Daily Logs 5-28-15

I. Shras and Zef talk about menaces and catch tribbles
II. Two years, two months and one day: T'Pah and Myndra discuss their experiences in space and with Starfleet
III. Fallan and Shras chat about their day



I.
Zef: *on the Legacy, chasing tribbles, it's a good task, free the ship from the ecological threat, perfect distraction from things and white noise* *currently in a rec room, kneeling in front of a replicator, the hatch is open and Zef's fumbling with the wires*
Shras: *walks into said rec room and sees Zef messing with a replicator. He also recognizes him from the party last week.* Zef?
Zef: *looks back over his shoulder* Oh, hey. Hi. Erm. If you wanna use this, I turned it off. Sorry. There are tribbles in here. *meaning, he took the replicator offline to free it from tribbles*
Shras: *slightly put off that Zef doesn't remember his name, but doesn't let that bother him.* Fascinating. Has a Tribble come out of this replicator? Not like being replicated or anything like that.
Zef: *does actually remember Shras' name, but why be polite and use a name when you can say “erm” instead...* *brief faint grin* Better not replicated. But all I know is that there are tribbles in this replicator's guts and I'm supposed to get them out. *eyes the opened hatch* I mean, if I can find them. Erm. Did you want anything replicated?
Shras: Not particularly. Do you need some help?
Zef: Thanks, but I think I'm good. And I guess getting help would be cheating. *half turns towards Shras, still kneeling in front of the replicator* Erm. So are you settling in?
Shras: *sits on a chair close to Zef.* It's slow going, but I'm getting used to the ship.
Zef: It takes a while to get used to it, yeah. Took me a while, anyway. *pauses, makes a small face and adds* Well, I guess we have to leave the station in a few days or so and then we'll see what's next.
Shras: From what I heard, the missions here can be kind of dangerous.
Zef: Yeah, kind of. *nods slightly* Is the Legacy your first assignment? Or maybe first starship? *turns back to the replicator and continues working, but also looks at Shras now and then, he's polite* *sometimes*
Shras: This is my second assignment and my second starship. The Auburn was a fine ship. I'm going to miss her.
Zef: *nodnod* I guess a lot of people who come here find the Legacy's missions... *thinks briefly about the right word* different *that'll do* from what they were used to. I did, but I had just left the Academy. *brief slight grin* And I don't miss it.
Shras: The Academy and a starship are two different things. You have friends at the Academy, but on a ship, you're basically family.
Zef: That depends on the ship. Did you make friends here already? I mean, as much as you can in about two weeks.
Shras: In that sense, yeah, I've kind of made some friends. *hears the soft purring of a tribble* Did you hear that?
Zef: *... tribble!* That cooing? *nodnodnod* Yeah, I did. *quickly grabs a flashlight from his toolbox and shines it into the hatch, looking for the tribble* Can you see it?
Shras: *gets up and looks around the rec room, under the couches, and everywhere.* Not out here. Must be in the replicator.
Zef: *in the meantime, pans his flashlight around, looks behind some wires or hardware components--* Got it! It's... *sighs, no bugged sound actually, more like catching breath* behind a circuit board.
Shras: It's really in there... How do tribbles even fit in there? *derp face as he answers his own question in his head.* Never mind.
Zef: Ecological menaces always find a way. They're unstoppable. *gets a tool and starts working on making his way to the tribble* Until, y'know, we stop them and all that. We're the more unstoppable menace.
Shras: Do you have something against tribbles?
Zef: Oh. *shakes his head* No, I mean, they're too many, but aside from being all over the ship, they're okay. They're... soothing. Kinda. They purr. *it purrs = it's okay*
Shras: I guess so. Their purring is kind of soothing. When they're not stealing your breakfast.
Zef: *grins faintly* I can deal with that. They're a kind of... erm, they're an okay threat, compared to what else is out there.
