Huddled over a microscope in the ship’s bio lab stood Roman, a protective gown worn over his Star Fleet uniform and high-quality gloves protecting his hands. On the slide he studied, cells from alien plant life. It was the fifth in a long list of tasks he had been putting off doing since joining the Sentinel. Arguably one of the more fun tasks on his list, this particular sample came from a plant that was known to be highly toxic to the touch. Interesting to be sure, but the effects of the plant’s poison were so far unknown. He was looking into the chemical makeup of the toxin.

There were other things he could be doing, sure. Arguably more important things, even. But just then, he had the lab to himself, and often he preferred to work alone. Though he occasionally did not mind another officer off which to bounce ideas, today he preferred the silent focus of working alone. And when working with toxins such as this, the fewer officers in contact the better.

Soon, Roman was storing the slide for further analysis and sat down to finish up his notes on his findings.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO