people with whom we are concerned live on the third
planet of the solar system. They have recently applied
for Federation membership, and they call their planet
Theta Mu Psi. Our orders are twofold: to determine the
level of social, economical, and scientific functioning
of the race and their compatibility with Federation
membership; and to discern the real reason for their
sudden interest in the Federation, since records indicate
that their civilization has been around for well over
a million years. Any questions?"
I have one, thought Anne. This is *it*? Their
big maiden voyage, and this is what they get? She wasn't
at all sure whether to laugh or cry. She wanted something
to sink her teeth into, darn it. She wasn't interested
in finding out just how advanced this race was; she wanted
some samples to analyze, some weird DNA to figure out,
some great scientific theory to disprove. Not some
study on whether or not their scientific advancements
could enable them to function as productive members of the
United Federation of Planets.
Anne then noticed that Stenford was patiently
waiting for Fielding to recognize her, which she did
presently with a nod in her direction.
"If I may, sir," said the half-Vulcan, "I believe
we will do well to study whatever records we have of this
civilization. I have been attempting to access the
information from my PADD, but the remote connect protocol
does not seem to be functioning."
"Indeed, Dr. Stenford," returned the CO. "This
mission is of the highest priority. We cannot let just
anyone tap into the information, too. I assure you that
whatever information you seek will be given you, if
security permits."
Stenford merely raised her eyebrows at that and
didn't comment any further. Only a Vulcan, thought Anne,
could react so rationally and coolly to such a statement.
"Any other questions?"
There were two announcements, but no questions.
Anne listened to them, rather bored. The first was
by Dr. Carlisle reminding everyone to report for a
physical, and the other was by Dr. Stenford reminding
everyone to report for an interview. Anne shook her head
and decided that it was high time she got going.
"Dr. Murray," said Stenford at her elbow. Anne
whirled around to see the shorter woman looking at her.
"I need to speak with a few people right now, but I would
appreciate it if you can wait for me. We have some things
that we need to discuss."
"All right, Dr. Stenford," said Anne with a sigh,
sitting back down. She wasn't sure that she liked the
sound of that, but she might be able to pull rank on her
if the Vulcanoid became too annoying.
Besides, it would be interesting to stick around
and see what others were saying.
The Captain had beat a hasty retreat, but everyone
else was still milling around in the observation lounge.
Anne noticed Carlisle speaking with Lieutenant Doyle.
"You're *sure* that you can handle this, sir?"
she was asking rather anxiously. "I don't want to put
you under any pressure, if you know what I mean."
"I am not a china doll, Doctor," said the CSO
sharply. "I rather doubt that this mission, such as it
is, will require any sort of... coping mechanism."
"I should hope so, Lieutenant," said Carlisle.
"You are a good officer, and I'd hate to see you... well,
no need to go into that. Just watch out for yourself,
that is all I ask."
"Yes, Doctor," replied Lieutenant Doyle rather
stiffly. Anne was beginning to wonder if he were really
the same jovial person she had seen a few minutes earlier.
Then she saw him joking with Lieutenant Commander Ulfsson;
she figured that he must be the same man, after all.
"Mr. O'Graeach," said Carlisle, approaching the
FCO, "I trust that you will not attempt to listen to what
you call 'horse race bets' on the subspace radio once you
are on duty."
"No, sir. I mean, yes, sir... I mean..." Ensign
O'Graeach fumbled around, looking for the right thing to
say. "Uh... it won't happen, sir," he concluded
triumphantly. The CMO nodded.
"I won't report what I heard to the Captain just
yet," she told him in a low voice, "but if I catch you
doing that on the Bridge, I can't very well keep it a
secret, understand?"
"Yes, sir!"
Carlisle nodded, then left.
"Commander Ulfsson," Stenford was saying to the
MCO, "I understand that you have children?"
"Yes, two, actually," said the large man. His
smile was warm and genuine. "They're twins. They get
into some mischief, but what six-year-old doesn't?"
"I would like to meet them at some time," said
Stenford eagerly (or, Anne reflected, as eagerly as a
Vulcan was likely to be permitted to sound). "I am
quite... fond of children."