Shras: What else is out there? *here's the purring agian, but not from another location.* I think there's another tribble in here. *I swear I checked everywhere in here.*
Zef: Well, there are people out there who hate us. Who want us destroyed. Or life-threatening spatial phenomena and planets with hostile wildlife or diseases and all that stuff. *still working on getting towards the other tribble; it's actually not that difficult but he has a hard time concentrating on his work and doesn't want to mess with the replicator*
Shras: I know about the Klingons and the Romulans, but that's pretty much the extent of my knowledge. *looks again under the couches but finds nothing.* *Where is that other tribble?*
Zef: I've never had to do with either of them. When the Legacy got in trouble with the Klingons, that was long before I got here. Years.
Shras: *looks to the ventilation grate.* *Seriously...?* Kinda wish I encountered the Klingon Empire and not a bunch of rogues.
Zef: … why? *stops working and looks back over his shoulder* Did they attack? *o_o*
Shras: Rogue Klingons yes. I heard the Klingons had some honor rather than attacking out of nowhere. And they were just a bunch of pirates! *moves a chair to access the ventilation grate.*
Zef: Pirates... Well, that was also before my time here. About two years back, or a year and half, Starfleet made us go through some tests on the holodeck, though, and those scenarios were mostly all based on former missions.
Shras: Wow. That's interesting. *removes the vent and sticks his head in, there was defiantly purring in there.*
Zef: Yeah. In hindsight, I guess. *continues his work, slow but steady, if he takes his time maybe his mind won't fail on him here* Was it bad? The Klingon attack, I mean.
Shras: Mild. In terms of Klingon attacks anyway. *continues to look around the vent, but the purring only sounds louder because of the tight space and he can't locate the tribble.*
Zef: That's good, I guess. *is finally able to reach the tribble and fishes it out* And I got that tribble. Five million left. *except not, but what even is precision*
Shras: The Auburn took quite a beating, that's for sure. *takes his head out of the vent* Mind helping me find the tribble in here?
Zef: In a moment. *puts his collected tribble into the box with the others he's got* I've caught so many of this week. It's not the worst job. *perfect distraction, because it's so damn easy and it never ends* *makes sure that the box is closed, gets up and walks up to Shras*
Shras: *gets out of Zef's way.* There could be worse jobs. Could be stuck on Starbase 1.
Zef: What's so bad about Starbase 1? *shines his flashlight into the vent*
Shras: Practically still stuck on Earth rather than actually seeing the galaxy.
Zef: *eyes Shras with a brief faint grin* All right, I agree on that one. It's definitely too close to Earth for me chose it as a workplace. There's the tribble. *coherence anyone*
Shras: How far in is the tribble? *out of curiosity.*
Zef: It's half behind a corner. Probably why you couldn't see it. *without a flashlight, he means, because it's probably dark in the vents* *reaches in to try and grab the tribble*
Shras: I see. *just curious now* Have you... tried any of Erik's tribble... dishes? *That's the word... pretty sure.*
Zef: *Erik* Tribble dishes? He cooks them? *o__o;* *tribble fishing, almost there*
Shras: I guess it's a good thing you haven't tried them yet. *I shouldn't said anything...*
Zef: Are they bad? *got it* *gets the tribble out of the vent and pets it automatically*
Shras: No, they actually taste pretty good. It's just that... you see tribbles differently then.
Zef: *frowns slightly, petting the tribble, then gets it--* Oh! Yeah, well. I guess. *looks at the tribble, shrugs* I haven't thought about... eating them. I'm not sure if I would, but I don't mind hunting per se. *sounding almost amused*
Shras: I see... *nods*
Zef: *heads for the tribble box and puts the tribble in, then closes the replicator hatch, meanwhile talking* Was cooking a tribble a one-time thing? Or does he still do it?
Shras: *shrugs* I don't know. I was only in the lounge kitchen once.
Zef: Oh, okay. Just curious. *gets out his PADD, updates the tribble count so he doesn't forget it until later when he and Terry evaluate their daily tribble bet* *also notices the time shown on the PADD* Okay. Maybe I should take care of these now before they replicate and explode the box. *half joking, half not so much*
Shras: Alright. I'll let you do that. Nice talking with you Zef.
