Posted by Ensign Matthew Riley (Science Officer) in CSO’s Office: Ensign Matthew Riley Reporting for Duty

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Sharah Fayth (Chief Science Officer) in CSO’s Office: Ensign Matthew Riley Reporting for Duty

Posted by Ensign Matthew Riley (Science Officer) in CSO’s Office: Ensign Matthew Riley Reporting for Duty

<snip>

Sharah smiled, “I hope you do. Feel free to take on your own projects in between what we have to do. I want everyone in this department to feel like they can explore their own interests. There will be times we’ll all have to put those on the back burner, but research to your heart’s content. Just make sure to log the appropriate paperwork.” She had no idea how much there was on a DH. She knew her own, but she’d walked into the office the day before to a mountain of it. “OH! And I should warn you, watch out for the kids on board, and use the door locks. They tend to get into everything.”

Riley blinked and then laughed. “I will keep that in mind. That was definitely not a problem on the Challenger.”

Sharah ordered the orange juice and then paused looking at the time. When was the last time she ate? Last night? Oh she should eat probably. “Would you like anything to eat En? Did they feed you on your transport?”

After taking care of his request she sat back down. “What do you like to do in your off time, Ensign? I ask because if you can think it up, Ark Angel has it. The stories they tell about Mythology class ships, aren’t stories. They are all true.”
Lt. jg Fayth, CSO

“No, thank you,” he responded, shaking his head. “I ate, but this will be a good pick me up.” He held up the glass before taking a sip.

He shrugged at her second question, a light blush playing beneath his skin. “I read, mostly.” He took a gulp of the orange juice again, eyes flitting around the room. “I practice tai chi chuan. I find it helps me focus,” he explained. “I like running; long distance running I think is the only thing that has kept my metabolism in check the last couple of years,” he chuckled, eyes settling on the surface of the orange juice in his glass. “If there’s a track here, I’ll probably spend a decent amount of time there.”

He took a slow deep breath, exhaled slowly, and then sipped the juice again.

• Ensign Riley, Science

Sharah nodded, “I enjoy reading. I’m hoping to find out that there is an actual library on board, but I haven’t found it. Yet. And the gym here on board is huge. Pools, cardio, classes, weights. A large track and heated areas for strained muscles. It’s on deck 17. The recreation hall on 18 and 19 holds the pool and several other areas.” Sharah leaned back in the chair, “What can I answer for you? Ark Angel is a lot different from Challenger, I’m sure you have questions, even if they aren’t about the science deparment.”
Lt. jg Fayth, CSO

Riley relaxed his grip on the glass and refocused on the CSO. The previous sudden spike of embarrassment would have been the most noticeable of his emotions thus far, and the relief now mirrored it.

“We might need to trade books,” he said, “Assuming we like the same genres,” he added with a chuckle.

“I’d be happy to. I read all types, and have more paper books than I can carry.” Sharah said feeling his relief permeate the room. She remembered that feeling all too well.

His eyes widened as she listed each new location. “A pool?” he questioned. “That’s amazing.” Inertial dampers working overtime on that much liquid, he thought, the various field formulae involved running through his head.

“Yeah, I have a lot of questions,” he laughed, running a hand through his hair again. “But most of them are minor ‘You have to see first hand’ kinds of things, like what’s the captain like, what’s the rest of the command staff like… I’m sure you know those kinds of questions.”

“Well the captain is amazing. She takes an interest in all of her offices, senior staff and junior officers. She’s thoughtful and has a true skill for listening. She’s also a mother, and everything that implies. Her daughter is the ring leader of all the kids on board. They get into mischief, but for the most part they are really good kids. The captain also, does not favor her daughter if she gets into trouble. She’s fair and doesn’t take sides when it comes to her child, or to her crew. She’s got an amazing record, you could access the basics and read it for yourself, as far as the public record goes. As for the rest of the command staff....I’ll have to let you know. As of 3 days ago, I was still a JO myself.”

He leaned forward, forearms on his knees, and laced his fingers. “But I’ll settle on your best advice for a newbie fresh from the Academy.”

• Ensign Riley, Science

It hadn’t been that long since Sharah had been on her first assignment to Europa. “If there is something you want or want to do, ask for it. Don’t worry if you might be told no, most officers will tell you why. On duty it might be a project you want to work on, or maybe you see a better way or a different way to approach something. You want to share that, do it. If it’s off duty, if you want to do it, do so, ask if you need to. We’re out here for the long haul, that’s too much time to wait. More specifically, for Ark Angel. However much time you think you need to get somewhere, add 10 minutes to it. She’s a beast.”
Lt jg Fayth, CSO