USS Chimera
Side Sim: Crew Lounge After Shift Change
Posted by Ensign Skye Shepherd (Scientist) in Side Sim: Crew Lounge After Shift Change
Posted by Ensign MJ Shau (Security Officer) in Side Sim: Crew Lounge After Shift Change
Posted by Ensign Skye Shepherd (Scientist) in Side Sim: Crew Lounge After Shift Change
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
When his relief arrived in CIC, Ensign Shau conducted a thurough duty turnover, including the various approaches to the Scallax System he’d helped Derek and Skye devise.Command might not use them if they adopted a more diplomatic approach, but MJ felt they had come up with and presented a viable option for entering the system.
He made his way down to the Crew Lounge to grab a meal and stew in his thoughts. The holo training that morning had been valuable… even if his programming skills were lacking and the sim started to break down. I’ll have to see if any if the other security officers have experience with holoprograms.
While he planned to eat alone, he noted Ensign Shepherd had arrived in the lounge shortly before he had. He’d never really worked with her before today, but she had been a big help. I’ve been onboard for a bit now… I suppose I need to start getting to know people outside of Security.
“Hey Skye,” He said simply as he approached her in the line. There was plenty of walk in tables available, but it took a moment to be seated in the peak hours right after shift turnover. “Mind if I join you? This mission is weighing on my mind and it’d be nice to have a distraction from it for a bit.”
OOC: Others are welcome… I tagged Sam because I see he had a post in the lounge as well… but im not sure if he was looking to socialize.
Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera
Skye lifted her head from a padded she had borrowed from the CIC. He had caught her distracted with sensor readings and atmospheric studies regarding that gas giant. Her head lifted as she placed the device back down on the table and motioned to the chair right next to her. Good times to begin socializing. she thought.
“MJ! O-of course.” Replied the hybrid as a slight smile appeared on her face. This mission certainly had weighed down on junior officers, especially those who were not used to working under pressure. “What brings you here?” She dared ask, though her tone was awkward. Almost as though the ensign didn’t know what to say.
The situation was already socially awkward to begin with. But this seemed like a chance to begin a conversation with someone in her own rank, who had been rejected on becoming a Lt. JG once before. She carefully reached for the PADD in order to power it off, perhaps taking some time away from her duty tower wouldn’t be proven as a bad idea. Especially for handling a mission’s readings on her own as the newest arrival to the crew.
Ensign Skye Shepherd
Science Officer
U.S.S. Chimera - 98730 (Mjolnir Class)“Just trying to clear my head actually. I’ve been thinking about the mission all day and could use a break.” He saw the PADD Skye had been looking at and let a faint smile show. “Looks like you could use a distraction as well.”
MJ was average in height but broad-shouldered and well muscled. The marking on his forehead stood out from his olive skin and marked him as a native of Risa. He accepted her invitation and sat down.
He mentally noted that Ensign Shepherd’s hair seemed to be her most notable feature. I reminds me of the silk flowers from back home. Ensign Shau though the hair coloring was unusual, but didn’t know enough about Trill physiology to be certain.
“I believe you’re a new arrival as well, is that correct? I’ve only been onboard a few months at this point… and its been a bit of an adjustment since my first ship.” MJ looked down at his food… but didn’t take a bite. He knew he needed the nutrition, but he wasnt feeling it just yet.”
Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera
Skye moved a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, revealing faint spotted patterns running down her temple, nodding slowly. “Just thinking about home, the U.S.S. New Jersey.” She added, leaning back against the chair. “Finishing the Academy you never picture such situations to happen. When diplomacy is supposed to rule over conflict.” her smile dissipated to be replaced by honest confusion.
It wasn’t often when origins were spoken about !75 a Trill and human hybrid seemed like an odd mix to understand. They had fallen for each other at a young age, not to mention Orrin happened to be an Earthborne, from Bahamas to be specific. Skye happened to be somewhat tall and lanky, yet athletic regarding her frame. Beige markings trailed down both of her temples and beneath the neckline. Not entirely dark like a full blooded trill. But visible enough to matter.
