Jason entered the security section and walked over the desk where a young man with a dark pageboy haircut, pronounced bangs, down swept eyebrows and pointed ears was sitting. “Smock, I’m afraid that Lieutenant Ch’zaolrirh won’t be coming into work today. He’s resigned his commission and bought that goat farm on Daran V that he always talked about. You’ll be reporting to Lieutenant Turcio until Starfleet sends us a replacement. I know you two were close. He didn’t have the heart to tell you in person, so he left you this letter,” he announced as he handed the young Vulcan a PADD.

When Ensign Smock didn’t respond, he spoke in a softer voice. “Come on, Smok. I know you’ll miss him, but everyone deserves the chance to follow their dream. You understand right?”

“Yes Commander, I understand,” Ensign Smock replied in a terse clipped staccato voice. “Everyone should have a chance to follow their dream. That goat farm on Daran V was his. I understand. But the people on this starship, and the citizens of the United Federation of Planets who expected him to be on duty, will they understand?”

Jason rolled his eyes and walked away.

Jason Harn, XO, providing needless exposition to explain Ch’zaolrirh’s absence, (unless John Poliizzi finds the new site)