Blackmon is in my dept, but not my character. I have no personal objections though.

Heh. Tal is a bit more deliberative. And I had Pathfinder tonight...

...writing Poe Saril. It's not often that I get to play a somewhat uptight Vulcan. Frankly, I find it a bit hilarious.

Just fired off the first bit of a collab with breebles. Another chance to see the dashing (lmao) Poe Saril in action.

crowe - breebles and I are working out more about Poe, so I should be able to update his roster soon so you have a bit more to play with if you want to do more with the trio of Vulcans. Just a thought!

breebles - Your doctor sounds like she's pretty sharp. Looking forward to Kara's upcoming business regarding Medical. And if you'd be up for it when you have time, I'd like to do a collab with you where I write as Poe Saril. What more do we need to nail down about him? Was his rank still a question?

Stardate 2365.02.19
USS Peregrine; Deck 4 – Tactical office 13:19

Lieutenant Kara Tal leans back her chair and smoothly taps the air with her left hand, directing an email to Captain Drake

=/=
Captain Drake, Sir,

There are some thoughts that I didn't address in our meeting. With your permission, I would like to run a drill to gauge the crew's preparedness and ability to work together in ga combat situation. Following that, I would like to begin training those whose performance was the least satisfactory during the drill. Then I would like to conduct another drill sometime later, depending on how prepared I think those I've training are.

On a more personal note, I would like to establish and run two activities for the maintenence of morale and crew cohesion. Personal because these activities are of personal interest to me. The first is a microgravity ballet exhibition. I believe that art is important for morale. And while the maintenence of morale is not strictly one of my duties, microgravity ballet is a hobby of mine. Secondly, I'd like to lead a meditation group using the techniques I learned on Vulcan. I believe this would beneft both my mental health, that of the crew, but also efficiency and emotional stability in stressful situations such as during combat.

I look forward to your thoughts on this matter, Sir.

Thank you,
Lieutenant Kara Tal
=/=

Well, hopefully that meets with his approval. I'm not quite sure how to gauge him yet. He seems competent and fair from what I head of the trail. And thankfully, he seems to accept me so far. I all I have to do is not mess up and I should be fine. She lets out a long breath and begins tapping at the terminal in her desk. Lots of new people aboard, though that's normal. They approved my requests for the Caitian and the Earther, excellent. Weird to see Forb's little brother aboard, especially since it seems like he worships me. Inconvenient and surprising considering how his sister and I got along. I guess saving her life won her over. I wonder what kind of ridiculous stories she told him. It's an understatement to say she likes to embellish things.

"Living like a barbarian."

Truly, truly

Done and done. I spaced on looking at what you wrote for rank, so I put Master Sgt, I think. But I think he needs a Fleet rank too, even if that's right.

((OOC: she will, she's not one to shirk orders. And her kittens (Forb and Saril) are all squared away.))

The hatch whooshed open to admit a tall, muscular woman who moved like a predator.  She snapped smartly to attention and offered a salute as she introduced herself, which Drake returned.  "At ease, Lieutenant - take a seat, please," he responded in as friendly a tone as he could muster.

"I see that you have been on board a few days; my apologies for not having met you before now, but I was unavoidably detained," he spoke dryly.  Judging from the gaggle of reporters on Starbase 118 and the fact that he couldn't seem to find a holovid without his face on it, Silas was fairly certain that everyone knew well of his trial.  Better to embrace that than to avoid it.

"Sir, certainly sir. Sir, speaking frankly, you had an important duty to attend to. I've heard a small bit about it, but all I need to know is that the Tribunal cleared you and found who's actually at fault. That is all I need to know to serve under your command, sir."

"First off, Lieutenant, I want to welcome you aboard the Peregrine.  I have taken the opportunity to review your jacket, and I must say - it certainly feels like this could potentially be a mutual fit.  You are a woman of action, I see... and this is a warship where your talents will be appreciated.  There are some impressive entries in your file, of that there is no doubt."

Silas paused for a moment, hating the things he was about to say.  "With that said, I would be remiss if I failed to share my concerns.  I believe in being honest and forthright, and I expect the same from my officers."