Just then, the Security Officer broke the silence with another question, making Shepherd glance around the room. If she ever had friends at the academy, she certainly could be classified as one awkward individual. “Yeah, just transferred to Chimera last month after Lieutenant Nytha’rae held a long conversation with my father.” Speaking about her family as if she were a child, but her career throughout Starfleet couldn’t have been considered easy. “Next thing I know is having an interview with a vice admiral regarding my service record.” the ensign held out a glass of water from which she took a sip before asking, “What about you?”
Ensign Skye Shepherd
Science Officer
U.S.S. Chimera - 98730 (Mjolnir Class)“I was assigned to the Pickett out of the Academy. I served two years onboard her before transferring to the Chimera a few months ago.” MJ replied easily, but … sidestepped any mention of the circumstance surrounding his transfer. That’s a heavy topic to bring up when first getting to know somebody.
Besides… Skye had just said something extremely interesting. “Did you just say you were recruited for a post on the Chimera by the Chief Science Officer? And you had an interview with a Vice Admiral?” Ensign Shau shook his head. “Your Academy career must have been far more interesting than mine to garner such attention.”
Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera
When those words left the ensign’s mouth, the urge to stand up came before having to explain the entirety of her situation without actually shedding any tears to someone she had just met. “I served on two ships before joining Chimera.” Shepherd began, attempting to maintain composure as best as someone her age physically could. “U.S.S. Chin’toka was my first assignment, a rookie fresh out from San Francisco who believed the universe could be proven different than reality.”
“I was part of their science team for a few months before being recruited to another vessel named Octavia E. Butler.” That name came out of the hybrid’s mouth as though it held some bad taste to it. “For a while it was better, before it turned into a Court Martial.” her teeth gritted, looking away from the Risian with embarrassment, fingers at the edge of the PADD which had once been discarded on the table. “After that… I quit Starfleet and moved back home as a civilian with my father. Back to that old girl, a Constitution Class… home.” For a second, blue gray eyes glanced out the viewport at the vastness of space surrounding them. Which somehow seemed to bring back at least some comfort.
The Science Officer didn’t bother diving into details, not with someone who could basically be considered a stranger in her eyes. “Two years were spent away from the fleet, any diplomacy or academic duties. Just… learning to live again.” towards the end of that sentence her voice lowered. “Until the call I was dreading finally happened. I hen my Dad… Commander… Lieutenant Commander Castel received a call from Pioneer Fleet’s Vice Admiral… along with Nytha’rae offered me a… second chance.” her reflection on the PADD’s screen had become something completely different from the composed individual everyone happened to be used to. But for the first time, she was actually acting human. Letting her emotions flood out.
Ensign Skye Shepherd
Science Officer
U.S.S. Chimera - 98730 (Mjolnir Class)Ensign Shau shook his head, amazed by everything she’d been through already in her career. “I have to admit that’s not what I was expecting to hear.” _ I think her file said she was only 23 years old when she arrived onboard. She must have been one of those prodigies that started the Academy young… I was in class with a few myself._
He gave her a half smile. “I know that must have been hard… and I don’t even know all the details… but it is very impressive that you have been able to overcome all that and return to Starfleet. That you were asked to return to Starfleet. That tells me you are exactly the kind of person we need onboard. People that have dealt with adversity and come out stronger.”
He gave her an honest look. “But I get the impression a lot of that is still pretty raw, so we dont have to talk about any of it. I have some things I’m reluctant to talk about as well. I think most of us do.”
I came here to take my mind off the mission, and managed to find my way I to an even more complex topic. MJ took a bite of his food and tried to shift gears. “Lets talk about the future instead. Do you have any goals for your tour on the Chimera? Career goals, personal goals… anything really.”
Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera
In a way she had noticed the look in his eyes, tilting her head just slightly to the side in order to catch a better angle. Blue-gray irises expanded and contracted a few times. It wasn’t what most people would expect from such a young individual to hose career in the fleet had just begun. “Setting foot at the academy started as a dream when I was quite young. It was my father’s commission to the U.S.S. New Jersey that eased enrollment.” Shepherd explained though her face had been drained from emotion, looking back at the Risian ensign with whom she had been talking.