Zef: *nods* The same to you. *grabs the box* I'll see you around, Shras. *heads out and hurries “disposing” the tribbles before he heads for the holodeck to meet up with T'Pah, maybe he'll be a few minutes late o_o;;*



II.
Myndra: *tosses several tribbles off of her comm station, it is nearly her break, and she doesn't have time to deal with it.* Ugggh.
T'Pah: *has volunteered to help collecting tribbles in her off-duty hours, and is currently in comms working around the officers* *looks up when a few tribbles fall to the floor next to the console she's half crawled into and looks up, realising it's one of the new officers she hasn't introduced herself to yet* Ensign? *”Ugggh” is a rather unspecific sound worthy to ask for an explanation*
Myndra: Oh I'm sorry, I didn't see you working there. This infestation is irritating me beyond belief. Myndra Gadir! Pleased to meet you
T'Pah: Lieutenant T'Pah. *finishes collecting the tribbles by putting the ones Myndra threw on the floor, then closing the console and getting up* The pleasure is mine. *doesn't extend her hand since it is not a Vulcan custom*
Myndra: *finishes up closing down the station in preparation for her break* I've had to deal with tribbles before on the ship I lived on before heading to Starfleet. Not a fun task.
T'Pah: *lifts an eyebrow* Curious. This is the first time I have to deal with them, and I have been to several ships, space stations and planets, before.
Myndra: *picks up another* I lived on a transport, it was bound to happen every once in a while. Little buggers are cute, but parasitic.
T'Pah: I have realised that. *offers the box for Myndra to dispose of the tribble she just picked up* Are you preparing for a break? *is pretty sure it's not time for a shift to stop, so this seems to be a logical explanation for the closing down of the station. An alternative would be a change of the workplace*
Myndra: *places the tribble in the box* Yeah, I was about to head on break, not a whole lot of work can be done with tribbles about.
T'Pah: *nods in appreciation and retracts the box* That is why I decided to make an effort to collect them. Their habit of being everywhere interferes with the expected productivity of this ship.
Myndra: It's a good thing we weren't in transit, otherwise we'd have no additional assitance in removing them.
T'Pah: That is correct. We would also generally have more to do to keep the ship running, and consequentially less time to collect them. *picks three up from a temporarily unmanned station near Myndra*
Myndra: I wish there was a way to halt their overactive breeding, they wouldn't make terrible pets
T'Pah: Perhaps there is. Spaying.
Myndra: They're born pregnant, if I remember right. I'm not sure there's a way to spay that.
T'Pah: I would recommend trying in between them having their first litter and being fed. However, you would have to ask a vet, or at least the medical department, for more concrete information.
Myndra: Of course. But I wouldn't dare keep one aboard a Starship, never know where it could get off to.
T'Pah: *nods* I have heard that at least one of our crewmembers is currently preparing meals from them. *collects the rest of the tribbles on the unmanned station and turns to Myndra* *even though her face doesn't give it away, I suppose the implied possibility was meant as a joke*
Myndar: Eating a tribble? Seems like a hairy situation to me. *giggles at her own pun*
T'Pah: *doesn't know specifics of Erik's cooking and thus only shrugs* Perhaps. As a Vulcan, my diet is Vegetarian. I have neither tried to eat one of them, nor am I planning to. Therfore I am unable to speak from experience.
Myndra: I eat meat occasionally, but I don't think a tribble would set very well with me. Do you have any particular favorite dishes? I'd love to hear any recommendations!
T'Pah: I believe I must disappoint you. I usually refrain from having an emotional attachment such as “favourisitim”. I don't have a favourite colour, season, activity, weather... or food.
Myndra: Oh goodness I forgot! My apologies. I find that fascinating though, how your people are able to still function without emotion or favoritism. But, as I'm not a Vulcan, I don't think i could fully understand.