A moment's hesitation more, and Drake dove right in.  "Lieutenant, you have been through trauma that I won't pretend to be able to imagine, and I appreciate that you have made it through to the other side.  Yet, you were clearly not unscathed.  I see that you have been on medical sabbatical for two years, and that we are your first assignment after that.  I see the diagnoses, and I appreciate how hard you must have worked to reach this point.  And yet..." his voice trailed off as Silas attempted to avoid sounding like an attacker.  

"As I stated, Lieutenant, this is no medical vessel, no diplomatic ship.  We are a warship, and we spend a great deal of our time on the fringes of Federation space.  There are no small number of sentients that bear us ill will, and the time will come - it is a question of 'when', not 'if' - that you will be required to face violence with violence.  When that moment comes, I must be able to trust implicitly that there will be no hesitation, no lack of decisiveness.  I need to know that you will act, that I can count on you.  There are sixty-five souls on this ship entrusted to me, and when that times comes, they are entrusted to you.  So be certain before you answer, Lieutenant - can you handle this?  Are you truly ready?"

She waved her hand as if to dismiss the negative feelings he felt about what he was saying. "Sir, while I prefer to act without violence where possible, I'm still... capable, sir." She nods and continues confidently, "Sir, I feel that I'm more than ready. I'm already starting to shed the nerves I had coming aboard. I won't fail my crew again. I will protect you and everyone under your command." She inhales through her nose, "You have good cause to worry, given what I've been through and how long I've been on leave, so all I can ask is that you trust in my recovery. I won't lie and say it's not something I still deal with, but given what I learned on Vulcan, I'm in control, not my disorder. I will serve as needed, and I daresay that I will do my best to exceed your best expectations, sir."

Silas nodded.  "I will take you at your word, Lieutenant, and trust that you are right."  The Captain stood and offered his hand.  "Again, I want to welcome you aboard the Peregrine.  I look forward to serving with you."  Salutes were exchanged.

"Dismissed," Drake spoke.  

As Tal left, Silas shook his head.  He would take her at her word - but for the benedfit of all, he would also keep an eye open. 

t_catt11will you give me a hand with the Davies roster entry? I'm not sure what rank/etc i should put in? 

Someone might want to share a room with my Vulcan NPC? He's a VSA student getting some field experience in the Medical department as a technician with medic training.  Though maybe he'll replace someone else? Idk. Also bringing in a few NPCs besides him and Forb the Bolian - Mack Davies, an Inuit man who's formerly from the Marine Corps. And a Caitian woman who's an even bigger computer nerd than Kara.

I'll have to check that out, maybe I can make some entries to help. Good morning/etc by the way!

I am guessing we have a mess that prepares foods for people who want something cooked in a more traditional manner. While replicators are widely in use, that's possible. But also, catering specialists probably arrange nutritious replicated meals that people can simply pickup without having to make a choice or use their own replicator. Or at, like, a sit down meal, they would make all the courses in the replicators, then serve them.

Stardate 2365.02.19
Star Base 118, Peregrine Docking Bay - 11:42

Two young men strode into the Peregrine's docking bay, deeply in discussion of some kind of sport, interuppted by a tallish woman clearing her throat, "Excuse me," says Lt Kara Tal, "Are you Ensign Larb Forb? I know you, Poe Saril," she says pointing at a relatively short young Vulcan man. The other, a well-built Bolian lad stands seemingly-awestruck. After several moments, Kara clears her throat again, "Excuse me, I said. You look like a Forb, that's for certain, Mister." The Bolian manages to stutter out an answer, "Uh uh, Y-y-yes ma'm. Uh! Sir. Sorry sorry, sir." Kara sighs, "At ease. Walk with me, it's nearly lunch. Have either of you eaten?"

Not waiting for an answer, she heads towards the mess at a swift pace with the two of them in tow. As she walks she says, "So, Mister Forb, are you any relation to the Forb that served with me?" Again he stutters, "Uh y-yes sir. M-my s-s-s-s-s-sister. Ol-ol-older." Kara slows her pace but doesn't stop, "It's alright, Mister Forb. Your file doesn't say you have a speech impediment, so I'm assuming your sister has told me some exagerrated stories about my so-called 'heroism'. Get that out of your head right now, Mister. What I did was purely for survival."

