Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Aili McMorran (Chief Science Officer) in CSO’s Office: Cadet Matthew Riley Reporting for Duty

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He hasn’t read my file… I wonder what sort of personality that betrays. McMorran was no counsellor. Perhaps he’s just making conversation.

The CSO fitted neatly into her carefully chosen, well padded seat. Matthew’s was similarly comfortable. “I’m a physicist by vocation. Cosmology, stellar physics, subspace anomalies…” She let out a hummed sigh through closed lips as she pushed a small stack of PADDs into the far corner of the worksurface. “When I escape the admin, that is.” McMorran sat back with her forearms lightly rested on the arms of her seat. “I do ask that all cadets in the department carry out their own research project during their time here. Starship based research comes with it’s own set of challenges. Knowing what you’re in for after your graduation is worthwhile, I believe. Whatever resources you need, within reason, I shall make sure are at your disposal.”

“So!” McMorran bolted. “This is your final Academy tour. Where do you hope to take your career? Why join Starfleet in the first place? There are plenty of civilian institutions at which you could be applying your scientific acumen.”

Lt. J.G. Aili McMorran - CSO

Matthew gave a wry half-smile. “No, there aren’t. There are places I could be thinking about science.” He pointed to the holo-star. “There’s only one place I can apply science, and that’s Starfleet.”

He paused, gathering his words. “I didn’t want to just solve equations, I want to actually do something with what I know.” He shrugged and grinned. “It makes more sense in my head,” he finished.

• Cadet Riley, Science