T'Pah: Perhaps not. However, it is a lot of restraint and willpower needed. When I realise a tendency of mine to indulge in something, I refrain from that activity. Therefore, enjoyment as well as any negative feelings that may evolve equally signalise a potential threat to me. *pause* In fact, it is even a matter of defining “favourite”. I might be able to answer your question by saying that my favourite food would be one that serves its purpose of feeding me without tasting exceptionally good or exceptionally bad. Most Vulcan dishes serve that purpose. I am not fastidious.
Myndra: *nods in understanding* How fascinating. To have that much control over how you feel.
T'Pah: I understand it as vital. *looks Myndra over* You were planning to have a break, if I remember correctly. Do you want to spend it here? I am well within my boundaries to offer either following you to another location for the continuation of this conversation, or to release you to follow your other plans.
Myndra: *shrugs* I have nowhere in particular I need to go, here is perfectly fine. *pulls out a chair from a comm station and sits*
T'Pah: *bends down to pick up some more tribbles around chairs* I appreciate it. This way I can continue my effort to collect them, yet we can also continue our conversation.
Myndra: So, how long have you served aboard Legacy? If I may ask.
T'Pah: You may. Until today I have served on board Legacy for... *needs a moment to calculate* two years, two months and one day.
Myndra: That's an impressive amount of service. Where have you served before that?
T'Pah: I have not. This was my first assignment on a Starfleet vessel.
Myndra: This is my first assignment too! Though I grew up in space, that doesn't make the prospect any less exciting! *with a huge smile*
T'Pah: *nods, still picking up tribbles* I have done a lot of space travelling in the time between leaving Vulcan and joining Starfleet as well. However, being in Starfleet is very different from what I have done in that mentioned time.
Myndra: How has it been different? If I may ask *with genunine curioisity*
T'Pah: In many ways. *stops picking up tribbles to look at Myndra and gather her thoughts* For the last approximately 31 years before I joined Starfleet, I was mainly working and travelling on my own, only frequently working with different people for my various assignments. As a journalist for the Federation News Service, that I was in that time, I was also primarily interested in finding and stating the truth to a wide audience. As a Starfleet officer on this ship I am meant to be at the front line of new discoveries in deep space, making first contact and history in the way the directives of Starfleet allow, rather than reporting about it.
Myndra: That's a very admirable goal. I'm here for mostly the same reasons. I got to see space growing up, but our transport followed specific routes, we hardly deviated. Here, we essentially plot our own course, discover new life, you name it.
T'Pah: *nods* Although it is often Starfleet Command's missions rather than our own course that we follow. To be perfectly honest, it was a little complicated for me to adjust to the limits and hierarchical structure in Starfleet at first. As a journalist, it has been my goal to uncover hidden facts, and from how I envisioned Starfleet, I expected less secrecy and classified information.
Myndra: Sometimes secrets need to be kept. My father never told me about the dangerous creatures out in space because he didn't want me to worry.
T'Pah: That is contrary to the way I was brought up. My parents never spared me with facts about cruelty, dangers and death, believing that I would only be prepared for the dangers of life if I was aware of them and able to react in the most reasonable and logical way.
Myndra: My dad always coddled me, never really wanted me to worry. I grew out of it, and learned on my own. But still. *Looks at the time* My break is nearly up. Thanks for having this chat! It was enjoyable.
T'Pah: *nods* The pleasure was all mine. I will leave you to your work and continue collecting tribbles over there. *heads to another corner*



III.
Shras: *In the science lab, brushing up on tribble anatomy, why he didn't do this earlier is beyond him, but he's doing it now.* 
Fallan: *He walks into one of the science labs and is surprised to find Shras there. Seems he is not alone...* Good evening, ensign. 
Shras: *looks up from his work and sees Fallan.* Evening. *smiles and goes back to studying, but finds it's a bad job because there isn't much to study.* *turns to Fallan again.* How was your day? 
Fallan: *He can't help but feel a rise of random frustration, but he keeps an iron grip on it. He's here to get his chemistry on, not have a tantrum.* ...I'm doing well, and you? *He finds a spot and starts setting up for an experiment.* 
Shras: *shrugs* Doing better than I was at the beginning of the week. 