Words of encouragement had been the ones to bring her back after being pushed forward by her adoptive uncle, Lt. Cmdr. Castel’s best friend since youth. Salus Vex. Right then and there it was as though Skye were staring right at him again. She questioned what to say next after bringing such a complex topic to the table. And not exactly something that would be discussed as openly. “It became a one in a million chance to be given a second chance after that happened.” Her fingers tapped the table. “But I’m thankful that someone was willing have faith in what my future might become…”
After that the facade seemed to drop, and the tension on her shoulders did as well before cutting off a piece of the meal she had been given. “Everyone has made mistakes at least once in their lives.” the hybrid admitted, “It’s what makes us human or… mortals at least.” The comment was awkward, but her voice remained honest. Hybrids like her were often unheard of throughout the fleet, trill and human couples who weren’t exactly… common to say the least.
There was a leather string with a fang pendant attached to it, a very sentimental piece she shared with her father. Shepherd pulled it off her neck until the knot on the back of her neck became undone. By then she had laid all silverware over her plate, as though the meal remained forgotten to her mind, instead focusing on his question. Turning the fang from one hand to the other( the finally looked up. “I guess one of my personal goals is learning how to build a life somewhere new without forgetting where I came from.”
Ensign Skye Shepherd
Science Officer
U.S.S. Chimera - 98730 (Mjolnir Class)“That’s… kind of where I’m struggling as well.” MJ admitted. “It seems like Starfleet is constantly asking us to start over. Leave home for the Academy. Leave the Academy for your first duty station. And then, once you’ve settled in and care for all the people there, its one new ship or starbase after another until you retire.”
MJ took another bite as he thought about the problem and everything he’d discussed in counseling. “I’m trying to look at the Chimera as an expansion, rather than something wholly new.” He paused and made a face.... worried he wasn’t explaining himself correctly. “I’m still the same person… even if I have a few new scars. I still carry everything I learned from home, the Academy and the Pickett with me.”
“It helps a bit… the idea that I’m building on a foundation of experience rather than starting from scratch again. The hardest part for me is the people that I’ve left behind. They become a huge part of your life, and then you tranfer. And… they’re not there anymore. They’re just gone.”
Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera
Skye carefully placed her necklace on the table. It was rather simple for how technologically advanced her people, the Trill were. A fang belonging to some medium sized carnivore with a small hole carved out n the base for a leather string to pass through. “Leaving space to be grounded at the academy for four years doing some… teasing pranks to juniors.” she attempted to bring some humor to the conversation, which failed almost successfully. Grabbing the fork once more it seemed as though there was some kind of hesitation in her action.
Finally, Shepherd pushed the plate aside before lifting the PADD up front. Scrolling took a hot minute before finding the picture she had been looking for. The picture happened to be a Constitution Class vessel, known as [U.S.S. New Jersey] (http://https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/0/0a/USS_New_Jersey.png/revision/latest?cb=20230507183207&path-prefix=en “U.S.S New Jersey “) vessel in which she had grown up throughout most of her life. A hand was left to the side of her neck, where a scar would be peeking out from beneath her uniform. “It happened during a shuttle simulation with some classmates, not long before graduation. Some navigational controls had been tampered with.” Her eyes went to the vessel on the screen once more “Two members of the shuttle crew were children to Officer’s serving in the New Jersey, not including me.” a kind look found his eyes, preparing him for what was to come.
“Some wounds heal with time, ship transfers or the loss of friends. There were four of us that night running simulations under supervision…” the Science Officer dropped her hand to the table. “After the crash, two of us made it with superficial wounds. Perhaps a fracture.” She scrolled down to another picture, they were still in academy cadet uniforms. Infamous gray fabric with red shoulders. There were a Bajoran girl, daughter to the captain, Skye herself beside her. And the two males happened to be an Aenar and a Vulcan, son to the first officer. “Two of them didn’t walk out of the medical bay, only the Aenar boy and I took the lightest wounds.”
