Meeting the Department Heads - Chief Science Officer

Posted on Sun Aug 18th, 2019 @ 4:43pm by Major Naomi Sylan Griffiths & Lieutenant JG Ryan North

Mission: Onboarding & Departure
Location: Various
Timeline: Current

[ON]

After speaking to the CoO Naomi had said her farewells and headed out to leave the engineer to get on with his work, she exited the holodeck and headed straight to the turbo lift and entered.

"Science Lab one," she said when the doors had closed and the lift took her to her next destination, it was slightly a longer ride, but eventually, the doors opened up on the nearest section and she stepped out and tapped a wall display to find out where the Science Lab was and headed in that direction.

She finally arrived at her destination and entered, placing her hands behind her back she slowly walked the smallish room, while she could not see anyone, the CSO was in this room, she looked around and saw a door in the back, she returned to looking at the displays and accidentally bumping into something making a brief noise, she jumped a little but continued walking around the lab "why does there have to be so much stuff in here" she griped quietly to herself and then visibly jumped when someone challenged her from behind.

"Can I help you with something?" Ryan asked.

*clasping her chest in shock* "Oh my! *quickly recovers* by the Prophets Lieutenant do not do that again" she said the tone was of fright. "Yes you can, but lets us get the introductions over first *pause* you are Lieutenant Junior Grade Ryan North Chief Science Officer, quite a heady post for someone so young *holds out her hand* Major Naomi Griffiths ships new First Officer, pleased to meet you," she said.

"Lt. Ryan North, nice to meet you, sir," Ryan replied shaking her hand. "Didn't mean to startle you there."

"Not a problem Lieutenant, so what is it you do here, besides science?" she asked as she had no idea, up until recently she saw no need to know, but as the XO, she had to get at least a working knowledge of the departments, beyond the basics.

Ryan arched an eyebrow at her. "Well, I'm afraid its a little complicated. Science is a pretty broad term and this is only the main science lab. There's also the bio lab, the engineering lab, and astrometrics."

*indicating to continue* "please continue El-tee, I am a Marine by trade and until my appointment as First Officer on the Penny I felt no need to have any knowledge of other Fleet departments beyond Security. Now I find I need to have at least some basic understanding of things" she responded falling in beside him allowing him to lead the discussion.

"I'm afraid I don't understand sir," Ryan said. "It would take me a long while to explain every single experiment we will be running while we're on a mission."

"Just a general rundown Lieutenant, nothing too deep, that is all I require," she said with a friendly smile.

"All right," Ryan said, with a nod. He wasn't sure exactly what the XO wanted. "Well, our biology lab will be running a variety of experiments; ranging everywhere from zoological to botanical. They'll also be looking at the effects the catapult as on biological tissue. Our engineering lab will be looking at a series of new wave guided kregor technology. And our astrometric lab will gather a wide range of information about the space around us."

She nodded as she followed along "What is this Kregor tech you mentioned? I have never heard it before?" she asked.

"It's a form of warp travel that isn't supposed to damage subspace," Ryan explained. "It was tried before on the Enterprise-D without much success, there have been several advancements since then, although we are still far off from making it both reliable and efficient enough to replace our current engines."

*nodding* "I get the basics of that, has Science yet come up with a way to make reserve perishables last longer? I only ask as going into the DQ our food supplies will be finite, as will our fuel so has a method been researched to create reserves that will last should the need arise?" she asked.

"That's more an engineering question than anything," Ryan replied. "As long as our replicator systems stay in working order I wouldn't worry too much about it. I know that the chief engineer and operations chief have set up a considerable amount of supplies and equipment for reserve power should the need arise."

Naomi nods in acknowledgement "so if that is Power side, have Science made any advances to work alongside Engineering as history has told me that it is the scientists that come up with some results then other fields find a way to adapt any discoveries that Starfleet attains" Griffiths said.

"There are plenty of theoretical teams at numerous research bases around the Federation trying to tackle that issue," Ryan said.

"I see, anything from Science on this ship even possible alternatives to things?" she asked, while she knew little of Science, she wanted to see what the Lieutenant knew, she was essentially testing him, in her way.

"Currently, we don't have any engineering projects going on that are related to power systems," Ryan answered. "Although I suppose our chief engineer would be able to speak more to that area of expertise."

Looking at North puzzled "You answered my question by mentioning Engineering, does Science do nothing besides simple research?" she asked "I was referring to Science projects not engineering" she added.

"And as I mentioned before, we currently don't have any science projects occurring in our lab that have anything to do with power systems," Ryan said. "And calling it simple research makes it seem like an oversimplification. There are a lot of projects ongoing onboard the incredibly complex ship."

*shrugs* "Should you not be impressing the First Officer?" She commented only half-joking but used a non-offensive tone when she said it. A Lot of projects! Interesting could you kindly mention some and a basic description of what they entail?" Griffiths asked.

"Of all of them sir?" Ryan asked. "We have over a hundred projects going at any one time."

oO Is it me or is he a little nervous? Oo she asked herself but looks at him smiling "No El-tee not all of them, just one of them will suffice," Naomi said in response.

"We're working on an organic form of composite armour that would be able to more readily handle the rigours of high levels of theta radiation for starters," Ryan said.

"Sounds interesting, as a Marine this would interest me, has the notion of adding Kevlar to it come up by any chance?" she asked enthusiastically "if only for the physical component of things?" she added.

Ryan quirked an eyebrow at his XO. "Sir, Kevlar hasn't been used in years."

"That should be all the proof you need that Science notes my forte, so what is this composite armour made of then, if not Kevlar and please keep it simple," she said.

"A combination of nano-weave fibres, poly-duranium alloys, and energy-absorbing ceramic plates," Ryan said. He was about to continue explaining it when his combadge went off. "Lt. North here, go ahead."

"Sorry to bother you sir but we're having a problem with the secondary lateral sensor arrays, do you think that you could come down and take a look?"

"Be right down," he closed the channel and turned back to the XO. "Sorry about that sir but I need to do. Feel free to look around."

Looking curiously at the Lieutenant and then smiling "That's okay El-tee I got duties and such to attend to, this was illuminating," Griffiths said pointing to the lab and then left the room shaking her head in resignation, illuminating as it was, she was sad that he could not finish, but if anyone knew duty it was her.

[OFF]

Major Naomi Griffiths
First Officer

Lieutenant Jg Ryan North
Chief Science Officer