She stops and turns, peeling off the glove on her left. What is revealed is an intensely-scarred set of knuckles, swollen from repeatedly having been broken and healed. "What I had to do, I sincerely hope you never have to do," she says, holding her hand up in front of his face to see." Then the Vulcan Poe Saril, who hasn't spoken so far, chimes in, "What is necessary, is necessary. What is done, is done. Neither guilt nor celebration is appropriate. Events are opportunities for learning and growth." Kara nods, "That's a good reminder, friend. How'd you end up here?" she asks. "K'Tal," he simply replies and she nods again. Forb's eyes grow even wider.

"K'tal?! You know him, Poe? You didn't tell me!" The Vulcan nods, "Yes, he's my uncle. He thought I needed some 'field experience' before I committed to becoming a doctor. I have been planning to become a doctor for the past 90 years, I do not see what further reason I need to consider it," he finishes, almost huffing at the end, but managing to retain his composure. "Needless to say," he continues, "he has signficant influence and a perspective that most of our people lack, and he is my uncle. So ultimately I had to accede to his request." He pauses and looks at the doorway down the corrider, "That's the mess, isn't it?" Kara nods and they all continue walking.

Huzzah!!!

I mean, if you appreciate variety, you've go some choices there. Ah the wondrous life of the space pansexual.

By the way,

Not only did I get a new pretty set of dice (a Chessex Festive Carousel/white Polyhedral 7-Die Set), but I got most of my Halloween costume. I'm going to be Raven from Teen Titans, but I'm going with the white variant of her 1980s costume, because that era is the one I grew up reading about and I look great in white IMO

"From a biological standpoint, I'm curious as to what makes the Chan and Thaan different"

I vaguely remember something about Galactic Panspermia in a ST:TNG episode that is probably several years in the future from our stardate... Hence the Spocks and Alexander Rozhenkos of the Trek universe. Which is to say, like it's not much, mostly cosmetic things like skin and hair colour, etc. It'd be interesting to see how genetics have drifted from the various humanoid races that are related in Trek - which ones could safely have children together and how many of those combinations would result in a child that will eventually be capable of reproduction itself.

***

Horse Laxatives? No wonder Lt Tal was seeing strange colours around everyone. Earth Laxatives have a strange affect on Betazoids... makes the treatment of constipation rather difficult at times 

t_catt11 - if you think this is the best for writing, then I feel like I'm in the write place (haha). Really glad to be here, because I feel like this will help push my writing skills to the next level.

crowe - I'm really looking forward to that. You'll see a fair bit of my character interacting in this post I'm working on with Eol Fefalas

I'll go check out the duty roster in a minute. I may end up AFK relatively soon - one of my partners and I are about to run some errands for the day (but with any luck that means I get to pick up a new dice set while my hubbit is paying loans). I might be able to get forum access on their phone, but internet on that thing is incredibly slow since the good data has already been used up by my other partner (my wife).

Oh, as for science, if there's any need for extra computer science, my character may well have that covered... not to step on any toes, it's just a big interest for Kara.

Garner and Lt Tal will have to interact at some point lol. I'm loving this so far, great reading your entry crowe

*burp* Mead?

Stardate 2365.02.19
USS Peregrine; Deck 1 – Bridge – 11:02

Following Tal’s explanation of the haptic interface she preferred to use, a good deal of the concern Zai had felt at her “zoning out” eased away. He nodded at her response and the smile returned to his features. “You know, Lt Tal,” he said in an almost repentant tone, “Seeing you here reminds us that I haven’t been entirely focused on our duties as the Peregrine’s First Officer. You’ve been on board for nearly four days now, and it occurs to us that we haven’t properly welcomed you aboard or so much as spoken to you other than in passing. If you have a few moments, we’d like to rectify that oversight, now.”

