Lt. Robin Hopper: A Closer Look
Robin Hopper
((OOC – Apologies for the wait on this one – it’s been a busy and exhausting weekend, but I like where this story is headed! Remember, you don’t need to wait. Per the 48/72 hr rule, you can move the scene ahead if it’s been 3+ days since you posted in it.))
((Peace Park – Amity Outpost))
Having gone through a mental checklist of the various obligations facing a new Ensign in the early days of their first assignment – Medical, Counseling Security – she could think of few other priorities the Ensign might need to consider at this point.
Hopper: The only other thing I can think of is making sure you’ve got an apartment sorted – I think I recall you mentioning one. ::Sipping her drink:: Any plans for a ‘housewarming’? Have you met your roommate yet?
Veers: Uh, yes, maam, I got the housing arrangement sorted. Though, either I don’t have a roommate or I just have yet to meet them. But uh, no, probably no housewarming, not too familiar with anyone here, and even if I was, not really my thing.
Hopper looked at Cara Veers with some curiosity. It struck her that the young woman seemed to seesaw from curious and good-humored to focused and business-like. She wondered if these distinct moods were representative of the distinct entities within her that made up the whole… and, if so, which was which?
A social person by nature, Robin wanted to understand Veers – to connect with her not only as her superior officer but also on a personal level, even if only to understand her better… find out what excited and motivated her – yet she felt they had precious few occasions to do so. oO One less, if no ‘housewarming’. Oo
Hopper: Hmm - you might have lucked out and been assigned a vacant unit. But, soon enough another junior officer’s going to make the journey out to the Delta Quadrant and that second bedroom of yours is going to be assigned.
She offered a little shrug::
Hopper: Maybe you’ll surprise yourself and enjoy the company!
Hopper took another sip of her drink. Before Veers could respond, their combadges chirped and a voice came through which Robin recognized, but couldn’t quite place at first.
McLaren: =/\= Hi, Lieutenant Hopper and Ensign Veers; I need some of your Starfleet scientific help down here. Is it possible for you two to come down and help me? =/\=
Veers: =/\= For sure… where is here?
Veers was quick to tap her combadge and respond. Robin squinted, then, in a flash, the voice connected with a face in her mind.
((Flashback – New Years Eve 2400, Lighthouse Restaurant))
She swung around to the counter and stood beside a couple, sitting at the bar, engaged in a conversation. The man wore an old-fashioned coat and hat – almost like out of one of the old black-and-white movies she used to watch, and the woman had fiery red hair and seemed considerably more modern. She eyed them with a sideways glance as she waited to place her order, trying to indulge her curiosity without giving away her interest.
…
The bartender placed their drinks on the bar in front of them and moved down the line to others who were waiting before Robin. She smiled. It was sweet seeing these two – whoever they were – making eyes at each other over their drinks. Her mind started to wander, thinking about the inevitable moment ahead – when midnight struck – and who she might grab for a kiss… when she realized she’d been staring absent-mindedly.
Evidently, they had both noticed, as the woman in red hair turned to face her. The man stuck his head out to peer over her shoulder.
McLaren: Hello! I am Evelyn McLaren, I do not think we have met before? ::pointing to Arthur:: this is my date for the evening, Mr. Arthur Summerside.
Hopper: ::Surprised, blushing:: Oh! Umm, sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. In my head I was lightyears away. ::Clearing her throat:: Lieutenant Robin Hopper.
Summerside: ::Under his breath:: Didn’t know they made flatfoots that looked like that.
Robin tilted her head and squinted. oO Flatfoots? Is he talking about me? Oo Summerside chuckled sheepishly as he took a sip of his drink, his expression making it more evident that his comment had snuck out, unfiltered.
McLaren: You must be Starfleet?
Hopper: Yes, I am. I’m Amity’s new Chief Science Officer… Well, I say ‘new’, but I guess it’s been about six months now. ::Tilting her head back-and-forth a couple times:: So, I guess not that new anymore.
Summerside: Science Officer? What happened to that, uhh, kid with the forehead? Kismet?
Hopper: Kivik?
Summerside: That’s the one.
Hopper: ::Chuckling:: Lieutenant Kivik transferred to the USS Kitty Hawk. I guess you could consider me nir replacement.
Arthur “hmm”ed in understanding and took another sip of his drink. The way he was dressed and the way he spoke almost made Robin wonder if he thought this was some sort of ‘costume ball’ and had shown up dressed like some old-timey detective character.
McLaren: That is great to hear, I am the Chief of Mining onboard. We may be crossing a lot of paths sometime in the future. You may even cross paths with Arthur.
Hopper: Oh, yes! McLaren, of course. You know, I read your bio on my trip over here, but I’ve had so much ‘catching up’ to do since my arrival, I haven’t had the time yet. We should set up a meeting… nothing formal. Maybe grab a cup of tea? I’d love to know more about the benamite mining operations in the nebula.
((End Flashback))
Robin’s face lit up with recognition. She tapped her badge, glancing at Veers with a smile.
Hopper: =/\= Ahh, Miss McLaren, nice to hear from you. I take it by “down here” you mean Mining Ops? If so I think we could be there in… about ten minutes? =/\=
McLaren: =/\= Thank you, ladies. See you both in a few moments. =/\=
Robin looked to Veers with an intrigued expression.
Veers: Well, this should be interesting. Shall we?