"Of course, Ensign," said Lieutenant Commadner
Ulfsson with a nod. "We shall be having dinner around
1900 hours tonight... will you care to join us?"
As Stenford gave him her response, Anne turned
her attention to the CEO.
Lieutenant Fremik was attempting to make
conversation with the XO, and succeeding quite well,
from the looks of it.
"...and the tricky part isn't in the actual
spin, you see," the small woman was saying. "It's the
*landing* that's hard. You have to *stick* it... you
know, not move. *That*'s the killer."
Anne wondered if the Vulcan engineer knew
anything about gymnastics. She rather suspected that
he didn't; however, he seemed to be enjoying the
exposition, nodding from time to time and even smiling.
Some Vulcan, thought Anne. He *smiles*?
Anne looked up with interest as Stenford
approached the Operations Manager. She could feel the
virtual sparks fly as the Counselor closed the distance
between them.
"I noticed," said Stenford, in that annoyingly
*calm* Vulcan voice, "that you did not mention anything
at all this past half hour, Commander. Do you have
anything you would like to say?"
"If I did, Counselor," said Wilson quite sharply,
"I would let the Captain know."
"You have not been seen many times outside of
the computer laboratory in the operations department..."
"Computers need work," interrupted Wilson
impatiently. "Which reminds me, I'd better get to them."
She rose and strode out of the observation lounge without
a backward glance.
Anne watched as O'Graeach approached Wilson, then
did her best to hide a smile as the 2O rebuffed his
advances with an icy stare.
"It's too bad you don't have a better outlook on
life, you know," muttered O'Graeach as he grouchily left
the observation lounge. "Why do you bother having good
looks if you're not going to *do* anything with them?"
Wilson shook her head, as if to herself, and
gathered up her PADDs. She stalked out of the lounge,
closely followed by Lieutenant Fremik and Fielding, both
of whom turned cartwheels all the way across the lounge
and out of the room.
Commander Ulfsson said a few more parting words
to Stenford, then left the lounge, leaving Stenford and
Anne by themselves.
"Now, Dr. Murray," said Stenford, sitting down
at a seat next to hers, "I believe we have some things
we should discuss. First of all, what are your views
on Vulcan society?"
"What in the world?" exclaimed Anne. "We've
just been assigned a mission and *this* is what you
want to discuss? What kind of Counselor *are* you?"
"A logical one," returned Stenford calmly. "You
have also not said anything during the meeting, and I
cannot but notice that your demeanor is one closely
resembling that of a beginning student of the Kolinahr."
"I should think," said Anne, "that you should
approach the *Captain*, not me, about Vulcan society.
She's got the Vulcan facade down pat."
"I will discuss with the Captain what must be
discussed at an appropriate time," intoned Stenford.
"For now, however, the focus is on you."
Anne was about to reply when, quite suddenly,
she felt herself falling...
...and found herself on the floor of her quarters.
She looked at her clock. 0000 hours. How
ominous, she thought, and shivered. It had been a long
day, with the launch and the mission briefing... not to
mention the unnerving meetings with the Counselor.
Now, it appeared that it would be a long *night*
as well. Sighing, Anne climbed back into bed. Maybe
next time, she thought, I won't fall out of bed.
Respectfully submitted,
Masako Goto
Lt. Anne Murray, Ph.D.
CSciO
USS CHESAPEAKE, NCC-31813
<<NRPG>>
Brian, Fabian, Trevin: My apologies... but with time
constraints looming, I *had* to
post. If you have any problems with
how I played your characters,
please let me know and I will
retcon it.
Amy: Response to mission briefing question?
Takako: Hope Brennan likes/liked the bio.
Melvin: Complications are on the way. I don't know how
things with th'Tellan are going to go... but so long
as it's a mentoring relationship, should be okay.
Lynnaea: Sorry I didn't get to use Keyrin this time... maybe
if I do *another* one. <EG>
Chris: What MD are you planning for that med drill you
wanted Anne to crash?
James: (You realize what kind of a mood Anne is going to
be in come MD 6 morning, but then, that isn't really
Stavay's problem, is it? ;) )
Mary Ann, Jeff: CC'ed FYI. :)
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Thought for the day: How do you justify cleaning your room?
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