Working Up A Science Intro

Posted on Sun Feb 27th, 2022 @ 1:49am by Captain Calypso Skyie & Lieutenant Jason Beauvoir

Mission: Pirates! (Or Yo Ho Ho And A Bottle Of Yum)
Location: Ship's Gym

Cally grimaced as she pulled down on the machine. It was the standard able and pulley machine that she had set to fifteen pounds as she worked out her left arm. It was a minuscule weight for her, but at this point it felt like she was trying to lift a train car. A twinge ran through the shoulder as the still not recovered muscles protested and she released it, reaching up with her good shoulder to wipe some sweat from her forehead.

She stood with a hitch from her right leg, the muscle there at least stronger than the arm and looked in the mirror across from her. She'd added weight, several pounds from the look of it, since she could no longer exercise as much as she used to. Sure, it didn't show with the form fitting workout outfit she wore, a simple sports top and leggings that went down past her knee to the athletic shoes, sweat staining the light grey fabric, but she had a long road ahead of her... Again.

With a sharp exhalation of breath, she reached back up and began yet another repetition of lifting the slight weight to regain the strength she used to have.

Jason boarded the Chimera, stopped at his quarters briefly, to drop off his hand luggage. "Computer, what is the current location of Commander Skyie?" He asked.

"Commander Skyie is currently in the Gymnasium on Deck 3." The Computer responded in its familiar feminine voice.

The Chief Science Officer made his way to the gym and entered. He found the Commander working out on one of the machines.

"Bonjour, Commander, I'm Lieutenant Beauvoir, your new Chief Science Officer." He said.

Cally's chest heaved as she released the grip again and grimaced once more, having heard the newcomer enter but not having the ability to turn to see who it was. A shock of pain rammed through her shoulder and she reached up without thinking to where the bullet had entered. It could have been worse, they could have been energy rounds and she'd be in the morgue.

A sharp intake of breath and she exhaled it quickly to try to draw in a normal one as she turned and wiped her brow again, "Welcome aboard..." She had to check his collar again because she'd thought she'd misheard his name, "Lieutenant Beauvoir?" She asked before hobbling over to the bench to grab her towel, "Don't mind me, I was injured a few days ago, Doc wants me to recover slowly."

"Aye, ma'am." Jason said. "I know, I'm a little old to still be a Lieutenant, but I got in a few disagreements, with superior officers, who turned out to be quite petty." He explained.

Cally snickered at the antics of others, "Well, you wouldn't be here if someone liked you overly much." She waved him over, "I'm not here because of my looks, believe you me." She plopped herself down on the bench with a groan of relief of getting off her leg, "I was a Marine, grunt, then pilot before I went to the Fleet." She shrugged, "Learned to fly starships, but there are a lot of people out there that don't like me because I did come from the green uniforms rather than up the traditional route. Hell, I just graduated from the Academy a decade ago."

"I disobeyed orders in order to save a crewman and got busted down to jg for my troubles." Jason said. "I have no problem with Marines, ma'am. They help keep us safe." He said. "Everybody is wary of those they see as outsiders."

"No problem with fighter pilots, I hope?" Cally questioned with a smile, "We're not used that often, but we do tend to have a bit of an ego. Of course, haven't flown in combat for twelve years now. There's a reason I was called 'Calamity' as my call sign, that's where I lost the leg and had to have it regrown." She patted her left leg, "Cost me my combat flight status, but I sneak a ride here and there. But, probably back to brass tacks or something." She sighed, "I've got virtually no background in science applications. I've got some astro knowledge, but that's about the extent of it. I'm going to be leaning heavily on you for most everything in that realm."

Jason smiled. "I once had a crush on a Marine pilot, but she made it clear that, I 'possessed the wrong equipment', I believe were her exact words." He said. "We stayed friends after that, she introduced me to my fiancee." He added. "As for your lack Scientific knowledge, I understand, we all have our strength and weaknesses."

"I'm also not an engineer." Cally pointed out, "But tactics and flying I can handle easily. Strategy?" She gave a half-shrug, "I can sing the tune. Oh, and while I'm not a very good medic, I can handle first aid and have been a favorite subject of some medical officers." She snorted in some laughter, "I shouldn't laugh at it, but I've spent a lot of time in the hands of the headshrinkers and the repair shop during the last oh... Twenty-two years. Sometimes I got a two for one deal with them, too."

"I'm not an engineer either, though I can work Ops, and I've worked as an EMT on occasion." Jason said. "I'm okay with a phaser, but not a good pilot." He added. "As for headshrinkers, they've analyzed my mind six ways from Sunday, and they still can't agree what's wrong with me."

