[snip]

Drudoc took a moment to eat her own pancakes, adding a little extra butter for her second helping. Tel’eck actually seemed more interested this time in the discussions going on, probably being in a different mood then she had been the other day. “..Personally, I think it is a good chance when we produce excess stores we can trade with them if we encounter friendly folks.” the young teen said. “..Just the other day in our economics class we were learning about the history of financial exchange rates from different cultures and how those cultures judged value on different things, even things that didn’t make sense!” She said sipping her cocoa a moment. “..Like did you know in 2080 by the Earth calendar, Tellarites considered the Voco fruit a higher valued good for trading then they did rarer things on their planet like gold, silver, and other ore? This change in value from ores to producible goods was what lead later to their growth in skills in the space faring communities into the 22nd century..” she explained.

Tel’eck Andone (education sponge) / Drudoc Andone (some CO person!)

It never ceased to surprise her how much information Tel’eck soaked in and recalled. It reminded her of herself. Sharah never forgot a detail, usually. If she was sick or…and there went the spiraling, again. She pulled her thoughts back to the conversation. “That’s very true. You never know what might be valuable to someone else. And if we can become more self sufficient it’s a really good idea. We can’t always count on the fact that the replicators will work. Between the 3 arboretums and the possibility of a hydroponics bay we could produce enough food to keep the ship for months or more. And with a ship this big and so many people, our emergency rations wouldn’t last very long.”

”..Given the envisioned missions for the Mythology class typically are to range far from support structures for years at a time. You aren’t wrong in wanting to reinforce what we already have provided. From a simulation report I read Starfleet estimated that were a Mythology class ship to become displaced in a similar fashion as say the Intrepid class Voyager did in the 2370s, that we have just in raw supplies enough for 1 or 2 years depending on rationing and events encountered. Add in the support of our arboretums and that simulation extended self sufficiency to 3 and a 1/2 years. Before some form of resupply was needed by Starfleet or another trading community..” Drudoc said.

”..Mom actually got to meet Admiral Janeway in 2383 shortly after she retired to the Academy after her promotion to Captain on the Rogue. Since she was pregnant with me at the time..” Tel’eck interjected.

”..That is true my Bright Star.” She said then returned her attention to Fatyth equally. “..She and I had quite a lengthy discussion on Voyager’s time in the Delta Quadrant, her input on those events actually were shared in good faith to the Klingon and Star Empires for ship designs, much of which also went into designs like the Mythology class later on..” Drudoc explained.

”..Pish come on Mom tell Lieutenant Fayth about the GOOD stuff you and Dad told me! She doesn’t want to hear about boring ship designing!” Tel’eck said.

Drudoc looked very briefly genuinely hurt by the comment that was no doubt close to her heart as a former engineer. Sighing though she covered it up, “..Yes, well there may have also been a heated debate on the pros and cons of coffee vs herbal teas. I maintained that in the matter of renewable resource and lessening energy usage herbal teas were a better and healthier choice. The uh Admiral uh.....well we agreed to disagree after a spry debate..” She said.

”..Bah, what Mom means is they got quite heated! That’s what my Dad said!” She said with a jovial giggle.

“Well in this case I have to agree with your mom. Tea is much easier to grow and keep a supply on board. Coffee could be grown but it takes up a lot of space and water rations to grow properly. And I would love to hear more about the design for the Mythology class. I’m not an engineer and the finer details often slip past me. I’d love to learn more about the systems set up for sustained missions.” Sharah could use that information to improve what they were doing in the arboretums as well as some of the experiments going on in the labs.

”..I’m not saying Mom is wrong! I actually agree too, but Admiral Janeway wasn’t to be persuaded otherwise. Dad said she’s a ‘coffee hound’..” She said chuckling again.

”..As for learning more about the design process and theories behind things. I would be glad to go over it with you another time, Lieutenant..” Drudoc replied.

Sharah had actually thought the idea was a good one, but the one problem was containing the insects. They didn’t need the creepy crawlies getting out into the rest of the ship and that was where the idea hit a snag. She was sure the Star Fleet and civilian scientists could figure it out, they just needed to focus their enthusiasm. “And with so many families on board I thought it would be a good opportunity to let the teachers show the children how ecosystems really work and to provide for the upkeep of our own.” Many children born in space lived their whole lives there and never really experienced a real planetary ecosystem.

Lt jg Fayth, CSO

Seeming glad for the change of topic, Drudoc nodded. “..Yes, I imagine it would be a good environment for the children outside the normal classroom studies. As long as they didn’t transplant any insects or other such life to non-appropriate areas of the ship. I heard about two months before you arrived NE Bar’less’s daughter took several samples from their lab”

Tel’eck laughed fully now. “..Oh by the Elements I remember that! Helen came into class for days with purple hair because the bug, whatever it was, had gotten into her Mom’s hair dye and then in turn carried bits of it into her room which filtered the dye due to Helen liking it very moist in her room!” she said laughing.

Drudoc Andone / Tel’eck Andone

“Oh no, no insects will be released except by adults and not until we know we can actually keep them contained, and have a way to track them if they get out. It will require quite a plan in place before we try it. And the species will have to be carefully selected. I’ll have to ask Dr Marshall for a list of allergies for personnel on board. I don’t want someone accidently getting stung by something that could hurt them.”

Lt. jg Fayth, CSO

”..Containing the insects by a one way forcefield pattern near air inlets and the like should be an easy enough to setup process, for larger insects we could use trackers to limited their wandering if it were to occur. Containment fields too for enclosing larger groups to specific areas or plants would be another option..” Drudoc said, obviously getting into and enjoying the process and having finished her breakfast by this point.

Tel’eck meanwhile had also finished her meal. “..Well once more I’ll leave you two to talk shop I guess. I should go get my things ready for school in a half hour..” She said sliding off the chair. “..Thank you for inviting us over Lieutenant.” Tel’eck said respectfully. Drudoc seemed to trust her daughter would get to the school on time, and seemed willing if Fayth was to continue their discussion on insect population control.

After a final farewell, Tel’eck took her leave heading out the door.

Drudoc Andone CO