She looked up at him, again, her eyes coming back into focus. "I believe I've familiarized myself with my station sufficiently for now, Sir,” Tal answered, “I wouldn't mind stretching my legs and getting a good look at the ship and crew. I may have been isolating myself somewhat. It's uh, my first time back on board a Fleet ship in several years. I've been stationed on Vulcan for medical leave…"

The guilt-ridden expression that flashed over the woman’s features, just then, didn’t go unnoticed but it did go unmentioned for the time being. After his joining, Tochi, too, had been released on medical leave and, at times during that stretch, he had felt some guilt of his own… A bit of common ground, between she and we, then, he mused… Rather than make mention of it, just now, though, the Trill simply arched a brow and offered an affable smile.

“…Uh, well...” Lt Tal continued, “Would you mind leading the way Sir?”

“Of course,” Tochi nodded, taking a step back from the console and gesturing toward the turbolift before clasping his hands behind his back once more, “Please; this way.” With that, and with Tal on his heels, he strode toward the lift. His gazed flitted toward the CONN and the Andorian woman manning the helm as the door slid away before him; “Vaela,” he said, drawing the woman’s attention, “You have the bridge.”

“Aye, sir,” Ens P’Tammah acknowledged, not bothering to get out of her seat, “It’s not as if we’re going anywhere, just yet.”

Tochi simply grinned at that and stepped aboard the lift and waited for Tal to follow. Once the doors shushed shut, he called out; “Deck 2.” Once the lift was in motion, the Trill’s green-gold eyes turned to regard the new CTO and his hands unclasped, once more. “First and foremost, Lt Tal,” he said, offering a hand in greeting, “Welcome to the Peregrine.”

"Thank you, Sir, I'm glad to be here," she says, grasping his hand. Her grip is firm, yet reserved, strong and controlled. A weak grin forms on her face, with a touch of pride in it.

Releasing the woman’s hand, then, a soft, chuckling sigh escaped his lips. “We have to admit, things have been a bit hectic around here, of late,” he said, “and that being the case, I haven’t had the time to review your file as thoroughly as we would have liked. From what we do remember of your dossier, though, your career with Starfleet has been exemplary…” He regarded the woman with a compassionate eye, then, and smiled softly… “That said, we couldn’t help but notice the vaguely shamed expression that crossed your face when you mentioned your medical leave. Is there something we should know in that regard?”

She nods, swallows silently, and sheepishness crosses her face, "Permission to speak freely, Sir?"

Tochi’s head tipped forward a fraction, not quite a nod; “Please, do.”

"Sir, I suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder," she swallows, "There was a lot of talk about washing me out after my last mission and I was diagnosed. But K'Tal, the former XO of the Niobe pulled some strings, along with the fact that I was commended by both Starfleet and the Klingons - I helped them end a major pirate issue, it turns out. This posting is my chance to not wash out. Uh, a lot of people seem to watching me." She shakes her head. "I don't want to disappoint them. And I don't want to disappoint Starfleet, it's the only place I've felt at home. I realize from what I've told you, you have the right to be skeptical about my ability to do my duty, but I've spent the last two years on Vulcan learning to control my mind. I lived in an isolated mountain top monastery where Vulcans go to heal from psychic wounds. As they used to say on Earth, 'I got this.'"

Following her admission, the Trill’s brows creep slightly higher up his forehead but the smile he offered when she had finished emoted a certain air of empathy. “We’re not skeptical, at all, Kara,” he smiled warmly, resting a reassuring hand briefly on the woman’s shoulder, “In fact, we can somewhat relate to your situation. It wasn’t that long ago that I experienced something similar…” His hand fell away from her shoulder, then, and he grinned knowingly… “Our circumstances may be different,” he continued just before the turbolift came to a stop and the doors opened onto Deck Two, “but, trust me when I tell you that suddenly being inundated with four previous lifetimes worth of memories can make a frilling mess out of a mind...”

“Please,” he offered, gesturing for her to take the lead off of the lift, “Our office is just up the corridor and to the right.” Following her out into the hallway, Tochi turned in the direction he had indicated and let his steps guide them toward his office as he continued.