“Chimera here,” she mentioned while motioning with her hands around the room, “Was supposed to be a new beginning away from all starships, including the one that raised me.” Finally, the PADD was shut off. “Somewhere I could build a life without those rocks dragging behind me. But they’re still a part of who I am. I haven’t forgotten them. Instead, I chose to carry on FOR them.” her smile was bittersweet.
“But you’re right to choose previous experiences as building blocks to your life. Exploring a new perspective to look from.” The blue collared ensign explained. “Think of it as the continuation of a voyage, a challenge.”
Ensign Skye Shepherd
Science Officer
U.S.S. Chimera - 98730 (Mjolnir Class)MJ sat back and absorbed what Skye said. He didn’t respond immediatley… and then decided not to respond directly at all. Her story didn’t need one.
He felt like the most important thing was that she said it out loud at all. That she shared it. Maybe one day I’ll be able to tell my story to somebody other than Sam.
It still amazed the Risian that the two of them could have such dissimilar journeys and yet still be walking a very similar path. A path of loss and perseverance.
He raised his admittedly not alcoholic drink in a toast and tried to join her attempt at levity. “To the challenge of a new beginning.” MJ managed a half smile as he completed the toast.
“In the spirit of honoring the past while moving forward… my friends on the Pickett used to get together for meals periodically. Like a potluck of whatever new or favorite dishes they wanted to share that week. We’d swap stories… trade barbs…” Ensign Shau trailed off as he pictured the faces of old friends. Faces he’d never see again.With a mild start, the Risian refocused his attention on Skye. “I know it wouldn’t be the same… I wouldn’t want it to be the same… but I’m wondering if you might want to start something similar on the Chimera. The chance to get together with some of the crew away from our daily duties, and try forging some new bonds.”
Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera
A blue-grey colored gaze landed on a lemonade glass directly in front of her. That silence lingered for a few minutes in which neither of them had spoken. The atmosphere for the Trill/Human hybrid appeared to be just a little bit lighter.
Skye hadn’t provided all of her life’s story, but enough for him to understand the hardships she had walked through at such a young age. Regarding a Starfleet Officer’s career which had only begun. It was as though the reflection had just now brought a positive aspect leading to her career here and now. Where she could set her feet on the ground.
Shepherd reached for the lemonade glass and raised it with utter caution not to let any drops fall onto the carpet. “Every voyage starts with uncertainty. That’s never stopped explorers before.” Shepherd gently tapped her glass against his. “Here’s to making this one count.”
The science Officer lowered her glass back to the table before continuing, “When I was growing up aboard the New Jersey, my father used to tell me that a starship wasn’t made of duranium and circuitry.” A quiet sigh escaped her. “He’d always say those things only kept the atmosphere in. The crew were what actually made it a home.”
Skye looked back to MJ.
“I don’t think the Chimera should try to become the Pickett… just like it could never become the New Jersey. Those places belong to the people and memories we left there.”
A thoughtful pause followed.
“But maybe that’s exactly why we should do it.”
A half smile warmed, becoming more genuine than it had been all evening.
“If we keep waiting for somewhere to feel like home on its own, it never will.” She shrugged lightly. “Someone has to take the first step.”
Ensign Skye Shepherd
Science Officer
U.S.S. Chimera - 98730 (Mjolnir Class)
Ensign Shau’s shoulders tensed for a moment when it sounded like Skye didn’t like the idea. Hearing that she was open to carrying forward some old traditions, or creating new ones, was a huge relief.
A warmth filled his chest as her insights resonated within him. “I feel like I’ve been in a state of limbo… even after all these months. Like I hadn’t fully committed. I think it has to do with your father’s saying. We might be onboard the vessel itself, but the crew doesn’t feel like family yet, so the ship doesn’t feel like home.” He looked her in the eyes and gave a faint smile. “We need to take the first step. Do something to actually feel like part of the Chimera
The Risian eyed her for a moment. He was well aware that she’d been doing most of the talking. Ensign Shepherd had shared more of her past while MJ had offered only general ideas and withheld most of the details. And yet, he was the one pushing to ressurect an old tradition from his previous ship.
“Is there something in particular from your time on the New Jersey you’d like to honor by bringing forward in some way?”
Ensign MJ Shau - Security Officer - USS Chimera