Fresh Meat

Posted on Mon Dec 29th, 2025 @ 6:57pm by Lieutenant Commander T'Par & Ensign Arlanya Valynn

1,139 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: A Day In The Life
Location: Space Dock
Timeline: Back post to earlier Pre-launch preparations

The transport cycle completed and they found themselves together on the padd with several of their other class mates. After clearing the padd they had to say their farewells. Unlike the others that had time before catching their various transports Anya and K'stahk had to both report aboard as their starship was currently docked.

She still couldn't believe their luck. Academy sweethearts both getting assigned to the same starship...she didn't even want to run the odds she just took his hand and leaned into his shoulder as the walk towards the docking area. "I still can't believe how lucky we got."

K'stahk grinned. "Well it wasn't exactly luck."

Alanya stopped cold and looked up to him, "How??"

"Remember me telling you about my grandfather?"

"Yes...Ktraq wasn't it?"

"Well he's the aid to an Ambassador so after I found out we had earned starship assignments...."

"You got us both assigned to the same ship!!" She jump up throwing her arms around his neck as she squealed with joy.

He laughed as he caught her giving her a squeeze. "Hahaha...you didn't think I was going to let you warp off somewhere without me did you?"

Running her fingernail down his cheek. "I hope I have an understanding roommate."

He gritted his teeth as he lowered her back to the deck. "Well then we better hurry up and get checked in so we can make those arrangements."

Together they hurried walking along the huge windows as thet made their way. Finally the Ocrist came into view and together the walked up the umbilical as the approach a security officer checked their orders.

"Well every thing looks good, Welcome aboard Ensigns." Handing the padd to the tall Klingon Operations is on deck 5" Turning his attention to the captivating purple skinned blonde, "The Chief Science Officer's office is on Deck 14, as is astrometrics."

"Thank you." Alanya pushed K'stahk a bit as he starred at the guard. "Come on..."

Soon they were in the lift heading to their destinations and she gave him a kiss before he left. Eventually she arrived on deck 14 and was soon peaking in on the Stellar and Astrometrics labs before she made it to the Chief's office. Taking a deep breath the calmed herself before pressing the chime.

"Come," T'Par said impassively. She looked up to see Alanya and stood, crossing her hands lightly behind her back as she walked out to greet the young ensign. "Ensign Valynn," she greeted her. "Welcome aboard. I'm Lieutenant Commander T'Par. Join me in the Astrometrics Lab?" And she started to walk that short distance. For Alanya, it did require slightly retracing her steps.

"Yes ma'am." Anya had stepped into the office only to turn and follow the senior officer out of the office and back to the labs she had only just seen. Upon returning to Astrometrics she grinned at the massive main display, the platform with it's holo-emitters, and the main console that controlled it all.

"I assume you have already seen the lab, at least briefly," T'Par noted, not unaware that she had had Anya retrace her steps somewhat. "This lab is one which is always working. No matter what other scientific, military, or intelligence missions we might be on, we are always getting better, more accurate, more refined, astrometric data." T'Par said, probably unnecessarily. She moved to the controls, calling up a holographic projection of the region of space they were in. "It also makes for a decent visual representation of space travel. On many planets, displays not too dissimilar to this one were once used as educational entertainment."

"I had popped in here quickly on my way to your office actually." Walking through the display looking at Earth, McKinley Station, the Space Docking with the Ocrist inside, the moon and the traffic moving in, around and out of the projection. "Holograms certainly have come along way and can serve a wide variety of uses...all depends on the data feeding the emitters."

"It's merely a convenient format," T'Par noted. "The same data could be displayed two dimensionally or even with mathematical notation."

Agreeing with her department head, "A very convenient format. It must have been difficult for early astronomers; trying to present a three dimensional construct on two dimensional media or having to create models all the time... I mean I'm sure they could visualize their research or finding mentally, but conveying that to others outside their community had to be very difficult in some cases."

Cringing a bit, "I'm sorry Commander I guess I was rambling a bit."

"Not at all," T'Par said. "I'm interested in your thoughts." She gestured for her to continue.

Anya simple shrugged, "Just saying how it's a lot easier to use 3D imagery or projections than back when all folks had was data or a 2D drawing. Young students or for those that have difficulties conceptualizing things in three dimensions, for example. Especially without some kind of frame of reference."

"That is true," T'Par said. "But it is also fascinating. They designed entire temples around tracking the heavens. Are you familiar at all with an old Earth institution known as a planetarium?"

"Yes, my world had similar places in past. They would project star fields, planets, and other structures on large screens or within a dome. I believe on Earth they even developed a projection technique that when combined with special eye wear it gave the illusion of a 3 dimensional image.

"Humans can be pretty inventive when they want to."

"So they can," T'Par acknowledged. "This might seem off topic to you but I am anthropologist primarily and we, as a department, are often looking at scientific problems from the perspective of new cultures we encounter, including less developed cultures. We are not permitted to be as specialized as civilian scientists or even those stationed on a permanent outpost."

Anya was wondering when that was going to come up. "Oh I had expected as much. Not like we are on one of those big Galaxy or Odyssey class starship with all those specialized areas within departments. I will be fully capable of multitasking while maintaining my specialization."

T'Par nodded ever so slightly. "Excellent, ensign. Do you have any further questions?"

Shaking her head, "No questions. I'm looking forward to getting to work."

"Then I'll leave you be," T'Par said.

Anya nodded and watched she department head leave. After she was gone she looked around. Looking up at the huge screen as her hand ran over the edge of the console. At her touch the console came to life and she activated every display and holo-emitter and began calibrating and running diagnostics. She wanted to make sure everything from the sensor pallets to the monitors resolution was operating perfectly.

---

Ensign Arlanya Vallynn
Astrometrics Officer

Lieutenant Commander T'Par
Chief Science Officer

 

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