Posted by Commander Shara Calloway (Executive Officer) in 6 Forward - Drinks and Chess

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade T’Mor (Scientist) in 6 Forward - Drinks and Chess

Posted by Ensign Adrian Sorel (Doctor) in 6 Forward - Drinks and Chess
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Steam swirled from the cup of freshly replaced green tea that T’Mor had set on the table. It was chaotic, elegant, governed by the collision of several complex systems. Not like 3-D Chess.

T’Mor set up the board in preparation for the game. Each piece had to be orderly arranged, placed into its exact starting position. The board was ridged, a contrast of black and white. It was a game of strict rules, exact movements, one simple set of systems governed the whole game.

As much as she would like to think of herself as being as ridged and predictable, T’Mor still found a certain beauty in the way the steam billowed up from her mug. Perhaps that was her problem. Or perhaps it, would be wiser to embrace that it was just part of her nature.

She remained lost in this musing for a while, as she waited for her chess partner to arrive.

|Lt., j.g. T’Mor, Scientist|

Some command officers saw a need to maintain a separation from the juniors, but Shara was not that kind of person. Nor was she what most people expected from a first officer. After all, she had not gone to Command school and done formal command training. Her qualifications were decades of complicated life experience and a long career in Starfleet where she had been making life and death decisions in subtle ways every day.

So she was, in fact, rather delighted to be spending time with T’Mor. She felt like the scientist could use a friendly face to help ease her transition into life on the Asimov. Theirs was not an expected ship with the usual set of mission parameters. That could be overwhelming and off putting for someone who did not naturally have the experience and training for a ship that received its orders from Starfleet Intelligence. That was why (now) Shara felt she really was a great person to have as executive officer. Yes, she had been skeptical at first and uncertain after she Sara’s offer, but having found her way it felt more natural than she expected.

Stepping into the small lounge, Shara moved over and smiled. “Good day, T’Mor. I’m just going to grab myself a drink before I join you.” She naturally veered away from rank but didn’t expect it of others.

At the replicator, Shara ordered a deka tea and returned to the table, pulling out the other chair and settling in. “I know small talk is a very Human thing, but I am naturally curious about people, so if you would indulge me, how has your day been? And how are you settling in on the ship?”

~Shara Calloway, XO

“Today was very productive,” T’Mor stated plainly, staring into the chessboard between them, “I analyzed several organic chemical samples for trace signs of botanical compounds. Most of which were heavily toxic. Though the reason for the assignment was classified, I was able to focus on the data itself.”

T’Mor paused for a beat. Eyes finally focusing on Shara herself.

“I find that, in practice,” she continued,

“I do not much care about the specifics of why am I assigned a task. And aboard a ship like this, it is often not my concern. Is that a strange position to take?”

|Lt., j.g. T’Mor, Scientist|

Adrian wandered into 6 Forward and headed over to the replicator and ordered some tevmel and spice tea. Replicated tevmel did not taste anything like fresh given that the halak was replicated but he found he could tolerate it.

Turning he made his way over to a table near where the XO and T’Mor sat but not too close. Close enough to observe the game but not close enough to interrupt their converstation. He nodded to both as he took his seat.

~Dr. Adrian Sorel

Shara noted the ensign’s arrival and gave him a small smile and a nod before she refocused on T’Mor’s comment. “No, actually, I don’t. I think sometimes people can get rather fixated on knowing all the details of a situation, to the point that it not only affects their progress with their work, but can compromise the security of whatever the situation is. Starfleet is, for better or worse, a hierarchical organization. Things are often compartmentalized for a reason. We all have our spheres of knowledge and influence and it can be useful to just accept that you are not always going to satisfy your curiosity.”

She gestured to the board. “Did you want to go first?”

~Shara Calloway, XO

Adrian quietly began to eat his meal and drink his tea. He had noted the CO’s smile of acceptance toward him and nodded in return. He did not speak or try to interrupt their game though, wishing to observe the play. He found studying others in many different situations gave him clues to who they were and how they thought. Helpful for when one needed to work with them.

~Dr. Adrian Sorel

T’Mor nodded and made the first move. A standard opening, one with little risk.

“My sphere of knowledge has always been very focused. Some may say narrow. However, I contest that having a deep knowledge of what interests you is better than possessing a larger quantity of superficial knowledge and trivia.”

|Lt., j.g. T’Mor, Scientist|

“I would agree, most of the time,” Shara said, as she studied the tiers of boards. “But it also highly depends on what you need your knowledge for. If your use of that knowledge is most beneficial kept narrow, then everything aligns. BUt things get tricky when you find yourself in unfamiliar situations . You have to be able to adapt and you may find that knowledge too narrow to help you in that moment. You may need to acquire new information, and fast, and it might not be under optimal conditions. Especially on this ship, being… flexible to the evolving situation can be necessary.”

She made her first move. It was small but perhaps not the most obvious one. Nothing aggressive and almost on the outskirts.

~Shara Calloway, XO

Adrian sipped his tea while he listened, he had found by listening more then speaking that he learned a lot more then if he joined in. Listening to senior officers was especially helpful, as he learned from their experience. He totally agreed with the Commander, he had found in medicine that though he was focused on the heart sciences he had a broad range of training which was especially helpful serving on a Starship. One never knew what would come through Sickbay doors.

~Dr. Adrian Sorel