Hopper: I’ll say! I haven’t even seen the “MEEO” yet, except in pictures. ::Gesturing to her uniform:: There you go, back in blue not a moment too soon. Grab a PADD, Veers. I think we’ll be doing some reading on this train ride…
((Ten Minutes Later – MEEO, Amity Outpost))
Robin and Veers had spent most of the short trip from the park to the Mining Exploration, Engineering and Operations center reading up on the present mining activities taking place in the surrounding Nuriootpa Solar Nebula.
While none of it was exactly ‘unfamiliar’, given their roles as Science Officers, mining within the Nebula was nonetheless a civilian matter, managed by various unions and organisations including the one helmed by McLaren – and so they had no need to be subject matter experts.
Until now.
As Robin led the way through the doors into McLaren’s office, wearing a warm and friendly smile, she tucked her PADD under her arm, feeling more informed already.
McLaren: Welcome both. Would you like anything to drink? :: pointing towards replicator::
Actually, Robin had just polished off several colas and that iced tea in the park… If anything, she was beginning to lament that she hadn’t taken the time for a ‘pit stop’ along the way. But, time had seemed of the essence.
Hopper: Nothing for me, thanks. Veers?
Veers: Uh, no, thank you.
McLaren: Sure thing. Let me grab myself water before we start.
While McLaren made her way to the replicator, Robin gestured to the two seats in front of her desk, then made her way to one herself, while Veers took the other.
Hopper: I have to say, Miss McLaren, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you. I’m curious what’s prompted you to reach out. Usually the mining groups seem to prefer their ‘independence’ from Starfleet ‘interference’ – Oh, not that we aren’t happy to be of assistance…
Veers: Yeah I’m always down to help out.
McLaren: So, one of the mining teams mentioned to me today that some of the benamite was low in certain sections of the nebula:: passing PADD towards them:: As you can see here. Is there any explanation for this?
Robin picked up the PADD, took a cursory glance. It was a relatively straightforward scan of a sector of the nebula’s typically-benamite-rich asteroids fields. While the rocks on the fringes of the space demonstrated typical readings, a large swath of the ‘midground’ field showed a considerably lower yield.
Hopper: Interesting. ::A brow quirked:: The benamite in this region should be self-regenerating… It’s odd that there seem to be several ‘chunks’ in close proximity all displaying reduced concentrations. ::Passing the PADD to Veers:: Any theories?
Veers: Huh… ::looking through the data:: Theoretically, it could be just natural formations, similar to veins on a planet…. Could be other things. That’s definitely something to keep an eye on for further observation and study though…
Hopper: I take it you’ve already sent a probe along to get more thorough readings, Miss McLaren? Are we able to take a look at those results when they come in?
McLaren: Response
Veers: Response
Robin watched the feed from the probe with interest. As it approached the sector in question, it began running baselines scans – running a sweep of active and passive tests to collect additional data. At first glance, everything appeared quite average; a model of what the benamite fields ought to have looked like.
However, as it drew closer, an odd pattern began to emerge. The telltale emissions of the unprocessed benamite within a certain section of the field were…
Hopper: Is it just me or are they ‘twinkling’?
The emissions were fluctuating – increasing and decreasing, without an immediately obvious pattern or mechanical rhythm. As the probe grew closer, the emissions suddenly plummeted, almost as if someone had ‘shut off the lights’ to avoid being caught up past their bedtime.
McLaren/Veers: Response
Hopper leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. Something highly unusual was going on out there. oO I think I might have found my opportunity to spend some ‘quality time’ with the new Ensign after all… Oo she thought to herself with some amusement.
Hopper: Well, Miss McLaren, it’s becoming clearer to me how we might be able to help – though I’m still not entirely sure what’s going on out there. What would you both say to a little exploratory excursion?
McLaren/Veers: Response
((OOC – Feel free to add additional tags here if you like. Happy to backsim further conversation))
((One Hour Later – Type-6A Shuttle Arbutus, Terminal A – Amity Outpost))
After setting the plan – a brief expedition out into the nebula to get a closer look at the unusual mineral situation – they had split up to make their separate preparations. Robin had made her way to Operations to arrange transport and secure a pilot. Hopper had tasked Veers with acquiring relevant investigative equipment to supplement the shuttle’s load-out. McLaren had, no doubt, been communicating with her own teams to provide an update and ensure they wouldn’t run afoul of any ongoing operations at their destination.
Flint: ::Cracking his knuckles:: So, you want to get a closer look at some rocks, Lieutenant?
After his stint at the helm aboard the Jemison, Robin was curious about the English X-B Helm Officer. Since S’Raga had been indisposed, Mr. Flint had seemed like the obvious next choice – not that she’d told him he was ‘Option B’ in her mind. Despite his rather ‘dry’ communication, she knew he was more than capable of the flying necessary for this little operation.
Hopper: ::Rolling her eyes, amused:: In short? Yes. But they’re weird rocks.
Flint: I see. ::His console beeping:: Looks like your team’s here, ma’am.
Robin looked over her shoulder to the rear hatch of the shuttle and the loading ramp, spotting Veers and McLaren making their way into the Terminal. She walked up to check in with them as they approached.
Hopper: You two all ready to go? ::Smiling:: I know we aren’t going far, but I did take the liberty of putting together a playlist – just in case… You both got everything you needed?
Veers/McLaren: Response
((OOC – So, just to be clear, we’re taking a little ‘trip’ into the field to investigate the weird readings in the benamite. Feel free to mention anything you’re bringing along and we’ll have some fun ‘figuring out’ what’s going on out there! Feel free to give Flint directions and leave him tags, which I’ll fill.))
TBC
