Posted by Cadet Catt Beñnet (Scientist) in Mess Hall - Open Thread

Posted by Commander Maxwell Harkness (Executive Officer) in Mess Hall - Open Thread

Posted by Cadet Rhese Bowman (Scientist) in Mess Hall - Open Thread
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

[Snip]

“Nonsense Cadet. This was your idea, your project, you take the lead on this. Consider this your senior research project.” Max said as he picked up his cup and took a drink. “Contact engineering and have them start the transfer of the materials. We will not have much time here on the Starbase before the brass sends us off again.

“Cadet Bowman, I’m putting you in charge of finding other crops that are good to start our setup. Procure them from the Starbase as needed, under my authority,” he said turning towards Bowman. “Okay, what else do you need?”

Bowman nodded, “Understood, sir. I will begin immediately. I believe this should be more than enough for us to get started, sir,” he said, turning to look at Bennet for some sign of confirmation.

Cmdr. Harkness - XO

Catt’s ears flattened as the XO made it clear she was not going to be able to keep her name from being front and center on the eventual research paper. To argue the point would be impolite. She just nodded said, “Yes Sir!” Took up her padd and started typing out a request for a Engineer . Making sure to specify the required duties and expected duty hours required. She submitted this to the engineering department as a work order forwarded it to the Chief Engineer and CC’d it to the senior staff. All the while she was trying hard to lift her ears and still her tail which had become unruly at the XO’s insistence she take credit. As for her ears they remained Tightly in a defensive posture. She was deeply ashamed at this unsightly emotional display and the lack of self control that the ears and tails antics would signal to another Caitan.

Cadet Catt Bennet. Sciences. USS Challenger.

Bowman looked again to Catt. “I don’t understand your reluctance in this matter, but I’m willing to do whatever I need to do in order to help. If you want to talk about it further at some point, please know I am willing to listen,” Rhese said softly, with a genuine smile. Then, looking back to the XO after a beat, Bowman continued: “Sir, if there’s nothing further, I’ll go begin making those requisitions.” As Bowman didn’t routinely travel around with a PaDD of his own, he’d need to make his way back to his quarters to begin making these requisitions.

OOC: Okay, so forgive my newness, but… is there actually someone at the starbase i will need to contact for this? If so, which base are/were we at? :P

IC:
Cadet Rhese Bowman (Scientist)

“I’ll leave you to getting everything prepared for the hydroponics bay. If you need anything from me, please just let me know, and I’ll pull some strings.”

OOC: You would contact the starbases Quartermaster. I don’t remember which base we were at, besides it being a Science Station. Go ahead and start a post contacting the Quartermaster, and I’ll be happy to play the other part.

Cmdr. Harkness - XO

OOC: Will do.

Catt was upset. She couldn’t hide that she was upset. Her tail and ears just would not behave.
It was bad enough that her small size compared to her species made her look like a prepubescent child.
But this lack of the ability to hide her emotions was frustrating. She closed her eyes and controlled her breathing
She focused her thoughts on inner peace. It was taking too long but her tail slowed. Her ears relaxed. And she started to answer,
“My colony was destroyed. My parents killed. I survived. But I was adrift, alone at a time when my species usually learns
What is expected of a civilized being. Chaos, disorder, starvation and violence were my teachers. I survived. I helped the colony’s
human children to survive. As the adults killed each other over meager untainted resources. We hid. One of the adults, a human
Started hunting for us. He was no longer sane. I kiled him. My people treasure being civilized more than anything. But I became an animal.
That was the first unforgivable sin. I went Feral.
The Orion’s arrived a week later. Healthy, well fed, with scanners and stunners. There was no evading them. We tried. I tried
None of us trusted adults by that point. Medical exams made it clear we were all malnourished poisoned and dying.
I was ready to die as I no longer had a purpose. But the Orions had no use for dead children. You can’t sell dead children.
Not that the Orions sell children. But they will keep them and treat them well till they mature. So they saved us. To do so they changed us.
But none of us would ever mature. Between the malnutrition. Long term exposure to toxins, diseases and the Orion’s own medical practices.
We were no longer quite Caitan or human.
The second unforgivable sin. Genetically engineered.
Call it brain washing or Stolkhome syndrome by the time the Orions realised we would never be worth the time and effort they put into us,
We were all pretty happy to do or be anything the Orions wanted us to be.
And that was the third unforgivable sin.
My species did not want me back.They do not recognize me So any research with my name on it will not be welcome by them.”,

Catt had managed to quiet her tail and lift her ears as she had quietly explained why having attention brought to herself was a bad thing in her eyes.
It was getting less traumatic for her with every retelling. She let her whisper of a voice trail off and looked to those around her to see their reactions.

Cadet Catt Bennet. Sciences. USS Challenger.

OOC: My apologies for the delay in getting back to the boards, and for the lateness of this reply!

IC: Bowman listened intently as the Caitian related the circumstances of her past, and felt himself growing a healthy understanding around her feelings of discomfort. Rhese was deeply moved – almost to tears – by the tale! He’d had no real knowledge of Caitian culture, aside from that which had been provided in the overview he’d read in the Xeno-Etiquette coursework. While he didn’t share the sentiment, Rhese knew well that, for better or worse, different species and cultures still practiced the shunning of individuals who had done something – or become something – that was contrary to the established “norm” for their species or culture. To a degree, something similar was still possible for humans on Earth, too – some humans still found it difficult to look beyond their first impression of someone else, for example. Either way, Rhese found himself feeling a new, deepening appreciation for his Caitian crew-mate – and also, feeling badly for having been so blatently curious; as it was clear that Bennet had been quite uncomfortable to share the things she had. “And with someone who is a complete unknown, such as I – practically a stranger to her!” Rhese thought to himself.

Deciding not to press her further, Rhese simply said: “I had no idea… Catt, I appreciate your having shared that. And I can understand why you’d have misgivings about taking credit. But please also consider, that you’re not just a Caitan – you’re a scientist in Starfleet. Even if your own people don’t ever accept your work, Starfleet will see that many, many others undoubtedly shall see benefit from it. The work we do can impact countless species and cultures other than our own. It’s almost as if… well, like we inherited a big new family, when we joined Starfleet! Anyway, don’t sell yourself short – I can already tell that your passion for this project is amazing. I’m really looking forward to working with you on it!” Bowman hoped that what he’d said would serve – somehow – to make up for his having awkwardly pried into Catt’s personal business. He certainly hadn’t intended to press the issue, and he felt bad for having caused her to relive the pain of her past – and for the obvious discomfort she’d felt through having to relate it.

Cadet Rhese Bowman (Scientist)