“…We spent the better part of four months on Trill, under supervision of the doctors and docents at the Symbiosis Commission, learning to adapt to who we had become, and there were moments in that span where we, too, doubted that we’d ever be fit to return to duty.” A dry chuckle escaped him, then, and he offered a faint shrug to go along with it as they reached his office door and it whisked away ahead of them. “The doctors, themselves, were skeptical, too,” he confessed, lifting a finger to tap at one spotted temple as he strode onto the room’s carpet, “called us glitchy. Here we are, though; almost eleven years later and Executive Officer to one of the finest Captain’s Starfleet has to offer.”

As the door whispered shut behind them, Tochi moved toward the replicator niche in the wall next to his desk; “Can I offer you something to drink, Kara?”

"Thank you, Sir. Water, please - mineral complement 38A at sixteen and two-thirds degrees Celsius."

With a nod, he orders up the water to her preferences, and hands her over the glass once it materializes. As she takes the glass and sips, Tochi orders up a Vulcan spiced tea for himself. Then, taking the cup from the replicator, he turns and perches himself on the edge of his desk.

She swallows and smiles minimally, "This is more talking than I usually tend to do, it's left me a bit parched, I must admit." She looks him up and down, "Trill aren't a topic I'm entirely familiar with, so it's quite fascinating to meet you. Are you separate consciousnesses or are your consciousnesses joined? I gather you use he/him/his pronouns generally, not they/them/theirs?”

Blunt, Tochi grinned around the rim of his cup, we like it. He nursed a sip of the tea and, in doing so, contemplated how to best answer her question. When the cup came away from his mouth, he held it cradled between both hands and offered a faint shrug. “It’s a bit more complicated than that,” he said, “but, yes, without putting too fine a point on it, we are a joined consciousness.” He shakes his head a little at that. “I am us,” he chuckles, “but we are, also, just me. The best way to describe it, I suppose, is to compare it with recovering from amnesia. I lived for 21 years believing that those were the only years I had ever had and, then, one day, I wake up to discover that we have so many more memories and experiences and interests than I ever imagined possible. It’s quite overwhelming, to be honest.”

He tips the cup to his lips, again, before continuing; “As to the pronouns; yes. Typically, if we refer to a previous host, it is with specificity… he, she, I… but, in the moment, day-to-day, it feels like we in here.” He tapped his temple again and smiled. “Part of the glitchiness that the Symbiosis Commission diagnosed us with, I suppose.”

"It's oddly relatable...” Kara returned, “…when I interface with a computer system, especially one with an AI, I feel like I'm a part of something more. Not in the sense of being an individual in a group or a unit in a hive mind," when she says "hive mind" she shudders and shakes her head, then continues, "It's like a partnership, but also being like one person together. You can probably describe what I'm trying to say better than I can," she finishes with a nervous chuckle.

Tochi laughed right along with her. “We’re not entirely sure about that, Lieutenant,” he grinned, “’Something more’ and ‘one person together’ are probably the perfect ways to explain it, we believe.”

"The computers and I are like this," she intertwines her index and middle fingers. "When I was in Academy, I actually got a little too close to the computers... looked at some databases I 'shouldn't'," she makes quotes for that, then continues, "have, but it wasn't anything malicious. Information is... comforting. Shining a light in the darkness, as it were. You know?"

“I do,” he nodded, “The thing about lights in the darkness, though, is that if they flare too brightly they tend to leave us blind to the path ahead of us, yes? It’s easy to get lost in knowledge and leave instinct and intuition alone in the dark, as it were. The trick, we think, if to find a balance and maintain it as best we can.

What I’m saying, Kara,” the Trill smiled, “is that we don’t want you coming aboard the Peregrine knowing that you are being scrutinized or, for that matter, judged due to anything that may be recorded in your jacket… Think it, if you can’t help but do otherwise, but don’t let those thoughts trick you into believing that it’s knowledge… Do your job to the best of your ability and as required by your station and, we’re sure, you will excel. That is all you will be judged by on this ship.”

She nods, "Honestly, I was somewhat surprised at this posting, especially after the recent trial. I heard a little about that, but the important thing is, the right parties seem to be being... dealt with." She sighs, "I don't necessarily think it's you or the Commander that's going to be judging me. I'm more worried about command, and to a greater degree my mentor K'Tal. I know he wants the best for me, I'm just worried about him being disappointed. And I'm worried that I'll be judged unfit for duty at some point by a Fleet psychiatrist." She sighs again, "Sorry to bother you with these worries, since there's not much I can do but what you said, doing my job to the best of my ability."

