[snip]

It was coming up on 1800 hours in the evening when the ship’s recreation hall manager, NChief Mellow opened a ship wide comm call =/\= Attention all hands! Tonight is bowling night with syntheol drinks for everyone above age. Prizes will be awarded for winners! It’s also date night among the spa and pool area so come on down with your friends, family and loved ones and enjoy!=/\= The NChief said.

CockRoach

Sharah was sitting in the science lab waiting on results from the samples she took off the shuttle. NE Elbbirt, “Hey Fayth! You coming?” Sharah shook her head, “I need these results.”
“Oh come ON! NE Ineverdoanythingfun will let you know when the test work is done. You never do anything! You play with your plants and then disappear.” She pointed out. Sharah shook her head. “Alright alright. But I’m NOT bowling.” She supposed, being the current ranking (and wasn’t that strange) science officer. She should make the effort.

She went in jeans and t-shirt and entered the bowling alley. She’d never been in one, another one of those experiences her mother was afraid to expose her to. She found a seat at the counter away from the lanes and sat down. She ordered an ice water and grilled cheese. Very few were there yet, so the mental noise wasn’t too bad, but it was still floating all around the ship. She could stay for a bit and then go home. She chatted with Elbbirt and laughed as the girl made comments about the few male officers in the room. “You know you could go talk to them instead of me,” Sharah pointed out. To which Elbbirt happily ran off to do.

En Fayth

As the NC Waiter came back with Fayth’s order of ice water and grilled cheese. Some of the other NE’s were forming off into teams to setup bowling contests. Others were pairing off in twos or threes to go swimming in the ship’s pool or relax in the hot tub spas. Still others were already settling down to some non-holographic card and board games while enjoying the effects of synthol. All the taste and such of real booze without the after effects.

As the groups got going some of the noise naturally increased, overall it was one of merriment and enjoyment. Into this throng Fayth soon picked up the familar tingle and sight of the ship’s Captain in a simple green and silver toned shirt and pants coming into the throng of people. She looked......well out of place was putting it mildly. It didn’t take even a powerful empath to realize she likely was here more for moral and such of the crew feeling ‘in touch’ by their Captain then her own likely enjoyment. Truly being a ship’s Captain was never a truly relaxing time.

Drudoc smiled and spoke politely to a few of the groups as she passed and entered the large recreation hall, before ambling over to the nearby food and drink bar. Waiting her turn she soon came away with a small bucket of fried crispy chicken tenders and some kind of red sauce and a large synthol based iced tea with sprigs of herbs in it. She looked about for a place to sit likely on her own but mostly failed in that effort without taking up a bigger table then needed, so as fate would have it when she saw Fayth sitting off on her own by a smaller table she came over. “..Mind if I sit with you Ensign? Feel free to decline if you prefer being alone.” She said and truly Fayth could tell she was open in this case to decline the Captain’s company if she wanted.

Drudoc Andone CO

Sharah had seen the captain enter and greet several of the crew. Sharah felt for the captain. She’d earned her spot as a fleet captain, but it was obvious that the work never finished. And suddenly Sharah felt very guilty for interrupting her lunch with her daughter. Tel’eck had been happy for the guest and had said the Cpt. didn’t have company often. But Sharah felt as if she had encroached upon one of the few quiet moments the captain had to just be herself and a mother. And then the captain had talked with her, talked her though processing her own guilt and feelings about Ashlyn and her family. Sharah watched for a moment as the captain greeted several groups of people as she made her way to get food.

Sharah turned back to her food, enjoying the hot sandwich. “Hey Fayth, come bowl with us?” it was Anette, one of the civilian arboretum staff. She shook her head, “Thanks, but I’m going to eat first.” The room’s mental chatter was already loud and Sharah could already see herself dropping a bowling ball on herself or someone else. She waved to a few people she knew. The last time she’d been in a social gathering like this…well it had been a pleasant surprise and a gift beyond compare. But tonight, she did it for work. Part of being a starfleet officer was stepping up to do what needed to be done, and the science department was struggling with the loss of both the CSO and aCSO. And maybe it was a bit selfish. They were looking for leadership and were at a loss. So using her rank let her, at least a little bit, but order to chaos and made it easier to work.

Sharah looked up at the Cpt. and smiled. “By all means, Captain. Please have a seat. I would welcome the company.” And really it was true, Sharah was surprised to find. Usually she was nervous, and she supposed she still was, but she liked the captain, both as a person and a commanding officer. Searching for a topic, “How is Tel’eck’s programming project coming?”

En Fayth, Science

Drudoc inclined her head in thanks and took a seat. “..It has gone well. The code is surprisingly clean that she wrote. I get the feeling she may decide to pursue something more in depth for bonus credit with her friends.” Drudoc said. After a bite and swallow of her chicken tenders she continued, “..How have you been Ensign?” she added.

“I’m looking forward to see what they come up with. She showed me the game she was playing and it’s impressive.” Sharah laughs, “Not that I would know. Computer science was never my thing. If the computer can’t do it for me I can’t program anything. I picked up a little bit while I was on Earth. I was lucky I had a team of excellent computer science experts to help me write it.” Sharah takes a sip of her water. “I’m doing well. I’ve started setting up one of the smaller arboretums for research purposes. > That way anything dangerous or hazardous isn’t where families, small children, or pets can get to them. We’re waiting on the results of the tests from the shuttle samples I took. It’s taking some time, but we should have results some time tonight, I hope.”

”..Good to hear, Ensign. I approve of you taking the lead on your project and our own needs in science..” She said taking another bite of her chicken tenders

Hayley entered the Rec Hall and had a look around to see what was happening so far. She wasn’t much for bowling, but was looking forward to a bit of socializing. The last while she had been busy settling into her role as CMO and navigating through the upheaval caused by Dr. Suder’s demotion and her subsequent promotion. Her emotional state was somewhat confused at the moment. She wanted to feel good about her promotion but at the same time she felt bad for taking Dr. Suder’s place. A little distraction from her duties was exactly what she needed. She perused the food and drink bar, selecting a synthol based lemonade along with some old style Nachos, and stood feeling somewhat awkward and looking for somewhere to take her food.

Jr. Lt. Marshall, CMO

Sharah saw another familiar face and smiled. She had some vague memories of meeting Hayley when she’d arrived and checked in on Challenger and then sharing a couple of duty shifts. She waved to the empty chair at the table with her and the CO.

Teams were beginning to form and some of the strangest names appeared on the scoreboards making Sharah laugh. Laughter and the sounds of joviality filled the area. The smell of deep fried foods wafted through the air. Bowling balls landing on the lanes and then crashing into the pins began to punctuate the noise as more people arrived.

En Fayth, Science

Drudoc looked to where Fayth waved, “..Indeed Lieutenant Marshall feel free to join us.” Drudoc said in invitation.

Drudoc Andone CO

En Fayth, Science

Once Marshall made their choice of where to sit with them or not, Drudoc returned her attention to Fayth. “..So Ensign, where do you see yourself in five years time?” She asked off hand.

Drudoc Andone CO