"Easier for me." She mentioned, "Being Betazoid has it's ups and it's downs. Easier for others to look into my head except when I'm trying to keep them out. Which I do, nowadays, by the way, so don't worry, I'm not going to take a look and run screaming." She smiled slightly, "I keep it locked down. Hard."

"My Vulcan ancestry affords me limited touch telepathy." Jason said. "Its funny, for a telepathic species, Vulcans tend to be very private." He smiled. "I'm a bit more open, being mostly human." He added. "And thank you, Commander for not rooting around in my mind, I value my privacy."

"As do we all." Cally agreed, "Of course, I'm available to anyone on this ship at any time, day or night." She flashed him a smile, "No need for a good reason, just any reason at all really. I don't sleep all that much, habit and all that."

"Thank you, Commander." Jason replied. "And if you ever need any Science knowledge, feel free to call, I don't require much sleep myself."

“Dangerous words, Lieutenant, very dangerous.” Calypso grinned widely, then mined tapping her comm, her voice turning sing-song, “Oh Lieutenant Beauvoir, it’s Oh-Two-Hundred, what would happen if I tossed this block of potassium into this bucket of water? Or what is the best food for my houseplant?” Her eyes glinted wickedly with amusement.

"The first depends on how large the block is and what the bucket is made of. The second depends on what species your houseplant is." Jason replied.

Cally’s grin turned into an intentional frumpy frown and she stuck her tongue out at him for a moment, “Well, you know what I meant, just means I’m going to be a pain in your ass whenever I think of something.” She winked, “That’s the first lesson in command training after all, ‘Be a pain in your senior staffs’ rear ends, keeps them on their toes!”” She cheerfully stated the fictitious rule.

Jason smiled. "I think my mother, took that rule to heart and used on her children as well." He replied.

“Being a Cee-Oh can be related as being a mother to them all, so I suppose the same thing.” Cally gave him a curious look, “So, since you were part of the planning on our new dorsal pod, tell me what you’re thinking your role is on board Chimera?” She leaned up against the machine she had been working out on casually in order to listen.

"To provide you and the other Senior Staff with knowledge on Scientific matters. To collect and analysis sensor data, and to study new cultures, species and astrometric phenomena we may encounter." Jason replied. "Also, I get to say 'interesting' and 'fascinating' a lot.

“Fascinating…” Cally chuckled, “I’ll have to come up with something else to say, I suppose. But, do you have any questions for me before we really get down to the whole of brass tacks? I can’t promise a lot of actual rest, but I can guarantee you’ll see a lot of things you couldn’t imagine, because I sure as hells don’t know what we’re going to run into.”

"As I said earlier, I don't sleep much." Jason said. "As for what's out there, I must admit I am intrigued, and excited.”. He added.

“Well, you’ve got a few good officers and crew in your section, I’d suggest you get to know them. You likely also have some bad apples to fix or prune, I’ll leave your departments affairs up to you, but if you need me to step in, just let me know. Since we don’t know what we’ll need, you’re going to be on the spot whenever we come across something new.”

"Speaking of my department, I was wondering if I could have my daughter assigned to the Chimera? She's a Flight Cadet and her name is Coln Jena." Jason said.

Cally raised an eyebrow, "I can understand the desire to keep family close, but this is definitely an odd request." She pursed her lips, "What year at the Academy? How are her grades? Speciality?" She shot rapid fire questions, "Why do you want her on board a ship that's going out of the Federation's territory?"

"She's a senior and has been attending the Academy via correspondence. Her grades are high, and she specialising in Flight Operations." Jason replied. "As for your last question, I've only known she existed for the last 6 years, I missed so much of her life, I want to try and make up for that. Also it would be a great opportunity for her."

"And where is she doing her studies out of?" Calypso gave Jason a searching look as she put the idea to thought. She wasn't absolutely against the idea, but there were a lot of variables to think about. The danger was real, going out into the unknown, there was no guarantee that Chimera would ever return to Federation space, much less in one piece.

"She was with me on the Portland, at the moment she's at my parents' house outside Rennes, on Earth." Jason replied.

"I don't know... I'm not saying no yet, I'm not saying yes." Cally glanced at the wall, visualising what was yet to come, "A fast trip out here would take a couple weeks and I believe we've got at least that long while we figure out our current problem.. I'm not going to make a decision right here and now, but you'll have my answer within seventy-two hours, you have my word on that."

"I understand, Commander." Jason said. "Thank you for consideration."

"Anytime, Lieutenant." Cally sagged against the machine, "I think I'm going to call it a morning at this point, I need a shower and then if you need me, I'll be on the bridge or in my ready room."

"Understood, Commander." Jason replied. "Thank you for your time." That said the Science Officer left the room.