Fallan: ...That is good to hear. *He nods, then pauses.* ...Are you here to conduct an experiment, or just to study? I don't want to interrupt you, but if you stay, you may have to put on safety gear. *He starts to tie his hair up in a little man-bun. So manly* 
Shras: I was studying on Tribbles, but there isn't much to study, but I might do some other studying on other species that Legacy has encountered. *Puts on safety gear.* 
Fallan: *Once he's sure his gorgeous hair is safe, he puts on safety goggles.* That is going to be a difficult task. We've encountered many creatures. *He starts pulling out containers and tools for doing a chemistry experiment.* 
Shras: I figured that it would take awhile, but I'm still very curious 
Fallan: You have a right to be. *He's seen some shit man. He takes a moment to leave, and comes back with a variety of chemicals.* We had a recent series of expeditions on Hoff. That's a good place to start. 
Shras: *brings up the logs on his PADD and also the logs on the aliens that Legacy encountered on Hoff.* So how about you? What are you working on? 
Fallan: Schoolwork. *He doesn't sound enthused. Fifty years old and he's doing schoolwork, harrumph. At least chemistry is pretty fun to do.* 
Shras: Homework? *A little confused, but that's all he asks.* 
Fallan: Yes. I 'went back to school', as the phrase is supposed to go. I really haven't gone anywhere, but I've enrolled in distance classes at the Academy again... *He sits down and starts working with his chemicals. Pour a little here, measure some there...* 
Shras: I see. Any particular reason? 
Fallan: I currently hold a degree in geology and have a number of peer reviewed papers with my name on it, but it appears the Legacy needs scientists with multiple specialties. I decided chemistry wasn't too far off from geology. It certainly helps that Commander Vekal is a wonderful chemist and teacher herself. *He speaks to Shras, but he's focused intently on his chemicals.* 
Shras: Vekal huh? *Also concentrating on the biology of the aliens from Hoff.* How good of a teach is she? 
Fallan: I don't believe she would fit a teaching position full time, but I do appreciate that she is direct and to the point when teaching. 
Shras: I see. *thinks a bit.* I met Lt. Commander Vekal. 
Fallan: How did you like her? *His voice softens a bit as he speaks.* 
Shras: I'm going to be completely honest. I thought she was scary at first, but, she's not as bad as I had heard. 
Fallan: Well, she's not frightening if you follow the rules and meet her expectations. *He shudders to think of what would happen if someone completely fucked up. Maybe that fear is why this science department is so cohesive...* 
Shras: I think I came pretty close to falling short of the Lt. Commander's expectations. 
Fallan: *Uh oh.* ...Did you? *Why is he not surprised? Darn young'uns, grump grump grump* 
Shras: I think I got off easy with... lines. *If you're gonna laugh, just do it.* 
Fallan: ... *What the hell are lines? Lines of drugs? Lines of dancing? Recital?* ...I'm not sure what that is. 
Brady: *feels her brain shutting off in an attempt not to laugh*...well if it doesn't understand money obvious it can't pay rent, either way its giving us no reason to let it be. 
Shras: *how to describe lines...* Well, lines are a form of punishment used in schools. The teacher gives you a sentence or two, and they tell you how many times they want you to write them or for how long. 
Fallan: ...How is that punishment? *So, so confused. He likes writing. Writing is fun.* 
Shras: I have no idea. I think it's to build character or something. 
Fallan: *He's still confused, but he lets it slide. Maybe it's just one of those things. He carries on with the science project and he mixes his two solutions together to create something else, and he sits there and watches it crystallize.* Well, it sounds like a gentle punishment. 
Shras: Yeah, I guess. *Not going to mention his trip to the captain.* *Moves on to another alien species, but his vision starts to blur.* What time is it? *Looks at his PADD and groans.* Wow. *Gets up.* 
Fallan: Is it time for you to go? *He resists the urge to ask if it's his bedtime. That's just rude.* 
Shras: I guess so. Nice talking to you Fallan. *removes his safety gear, puts it away, and leaves for his quarters.*