Posted by Lieutenant Selene Kross (Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim: Breakfast on Deck 9
USS Sentinel
Deck 9 – Crew Mess
Lieutenant Selene Kross – Chief Science Officer

The morning shift had only just begun aboard the USS Sentinel, and Deck 9’s crew mess was beginning to fill with officers grabbing breakfast before reporting to their duty stations. Conversation remained subdued, punctuated only by the gentle clink of cutlery against plates and the low hum of the ship’s environmental systems.

Lieutenant Selene Kross sat alone at a table near one of the large observation windows. Beyond the transparent aluminum, the stars drifted silently past as the Sentinel continued on her assigned patrol.

A steaming mug of freshly brewed coffee rested beside her plate. Unlike many of her crewmates, Selene never started her day with replicated shortcuts. She had programmed the replicator with a traditional English breakfast based on recipes that had been in her family for generations.

The plate was arranged just as she preferred it: two perfectly fried eggs with bright golden yolks, thick pork sausages, slices of crisp back bacon, grilled tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and buttered toast still warm enough for the butter to melt into every corner.

She lifted the mug and took a measured sip of strong black coffee before setting it down once more.

“Now that,” she murmured to herself with the faintest smile, “is how one starts a proper morning.”

Picking up her knife and fork, Selene cut into the eggs before pairing them with a slice of bacon. The familiar flavors reminded her of breakfasts shared with her family back in London before she had entered Starfleet Academy. Even after years of exploration among the stars, some traditions were worth preserving.

Between bites she activated the small PADD resting beside her plate. Overnight sensor analyses from the Sentinel’s long-range science arrays scrolled across the display. Preliminary stellar cartography updates, subspace readings, and a handful of unusual gravimetric fluctuations all awaited her review before the morning departmental briefing.

Her analytical mind was already working through possible explanations while she calmly enjoyed her meal. It was a habit her department had come to recognize. Lieutenant Kross rarely wasted time; even breakfast became an opportunity to prepare for the day ahead.

She took another sip of coffee and looked briefly out at the endless starfield.

Every new mission brought another unanswered question.

And for a scientist, there was no better reason to get out of bed in the morning.

Selene Kross, Ph.D., M.D.
Chief Science Officer
Lieutenant, Sciences Division // USS Sentinel
Advanced Cryogenic & Environmental Systems

Jova entered the mess hall, and took his own breakfast, a bowl of rolled oats, stewed apples and yoghurt, a plate with vegetables and a steak, a side plate with toast and olive oil and a cup of tea. He spotted the CSO sitting near an observation window, and approached. He knew who she was, of course. He just hoped he get through meeting her without sounding too much like a fanboy. He was an admirer of her work, and, in some respects, a fan, but they were colleagues, serving together in Starfleet, and his mother wouldn’t appreciate him embarassing himself … or her. The Sentinel’s manifest had identified Dr Kross as the ship’s CSO, and Jova’s mother held a doctorate and further research in planetary ecology and sustainable habitats. It was his mother’s research in those topics that led Jova to specialising in environmental systems in the academy.

“Excuse me, Dr Kross,” Jova said, “do you suppose I could sit with you for breakfast?”

He thought he’d better give her some reason “My mother,” He paused, did that make him sound like he was trying too hard, or that he missed his home?

He tried again. “I’m from Engineering, and I …” He trailed off, Oh good going, he told himself, she’ll wonder why that is important for her to know.

Once he started this time, he just kept on talking so he wouldn’t second guess himself again. “Umm, sorry, Dr Kross. It was your work in Advanced Cryogenic and Environmental Systems that made me decide to specialise in Environmental Systems in the academy and led me here to the Sentinel. I … err … I read your thesis, my mother is a scientist in the same field, and did research in it, her own PhD studies in the field about planetary ecology and sustainable habitats. She read your thesis, said it advanced knowledge in the field, gave it to me to read, I did so, I didn’t understand it all, but as I said, it got me interested in the field and lead to my specialisation in engineering in environmental systems on board the ship. Sorry, I’m prattling on, but … I … I’m really nervous and I think I”ve blown my chance.” He paused briefly again, before adding.

“I’ll leave you in peace, I’m sure you don’t want to be bothered. My apologies,” he turned to go and sit at another table, his heart hammering, he really wanted to make a good impression on her, but he though he’d probably blown it..

Ensign Jova Kiwa, Engineering, USS Sentinel
“Mount up and Make it Sing”
OOC: I was going to have Jova get it out in one go, and be totally eloquent, but he said nope … I’m a Kiwa, I’m Rujo’s ancestor, we are anything but eloquent. I went with him, it seemed more fun this way - Russell