Posted by Commander Shedda Mal’athar (Executive Officer) in Deck 4 Garden (Open to All)

Posted by Ensign Ka’sora Pru’moa Daveyla (Science Officer) in Deck 4 Garden (Open to All)

Posted by Commander Shedda Mal’athar (Executive Officer) in Deck 4 Garden (Open to All)
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻
On the original design spec for the ship, there was a large space set aside as a flex space, and Ka’sora was thrilled to learn that not only had the Manhattan made use of it, according to a fellow scientist, it was a spectacular garden space. In fact, Terish said it was unlike anything they had seen on a starship before. Sure, on bases and outposts you had the room to build levels and layers, but on starship? Was it really possible.

The double doors slipped open and Ka’sora stepped in, inhaling deeply all the rich smells of dirt and greenery. And the flowers. Didn’t smells wafted at her, distracting her just enough that she was momentarily distracted from the view before her. But then she saw it. An orchard to her right, a wide path that went around the outer area. She could see trees, shrubs and multitudes of plants. Turning in a circle, she noted a screen on the wall by the door and moved over to access it. A layout came up immediately and she was astonished to learn that there was a topical greenhouse (she wondered how close it was to parts of Zahara), a greenhouse for growing seeds, and even a mushroom house. Not to mention the pond, and the hill with the stream that ran down into the pond. And there were garden beds for the crew! She wondered how hard it was to get one and if it would be okay to grow some things from home. One had to check about these things lest she introduce something that became invasive. That would be terrible!

Turning back to the wonderful space, Ka’sora just started walking and hung a left towards the treed area by the pond.

~Ensign Ka’Sora

In an open area of the garden, the XO was for once not in uniform. She was in shorts and a short, but not quite a crop top, shirt. She was relaxed back on a sort of portable lounge chair reading a book and enjoying the ‘sun light’.

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Ka’Sora continued her wandering, trying to get the lay of the ‘land’ as it were. She even took off her soft soled shoes and walked barefoot, which was nice gien she wasn’t in uniform and could just plop down and rest anywhere she liked (within reason). All in all, this garden was remarkable! As she came around along the main path by The Hill (she would go up there next), she turned towards the pond and the open grassy area near the arbours marking the beginning of the rose garden. Was that? Oh it was! She shouldn’t, right? Clearly the XO was relaxing and she didn’t want to bother her. After all, the senior staff had important jobs and they didn’t always get a lot of downtime.

And yet… Ka’Sora found herself walking towards the sunbathing Orion, but then she stopped abruptly, giving off worried energy. She should turn around and go back the other way. And yet… she found herself frozen in place with indecision. If she were back home, she’d approach an Elder without worry at all. They would welcome the conversation. But here? There were so many different species and individuals and she hadn’t yet gotten a hold of the general mores of the Manhattan.

~Ensign Ka’Sora

Shedda looked up at and smiled. “En Ka’Sora,” she greeted brightly. “What do you think of our garden?”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Her entire body vibrated with sheer joy and it was etched into her face as she drew nearer. “It’s magnificent!” Ka’Sora said. “Just… amazing. I never knew something so complex could be inside a starship. Sure, on bigger facilities they can build whole biomes but this is extraordinary. I want nothing more than to climb the lragest of the trees in that grove on the other side of the pond,” she said with a laugh.

~Ensign Ka’Sora

Shedda smiled with a soft laugh, “Well do be careful when climbing them. I’ve noticed several people like to climb them. They tend to startle each other.” She set her PaDD aside. “It really is magnificent. A former crew member designed and built it from the deck plating up.”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Watching the XO put her pass away, Ka’Sora was torn. She understood that the downtime of the senior officers was i and if the commander didn’t want to interact with her she would have ended the conversation. Or at least that was the assumption she was making in this moment. Besides, how often did a brand new ensign get to have a personal conversation with their first officer?

“May I join you? The tree climbing can wait and I’m trying to meet as many people as I can. I feel this would be a terrible opportunity to waste,” she said with a grin. “But you absolutely can tell me to go away and leave you be and I promise I won’t take offence.”

~Ensign Ka’Sora

“Absolutely you may. Come have a seat,” the XO sat up and moved her legs to make room on the end of the long lounger. “How are you settling in?”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

It wasn’t until the invitation hit her ears that Ka’Sora realized she was suddenly nervous beyond getting some social mores wrong. But still, this was both a social interaction and a chance for her to understand another species she really knew little about. “So far, it’s been wonderful! Overwhelming, but wonderful. I’ve been meeting different people, and that makes it feel less lonely. But I’m trying hard to not treat every interaction as research.” She smirked. “And if I do that here and it’s unwelcome, by all means, tell me. I don’t mean harm or offence. I’m just trying to understnad how similar and different I might be to those around me to help with context for different situation and comments. If that makes sense?”

~Ensign Ka’Sora

Shedda laughed quietly. “Not unwelcome at all. I have duel degrees in archeology and anthropology. I love learning about new people and cultures. Tell me about yours.”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

There was so much to say, but Ka’Sora was well practiced at giving people an easy snapshot that might pique their curiosity and have them ask questions about the things they were most interested in. “Well, we Zaharans have a communal society, though depending on the type of kijia you live in- that’s what we call our communities- the degree of communal living can be more or less. I am from an arboreal kijia and we share in everything. No one goes without and no one is left to handle challenges on their own, unless they truly want to. Even child rearing is communal. Mothers birth babies and are considered the primary caregiver, but beyond that everyone raises the younglings of a kijia.” She paused and chewed on her lower lip for a moment to consider what else to say in this moment. “We are still fairly new to galactic travel and it was quite sometime before we realized that our own gravity was much lighter than many Federation worlds deal with.” Her golden eyes lit up. “Oh! As an archaeologist, you might be interested to know that the prevailing hypothesis is that a warp capable species made contact with early Zaharans and shared their knowledge with them. Just enough that it accelerated our evolution. Very against the Federation’s Prime Directive, but I can’t complain because it means I get to be out here with you all.”

~Ensign Ka’Sora