“Just so,” Tochi nodded before taking another sip of his tea. Swallowing, he set the cup aside, then, and turned his eyes back to the woman; “And you’re not bothering me, Lieutenant; this is our job...” His smile warmed a bit and he shrugged. “…Probably more so, as Peregrine lacks a dedicated Counselor. Our door is always open should you need an ear, Kara.”

Remembering the cup in her hand, she takes a deep swig of water, "Ahhh. Thank you sir, I appreciate that. I think I'll have to take you up on that offer. Maybe in turn, I can share some Vulcan meditation techniques with you. Perhaps you might even join me in meditation?" She asks hopefully. Then she waves her hand dismissively and says almost morosely, "That might be too time consuming for both of us, though, so that's probably too much to ask."

“Not at all,” Tochi grinned in reply, pushing away from his desk, “Should there be time, I think we might enjoy that.”

She pulls at her uniform's collar with her left index finger, "Sir? Uh, should I return to the bridge? It's been awhile since I've served shipboard, but isn't it usual to leave the TAC station manned most of the time?" She looks worried, as if she's done something wrong.

“Relax, Lieutenant,” the Trill said, his tone soothing, “We’re still in spacedock and, as I’m sure you’ll soon discover, you head up a pretty reliable and intuitive department; we’re sure someone is covering TAC for you, as we speak.” He glanced at the chrono embedded in the surface of his desk, then, and nodded faintly. “We have taken up enough of your time, however, and there is a lot to be done before we make weigh; so, yes, if you’d like to return to the bridge or your own office, don’t let me keep you.”

He takes a couple of steps, closing the distance between them, and extends a hand; “It’s been a pleasure to finally meet you, Lt Tal. Thank you for your time.”

"Sir, thank you and you're quite welcome, sir. I'm glad my department is so well-run, it'll making taking over easier. Hopefully I won't have to change much, though I am thinking of having regular combat drills to keep them fresh." Her eyes glaze over for a fraction of the section and she continues, "Speaking of which, there's two young men coming aboard right now - a Bolian and a Vulcan..." She seems both puzzled and concerned, "I know one and the other has the last name of one of my fellow survivors. What gives..." she mutters, then looks up, "Sorry sir, I'm babbling!" 

Zai chuckled, again, and shook his head. “Not at all, Lieutenant,” he reassured her, taking the water glass from her and nodding toward the door, “Go and see to your friends and your department. We look forward to working with you.”

((OOC: perfectly good with a back and forth, though a collab might be interested, haven't really done that before and some pointers would be welcome))

The woman seemed to drift off, then, her eyes going blank and her left hand fluttering in the air over the console with only the occasional tap on the thing. Zai’s head canted to one side and his congenial smile melted into and expression of what might have been curious concern. “Are you all right, Lieutenant,” he inquired, his hands unclasping and coming to rest on the edge of her station.

"Sorry Sir, I tend to 'get in the zone' when I'm in the systems. It's, uh, like a dance to me. Everything else sort of just fades away except for the choreography and movement. I don't know if you've had a chance to look at my file yet, but I have clearance to use a haptic interface," she points to each of her eyes in turn, then to her partially-gloved left hand. "Display lenses, a haptic glove, and a modified 'corder. I prefer it to a PADD because it allows systems integration in situations a PADD would be... awkward. And with what I've set up her, I once I'm granted RW permissions, my rig can access that," she gestures to the TAC station, "In emergencies when I'm not on-deck. Jst in case we find ourselves in a situation where that might be necessary..." she some drifts of and grits her teeth.

Then she looks up at his offer to walk and talk, "I believe I've familiarized myself with my station suffficiently for now, Sir. I wouldn't mind stretching my legs and getting a good look at the ship and crew. I may have been isolating myself somewhat. It's uh, my first time back on board a Fleet ship in several years. I've been stationed on Vulcan for medical leave." When she says that she has a guilty expression on her face. "Uh, well... would you mind leading the way Sir?"

I mean, it happens? . The commanding of starships, that is...